Chapter 66: Why Take the Blame for Everything Like a Fool?

Facing the many accusations, the Empress Dowager of the West asked, “Princess Jinxiu, what is all this about?”

Though her expression remained composed, a subtle chill flickered in the Empress Dowager’s gaze as she regarded Xia Jiujiang. If Xia Jiujiang was found guilty today, it would be a perfect opportunity to destroy the imperial marriage bestowed upon Jinxiu Prince and Xia Jiujiang.

Xia Jiujiang curtsied and replied, “Your Majesty, I must state plainly that these are nothing but slander. I have not instructed anyone to meddle in any way.”

“You!” Chancellor Xia drew a deep breath and continued, “Jiang’er, although you are the Princess of Jinxiu, your actions are far beyond the pale. Deliberately sabotaging the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, destroying her gifts, disrupting the festivities, and worst of all, causing her to believe she is an ill-fated person—all these are grave crimes. If you admit your wrongdoing now, perhaps His Majesty will show leniency for a first offense. But if you stubbornly refuse to confess… I fear the outcome for you will be disastrous.”

He put on a show of concern for Xia Jiujiang, but in truth, he was pressing her to admit guilt.

Xia Jiujiang interrupted Xia Wentao, her tone full of disdain. “Father, don’t be so quick to pin the blame on me. Though everyone in the capital considers me a good-for-nothing, I am not foolish enough to take the fall for anything and everything.”

Xia Wentao, feigning heartbreak, replied, “Child… if the evidence is confirmed, then even as your father, I will be powerless to save you.” His earnestness was enough to make one sick.

Help Xia Jiujiang? Xia Wentao’s true nature was to kick her while she was down, not to offer aid. Yet he still wore the guise of a concerned father.

At that moment, Xia Yue’er entered the Jade Hibiscus Hall, having changed into a pale yellow gradient gown from Lotus Harmony Palace, her upper garment embroidered with delicate pink lotus petals and draped with a silvery-white gauze robe. Sensing the tense atmosphere, Xia Yue’er quickly realized something was wrong. Lin Baixue, ever alert, quietly ushered her to her seat from the side.

Xia Jiujiang glanced at Xia Yue’er, a trace of cunning flickering in her eyes. She had intended to expose Jin Mantang’s true nature tonight, but had not expected Minister Wei to intervene. Still, with Xia Yue’er prepared, everything was in place—only the east wind was missing.

Xia Jiujiang needed to act swiftly so that the real drama she had prepared could unfold.

She declared, “Since Father doesn’t believe me, I must prove my innocence, lest the Empress Dowager harbor doubts about me. There are some questions I wish to ask Wang Yang directly. I beg Your Majesty to allow me to confront him face to face.”

Emperor Zongkang replied coolly, “Granted.”

Xia Jiujiang glanced at Wang Yang and said, “If I recall correctly, the Violet Hairpin Pavilion is on West Street. From there to the Jade Hibiscus Hall, it takes at least two hours—certainly not the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Yet the guards brought him here in less than that. How is it possible?”

Minister Wei was momentarily stunned, having expected some other question from Xia Jiujiang. Was she actually complaining that Wang Yang arrived too quickly?

The guard restraining Wang Yang spoke up, “Princess Jinxiu, Wang Yang wasn’t apprehended at the Violet Hairpin Pavilion. He was found just outside the Vermilion Bird Gate, which saved us much time.”

“Oh… so that’s how it was.” Xia Jiujiang deliberately drew out her words, as if she had discovered some hidden intrigue.

Xia Wentao clenched his fists, his expression grave as he watched Xia Jiujiang. What trick was she playing now? Seeing her so at ease, did she really have a way to extricate herself unscathed? Impossible. Xia Jiujiang knew nothing of Minister Wei’s schemes—surely she would be caught off guard.

Xia Jiujiang scoffed. “How odd, indeed. Wang Yang, who should have been at the Violet Hairpin Pavilion, just happened to appear near the Vermilion Bird Gate, as if awaiting the incident in the Jade Hibiscus Hall and eager to be caught. Such eagerness to deliver himself—how impatient.”

With a single remark, the tide turned. Wang Yang’s sudden appearance and his accusations against Xia Jiujiang now seemed highly suspicious.

Jun Buwen watched the unfolding drama with leisure, raising his teacup, the fragrance wafting delicately. He wondered how this spectacle would end.

Jun Qianye found Jun Buwen’s calm and detached demeanor irritating, as though there was tacit understanding between Jun Buwen and Xia Jiujiang, leaving no room for anyone else.

Jun Qianye’s eyes flashed with a sharp, targeted fire. The Fifth Prince, Jun Yixuan, noticed Jun Qianye’s gaze toward Jun Buwen and Xia Jiujiang.

What had seemed a tedious palace banquet suddenly became lively. Jun Yixuan’s usually sullen, sickly eyes now shone with excitement, as if he had found a new toy to amuse himself with.

This Xia Jiujiang truly was an extraordinary woman.

Faced with Xia Jiujiang’s probing, Wang Yang trembled with anger. “I… I just happened to be shopping on Vermilion Bird Street! How is that delivering myself up?”

Xia Jiujiang’s eyes grew sharp. “You claim you were acting on my orders to destroy the Phoenix Hairpin and implicate Minister Wei, do you not?”

Wang Yang shouted, “That’s the truth!”

Xia Jiujiang sneered. “Such an act is a crime that brings destruction upon one’s entire family. Yet from the moment you entered the Jade Hibiscus Hall, you never stopped looking at me—not like someone fearful and obeying orders, but as if desperate for everyone to know I was involved. Your intent is far too obvious.”

There was no hesitation or attempt to shield her. Wang Yang’s every move suggested he was Xia Jiujiang’s man. If that were true, his exposure was far too careless and reckless.

Wang Yang, frustration etched across his face, retorted as though making a last-ditch counterattack, “That’s… that’s because I was dragged here and in such a dangerous moment, the Princess of Jinxiu didn’t help me. Was I supposed to just await my doom? I could only protect myself by naming her.”

Xia Jiujiang’s laugh was laced with biting irony. “If you were truly afraid of death, would you have taken on the task of sabotaging the birthday gift? You accepted because there was profit to be made, yet you betrayed me so easily. Wang the Petty—how self-serving you are.”

She addressed him as "Wang the Petty," a title that suited him perfectly. As Minister Wei’s hatchet man sent to frame her, what else could he be but a petty villain?

Wang Yang cried out angrily, “Since Princess Jinxiu used me and then cast me aside without ever intending to save my life, why should I shield her? I have evidence proving that it was Princess Jinxiu who orchestrated the snapping of the Phoenix Hairpin!”

With that, Wang Yang produced a voucher from the Violet Hairpin Pavilion from his sleeve.

He proclaimed loudly, “To induce me to break the Phoenix Hairpin, Princess Jinxiu gave me an order worth fifty thousand taels of gold at the Violet Hairpin Pavilion. In truth, this was the payment for my deed, disguised as a legitimate order, with the money going straight into my pocket. This voucher even bears the Princess’s personal seal!”