Chapter 249 Proving One's Innocence
Jiang Zhi looked at him with a half-smile, "General Xie, why don't you hurry up and go to greet him?"
Xie Qi frowned and coughed lightly. "She must have come for Lin Yan. Why don't you come with me? That way we can talk things out with her."
This will also help prove my innocence.
The three of them went to the front hall.
Today, Lin Qiyun wore a silver fox-collar satin jacket with a dark pattern. Her whole outfit was pure white, and her appearance was beautiful. There was a gentle smile on her lips. She looked noble and elegant. She was clearly a noble lady carefully cultivated by a prestigious family.
Seeing Xie Qi enter, she bowed respectfully to him, "Qiyun greets General Xie."
Seeing Jiang Zhi and Lu Yuan behind her, the surprise in her eyes was fleeting, "Who are these two...?"
Xie Qi ordered his servants to serve tea. "This is Miss Ji. You should have met her at the Frost Festival. As for the other one—"
Xie Qi glanced at Lu Yuan and snorted, "Insignificant, ignore him."
Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow, not taking it to heart.
He was investigating a case in Yaocheng and did not want to reveal his identity.
"So this is Miss Ji," Lin Qiyun bowed to Jiang Zhi. "On behalf of the people of Yaocheng, I thank Miss Ji for her generous donation of medicine."
Jiang Zhi laughed, "It's alright, these were all bought with money from General Xie. If anyone should be thanking someone, it's the General."
Lin Qiyun was startled.
Xie Qi had never mentioned this matter before.
The people of Yaocheng only knew that it was Miss Ji who sent the medicine that saved them, but they didn't expect that Xie Qi had also contributed money.
But why didn't he say it?
Was it all to promote Miss Ji and enhance her reputation that allowed her to become a saint?
"I see. It's all thanks to Miss Ji for bringing the medicine in time. I deserve your thanks."
At this moment, Xie Qi impatiently asked, "Miss Lin, what brings you here so late at night?"
A young woman came to his place late at night, and Zhizhi almost misunderstood her.
Lin Qiyun's gaze fell on Jiang Zhi's swollen face, her eyes filled with apology. "General Xie must know that I've come to apologize today. My brother was rude and impulsive, which offended Miss Ji. I've come here specifically to apologize."
She spoke earnestly, taking a jade bracelet off her wrist, "This bracelet is my apology. Please don't find it offensive, Miss Ji, and forgive my brother's wrongdoing."
Jiang Zhi took a step back, her expression indifferent. "It was Lin Yan who slapped me, and he is the one who needs to apologize. Miss Lin, there's no need for that."
Lin Qiyun's expression stiffened for a moment, but quickly returned to normal. "Miss Ji is right, but my brother was spoiled by our parents since he was a child, which is why he developed such an arrogant personality. I have no choice but to shamelessly stand up for him. I hope Miss Ji will be lenient for my sake."
After saying that, she looked at Xie Qi earnestly, "General Xie, please put in a good word for me with Miss Ji, okay?"
Xie Qi was startled and immediately waved his hand to distance himself, saying, "This matter has nothing to do with me. If someone dares to hit Zhizhi, even taking his life wouldn't be too much."
They should be thankful that the Crown Prince is unaware of this matter; otherwise, things would likely have been even more difficult to handle.
"It was just a slap, and I personally went to apologize," Lin Qiyun said, hardly believing it. "Why was Miss Ji so vicious as to take someone's life? Couldn't she be more magnanimous and turn hostility into friendship?"
“That’s not how it works,” Lu Yuan finally spoke up. “Just a slap? Lin Yan wanted to take her back to the Lin residence to teach her a lesson, make her kneel down and apologize to you, and even slash her face.”
"If I hadn't been there, Miss Ji would have already been persecuted. How could she still be standing here safely?"
His eyes were dark and his tall figure was extremely imposing, exuding an aura of authority that made people afraid to look him in the eye.
Lin Qiyun frowned.
He originally thought that he could bring his brother home by personally apologizing and pleading with Xie Qi, but he didn't expect him to be so difficult to deal with.
"So what exactly do you want?" she asked through gritted teeth.
Lu Yuan said coldly, "I've already said, have Lord Lin come to our door in person, otherwise I don't mind letting Lin Yan stay in the General's Mansion indefinitely."
"You!" Lin Qiyun was speechless with anger.
Who is Ji Zhiya? I've already given her enough face by coming myself. How could she possibly deserve my father to come to our door in person?
But she really didn't want to have an unpleasant falling out with Xie Qi.
"General Xie, we have known each other for a long time and have a deep friendship. Are you really going to be so heartless as to turn against my Lin family?"
She couldn't understand why Xie Qi cared so much about an orphan girl with no identity.
Her father had hinted several times that he wanted to marry her to him. She was not a petty or jealous person. If he really liked this Miss Ji, she wouldn't say anything if he brought her into the household in the future.
But Xie Qi never cared about him at all.
She was originally looking forward to Xie Qi participating in the Frost Festival, hoping to walk alongside him on the altar and receive the worship of the people.
Unexpectedly, he gave the position of Saintess to Ji Zhiya.
How could she possibly swallow this insult?
"What do you mean by 'close relationship'? Miss Lin, please don't slander me. I'm not familiar with you," Xie Qi quickly stepped behind Jiang Zhi. "Please don't say such misunderstanding things in the future, Miss Lin. I'm afraid Zhi Zhi will be angry."
"Zhizhi, you must not believe her."
He looked eager to prove his innocence, as if he was afraid of being implicated by Lin Qiyun.
Lin Qiyun was taken aback.
Is this humble, gentle, and soft-spoken attitude still the same as the General Xie she knows?
Seeing that there was no room for maneuver, Lin Qiyun left the general's mansion with a gloomy expression.
The maidservant beside her came over tremblingly to help her into the carriage, but Lin Qiyun pushed her away, saying, "No need!"
She boarded the carriage by herself, the handkerchief in her hand already twisted beyond recognition.
"Ji Zhiya, I wish you had fallen to your death from the altar that night."
＊
The swelling on Jiang Zhi's face had subsided considerably by the next day, and she deliberately covered the red handprint with makeup.
After looking in the bronze mirror for a long time and not being able to see any marks, he went to find Xiao Xuanyou.
Xiao Xuanyou looked much better than yesterday. When he saw Jiang Zhi come in, a smile appeared on his lips. "I thought you would come later."
"Yes, I happen to have some free time."
"What happened to your face?" Xiao Xuanyou asked, staring at her.
Jiang Zhi hadn't expected Xiao Xuanyou to notice something amiss with just a glance, so she could only maintain her composure and say, "It's nothing, I just bumped into you accidentally. Was it that obvious?"
"Come here and let me take a look." He said indifferently.
Jiang Zhi had no choice but to step forward.
Xiao Xuanyou reached out and ran his cool fingertips across her face.
Jiang Zhi hissed in pain.
Xiao Xuanyou's phoenix eyes turned cold. "Who hit him?"
“I already said I accidentally bumped into the bedpost,” Jiang Zhi said vaguely. “Did you take your medicine today? Have you changed the gauze? How are you feeling?”
Xiao Xuanyou didn't answer her at all, but just looked at her and said, "Do you know why I found out?"
Jiang Zhi: ?
“You never wear such heavy makeup,” he rubbed the white residue on his fingertips, “It’s just trying to cover something up, you’re definitely trying to hide something.”
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