Chapter 100: Nonsense Cannot Be Taken Seriously

Lin Baixue was not without memory; she vividly recalled everything she had said. The transition from dream to reality happened in the blink of an eye—hell had become real—but she felt as if her true torment was only just beginning.

This sudden shift caused cold sweat to pour down Lin Baixue’s face upon awakening. The overwhelming sense of guilt and fear left her trembling as if she had been pushed off a cliff, weightless and shivering uncontrollably.

Laughter erupted all around her. Meeting the contemptuous gazes of the crowd, she realized her disgrace: she had wet herself in the courtroom.

Desperately, Lin Baixue cast pleading looks at Xia Yue’er and Xia Mingxuan. She opened her mouth and stretched out her hand toward them, trying to speak, but her disgrace—and the fact she had confessed everything aloud in court—left her helpless.

Xia Yue’er and Xia Mingxuan felt as if they had plunged into an ice cellar. At that moment, all they wanted was to distance themselves from Lin Baixue. Involuntarily, they stepped back several paces from her desperate appeal.

One could hardly blame Xia Yue’er and Xia Mingxuan. Lin Baixue had gone mad, babbling nonsense; they had tried to restrain her, hoping to bring her back to her senses. Yet she had confessed everything. Unease gripped them inexplicably.

Their reactions shocked Lin Baixue deeply.

These two were the children she had cherished since birth. She had spared no effort to become the head wife of the Xia family for their sake, scheming relentlessly. But now, when she needed them most, they were retreating coldly!

Xia Jiugang shot a glance at Xia Yue’er and Xia Mingxuan and said, “Yue’er, what kind of reaction is this? They say a child never despises an ugly mother, yet our mad lady in the courtroom just wet herself from fright. Your coldness must surely break her heart.”

Xia Yue’er was instantly embarrassed. Her initial reaction had been genuine, but Jiugang’s words reminded her that this was the Zhen’an Office, surrounded by common folk. How could she, as a daughter, despise her mother here?

She rushed to Lin Baixue’s side, pulling her close. “I was just stunned and frightened by Mother’s madness. How could I ever despise her? Gentlemen, my mother was clearly traumatized and speaking nonsense. Her words cannot be taken seriously.”

Xia Jiugang retorted, “Why not? She clearly confessed the entire crime process. If Lin Baixue, the head wife of the Xia family, can’t be believed, why should the words of a maid like Aunt Xiu carry weight?”

Xia Yue’er protested plaintively, “Sister, why are you being so harsh? Mother was clearly overworked and delirious. That proves nothing. Even if you want to clear your own name, you shouldn’t slander Mother like this.”

How had the roles reversed so quickly? It was laughable—after all, they were the ones who had accused her. Now Xia Jiugang was bullying Xia Yue’er.

Xia Jiugang sneered, “No matter how overworked she was, she wouldn’t confess to being the murderer herself unless she was terrified of something else.”

Xia Wentao frowned deeply. While Xia Jiugang claimed there was no direct evidence or witnesses, she was clearly buying time, bringing up Lin Baixue’s confession at a crucial moment.

Such a coincidence was impossible.

Pointing at Xia Jiugang in shock, Xia Wentao exclaimed, “It’s you! You must have done something. Lin Baixue was perfectly fine—how could she suddenly go mad, kneeling in court and spouting such nonsense? Did you use some kind of dark magic?”

Xia Jiugang clicked her tongue. “Chancellor Xia, that’s a grave insult. Are you slandering Lord Pei and Lord Gao, or mocking Prince Jin and the Seventh Prince?”

The chancellor snapped angrily, “What nonsense are you talking? I’m accusing you, not dragging others into this.”

Calmly, Xia Jiugang replied, “I’ve been imprisoned here in the Zhen’an Office the whole time. Not a single Xia family member has come to visit me. Even here in the courtroom, I kept my distance from the head wife. If you say I tampered with anything, aren’t you calling Lord Pei, Lord Gao, Prince Jin, the Seventh Prince, and all these commoners blind?”

Though she was the legitimate daughter of the Xia family and the Princess of Jin, no one from the Xia household had bothered to visit her after her arrest. Coupled with the wounds on Xia Jiugang’s arm, the people began to see that Xia Wentao did not regard her as his daughter. No wonder he was quick to pin the blame on her.

The scales of justice in the eyes of the crowd tilted. Few believed Xia Wentao’s accusations that Xia Jiugang had manipulated Lin Baixue. Moreover, no one present had noticed any wrongdoing on Xia Jiugang’s part.

Pei Xingzhi was somewhat surprised by Xia Jiugang’s tactics. Her confident demeanor suggested she had long anticipated Lin Baixue’s “voluntary confession.” Jun Bu Wen’s composed expression further indicated he was aware of Xia Jiugang’s moves, making him fearless.

The Seventh Prince, Jun Qianye, looked as dark as charcoal. He had calculated everything meticulously but never expected Lin Baixue to ruin his plan.

Now that Lin Baixue had regained her senses, though aware she had said things she shouldn’t, she still cooperated with Xia Yue’er’s performance.

Trembling, Lin Baixue said, “Your honor, I was completely blank just now. I don’t know what happened or what I said. It was all nonsense.”

Xia Jiugang smiled faintly. “Whether the head wife spoke nonsense or truth must be proven by Lord Pei. Just now, the head wife mentioned using ‘Jade Complexion Balm’ on the late matriarch, which misled the coroner’s judgment. If we find the antidote to ‘Jade Complexion Balm,’ won’t the truth be clear?”

Xia Wentao was the first to oppose. “Impossible! That’s just nonsense from the madwoman. I’ve never even heard of this ‘Jade Complexion Balm.’”

Xia Jiugang deliberately said, “If you’ve never heard of it, how could the head wife have uttered those three words? Whether it’s true or not can be tested. Chancellor Xia, what are you afraid of?”

Gao Shanshui of the Zhen’an Office wanted to take the initiative. “I will immediately send someone to find the antidote for ‘Jade Complexion Balm.’”

Pei Xingzhi said, “Lord Gao, I am the chief judge of this case. Even if we are to find the antidote, I will arrange it myself. Why are you in such a hurry?”

Gao Shanshui’s face stiffened. “I only wish to relieve Lord Pei’s burden.”

“That concern is minor compared to the Dali Temple’s matters. Lord Gao, you’d better stay and help me properly try the case. Someone, go to the market and find the antidote for ‘Jade Complexion Balm.’ It’s probably something trivial...”

Jun Bu Wen interrupted mildly, “You may send someone to inquire at the Tianxiang Pavilion.”

Jun Qianye smiled on the surface and said, “Prince Jin, what do you mean? Could Tianxiang Pavilion have ‘Jade Complexion Balm’? How would Prince Jin know about this? Could it be that today’s performance is...”

His tone was playful but carried suspicion that Jun Bu Wen was scheming.

Jun Bu Wen calmly replied, “‘Jade Complexion Balm’ should be a cosmetic product used by women for beauty. I don’t know what effect it would have on a corpse. Tianxiang Pavilion, as the largest brothel in the capital, surely stocks such makeup products. That is why I asked Lord Pei to inquire there. Does the Seventh Prince have any further questions?”

Jun Qianye was left speechless, clenching his fists in anger.

Jun Bu Wen continued, “If the Seventh Prince suspects me of wrongdoing, you may bring in Chief Coroner Zhang. When the antidote is found, let Chief Zhang inspect it, and the truth will naturally emerge.”

At this, the Seventh Prince deflated like a punctured balloon. His previous confident bravado vanished, as if he already foresaw the outcome.

But would proving Xia Jiugang’s innocence be enough? Certainly not. Since Jun Qianye dared to move against her, Xia Jiugang must clip his wings and make sure he feels the sting!