Arc 2: Part 32
The ladies at the banquet turned their apprehensive gaze to Tong Su, "Qingwan, what's going on? Did you put poison in the soup you served?"
As though split by a gust of wind, the tent flap was suddenly pulled open, and Prince He Lian's personal guard charged in, aghast and angry. He lifted the fallen prince, shouting in alarm, "What happened to the prince? Someone, the prince has been attacked! Arrest Xiao Qingwan immediately!"
Meanwhile, the sound of footsteps outside the tent grew louder and nearer, accompanied by a cacophony of voices. A eunuch called out with a shrill voice, "His Majesty has arrived—"
"His Majesty is here?"
"Quiet! Quickly, let's go and greet His Majesty!"
The ladies hastily knelt down to welcome him, their hearts still pounding with fear. The guards from Prince He Lian's mansion shot deadly glares at Tong Su as they knelt towards the entrance of the tent, crying out fervently, "May Your Majesty seek justice for the prince!"
A young man in a dragon robe entered, exuding nobility. The court attendants frantically cleared a path for him. Impatient, he pushed them aside, exclaiming, "What is happening here? Poison? Who is in trouble?"
Amid the chaotic clamor, Xiao Qingwan suddenly stepped forward from the back of the crowd, knelt down, and gave a deep kowtow.
"Your Majesty!"
She raised her tear-streaked face, her body trembling with fear. Her delicate and pitiful appearance drew curious and shocked glances from the people gathered around. Raising her hand behind her, she pointed toward Tong Su, sobbing.
She wept, "Your Majesty, I am Xiao Bai Zhu, the second young mistress from the Xiao Mansion. I've suffered from the bullying of my elder sister, Xiao Qingwan, many times. I had nowhere to turn when she cruelly mistreated our servants. Today, meeting you is a blessing from heaven, allowing me to air my grievances. I beg you to uphold justice!"
Her sobs choked her words, "My brother, Xiao Lingchen's actions are unruly. He is disloyal to your majesty. He and my sister are always plotting. Today's banquet, allegedly a gathering of noblewomen, was actually a ploy to lure in Prince He Lian and poison him!"
Lifting her pitiful face, teardrops on her cheeks like pear blossoms in the rain, she stuttered, "My sister tricked Prince He Lian into drinking the poisoned soup. With only one sip, he fell over as the poison took effect. All this happened right before everyone's eyes. If Your Majesty has any doubts, you can ask them!"
Regaining her composure, teardrops streaming down her face, she pointed at Tong Su. Her facial expression was a combination of confusion, resentment, injustice, and resolve, resembling a pathetic child who had endured too much, standing up for her beliefs and justice. With righteous indignation, she revealed the truth.
"Sister, I can't tolerate you and our brother continuing on this wrong path! His Majesty is the divinely appointed monarch; how could you harbor disloyal intentions? I know your plan, you want to cause a mishap to Prince He Lian during the winter hunting event. The Prince's fall would lead to a breakup between the northern mansion and the court. At that time, my elder brother would be like a fisherman who profits while the clam and the crane fight each other. Sister, you've gone too far!"
Before their eyes laid the spilled soup bowl, which supposedly contained the 'poisoned' clam soup, now thoroughly seeping into the ground, making any testing impossible. Similarly, the unconscious Prince He Lian, covered in red spots, swollen throat — all signs of poisoning.
Being so bold in exposing this truth, the Second Miss of the Xiao Mansion disowned her family for justice. In front of everyone, she revealed reality. The guards of the north mansion glared angrily. The noble women shook their heads, finding the events hard to believe yet unavoidable. Emperor Xuanyi extended his hand sympathetically towards the kneeling young girl on the ground, while turning his anger onto herself—
"Xiao Qingwan, what else do you have to say?"
At that moment, even Tong Su marveled at Xiao Qingwan's schemes.
Look how well she has pulled off this grand deception!
What's usurping a name? She went as far as to switch the identities of two people!
Now, in everyone's eyes, I am "Xiao Qingwan", and Xiao Qingwan has become the much-oppressed "Xiao Bai Zhu".
No matter what Xiao Qingwan has done before, all her wrongs and sins, now, I have to bear them all!
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