Chapter 126: Argument, who wins the counter? (2/2)

Grand Concubine Yi raised a hand to silence Lady Xu before shooting Han Yunxi a cold look. “Han Yunxi! Is what Lady Xu says true?”

“It’s the truth! Not a bit of lie to it,” Han Yunxi admitted openly.

At this, the crowd sucked in a collective breath, never imagining she’d admit things so easily. Han Yunxi’s mouth twitched. Lady Xu’s words had all been truth and nothing but the truth. How could she call it a lie?

“Lady Xu, this wangfei’s only caught a chill recently and was confined to bed, delaying you by one day. You trust this wangfei so little?” Han Yunxi asked back.

Everyone had finished singing their parts in the play, so it should be my turn now, right?

Lady Xu was ready to defend herself, but Han Yunxi overwhelmed her with a show of strength. Her voice was full of scorn. “It’s just late by one day, this wangfei never said she wouldn’t take you. Lady Xu, did you really need to make a ruckus at the gates? Don’t think mufei and I didn’t hear the words you said just then. I’ll tell you now, we heard clearly every single word!”

These words…

No way!

Han Yunxi had sold out Grand Concubine Yi completely with her words. So it turned out that Grand Concubine Yi heard everything just then? In a flash, the crowd was in an uproar. Grand Concubine Yi is already aware of everything, yet she still feigns to ask questions? This is too fake, isn’t it? What kind of trick is she hiding?

Lady Xu never expected Han Yunxi dared to pull Grand Concubine Yi down into the water with her. She stood there gaping, dumbstruck, unable to even speak. Murong Wanru was also dazed. She couldn’t understand it–wasn’t Han Yunxi very smart? Doesn’t she know that offending mufei would lead to dire consequences?

Unless she’s planning to die together with Lady Xu?

Murong Wanru felt dread at such a thought. If Lady Xu couldn’t gain any benefits, she’d definitely sell her out.

Heavens, how frightening!

In the middle of all the commotion, Grand Concubine Yi’s complexion was utterly horrific. Her ruthless glare was ready to swallow Han Yunxi whole. She’d worked so hard to recover her image but now it was all ruined and wrecked even worse than before.

But while everyone was mulling over the unthinkable, Han Yunxi spoke up loudly again. “Lady Xu, my mufei believes in Buddhism, so she’s always been tolerant and merciful to the wicked. She heard everything but pretended that she heard nothing, so she didn’t dispute with you and listened to your grievances. But unlike her, I won’t let this pass!”

Some people could talk without anyone ever listening. Others could talk and bring about a radical change in the situation.

Han Yunxi’s words had miraculously shifted the entire situation while reclaiming Grand Concubine Yi’s innocence. She’d even managed to flatter her to the skies.

Grand Concubine Yi calmed herself down, her mind a little blank. But in the end, she finally relaxed enough to exhale. Good, good, Han Yunxi’s deflection had left her a back route; otherwise, she’d have no idea how to bring about a compromise. Lady Xu was scared witless. She never imagined Han Yuxni could be so formidable, retreating in order to advance[1]. With such tactics, she drew Grand Concubine Yi back to her side.

Murong Wanru more or less was able to gauge the purpose of Han Yunxi’s actions. She quickly asked curiously, “Sister-in-law, didn’t they say there was someone on top preventing the Han Family from visiting the prisons? How can you help them see Divine Doctor Han, then? How can you do it?”

Right now, Murong Wanru’s face was all innocence. But she’d grabbed onto the crux of the situation. Her words sounded so lovely, but even an idiot could tell that this was suspecting Han Yunxi as that “someone on top.”

How should Han Yunxi reply?

She really had ordered the justice courts to prohibit the Han Family from visiting the prisons. That was because of the task that Han Congan had entrusted to her. She didn’t know what kind of child Han Yunyi was; neither did she want the Han Family to find out about Han Congan’s decision of heir so quickly.

After she gained an understanding of Han Yunyi, she naturally had no qualms with letting them see Han Congan, because both of them favored Han Yunyi. Han Yunxi didn’t even think before speaking. “It’s true that this wangfei prohibited the Han Family from visiting. But this wasn’t my idea, but my father’s!”

Some explanations only made matters worse. Since she couldn’t explain clearly, she pushed all the responsibility to Han Congan. If he had the mind to have her support Han Yunyi and revive the Han house, he’d definitely stand on her side. At this critical juncture, Han Yunxi still stood solid.

But her words had hardly finished when Lady Xu hurried to ask, “Why? Why would the old master do this? Esteemed wangfei, you’re a married off daughter. The Han Family’s affairs, you…you shouldn’t interfere in them, right?” Lady Xu might have been roundabout in her words, but they were filled with suspicion and doubt.

Han Yunxi didn’t take offence and replied honestly. “Because father committed a grave crime and was too ashamed to face the Han Family ancestors, much less the rest of the Han Family. The day I went to call on him was when he was still troubled over the issue of the Han Family heir. They were either of mediocre talents and ignorantly incompetent, or too young to assume the duties of a head. He thus gave the key to me for safekeeping until a worthy heir emerged.”

When Han Yunxi finished speaking, Lady Xu smiled…

-o-

[1] retreating in order to advance (以退为进) – yi tui wei jin, to make concessions in order to gain advantages.