defend

Nevertheless, the snake seemed to be afraid of something, flicking its terrifying tongue and slithering around Xiao Ningzi, but it didn't attack him.

Xiao Ningzi glanced down at the snake beside him out of the corner of his eye, a few beads of cold sweat appearing on his forehead.

Seeing this, Jiang Yi chuckled knowingly, "It seems this snake is feeling sorry for Eunuch Ning and is reluctant to bite him."

Someone questioned, "What does Lady He mean by this?"

"Do you know what's been spilled on the ground? It's high-concentration realgar wine. Of course, snakes wouldn't dare cross this circle. And this kind of black and yellow snake is called a banded krait. It's very venomous. If you don't get treatment in time, you'll probably die on the spot within an hour. Even a miracle worker couldn't save you."

Jiang Yi crossed her arms, tilted her head, and smiled, "Eunuch Ning, that's quite a skill. But I'm more curious how you knew my identity, precisely pointing me in the opposite direction, just in time to run into Miss Shangguan, who was bitten and locked in the side hall..."

"Injustice! I'm innocent! This servant doesn't know what Lady He is saying."

Jiang Yi's smile vanished, and she said coldly, "If you don't know what I'm talking about, then this young lady will just explain it clearly."

“At yesterday’s banquet, Miss Shangguan went to the side hall to change into her dance costume. I followed her out for some fresh air. Just as I was about to come back, I got lost and happened to run into Eunuch Ning, who was in a panic carrying a basket covered with a red cloth. I asked you for directions, and you pointed me in the direction of the side hall where Miss Shangguan was.”

The young eunuch dared not look up at people, but still stubbornly said, "What does this prove? I only recently started serving in the East Palace, and it's possible that I got the way wrong for a moment. Second Madam He, don't slander an innocent person!"

"A good person? Are you?" Jiang Yi sneered, "These things don't prove anything, but you forgot, you smell of realgar wine on you, that's for sure, isn't it? Otherwise, explain why this golden ringed snake didn't bite you."

The young eunuch knelt on the ground, speechless: "Of course..."

Jiang Yi picked up where he left off, saying, "Naturally, it's because you've already applied realgar wine to your body, so the golden ring snake certainly wouldn't dare to bite you. Although the scent has faded a bit after a night, animals are always much more sensitive than humans. It doesn't matter if other people can't smell it, as long as the snake can smell it."

Wu Wenpin, with a face that seemed to enjoy watching the drama unfold, looked down at the slithering golden ringed snake, then narrowed his eyes and looked at Jiang Yi.

"There are many eunuchs and palace maids in the Eastern Palace. How can Madam He be so sure that he is the murderer? Could he be a scapegoat you just randomly picked?"

Jiang Yi looked impatient when she saw that it was him who had raised the question, and couldn't help but click her tongue: "Because the little eunuch who gave me directions yesterday had a limp!! Since the East Palace is sealed off layer by layer, what's so difficult about finding someone?" Idiot!

Wu Wenpin gave a meaningful, drawn-out "Oh," which was followed by murmurs of discussion in the hall.

It's obvious that some people here have been misled by him and don't believe what Jiang Yi said. There's no way around it; from an outsider's perspective, she is indeed highly suspicious.

But that's the truth. She recounted the whole story from beginning to end, even thoughtfully sharing details of how she recognized the murderer, but she still couldn't escape the suspicion of deliberately harming someone.

She frowned her delicate eyebrows. "I'll say it one last time, it wasn't me. If you still have doubts, you can ask Miss Shangguan's personal maid. She knows that I broke the lock on the side hall, and that I was the one who took the first aid measures for Miss Shangguan. I stayed by her side the whole time, and I didn't start the fire in the side hall."

"..."

"That's hard to say!"

"Yes, what Young Master Wu said makes some sense."

"Gentlemen, the matter is still unclear, so I think we should refrain from making wild guesses."

"..."

Hearing the murmurs of the people around her, Jiang Yi frowned even more deeply.

"Miss Shangguan has arrived—"

A voice announced the news from outside the hall.

Then Shangguan Muya walked over unhurriedly, wearing a pale yellow cloak. Everyone made way for her. Behind her were a man and a woman, namely Yin Zhaobai and the little maid who had asked Jiang Yi for help last time.

Upon seeing the golden ringed snake on the ground, Shangguan Muya instinctively stopped in her tracks. Her maidservant quickly stepped forward to help her up. From her violently trembling eyelashes, it was clear that this was no ordinary fear; she was probably traumatized by the creature.

Yin Zhaobo was decisive and swift. He walked straight to the snake and struck first before it could attack. His movements were as fast as lightning, and his knife fell swiftly and decisively.

By the time everyone realized what was happening, the golden ringed snake's blood was splattered everywhere, its body was severed from its head, and its body was writhing wildly on the ground. No one had seen where he had pulled the dagger from...

Yin Zhaobai turned around, grinned, and said to Shangguan Muya, "Miss, don't be afraid, it's just a long worm."

"Long worm?" He called the highly venomous krait "long worm"?

Jiang Yi could actually detect a hint of coaxing and doting in those words. Could it be that Yin Zhaobai likes Shangguan Muya?!

As soon as the idea came to her mind, she couldn't help but glance a few more times at Yin Zhaobai, who was not far away.

Then she turned her head and looked at He Lin next to her. He Lin noticed and looked back at her. Jiang Yi raised her eyebrows, and He Lin followed suit and raised his eyebrows as well.

Jiang Yi: "..."

These pampered young ladies of the capital had never seen anything like this before. One by one, they closed their eyes tightly, opened their mouths wide, and screamed at the top of their lungs. Even the纨绔子弟 (sons of wealthy families who were spoiled and dissolute) were still in shock and couldn't help but swallow hard.

He was just a servant of the Shangguan family, yet he dared to bring weapons into the palace. This alone was enough to charge him with treason. What's more, he dared to make a move in front of His Highness the Crown Prince. Did he have a death wish?

Upon seeing this, the two guards standing on either side of Xiao Ningzi immediately drew their swords, ready to attack Yin Zhaobai.

"Wait!" Shangguan Muya called out to stop her. Her face was pale and her lips were bloodless. Despite feeling unwell, she did not forget where she was.

She stepped forward and apologized, saying, "Your Highness, please forgive me. The servants in the manor did not mean to disturb you. They were just too worried about my safety. Therefore, I hope Your Highness will spare their lives. I am extremely grateful."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi looked at Yin Zhaobai. His eyes were slightly upturned, and he had an arrogant and domineering look. The dagger in his hand was still dripping blood onto the ground. When he heard Shangguan Muya say this, he hurriedly knelt down on the ground and hunched his head down, as if he were a really rude and ignorant person who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth...

Qi Junyuan waved his hand, signaling the guards to step back. The two golden-armored guards below sheathed their swords and returned to their original positions, their expressions indifferent, like two emotionless statues.

"It's alright. How are you feeling, Miss Shangguan?"

Shangguan Muya smiled and said, "I'm much better. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."

"That's good. The imperial physician said that the remaining toxins in your body have not been cleared and you need to rest for a while. Miss Shangguan, is there something important that you have come to the main hall at this time?"

"Yes, Muya has come here to prove someone's innocence."

As she spoke, she looked at Jiang Yi standing next to He Lin, her eyes filled with a smile and tenderness.

"Hearing that Miss Jiang is here, I had no choice but to come."

From the moment Jiang Yi appeared in the main hall, everyone called her Second Madam He. In other people's eyes, it seemed that her identity was just He Lin's wife.

Only Shangguan Muya was the first person to call her Miss Jiang, and because of this, Jiang Yi's favorability towards her increased significantly.

Shangguan Muya slowly walked towards Jiang Yi and finally stopped in front of her.

“Miss Jiang, thank you for saving my life. Please accept my bow.”

As Shangguan Muya was about to bow to Jiang Yi, Jiang Yi was completely stunned and hurriedly grabbed her arms to stop her.

“Oh, Miss Shangguan, you flatter me. I would have done the same if it were anyone else.”

"Regardless, I still have to thank Miss Jiang. If you hadn't broken the lock on the side hall in time and tied my wrists to prevent the poison from spreading, I'm afraid Muya would be in grave danger today..."

Since Shangguan Muya had already made her point so clearly, those who had previously framed Jiang Yi could no longer say anything sarcastic.

"Your Highness, I, Muya, can vouch for Miss Jiang. I urge Your Highness to thoroughly investigate this matter and clear Miss Jiang's name. While Muya's injury today is insignificant, if the Crown Prince is mistakenly harmed in the future, it will damage the very foundation of our Great Liang. We must not allow such traitors to operate with impunity; they must be severely punished..."

Jiang Yi secretly sighed in her heart: Look, this is how a noble lady should be, not bound by petty love affairs.

To put it bluntly, only someone like Shangguan Muya is the standard for a female protagonist in a novel—not only is she of noble birth and beautiful, but she also knows how to consider the bigger picture…

Qi Junyuan nodded: "Lord Jiang."

Jiang Zhi immediately stood up and cupped his fists in greeting: "Yes, Your Excellency understands." After turning around and looking around, he waved his wide sleeves, and the guards, understanding the situation, escorted Xiao Ningzi away.

"Your Highness, I shall take my leave now."

"Please take care, Lord Jiang."

After Jiang Zhi left the main hall, Qi Junyuan walked down the steps and stood in front of everyone.

"I feel truly sorry that you have come to attend my birthday banquet but have been caught up in such a matter. Please forgive me if there has been any inadequacy in our hospitality."

"No, no, Your Highness is too kind."

"It's good that Your Highness is alright."

"Yeah yeah……"

"..."

Many people exchanged pleasantries with Qi Junyuan.

"Little Li, tell Eunuch Wang to open my treasury and pick out a few good items as my apology. Then send someone to properly escort everyone out of the palace."

"Yes." A little eunuch behind Qi Junyuan gestured with his hand and said with a smile, "Please follow me, gentlemen and ladies."

"etc!"

As the group was about to leave, they turned around and saw that it was Jiang Yi who was speaking.

She strode up to a man, narrowed her eyes, and asked, "Who did you say you were?"

Well, now the reckoning is about to begin. Before we even understood what was going on, this guy was the one who stirred up the most trouble by taking advantage of the chaos.

Upon hearing Jiang Yi's question, the people behind Wu Wenpin subtly shifted their feet, keeping a distance from him for fear of being caught in the crossfire. They had truly seen something new today; this person from He Lin's family was not someone to be trifled with.

Wu Wenping's eyes widened, and he said stiffly, "What do you want to do? My father is the Minister of Revenue!"

Jiang Yi sneered: "I didn't ask about your father, I was asking for your name."

"Listen up, I am Wu Wenpin, and I do not change my name or surname!"

"Oh, Wu Wenping, right? Listen up, my surname is Jiang, and my given name is Yi. Please don't call someone 'so-and-so's wife' as soon as you see them next time, because it's really annoying!"

Jiang Yi grinned, tilted her head and gave a fake smile, then her expression turned expressionless.

She, Jiang Yi, is first and foremost Jiang Yi, and only then is she He Lin's wife, the Second Madam He of the General's Mansion!

Almost everyone present was stunned, except for He Lin. If she remembered correctly, His Highness the Crown Prince had also called her Second Lady He at the beginning, right? So, wasn't her saying this also suspected of subtly mocking Qi Junyuan?

I admire you; I have to admire you.

The only one in the Great Liang Dynasty who dared to mock him to his face was the Crown Prince.