The certainty in Jiang Si’s expression made Su Qingxue uneasy, and under everyone’s gaze, she unconsciously bit her lip.
“Second Cousin, since you dare not swear, may I assume you have something to hide?” Jiang Si pressed bluntly.
“Who’s hiding anything?” Su Qingxue retorted shrilly.
Jiang Si smiled. “Then would Second Cousin dare to take the oath?”
Su Qingxue steadied herself and countered defiantly, “I’ve already sworn once. Why must I do it again? With so many people present, Cousin Si singles me out – is it because I’m merely an insignificant concubine-born daughter? Even my mother shows such tolerance toward a concubine’s daughter, what right does Cousin Si have to treat me this way?”
Su Qingxue’s words rang out forcefully as tears streamed down her face. Her pitiful appearance made many present feel that Jiang Si was being too harsh.
Jiang Si remained utterly unmoved by their gazes, her delicate features showing surprise. “We’re trying to find who killed Second Cousin Brother. Why is Second Cousin bringing up matters of legitimate and concubine-born daughters? Among all these people, I question you alone because only your handkerchief was found in Chaoyang Pavilion. Surely Second Cousin doesn’t think simply claiming the handkerchief was blown there by chance will clear all suspicion?”
“It was just a coincidence! Third Sister can verify this!”
Seeing Su Qingxue push her forward, Su Qingyu felt annoyed but forced herself to nod. “Yes, I was with Second Sister when we passed by the lake. When we saw someone floating in the water, we were terrified and ran away quickly. The handkerchief must have fallen then.”
Upon hearing Su Qingyu’s words, Su Qingxue’s tense body relaxed.
Jiang Si sighed. “Third Cousin can only confirm being with Second Cousin when passing Juhua Lake. But what about before that?”
“Before?” Su Qingyu froze.
Seeing Su Qingyu’s reaction, Jiang Si grew more certain. “Yes, were you together with Second Cousin the entire time before that? Never separated?”
Su Qingyu was struck speechless and instinctively looked toward Su Qingxue.
She remembered now – there was a period when she hadn’t seen her Second Sister. At that time, a clan sister had been chatting with her, and she hadn’t paid much attention.
Su Qingxue’s lips paled.
“Third Cousin finds this question difficult to answer?” Jiang Si calmly asked.
Elder Master Su frowned as he watched Su Qingyu, his expression grave.
Su Qingyu felt overwhelming pressure bearing down on her, leaving her at a loss.
Jiang Si shifted her gaze to Zhen Shicheng: “Official Zhen, Third Cousin avoids answering such a simple question. I think Third Cousin is more suspicious than Second Cousin—”
“No!” Su Qingyu suddenly interrupted, her face ashen.
Killing Second Brother was a capital offense – how could she let herself be implicated in such trouble?
Panicked and frightened, Su Qingyu disregarded everything else and hurriedly explained, “I wasn’t with Second Sister the whole time. For a while, I was chatting with someone else and didn’t notice where Second Sister went. Later she returned to sit beside me, and soon after she soiled her clothes, so I accompanied her back to change…”
At this point, Su Qingyu felt some resentment toward Su Qingxue.
If Su Qingxue hadn’t dragged her back to change clothes, how would they have stumbled upon Second Brother drowning in the lake?
They had been terrified at the time and fled quickly without looking closely at who was in the water. Later, when they learned it was Second Brother, she was nearly frightened to death. If Father and the First Madam knew they had encountered Second Brother but failed to save him in time, they would surely be blamed and punished.
This was precisely why she hadn’t dared mention a word of it before.
Having obtained the answer she wanted, Jiang Si curved her lips at the pale-faced Su Qingxue: “Then can Second Cousin tell us what you were doing during that time when you weren’t with Third Sister?”
Su Qingxue found Jiang Si’s curved lips more terrifying than a fierce demon. Struggling to control her panic, she said, “I was just walking around the garden. Many people were walking around like that – is that not allowed?”
Jiang Si spread her hands. “But their handkerchiefs weren’t found in Chaoyang Pavilion.”
“Pfft.” A light chuckle sounded.
Jiang Si cast a glance at Yu Jin, her expression unchanging before looking away.
Yu Jin awkwardly forced a smile, feeling slightly disappointed.
Still so cold toward him, this heartless girl.
Jiang Si suddenly stepped forward, enunciating each word: “Second Cousin, you were in Chaoyang Pavilion during that time, weren’t you? You were the one with Second Cousin Brother in the pavilion! I passed by Juhua Lake, and Second Cousin Brother rushed out wanting to play with me, but I left quickly to find Elder Sister. After I left, only you two remained!”
Her tone was so certain that everyone instinctively believed her.
Jiang Si gave a cold laugh: “After I left, for some reason, you pushed Second Cousin Brother into the lake, then ran back to find Third Sister. Since you’re usually inseparable from Third Sister, when you appeared together after the incident, people naturally assumed you had been together the whole time, providing you with an alibi. That handkerchief was what you dropped earlier. Second Cousin, is what I’ve said correct?”
“No, I didn’t kill Second Brother, you’re spouting nonsense!” Su Qingxue frantically denied it.
Jiang Si looked at her expressionlessly, showing no emotional fluctuation: “Since Second Cousin says I’m spouting nonsense, then take the oath as I suggested to prove your innocence.”
“I, I—” Su Qingxue slowly backed up two steps.
Elder Master Su grew suspicious of Su Qingxue’s reaction and said sternly, “Xue’er, are you truly uninvolved in your Second Brother’s death?”
“Second Brother wasn’t killed by me, it wasn’t me!” Su Qingxue shook her head violently, appearing on the verge of collapse.
More and more strange looks fell upon her, making it almost unbearable.
In her panic, Su Qingxue caught Madam You’s cold gaze, sending chills down her spine.
She couldn’t let the First Madam suspect her – even if she escaped today’s predicament, she wouldn’t survive otherwise!
When it came to understanding Madam You, Su Qingxue believed she knew better than even the legitimate daughter Su Qingfrost.
The First Madam’s silence despite her suspicion wasn’t out of tolerance – she simply didn’t want her matters exposed. Su Qingxue had to convince the First Madam that after seeing the Second Brother pestering Jiang Si, she immediately left to find the Third Sister, or else she would be doomed.
“Fine, I’ll swear—” Seeing no way out, Su Qingxue raised her trembling hand.
But Jiang Si shook her head: “Swearing like this won’t do. If Second Cousin truly has nothing to hide, then make the oath before Second Cousin Brother.”
Su Qingxue instantly turned deathly pale and screamed, “Jiang Si, don’t push me too far!”
Jiang Si remained calm: “Second Cousin misunderstands. I simply don’t want Second Cousin Brother to die with unresolved grievances.”
Elder Master Su sighed. “Xue’er, just take the oath.”
Su Qingxue looked at Elder Master Su with a bloodless face, trembling violently.
At that moment, someone rushed forward: “Stop pressuring Second Miss! I’m the one who did it!”