Chapter 86 - 85: The Whole Truth (First Update)

Chapter 86: Chapter 85: The Whole Truth (First Update)

"Ah——"

Miao Xianglan couldn’t bear it any longer. She covered her ears and screamed, her face smeared with snot and tears. As she screamed, she broke down and cried out loud, "I didn’t do it! I didn’t harm you!"

"I didn’t know... didn’t know you’d encounter something like that! That day, I just wanted to scare you!

I saw you run into the forest and also saw... saw Wang Mazi following you in!"

"How was I to know Wang Mazi would do such a heinous thing! And how was I to know that, although you’re usually so wary, how did you fall into his trap that day!"

"I was just jealous of you! You’re beautiful and kind, and whether it was your friends or outstanding men around us, the one they liked best was you!

Since I was a child, I have admired Yanzi’s brother, but Yanzi’s brother initially liked you. It wasn’t until you and Huang Erlang were engaged that Yanzi’s brother started noticing me.

However, even after I was engaged to Yanzi’s brother, every time he saw you, his eyes would stick to you! Do you think I wouldn’t be resentful?

Zhuo Yuting, if you were me, wouldn’t you be resentful? Why do you blame me? If you must blame someone, blame yourself, blame your parents, for giving you such an alluring face..."

"Xianglan! Xianglan! Stop talking!"

A frantic and hurried voice immediately interrupted Miao Xianglan. It seemed like she finally snapped back from the fear that had almost drowned her. She slowly lifted her head, her eyes glaring as if they were going to crack.

It turned out that sometime, the door to her room had been opened, and a group of people were standing at the entrance—County Magistrate Deng and his attendants, Zhuo Yuting’s family, Ye Anqiao’s family, and... Zhu Yan and her family.

The Zhuo family, the Zhu family, the Miao family, and the Ye family lived close to each other, so the girls from these families had played together since childhood.

Just now, Miao Xianglan’s piercing scream had shattered the silence of the deep night like a ghostly wail.

Zhuo Yuting’s tragic experiences were still vivid in their minds. Thinking something might have happened again, the other families quickly got up and rushed over. They didn’t expect... to witness such a scene.

Miao Xianglan’s parents were the first to arrive, but they were also terrified by the shocking secret their daughter had shouted out. They stood there frozen, unable to come to their senses for a long time.

Not until more and more people arrived did Mrs. Miao finally snap out of it, rush in and stop Miao Xianglan.

However, it was too late. Miao Xianglan had already said everything, things she should and shouldn’t have said.

Deng Youwei took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Someone, come! Immediately arrest Wang Daji!"

Miao Xianglan collapsed on the spot, shaking her head in despair. Suddenly, as if completely losing her mind, she screamed, "No! I didn’t do it! I did nothing! You... you set me up!"

Nevertheless, at this moment, whatever she said, no one would believe her anymore.

Mr. Zhuo was trembling with fury, "Miao Xianglan, what did my Yu ever do to you! Why would you harm her like this! You knew... you knew Wang Mazi had designs on Yu, yet you let Yu go into the forest so unawares!"

Zhu Yan turned pale, her pupils trembling, as if she was seeing her for the first time.

Yanzi’s brother, standing next to her, looked unspeakably grim, his eyes filled with disgust and confusion towards her.

Miao Xianglan cried until her tears ran dry. She hurriedly stumbled off the bed, trying to tug on Zhu Yan’s hem, "No... Yanzi, listen to me, that’s not how it happened...

I thought Wang Mazi would just scare Yu, and Yu would soon come running out of the forest. But I waited and waited, and Yu never came out, that’s when I realized something was wrong.

I wanted to go in and find Yu, but I was too afraid... I was also afraid to tell anyone, fearing they’d think I had intentionally harmed Yu... But in the end, I mustered the courage and went in...

When I found Yu, she was already with her eyes closed, her body... her body had no clothes on, and Wang Mazi was still pulling on Yu’s hairband...

I was petrified and accidentally stepped on a branch nearby. Who knew that sound would frighten Wang Mazi, who then abandoned the hairband, stuffed Yu into a tree hollow nearby, and hurriedly ran off with Yu’s clothes...

When I finally had the courage to check on Yu, I found that she was already lifeless...

I desperately shook her shoulders, trying to bring her back to life... but no matter how much I shook, Yu’s eyes did not open...

I really didn’t mean to, I really didn’t think to harm Yu..."

Zhu Yan shuddered, snapping back suddenly, pulling away the hem being held by Miao Xianglan, and took a step back.

Her gaze was as if looking at some creature from the netherworld.

A little way away, Xu Jing could no longer bear to watch, and said to Chen Hu beside her, "Push me out, please."

Chen Hu, having no wish to witness this scene where the dirtiest matters under the sky were laid bare, obliged and escorted Xu Jing out.

Not long after Xu Jing left, Xiao Yi also came out. He looked at Xu Jing and said, "Miao Xianglan’s mentality is already on the brink of collapse. Actually, if we waited until tomorrow, she might have gone to the county government on her own."

Xu Jing slightly raised her eyelids, lightly laughed, and said, "Does Vice Minister Xiao think my method too cruel? Yes, Miao Xianglan might indeed confess herself by tomorrow noon, but ultimately, she wasn’t the one who killed. While her actions are despicable, the existing law cannot punish her."

So, she never intended to give her a chance to escape her guilt.

Her actions, while law cannot punish her, should at least subject her to moral condemnation.

Otherwise, if she simply acknowledges her mistake, she could sweep the matter under the rug without justification to the violated and murdered Zhuo Yuting.

Xiao Yi gave her a deep look and said, "No, I think Miss Xu’s actions are correct. Though Miao Xianglan might not have intended harm, wrong is wrong, and wrong must be punished.

Moreover, Miao Xianglan, though young, had such malicious thoughts. If she escapes punishment this time, who can say she won’t develop the notion that mistakes can be escaped easily, and she wouldn’t indulge her inner malice in similar situations in the future?"

Xu Jing paused.

She had thought a just and principled man like him would disdain her acts akin to taking the law into her own hands.

Xiao Yi could see through Xu Jing’s thoughts and slightly lifted the corner of his mouth, "It seems Miss Xu has some misunderstandings about me."

Those in high positions are already above the law.

If he had been the kind to strictly adhere to the law in all cases and harbor compassion at inappropriate times, he would have died ten thousand times over by now.

Xu Jing’s gaze flickered slightly as she moved her eyes away without reacting.

She indeed did not understand him. After all, he and the original owner had little interaction.

And between her and him, strictly speaking, they’d only known each other for less than a month, having met a few times.