Chapter 5: 005 Turning Point, a New Witness

At that moment, she shouted loudly, "Prefect, you say I am a major suspect simply because I lack an alibi, but I have just thought of something carefully that can alleviate my suspicion!"

She paused before continuing, lest she speak too much in one breath and fail to keep up with others' train of thought.

"While I was staying in Eighth Sister's room, I noticed that Xiao Hong was taking a long time to return, so I went to the intersection to look out. At the intersection, I saw my family's servants, Bai Jia and Xiao Wan, working in the lotus pond, and I even spoke a few words to them. I want them to testify for me now—I was not in Eighth Sister's room the entire time!"

Having said her piece, she turned to look at the crowd behind her. "Bai Jia, Wan'er, come out!"

The servants of the Xia family were standing at the very front of the crowd; with a single glance, she spotted the two of them.

The two people whose names she had called turned deathly pale instantly: "..."

Xia Yulin was very satisfied with their expressions and gave a weird smile. "One of you was picking lotus seeds, and the other was picking lotus leaves, just like the things I usually see you doing when I pass by the rockery. Tell me, did you see me looking out from the intersection in front of Eighth Sister's courtyard yesterday evening, and did I ask you to bring me some lotus seeds and leaves to brew tea?"

In wealthy households, there are many people and many troubles; all sorts of messy things occur.

Xia Luokui loved strolling by the lotus pond, and she especially liked going when no one was around. Several times, she had stumbled upon Bai Jia and Xiao Wan doing things that could not be seen in the light near the rockery.

Bai Jia already had a wife, and Xiao Wan's family was very strict; if their scandalous affair were to spread, both would be in great trouble.

What she was saying now was a hint to these two: if they didn't want to meet with disaster, they had to cooperate with her.

Bai Jia and Xiao Wan looked at each other, filled with uncertainty and suspicion: Was the Eleventh Young Lady threatening them?

But every time the Eleventh Young Lady caught them doing this or that, wasn't she more afraid and panicked than they were, fleeing even faster than them?

Even when seeing them in the manor normally, she would turn and run as if she had seen a ghost. They weren't worried at all that she would speak of their private affair; in fact, they even found being caught by her quite thrilling and would deliberately change locations for her to see them, thereby adding "flavor" to their romance.

How could such a useless Eleventh Young Lady actually know how to use such a matter to blackmail them?

Seeing that they were still hesitating, Xia Yulin smiled even more cunningly. "It was only yesterday evening; have you forgotten so quickly? Do I need to remind you that the night before last, you were doing the exact same thing in the exact same place, and you even left evidence of your 'hard work'?"

The night before last, the two of them had deliberately gone to the lotus pond where Xia Luokui frequented to be intimate, scaring Xia Luokui into a frantic flight, which had left them laughing heartily.

Now, hearing her mention this, both Bai Jia and Xiao Wan were shaken. They instinctively looked toward Xia Yulin, only to meet her sharp, cold gaze. They were horrified: that gaze clearly read, "If you dare say no, I will tell everyone about your scandal!"

What should they do now?

They had followed their master's orders to specifically come and see how the Eleventh Young Lady died.

If their master found out they helped the Eleventh Young Lady escape blame, they would suffer the consequences. However, if they did not cooperate with her now and she publicly exposed their scandal, they would be finished...

After weighing the options for a moment, Bai Jia was the first to step forward and kneel. "Everything the Eleventh Young Lady said is true. Yesterday evening, I was picking lotus seeds on a boat, facing Eighth Sister's courtyard, so I was able to see the Eleventh Young Lady walk out and stand at the intersection looking out."

Xiao Wan also stepped forward and knelt. "The Eleventh Young Lady also spoke to us, saying the weather was hot and asking us to leave some lotus leaves and seeds for her to brew tea."

Although they would offend their master, for now, they could only choose to get through this hurdle first.

As soon as they finished speaking, many people sighed inwardly: *It's hopeless. Trying to get rid of the Eleventh Young Lady this time is hopeless...*

A relaxed smile finally appeared on Xia Yulin's face. "About how long was I standing outside?"

Xiao Wan was an unmarried woman and feared damage to her reputation more than Bai Jia did, so she spoke up first. "It was quite a while. I had already picked over a dozen lotus leaves before the Young Lady walked back."

Bai Jia added, "It should have been about fifteen minutes..."

Xia Yulin turned to look at the Prefect. "Prefect, is fifteen minutes enough time for someone to enter and exit Eighth Sister's room?"

The Prefect replied, "It is a possibility, but..."

Xia Yulin loudly interrupted him. "Prefect, I may have some suspicion, but no one and no evidence can prove that I administered the poison! Nor can anyone prove that I was the only person with the opportunity to do so! Therefore, Prefect, on what grounds can I not go home?"

The Prefect: "..."

After a long pause, he still said sternly, "You have always been a suspect in the poisoning! This official has decided to detain you and Xiao Qing in custody to await a full investigation. You will be punished if guilty and released if innocent. If you cause any more trouble, I will not be polite!"

In short, he absolutely could not let Xia Luokui leave. Otherwise, the Xia family would blame him for being useless—unable to even handle a little girl?

Xia Yulin never expected that even after she had gone this far, the Prefect still refused to give her a way out.

She gritted her teeth, feigning extreme weakness, and fell from her stool. "Prefect, my body is weak, and I have just suffered abuse and beatings. I am heavily injured and am only holding on by a thread. If you detain me, I might die in prison. If that happens, how will you take responsibility?"

After a moment of stunned silence, the Prefect said firmly, "This official will send a physician to treat your injuries and ensure your safety. You need not worry!"

Xia Yulin pressed further, "What if I really do die in prison?"

The Prefect said expressionlessly, "This official does not wish to repeat himself. Someone, take the suspects Xia Luokui and Xiao Qing away!"

No matter how optimistic Xia Yulin usually was, her face turned pale at this moment.

She had used every trick in her arsenal; she had no other way...