Chapter 4: 004 收押，难以脱身

Xia Yulin looked toward the Prefect: "Prefect, since we do not know what kind of poison was in Eighth Sister's system, it is impossible to determine how long it would take for the poison to take effect after she was poisoned. It is possible that Eighth Sister consumed toxic food before she drank the medicine, and the symptoms only manifested when she drank the medicine, is that not so?"

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the Prefect had no choice but to admit, "That is a possibility."

Xia Yulin turned to face the onlookers behind her: "Everyone, tell me—those who prepared the snacks, as well as those who had previously visited Eighth Sister's room, do they not also have suspicion of poisoning?"

The onlookers nodded one after another.

Xia Yulin turned back and stared at the Prefect: "Prefect, with so many unexplainable points of suspicion, can you still find me guilty?"

The Prefect was at his wits' end: "There are indeed suspicious points in the case, and it cannot be judged at this moment, but..."

"No, no, no, no!" Xiao Qing suddenly screamed, "Eighth Young Lady clearly died right after drinking the medicinal soup..."

According to the Eleventh Young Lady's logic, then the maidservants like them who prepared the snacks for Eighth Young Lady would be suspects; she had to clear her name.

"Xiao Qing, you clearly knew that Eighth Sister ate many snacks before drinking the medicine, and you were not present when the incident occurred. Why are you so certain that Eighth Sister died from drinking the medicine?" Xia Yulin stared at her. "Could it be that you knew long ago that there was poison in the medicinal soup, and that this poison would definitely take a life?"

Xiao Qing's expression changed instantly: "N-no, that's not true! I never thought anything would happen to Eighth Young Lady! I was just... just guessing..."

Xia Yulin looked at the Prefect: "Prefect, setting aside the fact that the witness Xiao Qing is merely guessing the details of the case and using it as testimony—which is insufficient to be admissible—even if we just consider that she is Eighth Sister's personal maid and that she prepared all the snacks in Eighth Sister's room, she has significant suspicion of committing the crime! Therefore, I implore your Excellency to take Xiao Qing into custody and subject her to strict interrogation!"

Xiao Qing screamed again: "I didn't poison her! Eighth Young Lady's poisoning has nothing to do with me! Eleventh Young Lady, you are framing me—"

Xia Yulin stared her down: "Xiao Qing, it is impossible for you to have prepared all those snacks in Eighth Sister's room alone. Tell me, who else prepared those snacks? Anyone who came into contact with those snacks is a suspect. It is necessary to arrest them all for thorough interrogation. Otherwise, you will be the primary suspect, and you should be careful of being subjected to severe torture."

Xiao Qing's mind was already in chaos, and after being intimidated by her, she subconsciously opened her mouth: "There's also..."

"Ahem—" Nanny Zhu coughed from the side, giving her a look to remind her not to speak recklessly.

If Xiao Qing were to implicate someone who shouldn't be mentioned, let alone Xiao Qing's own life, even her and Xiao Hong's lives might not be spared.

Meeting Nanny Zhu's dark and cold gaze, Xiao Qing shuddered and burst into tears: "Prefect, please investigate thoroughly. This lowly one did not commit the poisoning, I really didn't..."

Xia Yulin looked at her coldly: "So, it means all the snacks in Eighth Sister's room were prepared by you alone, and even that bowl of medicinal soup was prepared by you. No wonder even though you weren't at the scene, you are so certain that Eighth Sister died from eating something!"

Master had said that solving a case required evidence. She wouldn't bother with lines like "If I wanted to kill someone, why would I choose a time when only the victim and I were present"; she would only deal in "evidence."

The Prefect had not expected the case to develop this way—the witness had become a suspect, and the defendant was no longer the sole person of interest. What was he to do?

Seeing him fall into deep thought, Xia Yulin pressed: "Prefect, Xiao Qing is a major suspect. Shouldn't she be arrested?"

The Prefect had no choice but to strike his gavel: "Officers, take Xiao Qing away and await interrogation!"

Xiao Qing wailed and screamed as she was led away: "My Lord, spare my life! I am being framed! I am being framed—"

The Prefect barked: "If you dare to make a scene and disturb the court again, I will order you to be flogged!"

Xiao Qing had just witnessed the scene of Xia Yulin being flogged, so she didn't dare scream loudly anymore. She could only sob quietly, continuously crying out her innocence, but no one paid her any mind.

Xia Yulin asked the Prefect again: "Prefect, since this case is full of suspicion and there is insufficient evidence to prove I committed murder, may I return home now?"

The Prefect's face darkened: "Although there is insufficient evidence, you are still a major suspect! Even if I cannot judge you guilty in court today, you must remain in custody until I have clarified the case and held a separate trial."

The Xia family clearly did not want to protect this girl. As long as she remained in custody, the Xia family would surely find a way to produce new witnesses and evidence.

Therefore, he could not let this girl go, lest she find more evidence favorable to herself.

Hearing him say this, Xia Yulin's heart sank.

Once she was locked in a cell, the real culprit would have enough time to fabricate new evidence to finish her off. She feared she would never have the strength to turn the tables again!

Therefore, she had to turn the tables now; she could not give anyone the chance to continue framing her!

However, given the current situation, she was unable to clear her suspicion. To completely escape guilt, she could only use extreme measures!

What other way was there to reverse the situation?

Her gaze subconsciously swept toward the onlookers behind her, and two "familiar" figures entered her field of vision.

A smile played on her lips. She had a way.