"Where is the snake?" the Capital Prefect asked.
"I was tired from descending the mountain, so I sat by the stream to rest. Unexpectedly, someone knocked me unconscious, and when I woke up, the snake was gone," Li Erlang wept.
His words sounded sincere and reasonable, even providing a plausible explanation for the origin of the snake that had disturbed Shen Xihe and the others.
The person Rong Second Lady had found wasn't a fool.
"County Princess, this..." The Capital Prefect looked somewhat awkwardly at Shen Xihe.
"Lord Zhang, perhaps we should wait until Rong Second Lady arrives before proceeding with the interrogation?" Due to her injury, Shen Xihe had been specially provided a chair to sit on.
Fortunately, Rong Second Lady Rong Mizhen was quickly summoned, accompanied by her father, Rong Second Master Rong Changxun.
Capital Prefect Zhang Pengzhan recounted the entire incident and asked Rong Mizhen, "Rong Second Lady, do you recognize this person?"
Rong Mizhen glanced over and replied softly, "In reply to Your Honor, I have seen him. Today at the foot of the mountain, I noticed Zhaoning County Princess seemed to have some conflict with this man."
Rong Mizhen's frank admission made it difficult for the Capital Prefect to continue questioning. After a moment's consideration, he said, "The County Princess claims this man was instigated by you to release the snake and harm others."
Rong Mizhen looked horrified, her eyes full of innocence: "I bear no grudge against the County Princess. Her status is noble - at several banquets I could only catch distant glimpses of her, never having exchanged a single word. Why would I want to harm her?"
"How can the County Princess be certain it was my daughter who instigated this?" Rong Changxun asked.
The Capital Prefect felt somewhat embarrassed. While Shen Xihe's reasoning was logically sound, it was also rather far-fetched. But as the presiding official, he couldn't show favoritism, so he repeated the entire explanation verbatim.
"Preposterous! Since the County Princess is a young lady, I won't press the matter," Rong Changxun scoffed coldly after hearing it, staring at Shen Yungan. "The Heir Apparent is at least an imperial official - why didn't you stop the County Princess? Does the Heir Apparent in the northwest also determine right and wrong in this manner?"
"Whether it's preposterous or not remains to be seen," Shen Xihe spoke first. "I have my own methods to make this man testify. I wonder what explanation Lord Rong will give me when faced with ironclad evidence?"
Shen Xihe was at least eighty percent certain that the Rong family was behind this. As for the reason, it might be related to Prince Lie Xiao Changying.
Not too many, but not too few people knew that Rong Second Lady was infatuated with Xiao Changying - Gu Qingzhi happened to be among those who knew.
"Is the County Princess determined to smear the Rong family's reputation?" Rong Changxun's face turned ashen. "If the County Princess cannot produce evidence, what then?"
"If I cannot produce evidence, or if my evidence fails to convince Lord Rong, I will personally go to the Rong residence gate and kneel three times and kowtow nine times to apologize," Shen Xihe laughed coldly. "If it's confirmed that the Rong family is behind this, what will the Rong family do?"
Shen Xihe spoke with such conviction that Rong Changxun actually felt somewhat apprehensive. He truly didn't know what his daughter might have done, but having reached this point, he couldn't back down and lose face: "What does the County Princess intend?"
"I nearly fell off a cliff - I don't know whether I would have lived or died if I had fallen, so I won't clamor for a life for a life," Shen Xihe smiled faintly. "Nor do I know what would have happened if that venomous snake had bitten me. I'm never one to push people too hard. If I can produce evidence, your daughter will let the venomous snake bite her once, then jump from the place where I nearly fell. Whether she lives or dies will be left to fate."
Rong Changxun glanced at his composed daughter and agreed immediately: "Fine!"
"Lord Zhang will bear witness," Shen Xihe said to the Capital Prefect.The Capital Prefect glanced around, then steeled himself and said: "I bear witness. Please present the evidence, County Princess."
Shen Xihe called softly: "Biyu."
Biyu stepped forward holding an incense burner and handed it to the bailiff. Shen Xihe explained: "Lord Zhang, this burner contains specially prepared Bewitching Incense. This incense makes people relaxed and defenseless. With sufficient inhalation, they will answer any question truthfully."
The incense was primarily made from poppy flowers and theriaque, creating an ecstatic sensation far surpassing that of Five Minerals Powder.
"Li Erlang, step forward!" The Capital Prefect immediately ordered the bailiff to light the incense for Li Erlang to inhale.
After a few breaths, Li Erlang's face flushed, his eyes grew intoxicated, and he wore a frivolous smile.
The Capital Prefect frowned and looked at Shen Xihe, who nodded: "You may question him now, Lord Zhang."
"Li Erlang, what is your full name and residence?" The Capital Prefect first asked some basic questions, all of which Li Erlang answered clearly. Then he shifted his questioning: "On this Double Ninth Festival, did you release snakes to harm anyone?"
"Double Ninth Festival? Release snakes?" Li Erlang chuckled foolishly. "Steward Li told me he'd give me two taels of gold for releasing two venomous snakes!"
"Who is Steward Li?" Ignoring Rong Changxun and Rong Mizhen's drastic change in expressions, the Capital Prefect pressed on.
"Steward Li Jifu of the Rong residence." Li Erlang still wore an ecstatic smile.
"Go summon Li Jifu!" the Capital Prefect ordered coldly.
"No need!"
"No need!"
Rong Changxun and Shen Xihe spoke simultaneously. Rong Changxun shot Shen Xihe a cold glance: "Lord Zhang, this man is not in his right mind. His words cannot be trusted!"
"If Second Master Rong doubts it, you may write down some private matters known only to yourself and test the incense's effects," Shen Xihe said calmly. "Lord Zhang, there's no need to summon the Rong steward. The truth of this matter should be clear to all present. If Miss Rong wishes to prove her innocence, she may try my Bewitching Incense!"
"County Princess, would you have me humiliate myself publicly like this common ruffian?" Rong Mizhen's eyes welled with tears of humiliation.
"That won't be necessary. Miss Jiang, Miss Xue, and I can question her privately. If Miss Rong doesn't trust us, she may choose other young ladies she trusts to witness," Shen Xihe stood firm. "Of course, you could also threaten suicide, claiming I've humiliated you. My Bewitching Incense remains available anytime. You may dash against the pillar now to prove your integrity and avoid the test."
"But I will certainly bring this before His Majesty and seek justice from the Emperor."
After speaking, Shen Xihe cast a meaningful glance at Rong Changxun. If this reached the Emperor, the incense would still be used. Then it would no longer be a minor dispute between two young ladies - the entire Rong family, including Noble Consort Rong, would face consequences.
Rong Changxun had known the Rong family was implicated ever since Li Erlang named Li Jifu. He stared at Rong Mizhen with shock and anger: "Did you really hire someone to tease the County Princess?"
What a euphemism - 'tease,' Shen Xihe sneered inwardly.
"Father, Father, I didn't mean to," Rong Mizhen immediately responded. "I was just jealous of the County Princess's beauty and wanted to embarrass her slightly. I never imagined... never imagined it would become so serious... sob... I truly didn't mean any harm."
"Releasing venomous snakes counts as 'teasing'? Placing venomous snakes at the cliff edge is merely meant to 'embarrass someone slightly'?" Even Jiang Baiyan couldn't listen any longer and snorted coldly.Rong Mizhen actually used her, making her the scapegoat. She didn't resent Rong Mizhen's cunning, only blamed her own foolishness!
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