Chapter 491 Human Skin Mask

Chapter 491: Human Skin Mask

She glanced at Chen Hu and the others, "Come with me, this Princess, let's go see what's going on outside!"

"Yes, Princess."

After quite a while, the gates of the Prince Ye's mansion finally swung open, and Ji Yuntang stepped out.

Xu's eyes lit up at the sight of her, and she immediately pointed at the two guards, filing a complaint.

"Princess Ye, you've finally come out. These gatekeepers say that without your permission, our Xin Yu cannot enter. Please, you be the judge of this!"

"Soon, Xin Yu will be a member of the Prince Ye's household. Is it wrong for her to return to her own home? Why block us from entering? You'd think the Prince Ye's mansion is trying to throw its weight around!"

Ji Yuntang's red lips curved into a slight smile. "Madam Xu, why so worked up?"

"Yesterday, this Princess was busy with the betrothal gifts—buying supplies, sending out invites, and decorating my sister's bridal chamber. I was so tired I got up a bit late. The servants of the Prince Ye's mansion were just worried about my rest, which is why they didn't let you in promptly. I hope you two can understand."

Xu saw how Ji Yuntang brushed it off with a few words, making her look unreasonable. She forced a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Of course, I wouldn't take offense. I'm just worried our Xin Yu might get upset."

"Princess, you know she's not right in the head. When she's upset, she throws things and has tantrums. My husband and I were worried she might cause a scene at the wedding, so we were a bit hasty."

Ji Yuntang knew perfectly well that Xu was just shifting the blame onto Zhong Xinyu. Remembering her recent trip to the Zhong mansion, where she'd cleaned out their entire treasury, betrothal gifts, and banknotes, she was in a great mood and couldn't be bothered to argue with Xu.

Raising an eyebrow, Ji Yuntang said, "So, it's this Princess's fault now?"

"In that case, let's have Miss Zhong's sedan chair brought in through the back door, so Madam Xu and Magistrate Zhong won't think this Princess is trying to intimidate her."

Just as the sedan chair was lifted, a furious voice came from inside. "Put me down!"

A red bridal veil was tossed out, and the two sedan bearers exchanged looks before setting the chair down.

"Zhong Xinyu" stepped out, and Xu rushed to her side immediately.

Lowering her voice, she warned, "Ming Xia, what the hell are you doing? Who told you to come out? Hurry up, put the veil back on and get in!"

Then, smiling at Ji Yuntang, she said, "Princess Ye, please don't mind her. Our Xin Yu is having one of her fits. She's always like this—gets impatient when waiting too long and throws things. Don't take it personally."

Ji Yuntang smiled without saying a word, while Xu kept pushing "Zhong Xinyu" back toward the bridal sedan.

"Zhong Xinyu" didn't budge, glaring coldly at her. "Madam, are you trying to commit treason by deceiving the Emperor?"

"If you want to die, why drag this servant into it?"

Xu: "..."

Xu: "!!!"

Her heart skipped a beat, and her face fell. "Xin Yu, what nonsense are you talking about? Today is your and Prince Ye's big day. Why talk about death? That's so unlucky!"

"Now, listen to your mother, and get back in the sedan."

"Zhong Xinyu" didn't budge, even shoving Xu back. She clenched her teeth, radiating menace, her fair face now grim and sinister.

"The one with the sick mind is you, isn't it, Madam?"

"Prince Ye is marrying our young lady, and I'm just a maid. You tricked me into impersonating her for this marriage, but how could I possibly set foot in the Prince Ye's mansion?"

"Or do you think everyone in the Prince Ye's mansion is a fool, and only the Zhong family is smart?"

"'Shut up!' Xu, furious, slapped her across the face."

"Today is your wedding day. I wanted to send you off with joy, but here you are spouting nonsense at the Prince Ye's doorstep. Don't you have any respect for me as your stepmother?"

Xu had no idea what had gotten into Ming Xia, but she felt things spiraling out of control, and panic began to set in.

Ming Xia didn't cry from the slap—instead, she burst out laughing. She laughed uncontrollably, pointing at the people from the Prince Ye's mansion. "You, and all of you, have been fooled by the Zhong family!"

"Claiming Miss Zhong would be a concubine, that Prince Ye must take responsibility—our young lady's madness has nothing to do with him. She was poisoned by someone else, and the Zhong family just wanted to get rid of her as a burden."

"Xu already killed her yesterday. Not only did Xu refuse to hold a funeral, but she wouldn't even buy a coffin, all because our young lady ate one of her ginseng roots, and she cursed her for being sickly and short-lived."

"Ever since the first madam passed away, our young lady treated Xu like a stepmother. She was always respectful, never offending her, yet Xu was so vicious, couldn't stand her at all. Over the years, she wouldn't even give her a proper room, forcing her to sleep in the woodshed and eat spoiled food, eventually driving our young lady to her death."

After her outburst, Ming Xia fell to her knees, sobbing. "Young lady, you died so tragically! This servant is useless, unable to avenge you..."

Ming Xia's shocking words terrified many onlookers, who began pointing and whispering about the Zhong family.

By now, Xu was in a complete panic. She was about to order someone to cover Ming Xia's mouth when Ji Yuntang stepped forward to face Ming Xia.

"You just said you're not Miss Zhong Xinyu, and that your young lady died yesterday. Do you have proof of this?"

Magistrate Zhong, slow to react, finally realized that with Zhong Xinyu dead, Ming Xia had turned against them! If she kept talking, the entire Zhong mansion would be doomed.

With that thought, he hurried forward and knelt before Ji Yuntang.

"Princess Ye, don't listen to Xin Yu's ravings. She's having a fit of madness. This subordinate will take her back for treatment."

"Once she's cured, we'll bring Xin Yu back to the Prince Ye's mansion."

Ji Yuntang glanced at him. "That won't do. Today is the joyous day for my husband and Miss Zhong. How can we keep taking the bride away?"

"Since this Princess has nothing better to do, let Miss Zhong finish what she has to say."

Ming Xia, eyes bloodshot, stood up and peeled a human skin mask from her face.

Beneath the mask was not Zhong Xinyu's face, but a completely unfamiliar one.

"Princess Ye, this human skin mask is the proof."

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