The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 526: Chapter 526: Dog Bites Dog

Xiao Lansi’s heart pounded violently!

She looked up at Ye Chutang, her movement almost involuntary.

Their eyes met.

Those dark, lustrous, and utterly calm eyes seemed to see through everything.

Xiao Lansi was the first to look away. When she realized what she’d done, she was both furious and annoyed. ’To think I was intimidated by a single glance from Ye Chutang!’

Xiao Lansi wanted to explain, but Ye Chutang’s every word felt like a sharp blade scraping against her ear. It felt as if the slightest movement would draw blood and sear her with pain.

Seeing Xiao Lansi frozen in place, Ye Chutang raised a delicate eyebrow.

Then, she suddenly smiled.

”I’m sure the Third Princess would never do such a thing. What do you say, Your Highness?”

Xiao Lansi’s throat felt dry.

The hand hidden in her sleeve clenched and unclenched, her nails digging so deeply into her palm they nearly broke the skin.

The atmosphere in the grand hall turned strangely tense, and everyone held their breath in unspoken agreement.

The reason was simple: the implications of Ye Chutang’s words were staggering.

If what she said was true, didn’t that mean Xiao Lansi had long been colluding with the Nanhu people?!

The accusation was far too sensitive; no one wanted to get involved.

Into the dead silence, the Eldest Princess finally spoke. ”Chutang is right. Lanxi is a princess of noble birth with the blood of the Royal Family in her veins. How could she debase herself by committing treason and colluding with the enemy?”

She then turned to Xiao Lansi, her expression softening. ”Lanxi, don’t panic. If you didn’t do it, you didn’t do it. I will not stand by and allow anyone to frame you. Rest assured, I will see to it that your name is cleared.”

Xiao Lansi was alarmed and uncertain, but she had no other choice. With tears in her eyes, she bowed her head in gratitude.

”Lanxi thanks the Eldest Princess!”

The Eldest Princess’s gaze shifted, falling once more on Zhou Kangxue.

”Everything you’ve said so far is just your word against hers—empty talk with no proof. It cannot be believed. If you can’t produce evidence, slandering a princess is also a capital offense!”

Zhou Kangxue found himself unable to argue. In his desperation, he swore a vicious oath. ”Every single word I said is true! If even half a sentence is false, may my clan and I all die a horrible death!”

The onlookers exchanged glances, suddenly uncertain.

Zhou Kangxue was indeed a slippery character. He often used his decent family background to throw his weight around the Imperial Hospital.

Sometimes, he didn’t even show respect to some of the court officials.

But now he was even gambling with the lives of his own clan. Could it be... that Xiao Lansi really wasn’t innocent?

Several suspicious gazes swept back and forth between Xiao Lansi and Zhou Kangxue, but no one could be sure.

Fan Chengzhuo suddenly interjected, ”What the Third Princess said earlier makes sense. To conclude she’s involved simply because she spent a few years in Guanling would be too rash. As far as I know, Second Miss Ye has never been to Guanling, yet she was able to detoxify the poison for Prince Lie. Wouldn’t that make her even more inexplicable?”

Tang Zhongli, who had been quiet all this time, could finally listen no more and cut in coldly,

”That’s because her medical skills are superb. How can you even make such a ridiculous connection?”

Everyone: ”...”

While he wasn’t wrong, it was a bit too blunt...

Fan Chengzhuo never expected to be shut down so abruptly by Tang Zhongli. He was so taken aback he nearly choked.

He was about to retort, but then he remembered who he was talking to and barely managed to hold his tongue.

He wasn’t afraid to argue with anyone else, but Tang Zhongli was another matter entirely.

The man was immensely learned, with students all over the world. His eloquence was such that even the current Holy Emperor had to show him some respect.

Pick an argument with a man like that? He wasn’t that foolish.

Chen Songshi stepped in to smooth things over. ”Everyone is just trying to uncover the truth as quickly as possible. There’s no need to argue. Zhou Kangxue, do you have anything else to say?”

Zhou Kangxue was practically sick with regret.

’Why didn’t I think to keep some evidence! Now I can’t explain anything!’

’That Wang Chang confessed everything, and he dragged me down with him!’

’Now... now what am I supposed to do?!’

”It seems we won’t get anything more out of him,” the Eldest Princess said with a wave of her hand. ”Take him away and interrogate him properly.”

Fan Chengzhuo secretly breathed a sigh of relief and immediately replied, ”Yes!”

At his signal, the Imperial Guard stepped forward to take Zhou Kangxue into custody.

”Take him away!”

Zhou Kangxue panicked instantly, his face flushing red as he began to struggle. ”Eldest Princess! Eldest Princess! I was just momentarily confused! Please, spare me!”

No one listened to his pointless pleas.

Zhou Kangxue was forcibly dragged out.

His hair was disheveled and his eyes were unfocused; he had clearly lost his mind.

From beginning to end, Xiao Lansi never once looked back at him. She merely kept her head down, dabbing at her tears with a look of aggrieved terror, as if she still hadn’t recovered from the chaotic scene.

Fan Chengzhuo clasped his hands in a salute. ”Please rest assured, Eldest Princess. This humble subject will interrogate him thoroughly.”

The Eldest Princess seemed weary. Leaning back in her chair, she raised a hand to gently rub the bridge of her nose.

Ye Chutang adjusted the soft cushion behind her back, then looked up at Fan Chengzhuo and smiled.

”Mr. Fan has always been strict and fair. I trust you will be able to uncover the truth, ensuring the wicked are punished and the innocent receive justice.”

Just as he was about to be dragged out, Zhou Kangxue heard this calm and gentle remark. It was as if he’d been hit by a massive shock, and he began to struggle violently!

Fan Chengzhuo!

Everyone knew that in all his years in charge of the Ministry of Justice, he was a living King of Hell!

Even Zhou Kangxue had heard more than a few terrifying rumors about his methods!

If he wanted to, there wasn’t a mouth he couldn’t pry open!

Once you fell into his hands, you’d face a fate worse than death!

’I absolutely cannot give in like this!’

”Eldest Princess! Everything I said is true! Xiao Lansi made me do it all! She despises Ye Chutang; why else would she go to such lengths?!”

Xiao Lansi’s tears fell even faster. She clutched her handkerchief, her body trembling slightly with faint sobs.

No one responded.

Zhou Kangxue had completely lost it.

”Consort Ru! Prince Qi! They were all her backers! With them fallen, how could she not hate the one responsible?!”

Ye Chutang! She was the root of all this!

Zhou Kangxue shrieked hysterically, ”Who’s to say she isn’t doing this to avenge the Second Prince?! Or maybe she’s acting on the Second Prince’s orders—we can’t know for sure!”