Volume One, Chapter 14: The False Heiress Reveals Herself
Page 1/3
Capital Prefecture Office, Public Hall
Cui Huaiyuan, the Prefect of the Capital, adjusted his official hat and furrowed his brows as he looked at the elegantly standing young woman in the hall. With uncertainty, he asked,
“Miss Jiang, whom are you accusing?”
“Your Honor, the person I wish to accuse is none other than Princess Qingxue of Qingcheng!”
Jiang Rui bowed gracefully, her expression serious as she stated,
“Yesterday, the princess, without cause, led people to break into the silk shop ‘Caiyun Pavilion’ within the Anle Marquis’s residence. Not only did she damage a large amount of merchandise, but she also injured the shopkeeper and three assistants. The townsfolk can all attest to her actions!”
Upon hearing this, Cui Huaiyuan felt a headache coming on.
Jiang Rui was the legitimate daughter of the Anle Marquis’s household, not someone to be taken lightly. Moreover, Princess Qingxue was the younger sister of the Northern Defense King—offending her was unthinkable.
Cui Huaiyuan came from the loyal and brave Bo family, with a square face and considerable talent. Just past his thirties, he had served as the Prefect of the Capital for three years, achieving notable success in solving cases. He was also tactful and well-versed in the intricate relationships among the city’s elite.
After some thought, Cui Huaiyuan decided to downplay the matter.
“Miss Jiang, there must be some misunderstanding. I will send people to investigate. Please return to your residence and await news.”
Jiang Rui saw through him immediately. Cui Huaiyuan clearly wished to avoid involvement and was merely giving her a perfunctory answer.
In her previous life, when Cui Liuliang came to report the matter, it had been the same: Cui Huaiyuan had brushed them off and never followed up.
Jiang Rui glanced toward Cui Liuliang waiting outside the hall, who nodded firmly. Only then did she turn back to Cui Huaiyuan and say,
“Prefect Cui, since I have filed this complaint, according to the laws of the Great Qi Empire, you ought to summon the suspect, Princess Qingxue, to the court and inquire about the incident. As the plaintiff, I cannot leave at this time.”
As she spoke, she shifted slightly to allow Cui Huaiyuan to see the growing crowd of onlookers outside the hall.
“Sending me back now, though well-intentioned, will only make the uninformed citizens think you are protecting Princess Qingxue and covering up her crime.”
With Jiang Rui’s words finished, Cui Huaiyuan’s face darkened further.
The crowd outside the hall started whispering loudly.
“What? Prefect Cui is covering up for Princess Qingxue?”
“This is outrageous! It’s the usual officials protecting each other—no justice at all!”
“Exactly! Princess Qingxue smashed up a shop at the Anle Marquis’s residence yesterday, and I saw it with my own eyes!”
“I heard the complainant is the eldest daughter of the Anle Marquis’s household. If even she can’t get justice, what hope do ordinary folks like us have?”
“If Princess Qingxue can wreck a shop at the Anle Marquis’s, what’s stopping her from smashing our stalls next? She must be arrested!”
“Yes, arrest Princess Qingxue! Arrest her!”
“Arrest the princess! Arrest the princess!”
...
The crowd outside grew increasingly agitated.
Cui Huaiyuan slammed the judge’s gavel sharply, commanding, “Silence!”
Page 2/3
Several constables blocked the entrance to maintain order. After a moment, the crowd quieted down.
Jiang Rui stepped forward and bowed deeply to Cui Huaiyuan.
“Prefect Cui, to uphold the dignity of the court and the laws of Great Qi, please summon Princess Qingxue.”
Cui Huaiyuan looked at Jiang Rui intently and said,
“Miss Jiang, you are truly exceptional.”
He was not fooled—many of the rowdy townsfolk were lowlifes and ruffians who would do anything for money. Yet here was a young woman who had the audacity to buy their loyalty and orchestrate this spectacle.
At the same time, Cui Huaiyuan had to admit that for the sake of his reputation, the princess must be summoned.
“Men, go to the Northern Defense King’s residence and bring Princess Qingxue here for questioning.”
Two constables received the order and set off.
Jiang Rui exhaled slightly in relief. Once summoned, Princess Qingxue’s proud and domineering nature would compel her to appear.
As long as the princess showed up, Jiang Rui could escalate the matter and then...
“Miss Jiang, does your household know you came to file this complaint today?”
Cui Huaiyuan perused the complaint Jiang Rui had handed over, curious.
In his impression, the Anle Marquis’s household held little influence in the capital. The Marquis himself was an ineffectual and unremarkable man, hardly the type to provoke the Northern Defense King’s family.
“Of course,” Jiang Rui smiled but said no more.
Outside the hall, the crowd awaited Princess Qingxue’s arrival, eager for entertainment.
Some unafraid of trouble gathered friends, swelling the crowd still further.
Less than twenty minutes later, the sound of hurried hoofbeats approached outside the Capital Prefecture Office.
“Whoosh—”
Princess Qingxue, clad in a fiery red riding outfit, mounted her horse with a heroic air.
At over eighteen years old, she was the Northern Defense King’s only younger sister, cherished since childhood and indulged in her temperament.
Her beauty was striking—the bold and radiant face like a blooming peony.
Her noble status emboldened her to act recklessly and without restraint.
When the constables arrived at the Northern Defense King’s residence, Princess Qingxue was preparing to ride to the training ground. Upon hearing that Jiang Rui had accused her, intrigued, she turned her horse sharply and rode straight to the Capital Prefecture Office.
With the royal guards clearing the way, she strode into the public hall.
Ignoring Cui Huaiyuan and the officials, she walked directly up to Jiang Rui.
“So, you’re Jiang Rui?”
Princess Qingxue appraised her from head to toe.
“You’re somewhat attractive.”
Her gaze roamed freely from Jiang Rui’s delicate, fair face down to her slender waist, then to her modest attire.
“The Anle Marquis’s household must be quite destitute if you dress so poorly. Don’t you sell cloth yourself? Can’t afford better clothes?”
Page 3/3
Jiang Rui paid no mind to the disdainful tone and bowed politely.
“Jiang Rui pays respects to the princess.”
Princess Qingxue stepped closer, her finger dyed in bright vermilion teasingly lifting Jiang Rui’s small, pale chin.
“I thought you’d be a coward. I had my men smash your shop, and you didn’t dare show your face. But now you come to the Capital Prefecture Office to accuse me? Interesting.”
The touch on her chin sent shivers down Jiang Rui’s spine. She brushed off the princess’s hand and stepped back several paces.
Wiping her chin awkwardly with the back of her hand, Jiang Rui straightened and asked boldly,
“Princess, we have no past grievances or enmity. Why did you destroy the Caiyun Pavilion?”
Princess Qingxue glanced arrogantly at Jiang Rui, inspecting her vermilion-stained finger casually.
“I just didn’t like it. Why do I need a reason?”
Her haughty attitude drew murmurs of disapproval from the crowd.
“Destroying someone’s shop just because you don’t like it—that’s too much!”
“The Northern Defense King is a hero guarding the northern lands, but his own sister is so unreasonable?”
“Better watch out for the king’s household from now on, or they’ll smash our stalls too.”
...
“Silence!”
Cui Huaiyuan struck the judge’s gavel again to quell the crowd’s complaints. Just as he pondered how to find a way to appease the Northern Defense King’s household, Princess Qingxue strode over to the loudest vendor in the crowd.
“Your little stall? You think it deserves to be smashed by me?”
“P-Princess, please spare me!” The vendor knelt in fear, begging for mercy.
Princess Qingxue gave him not a second glance before turning to meet Jiang Rui’s worried eyes.
“Jiang Rui, I smashed your shop. Who told you to be the legitimate daughter of the Anle Marquis’s household?”
Jiang Rui knew well that as the legitimate daughter betrothed to Qi Xuan, heir of the Duke of Jin, she was a thorn in Princess Qingxue’s side, who secretly admired Qi Xuan.
This was exactly the point Jiang Rui intended to exploit.
“Princess, you are mistaken. I am no longer the legitimate daughter of the Anle Marquis’s household.”
Princess Qingxue looked at her in confusion.
“What did you say?”
Jiang Rui feigned heartbreak, her nose twitching as if overcome with sorrow.
“Today, a woman came to the Anle Marquis’s residence claiming to be my true family. She said that sixteen years ago, we were switched at birth. She is the true legitimate daughter of the Anle Marquis. The Marquis and his lady have already recognized her identity...”
Jiang Rui flicked a glance at the princess, whose eyes widened in surprise, then delivered her final blow.
“The Marquis even said I’m a false daughter. Therefore, everything I’ve received from the Anle household, including the engagement to the Duke of Jin’s heir, must be returned to the true daughter!”