Golden Temptation – A Yuri Story - Chapter 73

Although Jing Xuan had been granted bail, it didn’t mean she was innocent. The trial would proceed as scheduled.

The courtroom drama unfolded with high tension. As expected, the prosecution presented a series of so-called “evidence” to prove Jing Xuan was the murderer—most notably, the surveillance footage.

Sitting in the defendant’s dock—a small iron enclosure symbolic of guilt—Jing Xuan lifted her head for the first time to focus intently on the playback. The zoomed-in footage was grainy, but the figure’s build, silhouette, and even side profile bore a striking resemblance to Jing Xuan.

“Based on the charges and substantial evidence, Jing Xuan, do you plead guilty?” the judge asked solemnly, holding the indictment with gravity.

Jing Xuan answered firmly, with just one word:

“No.”

“Your Honor!” her defense team quickly rose in protest. “Based on the presented evidence, our client can provide a solid alibi. Moreover, the prosecution’s evidence and testimony are vague and lack credibility. We suspect possible fabrication and request the court to dismiss it!”

“At the time of the crime, our client was in Japan—numerous witnesses can testify to this!”

“Then how do you explain Jing Xuan’s appearance in the hospital surveillance footage? Are we to believe in paranormal events now?” the prosecutor sneered. “Moreover, there’s documented evidence that Jing

Xuan went missing for a period while in Japan. Given the time zone difference between Japan and Singapore, her disappearance aligns exactly with the time of the murder. How do you explain that?”

“We also have footage proving Jing Xuan never left Japan during that time!”

With the judge’s permission, the defense played the video. Instantly, the courtroom’s atmosphere turned awkward. The footage showed Jing Xuan sharing a kiss with Lan Qing outside a house, right after helping the Iga family escape a toxic gas crisis—clearly captured by a journalist’s live camera feed.

Gasps rippled through the courtroom.

“Is that… same-sex?”

“I heard rumors—but it’s real!”

Whispers filled the room.

“Your Honor! That footage is unreliable!” the prosecution’s lawyer refused to back down. “The timestamp shows it was filmed after the incident. It could easily be footage of Jing Xuan returning post-crime. It proves nothing!”

“The court finds that the defense’s video fails to establish a solid alibi. Objection sustained.”

At that moment, someone whispered into one of the defense lawyers’ ears. Another attorney stood and addressed the judge.

“Your Honor! The defense has another witness who can testify that the defendant was not at the crime scene during the time of the incident.”

“Very well. Summon the witness.”

The side door opened, drawing all eyes. Lan Qing and Qiao Fei also turned, surprised—this witness wasn’t part of their plan. Who would be willing to testify for Jing Xuan?

Curiosity gripped the room.

“My God…” Lan Qing muttered, wide-eyed. Qiao Fei’s jaw dropped. Even Jing Xuan looked shocked.

Nianqing walked in gracefully, nodding politely to the judge without even glancing at the defendant.

“Please introduce yourself.”

“Your Honor, members of the jury. I am Iga Nianqing, a Japanese citizen. My father is Iga Jonin, the head of the Iga Ryūkai. My maternal grandfather is Lieutenant General Hasegawa Yuwa of the Japanese military.”

“Miss Iga, can you confirm that the defendant was not at the crime scene during the murder of Huang Zhixiong?”

“Yes. She was with me the entire time.”

“Ridiculous!”

“Prosecution, mind your language,” the judge warned.

“When exactly were you with the defendant?”

“From approximately 1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. local time in Japan. Also, I’d like to state that the woman seen in the footage earlier… was me.”

“You were with the defendant the whole time?”

“Yes.”

“Where were you, and what were you doing?”

“We were… in a room.”

“Was anyone else present?”

“No. Just the two of us.”

“And what were you doing?”

Nianqing blushed and lowered her head.

“I’ll ask again—what were you doing in that room?”

“Two people… in a room… what else could we be doing…?”

A wave of gasps spread through the room.

“Your Honor! This witness is clearly in a romantic relationship with the defendant. Her testimony cannot be considered objective!”

“We are not lovers!” Nianqing cut in firmly. “I am her lover’s sister.”

The courtroom exploded.

“This is insane!”

“Are they in a sisters threesome?”

“She’s with both the sister and the sister’s lover?”

“Miss Iga, you claim you were the woman in the footage. How can you prove that? Everyone knows the Iga sisters look nearly identical.”

“Your Honor, both my sister Lan Qing and I are here. Compare us to the footage—everyone can judge for themselves.”

People looked back and forth between Nianqing and Lan Qing. The footage had only captured a side profile and part of the eyes and brow—indeed, hard to distinguish. Many suspected Nianqing was trying to fabricate intimacy with Jing Xuan.

“Miss Iga! As far as I know, the day of the incident was your engagement party with Mr. Nishikawa Gorō. How could you spend so many hours alone with the defendant, resting, on such a crucial day?”

“I was a bit drunk that afternoon and returned to my room to rest. Besides, no law in any country forbids a bride from leaving her own engagement party—especially when she doesn’t love the groom. That’s right—we’re not in a relationship. But that doesn’t mean… we can’t do certain things…”

Once again, the courtroom burst into uproar.

“Order! Order! Unless the prosecution can prove this testimony is false, it will be accepted pending verification. This court is now adjourned!”

________________________________________

During the recess, Jing Xuan’s legal team huddled for an urgent meeting. Lan Qing and Qiao Fei eagerly clung to Nianqing’s hand.

“Big Sis, why did you come? And… give false testimony? Is everything alright at home?”

Lan Qing nearly whispered the word “false” through clenched teeth, mindful of prying ears.

Nianqing responded just as cautiously. “Everything’s fine now. This case has blown up—Father sent me here personally.”

“He did? Really?”

“She saved our family. How could we sit by while she suffers? Dad’s afraid his precious girl might never come home again. But he said—just this once. After this, we owe each other nothing. He also told me to bring you back immediately.”

“And besides, who says my testimony is false?”

“You mean… you really…?”

“Haha, Fei’er, I never said what exactly we were doing in that room. Careful now—if you guess right, you might ruin my reputation!” Nianqing teased with a wink.

Meanwhile, Jing Xuan sat quietly, brows furrowed, lost in the replay of the surveillance footage. Lan Qing noticed and knelt beside her, taking her hand.

“Don’t worry. You’ll be okay. They can’t turn black into white.”

“But white can still be painted black,” Qiao Fei said anxiously.

“Only if we let them,” Nianqing replied calmly. “Leave it to us. Jing Xuan will be fine.”

“Haha! Jing Xuan, we’ve already risked everything for you. If that’s not enough to save you, then Heaven really has no eyes!”

Jing Xuan tightened her grip on Lan Qing’s hand.

“I’m not afraid. In fact, I’d love to see what tricks they still have up their sleeves. That footage… that footage!”