Chapter 37: Accused Once Again of Murdering Someone

When the original soul left the Qin household, she did indeed take items with her, but they were not the dowry of Madam Qin; they were the keepsakes of her biological mother—a set of silver hair ornaments and a chest of medical texts. Moreover, on the night before her departure, the master of the house, Master Qin, had given his consent. Yet, in the end, she had been unable to take any of them.

Now that she inhabited this body, she felt it her duty to do something for the one who had come before. She glanced at Prefect Zhang, then turned her gaze toward Assistant Prefect Ruan. Prefect Zhang clearly believed she was of poor character and would certainly not help her. She absolutely could not bear the stigma of being a thief; if she did, not only would she be cast out of the Prefect’s residence, but she would also implicate Old Madam Huang and Huang Yuezhi.

Qin Hanxiao thought for a moment, then gritted her teeth and bowed her head to the floor. "Master Ruan’s rebuke is justified. I would never dare to cause Madam Qin and Master Qin any grief or sorrow. When I left the Qin family, Madam Qin instructed me never to appear before them again. I have strictly followed her order and have never returned. Even in my deepest longing for the two elders, I have only dared to pray for their health and happiness in my heart. Although they are not my biological parents, the debt of their upbringing is as heavy as the debt of my birth. I dare not forget it, nor could I ever."

Hearing this, Assistant Prefect Ruan’s eyes narrowed, and his expression shifted. He sternly questioned her, "What is the meaning of this? Are you harboring resentment against them? If your hands were not unclean, why would they have the heart to refuse to see you? They spent over a decade pampering you in the Qin household; it was all in vain. Truly, like parents, like child—you are just an ungrateful wretch who cannot be tamed. Your birth parents heartlessly swapped daughters for wealth and sold their own flesh and blood for gambling debts. And you, you even dared to drag your own biological father to court. You are all cut from the same cloth, rotten to the core."

He then bowed to Prefect Zhang, adding, "My Lord, I do not know why she is in your residence, but I implore you not to be deceived by her flowery words. This woman is of base character and completely untrustworthy. I beg you to judge clearly."

Qin Hanxiao cursed him inwardly, though her outward demeanor remained humble and respectful. Looking up, she saw the heavy expression on Prefect Zhang’s face; his gaze was clearly one of suspicion and scrutiny. Her heart sank. She knew that if she could not clarify matters today, she would never have a chance to turn things around. She feared that the moment she stepped out of the Prefect’s residence, she would be abducted and vanish from this world without a trace.

She bowed her head to the floor once more. "The Assistant Prefect accuses me of theft, but I cannot accept such a baseless charge. On that day, I did indeed pack some things, but they were not Madam Qin’s dowry. They were the belongings left behind by my birth mother, and I had received Master Qin’s permission before taking them."

"I have had no other hobbies since childhood save for reading medical texts. Master Qin and Miss Qin Xiyao saw that I enjoyed studying them and generously gifted them to me. The reason I possess medical knowledge is because I spent over a decade, day after day, poring over those books. If the Assistant Prefect has any doubts, he may invite Master Qin, Madam Qin, and the young mistress to confront me in person."

As she mentioned the three of them, Qin Hanxiao looked up and stared directly into Assistant Prefect Ruan’s eyes. At this life-or-death moment, she had nothing left to fear. If they wanted her dead, they would have to pay a heavy price themselves. Assistant Prefect Ruan knew she was not Qin He’s daughter, so naturally, he could not bring his sister’s family to verify her claims. *Damn her, she actually dares to threaten me.*

"My Lord, I was once her uncle; I watched her grow up. I know well that she is glib-tongued and always feigns pity to win sympathy. Not a word she says can be trusted. Look, she has even gone so far as to drag her foster mother into her web of lies. Such a person deserves to be slapped and beaten to teach her a lesson."

Prefect Zhang’s brow furrowed deeper, clearly leaning toward believing Assistant Prefect Ruan. "The debt of upbringing outweighs the debt of birth. The Qin couple raised you; you should know how to be grateful." This was Prefect Zhang’s way of warning her.

Seeing this, Old Madam Huang stepped forward. "May I request that the two officials allow this old woman to say a few words?"

Prefect Zhang, out of respect for his mother, softened his tone significantly. "Please, go ahead."

"I do not know who speaks the truth between the Assistant Prefect and Qin, but in the month or so I have spent with her, I have not found her to be a person of low character. Furthermore, having grown up under the guidance of the Qin couple, she would surely have been well-taught and would not be influenced by her biological parents. Whatever her birth parents are, it has nothing to do with her. As she just said, truth or falsehood can be determined by simply asking the Qin couple. Perhaps the two officials do not know that her husband is paralyzed and bedridden, and her mother-in-law is also ill, both requiring expensive medicine. There are two young siblings-in-law and two children left by her late brothers-in-law to support. One could say she supports the entire household on her own, yet she bears it all without a word of complaint, never once going to the Qin household to beg her foster parents for help. On this account alone, her character is worthy of trust."

Qin Hanxiao felt a surge of gratitude toward Old Madam Huang. She nodded in thanks to the old woman before turning back to Prefect Zhang. "On that day, Master Qin was not at home, and the young mistress did not appear due to her own grief; it is understandable that Madam Qin harbored a misunderstanding. I did not wish to cause Madam Qin further pain, so I did not take a single item with me."

Prefect Zhang’s expression improved significantly. He asked Qin Hanxiao, "I ask you, did you know the state of your husband’s family when you married?"

Qin Hanxiao nodded. "I did. I was married into the Pei family to perform a 'spirit wedding' to improve his fortune."

Hearing this, Prefect Zhang and Old Madam Huang both frowned. Assistant Prefect Ruan’s expression was complex, though he felt no pity for Qin Hanxiao—only annoyance at her talkativeness.

"What is the meaning of this?" Prefect Zhang asked.

Qin Hanxiao replied candidly, "My husband suffered an accident that left him paralyzed and unconscious. He originally had a fiancée, but due to certain reasons, the engagement was broken. My mother-in-law had no choice but to seek a matchmaker to find another bride. When I heard there was twenty taels of silver as a dowry for the spirit wedding, I volunteered. Although my birth parents never raised me for a single day, I could not ignore the debt of my existence. Fortunately, after we married, my husband truly woke up. I am grateful for the kindness of my husband’s family, and I have long sworn that no matter how difficult the future may be, I will stand by them through thick and thin."

Qin Hanxiao spoke with genuine feeling and uprightness. At this moment, Prefect Zhang believed most of what she said. He reasoned that someone of such character would not resort to theft. Seeing her respectful and articulate, he believed her even more. "It seems there truly was a misunderstanding. Assistant Prefect, perhaps you should return and ask your sister."

With these words from Prefect Zhang, the matter was essentially settled; Qin Hanxiao had survived the crisis. Assistant Prefect Ruan, too, abandoned his previous rigidity. "My Lord is right; I was impulsive. I shall certainly return and ask my sister clearly. I would never wrongly accuse anyone."

Immediately, his expression turned stern once more. He asked coldly, "Why have you come to the Prefect’s residence?"

Qin Hanxiao replied, "To treat the illness of Old Madam Zhang."

"You have only taught yourself a few superficial things; at best, it is mere paper talk. How dare you treat people? This is no longer just the work of a quack—it is an attempt on a human life."