Chapter 96: The Faces of the Xia Family

Xia Jiujiang looked coldly at Xia Wentao’s expression and sneered. Who doesn’t know how to put on an act? Her mood changed faster than flipping a page. Seeing Xia Wentao’s sharp, piercing gaze, she immediately puckered her lips and put on a pitiful look as she said, “Prime Minister Xia, at present I am only a suspect, not the true culprit.”

In a subtle motion, Xia Jiujiang twitched her fingers, and a tiny insect flew from her hand, unnoticed as it landed on Lin Baixue’s shoulder. Slowly, it crawled toward the back of her neck and bit down.

Lin Baixue gasped sharply and slapped her neck. Xia Yue’er, watching her strange movements, looked puzzled. After the slight prickling sensation on her neck faded, Lin Baixue whispered, “It’s nothing, nothing.”

A sinister smile curled at the corner of Xia Jiujiang’s mouth—she had succeeded. The real performance was about to begin.

Xia Wentao gritted his teeth and said through clenched jaws, “Even now you still stubbornly deny everything! You were caught red-handed in the old madam’s room. If you’re not the real culprit, then who is?”

Xia Jiujiang’s eyes reddened as she replied, “I know I was insignificant in the Prime Minister’s mansion. You didn’t value me or hold me in your heart—you never truly regarded me as the legitimate daughter of the Xia family. But now, in a murder case, you are so certain I am the culprit. Is this because you don’t believe your own daughter?”

By accusing Xia Wentao of not trusting his own daughter, Xia Jiujiang put him in an awkward position. Though the villagers hadn’t heard of any mistreatment of the Xia family’s eldest daughter, such matters could be easily inferred.

The Xia family’s second daughter, Xia Yue’er, was well-known and always accompanied to major events. On the other hand, the eldest daughter was infamous. But now, it seemed that the rumors were likely deliberately spread by the old master of the Xia family.

In ordinary households, servants read the master’s temper, flattering some while belittling others. Xia Yue’er was clearly favored by Xia Wentao. Moreover, with the madam now replaced by Lin Baixue, what good days could Xia Jiujiang have in the Xia mansion?

Xia Jiujiang’s words openly revealed Xia Wentao’s favoritism toward Xia Yue’er and hinted at the Xia family’s tacit allowance of mistreatment against her. Xia Wentao clenched his fists, his eyes burning with fury, as if he wanted to tear Xia Jiujiang apart.

Xia Jiujiang sneered inwardly. Who couldn’t put on a show? Xia Yue’er loved playing the innocent victim, and Xia Jiujiang was no less skilled at this act. Just look at Xia Wentao’s darkened expression.

Xia Wentao snapped, “Nonsense! The Xia family raised you, and yet you tarnish its reputation. Do you even respect the Xia family?”

Lin Baixue’s face paled. “How could Jiujiang slander the Xia family like this? If the Xia family had truly been harsh to you, how could you have become the Princess of Jin?”

Lin Baixue was certainly adept at flattering herself. Despite Xia Jiujiang’s notorious reputation, Lin Baixue claimed that it was thanks to the Xia family that she became Princess of Jin. Such audacity!

The villagers, hearing Lin Baixue’s words, grew suspicious. “If the Xia family really treated Xia Jiujiang badly, why would they let her become Princess of Jin?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to have their own daughter, Xia Yue’er, become Princess of Jin?”

“Looks like there’s no harsh mistreatment after all.”

“I bet the Princess of Jin is just trying to smear the Xia family to escape blame.”

“That’s right. The Xia family raised her well, and yet she betrays them like this. Disgusting.”

“She was made Princess of Jin by the Xia family, but now she kills the old madam and tarnishes the Xia family’s name. What an ungrateful wretch.”

“To escape punishment, some people will stop at nothing. You can’t judge a book by its cover—some hearts are truly black.”

“To think Prime Minister Xia is upright and honest, yet he has such a ruthless daughter.”

At first, the crowd was only somewhat doubtful, but under the influence of these voices, they soon filled with disdain and resentment toward Xia Jiujiang.

Xia Jiujiang cast a sidelong glance behind her. It seemed Xia Wentao had already planted people among the onlookers.

On the ground, Lǜluó knelt and wept bitterly. “Master, the Xia family did provide us shelter, but you don’t know how the servants treated our young mistress. Since Madam Jiang’s death, the young mistress has not had a single new dress—all she wears are patched-up old clothes. No one even brings her meals three times a day.”

Xia Wentao’s face twisted with anger. He realized that Xia Jiujiang and Lǜluó were deliberately exposing the Xia family’s mistreatment of her in front of the public.

Lǜluó continued, “When I was by the young mistress’s side, we were often humiliated by the mansion’s servants. Our hands bear countless wounds from all the abuse. The young mistress has suffered terribly. Now she has finally become Princess of Jin and should be living well—how could she have allowed herself to fall into such a state?”

After speaking, Lǜluó rolled up her sleeves, and Xia Jiujiang revealed one arm, showing numerous old scars.

Princess Jin Jun Bu Wen’s expression darkened as she saw the wounds on Xia Jiujiang’s arm. Her gaze shifted to Jun Qianye’s eyes.

Strange... According to the spy’s report, Jun Bu Wen and Xia Jiujiang were intimate, yet she seemed unaware of the wounds on Xia Jiujiang’s arm. Could it be...

The villagers gasped upon seeing the scars on Xia Jiujiang and Lǜluó’s hands. This was the Prime Minister’s legitimate daughter, now Princess of Jin. Even daughters from ordinary families rarely bore so many scars. Could the rumors be true?

Hearing is unreliable, but seeing is believing. With such solid evidence laid before them, it was clear whom the villagers would trust.

Their eyes filled with astonishment as they looked at Xia Wentao, shocked that such a dignified Prime Minister could be like this.

“So many wounds, and the Princess of Jin has some, too.”

“Such old scars are truly heartbreaking.”

“I heard the emperor initially opposed the marriage between Xia Jiujiang and the Prince of Jin. Perhaps the Prime Minister had nothing to do with her becoming Princess of Jin.”

“The Princess of Jin claims mistreatment, and the Xia family denies it vehemently. Now the evidence is out, and the Xia family has been slapped in the face. Looks like Xia Jiujiang’s life in the mansion was unbearable.”

“Madam Xia also strongly opposed the mistreatment, and now it seems she was right. The more they hide it, the more obvious the truth becomes.”

“Who else would have such wounds on their arms? Let Xia Yue’er roll up her sleeves and show us.”

“Yes, let Xia Yue’er show her arms if she dares!”

As more voices demanded Xia Yue’er reveal her arms, she cowered behind Xia Wentao.

Xia Wentao roared, “Who do you think you are? Yue’er is an innocent young lady. Why should she have to show you her arms?”

Turning to Pei Xingzhi in anger, he said, “Lord Pei, today’s interrogation concerns Xia Jiujiang’s alleged murder of the old madam. How did it turn into an attack on us victims?”

Pei Xingzhi sneered, “Prime Minister Xia, isn’t that a bit biased? It was you and the Princess of Jin who brought up what happened in the Xia family. I haven’t said a single word. This accusation you’re wearing is too big—I won’t take it.”

Xia Wentao clenched his fists. “This is your style of investigation, Lord Pei? Or are you deliberately targeting us? You ignore the old madam’s case but focus on the alleged abuse of Xia Jiujiang?”

Pei Xingzhi remained calm and composed. “It’s a valid line of inquiry. Perhaps Xia Jiujiang was abused in the Xia family, and the anger accumulated until, the morning before yesterday, she quarreled with the old madam and accidentally caused her death.”

At Pei Xingzhi’s words, Xia Wentao was left speechless. In the end, it seemed Pei Xingzhi was the one with the stronger argument.