Chapter 372

Chapter 372: The Nuan’er Incident

Chen Xin Yue’s story sounded like it had no direct target, yet every word pointed in one direction. In an instant, many people turned doubtful eyes toward Yu Zhi Yi.

In her account, the Marquis Wu’an’s heir apparent had stood at the door of the firewood shed and blocked people from checking inside. Chen Xin Yue also said he was Second Miss Jiang’s bodyguard. Not many people had been present in the forest near Juxian Manor that day, so only a few knew he wasn’t an ordinary hireling. Most only knew he was a bodyguard and assumed he was like any low-level guard who took money to do a master’s bidding. Maybe he had even sold himself to Second Miss Jiang’s household. Such a bodyguard would have no rights at all; if his masters told him to assassinate the Emperor, he would have to obey. So, if that bodyguard was suspected of killing, then-by their thinking-Second Miss Jiang was suspected of killing too.

Sensing where things were headed, Jiang Liu Yi stepped forward and shielded his sister with words as sharp as a blade: “My sister would never kill anyone.” He stared coldly at Chen Xin Yue, warning clear in his eyes as he added: “You didn’t see them strike with your own eyes. That means there’s more to this.”

Chen Xin Yue flinched and lowered her head, eyes red, putting on the look of a frightened victim.

Someone in the crowd shouted, angry and moralizing: “Second Young Master Jiang, even if you’re the Martial Alliance’s second young master, you can’t cover for a twisted killer!”

Another voice piled on, full of heat: “Right! If she had a real grudge and fought a fair life-and-death duel, no one would complain. But to order a servant to torture someone to death just because of her status-that’s worse than an animal!”

A third voice jeered, loud and bold: “Second Young Master Jiang, don’t think that scaring Miss Chen into silence will let you bury this. We all saw and heard. You can force Miss Chen to shut up, but can you force all of us to shut up?”

Chen Xin Yue’s lips curled ever so slightly; triumph flashed in her eyes. Too bad no one bent down to see that look.

Du Zi Heng, annoyed by how Jiang Liu Yi was handling things, thought the man useless-he wasn’t even touching the key point. He walked forward at an even pace, and his calm, warm voice carried quiet confidence: “It’s impossible that Second Miss Jiang killed this person.”

Jiang Liu Yi frowned at him, but since Du Zi Heng was speaking for his sister, he held his tongue.

You Bing Yue silently dug crescent marks into her palm. This man jumped out so fast to defend that woman? She was a witness to the case, and her words suggested that woman could be the killer. Yet he hadn’t even asked her anything before declaring that woman innocent? The angrier she felt, the calmer she looked; only her eyes went icy cold. Inside, she was done: [So much for the “male lead.” I don’t want him. After this, I’ll support a new male lead. I’ve already picked the target.]

Du Zi Heng, unaware of her thoughts, looked around the circle. His noble bearing made people quiet down without knowing why. He said, measured and clear: “Her status is high. She has no reason to target a maid.”

You Bing Yue drew a breath to refute him, but Yu Zhi Yi suddenly laughed. Du Zi Heng blinked at her, puzzled, and asked in a lower voice: “Yi’er, what’s funny?”

Yu Zhi Yi cleared her throat and answered lightly: “Nothing-just remembered something amusing.” [If he can tell this is a trap aimed at me, he should also realize the victim must be tied to me-maybe even someone who held a grudge. Jumping straight to ‘she has no motive’… as Red Luan would say, that was pretty dumb.]

She didn’t give Chen Xin Yue a chance to steer the story. Speaking openly, she said, even: “As for motive, I do have one. To me, it’s not worth killing over. But the killer clearly thinks it’s enough to make everyone believe the killer is me-or at least someone close to me.”

Chen Xin Yue’s face flickered. Why wasn’t this woman playing by the script?

Yu Zhi Yi went on, unhurried: “The dead girl’s name is Nuan’er. When I first arrived at the Martial Alliance, she was assigned to serve me. She had high ambitions and wanted to serve the strongest master so she could rise in the future. So when she heard I would leave the Martial Alliance after the Earthly Ranking tournament, she got mad. She thought I lacked drive-that I was giving up the Martial Alliance, such a good backing, just to return to my foster father, a nobody, and live a low, humble life. She didn’t want to serve a ‘useless’ master, so she went to Miss Chen.”

Yu Zhi Yi’s gaze slid to Chen Xin Yue and back before she continued, still not giving the other side any room to spin: “The very next day, whether by accident or on purpose, Miss Chen brought her right in front of me and promised, to my face, that she would value this girl. That same day, Miss Chen was put under house arrest for stirring up rumors. Later, Nuan’er learned by chance that where I was going after leaving the Martial Alliance wasn’t any worse than the Martial Alliance. She wanted to come back to me-but I refused.”

She looked at Chen Xin Yue, composed: “I had the steward take her back to Miss Chen and pass on a message: ‘I don’t take trash.’”

“Not long after that, she died.”

By laying out the whole thing directly, Yu Zhi Yi left no room for Chen Xin Yue’s embellishments. Chen Xin Yue forgot her next line. This part should have come from her mouth first. Her version wouldn’t be much different, but with a few careful tweaks, it would point more sharply at Yu Zhi Yi. Now that Yu Zhi Yi had said it herself, biting down harder would look petty and fake. Chen Xin Yue’s thoughts tangled, and she couldn’t see a way to break through. Inside she fumed: [Wretch-why is her reaction so fast? Why isn’t she like other fostered children, timid and silent? Why does she have to jump out and grab attention!]

You Bing Yue glanced at Chen Xin Yue’s pale face with a flicker of disdain. As expected of a pampered rich young lady-no resilience at all. She couldn’t even handle a little setback.

Smoothing her expression, she faced Yu Zhi Yi and spoke in a serious tone: “All this is only Second Miss Jiang’s side of the story. You’re a professional. You should know a case needs evidence, not one person’s claims.”

Yu Zhi Yi arched a brow, amused rather than angry. So they wanted to beat her in the place she was most confident? She actually smiled: “You’re right. We can’t judge by one side alone.” Then she asked, cool and crisp: “So, Miss You-do you have evidence that I’m the killer?”

You Bing Yue, tall and striking, looked down her nose with open superiority and said, chin tilted: “Whether there’s evidence or not, we’ll find out if we look.”