Chapter 82
“Esteemed official, this humble servant has no evidence, but may I ask Miss Song a few questions?” Murong Qiufeng spoke casually, his expression calm, showing no signs of panic or anxiety.
“Oh?” Hou Qianxing responded, intrigued.
“Esteemed official, this is unreasonable. He is the defendant, and has no right to ask questions,” Song Lige was quick to interject.
Murong Qiufeng smiled faintly. “Miss Song seems to have missed something. I am also the plaintiff, so naturally, I have the right to ask questions.”
Song Lige paused for a moment, then quickly realized what he meant. Murong Qiufeng was accusing her of framing him, and though he had no concrete evidence, he was still considered the plaintiff, putting them on equal footing.
“Miss Song, are you so worried? Could it be that you feel guilty?” Shangguan Ye’s voice cut in coldly, his tone full of chilling disdain.
Hou Qianxing, observing the exchange, noticed that the two ministers, the Prime Minister and the General, were also about to speak. He slammed his gavel down, calling for order. “The right and wrong will be decided by me, no need for further discussion from the two of you. Proceed with caution.”
“Fine, ask your questions. Let me see how you turn the tables,” Song Lige sneered.
Murong Qiufeng remained unfazed, seemingly unconcerned by her insults. He immediately dove into his questioning. “First question, Miss Song, you claimed that I have been tormenting you for a long time, harming those around you. Can you tell us where and when this happened, who was harmed, and where they are now?”
Song Lige pursed her lips and furrowed her brows. She had intended to provoke Murong Qiufeng and uncover his motive, but his calmness was starting to unsettle her. She felt as though she was being restrained. “Murong Qiufeng, you’re clever, you know they don’t want to get involved with the authorities, so you ask such questions, trying to force me into a corner. I cannot answer this question.”
Seeing Song Lige unable to respond, the crowd, which had initially been filled with doubt, began to change their opinion. They no longer viewed her as a helpless victim but as someone who might have ulterior motives. The public sympathy was shifting, with people now admiring her for her loyalty and righteousness.
The onlookers outside began to loudly criticize Murong Qiufeng.
Murong Qiufeng showed no sign of surprise, still smiling faintly, his expression unreadable, making it difficult for others to figure out his intentions.
“Alright, since you can’t answer, let’s move on. However, I am curious, Miss Song. You claim to have fled to Lu City to avoid me, but I heard that you traveled south in high spirits, singing and dancing, enjoying the sights. In Lu City, you not only became famous but also won the title of First Zither Maiden and even set up a challenge. Such an extravagant display doesn’t seem like something someone trying to avoid a pursuer would do, does it?”
“Heh, Lige is passionate about music. She couldn’t resist participating in friendly competitions. As for the contest, that was an unexpected turn of events. Setting up the challenge, as everyone knows, was merely to find the person she was seeking,” Song Lige replied, trying to deflect.
“Yes, that’s not unreasonable. But when we were at Ming Lake, why did you act as though you didn’t recognize me?” Murong Qiufeng pressed on.
“Lu City is your territory, Young Master Murong. If I had openly acknowledged you, it would have caused trouble for the innocent. So, I had no choice but to remain silent. Who would have expected that someone like you would behave so recklessly under the emperor’s nose?” Song Lige retorted.
“Since you know Lu City is ‘my territory,’ why come here in the first place? Isn’t that like walking into a lion’s den?”
“Hmph, one cannot catch a tiger without entering the tiger’s den. You have oppressed me, and I could endure it. But you crossed the line when you took something that didn’t belong to you. I came here to demand that you return what you stole.”
“Hehe, Miss Song, weren’t you the one who said you came to Lu City to avoid me? You didn’t expect to encounter me here. And now, you’re clearly saying that you came to reclaim what I took from you. Don’t you think your words are contradictory?” Murong Qiufeng raised an eyebrow, his voice still calm and composed. He wasn’t angry but was expertly drawing attention to the inconsistencies in her statements, subtly leading others into his trap.
Until now, Murong Qiufeng had been on the defensive, but it was becoming clear that Song Lige was the one being led and manipulated.
Shangguan Ye couldn’t help but smile slightly, his eyes full of amusement. If one thought of Murong Qiufeng as a naive fool, they were gravely mistaken. This young man was sharp and astute when he put his mind to it.
Although it was quite frustrating, one couldn’t help but admire Yun Feiyang. He protected Murong Qiufeng under his wing, but didn’t blindly shelter him. Instead, he trained him to be capable of protecting himself. His calmness, composure, and strategic thinking were reminiscent of Yun Feiyang’s own style—unruffled and methodical, gradually tightening the noose while making others let their guard down without realizing they were being led into a trap.
Others were also somewhat surprised. Although Murong Qiufeng seemed quiet, aloof, and a little distant, they didn’t expect him to be so meticulous in thought and eloquent in speech.
Behind the curtain, the emperor squinted, his gaze shifting toward Shangguan Ye. He had always believed that Shangguan Ye valued Murong Qiufeng because of his relationship with Murong Qiujun. But now, it seemed there was more to it. Murong Qiufeng was a hidden gem, and with careful nurturing, he could surely shine. Truly, his talent and appearance were exceptional. The emperor now considered how he might bring him to his side.
The one most shocked, however, was Murong Xing. His understanding of Murong Qiufeng had always been limited to the image of a sickly, timid child who didn’t like to talk or socialize, somewhat withdrawn. As he grew older, Murong Qiufeng seemed straightforward and too pure, lacking in any guile, which is why Murong Xing had made such efforts to keep him close to Shangguan Ye.
But after witnessing Murong Qiufeng today, his opinion was completely overturned. Beneath that gentle and refined exterior, there was a sharp, intimidating side he hadn’t expected.
However, the one most unsettled was probably Song Lige. She was momentarily stunned, her face turning slightly pale.
Yet Murong Qiufeng didn’t press her for an answer. Instead, it almost seemed like he was deliberately letting her off the hook. “I wonder what treasure Miss Song refers to. How could I have deceived you about it?”
Song Lige’s thoughts were in disarray. Murong Qiufeng’s tactical retreat had disrupted her calm, and all she could do was grit her teeth and go along with his words. “You befriended him under false pretenses and deceived him of his family’s treasured zither score. Do you know how despicable your actions were? Not only did you hurt his heart, but you nearly caused his death. Murong Qiufeng, I have never seen anyone as shameless as you.”
Seeing Song Lige so enraged, it seemed genuine, and Murong Qiufeng frowned slightly. It appeared the crux of the issue lay here. “Oh, may I ask, Miss Song, do you know what zither score it is, who the person is, when it happened, and if you can confront me with evidence?”
“That’s something you already know. As for him, I told you, he doesn’t like dealing with the authorities.”
“Miss Song, do not forget, we are in a court of law, where evidence is paramount. Without the facts, how can you expect anyone to believe you?”
Song Lige was taken aback. Upon reflection, she realized she didn’t have all the details. She had only heard from Yueyin that Murong Qiufeng had deceived him of his family’s zither score. In her anger, she had set out to find Murong Qiufeng and retrieve the score, but hadn’t asked further questions.
“Hmph, who knows? Perhaps your friend is the one who’s lying and accusing others to cover his own guilt,” Shangguan Ye sneered coldly, his voice filled with disdain.
Song Lige’s expression shifted, and her eyes blazed with fury. “Prince, do not insult him. Yueyin is the foremost musician in the land. Why would he engage in such despicable acts?”
Song Lige’s thoughts were once again disrupted by Murong Qiufeng, and now, with Shangguan Ye’s taunts, she couldn’t help but blurt out a defense.