I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Chapter 93: Chapter 51: Taking Her for a Fool?

That’s not kindness—it’s idiocy.

The impact marks on Song Qinghan’s boat had been clear. When she rammed it, she had deliberately hit a different spot from the first collision. She explained the sequence of events from start to finish. Of course, she ended by saying she had found evidence and wanted to ask the nannies to preside over the matter, but she’d gotten too excited and rowed too fast, which led to their boats crashing.

"After the boats capsized, I immediately went to help. I saw Miss Zhao was about to drown, so I pushed her toward the boatwoman and told her to save Miss Zhao first. Then, I went to rescue Song Qinghan. Even though I suspected it was her boat that had rammed Miss Han’s, the truth still needed to be investigated by the nannies. So when I saw Song Qinghan in the water, my first thought was to get her out. But I ran out of strength... Thankfully, you nannies arrived just in time, or else..." Song Yunzhao’s eyes grew red, her voice catching in a sob.

He Lan Yun quickly patted Song Yunzhao’s back. "I’ve known for ages that you and Song Qinghan don’t get along. I heard Third Madam Song dotes on her eldest daughter while being cruel and dismissive toward you. You’re just too kindhearted. Why would you save Song Qinghan at a time like this? She rammed the boat; she should have to face the consequences."

Song Qinghan’s heart lurched. Beside her, Zhao Xiaoyu was so terrified she could barely breathe.

"Yun Zhao, you claim we rammed the boat, but do you have any proof? I know you’ve always held a grudge against me, but you can’t frame me like this." Of course, Song Qinghan couldn’t let Song Yunzhao dictate the narrative. "And in the water, you weren’t trying to save me! You were deliberately dragging me under, trying to drown me."

Song Yunzhao had known Song Qinghan would say that. ’She’s so predictable,’ she thought, amused. "Harm you? In broad daylight, with everyone watching? Do I have a death wish? If anyone saw that, the nannies would have me thrown out of the palace immediately. Why would I do something so stupid?"

Song Qinghan froze. ’So that’s why Song Yunzhao was dragging me under and holding me down! She was afraid someone would see what she was doing if we surfaced!’

Then she thought about what Song Yunzhao had done after pulling her to the surface, and her vision swam. ’It was her! She had planned this all along!’

Song Yunzhao couldn’t be bothered to bicker with Song Qinghan. Instead, she looked at Nanny Zhang and the other nannies. "Nannies, Miss Zhao was also on Song Qinghan’s boat. I also saw the impact marks on it. These things can all be verified. If a single word I’ve said is untrue, I, Yun Zhao, will willingly accept punishment. I implore you to see that justice is done. We were thrown into the water today. Who knows what other dangers we might face tomorrow?"

Song Qinghan’s heart jumped. ’Zhao Xiaoyu... If I’d known, I never would have brought her along.’

Remembering the terrified look on Zhao Xiaoyu’s face, Song Qinghan felt the world go dark again. She wished she could just faint.

"Miss Zhao, please tell us what happened," Nanny Zhang said, her voice grave. When Song Yunzhao had mentioned her earlier, she had taken the chance to observe Miss Zhao’s expression and noticed she did indeed look guilty.

Zhao Xiaoyu went rigid. Her eyes darted about nervously, and though her lips trembled, not a single word came out.

Just then, Song Qinghan abruptly stood up. With red-rimmed eyes, she choked out, "Miss Zhao, I’m so sorry. I wanted to cover for you, but... I just can’t keep it a secret any longer."

Zhao Xiaoyu stared at Song Qinghan, completely bewildered. "Miss Song, what... what are you saying?"

Song Qinghan no longer looked at Zhao Xiaoyu. With the resolved expression of someone staking everything on one last gamble, she faced Nanny Zhang and the others. "Nannies, it’s true that our boat rammed theirs. It happened because my sister and Miss Zhao had an argument a few days ago. Miss Zhao felt that my sister was being too aggressive and wanted to get even..."

Zhao Xiaoyu was flabbergasted. Her eyes flew wide as she stared blankly at Song Qinghan. Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.

’Me, harm Song Yunzhao?’

In that instant, everything became clear. She had been framed by Song Qinghan!

Song Yunzhao had fully expected Song Qinghan to use Zhao Xiaoyu as a stepping stone, but watching it unfold was still disgusting. Her gaze fell on Zhao Xiaoyu’s face, locking onto her expression as her own mind raced.

"Song Qinghan, you claim Miss Zhao holds a grudge against me and that we argued, but I don’t remember ever arguing with her. If you insist there was a squabble, I can think of one time. But wasn’t that because Miss Zhao was defending you?"

Song Yunzhao had no intention of letting Song Qinghan escape. She turned to Zhao Xiaoyu. "Miss Zhao, that argument happened many days ago. Have you truly been holding a grudge over it ever since?"

Hearing Song Yunzhao’s words, a sliver of clarity cut through the chaos in Zhao Xiaoyu’s mind. She immediately blurted out, "No! I hold no grudge against you."

She wasn’t the sharpest, but she knew she couldn’t let herself be saddled with a wicked reputation. Her life would be ruined. Right now, she truly hated Song Qinghan with every fiber of her being.

Her mind clearing, she suddenly pointed at Luo Xiuying. "Nannies, I know something else! Song Qinghan bribed Luo Xiuying, telling her to get on the same boat as Miss Han and then guide her boat to follow Song Yunzhao’s! If you don’t believe me, interrogate Luo Xiuying!"

Luo Xiuying, who had been on edge this whole time, flinched violently when Zhao Xiaoyu exposed her. Her whole body trembled, and she dropped the bowl of ginger tea she was holding, sending it clattering to the floor.

Han Jinyi stared in disbelief at the person beside her, her eyes locking onto Luo Xiuying. "Is what Miss Zhao said true? No wonder you were so insistent on sharing a boat with me today, even though we barely know each other. You had ulterior motives all along!"

Han Jinyi was furious. ’I was nothing but a weapon for someone else to use against Song Yunzhao.’

’Do they take me for an idiot?’

’Or did they just think I was so stupid I’d be easy to manipulate?’

Han Jinyi had always been mild-tempered, but now her anger surged.

"Nannies, it’s true that Luo Xiuying approached me to go boating today. And once we were on the lake, she was the one who kept telling the boatwoman where to steer. The boatwoman can corroborate this. I am not lying." Han Jinyi was trembling with rage, but she still managed to lay out the facts clearly.

Nanny Zhang and Nanny Yin exchanged a glance but hadn’t yet spoken when Nanny Su, whose eyes had been darting about, suddenly interjected, "Miss Song, this matter is too complicated. I fear we cannot reach a conclusion right away. We will have to wait until we’ve investigated thoroughly."

’Song Yunzhao hadn’t had much interaction with this Nanny Su. Why was she suddenly speaking up, and aiming these delaying tactics directly at her? The situation was already clear. All they had to do was question Luo Xiuying and Zhao Xiaoyu to close the case. Why the delay?’

’Of course, Song Yunzhao couldn’t let her stall. If this dragged on, who knew what the final result would be!’