Chapter 116 Hard Resistance
As Huamei spoke, tears streamed down her face. She had always considered Xique her best friend, and the two had relied on each other for many years at Zuifeng Tower.
If the magpie finds a good home, she can only feel envy and offer her blessings; how could she possibly tell anyone about it?
"Magpie, you have never trusted me. You see me as a thorn in your side, afraid that I will ruin your plans."
Years of sisterly affection had long since turned into resentment. If someone hadn't saved her, she would have been cruelly gouged out and tortured to death. How could she have had the strength to prolong her life and go to court to file a complaint?
"Eyebrow painting, no... that's not how it is."
The magpie's scheme was exposed, and she panicked, wanting to find an excuse to refute what the thrush had said, but she couldn't find a reason.
"Sir, the one who impersonated a wealthy man to redeem the lowly girl was a coachman from a carriage company, and Miss Jiang has already found him."
To make it more convincing, Huamei provided another witness.
Soon, the coachman was brought to the courtroom. Lord Zhang asked him a casual question, and the coachman knelt down with trembling legs and confessed honestly.
"The money to redeem the thrush was given by the Magpie Girl. She gave me twenty taels as a reward, so that I could redeem the thrush and sell her into a brothel."
The coachman knelt on the ground trembling. He had lost money gambling and almost had his hand chopped off. He happened to meet a magpie, who offered him a way to make money. The coachman agreed without hesitation.
"Magpie, do you have anything else to say?"
The two witnesses gave consistent accounts. If someone were to go to Zuifeng Tower to ask Granny Feng about what happened that day, Huamei's story could be confirmed.
As for the fact that Magpie was pregnant, it was impossible to hide it from Granny Feng. It's just that Granny Feng turned a blind eye to it later.
"If you're not my flesh and blood, why do you look so alike?"
Jiang Huai glanced at Pipi and felt dizzy, almost fainting. For his son's sake, he was willing to let Xu Shi and Baozhu feel heartbroken. Who would have thought that it was all Hua Niang Xique's scheme? If he really accepted it, not only would the Jiang family's property be given to outsiders, but he himself would also become a cuckold!
Jiang Huai realized what was happening and felt a surge of anger. How dare the magpie come to the Jiang family to extort money if there wasn't a complete countermeasure?
If Huamei dies, there will be no way to verify the truth. Even if Jiang Huai has doubts, he will still have to admit that Pipi is the one to be implicated.
"There are many people in this world who look alike, but not all of them are related by blood."
The matter is clear; there's no need to say more.
"Sir, please wait a moment."
Jiang Baozhu noticed that Lord Zhang was about to leave the court and quickly stopped him, saying, "My lord, something is amiss."
"Oh, what's so strange about it?"
Normally, Lord Zhang wouldn't pay any attention to the young woman below the hall, since the unreliability of blood-drop kinship testing had been proven. He was preparing to write a letter to his elder brother in the capital, which would be a tremendous achievement.
Therefore, Lord Zhang was more patient with Jiang Baozhu than usual.
"My lord, Magpie Hua has been in Zuifeng Tower for many years and has never asked to be redeemed. Suddenly she has targeted the Jiang family and framed Huamei, which has cost a lot of money."
Moreover, it not only costs money, but also requires understanding the Jiang family's situation and Jiang Huai's psychology. Knowing that he went out to sell goods and then precisely targeted them for staged accidents, there must be someone behind it.
He Xing stood outside the courtroom, listening to Jiang Baozhu's eloquent explanation. He narrowed his eyes, a fierce glint flashing in them.
He underestimated her; Jiang Baozhu is truly remarkable, managing to turn the tables even in this situation.
However, He Xing was not stupid; he had already made plans, and the magpie would never betray him.
"Magpie, tell the truth, are there any other masterminds?"
Lord Zhang thought Jiang Baozhu's words made sense and asked her the question.
"My lord, there is no mastermind."
Magpie gritted her teeth and refused to admit it, no matter how Lord Zhang explained.
The person said that if she were exposed, she would go to jail, while Pipi was innocent and would have to beg for food everywhere. If she was willing to take the blame herself, the person would give Pipi to a kind person to take care of.
For this reason, the magpie gritted its teeth and endured.
Magpie accepted all the charges, and Lord Zhang gave her twenty lashes, but still couldn't get her to utter a single word.
Jiang Baozhu was slightly disappointed that she hadn't been able to find out who was behind it, but she became more vigilant, knowing that her family was already being targeted.
After resolving the Jiang family matter, Lin Yuesha wanted to go home, but was stopped by Lord Zhang.
"Little girl, how do you know that blood-drop kinship testing is unreliable?"
Lord Zhang had his advisor serve tea and water to Lin Yuesha, a question lingering in his mind.
"My lord, this is actually due to my naughtiness when I was young."
Lin Yuesha had already prepared her story and fabricated a whole tale. She claimed that when she was a child, Chen would kill a chicken, and the chicken blood would be poured into a bowl. Her hand was injured, and some of her blood would drip into the bowl; somehow, her blood mixed with the chicken blood.
If integration means becoming family, then is that old hen also a relative of hers?
In her youthful ignorance, after several attempts at debating, Lin Yuesha discovered the secret within.
Of course, such nonsense cannot stand scrutiny, and Lord Zhang is not looking to get to the bottom of things; he only needs the conclusion.
"Moonlight Maiden, you have made a great contribution to this official and to the yamen, so this time you must reward me handsomely."
Lord Zhang stroked his beard and finally decided that the yamen would provide fifty taels of silver as a reward for Lin Yuesha.
This amount of silver is a considerable sum for ordinary people, but it's nothing to Lord Zhang.
"If you ever need my help in the future, just come to the yamen."
Lord Zhang's words are worth far more than fifty taels of silver.
Lin Yuesha, of course, wouldn't miss the opportunity to curry favor with someone powerful. She seized the opportunity and said a few more nice words, flattering Lord Zhang until he was completely elated.
Lord Zhang was pleased and had his constables deliver the reward money and escort Lin Yuesha home.
As soon as the group arrived at the door, they saw Master Xuan leading his servants, carrying sticks, coming towards them.
Having been frightened away twice by the little maid and the shrew, Master Xuan couldn't swallow his anger and felt very choked up.
He recalled carefully, then went to Zuifeng Tower again to show Lin Yuesha's portrait to Granny Feng. Granny Feng confirmed that she had seen someone similar, not a little girl, but a young master.
Hmph, a woman dressed as a man, of course she's the young master.
With evidence, Master Xuan became even more fearless. He returned to his residence, summoned his servants, and stormed into the house in a menacing manner.
If a shrew dares to throw a tantrum, he will reason with her and tell her the truth. If she has the guts, she can take it to court. After all, it's not him who will lose his reputation!
"Well, little rascal, you're finally back!"
Upon seeing Lin Yuesha, Master Xuan ordered his men to arrest her. Just as he moved, the constables behind him arrived.
Master Xuan stood there stunned, frowning and pondering for a while. It must be that the little girl was trying to scam someone, and she was brought back by the yamen. Serves her right!
"Master Xuan, you've come to visit again?"
Lin Yuesha smiled. Some people won't get up until they suffer a great loss, and they're always restless. Before she could even make a move, Master Xuan came to cause trouble again. Perfect timing!
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