Chapter 345: Dragging Down

Chapter 345: Dragging Her Down

"Third Miss of the Murong family arranged for someone to replace Princess Ye's answer sheet at Canglang Poetry Talk, framed Princess Ye for plagiarism, challenged the authority of Qingyun Hall, and insulted the dignity of our dynasty."

"Disrupting the competition maliciously, according to our laws, Third Miss Murong should be sentenced to flogging, then stripped of her noble status, made a slave for life, and banned from ever returning to the capital."

"Furthermore, she stole the model essay from the Hanlin Academy. Theft is no small crime, and leaking it beforehand is an even greater offense. So it looks like the real plagiarist is none other than Miss Murong herself—she must have already seen the model essay beforehand."

Luo Sinian's argument was solid and well-supported. After he finished speaking, everyone in the room started condemning Murong Yue.

"Canglang Poetry Talk has been held for so many years, and never has any scholar dared to steal the model essay and blatantly plagiarize. This Third Miss Murong has some nerve—if she wants to get herself killed, she shouldn't drag the whole Murong family down with her!"

Someone nodded in agreement. "Exactly. I now suspect she cheated in her previous three rounds too. I've never heard of her being particularly talented in writing before. This woman must be desperate to win the crown!"

Another young man said, "I've heard that Murong Yue's elder brother, Murong Lin, works as a compiler at the Hanlin Academy. What do you think—could he have helped Murong Yue steal the model essay?"

Someone retorted, "Murong Lin isn't crazy. How could he possibly help her steal the model essay? Everyone knows that's a capital offense."

"Most likely, Murong Yue got into the Hanlin Academy by pretending to visit her brother. How she got her hands on the model essay is anyone's guess. I've seen people screw over others, but I've never seen someone drag their own brother down with them. This Third Miss Murong is a real idiot."

To be fair, this person's guess was almost half right.

Murong Yue had indeed snuck into the Hanlin Academy through the side gate, claiming she was visiting her brother.

It was late at night, quiet, and almost no one was around to notice.

Afterwards, she got Murong Lin drunk, and only then managed to get the location of the model essay out of him.

This move screwed over both herself and Murong Lin.

Murong Yue's story had too many holes to hold up under scrutiny. With everyone piecing things together, they basically figured out her whole motive.

Hearing this, Murong Yue trembled all over with fear. She knew she was done for—once this was confirmed, not only would her scores be voided, but her whole life would be ruined!

But when she thought of Ji Qingqing, she gritted her teeth in hatred.

Murong Yue felt that all of this was Ji Qingqing's fault—that she had deliberately set her up.

Since she was ruined, there was no way she'd let Ji Qingqing get off easy.

With that thought, Murong Yue made up her mind and decided to come clean. She said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, I have something to say. Yes, I stole the model essay, but I didn't do it on my own. It was Second Miss Ji who came to me and asked me to help her frame Princess Ye. This was all Second Miss Ji's idea."

"She gave me a prescription in Princess Ye's own handwriting, asked me to find someone to copy Princess Ye's handwriting, and then bribe the guard to switch her answer sheet and frame her for plagiarism. She's the one who wanted to destroy Princess Ye. I beg Your Highness to investigate this thoroughly!"

When she finished speaking, the entire Qianqiu Pavilion went so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Luo Jingshen's face darkened instantly, his eyes cutting into Murong Yue like knives.

He said darkly, "What evidence do you have to prove that Second Miss Ji came up with this plan?"

"If you can't produce evidence, then you're making false accusations. False accusations are punishable by beheading."

"Third Miss Murong, I suggest you think very carefully before you answer."

Murong Yue felt her hair stand on end under Luo Jingshen's cold stare.

At that moment, she suddenly realized Luo Jingshen was on Ji Qingqing's side.

He looked at her like she was already dead.

Murong Yue's face went pale with fear, and her hands, hidden in her sleeves, were trembling uncontrollably.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down before she could find her voice.

"I'm not lying. I have no grudge against Princess Ye—why would I risk my own life to harm her?"

"It was Second Miss Ji who said that after Princess Ye's results were annulled, she would have Third Young Master Ji marry me and make me his legitimate wife."

"Furthermore, she gave me a bank draft for ten thousand taels to bribe the guard responsible for collecting answer sheets."

"She said that money makes the world go round—as long as the silver was sufficient, someone would surely compete to do the job. She told me to seize this opportunity myself."

"I was bewitched by her words and acted rashly in a moment of foolishness. I know I have wronged Princess Ye, and I have also failed Headmaster Cheng and the Royal Academy's cultivation. I am willing to accept punishment, as long as Second Miss Ji also receives the punishment she deserves."

A flicker of mockery passed through Ji Yuntang's eyes, vanishing in an instant.

This Murong Yue had only told half the story, hadn't she?

It was true that she had been bewitched by Ji Qingqing, but if the only promise was marrying Ji Zihang as his legitimate wife—

Ji Yuntang felt that this condition alone wouldn't have been enough to make Murong Yue risk so much to frame her.

In this situation, it was most likely that Murong Yue herself had ulterior motives.

She wanted to drag her down, which would eliminate a formidable competitor.

That way, as one of only two female examinees present, she would gain fame at Canglang Poetry Talk. Her future would be bright—how could she possibly still settle for Ji Zihang?

Murong Yue's actions were clearly an attempt to climb up by stepping on her shoulders!

Unforgivable!

The smile on Ji Yuntang's lips faded. "In that case, send someone to invite Second Miss Ji here for a face-to-face confrontation!"

At the Marquis Yongning residence.

When Ji Qingqing learned that Murong Yue had exposed her, she nearly went mad with rage.

She screamed and shouted at home, smashing things all over the floor.

"That idiot Murong Yue! She can't even handle such a trivial matter, and now she's dragged me into it! Why doesn't she just go die?"

Madam Meng walked in, her expression equally grim.

Ji Qingqing had confidently assured her that this time, getting Ji Yuntang's results annulled would be absolutely no problem.

But now?

The fire had burned back onto their own doorstep.

This matter had been kept secret from Ji Nanchuan by Madam Meng and Ji Qingqing.

She couldn't even bear to imagine how furious Ji Nanchuan would be if he found out.

Madam Meng knew that the only way out now was to resolve this matter.

And the only person who could resolve it was Ji Qingqing.

"Qingqing, someone from Qingyun Hall just came to deliver a message. They want you to go to Qianqiu Pavilion. What's done is done—getting angry now won't help!"

"What you need to do now is find a way to pin all the blame on Mu Rongyue and let her take all the blame. Just insist that you knew nothing about it, and I believe the Crown Prince will help you."

Ji Qingqing was taken aback, her face going through a series of expressions.

"Mother, but will the Crown Prince believe me?"

Meng Shi said, her voice low, "He has no choice but to believe you. He needs our Marquis household's support, so he will naturally side with us."

"Besides, didn't you say that the Crown Prince has feelings for you?"

"Since he cares about you, what do you have to worry about?"

Ji Qingqing frowned slightly. More than this matter, she was worried about her gentle image shattering in Luo Jingshen's eyes.

Reluctantly, Ji Qingqing had no choice but to ask Cui Liu to apply pale, sickly makeup for her, and then she braced herself and boarded the carriage heading to Qianqiu Tower.

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