TICIEC Chapter 65.2

Everyone’s expression changed. There was more evidence?

Song Qingzhi was stunned. What was going on? How could her brother have something going on with Ning Wanyin?

Helian Qi’s eyes flickered slightly, his expression unreadable: “Summon them.”

Soon, a palace maid led two people in.

Upon seeing these two people, Song Chengyi’s expression changed.

All the talk of secret meetings was baseless, but some things were true!

“This humble subject pays respects to Your Majesty!”

The two men bowed to the Emperor.

Ning Wanyin’s gaze faltered slightly. She didn’t recognize one of the men, who looked like a servant. But the other, an old man with a white beard, was her chess teacher.

“Your Majesty, this Master Duan is the teacher of Ning Jieyu and Song Chengyi. It was through him that the two of them met.” Li Rao introduced the person.

“Master Duan, before His Majesty, you must confess the truth, or you will be guilty of deceiving the Emperor!”

Master Duan looked ashamed and said, “I was indeed their teacher. Once, I accidentally dropped Ning Jieyu’s chess manual, which was picked up by Young Master Song. After he questioned me repeatedly, I told him that it belonged to  Ning Jieyu…”

“This is all I know. I don’t know if the two of them have any private dealings…”

Master Duan finally felt a pang of conscience and added another sentence.

Li Rao wasn’t in a hurry. He pointed to the remaining servant and said, “This one used to be a servant of Lord Song. They would naturally not do such private meetings in front of their teacher, but the servant was aware of it.”

“This humble servant can testify that the Young Master has met with Ning Jieyu in secret on several occasions. The Young Master is in love with Ning Jieyu, and not only has he written love poems for her, but he has also asked the Old Master to propose marriage to the Count of Shou’an. However, the Old Master refused, so the two of them could only meet in secret.” The servant quickly said.

Song Chengyi retorted angrily, “You’re talking nonsense!”

He did write love poems and did intend to propose marriage, but he never met Ning Wanyin in private!

This servant was someone who used to serve him, but had been expelled from the mansion for stealing.

It was unknown how much money Li Rao spent to bribe him to spread rumors.

“Based on his one-sided account, I was very skeptical of the truth of the matter, so I specially sent someone to the Song residence to investigate. Sure enough, in Song Chengyi’s study, we found a love poem he wrote for Ning Jieyu.” Li Rao said, ordering someone to present a letter.

He continued, “I found another maid working in the Song residence. She had personally overheard Song Chengyi asking to go to the Count of Shou’an’s residence to propose marriage.”

Another maid was brought up.

She was a cleaning maid in the study, and that day she overheard the argument between the Song father and son outside the door.

“That day, the Young Master wanted the Old Master to go to the Count of Shou’an’s residence to propose marriage. The Old Master was furious and smashed two teacups. The Young Master was also very angry and stormed out, slamming the door behind him…”

Her descriptions were so vivid, with all the details flowing seamlessly, that they seemed like the truth, not just fabrications.

Song Chengyi’s face turned bright red, unable to refute.

Ning Wanyin listened quietly, her gaze falling on Song Chengyi. Remembering that he had been secretly watching her earlier, she was startled and looked away.

So, could it be that, apart from the secret meetings, all of these were true?

It was truly a disaster struck out of the blue, an unexpected calamity.

After presenting all the evidence, Li Rao said, “Your Majesty, Ning Jieyu and Song Chengyi have an affair. The evidence is conclusive. She should be executed!”

Helian Qi stared at the love poem on the letter, his face ashen, lost in thought.

Ning Wanyin curtsied and said, “Your Majesty, I have been wronged.”

Even if all of this is true, as long as one of the facts can be proven to be a fabrication, the other evidence can be overturned.

And just so happened, Ning Wanyin was able to prove that the secret meeting was a lie.

“This concubine does not know Lord Song, nor have I ever met him. Lord Li said that this concubine had a secret meeting with an official during the summer hunt. May I ask, what was the specific day, time, and place?”

 

 

 

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