Chapter 88

Chapter 88

Xiaoshu let out a cold laugh, her face showing a hint of mockery and confidence.

"You’re lying! You’ve never been to my house!"

Xiaoshu, with a relaxed expression, bowed to those above. "Please send someone to my home right now to check, Your Highness, and you’ll see that I am innocent!"

So there really was something on the wall?!

Sang Cao panicked, never expecting that she had guessed wrong.

She immediately changed her story. "At that time, there was only one lamp lit. I was so scared of your plan, how could I possibly see what was on the wall?"

"In my memory, there was nothing on the wall!"

Xiaoshu affirmed, "You’re lying!"

"Anyone who has been to my house knows that!"

"Your Highness, there are plenty of house-born servants in the manor. You can ask anyone who has visited my home!"

At this moment, Fangse, the maid beside Concubine Yun, stepped forward. "Your Highness, when I was a child, I went to Xiaoshu’s side room. I vaguely remember a red-tasseled spear and a tiger skin hanging on the wall."

Fangse glanced at Sang Cao and slowly continued, "That tiger skin was supposedly hunted by Xiaoshu’s brother when he was ten. It was very lifelike and fierce; anyone who entered the room would get a fright."

"Not to mention at night—it would scare even in broad daylight."

Xiaoshu added, "Precisely because the tiger skin was so frightening, my parents thought it brought bad luck, so they made my brother move to another room!"

Then, one after another, several house-born servants who had good relations with Xiaoshu confirmed Fangse’s words.

The princess raised an eyebrow. "So, Sang Cao is lying?"

Sang Cao knelt on the ground, proclaiming her innocence. "If I never met Xiaoshu, how could I have gotten the bracelet and silver?!"

"Did I conjure them out of thin air?!"

Xie Run appeared completely calm, without any sign of urgency. She suddenly said, "I wonder if everyone still remembers Concubine Li’s sachet that was stuffed with musk?"

"Something so well locked away in a chest was silently swapped."

Xie Run’s steady gaze fell on Prince Jing, gentle yet composed.

"With such a skilled thief in the manor, it’s not just my bracelet that could be stolen. Anything in my storeroom could silently disappear and silently reappear in someone else’s hands."

Concubine Han exclaimed in surprise, "Elder Sister Xie, you mean your bracelet was stolen? But what if it wasn’t?"

"Yesterday, Elder Sister Xie lost a jade pendant and made a huge fuss throughout the manor. His Highness even specially went to comfort her. I was truly envious." Concubine Han deliberately showed a look of admiration and said softly, "If the bracelet had been stolen, wouldn’t Sister have mentioned it at least once, even if she didn’t make a scene like yesterday?"

"But I, your slow-witted younger sister, never heard you mention it."

The others also remained silent.

Some agreed with Concubine Han’s words, others were waiting to see the drama unfold.

Xie Run lowered her head and chuckled softly. "Your Highness, I can prove that the bracelet was taken, and can even find out who took it."

Prince Jing still had that unreadable expression and only asked flatly, "How will you prove it?"

Xie Run lifted her chin. "As everyone knows, I have a miracle doctor sister, right?"

Thanks to Xie Jiang’s impressive skills, she had gained great fame in the capital in a short time.

Mentioning her name now was quite intimidating.

Xie Run took in everyone’s expressions before slowly continuing, "Some time ago, she sent me a letter along with some New Year’s gifts. Among them was something very special."

As she said this, Xie Run kept her eyes fixed on the princess.

All of Xie Jiang’s letters and gifts had to go through the princess’s hands.

Whether something was there or not, the princess knew very well.

If the princess wanted to contradict her, it would be hard for Xie Run to continue.

Seeing the princess’s calm demeanor, Xie Run continued, "This substance is poisonous. Once a person touches it, it silently seeps into the skin. After a year or so, the poison reaches the lungs and the person will die with blood flowing from all five apertures."

When Xie Run said this, she could vaguely hear many people gasping sharply.

"As it happened, after musk was placed in Concubine Li’s trunk, I had a layer of powder applied to the trunk where I store my jewelry."

"Now, it’s easy to find out who touched it."

"All you need to do is soak your hands in hot water with a special powder added. If the hands turn black, that person is the one who stole the bracelet. If not, they are innocent."

Xie Run slowly bowed to Prince Jing and unfastened a pouch from her waist. "The powder is here. I ask His Highness to have everyone present tested one by one, and the culprit will soon be found."

Prince Jing said coldly, "Bring hot water."

The princess lowered her eyes, seemingly lost in thought.

The others present wore varied expressions.

Some were nervous, others waiting for the drama, and still others tried to appear calm while inwardly anxious.

Xie Run’s gaze swept around the room and finally landed on Feihua, who was standing behind Concubine Li.

"Concubine Li, this maid behind you seems unfamiliar?"

Concubine Li was startled. She glanced at Feihua before saying, "Feihua is a second-rank maid assigned to me by the princess. She is of a taciturn nature. Today, Feixu was unwell, so I brought Feihua instead."

Xie Run smiled. "She looks quite unfamiliar to me. Why not let her come up first and be tested?"

Feihua, who had been keeping her head down, suddenly looked up. Her unnaturally calm and dark eyes met Xie Run’s, giving rise to a chilling sensation.

Once Prince Jing’s order was given, quickly servants brought six basins of hot water forward.

Concubine Yun looked at the people around her. "I’ll go first."

Concubine Li and Concubine Wan followed.

Only Concubine Han seemed to walk with some difficulty, trailing at the back.

As they all rose at once, their figures brushed past each other and clothes rustled, Concubine Han fixed her gaze on the silent Feihua.

Before they could stand before the hot water, Feihua raised her hand and knocked over the bowl of hot water in front of her.

The servant woman holding the bowl of hot water suddenly let out a scream.

A knife materialized suddenly in Feihua's hand, and without hesitation, she thrust it toward Xie Run.

"Guards! An assassin!"

Caught off guard, Xie Run watched as Xiaoshu instinctively stepped in front of her: "Be careful, mistress!"

Stab!

The knife plunged into Xiaoshu's body, and Jing Wu immediately knocked Feihua away.

Her body fell to the ground like a kite with its string cut.

Jing Wu charged forward, flicking away Feihua's dagger with a backhand motion and subduing her in one swift move.

Before anyone could react, Feihua mercilessly slammed herself onto Jing Wu's sword, blood splattering everywhere.

And just like that, she was dead.