Chapter 4: A Hairpin of White Bone

After the Old Lady stirred things up like this, Bai Xiang naturally lost his previous confidence.

He paused for a moment before speaking, "You are a lady of a prestigious family, yet you actually committed the act of eloping with someone. If such a scandalous matter were to spread, wouldn't the entire Shengjing see me as a laughingstock? And you still claim you are not in the wrong?"

The Old Lady did not turn around this time; instead, she turned her head to look at Jiuqing, waiting for her answer.

Jiuqing was momentarily stunned. She had clearly been assassinated and dumped in a mass grave; how could she have eloped with someone? Could she have been harmed by a lover?

If it were for lust, she had inadvertently noticed the cinnabar mark on her arm while her clothes were tattered, which proved she had preserved her virginity.

If it were for wealth, she was clearly wearing two bright jade bracelets on her hands, so that was also impossible. No one realized that in this brief instant, Jiuqing had already analyzed the situation almost completely in her mind.

Though she did not know exactly what had happened, she was certain that this body had definitely not eloped. Maintaining a calm expression, she slightly knit her brows and asked unhurriedly, "May I ask, Father, what evidence do you have for saying such things?"

The circle of people seated above were all sitting there to watch the show. Usually, when a woman eloped, which one would have the face to come back after running away? Not only had she returned looking disheveled, but she was actually demanding evidence—how ridiculous. The corners of several concubines' mouths curled with contempt; they truly were the type that wouldn't shed a tear until they saw the coffin.

"Evidence? You still dare to ask for evidence!" Bai Xiang furiously threw a letter directly at her feet.

After reading the letter, the corners of Jiuqing's mouth curled slightly. "Is this the evidence you speak of? Father, you have been an official for decades; can you not even distinguish right from wrong? If this were to spread, wouldn't it be a joke? To conclude that I eloped with someone based solely on a single letter—isn't that too absurd?"

"Presumptuous! You actually dare to speak to your father like this! This is clearly your handwriting. You even said yourself that you left with your beloved. First, there was no matchmaker; second, no betrothal gifts; third, no parental consent. If this isn't eloping, what is it? And now you dare to be so insolent, truly detestable." The First Madam vented all her recent anger onto Jiuqing once again.

The Old Lady frowned slightly, but she still did not speak.

After hearing her words, Jiuqing smiled even more, saying with confidence, "If the First Madam puts it that way, then Jiuqing dares to say that no matter whose handwriting it is among those present, I could certainly imitate it perfectly. If I were to write this in your handwriting, First Madam, could I not also say that you are eloping with someone? To catch a thief, one must see the stolen goods. If you say I eloped, then where is my lover?"

She spoke with such certainty that she left no room for anyone to interject. The First Madam, however, was so angered that she clutched her chest, her finger pointing at her and trembling incessantly, her mouth only murmuring, "Presumptuous, you... you actually say I..."

Jiuqing's counterattack left everyone speechless. Indeed, they had judged her to have eloped based solely on a single letter. After all, she was merely a concubine's daughter in the Prime Minister's manor; her mother had died years ago, and she currently held no status in the household.

Even if they knew she had fled, Bai Xiang only felt it was a disgrace to the family and had no intention of searching for her. Instead, her sudden return only increased his fury. What she said made sense, and with the Old Lady presiding, no one dared to step forward and refute her for the time being.

Amidst the silence, one person finally spoke: "Since younger sister speaks so powerfully, then let me write, and you shall copy it. When the time comes, we will know if it is true or false by looking. Do you dare, younger sister?" The woman in the yellow robe said provocatively.

Jiuqing looked up. This woman was the same one who had looked terrified when she saw her earlier. Her current expression was vastly different from before, her eyes faintly carrying a hint of wanting to make things difficult for her.

This person was the eldest daughter of the Bai family, Bai Yuting. Even from a distance, Jiuqing could feel the malice coming from her. Her lips moved slightly: "Why wouldn't I dare?"

Bai Xiang called for the Four Treasures of the Study. Jiuqing watched with a calm and composed expression as this so-called elder sister began to make strokes and lines.

They were originally one family, yet instead of believing her words, they wanted to use such means to prove her innocence. What kind of family was this? A growing chill settled in her heart. "Are you finished writing?"

"Naturally. Since younger sister says she can imitate others' handwriting, then let us try it."

Looking at the triumphant smile on her face, Jiuqing glanced casually at the handwriting on the white paper. *Hah, it's just a slightly heroic style of script. There is no style in this world she cannot master.* She dipped her brush in ink and wrote without a moment's hesitation.

The others stared at her with intense focus. Her status in the manor had been low since childhood; other women had specialized teachers, while she had only been taught a little by her mother. No one believed she could write good calligraphy, whereas the Eldest Miss's calligraphy had always been praised.

Setting down the brush, she picked up the two pieces of paper. Everyone was dumbfounded; whether it was the size or the style, they were virtually identical. She walked in a circle in front of the others, holding the papers.

"Younger sister truly hides her light under a bushel." A low, husky male voice sounded in her ear. She turned her head to see a man with a playful glint in his eyes and a teasing smile on his lips. Jiuqing could see through the thoughts of many, but she alone could not read him. His expression did not look like he wanted to drive her to her death, and it certainly didn't look like sibling affection.

Jiuqing withdrew her gaze and looked at Bai Xiang in his seat, raising an eyebrow as she asked, "Does Father have anything else to say?"

Bai Xiang was extremely indignant, yet he truly had no other evidence. "Fine, setting aside whether you truly eloped for a moment, where have you been these past few days? For an unmarried woman to not return home at night, what kind of decorum is that?"

"Where I went... I'll have to ask you, Sister. I remember the last time I was with you that day. How is it that when I woke up, I was in a mass grave?" Bai Jiuqing intuitively felt she was connected to her, so she used this to test her.

As expected, her reaction was even more agitated. "You... you're talking nonsense! Who was with you? What mass grave? I think perhaps you've become confused in your dreams."

"Then I wouldn't know. Regardless, I was knocked unconscious, and when I woke up, I was in the mass grave. If I hadn't been rescued by the Fourth Prince, I would likely have lost my life there. However, despite my disappearance, not a single person from the Prime Minister's manor came to look for me. Father, you even pinned the crime of eloping on me; how truly cold-hearted people are." Jiuqing shook her head.

With so many children, when would Bai Xiang ever care about her? If she were lost, she was lost. But having it said so directly by her, he felt somewhat embarrassed. Just as he was about to speak, Jiuqing interrupted him.

"I know Father doesn't believe me again. Fortunately, I brought evidence with me." Having said that, she pulled out her hair stick. In an instant, her three thousand strands of hair cascaded down, and her plain clothes swayed in the wind.

In her hand, she held an object—a bone, stark white. If she hadn't found a bone to use as a hair stick when she woke up and found her hair in a tangled mess, she never would have thought it would actually come in handy here.

That stark white bone emitted a faint, cold light. With this, no one dared to question her words again.

The women in their seats could not help but cover their faces, and everyone's face showed a look of horror. Using a white bone as a hair stick—she truly was the first. However, everyone had a feeling in their hearts that this Second Miss seemed different from before.

"Good, good. Now that there is evidence, let's see what else you have to say." Only then did the Old Lady speak, looking at everyone coldly.

"This..." Bai Xiang wanted to say something, but the words died on his lips.

"I doubt you have anything to say. I will leave my words here today: in the future, if any of you try to provoke her while I am reciting sutras in the Buddhist Hall, my Nine-Snake Staff will not show any mercy. Xiaoqing'er, I see you have injuries on your hands; let the manor's physician come to examine you." The Old Lady was, quite frankly, extremely attentive to her.

Jiuqing shook her head, refusing her kindness. This drama of her first arrival at the Bai Manor was now over. She swept a glance over the people present, her heart turning cold. With so many people here, not a single one stood by her side. Truly, human hearts are unpredictable, and this Bai Manor is also full of hidden depths.