Chapter 178 Confidant
"I have been lingering on for this day." Du Juan raised her head, "I will tell the world about the evil deeds you and this heartless bastard have done!"

"You!" Princess Yongning gritted her teeth, furious. But there were officials watching her closely, so she didn't dare to move. She was also very surprised. She had killed all the maids around Xue Fangfei. Even this Haitang shouldn't be alive. But now Haitang appeared in front of her alive. What was going on?

Haitang knelt on the ground and told the story of what had happened in the Shen Mansion over the years, including how Shen Yurong had secretly colluded with Princess Yongning, and how Princess Yongning had framed Xue Fangfei and then killed all the people who knew about it, using extremely cruel methods.

Xue Huaiyuan couldn't help but close his eyes slightly as he listened, and even his palms were shaking. Although he had heard Haitang say it once, he couldn't help but feel distressed for his daughter when he heard it again.

How could he let Ahri face these jackals, tigers and leopards alone!

After Haitang's witness finished her testimony, another person came forward. This person was gentle, generous, graceful and charming. It was Xiao Deyin, the zither artist of Mingyi Hall.

Jiang Yuanbai couldn't help but look surprised. He knew Xiao Deyin and knew that he was the husband of the young ladies of the Jiang family, but he didn't know what Xiao Deyin meant by this.

Xiao Deyin also said: "I can testify that Shen Yurong and Princess Yongning did conspire to frame Xue Fangfei for having an affair, and then murder her to exterminate her heir."

Princess Yongning laughed as soon as she heard this: "Xiao Deyin, why are you pretending? Wasn't it you who framed Xue Fangfei back then? I gave you the medicine and you happily went to take it. Why, now that I've lost my power, you want to take advantage of the situation and step on me? Don't forget who you are. When I get out, how long do you think you can live?"

Xiao Deyin's heart was pounding, but she remained calm and said, "No matter how the princess throws dirty water on me now, I will not change my words. As for the false accusations made by the princess, no one will believe it. Fangfei and I are good friends, and it is a fact known to everyone. There is no need for me to harm Fangfei, unlike you, princess."

Princess Yongning was furious, but she really couldn't explain why. She had originally found Xiao Deyin because he had the least reason to attack Xue Fangfei. Xiao Deyin was Xue Fangfei's best friend, and everyone knew it. Even Princess Yongning herself didn't expect that Xiao Deyin would agree so easily. She thought Xiao Deyin was a man who knew what was happening, but she didn't expect that it was because Xiao Deyin was so confident.

Even now, as long as there is not enough evidence, everyone will believe that Xiao Deyin is innocent based on his one-sided statement alone, because Xiao Deyin has absolutely no reason to harm Xue Fangfei!

Xiao Deyin recounted how Xue Fangfei behaved abnormally after drinking that day, and Princess Yongning was also present. Of course, she omitted the mention of herself and only said that it was Princess Yongning's people who drugged Xue Fangfei and staged a good show, which ruined Xue Fangfei's reputation and made her never go out again. However, it also made it convenient for the adulterous couple in the Shen residence to attack poor Xue Fangfei.

Xiao Deyin spoke very logically, perhaps because she was smart, or perhaps because she had said this in her mind countless times, which made it so natural, so real, and so hard to find fault with. After she finished speaking, the charges against Princess Yongning and Shen Yurong were deepened and could not be refuted.

Looking at the expressions of the three adults, Xiao Deyin knew that she had made the right bet. She pretended not to see Princess Yongning's angry eyes, and felt very relieved. It seemed that Princess Yongning would have no chance of survival in today's trial. Jiang Li was right. After this, there would be nothing in the world that could threaten her.

Of course, the news that Xiao Deyin testified for Xue Fangfei in court despite Princess Yongning's false accusations would also spread, winning her a good reputation.

Xiao Deyin was very proud.

At this moment, a voice suddenly sounded: "No."

"What's wrong?" Wei Mingyan asked.

"Mr. Xiao, what you said is not true." It was Haitang who spoke. "It is true that Shen Yurong and Princess Yongning had an affair, and it is true that she framed my young lady for having an affair and made my young lady bear the infamy. But from beginning to end, this matter was not done by any servant of Princess Yongning. It was you, Mr. Xiao, who handed over the glass of wine, and it was also you, Mr. Xiao, who put drugs in the wine, and of course it was you, Mr. Xiao, who helped the young lady back to her room." Haitang said coldly: "Mr. Xiao, those who knew about what happened back then are almost all dead, but not all. It is really unfortunate that I am the one who is not dead and happens to know everything that happened. My young lady had an affair with someone, which was indeed a vicious plot designed by Princess Yongning, but you are far from being as innocent as you say, because you are Princess Yongning's executioner, you know everything that happened, you are her accomplice!"

As soon as these words came out, everyone in the room was shocked! Xiao Deyin never expected that such a person would suddenly appear in the court. Jiang Li had told her the evidence of this case in advance, in order to make her believe that this case was a sure thing. It was precisely because of these evidences that Xiao Deyin believed Jiang Li and stood up. But Jiang Li didn't tell her that among the witnesses, there was also a personal maid of Xue Fangfei. It was at this time that she carefully looked at Haitang's face and was shocked.

Haitang? How come she's still alive!

"You...what nonsense are you talking about? Why would I do this? Fang Fei is my good friend, she and I are like sisters, how could I hurt her!"

"It's just because you claim to be the best zither player in Yanjing, but my young lady's zither skills are far superior to yours. You don't care about money, but you only care about fame. You are afraid that my young lady will steal your limelight, so you are jealous and even conspire with Princess Yongning. You know that the glass of wine will ruin my young lady's life, but you still let her drink it."

"You're talking nonsense!" Xiao Deyin was panicking. The secret in her heart was revealed by Haitang without reservation. It was like a snail without a shell, exposed to the sun, knowing that it would be dried up in a short time.

She was terribly frightened.

"What do you mean by brotherly love? My young lady regards you as her confidant, but you repay kindness with hatred. What do you mean by deep love between husband and wife? My young lady is devoted to her son-in-law, but her son-in-law conspires with others to murder his wife. My young lady has always treated people with a sincere heart, but she has only met ruthless people. She has met all the bad people in the world. Only my young lady is the most pitiful, the most tragic, and the most ridiculous!" Haitang said it all in one breath, but at the end, she couldn't help crying. The sadness and hatred in her cry were moving.

Princess Yongning laughed out loud, as if she was very happy to see Xiao Deyin in such an awkward situation. She said happily: "Xiao Deyin, did you see that? Do you think that if you overthrow me, no one will know what you did? You are more hateful than me. At least I don't like Xue Fangfei. Xue Fangfei is just a stranger to me. But you are Xue Fangfei's sister, and you say that your piano voice is noble. Are you kidding? It really makes me laugh to death!"

Xiao Deyin was speechless and almost staggering. She just kept saying, "No, no." But her panicked look and incoherent speech for a moment still exposed her. She was not as innocent as she said.

The people present suddenly felt absurd. Xue Fangfei's affair with someone was widely spread in Yanjing City. Everyone said that this woman was so restless because of her beauty. Shen Zhuangyuan treated her so well, but she was not satisfied. It was really a shame for Yanjing City. But now it seems that everyone in the world was wrong. The woman who was inexplicably carrying the infamy turned out to be the most pitiful person.

Such a beautiful, intelligent, and gentle lady was deceived by her best friend who was like a sister, brutally killed by the husband who promised to spend the rest of her life with her, and humiliated by the princess in the most cruel way. What did she do wrong? She did nothing wrong. If she did do something wrong, it was probably that she fell in love with a ruthless and cold person who pretended to be affectionate and unrepentant!
"And my young master." Haitang said, "When the young master learned that the young lady had an accident in Yanjing City, he immediately rushed to the capital, thinking that he could find some clues and find Jingzhao Yin, so that he could avenge the young lady. Who knew that Jingzhao Yin colluded with the vicious princess and actually killed the young master, and pretended that it was killed by bandits." Haitang laughed bitterly, "What kind of world is this! Such a ridiculous thing actually happened under the feet of the emperor! If all the officials in the court are like this, the officials will not investigate if the people do not sue, and the people will be imprisoned if they sue the officials, then what's the point of setting up government offices? Tell the world directly, if ordinary people suffer a great injustice, they should not speak out, and it will be a waste of effort to speak out. No one dares to sit in the hands of the people, because these officials have to look at people's faces!"

As soon as these words came out, He Qingao shouted "How dare you!", and the three people present could not help but break out in a cold sweat. Haitang's words were no longer just about the crimes of Shen Yurong and Princess Yongning. They were denouncing the officialdom and accusing the emperor. They said that the emperor appointed treacherous officials and let them harm the people.

How could the emperor's reputation be slandered like this? But today's events could not be concealed, and soon what Haitang said would spread to the palace.

Jiang Yuanbo couldn't help but look at Haitang. After Haitang finished speaking, she had already burst into tears, but she still looked at the three adults stubbornly and did not back down. She knew that these words might bring her death, but the incidents of the Xue family in the past year all proved what she said.

They talk about a peaceful and prosperous time, and a peaceful and clear world, but in fact, it is just a paper-made peace and prosperity that will break with a slight poke.

How would Emperor Hong Xiao feel after hearing this? Perhaps he would reflect on the past, or perhaps he would reform the civil service to prevent the tragedy from happening again.

Xue Fangfei's maids all seemed to be smart, Jiang Yuanbai thought, what a pity.

(End of this chapter)