The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 766: Desperately Smearing (7)_1

Chapter 766: Chapter 766: Desperately Smearing (7)_1

Lady Chen opened her mouth to protest, "I am wronged! This wet nurse is talking nonsense! I didn’t kill anyone! I just went out to the latrine, it was the wet nurse herself who committed the murder!"

"This is a court of law; stop the clamor!" Jiang Benxin struck the clapper-board.

Lady Chen, seeing his stern and cold demeanor, dared not shout again and looked towards Qian Wanxiu.

Qian Wanxiu quickly gave her a reassuring look, signaling that she wouldn’t be in trouble, and suggested to Jiang Benxin to bring in Pei Qin for questioning. If it wasn’t her, they would still pin the crime on her! Even if they couldn’t pin it on her, they would still tarnish that wretched Pei Qin!

Jiang Benxin couldn’t help but sneer internally at their insistence on framing Pei Qin. Magistrate Huang, who had been beheaded before, had listened to them and foolishly went against Pei Qin and her kind. Now that he had given them the chance to bring forward two women, they thought they could use him as a pawn. To arrest Pei Qin? He struck the clapper-board and immediately had both the wet nurse and the suspect, Lady Chen, thrown into the main jail to await further trial.

Lady Chen panicked, "I didn’t kill anyone, why should I be thrown into the main jail!?"

Qian Wanxiu was secretly vexed. Was Jiang Benxin not understanding her or doing it on purpose!? They had clearly filed a complaint against Pei Qin, but he had detained Lady Chen instead. What a fool—if she couldn’t hold back and gave away any clues, wouldn’t that harm Wensheng!?

"Sir Jiang! We’ve accused Pei Qin! My sister-in-law would never harm her own nephew!" She had to bring back Lady Chen to ensure her safety.

"Lady Chen is under suspicion of murder. Since both she and the wet nurse are possible culprits, they shall both be put into the main jail!" said Jiang Benxin coldly. This legal wife of Old Pei’s House must have oppressed Pei Qin before, and he saw this as an opportunity to help Pei Qin get some revenge. The Prince was very reliant on Mo Heng now.

"Sir!" Pei Zongli also bowed.

Jiang Benxin was getting angry, striking the clapper-board, "Are you questioning my judgment!?"

"Not at all, Sir! We are not questioning..." Qian Wanxiu said hurriedly.

Jiang Benxin interrupted her, "No evidence, no testimonies, nothing at all, and you expect me to arrest a Lady of the Third-Rank Enjoin just based on your few words. Lady Chen is a suspect and there’s the wet nurse who personally witnessed her in the courtyard. Lady Zhao can also confirm this matter. And you want me to release her!?"

To ask for Lady Chen’s release now would obviously show too much protection.

Qian Wanxiu gave Lady Chen a meaningful glance and subtly touched her own Silver Step Shake and the earrings she was wearing to signal that Lady Chen would not be at a disadvantage, and that she should endure it for now.

Lady Chen, every time she saw Qian Wanxiu, was envious and jealous of her polished appearance and expensive attire. Now seeing that she held such a significant advantage over her, in the future Qian Wanxiu would have to do whatever she told her to do. Clenching her teeth, she decided to endure it for the time being.

The wet nurse and Lady Chen were taken together into the main jail, and Jiang Benxin adjourned the court.

Pei Zongli stayed at the Government Office to talk with Jiang Benxin.

Meanwhile, Qian Wanxiu sent Shu Hua to greet Jiang Benxin’s two concubines, asking them to speak favorably about her to him, while she hurried back home to see where her young son had gone and what the situation was.

Zhao Liniang, looking lost and distraught with a bloodless pale face and somewhat dazed, one moment thought that it was Pei Qin targeting Old Pei’s House, and why should she harm her own son’s life!? It fits her agenda not to get along with that vile and despicable Qian Wanxiu, doesn’t it!? Another moment, she suspected that it was Qian Wanxiu’s doing, because of her grudge with Pei Qin, relying on the fact that Jiang Benxin had her two sent concubines, to get rid of her son and then frame Pei Qin, absolving herself.

Seeing her in a state of mental disarray, Qian Wanxiu asked the young maid, "Has the eldest young master returned?"

The young maid shook her head, saying he had not.

Qian Wanxiu glanced at the door of her young son’s room and told the young maid to cook some porridge and attend to Zhao Liniang.