CHAPTER 423: CHAPTER 423: EXPOSED

The daughter is willing to take the blame for her mother, but her filial piety is evident.

But the mother lets the daughter take the fall—

The daughter couldn’t bear it anymore.

Xie Jinyu’s nose tingled.

Tears fell down.

Earlier she knelt down to take the blame for the poisoning, and Princess Nanzhang said she was confused.

Xie Jinyu thought Princess Nanzhang was blaming her for impulsively coming forward to take the blame.

Now she realized that Princess Nanzhang was blaming her for foolishly poisoning Xie Jingchen.

Whether she came forward or not, Princess Nanzhang was prepared to sacrifice her.

Of course.

It couldn’t really be called a sacrifice.

A tiger, though fierce, will not eat its own cubs.

Even if Old Master Xie didn’t like Princess Nanzhang, he wouldn’t be cruel enough to destroy his own daughter.

But to poison and harm her brother, so ruthless, if Old Master Xie let it go like that, how could he uphold family law?

After confirming that the medicine in the bottle was an antidote, Old Master Xie administered thirty strokes to Xie Jinyu and punished her to reflect in the Buddhist Hall for a month.

Then he swung his sleeves and left.

Just after Old Master Xie left, Princess Nanzhang collapsed to the ground.

She felt as if all her strength had been drained.

Tears fell like broken pearls, one after another.

She was afraid that if Xie Jingchen died unjustly, Old Master Xie would blame his death on her, so she chose today.

She still underestimated the weight of Xie Jingchen in Old Master Xie’s heart.

When Xie Jingchen fainted, Old Master Xie’s face was so dark it seemed murderous.

When the maid confessed, Princess Nanzhang knew this matter couldn’t be settled peacefully.

All the evidence pointed to her.

She couldn’t deny it.

She could only let her daughter take the blame.

Thinking of her daughter being beaten, Princess Nanzhang felt as if her heart was being cut with a knife, but if she were confirmed to have poisoned, Old Master Xie would never forgive her.

Mrs. Zhao helped Princess Nanzhang up.

Just now, when Xie Jinyu was being beaten, Princess Nanzhang rushed over, wanting to take the beating for Xie Jinyu.

Old Master Xie didn’t say stop, so the servant dared not stop.

The last few strokes landed on Princess Nanzhang.

After helping Princess Nanzhang back to her room, Mrs. Zhao applied medicine to her, then said, "Commandery Princess...".

Princess Nanzhang was heartbroken for her daughter, in addition to being angry with Old Master Xie’s partiality towards Xie Jingchen.

Mrs. Zhao hesitated, directly hitting Princess Nanzhang’s sore spot.

"Speak your mind!" Princess Nanzhang said coldly.

Mrs. Zhao looked at her and said, "I previously told the maid to stop...".

Princess Nanzhang was stunned for a moment.

Then she suddenly looked at Mrs. Zhao.

Mrs. Zhao felt a little guilty.

Princess Nanzhang had never said to stop the maid; it was her own decision.

She was truly scared.

Encountering the Eldest Young Madam never resulted in a loss-free situation.

After so much effort for the Duke and Old Master to return happily from the border, why spoil the mood at this time?

The Eldest Young Madam was no longer a bandit; now she was the granddaughter of Marquis Jibei.

If anything happened to the Eldest Young Master, the Eldest Young Madam would have to endure widowhood.

Marquis Dongxiang and Marquis Jibei would certainly get to the bottom of it.

Mrs. Zhao’s courage wavered.

Recalling last time when Xie Jingchen was poisoned, he had no reaction.

This time failure could be explained away.

At most, Princess Nanzhang would be angry, then let it go.

The maid was timid from the start; if not threatened with her family, even if lent a few nerves, she wouldn’t dare do such a thing.

She was happiest when told to stop.

But in the end, the maid still acted.

The Eldest Young Master had an early onset of poison, destroying the original plan completely.

"Why didn’t you mention it earlier?!" Princess Nanzhang was enraged.

"The servant thought it was the eldest lady...".

"But just now, the eldest lady seemed so wronged, it didn’t seem like she did it," said Mrs. Zhao tremulously.

Mrs. Zhao had watched Xie Jinyu grow up.

If she really did it, she would confidently contradict Old Master Xie rather than cry.

The eldest lady was truly heartbroken this time.

Acting recklessly was one thing, but if the person wasn’t unearthed, who knew when that hidden viper would jump out and bite them?

Weighing the pros and cons, Mrs. Zhao chose to speak out.

Princess Nanzhang lay on the bed, cold sharpness gleaming in her eyes.

"It’s definitely her!"

...

After obtaining the antidote, Old Master Xie went to the Agarwood Pavilion.

Su Jin sat by the bed, tears falling.

"Miss, Old Master is here," Xingxing reminded her.

Su Jin stood up to salute Old Master Xie.

"No need for formalities," Old Master Xie said.

He handed the medicine bottle to Su Jin, saying, "This is the antidote, give it to Chenchen."

Su Jin quickly took the medicine bottle.

Sitting by the bed, Su Jin opened the medicine bottle, pouring the medicine into her palm.

She sniffed it.

It was indeed the antidote.

But Xie Jingchen wasn’t poisoned.

This antidote, once taken, wouldn’t benefit him at all.

Of course, it wouldn’t do any harm either.

Su Jin opened Xie Jingchen’s mouth and pushed the antidote inside.

To better feed Xie Jingchen, Su Jin shifted slightly—

And accidentally sat on Xie Jingchen’s hand.

Xie Jingchen, "...."

It hurt a bit.

Instinctively, he withdrew his hand.

This scene happened to be caught by Old Master Xie.

Old Master Xie’s brow furrowed into a knot.

Manager Li almost suffocated trying to hold in his laughter.

This feigned fainting wasn’t acted thoroughly at all.

After the antidote was stuffed into Xie Jingchen’s mouth, Xingxing brought some tea, and Su Jin cautiously fed Xie Jingchen a bit.

After handing the tea cup back to Xingxing, Su Jin stood up and said to Old Master Xie, "The Imperial Physician said that after taking the antidote, my husband will wake up in less than an hour, it’s too late now, you should go back and rest."

Old Master Xie didn’t stay long, but he did say one thing before leaving: "Peppers hurt the eyes."

Su Jin, "...."

Once Old Master Xie turned away, Su Jin quickly threw the handkerchief away.

She wished she could hide in a hole, her face red and flushed from embarrassment.

Being unable to cry, she had used the handkerchief to stimulate tears, how hard it was!

Hearing the door close, Su Jin turned around to see Xie Jingchen already sitting up on the bed.

With a face as red as if she had been bled dry, Su Jin looked at him and said, "Why did you get up?"

"I’ve been exposed, there’s no need to continue pretending," Xie Jingchen said, rubbing his forehead.

"What should we do now?" Su Jin said anxiously.

"I’m going to explain everything clearly to my father."

Though he pretended to faint, the fact that Princess Nanzhang really attempted poisoning remained.

Xie Jingchen stood up, and Su Jin helped smooth out the creases in his brocade robe.

Xie Jingchen looked a bit surprised.

Suddenly being so virtuous?

There had to be a catch.

Quickly, Xie Jingchen realized he hadn’t overthought.

Su Jin looked at him, rubbing her reddened eyes with an innocent glint, "You were the one who came up with all those plans that flopped, including the chili handkerchief."

"Go on," she said, "I don’t care, it’s so late, do you really think I’d be worried about you going alone?"

"...."

"Is Xie Jingchuan asleep and looking for a fight?"

Su Jin looked at him, rubbing her reddened eyes, saying, "Peppers hurt the eyes."

Xie Jingchen asked, "Who said you can put peppers in the handkerchief?"

"Give it to me right now," she said, with a look of grievance, as if it were all his idea.

Without saying another word, she shoved the handkerchief into his hand.

Xie Jingchen held his head as he walked out the door.

The hidden guard holding the lantern led the way, as Xie Jingchen went to the front courtyard.

From outside, Manager Li called: "Father."

"Come in," said Old Master Xie briskly, quickly rolling up the scroll.