189 Inverting the Truth
Yu Kangtai suddenly stood up and scolded.
“That’s impossible. You’re talking nonsense!”
Yu Pingping was very angry and reprimanded indignantly.
“My mother treats you so well usually. No matter what you eat or wear, you have the best among the maidservants. She’s never mistreated you. Why did you frame her like this? What are your intentions?!”
Even Yu Sheng, who was usually the gentlest, frowned with dissatisfaction.
“If you’re unhappy with our family, you can just say so. There’s no need to play such tricks.”
Madam Jiang was first surprised, then her eyes turned red, looking very sad.
She covered her mouth with a handkerchief and sobbed.
“Chun Xing, I usually treat you well. Why are you saying such things?”
Chun Xing coughed out a mouthful of blood and said in a hoarse voice, “I’m telling the truth. If I have told even half a lie, let me be struck by lightning and die a horrible death.”
She would not have done it without full confidence.
On the other hand, Yu Pingping and Yu Sheng were speechless.
Yu Kangtai had been in the bureaucracy for many years and was not frightened by these few words.
He said in a low voice, “Everything has to be based on evidence. We can’t just listen to your side of the story.”
Chun Xing said, “I have the money Madam gave me. She asked me to give it to Zhao San.”
Meng Xizhou took out two heavy silver ingots and placed them on the table.
Yu Kangtai glanced at the two silver ingots. “All silver ingots look the same. What makes you think that they were given to you by Madam? This item can’t be used as evidence.”
Xiao Juan said calmly.
“This matter is simple. The money in the Yu Residence is calculated. We just have to check all the money in the residence to see if the numbers match. These two big silver ingots are worth at least twenty taels. Even an official family like the Yu family could not lose 20 taels of silver for no reason. If there was a deficit, the mistress of the household would definitely have to give an explanation.”
Madam Jiang’s heart tightened as her thoughts raced.
What was she going to do?
Yu Pingping muttered softly, “What if Chun Xing is dirty and stole our money?”
Madam Jiang immediately looked troubled, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Seeing this, Yu Kangtai hurriedly asked.
“Is there something you can’t say?
It doesn’t matter. The children and I are here. If you have anything, just say it. We’ll back you up.”
Madam Jiang seemed to have been encouraged and spoke carefully.
“Actually, I don’t want to say it. After all, this concerns Chun Xing’s reputation. But at this point, I couldn’t care less. Chun Xing had stolen my jewelry before. I’d knocked her around a little after I found out. At the time, she’d sworn she wouldn’t do it again. I believed her and let it go.”
Yu Pingping said anxiously, “Why didn’t you tell us about this? Our family can’t tolerate people who are dirty!”
Yu Kangtai also said, “Such a person should be sold immediately!”
Madam Jiang sighed. “After all, she’s my dowry maid and has been with me for so many years. How can I sell her?”
Yu Kangtai hated himself for failing. “You’re too kind! Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been bullied by a maidservant!”
Hearing their distorted conversation, Chun Xing was almost angered to death.
She had followed Mrs. Jiang for so many years and had helped Mrs. Jiang deal with so many shameful things. She knew Mrs. Jiang’s true colors better than anyone.
Madam Jiang pretended to be gentle and generous, but she was actually narrow-minded and vengeful. What a joke it was to be calling her kind!
Chun Xing struggled to argue. “I didn’t steal anything.”
Madam Jiang looked very helpless. “If you don’t believe me, Your Highness, you can send someone to search her residence. You will definitely find a lot of things.”
Chun Xing quickly said, “You gave me those things. I didn’t steal them!”
She had helped Mrs. Jiang do so many shady things, so Mrs. Jiang naturally would not treat her badly. She had given her many things usually, including food, and clothes.
Mrs. Jiang denied it.
“Why would I give you so much for no reason? If you’re going to lie, you should make up a decent lie.”
Chun Xing was exasperated. “You!”
Yu Pingping immediately said to Duke Lang.
“Brother-in-law, the truth has already been revealed! It was Chun Xing who stole my mother’s silver and colluded with outsiders to spread rumors and ruin my sister’s reputation. After the matter was exposed, she even tried to frame my mother. Get someone to take her away! A thousand deaths would not be enough for such a vicious and ungrateful woman!”
Chun Xing shook her head desperately in denial. “I didn’t! I’m telling the truth!”
Xiao Juan looked at the girl sitting beside the minister and asked her what she thought.
Originally, Yu Niaoniao only wanted to watch the show quietly. She did not expect herself to be involved in this matter. Was it okay to just watch the show?
She rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
“No matter who it is, they have to have a motive. Chun Xing has no grudge against me. Why would she want to harm me? Also, Chun Xing was usually trusted by Madam Yu. She couldn’t have betrayed Madam Yu for no reason, right?”
Madam. Jiang lowered her eyes and avoided her gaze.
“How would I know? You’ll have to ask Chun Xing.”
Yu Niaoniao blinked. “But you said that Chunxing stole property and framed you.”
In court, we pay attention to the principle of the party that advocates and the party that proves.
“Chun Xing argued that you had instigated her and she gave evidence for it. You are arguing that she planted the evidence. Are you going to provide corresponding evidence?”
Madam. Jiang thought quickly and immediately said.
“Didn’t I tell you? If you search her residence, you’ll definitely find the valuables she stole. Those are evidence.”
Yu Niaoniao asked.
“If you knew she stole the property and didn’t pursue the matter, why didn’t you get it back?”
Madam Jiang was instantly speechless.
Yu Niaoniao continued.
“You knew the other party had stolen property, but you didn’t ask for it back. That means you allowed or even condoned her theft. To put it bluntly, you’re her accomplice.”
Mrs. Jiang gripped her handkerchief tightly. “I didn’t! You’re talking nonsense!”
“When did I spout nonsense?” Yu Niaoniao put on a listening posture.
Madam Jiang’s lips parted and closed for a long time before she forced out a reason.
“I—I didn’t ask for it back because I was afraid she would take revenge.”
Yu Niaoniao laughed rudely.
“She’s your dowry maid, which means you have her indenture in your hands. If she dares to do anything to you, you can sell her anytime. Are you actually afraid of her revenge? Mrs. Yu, do you think your statement is reasonable?”
Madam Jiang was speechless again.
Yu Niaoniao continued calmly.
“Looking at you, it’s obvious that you don’t think it makes sense either. Then we’ll make the most reasonable deduction based on the available clues. You’ve always hated me because of the Jiang family’s exile. Therefore, you secretly sent your most trusted maidservant, Chun Xing, to spend money to bribe Zhao San and let him spread rumors against me. Unfortunately, the matter was exposed. Chun Xing exposed you. And you pushed all the blame to Chun Xing in order to clear your name. At the end of the day, you guys are fighting each other.”