Arc 2: Part 33
"Xiao Qingwan! I'd heard you'd been bullying your younger sister all along. Turns out it's true!"
"Xiao Qingwan, now even Minister Xiao will be implicated because of you. You've single-handedly ruined the entire Xiao family!"
"You are nothing but a disaster! With all the evidence pointing towards you, how can you keep your face? If you care for Minister Xiao at all, you should take your own life!"
The sky seemed to be raining with accusations and scorn, as wave after wave of contempt crashed upon her, attempting to shatter her completely.
"They're lying — she is not Xiao Qingwan! Their identities have been switched—"
The young handmaiden, startled mute by the series of events, finally came to her senses. She strained to make her way forward through the crowd, her eyes brimming with tearful determination.
"The Eldest Miss is not the Eldest Miss, this is the Second Miss! The other one is the Eldest Miss, they switched identities!"
Tong Su turned her head in surprise, "Cui Yu?"
This little maid's name was Cui Yu, whom she had purchased only a month earlier.
Back then when Tong Su bought the maid, it was simply to prevent Xiao Qingwan from planting maids to spy on her. But unexpectedly, in the present situation, Cui Yu was the only one who stood up and spoke in her defense.
"What do you mean by what you've just said?"
Everyone furrowed their brows, their eyes hesitating as they glanced back and forth between Tong Su and Xiao Qingwan. Suddenly, Xiao Qingwan let out a sob, and the silent Zhu Se next to her immediately jumped to her feet, slapping Cui Yu across the face!
"How dare you try to frame the Second Miss at a time like this! She only punished you once back then, and you still hold a grudge for so long!"
She had used so much force in her slap that Cui Yu fell to the ground, her swollen cheek rendering her unable to speak.
Emperor Xuanyi ordered, "Who is this?"
Xiao Qingwan cried out pitifully, "She is... the head maid by my sister's side, secretly taking care of me all this while..."
Zhu Se knelt down, "Your Majesty, this servant is the maid serving by Eldest Miss Xiao's side, Zhu Se."
"What does the little maid mean by that? Why is she saying Xiao Qingwan is Xiao Bai Zhu, and Xiao Bai Zhu is Xiao Qingwan?"
Zhu Se's face turned pale, and with a perfectly feigned expression of long-suffering rage, she looked at Tong Su, appearing as if she could no longer bear the pain and hatred.
"How could that possibly be true? I am the Eldest Miss's maid, how could I mistake my own mistress? That little maid is just jealous of the second Miss and is trying to frame her..."
The noble ladies nearby exchanged glances, hesitantly saying, "Indeed, Zhu Se is indeed Qingwan's trusted maid; we've seen her many times before..."
Upon hearing this, the lingering doubts in everyone's minds were instantly dispelled, and they nodded in agreement, "That makes sense."
Tong Su's eyes turned icy cold.
Xiao Qingwan had really planned everything thoroughly!
No wonder she had assigned Zhu Se to be by her side, wait for this moment, and act as false evidence!
Now, with a maid bearing witness, even if she insisted that she was the real Xiao Bai Zhu, who would believe her?
They would only think that she had listened to the maid's words and wanted to use it as an excuse to escape punishment!
Emperor Xuanyi embraced the "fragile yet resilient" Xiao Qingwan and gently comforted her, "Don't worry; I am here, and I won't let anyone who bullies you get away with it!"
Xiao Qingwan revealed a surprised and pitiful smile, moved, and said, "So, you are the Emperor… This servant thanks Your Majesty…"
"Ah, don't be polite; I will protect you from now on!"
After their sweet exchange, Emperor Xuanyi turned his eyes to Tong Su, who was surrounded by guards, and arrogantly ordered, "Arrest the criminal Xiao Qingwan and throw her into prison! Does anyone object?"
Just one second before the blade touched Tong Su's neck, a deep and cold voice swept in, filled with rage like chilling ice!
The crowded tent shuddered and raised their heads in shock. Emperor Xuanyi couldn't help but take a step back.
The man walked in against the light, his eyes cold as ice, and his voice as sharp as a gust of wind.
"This Official objects!"
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