Chapter 387: How Do You Like the Surprise I Have for You?

Chapter 387: How Do You Like the Surprise I Have for You?

Given his condition at the time—he could barely walk with a cane and couldn’t fight off a normal person who could run and jump—it’s clear that he didn’t kill Chrysanthemum.

Therefore, we can rule out that Chrysanthemum was killed by him.

"Based on the injuries sustained by the deceased, Chrysanthemum, you indeed aren't the one who killed her. But how do you prove that it was the Zhou family mother and son who did it?"

"I myself am a witness."

The Zhou family spat at him, "How can you be considered a witness?"

Zhang Dezhi glanced at them calmly and said, "There is more than one witness."

Huh?

Everyone in the room looked at Zhang Dezhi in surprise.

"They were so engrossed in their beating that they didn’t hear anything. I closed my eyes and pretended to be dead, but my ears were quite sensitive. I heard footsteps outside."

The Zhou family mother and son were unsure if this was true and panicked inwardly.

"You’re making this up, right? If there were others, who were they?" The Zhou family tried to maintain composure, but their forced smile betrayed their anxiety.

Zhang Dezhi shook his head, "I didn’t see anyone; I don’t know who it was."

Zheng Jinyu knew it was Chunmei’s turn to step forward and gave her a nod.

Chunmei nodded and walked towards the door.

The argument continued on stage.

"You’re lying. You claim there were other witnesses, yet you can’t name them. Clearly, you’re trying to frame us."

"Why would I frame you? There are so many people in the world; why would I choose to frame someone else?"

The Zhou family gritted their teeth, "You hate us."

Zhang Dezhi laughed, "Why would I hate you?"

The Zhou family was speechless.

"You were the wet nurse of the young lady. Back then, she had everything she wanted in the Zheng family, and she listened to everything you said. I couldn’t flatter you enough. Why would I hate you?"

"You…" The Zhou family couldn’t come up with a reason.

Zhang Dezhi continued, "If you hadn’t done something to wrong me, why would I hate you? It was Madam who beat me and wanted to drive me away. It was the second young lady who accused me. Even if I were to hate anyone, it should be Madam and the second young lady. Why would I hate you, who have nothing to do with it?"

His words made sense, and the crowd was stunned.

Even without concrete evidence, everyone was convinced by Zhang Dezhi.

It didn’t make sense for Zhang Dezhi to have killed Chrysanthemum. Ignoring his condition at the time, who would kill a pretty thirteen- or fourteen-year-old maid? Even if someone hated her, they would sell her to a brothel for money rather than kill her. Unless, like the Zhou family mother and son, they did it to silence her.

At this moment, Chunmei stepped forward.

"My lord, I am the second eyewitness."

Huh?

"You?"

Chunmei knelt down and said, "Yes, my name is Chunmei. I was sent to serve Miss Jinyu along with Chrysanthemum. We were specifically sent by Lady Lu to lead Miss Jinyu astray, to make the master, madam, and the young masters dislike her, ensuring Lady Lu’s position in the Zheng family."

In the room, Lady Zheng, who had been calm all along, was shocked and looked at Zheng Jinyu.

Zheng Jinyu kept her gaze on the stage, ignoring her.

She then looked at Fang Jinxiu.

Fang Jinxiu blushed, biting her lip, looking aggrieved.

On the stage, Chunmei continued, "Miss Jinyu is truly remarkable. She has an eidetic memory and quickly finished reading the Four Books and Five Classics. She excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Even the teacher marveled at her being a once-in-a-thousand-years genius. Such a talented young lady, we couldn’t find any faults to speak ill of her before madam.

Lady Lu was dissatisfied with our efforts and always pressured us, so we began to think about defecting. Following Miss Jinyu seemed better; she was so smart and capable, and she was the master and madam’s biological daughter. Following her seemed more promising than following Lady Lu.

However, I was more favored by Miss Jinyu than Chrysanthemum, which made her uncomfortable. She wanted to get rid of me and followed the Zhou family’s advice to use Zhang Dezhi to ruin me. I wasn’t foolish; when Chrysanthemum tricked me into going to the abandoned courtyard, I sensed something was amiss and brought a knife with me. What happened afterward aligns with what Zhang Dezhi said."

Lady Zheng’s face turned grim as she stared intently at the stage.

Fang Jinxiu glanced at her nervously.

Zheng Jinyu sat at the front, still staring at the stage, ignoring Lady Zheng and Fang Jinxiu.

Lord Yu nodded after hearing Chunmei’s words and gestured for her to continue.

Chunmei continued, "Chrysanthemum and I were sold together to the Zheng family as maidservants and grew up together, sharing some friendship. Normally, we competed for favor in front of our masters, but never thought of harming each other. Her schemes against me deeply hurt me, so on the night before she left, I went to see her in the woodshed.

I had spoken ill of her to gain favor with Miss Jinyu, forcing her onto a wrong path and leading to her marriage to Zhang Dezhi. I felt guilty about it. Thinking she must be suffering, I took some savings and went to visit her where they lived, only to unexpectedly encounter the Zhou family mother and son."

Lord Yu asked, "Did you see them kill someone?"

Chunmei nodded.

The Zhou family mother and son were visibly shaken but tried to remain composed.

"You’re spouting lies! You’re Zheng Jinyu’s maid and wish for our death. You’re falsely accusing us, you little wretch…"

"Silence." Lord Yu slammed the wooden gavel forcefully, silencing Lady Zhou.

Lord Yu said to Chunmei, "Continue speaking."

Chunmei glanced at Lady Zhou and her son before continuing, "I carefully followed them and overheard their conversation. Nurse Zhou asked Qiujú if she had given the medicine to Zhang Dezhi. Qiujú said she had given it to him and that everything was settled, so she should be given her deed of release as promised.

Unexpectedly, Nurse Zhou reneged on the deal right there and did not acknowledge the promise. Then, Zhou Bo said she was no longer useful and that only dead people keep secrets. After that, they began beating Qiujú."

Her account matched what Zhang Dezhi had said, and the onlookers nodded, believing this to be the truth.

Zhou Bo was already in a daze, pale-faced and sitting on the ground.

Lady Zhou persisted, gritting her teeth, "You two must have colluded! You are falsely accusing us together."

"Second Miss, oh Second Miss, my family has never wronged you. Why are you trying to destroy us? Are you intent on driving us to our deaths? I yield; I apologize to you. Can you please spare my son and me?"

She began to act wildly and irrationally.

"Outrageous!" Lord Yu thundered, "Lady Zhou, we are investigating a murder case here. Do not try to divert attention or cause a commotion."

Inside the room, Fang Jinxiu seemed inspired by Lady Zhou and began implicating Zheng Jinyu.

"Well, Zheng Jinyu, you really are cunning. Did you collaborate with Zhang Dezhi to set up such an elaborate scheme? Do you hate me so much that you want me to die alone and betrayed? Not content with taking Father, Mother, and Brother away from me, you even targeted my wet nurse. How ruthless you are."