bookcurios Chapter 59 Proving Innocence
Chapter 59 Proving Innocence
Mu Yanran was already upset because Wei Zhiying stole the limelight, and Zhang Qianqian caused this incident, how could she not be angry. But she had no choice but to wait on the side with Prince Xuan. Even if they passed Xia Taoyuan and Chu Xingluo to pay their respects to the Emperor and Empress, it would not work. The focus of the whole audience was now on Xia Taoyuan and Zhang Qianqian. Who would care about her and Prince Xuan?
Zhang Qianqian was a little confused. She didn't know how to answer. She was talking about Xia Taoyuan, but how could she dare to say it out loud now?
Xia Taoyuan smiled and said, "Ms. Zhang, you said something like this, I have to doubt it. Also, before, outside the Wenxin Palace, your words were all meaningful, and I happened to be there. What's more coincidental is that the person you mentioned was kidnapped, and I was also kidnapped a few days ago..."
Xia Taoyuan confirmed lightly that he had been kidnapped, and some of the guests began to whisper.
Zhang Qianqian originally had no feelings for Wei Zhiying, but she had heard her father say many times that Prime Minister Mu and Wei Mingcheng were not on good terms, and she said those words in Wenxin Hall just to show her goodwill to Mu Yanran.
Another thing is that she saw Mu Yun's attitude towards Xia Taoyuan, and thought about how she usually grovelled but couldn't get a glance from Mu Yun, so she felt hatred in her heart. So when she saw Xia Taoyuan coming over and saying those words just now, she thought that the parties involved would avoid such things, but she didn't expect that Wei Zhiying would keep chasing after her.
Just when Zhang Qianqian was at a loss, a middle-aged man with a big belly came over, wiped the sweat from his forehead, bowed, and said earnestly: "Your Highness Prince Jing, Miss Wei, I am ignorant and talked nonsense. Please forgive me." After that, he glared at Zhang Qianqian fiercely.
"Minister Zhang, today is a big day for Prince Jing and Prince Xuan. What is your intention in allowing your daughter to make trouble here?" Lu Qing'er walked over from a distance.
"Miss Lu, you are joking. I admit that I have failed to teach my daughter well, but how dare I indulge her?" Zhang Wei was furious. Lu Qing'er had casually accused him of something, but he did not dare to show it. He could not afford to offend the Prime Minister, let alone General Lu. He was a loyal minister and general of the Great Viet Kingdom, the pillar of stability!
"Then why is Miss Zhang saying such nonsense on such a happy day?" Lu Qing'er did not give up.
"This..." Zhang Wei wanted to find an excuse to fool around, but there was obviously no reason for anyone to talk nonsense in such an occasion, except for his brainless daughter. He was also a little panicked. It seemed that his career as a minister would end today. He didn't expect that he would be ruined by his stupid daughter after so many years of careful and painstaking efforts.
Seeing her father in trouble, Zhang Qianqian inexplicably found courage and said loudly: "Wei Zhiying, yes, I'm talking about you!"
Xia Taoyuan looked at Zhang Qianqian deeply and said, "Miss Zhang, do you and I have any grudge against each other?"
Zhang Qianqian didn't want to say that she was just jealous of Xia Taoyuan, so she could only reply, "No."
"Then may I ask why Miss Zhang slanders me like this? Before, Miss Mu and Miss Fang maliciously slandered me, and now you say that I am shameless and dissolute?" Xia Taoyuan was surprisingly calm at this moment.
"Isn't it? In public, she was so close to Prince Jing. Miss Mu is also the daughter of the Prime Minister, but she is not as impatient as you. It's immoral!" Zhang Qianqian said confidently. Zhang Wei stamped his feet and beat his chest, angrily saying, "Shut up!"
Chu Xingluo suddenly said in a cold voice: "Miss Zhang, Zhiying and I have always been in love with each other. We are engaged today and will be married in the future. She just held my arm, but you slandered her like this. Tell me, what is shameless and unruly?"
Xia Taoyuan looked up at Chu Xingluo and smiled at him foolishly. Chu Xingluo gave her a warm smile in return.
After hearing what Prince Jing said, many guests nodded. Some of them said, "That's right. How can an engaged couple holding arms be shameless and unrestrained? What is Miss Zhang thinking?" "Prince Jing and Miss Wei love each other. Holding arms is not out of line." The discussion continued.
Xia Taoyuan heard that the guests were talking about Zhang Qianqian's faults, so she said, "Miss Zhang, a kind word can warm you through the winter, but a harsh word can hurt you in the summer. I'm not trying to make things difficult for you, but if a rumor spreads outside, people without the ability to distinguish will believe it. I didn't do it and it doesn't matter to me, but it's unfair to Prince Jing." Then she changed the subject and said, "You said before that I was kidnapped by bandits and lost my innocence. Is that true or not?"
The guests were in an uproar. No one expected Zhang Qianqian to say this to Miss Wei. Zhang Qianqian looked unhappy. She bit her lip and said nothing. Someone urged Zhang Qianqian: "Miss Zhang, answer Miss Wei's question quickly."
Amid the urging of the crowd, Zhang Qianqian knew that it would be difficult to get away with it today, so she stammered, "I also heard it from others."
"Since Miss Zhang also heard it from others, why do you still believe it and spread it everywhere?" Qi Nanfeng stood up, shaking his folding fan. Although he was very disappointed today, his heart to protect Xia Taoyuan would never change. "Also, who told you that?"
Zhang Qianqian couldn't speak clearly at this time, and stammered: "I, I was with my maid, the maid went out to buy things, and when we were buying things, we heard, on the road, passers-by on the road, said it."
"So, Miss Zhang didn't see me lose my innocence with her own eyes?"
When Zhang Qianqian heard Xia Taoyuan's question, she nodded woodenly.
"Today is my wedding day. I will not pursue the matter for now as Miss Zhang spread rumors and slandered me. However, to prevent anyone from making false accusations and destroying my innocence in the future, I need to clarify something. I was indeed kidnapped to the suburbs that day, but Prince Jing's bodyguard Long Yan had been protecting me secretly. Later, Qingyun also took Prince Jing there. I killed one of the two robbers, and the other was dealt with by Prince Jing." Xia Taoyuan said calmly.
After hearing this, everyone praised Xia Taoyuan for her courage and strategy. "Prince Jing's bodyguard Long Yan has been here all the time. We all know that Prince Jing's two bodyguards are highly skilled in martial arts. One can defeat ten at a time. How can two bandits be their opponents?" "How can there be any rumor that Miss Wei has lost her innocence? These are just rumors." "Did you hear that Miss Wei killed a bandit? She is truly a heroine!"
"Everything has been made clear. If anyone continues to gossip about us in the future, don't blame me and Long Yan for being blind!" Qingyun waved his fist with a dark face, and walked with Long Yan to Xia Taoyuan and Chu Xingluo.
"The engagement ceremony continues!" Eunuch Liu's loud voice suddenly came. Xia Taoyuan stole a glance at the emperor and found that Emperor Ying did not look impatient, so she felt relieved. After all, the emperor only asked her to be closer to Chu Xingluo, and did not let her say anything else.