Chapter 58: Things Are Not Looking Good

Lady Changsun had never expected things to turn out this way.

Faced with her own harsh interrogation, this boy Li Yi not only showed no fear, but shamelessly exaggerated the seriousness of the matter. He had even managed to twist the whole incident into an accusation that her own son Chong had deliberately plotted to take his life!

Caught off guard by this accusation, she had blurted out the details of the incident in a moment of panic. Ironically, her own words now left her at a disadvantage, forcing her into a passive position with every move tightly constrained.

She had come to this residence to demand justice, but now it was Lady Hongfu turning the questions back on her.

“To think, though this boy is young, his mind is so vicious and wicked!” Lady Changsun cursed inwardly, her face dark with anger, eyes fixed on Li Yi with undisguised loathing.

That look seemed almost enough to flay Li Yi alive where he stood.

Yet after glaring for a moment, Lady Changsun collected herself and devised a new strategy.

“Madam Li, things did not happen as your third son so wildly claims. I trust my Chong would never stoop to such despicable acts,” she said with a deep, heavy sigh. Then, looking at Lady Hongfu, she changed tack, adopting a calm and poised air.

“However, your third son injuring my Chong is indisputable fact. The manager Xu of Drunken Immortal Pavilion and others witnessed it firsthand! And within my own Changsun estate, there are servants presently bedridden who can all testify!”

With this, Lady Changsun forcefully steered the conversation away from Hongfu’s accusations, shifting the dispute onto another ground entirely.

In all her years, she had never found herself on the losing end in front of anyone. Yet today, she had suffered a silent defeat at the hands of a mere youth.

This she could not bear.

So even if she had to steel herself and grit her teeth, she was determined to extract some benefit from this situation. She could not allow the matter to be so easily settled, nor could she lose face before one so young!

“Witnesses? Ha…”

But before Lady Hongfu could reply, Li Yi let out a cold laugh, raising his brows and speaking indifferently, “So, madam, you mean your Changsun estate is free to produce witnesses who can give false testimony, but I, Li Bo’an, have no one who can speak for me?”

“Is that what you mean? Am I wrong, madam?” Li Yi smiled.

He took another sip of hot tea, lips curled in a faint smile, then shot Lady Changsun a cold, sharp glance and fell silent.

Lady Changsun’s face clouded over at once.

What did he mean, that they could produce false witnesses, but he could not? Utter nonsense, turning truth on its head!

“Madam Li!” Lady Changsun had just started to speak, ready to reproach Lady Hongfu for failing to raise her son properly, when Li Yi suddenly cut her off.

“As for witnesses, the people of Pingkang Ward can testify on my behalf! And that very servant, whom Changsun Chong abducted and threatened in order to use poison in an attempt to murder me, can also bear witness!”

“As for this manager Xu you mention, even if you try to threaten him, I believe he will state the facts and not lose all sense of right and wrong!”

“Madam, will my witnesses suffice?”

Li Yi withdrew his gaze, face icy, casting Lady Changsun a look full of disdain.

“In that case, there’s nothing more to discuss. I suggest we take this to the authorities,” Li Yi said, waving his hand nonchalantly, his tone unhurried. “I’m sure the magistrate will see justice done.”

With those words, he wasted no more breath or expression on her.

Arguing with a bully like Lady Changsun—so domineering and unreasonable—was a lost cause. Even a thousand tongues could not win.

Thus, Li Yi chose the most direct approach.

Threaten, bluster, and hold his ground—the only way forward.

As long as he insisted Changsun Chong had plotted to poison him, the matter would always tilt in his favor. Even if the dispute reached the palace, he had nothing to fear.

No matter how much Emperor Taizong doted on Empress Changsun, and no matter how partial she was to her own family, neither of them would dare alienate the entire realm for this. They would not risk their own positions over such a matter.

In any case, he had already offended them; at this point, Li Yi did not mind making another enemy.

“You—you—you’re twisting right and wrong, making wild accusations!” Lady Changsun was so furious her face turned purple. She simply could not find a single word to refute him.

What’s more, after Li Yi’s speech, Lady Changsun felt her composure falter. Even her body was wracked with exhaustion, and she nearly collapsed on the spot.

“You… you… you…” For a long while, Lady Changsun could only stammer, unable to form a coherent sentence, the word “you” stuck on her lips.

No matter how furious she was, glaring at Li Yi with eyes wide and blazing, she was powerless.

The atmosphere in the hall grew heavy and frigid, as if winter frost had settled over everything.

Fortunately, at that very moment, a clear, melodious female voice rang out, breaking the tension.

“Her Highness has arrived!”

With that sudden announcement, everyone snapped back to their senses.

Before anyone could step outside to greet the arrival, Li Lizhi entered the main hall at a brisk pace, accompanied by several palace maids as well as Du Xiaomei and her brother Du Gou.

“Your humble servant greets Your Highness!” With Lady Hongfu and Lady Changsun taking the lead, everyone present bowed in ceremony.

“Aunt, Madam, please, there’s no need for such formality,” Li Lizhi said with a gentle smile, waving her hand. She then looked at Lady Hongfu and continued warmly, “I came without invitation, and fear I’ve intruded on your household. I beg your forgiveness for the disturbance.”

“Ah…” Lady Hongfu was momentarily stunned, unsure how to respond to the situation.

But she was no stranger to important occasions, and quickly recognized Li Lizhi’s words as a polite formality.

She smiled and replied, “Your Highness is too kind. It is our honor, and the good fortune of the Li estate, to receive Your Highness’s visit.”

“It is I who am imposing,” Li Lizhi answered with a smile, though her heart was slightly uneasy.

She did not quite understand the reason for this feeling. Perhaps… perhaps it was because of Li Yi?

Li Lizhi herself was unsure.

Li Yi, for his part, was even more confused upon seeing not only Li Lizhi, but also Du Xiaomei and her brother.

“Could it be… Her Highness came because of her aunt?” he wondered.

“If she sides with her family over justice, then this could become truly troublesome…”

He could not help but feel a sense of foreboding, as if the situation was about to take a turn for the worse.

(End of chapter)