Meanwhile, Huang Yaning composed herself and looked at Concubine Yao with pity in her eyes.
“Concubine Yao, I know you love your daughter dearly and want justice for her, but this truly has nothing to do with me!”
“You accuse me of arguing with the Fourth Young Lady, and because I was going to Xia’an Pavilion, you condemn me—”
“But among the young ladies present here today, how many have had arguments with the Fourth Young Lady?”
“Given the Fourth Young Lady’s temper, I’d wager she’s quarreled with quite a few, hasn’t she?”
“And among these young ladies, how many went to Xia’an Pavilion?”
“I heard from the servants that when the incident happened, there were many people gathered outside Xia’an Pavilion—”
“Concubine Yao, if you convict someone based on those two points, then many people in this room are just as suspicious as I am.”
“You should treat everyone equally. Why single me out for trouble?”
“Is it because among today’s guests, my Sheng family has the lowest status, and I, Sheng Qi, am the easiest to bully?”
Her words were logical and well-founded, turning the tables on the Murong family!
It was a direct accusation that the Murongs were being unreasonable, picking on the “weakest” target.
The crowd was astounded. Some, unable to hide their reactions, stared with eyes as wide as saucers.
At that moment, everyone genuinely felt that the Sheng Family’s Seventh Young Lady was “unbelievably audacious!”
“Outrageous!”
Murong Yan was furious, pointing at Huang Yaning and scolding.
“You—What nonsense are you spouting? The Murong family is a century-old noble house! How dare you slander us?”
Huang Yaning put on an aggrieved expression.
“County Princess, your subject was merely following the lead of your family’s concubine, making some conjectures based on the existing circumstances.”
“Your subject came to your esteemed residence for the first time today with my family. I don’t know your servants, nor do I know my way around. I could get lost just walking a few steps…”
“Your subject truly lacks the ability to, within an hour or two, first bribe your family’s servants to drug the Second Young Master Dong—whom I don’t know and have no grudge against—and send him to Xia’an Pavilion—”
“Then bribe maids to dirty my cousin’s and Miss Wei’s skirts, having them led away to change clothes—”
“And then bribe others to find out the movements of the Murong Fourth Young Lady, learn that she was alone, knock her out, drug her, and send her to Second Young Master Dong’s bed…”
“Your subject is only twelve years old, not some deity—”
“The manpower, material resources, and financial means required for this affair are all beyond my capability—”
“Your subject is truly wronged!”
Some people listening almost laughed.
Well, don’t say it, but you really shouldn’t!
The events that happened to Dong Bing and Murong Dan today indeed couldn’t have been orchestrated by a young girl visiting the Third Princess’s residence for the first time…
Even the Dong family members looked at Huang Yaning with slightly softened eyes.
Murong Yan’s chest heaved violently, her face livid.
“Concubine Yao’s words only represent her personal opinion, not the Murong family’s.”
“Today, my fourth sister was harmed, and the Second Young Master of the Dong family was also ensnared. Both the Murong and Dong families are victims!”
“My Murong family will certainly conduct a thorough investigation into this matter. We will not let a single villain go free, nor will we wrong an innocent person…”
Huang Yaning showed a grateful smile.
“In that case, your subject thanks the County Princess, and thanks the Third Princess and the Dowager.”
“Your subject is also a victim in today’s events!”
“If this isn’t clarified, and the suspicions Concubine Yao has cast upon me aren’t cleared, this foul ‘cesspool’ might very well be dumped on my head.”
“Your subject cannot bear an unjust accusation, nor bring shame to the Sheng family. Therefore, your subject will wait here.”
“Your subject awaits the County Princess, the Princess, and the Dowager to restore your subject’s good name and grant me justice!”
These words were like balls of cotton, clogging Murong Yan’s throat, rendering her speechless.
The original intent behind designing those events today was to ruin that little country bumpkin’s reputation.
Even if the bumpkin cried injustice, her purity would be tainted, and she’d never achieve anything significant.
If the bumpkin was lucky, at best she’d marry that good-for-nothing Dong Bing.
In the future, she’d toil day in and day out for a worthless man, constantly beaten by him, slowly wasting away.
If the bumpkin was unlucky, with a little guidance from Murong Yan, Dong Bing might even suspect the bumpkin of drugging him herself, deliberately trying to entrap him.
After all, that fool Dong Bing, himself a pile of dog excrement, still looked down on a young lady from a fifth-rank official’s family.
In that case, even if the bumpkin married him, Dong Bing would utterly detest her, tormenting her daily.
If they played their cards even better, tonight, Sheng Yong might dispose of this disgraceful daughter of his.
In short, regardless of the path, it was merely a difference between dying sooner or later.
Murong Yan never expected that little wretch to escape and even harm Murong Dan in the process…
If the incident hadn’t been exposed in public, they could have had Murong Dan marry Dong Bing, then either strangled her with a white silk cord or sent her to a nunnery. However they handled Murong Dan wouldn’t have mattered.
But that scene was witnessed by so many, and the two were even shouting everywhere about being victimized…
Causing the Murong family immense disgrace…
The situation was chaotic enough, and then that damned Concubine Yao had to run out and act crazed!
Earlier, Murong Yan had wanted to provoke that little wretch, using the charge of “insubordination” to have her taken away.
Then she could have seen the guests off. Without an audience, they could close their doors and deal with the matter properly.
Unexpectedly, the little wretch remained calm, didn’t take the bait at all, and was so sharp-tongued that Murong Yan couldn’t find a handle against her!
Now not only could she not make things difficult for her, but the Murong family also had to give her a public explanation!
Give the Dong family an explanation, and at the same time, make Concubine Yao accept it, shut her mouth, and stop making the situation worse…
Many people in the hall began whispering among themselves.
Upon hearing Murong Yan publicly acknowledge her daughter as a “victim,” Concubine Yao’s heart finally settled somewhat.
This way, even if the Murong family had to sacrifice someone, it wouldn’t be her daughter…
Still, until the final moment arrived, she couldn’t let her guard down.
As for the other members of the Murong family, their complexions had been shifting constantly since earlier.
Turning green, then red, then black, like a painter’s palette.
Even the Third Princess, who had previously shown little emotion, now had a trace of anger between her brows.
Only the Imperial Son-in-Law, Murong Wenhan, seemed convinced by Huang Yaning’s words, appearing somewhat guilty and conscience-stricken.
Amidst a family seething with anger, it was rather comical.
“Princess, I presume those servants have given their statements by now?”
The Dowager of the Murong family finally spoke.
As the Murong family’s matriarch and the senior-most elder present in the room,
as long as she remained silent, the previous exchanges could only be considered “banter” among the younger generation.
Other “elders” mindful of their status wouldn’t have rashly intervened.
She had originally thought her esteemed granddaughter would make that little girl suffer a bit.
Unexpectedly, her granddaughter had been defeated repeatedly today…
This Sheng Family’s Seventh Young Lady was no ordinary person!
“This daughter-in-law will send someone to inquire immediately—”
The Third Princess turned slightly, meeting the Dowager’s gaze, and replied.
After speaking, she gave a look to someone beside her, and a capable maid withdrew.
Ever since Dong Bing began crying injustice, the Third Princess had taken some related servants away for interrogation. By now, there should be results—
Of course, some of the smarter people present had already guessed the outcome.
