"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Jiang Wan nodded before speaking.
“At first, I went to watch a play, but later my grandmother said she liked the Buddha's Hand Cake from Xiangmingju, so I would go to the teahouse almost every day to buy pastries before returning home.”
“These words were spoken at Luhe Hall. The concubines and servants in the mansion were present at the time and can testify to them.”
Upon hearing this, Aunt Ru, who was standing nearby, knelt down on the ground while holding Song Zhao.
She completely ignored the fierce warning look in the old lady's eyes and replied, "The old lady took the initiative to mention Buddha's Hand cakes and asked Madam Jiang to buy them herself. I heard it with my own ears."
Jiang Wan smiled and nodded, then turned her head to look at Physician Jin.
"Oh, by the way, I once ran into Lord Jin. His servant knocked over my pastries. Does he remember?"
How could Physician Jin not remember? He remembered it very clearly.
It was the addition of cold food powder to the pastries that made him suspect the old lady.
He seemed to understand something, and his eyes widened.
"Your Majesty, the Buddha's Hand cake contained Cold Food Powder back then. It turns out that the Song family had been plotting this whole thing since then!"
"What Cold Food Powder? Don't make false accusations!"
The elder's wife was astonished.
She fed Song Ziyu Hanshi San (a traditional Chinese medicine), but it was only a few days ago and had never been added to Buddha's Hand Cake.
She was so angry that she trembled all over, feeling that Physician Jin was deliberately framing her.
"Who instructed you to spout such nonsense?"
She looked at Jiang Wan, gradually losing her composure.
"It was you! It was you who colluded with the imperial physician to try and kill the General's Mansion!"
Just then, Meixiang was brought in. Seeing the old lady's intense words, she couldn't help but get excited as well.
Having been confined to the Ji residence for a long time, she harbored deep resentment towards Jiang Wan. Now, unable to continue her pretense any longer, she knelt before Emperor Jingyuan and said...
"Your Majesty, I can testify that Madam Jiang goes to Xiangming Tea House every day, acting suspiciously. She must have something to hide!"
She thought for a moment, then kowtowed again and said loudly.
"Madam also often goes to the backyard of the teahouse. There is a secluded little house on the east side of the backyard. Every time she goes in, Madam is very careful and she has instructed no one to come near it!"
"If Your Majesty does not believe me, you can send people to search the place; there must be something wrong there!"
These words were naturally given to her by the matriarch.
Originally, it was supposed to be told to Physician Jin after he was led to Xiangming Residence that day.
Unexpectedly, Physician Jin was stabbed, and things changed, so she couldn't bring herself to say it.
Meixiang was very clever. She guessed that these were testimonies that were detrimental to Jiang Wan, so she said them all in front of the emperor.
Jiang Wan looked surprised: "Meixiang, why are you framing me?"
"Madam, although you are my master, this matter is of great importance, and I cannot fail to tell the truth!"
Meixiang raised her head, striking a righteous and awe-inspiring pose.
She believed that as Jiang Wan's personal maid, her accusations carried considerable weight.
Little did he know that Emperor Jingyuan was already aware of her unusual identity, so he merely glanced at her indifferently and did not immediately express his opinion.
"His Majesty."
Jiang Wan lifted the hem of her skirt and knelt down.
"Your Majesty, I know nothing of the small room in the backyard of the teahouse, nor do I know why this maid is making false accusations. I beg Your Majesty to send people to search it and clear my name!"
"besides…"
She seemed to hesitate for a moment.
“I also find what Physician Jin said inappropriate. The Buddha’s Hand Cake was sold by Xiangmingju. Even if there was a problem with the pastry, it cannot prove that it was Grandmother’s fault. Perhaps the teahouse owner had ill intentions.”
She gently kowtowed.
"Your Majesty, please thoroughly investigate this teahouse and do not wrong your grandmother."
Seeing her like this, the Empress couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, what A-Wan said makes sense. Please agree with her."
Emperor Jingyuan nodded and personally helped her up, saying with emotion, "She is a filial child. Even at this time, she is still thinking of pleading for her elders."
As he spoke, he glanced at the matriarch and said coldly.
"I just don't know if your grandmother is worth all this effort in protecting her!"
Emperor Jingyuan narrowed his eyes, and he began to wonder why the Yuan family had specifically asked Jiang Wan to buy the pastries.
If his guess is true, then the Yuan family is indeed disrespectful to their elders and has ulterior motives!
It's all thanks to Jiang Wan, who went to the trouble of seeking justice for her.
Emperor Jingyuan sighed inwardly: "Very well, I will grant your request and investigate who the owner of this teahouse is."
The matriarch's legs went weak, and she looked at Jiang Wan in disbelief.
Jiang Wan wouldn't be kind enough to make excuses for her. She deliberately brought up the teahouse; did she know something...?
How could that be? She bought Xiangmingju privately, and only Granny Wu and Granny Wu knew about it. How could she possibly know about this?
She was in a state of utter confusion.
They had no idea why the Phantom Moon Sect was hiding behind the teahouse.
Could it be just a coincidence?
"His Majesty!"
At this moment, Imperial Guards suddenly entered the palace, escorted by their attendants, including Ji Rong.
"Your Majesty, Lord Ji nearly escaped but was caught red-handed by your subordinates."
Emperor Jingyuan angrily said, "Didn't we say we would lock him up in the courtyard? How do you judge people?"
The Imperial Guard knelt down and said, "Your subordinate failed in his duty and did not discover the secret passage in that courtyard. Lord Ji intended to escape through this secret passage."
"What secret passage?"
Emperor Jingyuan suddenly stood up, vaguely guessing what was going on, and said with a stern face.
Where does the secret passage lead?
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