Xiao Deyin arrived at the Jiang Family in the afternoon.

The Jiang Family was in complete chaos at the time, so Xiao Deyin’s sudden arrival was quite surprising. Xiao Deyin only said that she had heard news about Jiang Youyao and was worried, so she had come specifically to see her. The Jiang Family members thought that since Xiao Deyin was also Jiang Youyao’s qin instructor, there was a teacher-student relationship between them, so it was appropriate for her to come and show concern. Therefore, the Jiang Family members were quite grateful for Xiao Deyin’s visit.

Xiao Deyin went to see Jiang Youyao once and came out quickly. When she emerged, her expression was also very sorrowful. She then proposed to go see Jiang Li. Jiang Li had also been Xiao Deyin’s student, so no one was suspicious.

Jiang Li was painting in her room. Hearing that Xiao Deyin had arrived, she set down her brush and paper and walked outside. She saw Xiao Deyin standing at the door, anxiously peering inside.

Jiang Li had Bai Xue invite her in.

As soon as Xiao Deyin entered and saw Jiang Li, she eagerly stepped forward and said, “Xiao Li, today I heard about what happened to Youyao. I immediately came to the door to visit her. Seeing Youyao become like this, I’m deeply pained.”

Jiang Li said, “Thank you for your concern, teacher. I’m also deeply pained that Third Sister has become like this.”

“Princess Yongning is truly detestable,” Xiao Deyin said with alarm. “To use such methods on a young lady is absolutely outrageous.” When she spoke these words, she rarely revealed genuine emotion. Whenever Xiao Deyin thought about how she had nearly fallen into Princess Yongning’s hands herself, she felt waves of fear. If she had also become like Jiang Youyao, death would surely be preferable to living.

Therefore, she had rushed here in haste—to ask Jiang Li about one matter. She said, “Xiao Li, Fangfei’s birth father, Master Xue, suddenly accused Princess Yongning and Shen Yurun of conspiring to harm Fangfei… What’s that all about?”

Jiang Li looked at her in surprise. “What’s it all about? Teacher, aren’t you the one who knows best? Didn’t you say long ago that Miss Xue was murdered by Shen Yurun and Princess Yongning conspiring together? Why are you asking about it now?”

Xiao Deyin answered awkwardly, “I naturally know the inside story. I’m just puzzled… why is the one filing the accusation Master Xue and not you, Xiao Li?”

Jiang Li looked at her even more strangely. “Miss Xue was the daughter of County Magistrate Xue. Right now, besides Miss Xue, there’s also Young Master Xue—two lives. Naturally, it should be County Magistrate Xue, as their father, who seeks justice for his own children. I’m still an outsider after all.”

These words made sense. When the Tongxiang case occurred, it was because Xue Huaiyuan himself was the one being framed, and at that time Xue Huaiyuan was not in his right mind, so Jiang Li could only step forward to take charge. Now Xue Huaiyuan had regained his sanity and cleared his own name. The matter of finding the truth for his children naturally should fall to this true member of the Xue Family.

Xiao Deyin also knew that what Jiang Li said made sense, but she still felt uneasy.

Jiang Li asked, “I remember that Teacher Xiao once said that if there came a day when I wanted to clear Miss Xue’s name, Teacher Xiao would come forward to testify.”

“…Yes,” Xiao Deyin answered.

“Then now Teacher Xiao can come forward to testify,” Jiang Li smiled slightly.

Xiao Deyin frowned. “But the one filing the accusation now is County Magistrate Xue. Although County Magistrate Xue is Fangfei’s birth father, his influence in Yanjing City is weak. If he steps forward, he could easily be suppressed. Although Princess Yongning has been demoted to commoner status, Consort Liu and Prince Cheng are still here. They will surely try to find ways to rescue her.”

Jiang Li looked at her with a smile.

“Xiao Li, why are you smiling?” Xiao Deyin said somewhat uneasily. Every time she faced this student, she always had a feeling of discomfort. It wasn’t because the other party was the daughter of the Chief Minister—when she had faced Jiang Youyao before, Xiao Deyin hadn’t felt this way. Although this Second Miss Jiang was gentle and amiable, without any airs of a noble young lady, facing her somehow made people easily nervous.

Xiao Deyin couldn’t explain why this was.

“I just thought of something,” Jiang Li said. “Teacher Xiao wouldn’t be afraid of implicating yourself and thus afraid to come forward, would you?”

“How could that be?” Xiao Deyin was startled, feeling as if the secret in her heart was being spied upon. She immediately denied it. “I’m just worried about County Magistrate Xue. Since we want to overturn the case for Fangfei and Fangfei’s younger brother, it’s best to succeed in one stroke. Otherwise, if we fail, it will invite retaliation.”

“I see. Teacher is thinking of County Magistrate Xue. I thought teacher felt that having County Magistrate Xue step forward wasn’t reliable enough and therefore was unwilling to testify,” Jiang Li said jokingly.

This joke wasn’t funny at all. Instead, it made fine sweat seep from Xiao Deyin’s palms. She said, “How could that be?”

“Alright, I won’t hide it from teacher either. Although I’m not stepping forward in this matter, and it has nothing to do with the Chief Minister’s mansion, this case is already virtually a foregone conclusion.”

Xiao Deyin’s eyes brightened as she asked, “Why is that?”

“With both witness and physical evidence, the proof is as solid as a mountain. This time, Princess Yongning and Shen Yurun won’t be able to escape. And although the Xue Family’s case has nothing to do with our Jiang Family, my Third Sister was indeed imprisoned by Princess Yongning in that private prison. My father will definitely not let this go easily. Just on this point alone, our Jiang Family will not give Princess Yongning any other chance to escape.” She looked at Xiao Deyin and smiled. “However, having teacher’s testimony would naturally be even better. Although County Magistrate Xue has evidence in hand, regarding exactly how Shen Yurun and Princess Yongning murdered Xue Fangfei, there’s still something lacking. If teacher can step forward, I can guarantee in the Jiang Family’s name that Princess Yongning and Shen Yurun will only face one outcome in this joint trial by the Three Judicial Offices—a life for a life.”

These last four words moved Xiao Deyin’s heart greatly. She had always believed in completely eliminating threats, just as after all this time, Princess Yongning had been desperately trying to have her eliminated. Regarding threats she might face, Xiao Deyin also wished she could eliminate them early. If this time she could make both Shen Yurun and Princess Yongning lose their lives, then everything about Xue Fangfei would truly be in the past.

Whether or not Xue Fangfei’s injustice could be cleared, the dead could not return to life—she would never come back. The events of those years would be known by no one.

“Teacher can step forward with complete confidence. Our Jiang Family will protect teacher from harm, and no one will dare harm teacher. After this matter, I’m afraid everyone in Yanjing City will praise teacher’s righteousness—after all these years, still thinking of your friend, remembering to clear your friend’s injustice. You are truly a person of noble character.”

In Xiao Deyin’s heart, she deeply agreed. The picture Jiang Li painted for her completely erased all the unsavory aspects of her role in this matter, leaving only the beautiful parts. She then thought, fine, consider it the last thing she would do for Xue Fangfei. Although back then she had been the one to harm Xue Fangfei, if now she could make some sacrifice in helping to overturn Xue Fangfei’s case, it would count as helping Xue Fangfei.

Grievances and debts would be cleared. She would no longer have to bear the shackles on her conscience.

“Alright,” Xiao Deyin looked at Jiang Li. “I’ll come forward to testify. But what should I do?”

“It’s quite simple,” Jiang Li said, as if she had known all along that she would answer this way. She smiled. “On the day of the joint trial by the Three Judicial Offices, teacher only needs to appear as a witness and speak the truth you know.” She bowed to Xiao Deyin. “This student thanks teacher on behalf of Miss Xue for your great kindness.”

“I don’t deserve it,” Xiao Deyin quickly moved aside. “Fangfei was my good friend. I should naturally do this.”

Jiang Li smiled faintly.

She would properly “thank” Xiao Deyin.

On the day of the joint trial by the Three Judicial Offices, Yanjing City was virtually deserted of people.

The common people had long been paying close attention to the truth of this case. The street outside the Ministry of Justice’s courtroom was nearly completely blocked with people. Soldiers continuously dispersed the crowd, while some common folk simply climbed onto their own rooftops to watch from afar, trying to see what was happening inside the courtroom.

Minister of Justice He Qin, Dali Temple Minister Wei Mingyan, and Censorate Commissioner Hou Yan—all three had received direct orders from Emperor Hongxiao to thoroughly investigate this case. Furthermore, because this case involved the Capital Magistrate of Yanjing City, they dared not be negligent. However, all three were clear that based on the evidence Xue Huaiyuan had submitted and the newly discovered incriminating evidence, the charges against Princess Yongning and Shen Yurun could be said to be virtually certain.

During the joint trial by the Three Judicial Offices, Jiang Yuanbai had also specifically petitioned Emperor Hongxiao to observe from the side. As Jiang Youyao’s father, with his daughter privately imprisoned and harmed by the current dynasty’s princess, his paternal feelings could be understood. Emperor Hongxiao granted permission.

When Princess Yongning and Shen Yurun were brought into the courtroom, both were in quite wretched states.

Princess Yongning angrily said, “What are you doing? Release me at once!”

These past days, she had been forced to stay in prison for many days. However, with Prince Cheng’s support, life in prison wasn’t too bad. Food and clothing were passable, so Princess Yongning developed a feeling that everything was temporary. As long as Prince Cheng was still Prince Cheng and her mother consort was still Consort Liu, they would find ways to protect her. And when Princess Yongning made her comeback, those who had harmed her would all meet bad ends.

But today, these people wouldn’t give her any face at all. He Qin called her “criminal woman” with every phrase, enraging Princess Yongning to the point of fury. And once she made a commotion and raised her voice, there were even people who came to slap her mouth.

Princess Yongning was furious, but in this courtroom, there wasn’t even a single person she recognized. And the atmosphere of the joint trial by the Three Judicial Offices suddenly made her realize that some things had become different. She even saw Jiang Yuanbai sitting on one side, staring at her with a gaze that looked as if he wished he could carve two cuts into her body, filled completely with hatred.

She had already learned in prison that her private prison had been discovered, which meant Jiang Youyao had also been found. Her torture of Jiang Youyao had been considerable. First, because at the time she had never intended to let Jiang Youyao have a way to survive. Second, because Jiang Youyao had happened to encounter her during a period when her mood was poor, so Princess Yongning had someone gouge out her eyeball. She hadn’t expected that Jiang Youyao would one day return to the Jiang Family. Princess Yongning’s heart was clear—Jiang Yuanbai had come to avenge Jiang Youyao.

Princess Yongning finally felt a trace of fear.

Xue Huaiyuan’s complaint was taken in hand and read aloud sentence by sentence, filled completely with blood and tears. Shen Yurun’s gaze, however, fell to the side, on Xue Huaiyuan himself.

Xue Huaiyuan was the one accusing them. In the courtroom, he quietly stared at him. Listening to the complaint describing Xue Fangfei’s blood-soaked past, Xue Huaiyuan showed no change of expression. He looked at Shen Yurun, but it made Shen Yurun suddenly feel an unbearable pain. He thought of the day when Xue Fangfei had married years ago.

At that time, the common people of Tongxiang all knew about it and came to see her off, also sending many congratulatory gifts. They weren’t valuable things—a bolt of patterned cloth, a basket of eggs, a cotton quilt, or other items. Xue Huaiyuan had stood among them and said to him, “I’m entrusting Ah Li to you.”

He had greatly admired this father-in-law. He also knew that this father-in-law was a talented person. Although he was far away in Tongxiang serving as a county magistrate, as long as he was willing, even in Yanjing City he would accomplish great things. Only such a father could raise such a clever and courageous daughter.

Xue Huaiyuan had also liked him very much. Apart from feeling that their home in Yanjing was too far away, he had praised him endlessly. At that time, they had all believed this was an excellent marriage. Xue Fangfei had found the right husband, and they would spend their entire lives together in harmonious love, growing old together in devotion.

Who knew what would happen later…

When Princess Yongning tortured Xue Huaiyuan, Shen Yurun hadn’t inquired. He knew that even if he tried to stop it, he might not be able to. The more he tried to stop it, the more jealous Princess Yongning would become. Even if she appeared to let Xue Huaiyuan go on the surface, privately she would definitely use even more terrible methods to torture him.

So Shen Yurun pretended not to know.

But he also didn’t know if this was just an excuse he found for himself. Because Shen Yurun also understood that once Xue Huaiyuan learned of what had happened to Xue Fangfei in Yanjing City, he would definitely travel thousands of miles to Yanjing City to seek the truth about his daughter’s death. And with Xue Huaiyuan’s abilities, he might very well uncover it.

Perhaps he wanted to feel at peace with himself. Perhaps he and Princess Yongning were the same kind of person. The reason he had turned a deaf ear to everything that happened to the Xue Family afterward, pretending not to hear, was simply because he also felt that weeds must be pulled up by the roots.

And the thing he worried about had finally happened.

Xue Huaiyuan was saved by Second Miss of the Jiang Family, saw the light of day again, and regained his sanity. And the first thing he did after regaining his sanity was to find the true culprit behind the deaths of the Xue siblings. This was like retribution, like a terrible curse, as if Xue Fangfei’s spirit in heaven also knew.

If she were still alive, she would definitely be standing here, coldly watching his wretched self. Shen Yurun thought.

Xue Huaiyuan’s face showed complete calm. He was like another Xue Fangfei—one who understood everything, who had thought through everything. He had abandoned the emotions he should have and only used a calm tone to recount the truth, silently doing what he could for his children.

Haitang, as a witness, also appeared.

The moment she first saw Haitang, Princess Yongning was stunned and screamed, “Why are you still alive?”

“Didn’t expect it, did you, Princess Yongning?” Haitang’s face no longer held fear or apprehension. Instead, it held the same calm indifference as the Xue Family members. She said, “Back then, your people killed everyone around the young lady to hide the truth and eliminate witnesses. Du Juan and I escaped. We nearly died nine times out of ten. In the end, Du Juan died, and I didn’t even dare collect her body. I’ve been living on borrowed time until now, just for this day.” She raised her head. “To announce to the world the evil deeds you and this heartless bastard have committed!”

Author’s Note:

For this 100,000-character update, because I need to consider the book app recommendation, the chapter divisions are a bit shorter than before. Everyone, please don’t skip chapters—if you do, you might not understand what comes after. Plus, what if you skip the sweet moments inside? (I think the sweetness in these 100,000 characters is quite dense and sweet). After today, future chapter divisions will be the same as before, 7,000 characters per update~

Hope you enjoy reading!