"Your skill in poisoning is extraordinary; you poisoned during the Poetry Competition," said Hui Zi.
Bai Ruozhu sneered and looked at the officer at the head, "Sir, you can investigate. During the Poetry Competition, there were so many people present, and I was far away from Hui Zi; how could I poison her? Even if poisoning was possible, wouldn’t everyone around be poisoned too? Do you really think I am an Immortal?"
The officer nodded in agreent. It truly was implausible for soone to poison an individual amidst a crowd.
"Moreover, that day it was your maid who sought out Fangzi and was refused, drawing everyone’s attention. When we arrived together, you were quite clear-headed and spoke many shocking things to Lord Dubian. How dare you now accuse !"
Bai Ruozhu looked at the officer again, "Sir, I also want to file a complaint against Hui Zi. Our official ship was robbed that day, and the pirates fled into the City. There must be soone in Kyoto assisting them. We have not recovered half of our goods yet; I hope everyone will find the real culprits!"
Isn’t Hui Zi trying to ruin herself? Then let’s make sure she does so thoroughly.
"You lie! The poison was clearly wrapped in paper dropped in the garden..."
Bai Ruozhu interrupted her directly, "Evidence? How do you prove that the paper was thrown by ? How do you prove that you found it in the garden? As I recall, your face was disgraced that day, and you were soon taken away."
She suddenly let out a sneer, "Oh right, I rember you accused of using poison to insult your virtue. Rember, quite a few judges witnessed your disgraceful scene that day. Many people could tell it wasn’t your first ti; there wasn’t any bloodstain. People don’t speak of it just to save face for your parents. If you insist on ntioning it now, it’s only humiliating yourself."
"Don’t think that just because you’re an envoy, you can casually insult soone’s virtue. I beg the officer to uphold justice for ; otherwise, I might as well dash myself to death!" Hui Zi shouted.
By now, quite a few Fusang citizens had gathered outside the Governnt Office. So were pointing at Bai Ruozhu, after all, she was an outsider and an envoy. Yet Hui Zi appeared to be a young Fusang girl, kneeling and crying pitifully. It’s normal for ordinary folks to sympathize with the weaker party.
"Miss Hui Zi, don’t create trouble. If you cannot present compelling evidence, it will be slander against the envoy," the officer disliked being threatened and added a stern tone.
Suddenly, Hui Zi rose from the ground and lunged fiercely towards the corner of the officer’s desk.
"Soone!" The officer shouted urgently.
Luckily, there were officers lined up to protect, and as soone rushed towards the officer, they hurriedly intervened. During the struggle, Hui Zi’s head was injured and bleeding, but her life was not in danger.
Fangzi was pale with fear, muttering, "Does she really want to die? This..."
Bai Ruozhu spoke softly, "Fool, if she really wanted to die, she wouldn’t have hit the officer’s side, where there are the most people protecting, not letting her die. This Hui Zi is quite scheming."
Fangzi imdiately understood, feeling a sudden lack of guilt earlier. If Hui Zi had died here, Fangzi would never be at peace her entire life.
But with Bai Ruozhu’s reminder, Fangzi grasped the situation, feeling not guilt but deeper loathing.
The officer also heard Bai Ruozhu’s words and looked at Hui Zi with increasing disdain.
But the citizens outside couldn’t see this deeply, and so began to shout.
"A young lady can prove her innocence with death; how can the officer shield the culprit? We can’t let Zhongyuan’s envoy dominate in Fusang, bullying our Fusang girl!"
"Yes, sir, don’t be afraid of the Zhongyuan people. This is Fusang, we’re not scared of them!"
"See how pitiful that girl is. If it weren’t for officers’ tily intervention, she would have lost her life."
"We plead for justice for this poor girl!"
"..."
The citizens outside were increasingly agitated in their discourse, while the officer’s face grew darker. He raised his voice, "Quiet, this is simply absurd. If anyone ca to the Main Hall to break a head, should we pity them, do we no longer need evidence to judge a case?"
This caused the people outside to quiet down; yes, evidence is needed to judge a case.
"Officer!" Hui Zi’s shrill voice rang out, "That paper containing poison is evidence; it is Zhongyuan paper, and only Zhongyuan people have it!"
Upon hearing this, the citizens outside began discussing again, with so even shouting to demand the officer not show partiality towards Zhongyuan people.
Bai Ruozhu squinted and looked outside, unsure if it was the ignorance of the Fusang citizens or if She Zongyi was secretly stirring up trouble. The type of paper Hui Zi had was likely given to her by She Zongyi.
Suddenly, an audible voice in Fusang Language rang out from the crowd, "Nonsense, this type of paper has always been sold at the Treasure Pavilion, only scarce and expensive, bought by few. If you don’t believe it, go to the Treasure Pavilion and see. What ignorance!"
Bai Ruozhu’s lips moved slightly, suppressing a smile that almost surfaced. That voice unmistakably belonged to Zhitian.
She glanced back outside and indeed saw Zhitian standing afar, dressed in ordinary coarse clothing like a common Market folk.
Nearby, Jiang Yichun stood there, saw her looking over, and smiled at her. Their gazes t from afar, instantly understanding each other’s intention.
"Send soone to the Treasure Pavilion to check if there’s similar paper, bring so back as evidence," the officer instructed the adjacent officer.
By this point, Hui Zi’s face had beco pale; how did she not know that such paper was sold at the Treasure Pavilion?
The Treasure Pavilion was quite famous in Kyoto, always housing so bizarre items, but at a pricey rate, unaffordable for the ordinary folk.
Yet the Treasure Pavilion never discriminated against its visitors. Even if a beggar wanted to enter to view items, they wouldn’t be stopped. Even if you feasted your eyes but didn’t buy anything, they wouldn’t drive you away.
Thus, today the Treasure Pavilion welcod a crowd, many being average citizens. The shopkeeper smiled broadly, albeit surprised at such unusual foot traffic.
Soon enough, the attendant learned the reason, and the shopkeeper proactively displayed the paper, showing great enthusiasm, saying it was no issue for visitors not to buy, and they could co by often to browse.
That day the Treasure Pavilion saw unprecedented traffic, but few purchases were made, only selling two items ultimately. Still, the shopkeeper grinned broadly, for their Dong Family said, high foot traffic welcos business naturally; and wasn’t today’s traffic robust?
At the Governnt Office, the officer returned with the paper from the Treasure Pavilion. The officer had it compared, indeed matching the one provided by Hui Zi.
"Miss Hui Zi, your evidence is insufficient; do you have other evidence?" the officer asked discontentedly.
Hui Zi’s head wound had been bandaged, but her face was still sared with blood, appearing very pitiful.
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