Bai Sheng's words hit the nail on the head, causing everyone to look at Bai Zheng suspiciously.
The Marquis of Gaochang stared at Bai Zheng as if he wanted to pierce a hole in her.
A flash of sharpness quickly passed through Bai Zheng's eyes, but she said timidly, "If it weren't for the timely arrival of the Marquis of Dingyuan, I'm afraid I would have lost my life here."
"It's really the blessing of our grandfather in heaven. Thank you, Marquis, for saving me," Bai Sheng said gratefully.
She's really good at pretending.
Bai Zheng couldn't help but secretly admire.
Just then, the eunuch in charge of the trial came in and whispered the progress of the investigation to Feng Linche.
After listening, Feng Linche frowned, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly asked Bai Zheng, "So, Miss Bai San, you didn't see Yan'er in the imperial garden today?"
Hearing this question, Bai Zheng couldn't help but feel a jolt in her heart, but she still answered truthfully, "No."
"After Zheng Yan was carried out from the hall, you haven't seen her again?" Feng Linche pressed.
Feng Linche's question was strange. Obviously, he had discovered some evidence and was confirming it again and again.
Bai Zheng frowned slightly. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Feng Linyuan on the opposite side laugh and say, "Does Your Majesty have any doubts that need Miss Zheng to answer?"
Feng Linche glanced at Feng Linyuan imperceptibly. With a wave of his hand, the eunuch presented a jade pendant and handed it to Feng Linche.
Feng Linche examined it carefully and then passed the jade pendant to Concubine Yi, who was sitting beside him.
Jade pendant?
Bai Zheng only felt a loud bang in her head, and her whole body felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.
No wonder, no wonder the masked man tried to snatch her jade pendant. No wonder the masked man said she was "extremely stupid" when he saw her throw it away. No wonder...
Thinking of this, Bai Zheng suddenly looked at Bai Sheng.
Bai Sheng still looked calm, but the mockery hidden in her eyes deeply hurt Bai Zheng.
What a well - thought - out and vicious plan!
Bai Zheng had lost her jade pendant, and it was found beside Zheng Yan. She would never be able to clear her name.
Concubine Yi took the jade pendant and examined it carefully several times before nodding and saying, "This is indeed the one I gave away."
"Your Majesty, this jade pendant..."
The Marquis of Gaochang intuitively felt that this thing was related to Zheng Yan and couldn't help but feel worried.
Feng Linche looked at Bai Zheng coldly. "You said you didn't see Zheng Yan. Then why was the jade pendant that Concubine Yi bestowed on you lying beside Zheng Yan?"
"What!" The Marquis of Gaochang suddenly raised his voice. "This jade pendant was found on Yan'er?"
Bai Zheng didn't answer. First, she glanced at Feng Jingyang. He had his head slightly lowered, making it impossible to see his expression.
Then she glanced imperceptibly at her own seat.
Qing Shao was still not there.
Originally, she had sent Qing Shao to follow the Fourth Prince Feng Jingyang, thinking that no matter what the other party was going to use Zheng Yan for, it would be related to Feng Jingyang.
But she never expected that she had completely underestimated Bai Sheng's cruelty. This time, they directly wanted Zheng Yan's life!
Now, although Feng Jingyang had come late, he was finally sitting in his seat.
But where was Qing Shao, whom she had sent to follow Feng Jingyang?
Where had she gone?
"Miss San?" Seeing Bai Zheng in a daze, Princess Yunxi couldn't help but remind her, "Your Majesty is asking you a question. If you don't answer like this, it will really arouse suspicion..."
Bai Zheng was brought back to her senses. After a moment's hesitation, just as she was about to answer, she heard Feng Linyuan put down his teacup with a "snap" and speak calmly.
"I remember that Concubine Yi had two such jade pendants. One was given to Miss Zheng, and the other was given to Miss San. And Miss Zheng immediately gave hers to the Fourth Prince on the spot."
Saying this, Feng Linyuan glanced at Feng Jingyang and smiled. "Maybe the Fourth Prince met Miss Zheng later and lost the jade pendant."
"Yes," Bai Zheng immediately regained her pitiful look after Feng Linyuan spoke. She said in a low voice, "My jade pendant was snatched away by a villain. The one on Miss Zheng might be the one the Fourth Prince returned..."
Seeing Feng Linyuan speak up for Bai Zheng again in front of him, Princess Yunxi felt a rush of blood to her head. She directly interrupted Bai Zheng and shouted, "Are you still trying to frame the Fourth Prince?"
"Does the princess know something?" Hearing this, the Marquis of Gaochang immediately became excited.
Princess Yunxi nodded and was about to speak when she suddenly heard Bai Sheng say, "Your Highness, please be careful with your words. Our Bai family is loyal and has strict family teachings. We will never do anything to harm others."
Princess Yunxi smiled upon hearing this and advised, "Everyone in Yongding City knows the characters of the eldest and second ladies of the General's Mansion. But Miss San of the Bai Mansion was not raised by the same mother and father as you, the eldest lady. If Miss San is arrogant and has done something wrong, it has nothing to do with the General's Mansion."
Bai Yinan felt something was wrong as he listened. He couldn't help but stand up and say, "Your Highness, please don't slander my daughter. My daughter has always been well - behaved. How could she do such a thing!"
"Yes, Your Highness. Everyone in Yongding City can testify to Miss Bai San's character," said the Fifth Prince Feng Jingyi, who was supporting Bai Zheng.
Bai Zheng gave him a grateful smile, and Feng Jingyi also nodded slightly with a faint smile.
"Doesn't Your Highness the Fifth Prince know Miss San's character?" Princess Yunxi, who was choked by Feng Jingyi's words, couldn't help but get angry.
She didn't know what kind of bewitching spell that woman had cast, but these men were all speaking up for her.
"Your Highness the Fifth Prince is wrong," Feng Linyuan smiled. "Princess Yunxi has just arrived. It's normal that she hasn't heard about the unprecedented sight of everyone in Yongding vying to marry Miss Zheng a month ago."
Feng Jingyi lowered his eyes and laughed softly. "After all, she is a princess from a foreign country."
Feng Jingyi's words made Princess Yunxi turn completely pale.
This was clearly saying that she, an outsider, was meddling in other people's business.
After all, this was a family matter of the Great Zhou. It was only because she happened to be at the scene and was also suspected that she had to sit here.
Otherwise, how could a foreign princess like her have a say?
"You!" Princess Yunxi was so angry that her whole body trembled.
Seeing this, Bai Di quickly stepped forward and pulled Princess Yunxi. She said in a voice that was not loud but could be heard by everyone, "Zheng'er is timid and wouldn't do such a thing. Your Highness must have misunderstood."
"Misunderstood?" Princess Yunxi became even more excited when she heard this. "Miss Zheng and Bai Zheng have long been irreconcilable enemies. A few days ago, she even bumped into Miss Zheng's carriage outside for no reason and was ridiculed by Miss Zheng..."
"What did you say!" The Marquis of Gaochang couldn't control his emotions anymore when he heard this. He rushed towards Princess Yunxi quickly.
Princess Yunxi was startled by his action, but she still firmly repeated, "I said that Miss Zheng and Bai Zheng have had many conflicts over the Fourth Prince. Bai Zheng hates her and has a deep - seated grudge against her, so she finally took the killer move."