Ke Bixiang saw the guards' displeased expressions and realized Su Muqing might not have been lying. This was bad! If the King had struck first, how could she pin the blame on Su Muqing?
"With so many witnesses, Master Zhang, what else is there to ask? The one beheaded now is my father, while Su Muqing stands here unharmed. You cannot falsely accuse my father just to absolve the princess!" Ke Bixiang's eyes were swollen red from crying, appearing heartbroken.
Princess Ping seized the moment, and after Ke Bixiang finished speaking, she pretended to tug at her clothes before raising her handkerchief to wipe her tears, using the opportunity to gauge the Emperor and Empress's expressions.
Before Su Muqing could speak, Wan Yan'er jumped out. "Tch~ We wouldn't stoop to slandering someone who twists facts and resorts to ganging up on others. Someone like that, and they're a prince? Ptooey!"
"The reason Muqing is still standing here is because your father's skills were too poor! Otherwise, she would be the one lying there now! What, just because your father is a prince and wants to kill her, she must stand there and wait for death?"
Wan Yan'er grew more indignant as she spoke, her small mouth babbling, giving Ke Bixiang no chance to respond. "Your father shamelessly launched a sneak attack, so he deserved to die! If Muqing hadn't shown mercy because he was the Emperor's brother, he wouldn't have managed to stab her twice!"
Ke Bixiang saw a woman who appeared out of nowhere daring to retort to her in public. "Who are you, a country bumpkin? What business is it of yours when this county princess speaks? You even dare to slander my father; you are simply deserving of death!"
Wan Yan'er crossed her arms, her eyes disdainfully sweeping over Ke Bixiang. "Tsk tsk, where is this foul odor coming from? You're just a mere county princess, yet you speak with such arrogance. Those who know realize Su Muqing is the princess personally enfeoffed by the Emperor. Those who don't might even think you, Ke Bi Chou, are the current princess!"
Ke Bixiang was already provoked that night, with pent-up resentment she had no outlet for. Now, enraged once more by Wan Yan'er's words, she became agitated on the spot, and Princess Ping couldn't hold her back. "You... Who are you calling foul? I am a noble county princess of Tianzhao, and you dare call me foul! Guards, drag this commoner out and beat her to death with sticks! Hurry..."
The Empress frowned displeasantly, looking at the person beside her who was acting erratically and speaking hysterically. "What did Miss Wan say wrong? Princess Yunxiang, why are you shouting about beating people to death? You are indeed just a county princess!"
Seeing that the situation was about to spiral out of control, Princess Ping quickly stepped forward to plead. "Your Majesty, please forgive her. Xiang'er has suffered too great a shock today, and this woman just insulted her father, which is why she is so emotional. I beg Your Majesty to forgive her this once, given that she has just lost her father."
The Empress withdrew her gaze and said mildly, "This Princess can understand the County Princess's grief. However, Your Highness must know that this woman is not some country bumpkin. She is the only legitimate daughter of the Lord of Witers City, and coincidentally, she is also a county princess.
"Furthermore! County Princess Xiang, please refrain from making threats of beating and killing people again in the future. If it affects the diplomatic relations between Tianzhao and Wanfeng, experiencing the loss of both parents once more may not serve as an excuse."
Princess Ping bowed to beg forgiveness while tightly holding her trembling daughter, feeling immensely humiliated. She grit her teeth and replied, "Yes! Your subject understands and will strictly discipline her in the future..."
Seeing the farce end, the Emperor finally spoke calmly. "Master Zhang, continue with the case. If anyone else disrupts the proceedings without reason, regardless of their identity, the three masters are to punish them severely."
"Your subject obeys the decree."
"Your subjects obey the decree!"
With the Emperor's command, the three masters rose to receive the decree and then sat down to continue the trial.
Master Zhang asked the previous question again. "It was Prince Ping who harmed the Princess first, is that not so?"
Seeing them still looking around, no one wanting to speak first, Master Zhang's temper flared. As he raised his hand, preparing to slap his thigh and scold them again, someone stepped forward to interrupt him.
"Master Zhang, this humble prince can testify. Uncle Ping did indeed intend to kill Princess Ning'an, and the Princess was merely defending herself..."
Ke Buming's sudden interjection distracted Master Zhang. As he turned, his palm swerved slightly and, unable to stop himself, landed a heavy slap on Prince Zhao's thigh beside him with a "pa~" sound.
"Hiss~ Master Zhang... What is this...?" Prince Zhao, startled by the sudden slap, grimaced in pain, his thigh throbbing. He looked at Master Zhang with some grievance.
"Oh dear! My apologies, my apologies. Did I hurt you?" Master Zhang's old face flushed red. He reached out to touch Prince Zhao's leg but felt it would be too awkward for two men to do so.
"It's fine. Master Zhang, please continue the trial!" Since an apology was offered, what else could Prince Zhao say? He said it was fine, but his body honestly moved his stool slightly to the side to avoid further injury.
Master Zhang could only offer a wry smile at his action before turning back to the case. "Prince Ming, you said you wanted to testify?"
"Yes. This humble prince was present at the time and saw everything very clearly." Ke Buming bowed in the direction of the Emperor and began to recount the events.
"At that time, Princess Ning'an was blocked at the palace gate, and there was some verbal discord. She then engaged in a fight with Uncle Qing. However, Uncle Qing was no match and was defeated in one move."
"Although Uncle Qing was defeated, he did not fall immediately. The guards of Prince Qing's mansion saw their master injured and, in their haste, declared the Princess an assassin and charged towards her! That is what happened."
After hearing Ke Buming's words, Master Zhang stroked his beard and continued to ask, "What were the attitudes of the two princes at that time? Did they say Princess Ning'an was an assassin?"
Ke Buming shook his head. "No! In fact, Uncle Qing wanted to step forward to stop it, but Uncle Ping said that Princess Ning'an's temperament was too rebellious, and he felt the Princess's skills were too strange, so he wanted to teach her a lesson. Uncle Qing heard his words and did not step forward to stop it."
"Later, the Princess fought against the mansion guards, facing hundreds of them alone and still holding the advantage. This prince was too focused on watching the Princess's skills and didn't notice the two uncles. When his guards cried out in alarm, I realized Uncle Qing had an accident."
"When Prince Qing met his end, where was Princess Ning'an? How did she react?"
"The sudden death of Uncle Qing, the Princess also looked surprised. She reached out to feel his pulse, but Uncle Ping stopped her. He thought the Princess had mistakenly killed Uncle Qing and, after a few words, drew his sword and attacked. The Princess kept retreating, and later, she was distracted while saving Miss Wan, and was stabbed twice by Uncle Ping... On the final stab, the Princess beheaded him to defend herself... It is indeed true that Uncle Ping harbored murderous intent first."
Seeing that someone was proving Su Muqing acted in self-defense, Ke Bixiang burst into tears. "If she hadn't killed Uncle Qing, why would my father have killed her? Aunt, my father was trying to avenge his elder brother!"
Ke Bixiang then ran to the family members of Prince Qing's mansion, knelt beside the elderly Princess Qing, and cried loudly while hugging her legs. Princess Qing, nearly sixty, had maintained the dignity befitting a princess from the moment she arrived, despite her deep grief. But now, she couldn't hold back any longer, embracing Ke Bixiang and sobbing uncontrollably. The scene once again devolved into the sound of women weeping.
"Princess Yunxiang, your words might be reversed. Ke Biping did not die avenging Prince Qing! The reason he was so eager to kill me was because... Prince Qing was killed by Ke Biping himself!"
Su Muqing's words were like a thunderclap, leaving everyone present with their mouths agape.
"You're spouting nonsense! We all saw with our own eyes that Prince Qing died after fighting you. To escape punishment, you're twisting the facts and framing our prince! Who doesn't know how close our prince and Prince Qing were? No wonder the prince said you were a demoness, bewitching the Emperor with your sorcery, and trying to fool everyone!"
"Yes! Exactly! How can a demoness like you be a princess of our Tianzhao Kingdom! Depose her..."
"Depose her..."
"Depose her..."
The guards summoned shouted to depose Su Muqing, and other soldiers kneeling in the distance echoed their sentiment. With over a thousand soldiers from the two mansions combined, the square suddenly erupted with thunderous shouts.
"Guards, drag those two away and have them beheaded!" The Emperor waved his hand, without a superfluous word.
"Your Majesty, a few subordinates are not worth mentioning, but they are willing to die to point out that Su Muqing is a demoness. Your Majesty kills them without asking anything. We, the old woman and everyone in Prince Qing's mansion, are not convinced by your actions!" Princess Qing knelt straight on the ground, staring directly at the Emperor.
Princess Ping also stepped forward at the opportune moment, weeping and wailing. "Your Majesty, they only wanted to seek justice for their master. You said you would handle it impartially. The two princes died so tragically; he was your brother, Your Majesty!"
Su Muqing took two steps forward to stop the imperial guards. "Father, allow them a little more time. I have evidence to prove that what I said is true, and also evidence to prove that Prince Qing was indeed killed by Ke Biping himself. Once I have cleared my name, you can execute them, and no one will think you are bending the law for personal gain."
"As for Princess Qing, I suggest you examine my evidence before deciding who to believe!"
"Fine! This old woman shall see how you clear your name!"
"Thank you, Princess Qing! Father, this is something I found on Ke Biping's wrist in front of everyone." Su Muqing performed a half-bow respectfully and then took out a steel needle.
Wang Defu took the item Su Muqing presented to the Emperor. The Emperor examined it back and forth for a long time, then passed it to the officials for examination, and then to the members of Prince Qing's and Prince Ping's households. After everyone had finished looking, he asked.
"What is this?"
"This is a sleeve needle, taken from Ke Biping's wrist in front of them." Su Muqing pointed to the guards kneeling nearby.
Master Zhang held the steel needle and asked the kneeling guards, "Is what the Princess said true or not?"
"Yes! We saw with our own eyes. This is a steel needle she found on Prince Ping's wrist." The people from Prince Ping's mansion said nothing this time, but the guards from Prince Qing's mansion nodded in unison, confirming that Su Muqing was telling the truth.
"Prince Qing died because a steel needle was shot into his vital points, and the owner of the steel needle is the murderer."
"Just because you say so? My father only carried one or two defensive hidden weapons, and you found them, so you used them as evidence to slander him! It's pitiful that my father's body was dismembered and he died by your hand, and now you're accusing him of fratricide! You wicked creature, you have utterly lost all conscience!" Ke Bixiang, like a madwoman, yelled frantically at Su Muqing!
"County Princess Yunxiang, we are holding a trial here. Please refrain from your rude remarks, or do not blame this Princess for punishing you for disrupting the court... no, the execution ground... no... for disrupting the order of the investigation!" Master Zhang retorted somewhat angrily to Ke Bixiang.
Su Muqing originally didn't want to bother with Ke Bixiang, but seeing her incessant scolding, which was becoming tiresome, she suddenly flew forward, appearing directly in front of her.
Ke Bixiang's face still bore a frenzied expression. Su Muqing directly grabbed her cheek with one hand and, under everyone's watchful eyes, dislocated her jaw with a "crack." Before Ke Bixiang could cry out, she pushed her jaw back into place.
In mere moments, she rapidly dislocated and reset her jaw several times. By the time Princess Ping reacted and tried to shield her daughter, Su Muqing had already lightly flown back to her original spot.
"Ah..."
"Crack..."
Ke Bixiang cried out in pain belatedly. Just as she opened her mouth, her jaw dislocated again. She looked like a simpleton, with a string of saliva flowing down the corner of her mouth.
Su Muqing had tampered with her jawbone. Even if her jaw was reset later, she wouldn't be able to open her mouth too wide, as her jaw would dislocate at any moment.
Princess Ping looked at her daughter with distress. She truly wished she could kill Su Muqing. "Su... Princess Ning'an, you torture my child like this; you are truly heartless."
The Empress heavily placed her teacup on the small table and then took out the mosquito repellent cream Su Muqing had given her. She scooped out a large dollop and applied it to the Emperor's arm, still questioning, "Princess Ping, when your daughter curses my daughter like this, is her mouth not poisonous? In everything County Princess Yunxiang said, was there any respect shown to the Princess?"
Princess Ping, having endured so much indignity, was unwilling to tolerate it any longer. She stated firmly, "It is because Princess Ning'an personally admitted to killing the Prince! Xiang'er has been deeply affectionate with the Prince since childhood. Asking her to show respect to her father's killer now is asking too much!"
Princess Ping's attitude and words caused an uproar throughout the hall. Prince Ping had just died, and what was Princess Ping trying to do?