Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Shifting the Blame

“It was I who negotiated with the maidservant; the Second Madam need not have met her personally, as she only gave me instructions on what to do,” replied Chang Tai. “Therefore, indeed, the Second Madam never saw this maidservant.”

“Chang Tai, why are you framing me!” Lin Qingqing shouted angrily.

“My lord, Chang Tai is not my servant. I can’t command him in daily matters, and my words carry no weight,” Lin Qingqing said. “How could it be me ordering him to do these things this time?”

Chang Tai said in a deep voice, “Second Madam, are you trying to shift the blame onto the young master! The young master knows nothing, and you specifically instructed me not to let him know either.”

“Are you so loyal to your young master that if I asked you to keep silent, would you do so?” Lin Qingqing said. “Besides, I never said it was my husband who did it. Perhaps you did it behind his back to impress him.”

“Madam, one must be conscientious! Clearly, it was you who ordered me!” Chang Tai shouted.

“Silence!” Lord Tao banged the gavel forcefully, stopping the quarrel between the two.

“You claim Mrs. Lin ordered you,” Lord Tao said. “Explain the entire story clearly; why did she instruct you to do these things?”

“My lord,” Chang Tai said, “After the Second Young Master broke off his engagement with Miss Fu, he recently married the Second Madam. But the Second Madam has always suspected that the Second Young Master hasn’t forgotten about Miss Fu. Plus, since the Second Young Master was won over by the Second Madam’s schemes, naturally she is quite fearful.”

“You are lying!” Lin Qingqing, infuriated, shouted, “My husband and I are clearly in love; he never cared for Fu Mingzhu!”

“Silence!” Lord Tao shouted, “Mrs. Lin, this court hasn’t allowed you to speak. If you interrupt again, this court will have no choice but to use force against you!”

Lin Qingqing shrank back, no longer daring to speak.

“Once Chang Tai is finished, this court will naturally give you a chance to speak,” Lord Tao reminded.

“Yes,” Lin Qingqing could only agree.

“Chang Tai, continue,” Lord Tao said again.

“Yes,” Chang Tai thought for a moment about where he had left off before he continued, “I just mentioned that the Second Madam always suspected that the Second Young Master still had a fondness for Miss Fu, so she always harbored animosity towards her.”

“Originally, Miss Fu had a bad reputation, which somewhat satisfied the Second Madam. But recently, Miss Fu became engaged to Little General Gu, which made the Second Madam jealous, unable to see Miss Fu having a good marriage. Especially considering… especially considering the reasons why the Second Madam married the Second Young Master were not honorable.”

“The Second Madam has always seen Miss Fu as a thorn in her side, so she couldn’t stand to see Miss Fu married off gloriously. That’s why she ordered me to act today amidst the chaos during the marriage of the eldest young master of the Fu family, with many guests attending the mansion.”

“The Second Madam’s maid Liu Yue found out that the Fu Mansion had recently hired new servants and had me find someone to act internally and externally in cooperation,” Chang Tai said. “That’s how I found this maidservant.”

“I couldn’t decide on my own; everything was as per the Second Madam’s instructions,” Chang Tai said, “It was the Second Madam who ordered me to threaten the maidservant with her family’s lives to force her compliance.”

“You’re lying!” Lin Qingqing was truly anxious, hurriedly bowing her head to Lord Tao, “My lord, how could Chang Tai, as the long-time attendant of my husband, be so obedient to me? He is always around my husband and has no contact with me. Whenever my husband has something to say, he sends Chang Tai to convey it to me, but whenever I want to inquire about something, he keeps silent.”

“Please, judge wisely, my lord! I did not instruct him!” Lin Qingqing exclaimed anxiously.

She now even suspected that Xiao Fengxing instructed Chang Tai; if things went wrong, all the blame would be shifted onto her.

To this day, Xiao Fengxing has not appeared.

Lin Qingqing’s heart was filled with extreme hatred, and those words from Chang Tai made her have no choice but to suspect Xiao Fengxing.

“Calm yourself,” Lord Tao was still somewhat polite to Lin Qingqing.

At this moment, Mr. Lin and Mrs. Lin hurriedly arrived.

They hadn’t attended the banquet at the Fu Mansion, so they weren’t quick to receive news.

They had already retired to bed when suddenly a servant reported that Lin Qingqing had been taken to the Shuntian Prefecture’s court.

The two quickly changed clothes and rushed over.

“Lord Tao!” Mr. Lin called out loudly from outside the court.

“Mr. Lin,” Lord Tao acknowledged as he stood up.

Mr. Lin hurriedly entered, “My lord, could there be some misunderstanding?”

“Mr. Lin, this court is currently conducting an inquiry. If Mrs. Lin is innocent, this court will not wrong her,” Lord Tao said. “I kindly ask Mr. Lin and Mrs. Lin to wait outside so as not to interfere with this court’s proceedings.”

“Lord Tao,” Mr. Lin pleaded, “May I attend the court session as a spectator?”

“Mr. Lin, that is against the rules,” Lord Tao said. “It would be best for you to wait outside.”

Mrs. Lin said, “Isn’t the Old Madam and Mr. Fu, Madam Fu, here too?”

“The Old Madam has the title of nobility granted by the Empress Dowager, allowing her to be present in court. Mr. Fu and Madam Fu are the plaintiffs in this case,” Lord Tao said. “They are all rightfully allowed in court.”

“Mrs. Lin is already married outside the family; this case does not concern you. You should hurry out!” Lord Tao waved his hand, “Otherwise, this court will have to call for guards to escort you out!”

Mr. Lin could only pull Mrs. Lin to leave.

Lin Qingqing anxiously and helplessly looked back at Mr. Lin, but Mr. Lin had no solution either.

Lord Tao asked Chang Tai again, “Chang Tai, being Xiao Fengxing’s long-time attendant, you usually follow his orders. And this time, you’ve done so much for Mrs. Lin—did Xiao Fengxing have no opinion on this? Did he not prevent you?”

Chang Tai hurriedly said, “My lord, the Second Young Master was unaware of this matter.”

“Everything was under the Second Madam’s direction, and she also instructed me not to let the Second Young Master find out.”

“Chang Tai, in this court, there must be no lies. You must answer truthfully when this court questions you!” Lord Tao warned, “You are Xiao Fengxing’s attendant, yet you heed Mrs. Lin’s words. She tells you not to speak, and you hide the truth from Xiao Fengxing, saying nothing?”

“Do you think this court will believe such claims?” Lord Tao said coldly.

“Please, judge wisely, my lord!” Lin Qingqing hastily knelt and said, “Chang Tai is clearly spouting nonsense!”

At this point, Lin Qingqing understood completely.

It was Xiao Fengxing who colluded with Chang Tai, placing all the blame on her!

She and Xiao Fengxing were once husband and wife, promising eternal love and that he would always treat her with care.

It hadn’t been long, yet once something happened, he shifted all blame onto her.

This matter was clearly something she and Xiao Fengxing both participated in.

She only provided some ideas, and the detailed arrangements were all made by Xiao Fengxing, instructing Chang Tai to execute them.

But now, all the culpability had been laid solely at her feet.

Understanding this crucial detail, Lin Qingqing naturally no longer shielded Xiao Fengxing, “My lord, this whole plan was Xiao Fengxing’s idea!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep