Chapter 48 Provocation
Bai Qingyi was sad for a moment and started crying mournfully, which made the atmosphere in the room extremely sad.
Cheng Yan frowned: "You brought so many people with you, why didn't anyone seize the opportunity to capture Miss Jiang?"
Bai Qingyi paused, lowered her eyes and sobbed, "After pushing me into the water, she jumped in herself and even tried to drown me. The servants in the mansion rushed to rescue her, but she escaped."
Cheng Yan looked at Bai Qingyi, frowning and asking, "Since Madam Zhang was pushed into the water and nearly died, why didn't she report it to the authorities? Instead, it was the person Madam Zhang mentioned as the perpetrator who reported it to the authorities?"
Bai Qingyi shook her head. "Your Excellency doesn't know. I've always been kind, and I thought she might have been confused for a moment, so I only told my cousin and aunt, and told the servants not to talk too much. But I didn't expect the evildoer to turn the tables on me!"
“Pah pah pah!”
Jiang Qingning raised her hands and applauded, praising her words: "You are indeed a talented woman. Even when you tell lies, you can still make sense."
"If I hadn't presented the evidence now, I'm afraid I would have fallen into your trap today."
A look of panic flashed across Bai Qingyi's eyes. She looked at Jiang Qingning nervously, her beautiful brows slightly furrowed, and was helped up by her maid Xiaotao and walked forward.
Bai Qingyi bowed weakly to Chengyan, her pale expression full of embarrassment.
"Your Excellency, I don't know. I should have kept silent, but now that things have come to this and I'm being slandered, I have no choice but to speak out and complain."
Cheng Yan looked at her with an indifferent expression, his cold eyes without a trace of emotion.
"What kind of suffering are you talking about? Is there any proof?"
Bai Qingyi was delighted and stepped forward excitedly: "Yes, my maid lives with me in Anping Marquis's mansion every day, so she naturally knows Jiang Qingning's style. She has long been..."
When Butler Zhang heard this, disgust flashed in his eyes. After a while, he looked at Zhang Li, who already knew the whole story.
What choice will the eldest son make?
Will he help his wife cover up the evil deeds she has done, or will he help Miss Jiang to give her justice?
"If it's just the maid's identification, then it doesn't count."
Cheng Yan slammed the table and shouted, looking at Bai Qingyi coldly. Bai Qingyi looked up in panic, her face full of confusion.
Bai Qingyi was shocked: "Why?"
Cheng Yan shook his head: "The maid you are talking about is your attendant maid?"
Bai Qingyi hurriedly explained: "Xiao Tao grew up with me, so naturally she can trust me."
Jiang Qingning did not miss Bai Qingyi's panic-stricken expression, and she pressed forward step by step.
"Why, Madam Zhang, don't you believe what I say?"
"Why do I feel like Madam Zhang seems... guilty?"
Jiang Qingning frowned slightly, with a sarcastic look on his face. He moved closer with inquiring eyes and looked at Bai Qingyi, whose neck was shivering.
"Jiang Qingning, don't go too far."
Xun Chen stood in front of Bai Qingyi, protecting her tightly behind him.
"What the Earl of Anping said is not true. Everyone knows that this maidservant is Madam Zhang's maidservant who came with her as a dowry. She agrees with whatever Madam Zhang says. This is how loyal servants have been around since ancient times."
"Besides, as an official of the imperial court, is it possible that the Earl of Anping doesn't understand this principle? Is he determined to favor his own family? Do you know that the law does not allow you to be partial to others?"
Cheng Yan's face looked very ugly. He took in Xun Chen's pale and blue face, but did not give him any chance to refute. He just raised his hand and gave orders.
"Go to the Anping Marquis's mansion and randomly check a few servants. Things like this naturally require the perspective of an onlooker."
Bai Qingyi felt relieved after hearing this and spoke softly, "Why don't you invite my aunt, the old lady of Anping, to come along. As Miss Jiang's former mother-in-law, she naturally has a lot to say."
Cheng Yan thought about it for a moment and nodded in agreement. He raised his hand to direct the chief clerk, who immediately summoned people to invite them.
"This is a matter of Miss Jiang's reputation and whether Mrs. Zhang's words can be trusted. As long as the outcome of this matter is determined, this case will be closed."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Qingning stepped forward and knelt in greeting. "Sir, this case not only concerns my reputation, but also the innocence and credibility of my Jiang family's children. Qingning requests a debate with Madam Zhang to prove her innocence."
Bai Qingyi suddenly became panicked. She looked up at Xun Chen blankly, who patted her hand comfortingly, telling her not to worry.
Suddenly, a piercing gaze came straight at Bai Qingyi, causing her heart to palpitate.
She thought of something and turned around in panic, and saw Zhang Li staring at the tightly clasped hands of the two cousins with a half-smile on his face.
Bai Qingyi thought about her wedding day eight years ago. She had just drunkenly called out "cousin" to Zhang Li, and he had deliberately ignored her for eight years. Now, when they shook hands, she didn't know what was waiting for her.
Thinking of this, Bai Qingyi pulled her hand back in fear and looked at Zhang Li sadly, eager to seek his pity: "Husband..."
"Madam, please do your duty and call my eldest son your husband!"
Butler Zhang was even angrier than Zhang Li. After all, he was the old butler of the Zhang family and the elder who had watched Zhang Li grow up since he was a child. At this moment, he even felt that the entire Zhang family was in trouble.
"you!"
Bai Qingyi was both shocked and angry. She was shocked by Zhang Li's increasingly indifferent expression, and angry at Butler Zhang's rudeness towards her.
"Brother-in-law, you should also take good care of Qingyi. Otherwise, why would she accompany her mother and honor the elders every day instead of staying by your side?"
Xun Chen snorted coldly and did not think highly of Zhang Li. Although this man looked like Pan An, his personality was as cold as a wall of ice.
He had greeted Zhang Li with a smile many times because of their marriage relationship, but the other party had never taken him seriously. He was really uncultured and hateful!
"Miss Jiang's request is not uncommon in the yamen. It is quite normal. I will allow you to debate."
Cheng Yan had no time to care about the grudges between these people. He nodded under the pressured gaze of the wife of Duke Qin, smiled helplessly in his heart, and raised his hand to approve Jiang Qingning's request.
Jiang Qingning stood up and bowed respectfully: "Thank you, Mr. Tongzhi."
Bai Qingyi felt inexplicably flustered, and she held Xiaotao's hand tightly. The latter clearly felt her gradually tightening strength, and red marks were left on her skin.
Xiao Tao's face was pale, but she still held Bai Qingyi steadily, looking like a loyal servant.
"Cousin, I'm so scared of her." Bai Qingyi's eyes were red and she burst into tears.
"Don't be afraid, cousin. I'm by your side. I believe in you no matter what."
Xun Chen felt pity for Bai Qingyi and was gentle and coaxing her, but Jiang Qingning was filled with only cold disgust.
"Nowadays, it's not taboo. Since ancient times, cousins have always had a very close relationship. Some people even enjoy being together under the moonlight."
"The world is going downhill, the world is going downhill!"
Butler Zhang coughed heavily a few times and stopped watching with disgust.
Jiang Qingning didn't care about her deliberate provocation at all. Don't think she didn't see it.
Whenever Bai Qingyi came into contact with Xun Chen sadly, he would look at her very deliberately.
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