Rebirth of a Lost Nation: Princess, Please Respect Yourself

Chapter 212 Black Hand

After Jiang Lige's explanation, everyone present was even more confused. Although Ye Jiayun didn't like Jiang Lige, she knew the seriousness of the matter and immediately waved her hand to send the servant away.

"Princess Zhaohua, please."

Jiang Ligo smiled but did not move. Her slender fingertips wrapped around the handkerchief a few times and then pointed directly at another woman in pink in the crowd.

"Someone come, arrest her."

As soon as he finished speaking, Song Yue rushed forward, pulled the ribbon from her hair, tied it up with his backhand, and brought the woman in pink to Jiang Lige.

The pink-dressed woman cried out in pain in panic, looking as timid as a mouse. "I don't know how I have offended Princess Zhaohua. Please spare my life, Princess Zhaohua!"

"Mercy?" Jiang Ligo smiled. "It's me, the princess, who should be begging for mercy. You've insulted my reputation for no reason. You should give me a reasonable explanation."

When Jiang Lige said this, everyone present was puzzled. Li Qi has always been timid and she didn't move at all just now. What could have happened to her?

Not to mention others, even Fu Longzhou didn't understand what Jiang Lige was planning. He came over and whispered, "Lige, this Miss Li Qi is the younger sister of the Miss Li who fell. She has always been a weak person. Could there be any misunderstanding?"

When Jiang Lige heard that the two were sisters from the same mansion, he immediately confirmed his suspicions and said with a smile, "They are relatives? Of course they are relatives. The person behind this is Miss Li Qi."

Hearing this, Li Qi was both afraid and angry, "Princess Zhaohua, please stop slandering me!"

Although Qiu Yuyan wasn't familiar with Li Qi, she was happy to take advantage of him. "That's right, this is too far-fetched! If Princess Zhaohua can't produce any evidence, then she's just picking on someone who is vulnerable and making herself the scapegoat."

Jiang Lige glanced at Qiu Yuyan calmly and reminded her casually, "Miss Qiu, only dogs will chase people after the slightest scent. I will deal with you later about your behavior today."

After saying this, Jiang Lige finally took a step forward and stepped onto the stairs.

"The reason I believe Miss Li Qi is up to something is because when I warned Miss Ye just now, she was the only one who showed no suspicion at all and even made eye contact with the maidservant beside Miss Li. Furthermore, before I ordered her to be arrested, she even considered leaving."

The girl who was originally standing next to Li Qi, helped Li Qi to excuse herself at the right moment, "Miss Li Qi did say she needed to go to the bathroom, but that doesn't mean anything, right? Besides, Li Qi came with me from the main hall and never left."

"Okay, then, let me analyze with you all whether there was any pushing or shoving between Miss Li and me."

Jiang Lige did not comment and gestured for everyone to look at the traces on the ground.

The place where Jiang Lige and the others were originally standing was near the muddy ground of the flower garden. It rained heavily yesterday, and the soil on the ground has not yet dried up. There are visible traces left where Jiang Lige and the others stepped on.

Jiang Lige casually broke off a branch and pointed at the marks, explaining, "As you can see, the mud pit on the right side of where Miss Li fell is clearly deeper, which means the person who pushed her did so on the left. Miss Fu and I were on her right side. Furthermore, we've been chatting here since entering the garden and haven't moved around, as evidenced by the marks on the ground."

After Jiang Lige finished speaking, everyone came over and took a look. As expected, there were obvious traces in the mud.

Moreover, Jiang Lige deliberately did not move, so there was only one pair of footprints from beginning to end, which could not be faked at all!

Everyone gave up their suspicion of Jiang Lige and turned their attention back to the main path. They looked at Miss Li Qi suspiciously and asked, "Could it really be Li Qi who did it?"

Jiang Lige's eyes lightly swept over the soles of Li Qi's shoes that were deliberately hidden in the hem of her skirt, and she smiled and said, "Who would know?"

Fu Longzhou reacted immediately, reached out and pushed aside Li Qi's skirt, and shouted, "There's mud on the soles of her shoes!"

Jiang Lige wasn't surprised, and his voice didn't even change. He asked softly, "The girl just now said that you came from the main hall, and you never left the hall. But the path from the main hall is paved with bluestone, so it shouldn't have soiled Miss Li Qi's shoes."

"..." Li Qi was silent for a moment. Seeing that there was no room for explanation, she said with great trepidation, "It was indeed I who accidentally hurt my elder sister. I didn't see clearly and tarnished the princess's reputation. It was all a misunderstanding. Please forgive me, princess!"

"Miss Li Qi is quite calculating, thinking you could let this princess be insulted by a blind person for nothing, just because of a simple misunderstanding." Jiang Lige glanced down at Li Qi with a cold tone, "Originally, I have no business interfering in matters between you two sisters, nor do I want to, but you absolutely shouldn't be blaming this princess. Everyone knows I'm a bit petty and overbearing person."

Everyone knew that Jiang Lige said this not only to Li Qi, but also to those ladies who had just embarrassed her.

Therefore, everyone kept silent and watched the situation develop.

Li Qi clenched his fists, looking extremely nervous. "If the princess wants to punish me, I am willing to accept it."

"Today is the Grand Tutor's birthday. We can't let such a wonderful day be ruined by you." Jiang Lige waved her hand and had Miss Li carried to rest. Then she said nonchalantly to Li Qi, "As for you, this princess won't hit you, but I will definitely find out the hand behind you."

Hearing this, Li Qi said in panic, "Princess, I really don't understand what you are saying."

"Don't understand? How about I explain it to you?"

A low voice came from not far away. Everyone in the garden looked up and saw Ning Yunxiao striding towards them, surrounded by people.

There was no joy or anger in his eyes, but they seemed to hide an endless darkness that was chilling.

Obviously, Ning Yunxiao came for Jiang Lige.

Upon seeing the prince's heroic figure, all the noble ladies in the garden blushed and hurriedly bowed.

Ning Yunxiao didn't even glance at him. He waved his hand and walked straight to Li Qi, saying loudly, "This matter involves the court. Please leave for the time being."

As soon as His Royal Highness the Crown Prince gave the order to leave, everyone obeyed. In a moment, everyone dispersed.

The only ones left were the parties involved, Jiang Lige, Li Qi, the hosts Ye Huaizhang and Ye Jiayun, and their confidants.

Ning Yunxiao was as straightforward as ever. "I heard that Miss Li is engaged to a young man from a branch of the Ye family. This means the Ye and Li families are now related by marriage. Today, Princess Zhaohua injured the relatives and friends of the Ye family at the banquet. If it weren't for the princess's previous statement of innocence, as long as I protected her, there would definitely be discord between the Ye family and me. In this way, Miss Li Qi's goal would be achieved."