Xiangzhou Arc: Soul Transmigration to Another World — Chapter 15: Transferring the Family Assets—Are You Sure This Isn’t Robbery and Murder?

Seated upright in the noble Grand Tutor’s chair, surrounded by a dignified aura of purple light, yet from the gaps within that purple glow, wisps of dark energy occasionally seeped out like malevolent spirits beckoning from the underworld, carrying resentment and ill omen, lingering around him without dissipating for a long time.

Ye Qiaoqiao sighed inwardly. Fate truly had a cruel way of bringing enemies together; here they were meeting again by sheer misfortune.

But today was about securing a divorce from Chen Bai Lei—she had no intention of dealing with the dark aura clinging to His Highness the Crown Prince.

Moreover, on that very day, his men had nearly sent her and Han Xiang to the afterlife once more.

With that thought, Ye Qiaoqiao bowed gracefully, her voice clear and resolute: “Sir, I, Ye Qiaoqiao, have come to accuse Chen Bai Lei of burying me alive!”

At the sight of Ye Qiaoqiao, Chen Bai Lei took a few steps back.

Faced with the Crown Prince’s prior interrogation about their relationship and now truly confronted with Ye Qiaoqiao, he seemed as if he had seen a ghost. How had he never realized she was so terrifying before?

In the courtroom, Dong Feiguang sat on pins and needles.

Because the Crown Prince was seated to the left, overseeing the case, and Ye Qiaoqiao had only called out to him as “Lord Dong,” making him feel like a scapegoat standing out in the crossfire.

He longed to silence Ye Qiaoqiao, to have her address the Crown Prince instead of him.

But since she had already spoken, he could only pick up the judge’s gavel and strike it heavily, then declare, “Earlier, you, Ye Qiaoqiao, claimed that Chen Bai Lei buried you alive. Now, with the top scholar here, you two face off. Let us see if the top scholar dares to admit to burying you alive!”

Dong Feiguang adopted the bearing of an official, while Shen Jianzhou furrowed his brows slightly.

He truly had not expected that this woman, upon seeing him, would pretend not to recognize him.

Hearing Dong Feiguang’s words, Chen Bai Lei quickly shook his head in denial: “As the top scholar of this year’s imperial examination, I absolutely deny that Ye Qiaoqiao’s death was due to my burying her alive. Our household servants can all testify that Ye Qiaoqiao hanged herself.”

Ye Qiaoqiao let out a light laugh, pleased to have him so carelessly submit his death warrant.

She spoke again: “Then explain why, if I truly hanged myself, I awoke alone from the buried pit. Are you not intending to seize the family fortune and then eliminate me?”

“You! How could I kill my wife over a trifling sum?” Chen Bai Lei’s chest heaved with emotion.

Regarding the absurd accusation of burying her alive, he felt the injustice keenly.

But Ye Qiaoqiao had indeed awakened afterward, prompting Chen Bai Lei to explain the day’s events once more: “That day, I buried you with good intentions, but suddenly it rained. Reluctantly, Xiang Ling’er and I left first, unaware you would survive…”

“Bah! That day, you and that concubine clearly discussed digging the pit deeper to bury my lady! If I weren’t tied up in the outhouse from the start, I’d tear you apart!” Han Xiang, kneeling in court, was furious upon hearing Chen Bai Lei’s words.

Ye Qiaoqiao admired Han Xiang’s fighting spirit.

“You’re just a maid—where do you get so much to say?!” Chen Bai Lei snapped at Han Xiang.

Han Xiang, not one to be cowed, retorted fiercely: “You’re just a poor scholar! If not for my lady providing you with funds for your top scholar exams, where would you be?!”

“You!” Chen Bai Lei was left speechless with anger.

The judge’s gavel struck the table once more, and Dong Feiguang asked, “Ye Qiaoqiao, do you have anything to say?”

Ye Qiaoqiao, neither humble nor arrogant, bowed slightly: “Sir, my family is now utterly destitute, left with nothing. Are you certain it’s not the top scholar’s greed for my savings that led to this murderous scheme?”

“Is there any truth to this?” Dong Feiguang cast his gaze toward Chen Bai Lei.

Chen Bai Lei’s face paled and flushed repeatedly, unsure how to appear innocent of burying Ye Qiaoqiao alive or coveting her estate.

Seeing him hesitate, the gavel struck down heavily again.

Dong Feiguang pressed, “Is this true?”

“Sir… yes, it’s true. But I thought Ye Qiaoqiao was dead, so I transferred the assets to the capital to resettle,” Chen Bai Lei confessed, steeling himself.

Yet the beads of sweat glistening on his forehead betrayed his unease.

Seeing him ensnared in his own words, Ye Qiaoqiao pressed on: “Sir, you just heard the top scholar admit transferring the estate after my death. If that’s not greed leading to murder, then what is?”

Dong Feiguang glanced at Chen Bai Lei, his eyes cold: “Top scholar Chen, do you have anything else to say?”

“Sir, don’t believe only Ye Qiaoqiao’s side. She’s cunningly twisting words to cover the truth!” Chen Bai Lei retorted.

“Then you tell us: what is the truth? That you transferred the estate? That you buried me alive? Or that you impregnated Xiang Ling’er?” Ye Qiaoqiao spoke emotionlessly, delivering her words in one blow.

Chen Bai Lei was truly flustered now, feebly arguing, “Is it not common for men to have multiple wives and concubines?”

“But when I married you, you said I’d be your only wife. Then what of Xiang Ling’er?” Ye Qiaoqiao smiled faintly.

Chen Bai Lei ceased his panic, straightened his collar, and declared, “You’re such a jealous woman! Sir, I want a divorce!”

“A divorce? You’re not even worthy! You took all my dowry when I married you, then dare speak of divorce!” Ye Qiaoqiao smiled mockingly.

Truly laughable—Chen Bai Lei was at fault first, trying to elevate his concubine to official wife, then forcing Ye Qiaoqiao into suicide by hanging through the same ploy.

Compared to her mild accusations of him burying her alive, his transgressions were far graver.

Her current goal was divorce; even as the top scholar, he must pay for his decisions. She would ensure that the day he buried the original Ye Qiaoqiao along with Xiang Ling’er, his reputation would be utterly destroyed.

At the thought of having to return the transferred assets, Chen Bai Lei’s heart ached deeply.

He quickly crafted a cunning excuse: “That fortune was clearly earned by me. What right do you have to claim any of it?”

“Oh? Is that so? Produce the evidence,” Ye Qiaoqiao smiled, signaling Han Xiang to present the complete inventory of all dowry items from three years ago when the original Ye Qiaoqiao wed Chen Bai Lei.

She then pointed to the list: “This record details every dowry item and the valued gold and silver. Moreover, the dowry was sealed with both my and Chen Bai Lei’s fingerprints. Sir, if you doubt it, you may verify the prints.”

“You…” Chen Bai Lei never expected Ye Qiaoqiao to have preserved such evidence.

He was left speechless, utterly helpless.

Dong Feiguang examined the inventory Ye Qiaoqiao presented; every item was meticulously recorded, each valued in thousands of gold.

The gravity of the evidence was undeniable.