Chapter 60: The Little Fox Is Truly Mischievous

Since no one was willing to help Xia Jiujiang, she had no choice but to defend herself. Yet, when she spoke, everyone present was inexplicably startled. They thought she had reached a dead end, but instead, she calmly and openly declared her intention to prove her innocence.

Emperor Zongkang was momentarily taken aback, his gaze at Xia Jiujiang subtly changing. Indeed, Xia Jiujiang had been leading Princess Anya by the nose from the very start.

Jun Buwen, upon hearing Xia Jiujiang’s words, allowed a slight curve to grace his lips. The icy, unapproachable expression he usually wore seemed to melt in a ray of sunlight, revealing a gentle softness in his countenance as he fixed his eyes on Xia Jiujiang.

Xia Jiujiang said, “As Princess Anya described, Xia Yue’er was walking ahead of her, and Princess Anya was walking in front of me. Because I supposedly pushed Princess Anya, she fell into the water and dragged Xia Yue’er down as well. Is that correct?”

Princess Anya exploded in anger, “What do you mean, is that correct? That’s exactly how it happened! Are you still trying to argue?”

Suddenly, Xia Jiujiang changed the subject. “Yue’er, did you notice anything new on you?”

Xia Yue’er was taken aback. Her clothes were drenched; did Xia Jiujiang mean to say she had more lake water on her? It seemed rather puzzling.

Princess Anya pointed at Xia Jiujiang and snapped, “Stop changing the subject! You said you’d prove your innocence, but you’re just stalling because you have no evidence. Stop being stubborn if you can’t produce proof.”

Xia Jiujiang found this rather amusing and continued, “When Yue’er was rescued, I noticed the sachet that used to hang on me had disappeared, only to appear on Yue’er. It must have gotten entangled with hers when she fell into the water.”

After Xia Jiujiang spoke, Xia Yue’er looked down and saw, to her surprise, an unfamiliar sachet entwined with her own at her waist. So that was what Xia Jiujiang meant by something extra.

Xia Jiujiang pointed to the sachet. “This is my evidence.”

Emperor Zongkang narrowed his eyes. With this one sentence, Xia Jiujiang had easily won the day. It seemed all those rumors of her being useless were nothing but lies.

Princess Anya burst out laughing. “A mere sachet tangled on Xia Yue’er is your so-called evidence? You must be completely out of ideas to spout such nonsense.”

Emperor Zongkang looked at Princess Anya with a hint of disappointment in his eyes, and even the ladies present changed their expressions as they gazed at her.

Princess Anya protested furiously, “What are you all looking at? How can a sachet be proof of anything? Xia Jiujiang is just clutching at straws!”

One could not tell if Princess Anya was truly foolish or simply pretending to be; with such a mind, she still dared to try and push Xia Jiujiang into the water. Clearly, her own head was waterlogged.

Xia Jiujiang turned to Emperor Zongkang and said, “The sachet on Yue’er proves what I said earlier—I was standing behind her. Only then could my sachet become entwined with hers when she fell. If, as Princess Anya claimed, I was at the back and she stood in front of me, how could my sachet have gotten past her to tangle with Yue’er’s at her waist?”

Xia Jiujiang’s words made it clear that Princess Anya’s account was false; therefore, it was impossible for Xia Jiujiang to have pushed Princess Anya into the water. The sachet was indeed evidence. Such a simple truth, yet Princess Anya failed to grasp it.

Emperor Zongkang adopted a stern expression. “Anya, do you have anything else to say? The Princess of Jin has presented evidence—she was not the one who pushed you or Xia Yue’er. You fell in by your own carelessness. What more is there to discuss?”

Princess Anya’s lips quivered. “I... I…”

Xia Jiujiang spoke up to ease the tension for Princess Anya. “Perhaps Princess Anya was confused after falling into the water and thus became muddled. I will not take offense at her misspeaking.”

The ladies were astonished by Princess Anya’s aggressive targeting of Xia Jiujiang, yet Xia Jiujiang did not take the chance to kick her while she was down.

But Xia Jiujiang understood Princess Anya’s character thoroughly, and so she deliberately spoke in this manner. On the surface, it seemed as though she was helping Princess Anya, but to Princess Anya herself, Xia Jiujiang’s words were particularly grating.

Princess Anya burst out angrily, “How dare you say I was muddled! I’ll have you know my mind is perfectly clear—”

A smile of triumph flickered across Xia Jiujiang’s face. “Then, Princess Anya, if your mind is so clear, why did you remember my position incorrectly and claim I pushed you and Xia Yue’er?”

Princess Anya was left speechless. “I... I... at that time… my mind wasn’t clear…”

Xia Jiujiang almost couldn’t contain her laughter as she watched Princess Anya, who had been so furious before, now forced to swallow all her anger and admit her confusion. Truly, it was a hard lesson for Princess Anya.

Seeing Xia Jiujiang’s mischievous grin, Jun Buwen was immensely pleased. This little fox was wicked indeed, bullying Princess Anya so deftly.

Xia Jiujiang had easily defused Princess Anya’s assault, leaving her speechless, while Xia Yue’er stood there, her face pale, her drenched body shivering in the cold wind. She had not witnessed the scene she had hoped for.

Xia Jiujiang cast a sidelong glance at Xia Yue’er. “However, if Princess Anya fell in by herself, how did you end up in the water, Yue’er? Didn’t you say someone pushed you from behind?”

Mentioned by Xia Jiujiang, Xia Yue’er’s face stiffened. She had counted on Princess Anya to deal with Xia Jiujiang, but Princess Anya was no match for her at all. Thankfully, Xia Yue’er had not openly sided with Princess Anya against Xia Jiujiang earlier, or she would have left a terrible impression on Emperor Zongkang.

Reluctantly, Xia Yue’er said, “It must have been chaos after Princess Anya fell in. I must have lost my footing and imagined being pushed.”

A faint, mocking smile played about Xia Jiujiang’s lips as she regarded Xia Yue’er, as if ridiculing her current plight. Xia Yue’er clenched her fists in frustration.

She muttered inwardly, Let Xia Jiujiang gloat for now—at the Empress Dowager’s banquet later, I’ll show her what true humiliation is.

Princess Anya, seeing Xia Jiujiang’s smug expression, was so furious she could hardly see straight. Suddenly, a group emerged from the eastern path, led by Nanny Chun, whose bruised and swollen face was unmistakable as she hurried over with a group of eunuchs.

At the sight of Nanny Chun’s appearance, Xia Jiujiang clutched her chest with mock alarm. “In broad daylight, I nearly thought I’d seen a ghost.”

Nanny Chun’s face, already unrecognizable, darkened even further at Xia Jiujiang’s words. She knelt heavily before Emperor Zongkang. “Your Majesty, please grant justice! I have served in the palace for decades, but never before—never before have I been beaten into such a state. I beg Your Majesty to punish the Princess of Jin severely!”