Chapter Eight: The Culprit?

Jin's face flushed with shame, and she hurriedly said, “That’s not true at all. I also sent people to look for her, and we're still inquiring about her whereabouts.”

They hadn’t encountered anyone, and Xue Fanzhi shook her head.

Minglan sneered, “Yet you’ve already broken camp, haven’t you? Isn’t your team outside? Is that not leaving?”

When Xue Fanzhi and Minglan arrived, only this main tent remained untouched.

Cornered by questioning, Jin could no longer hide her intentions. Embarrassed, she stammered, “I thought the eighth girl had already been violated and killed. In that case, waiting for her would be pointless. It would be better to return and inform her second great-uncle. We couldn’t possibly bring back her defiled corpse. Our Xue family has a reputation to think of!”

In other words, if she really died, even her body would not be claimed.

Minglan gave a cold, mirthless laugh, at a loss for words.

Xue Fanzhi had never imagined her mother could be so cold. In her previous life, had such things ever happened... or had she simply never considered them in this light?

Unable to hold back, she asked, “Mother, I was separated from you by refugees. It hasn’t even been half an hour—why are you so quick to declare I was violated? Did you see it with your own eyes, or did someone tell you?”

Jin replied, “Child, if I had seen it with my own eyes, would I not have tried to save you?”

So it was someone else who said it!

Xue Fanzhi and Minglan asked in unison, “Who? Who said that?”

Their tones were sharp. Xue Fanzhi’s was bearable; even if she shouted, no one cared. But Minglan was different—a princess of royal blood, her innate nobility carried an intimidating authority that made others quake.

Minglan pressed further, “Tell me who it was. To stir up such rumors—this palace will not let her off lightly!”

Xue Jiaoyue’s shoulders trembled in fear as she looked anxiously at Jin.

Jin glanced back at Xue Jiaoyue, realizing she couldn’t tell the truth, and quickly said, “I only heard it—just rumors, that’s all!”

“Rumors from whom? Who precisely?” Xue Fanzhi demanded.

This was only the second time Xue Fanzhi had spoken since returning, her tone frosty and commanding, befitting someone in a position of power.

Jin and Xue Jiaoyue had never seen her like this before.

Unable to answer, Jin grew angry from embarrassment and snapped, “You insolent girl! I am your mother—how dare you interrogate me? Where is your filial piety, speaking to your elders like this?”

“Mother, don’t change the subject!”

“You unfilial daughter!”

For the first time, Xue Fanzhi realized how impossible it was to communicate with her mother.

Minglan laughed. “She’s your daughter and shouldn’t question you—then what about me? My relation to you is one of status, not kinship. Will you answer me or not?”

Driven into a corner, Jin flushed scarlet. In desperation, she turned to Xue Fanzhi, pleading, “You wretched girl, won’t you help your own mother?”

Minglan shot Xue Fanzhi a warning glare, forbidding her from intervening.

Xue Fanzhi found it quite funny—she wasn’t a fool. Why would she sabotage Minglan’s efforts when Minglan was clearly on her side?

Wait—had she done this often in her previous life? Was that why her mother expected her to come forward now?

She turned her head away from Jin.

With no escape, Jin forced a laugh. “Maybe it was a maid who said it.”

“Which maid?” Minglan pressed.

Jin could not answer.

Minglan’s voice turned cold with anger. “A servant’s idle talk, and you believed it without verifying, even though it concerned your daughter’s very life? Best you tell me who it was. Actually, you needn’t bother—my people are already investigating. Someone from the Xie family’s household has been spreading rumors that Fanzhi was violated. Once they’re brought in for questioning, the truth will come out.”

“I’m giving you a chance now. But if I find out myself, don’t blame me for what happens next!”

Xue Jiaoyue’s face turned pale as she looked at Jin. Jin clearly heard it from Xue Jiaoyue, but how could she betray her own daughter?

She rubbed her temples...

“Try fainting, if you dare!” Minglan sneered. “That’ll only make me investigate harder!”

Jin fell silent.

Seeing Jin could not withstand the pressure, Xue Jiaoyue spoke gently, “Your Highness, thank you for caring so much about my sister. We appreciate your kindness. It’s wrong for someone to spread rumors, but my mother is a devout Buddhist, so let’s not pursue this further.”

Jin nodded in haste. “Yes, yes, I’m a believer. Let’s just let it go!”

How generous—so easy to forgive when the wound isn’t theirs to bear.

In her previous life, Xue Fanzhi had never noticed how little her mother cared for her. When she first returned to life, her greatest wish had been to see her mother again. Yet now she realized that as long as it concerned Xue Jiaoyue, her mother would always help and believe her without question. She felt more like a stepchild.

Minglan shot Jin a cold look, then called to those outside the tent, “Bring them in!”

At her command, two royal guards brought in three girls dressed as maids.

One of the guards announced, “These are the personal maids of Lady Xie Shisan. I have brought them here!”

Minglan waved her hand. “You may go.”

The guards withdrew, but before Minglan could question the maids, the tent flap was lifted from outside. In strode a girl about the same age as Xue Fanzhi and the others. Though her features were plain, her clothes were sumptuous—the jeweled collar alone marked her as a daughter of one of the great houses.

This was none other than Lady Xie Shisan, the legitimate daughter of a collateral branch of the Xie family.

She entered just in time to see her own maids, and scolded, “Who dares lay hands on my people!”

Minglan drew her riding whip from behind her waist with a flourish, rising to her feet. “It was I. What of it?”

“Princess Zhaoyang?!” The arrogance instantly faded from Lady Xie Shisan’s face, her tone growing cautious. “Why are you here? Why have you detained my maids? Do you think your title makes you untouchable?”

In truth, royal princesses were not highly regarded. Even princes and princesses did not necessarily hold high status.

These days, the great families, especially the Wang and Xie clans, held sway. Even royals had to show them respect.

But Minglan was an exception. Renowned throughout the realm, even the Wangs and Xies preferred not to provoke her.

Thus, Minglan was utterly fearless. She arched her brow. “I have questions for your maids. They claimed Fanzhi was violated by refugees. I want to know—did they witness it, or is it mere rumor? If not, I’ll tear out their tongues myself!”

Such a formidable princess would daunt even her peers. The three maids collapsed to their knees, one stammering, “Your Highness, Lady Thirteen, we only heard it as a rumor!”

Minglan’s voice was icy. “Heard it from whom? Unless you give me a full account today, I’ll flay you alive!”

“Have mercy, Your Highness!” The three maids shook like leaves in terror.

Lady Xie Shisan frowned, stepped forward, and said, “You’re not actually after the maids—you’re giving me a warning, aren’t you? It was I who said it. I told my maids. What of it?”

Minglan sneered, “And who are you? Did you see it yourself? If not, you’re spreading lies. I’ll punish you all the same!”

Xue Jiaoyue’s expression turned visibly panicked—there was no need to guess that she had told Lady Xie Shisan and feared she would reveal it.