Chapter 80 Drug Testing
Xiao Yuyao lagged half a step behind, reached out and grabbed Caihe, making as if to leave:
"Stop talking, Caihe, stop talking, let's go..."
In an instant, a dozen or so boys and girls around looked over.
Humans are naturally gossipy, and the opportunity to witness sisters bickering in person at such a gathering is rare.
When Caihe saw people gathering around, she spoke in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for them to hear clearly:
"Fifth Miss, is Chunwen perhaps feeling guilty and trying to destroy the evidence?"
"You've always been jealous of our young lady's gentleness and dignity, and that she's better than you in every way. You've done a lot of shameful things behind her back. Today is a palace banquet, and you still dare to harm our young lady like this. It's a shame that she really considered you her best friend."
Xiao Yuyao was crying pitifully behind her, leaving those present somewhat bewildered.
I had long heard that the Xiao family’s biological daughter was supposedly a vulgar, arrogant, and ill-mannered person who also liked to bully her adopted daughter. Later, she entered a girls’ school, attended poetry gatherings, and came to the palace banquet today. The rumors had just been dispelled, so how come they have been proven wrong again?
What is the truth? They are becoming increasingly confused.
This little maid is so disrespectful to her master, it's clear she's prepared to be kicked out of the Xiao family. She's so reckless, she probably doesn't need to lie, right?
Various gazes fell upon Xiao Yuxuan, and they themselves were somewhat unsure of what to do.
"With just a few words, you dare to make false accusations? Miss Xiao, is this the good maidservant you have by your side?"
Qi Minying stepped out from the crowd and stood beside Xiao Yuxuan:
“Some things are not true just because they sound true. There is no evidence, but you two are acting out the story so convincingly.”
“Princess Min-young, I really didn’t… Chae-ho, don’t be impulsive. Let’s talk about this when we get home. Maybe, maybe there’s some misunderstanding…”
Xiao Yuyao wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.
When Caihe first saw the princess, she was still a little unsure of herself, but Xiao Yuyao secretly pinched her lower back hard, and she spoke through gritted teeth:
"How can there be no evidence? It's just that our young lady is thinking of sisterly affection and doesn't want to embarrass Fifth Miss in public, so she didn't let me take it out."
Zheng Yanling also sneered:
"If we really cared about sisterly affection, we wouldn't have let you jump out and play this ugly role."
Caihe took something out of her sleeve and said:
“This is the evidence! Not long after our young lady fell ill, I happened to see Chunwen sneaking out, trying to avoid being seen. I became suspicious and followed her quietly. Unexpectedly, I found this item she had dropped right behind her.”
She was holding a small, square paper packet in her hand, half-open, with some residual light yellow powder in the corner.
"This is a paper packet that Chunwen dropped from her sleeve. It contains croton powder. If the princess and Miss Zheng do not believe it, they can have the imperial physician examine it!"
There were also bystanders who never empathized with any of them and didn't believe the explanation, finding it all baffling.
"Who knows if you prepared this all along to frame someone?"
Conviction requires both the perpetrator and the evidence to be convicted, not just whoever shouts the loudest.
"Fifth Miss, are you afraid to let someone come and examine her?!"
Caihe's expression seemed to say that not daring to let anyone test it was to confirm that she was the one who gave Xiao Yuyao the croton powder.
Xiao Yuxuan saw the paper package, but her expression remained calm and composed.
"Speaking of which, I was just about to send someone to look for Chunwen. Since Fourth Sister and Caihe found Chunwen's behavior suspicious, why didn't they come to inform me and discuss it with me first? Instead, they were so aggressive in front of everyone. People who don't know the situation might think that we sisters have been at odds for a long time."
With a few light, evasive words, she successfully changed Xiao Yuyao's expression.
The expressions of those around them also became subtle.
Yes, sisters from prominent families living under the same roof often bicker. Even if they can't respect and love each other, they usually resolve their conflicts at home. Bringing things out in the open and making a spectacle of themselves for others is not worth it.
This Xiao Yuyao is either malicious and deliberately made the maid say that so that Xiao Yuxuan would also lose face.
They are either stupid and weak, unable to even control their own maids, yet they dare to interrogate their masters in front of princes and princesses.
Regardless of which possibility it is, their impression of Xiao Yuyao has decreased somewhat.
Across the crowd, Qi Huan's gaze fell on Xiao Yuyao, his expression particularly impatient.
He originally wanted to please Xiao Yuxuan and then bring the Xiao family under his control, but who knew she would jump out again.
He hadn't even exchanged a few words with Xiao Yuxuan yet; it was truly a disturbance.
"Miss Xiao is right. This maid's words are clearly meant to sow discord. If we let her off lightly today, everyone will surely follow suit in the future, and wouldn't our dynasty's hierarchy be thrown into chaos? Killing this wicked servant is just the right way to make an example of her!"
Upon hearing Qi Huan's words, Xiao Yuyao's eyes widened suddenly.
He's going to punish Caihe because of Xiao Yuxuan?!
If these words had come from anyone else, Xiao Yuyao would not have been so heartbroken and shocked. But it was Qi Huan, the fourth prince who had discussed poetry and aspirations with her under the moon and flowers, and who had confided in her and considered her a confidant!
Could it be that, just because of that little embarrassment just now, he has completely abandoned me?
Caihe turned pale with fright, her knees buckled, and she knelt down with a thud.
If it were Princess Min-young, she could still muster the courage to retort, after all, she was once Hong-joo, just one of the little maids under her command who could be summoned and dismissed at will.
But the Fourth Prince... he is the son of the Imperial Concubine, whose status is second only to the Crown Prince. How could she dare to offend him?
"Fourth Prince, spare my life! I didn't mean it! I was just indignant on behalf of my young lady..."
Xiao Yuyao stood in front of Caihe, resolutely kneeling down. Her small face was as pale as paper, looking haggard and pitiful. She said:
"Fourth Prince, it's all my fault. I failed to discipline Caihe properly. I beg Your Highness to consider our past relationship and not hold it against Caihe. Please forgive her this time."
In the past, Qi Huan would have been completely smitten with this. Every time he saw Xiao Yuyao's delicate appearance, he would forget everything else. But now, when he looks at her face, he finds her to be just average.
He meticulously examined Xiao Yuyao's hair, skin, and facial features, finding fault with everything about her, feeling that nothing could compare to her younger sister, Xiao Yuxuan.
He thought that this was probably just men's nature; once they had a new love, they naturally looked down on their old one.
"Past relationships?"
Duke Huan of Qi seemed to have heard a joke:
"Miss Xiao, please be careful with your words. We're just nodding acquaintances, why are you bringing up past relationships? Don't say anything that might cause misunderstandings."
His few words made Xiao Yuyao feel as if she had fallen into the dead of winter, and she shivered with cold.
Sure enough, sure enough.
She suffered a double loss today, not only being tricked by Xiao Yuxuan, but also by the Fourth Prince...
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