Chapter 134: Conviction, putting one’s all into the fight (2/2)

Very good!

Han Yunxi, you’ll be hard-pressed to fly now even if you stuck wings onto yourself!

“Big brother, the suspect’s case has already been publicized. There’s no need to hide anything, so it’s better to give everyone an explanation that can ease their worries. Otherwise, everyone in the capital will be left on tenterhooks. That’s no good at all!” Mu Liuyue said loudly.

“What do you know? Shut your mouth!” Mu Qingwu scolded sternly.

“Big brother, are you trying to protect esteemed wangfei? Even though she’s saved you in the past, kindness is one thing and bets are another. You can’t confuse the two!” Mu Liuyue was still very loud, like someone who’d refused to let go after taking a bite.

The agitated Mu Qingwu simply resorted to denouncing her. “Don’t speak nonsense and get back home!”

Seeing this, Han Yunxi immediately realized that something was wrong. By now, Chu Xifeng had caught up as well to land by Han Yunxi’s ear. “Esteemed wangfei, it’s bad. There’s no poison in the tea leaves!”

Han Yunxi’s face turned white at these words. No poison? How…how could that be?

Was she really wrong? Was she truly going to lose the bet?

No, she didn’t believe it, how could that be possible?

“You’re certain?” Han Yunxi asked in a low voice.

“Absolutely. Before His Highness returned with you, he’d already found around 10 poison doctors to examine it. Just then, His Highness personally picked out another poisons expert to check, but none of them found poison! As things stand now, it’s better not to alert Madame Li until we’ve made further investigations.” Chu Xifeng shot a careless glance towards Madame Li and her daughter, his voice very, very low. Still, Han Yunxi heard every word clearly as her heart slowly plummeted.

“Big brother, how can you act like this? Why are you angry? Is there something you’re trying to hide? Esteemed wangfei said herself that we could announce the results. No one’s forcing her, so what, is she going back on her words now?” Mu Liuyue pushed Mu Qingwu aside to walk in front of Han Yunxi. “Esteemed wangfei, hurry and speak up! No one was forcing you just then, right?”

With these turn of events, smart people could figure out what was going on. Grand Concubine Yi was first to speak up. “Han Yunxi, the members of my Duke of Qin’s estate are always as good as their word. You’re not really planning to back out of your promise, are you?”

Even Grand Concubine Yi had spoken like so. Who else needed to fear causing Han Yunxi difficulties now? All the people who liked to throw stones after her in the well were present.

“Mufei, how could sister-in-law be such a person? Sister-in-law can definitely uncover the culprit. Sister-in-law, you just hurry and say it, weren’t you just about to then?” Murong Wanru’s voice was quite “pleasant” to hear.

Han Ruoxue was impatient as well. “Rightright, big sis, why aren’t you talking? You weren’t just…just…trying to scare people, were you?”

The anxious Madame Li finally recovered. She didn’t speak, but looked coldly at Han Yunxi, who seemed to be in a difficult position. This young lass was still too tender to fight against her. Her poison wasn’t so easy to track!

Against this attack from all sides, Mu Qingwu and Chu Xifeng were both anxious. Of course they knew that esteemed wangfei couldn’t back out of a difficult situation. But even so, she had to! It’d be better for both esteemed wangfei and Mu Liuyue to retreat a step before they put Madame Li on guard. Mu Qingwu had this idea in mind when he dragged Mu Liuyue aside to remind her of the severity of the case regarding the hidden spy. At the same time, Murong Wanru gave a look towards certain people in the crowd, instigating them to speak up.

“Everyone look, esteemed wangfei’s about to go back on her word!”

“If you haven’t found the culprit, don’t flaunt your skills here! There’s still three days left ‘til the bet, what’s with this showing off! If you don’t have the capability, don’t act ostentatious!”

“I never realized she was that kind of woman. So much for legendary medical skills, it’s probably all false rumors. I say she’s just thick-skinned and sharp-tongued.”

“Aiya, it’s not like we don’t know she’s thick-skinned. Didn’t we all see? On her wedding day, hehe…”

… …

Such mockery angered both Chu Xifeng and Mu Qingwu. The latter hauled Mu Liuyue over with one hand as his other formed into a fist, too mad to speak. All the while, Han Yunxi stood with her head hanging, dangerously silent! This wasn’t her first time being watched and ridiculed by a crowd. But the difference this time was that she had truly announced that she’d make the results public when she found the real suspect.

And yet…

She was wrong and had lost…

But! Since when had she ever admitted to defeat?

All sorts of mocking words, satire, and laughter reached her ears, but all Han Yunxi could hear was a single, solitary voice that emanated from the depths of her heart: I won’t admit defeat!

Even if she lost, she was only going to lose after being sincerely convinced. Right now, she was in no mood to say she lost. Her heart was even less inclined!

There was no poison in the tea leaves, was it?

Very good, she’d examine it personally. She hadn’t had a chance to look at it yet, so why would she say there’s no poison? Though it was a simple thing to check for poison in the tea and hard to make mistakes, this time she wasn’t convinced by the results. Abruptly, Han Yunxi lifted her head to face the staring crowd and their sneering expressions. She raised her chin with a disdainful gaze and proclaimed, word-by-word, “The true poisoner is right amongst us, this wangfei has tea leaves as evidence!”