Chapter 92: He Must Make Xia Jiujiang Yield to Him

Xia Jiujiang instinctively pulled Lu Luo behind her, and that gesture warmed Lu Luo’s heart at once. In this life, she would recognize Xia Jiujiang as her only master.

Xia Jiujiang fixed Gao Shanshui with a cold stare. He had come in no good faith at all; with that face weighed down by greasy flesh, he looked every inch the kind of man who profited by plunder and filled his own pockets. He truly lived up to his appearance.

Though she was already a prisoner, her bearing was undiminished. Xia Jiujiang said, “Hasn’t Lord Gao already claimed that the evidence and testimony are conclusive? Since everything is so certain, why come here at all? You might as well wait until the hearing and present the proof openly then, so this princess consort can be left speechless.”

Gao Shanshui chuckled with a sly grin. “Indeed, this official already has both witness and material evidence in hand, and the case is airtight. But if there were also a written confession with a handprint, wouldn’t that make it absolutely unshakable?”

Xia Jiujiang snapped, “How daring of you, Lord Gao! I am the Princess Consort of Jin, a rank bestowed by imperial decree from Emperor Zongkang himself. And you dare lay a hand on me?”

A strange light flickered in Gao Shanshui’s eyes. “This official naturally cannot touch the princess consort. After all, the public hearing is only two days away. But your maid, I can certainly lay hands on.”

From the way Gao Shanshui looked, it was clear he intended to coerce Lu Luo under torture into signing a confession, thereby fixing Xia Jiujiang’s guilt. If the princess consort’s own personal maid came forward to accuse Xia Jiujiang, then Xia Jiujiang would truly have no way back.

But if Gao Shanshui did that, then the person who had earlier ordered the jailer to poison Xia Jiujiang’s meals would not be Gao Shanshui. Letting the Princess Consort die of poison in her cell would be a disaster Gao Shanshui was not eager to take upon himself.

Xia Jiujiang found her opening and let out a cold laugh. “Lord Gao is truly devoted to the case. Even in the dead of night, you still come to the cells for questioning. But while you are so busy serving the man behind you, it seems that the one behind you is not quite so considerate of you.”

Gao Shanshui had come to seize Lu Luo and prepare to torture a confession out of her, but he had no idea why Xia Jiujiang had suddenly thrown out such a remark.

Seeing the puzzled look on his face, Xia Jiujiang spoke with complete assurance. “A wise man does not speak in riddles. My lord, you hope this interrogation will carry you to higher office, but someone else clearly does not wish to see you rise.”

Gao Shanshui sneered. “Princess Consort of Jin, you certainly have a sharp tongue. Even now you are trying to sow discord. Don’t tell me you mean to claim that the person behind me is scheming against me.”

Xia Jiujiang said, “If the one behind you is not plotting against you, then why would they want to poison me to death in prison?”

Gao Shanshui froze. “What did you say? Poison?”

Xia Jiujiang said, “Food laced with poison was sent in, meant to kill me in my cell. If I were truly poisoned to death, then you, Lord Gao, would be guilty of poor oversight and a failure in governance, allowing the Princess Consort of Jin to be murdered in prison under your watch. Do you think you would still have any chance of rising higher? I’m afraid even your official hat would be gone.”

Gao Shanshui said in shock, “You... you’re talking nonsense. Don’t think you can deceive this official by driving a wedge between us.”

Xia Jiujiang took half a piece of cake from her sleeve and threw it to the ground. “Before entering the cell, I was searched. I had nothing suspicious on me. This food could only have been brought in from outside. Lord Gao, see for yourself.”

After landing in the corner, the cake was quickly swarmed by a few starving rats. But once two or three of them had devoured it, they suddenly collapsed on the ground without moving. They were dead, stone-cold.

Gao Shanshui’s face changed. “This...”

The cake was poisoned, and it was a deadly toxin that could kill at the first taste.

Xia Jiujiang stared at Gao Shanshui. “Lord Gao wants all the evidence pointing at me so that I cannot defend myself. Yet the people behind you want me to die of poison in the prison under your jurisdiction. Doesn’t that contradict itself? I’m afraid that no matter how hard you work, in the end you’ll only become another man’s executioner. Once you lose your use, you’ll be discarded.”

After a moment of thought, Gao Shanshui let out a strange smile. “Who do you think stands behind me? Those insignificant people from the Xia family? Princess Consort of Jin, you really think too highly of them.”

Xia Jiujiang had thought the person behind Gao Shanshui was Prime Minister Xia, but after hearing Gao Shanshui say that, she was struck with doubt. Wasn’t this whole scheme planned by Lin Baixue, Xia Yueer, and Xia Mingxuan in collusion with Gao Shanshui?

Yet from Gao Shanshui’s mocking expression, it seemed he had never taken those Xia family members seriously.

Xia Jiujiang thought carefully. Prime Minister Xia seemed to have no reason to kill Old Madam Xia. With Marquis Guanyuan and Jin Mantang both having come to trouble, Prime Minister Xia should have been keeping as quiet as possible. Why would he rush into the line of fire now? But Lin Baixue, Xia Yueer, and Xia Mingxuan did not seem to possess the power or standing to command Gao Shanshui so completely.

But if it wasn’t the Xia family... then who?

Xia Jiujiang frowned deeply, her expression serious and uncertain, as though she had sunk into a fog.

At that moment, a voice said, “It seems I have hidden myself very well indeed. To make you furrow your brow so deeply while pondering the one behind the curtain, Jiang’er, I truly am a sinner.”

The instant Xia Jiujiang heard that voice, her eyes went rigid. How could it be him?

The Seventh Prince, Jun Qianye, strode brazenly into view before Xia Jiujiang, showing no concern at all for keeping his connection with Gao Shanshui hidden. He was plainly telling Xia Jiujiang that Gao Shanshui belonged to him.

Xia Jiujiang looked at the Seventh Prince and frowned. “Your Highness, Seventh Prince, and this princess consort are nothing more than casual acquaintances. You need not use the name Jiang’er.”

Though she remained calm on the surface, suspicion was churning in her heart. What was Jun Qianye doing? His character had never been this unstable.

Wasn’t he supposed to be the one backing Prime Minister Xia? Why had he turned around and used Gao Shanshui to have the Xia family deal with Xia Jiujiang? Was Jun Qianye trying to use Xia Jiujiang to deal with Jun Buwen?

Seeing her force herself to remain composed, Jun Qianye smiled and said, “And what if I do call you that? Besides, the Princess Consort of Jin has only me to rely on now.”

Xia Jiujiang could not make out what Jun Qianye was after. She gave a cold laugh. “In this world, the only person one can truly rely on is oneself.”

She had never intended to rely on anyone else. Even when she used Jun Buwen as her backing, when it came to dealing with the Xia family, Xia Jiujiang always handled it herself and reaped the rewards of her own labor.

Jun Qianye said leisurely, “But the current situation is that you are in prison.”

Xia Jiujiang went straight to the point. “Your Highness, let us not play word games. What exactly have you come here for?”

Jun Qianye revealed a victorious smile, as though he had seized her weak point. “I don’t want to do anything. I want you.”

Xia Jiujang stared at him in shock.

Jun Qianye gave an amused smile. “As long as the Princess Consort of Jin divorces Prince Jin and follows me, then Lord Gao will naturally find a way to help you escape punishment. He may even help you bring charges against those thorns in the side of the Xia family. But if the Princess Consort of Jin refuses... then with the evidence now conclusive, I’m afraid you will have no wings strong enough to fly out of this trap.”

Xia Jiujang looked at Jun Qianye in astonishment, her eyes wide. She had built Jun Qianye up so highly in her mind—someone to contend with Jun Buwen, someone to scheme against Prime Minister Xia—and in the end, all he wanted was for Xia Jiujang to surrender to him?