With a shout to stop her, Yuan Bao'er swaggered in, striking a pose as she did so. She tossed her handkerchief aside, and immediately a maid brought over a soft stool for her to sit on.
Judging from her noble demeanor, she must have come from an extraordinary background and be of high status. Looking at the dignified and composed nanny beside her, the prefect was even more certain of his guess.
The prefect tried hard to recall the identities and portraits of the princesses and noblewomen in the capital.
The eldest princess had been married for many years, and every time she went out, she was accompanied by a grand procession, led by royal guards, displaying an extraordinary presence. The woman before him was clearly not one of them.
The second and third princesses are already married, but they rarely appear in public, which makes their future uncertain.
The fourth princess...is awaiting marriage and has always kept a low profile.
The fifth and sixth princesses died young.
The seventh, eighth, and ninth princesses were still young.
As for princesses... there are too many to list.
The prefect, unable to guess the identity of the person before him, adjusted his official hat and tentatively asked, "May I ask which family's daughter you are, young lady?"
Yuan Bao'er maintained her composure and remained silent.
The old nanny beside her said respectfully, "This is a county princess personally bestowed by the Empress Dowager."
"County...County Princess?"
The prefect didn't react for a moment.
On the contrary, the onlookers reacted faster.
"A county princess personally bestowed by the Empress Dowager? Then... isn't that the Fifth Prince's wife?"
"What Fifth Prince's Consort! She's the deposed Fifth Prince's Consort! I heard she was weak and sickly by nature, but she doesn't seem like it."
"What do you mean cowardly? You're out of the loop! This former Fifth Prince's consort is a ruthless character! In just a few days, she's turned the Yuan family into a laughingstock throughout the capital!"
The prefect's face immediately turned ugly.
A deposed prince's wife, who had only been granted the title of county princess, was putting on such airs. I immediately sat up straight, cleared my throat, and said, "Even if you are a county princess, you cannot barge into the courtroom and obstruct the trial!"
"When did this county magistrate stop the trial?"
Yuan Bao'er exclaimed in surprise, "I'm no different from the others outside. We're all here to watch the judges conduct the trial. Oh... and by the way, we're here to let the Empress Dowager know about the trial process and results. If anyone dares to use torture, coercion, or bribery..."
"If Your Majesty the Empress Dowager wishes to pursue this matter, there's nothing I can do. After all, this is Your Majesty's decree, and I'm just a minor county princess. How can I disobey Your Majesty's orders? So, sir, please handle the case properly and don't disappoint Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
After saying that, she smiled slightly, implying that if he dared to use torture, she would dare to complain.
Prefect: "..."
Why is the Empress Dowager being dragged into this again?
To show that she was simply watching the play, Yuan Bao'er deliberately got up and asked the nanny to move the soft stool to the side.
The onlookers exchanged glances, while the troublemakers exchanged looks and chose to remain still. After all, the troublemakers were just there to watch the show and were only sitting closer because of their status.
Seeing that the prefect was speechless, the clerk quickly stepped forward and said, "The witnesses and evidence are all there. Even the Empress Dowager cannot forcibly interfere with the trial. Your Excellency... don't be frightened by her. His Highness... is still waiting for your good news."
Another bead of cold sweat appeared on the prefect's forehead.
The Empress Dowager and the princes—neither of them can be offended. Forget it, torture is out of the question.
Then, he slammed the gavel!
"Anyone who disrupts the trial will be punished the same as the criminal!"
Xiangling hurriedly pushed Li Yunxuan away, "Brother Li, please...please don't hit me, it's my fault for dragging you into this..."
Li Yunxuan refused to let go, shouting, "Xiangling is my fiancée. If she is guilty, I am willing to share the guilt with her!"
"If you want to convict me, please provide evidence!"
The prefect was secretly pleased to hear this, since it was he who had said it himself.
"Guards! Bring all the witnesses in!"
At a command.
An old woman and a couple were brought to the courtroom.
The couple rushed at Xiangling as soon as they saw her, crying out, "Ahhh! Give me back my son's life!"
Xiangling was unable to dodge in time and was tackled to the ground.
Li Yunxuan pulled Xiangling into his arms and shielded her tightly, using his body to block the barrage of punches and kicks. He took several blows to his face and arms.
The prefect immediately ordered his men to pull them apart, shouting, "Insolence—"
"My lord, I beg you, my lord, to do justice for this woman!"
The woman cried so bitterly, her voice was so pitiful that it broke one's heart.
"My poor child! He died such a tragic death!"
People around cast sympathetic and angry glances at him.
Xiangling's eyes were filled with grievance and helplessness as she choked out, "I really didn't poison you..."
"It's you! It's definitely you! Granny Wang says she saw you put something in the meat with her own eyes!"
"I thought you were willing to feed your children meat, but it turns out... it's just a last meal to send them off on their way!"
The woman beat her chest and stamped her feet, crying out, "I shouldn't have listened to my child and let him eat that last meal!"
The prefect interrogated the old woman in the courtroom, "Did you see her with your own eyes that she poisoned the meat?"
"Yes! Your Honor! I saw it with my own eyes!"
Granny Wang slapped her thigh and accused, "They tricked the child into coming here, then gave him nothing to eat or wear. The rare glimpse of meat they gave him was poisoned! Oh my goodness, I've never seen such a cruel family before!"
"You're talking nonsense—"
Xiangling pointed at the old woman, trembling all over, "Nonsense! Nonsense! Jin Youfang has never lacked food and clothing. It is clearly you, old woman, who has taken the children's food and clothing, and... and you still dare to slander the Jin family here!"
"I'm innocent, Your Honor! If I had stolen anything, may I be struck by lightning! Can you honestly say you didn't add anything to the meat?"
A hint of smugness flashed in the old woman's eyes.
Xiangling's face turned pale instantly, and she forced a smile as she explained, "I... I did add something, but it was..."
"My lord! She confessed! She was the one who poisoned me!"
The old woman immediately shouted loudly.
"No...no no no! I didn't! I didn't!" Xiangling shook her head, clutching the hem of her clothes tightly, her eyes filled with panic and fear.
Her voice trembled, as if an invisible force was choking her.
"I added my secret seasoning... there's absolutely no problem!"
Xiangling tried to explain, but her words sounded weak, and her eyes were filled with helplessness and despair, as if the whole world had collapsed at that moment.
"Pah! What kind of seasoning is this? It's clearly poison!"
The old woman pulled out a purse. "Sir, this is her purse! Whether it contains poison or not, we can find out with a check!"
Xiangling stared wide-eyed in disbelief. It was indeed the purse she used to hold seasonings. How could it be in that old woman's hands!
"Is this your purse?"
The prefect shouted a question.
Xiangling's face turned deathly pale, and she cried out hoarsely, "This is indeed my purse, but it only contains some seasonings!"
The prefect slammed his gavel. "I have had it examined, and it is indeed poisoned with the poisonous herb, Gelsemium elegans! Do you plead guilty?"
"No! I didn't!"
Xiangling shook her head desperately, a hint of despair gradually rising in her eyes.
The prefect slammed his gavel down heavily. "The evidence is conclusive! Guards—take the criminal away!"
"No—I didn't! I didn't—"
Xiangling suddenly looked up, a resolute glint in her eyes, "Brother Li! Believe me! I really didn't!"
The words had barely left his mouth!
Xiangling suddenly rammed into the wall pillar!
"Stop her!"
Yuan Bao'er jumped up in fright and cried out!
Li Yunxuan was furious and lunged forward, only managing to tear off a piece of her clothes. With a loud thud, Xiangling crashed headfirst into a pillar, bleeding profusely!
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