Chapter 255 - 253: What Miss Xu Said Makes Sense (Part 1)

Chapter 255: Chapter 253: What Miss Xu Said Makes Sense (Part 1)

The Duke Qiao had already expressed his consent, so even if others had thoughts, they dared not voice them.

High on the judicial platform, Jiang Shaobai glanced at Xiao Yi below, then cast a deep look at Xu Jing.

This Xu Siniang, he had heard his nephew mention her before—when Yanxia was caught in a scheme at the Xin family, it was she who helped Yanxia escape death, and it was thanks to her that Xin Lei’s true identity was exposed.

His nephew had always been proud, yet it was the first time her saw him admire a woman such highly. In fact, even if Xiao Qilang hadn’t come, he would have offered her a helping hand.

It was as if he was repaying the favor Yanxia owed her.

Jiang Shaobai picked up the gavel, slamming it down heavily, "This official shall commence the trial now, irrelevant personnel, maintain silence! Miss Xu, you claim you can prove both you and your cousins are innocent. Even considering that the Holy Emperor has appointed you as an external consultant for our Western Capital’s court, let this official hear how you intend to prove this innocence."

The man on the high platform was about forty years old, his features upright and handsome, with a tightly pressed mouth exuding an unyielding dignity and tenacity, his fox-like eyes bearing a striking resemblance to Jiang Yu.

The Jiang family’s descendants had always followed the path of military generals, yet over the years, he was the sole exception.

Xu Jing raised her head, looked at Jiang Shaobai, stepped forward, and bowed, "With Jiang Zhaoyin’s ability, there’s no way he hasn’t noticed the strange aspects of this case.

The kidnapped Young Master Wang and Young Master Xu aren’t just ordinary children; they are always accompanied by numerous attendants and guards. If it was purely on impulse to kidnap them, unless those two kidnappers had extraordinary luck, how could they have chanced upon such a perfect opportunity for a one-shot success?

The only possibility is they had been tracking those two children for some time, or they had prior knowledge that the two children would be near the Chongwen Bookstore, and even more, they would voluntarily rid themselves of their entourage upon reaching there!"

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wen immediately shrieked, "Isn’t this obvious?! Those two brats have surely been following my Guang’er all along! That’s how they finally caught them alone today..."

Just a few days ago, that vile woman assaulted her Guang’er in public; she should have retaliated fiercely, showing they weren’t to be bullied!

It was all Xu Guangyi’s fault, still dreaming of bringing this daughter back and stopping her from taking action!

But Xu Jing coldly glanced at her and said, "Mrs. Wen, investigating a case isn’t as simple as moving your lips; you claim my cousins were constantly following Young Master Wang and Young Master Xu, where’s the evidence?"

Mrs. Wen was stunned, her expression quickly twisting, just as she was about to protest that no evidence was needed, when the woman coldly voiced, "However, I have evidence proving that my cousins weren’t following those two young masters! The young masters attend school daily, and since our altercation on the street last time until now, today is their only rest day.

From what I know, the Wang Family School is very strict; being punctual is mandatory, and leaving without reason during class is not allowed. Pupils must arrive by 7 a.m. and can only leave at 3:00 PM.

Pray, how could my cousins have followed them during this period..."

Xu Jing had asked Mr. Yao these details on her way here.

Mrs. Wen hadn’t expected her to know so much, biting her lip she said, "Even if during school hours those brats couldn’t follow, once they left school..."

"Unluckily for you, my uncle, worried that my cousins were unfamiliar with the Western Capital and that it would be dangerous after dark, required them to be home by 3:00 PM daily, and our servants can attest to this."

Seeing Mrs. Wen wanting to rebut, cold light flashed in Xu Jing’s eyes as she unexpectedly raised her voice, "Regarding this so-called kidnapping case, our servants were unaware and did not know that my cousins had been implicated, much less discuss coordinated perjury with us! Mr. Yao and the officials who brought us can testify to this; it was only after meeting Mr. Yao that we realized what had happened. If you doubt this, you may dispatch officials to question our household servants now!

And don’t joke about all our servants being involved in this kidnapping; reflect on it yourself: if you committed such a deed, would you tell all your servants?!"

In this world, even the most brainless person wouldn’t do something so ridiculous.

Mrs. Wen was rendered speechless by Xu Jing, glaring at her in shock.

This little wench, it was as if she knew exactly what she wanted to say and stopped her before she could speak!

For the first time, she felt an immediate awareness that the woman before her was no longer the foolish, impulsive, easily manipulated paper tiger she once was.

But Mrs. Wen was unwilling to give up, and shrieked again, "How... how was I to know what you did! However, besides you, who would kidnap my Guang’er!"

"Indeed, who was it?"

Xu Jing ignored Mrs. Wen’s unreasonable behavior, swept her gaze slowly over the crowd, her lips curling slightly as she said, "One thing is certain: whether the kidnappers tailed those two children for some time or knew in advance they’d be around the Chongwen Bookstore, they must have had a very meticulous plan, or possibly even be an insider action!

Having devised such a cautious plan, how could the kidnappers be foolish enough to use their handwriting for the ransom note!

Moreover, the ransom note’s content is too intentional—what kind of kidnapper would want the victim’s family to report it to the authorities? They wouldn’t suggest reporting unless permitted; why write without their consent they mustn’t report?

This statement is laughably superfluous.

Not wanting the family’s report, they should simply write no reporting to the authorities—why add without permission?

Could this be something they might get permission for?

Xu Huan’an paused, realizing suddenly, "That kidnapper wrote it like this to include the character ’Xu’!"

"Exactly."

Xu Jing nodded sharply, saying with authority, "The kidnapper’s choice of kidnapping spot wasn’t random; he knew ahead the children would be there, that my cousins frequently visited the Baoyue Pavilion to prepare a wedding gift for me, and had ordered jewelry from there, thereby selecting that location for the kidnapping!

Therefore, he surely anticipated that the authorities investigating would trace the Baoyue Pavilion and discover the title deed my cousin personally signed.

Thus he took great pains to embed the character ’Xu’ within the ransom note!

This was all an elaborate scheme targeting my cousins!"

Everyone watched Xu Jing in astonishment, realizing she had inferred so much from that short ransom note!

Jiang Shaobai couldn’t help but look deeply at Xu Jing again, speaking out, "Miss Xu does indeed make sense."

Xu Jing was somewhat surprised, having never expected Jiang Shaobai to support her.

She thought he would go along with Duke Qiao and others to implicate her in the kidnapping to avoid trouble.

Mrs. Wen was just as incredulous, glaring at Jiang Shaobai, suddenly screeching out, "Jiang Zhaoyin! This woman speaks nonsense, how could you believe her! Who knows what those kidnappers were thinking writing that note, maybe it was nothing, just writing whatever!

Most importantly, what she said just now is all speculation, naturally biased for self-interest! You should ask her where her cousins are now! Since she claims they aren’t the kidnappers, why don’t they come out and prove their innocence themselves!"