“Who was the Second Young Master calling?” Master Su and Madam Yu asked almost in unison as soon as the young maid spoke.

The young maid looked flustered, her pale face instinctively glancing around.

As her gaze swept across the crowd, those in its path grew nervous.

Finally, the maid’s eyes fixed on Jiang Si. She pointed a shaky finger at her and stammered, “The Second Young Master seemed to be calling… Cousin Si!”

At these words, all eyes turned to Jiang Si.

Madam Yu, who had been mentally prepared for this, glared at Jiang Si with particular venom. “Jiang Si, was Yi’er’s drowning related to you?”

She was truly furious. If she had known this little wretch was so vicious, she wouldn’t have entertained those thoughts. Such a destructive person should have been taken by heaven long ago, not left to harm others.

Master Su remained relatively calm and asked the young maid in a deep voice, “Are you certain you heard the Second Young Master call out like that?”

Under the scrutiny of so many eyes, the young maid was extremely nervous. Hearing Master Su’s question, she forgot her last bit of hesitation and nodded vigorously, “This servant heard clearly, that the Second Young Master was indeed calling for Cousin Si!”

“You wretched girl, you took Yi’er’s life!” Madam Yu screamed, lunging forward to attack Jiang Si.

Jiang Yi stepped in front of Jiang Si to block Madam Yu. “First Aunt, my sister wouldn’t harm anyone, let alone Second Cousin!”

“Get out of my way!” Madam Yu shoved Jiang Yi hard, causing her to stumble.

A hand from behind steadied Jiang Yi, and a calm young woman’s voice spoke, “First Aunt is, after all, the wife of the Heir of Marquis Yining, managing the household for many years and widely experienced. Now, merely based on a few words from a young maid, you’re screaming and cursing at your niece like a shrew. Don’t you find that beneath your dignity?”

Jiang Si gestured for Aman to take care of Jiang Yi, facing Madam Yu with an expressionless face.

Seeing this face showing no sign of panic, Madam Yu’s anger surged. She cried and shouted, “Dignity? My current status is that of a mother who has lost her son. I can disregard all faces, as long as the person who harmed my son pays with their life!”

As she spoke, she raised her hand to strike Jiang Si.

“Stop!” A young man’s angry shout rang out.

Jiang Zhan grabbed Madam Yu’s wrist, his face full of rage. “I don’t care what your status is, dare to touch my sister and see what happens!”

Jiang Zhan was furious. He had arrived just a moment too late, and someone dared to hit his sister.

Madam Yu’s wrist hurt from his grip. She spat hatefully, “Jiang Zhan, have you no manners at all?”

Jiang Zhan sneered, “Now you ask about manners? You, as an aunt, try to hit your husband’s niece before even clarifying the situation. What kind of manners is that?”

Aman supported Jiang Yi, both staring in astonishment.

They never imagined the Young Master could be so imposing!

“My Lord!” Madam Yu looked tearfully at Master Su.

Master Su said in a deep voice, “Indeed, we should clarify the situation before taking action.”

Madam Yu had already convinced herself that Jiang Si was responsible for her second son’s death. Hearing Master Su’s words, she felt utterly dissatisfied.

Su Qingshuang supported Madam Yu, “Mother, let’s clarify things first. I don’t think Cousin Si would harm Second Brother—”

“What do you know!” Madam Yu rebuked.

Su Qingshuang pressed her lips tightly, tears silently falling.

She couldn’t fathom why her second brother had suddenly drowned, let alone how it could be related to her cousin.

Master Su fixed his gaze on Jiang Si, his face as stern as water, “Si’er, did you encounter Yi’er earlier?”

Just as Jiang Si was about to speak, a voice interrupted, “Wait.”

Jiang Ancheng strode to Jiang Si’s side, pulling her behind him, and met Master Su’s gaze without backing down, “Brother-in-law, are you interrogating my daughter?”

“How can you say that, Brother-in-law? I’m Si’er’s uncle, of course, I’m not interrogating her. I’m just trying to understand the situation.”

Jiang Ancheng frowned, not giving Master Su any face, “Understanding the situation doesn’t warrant this attitude from the Marquis’s household! Brother-in-law, if you believe Yi’er didn’t accidentally fall into the water and want to find the culprit, then report it to the authorities!”

Report to the authorities?

The crowd was surprised by these words.

Ordinary families rarely wanted to deal with officials, firstly because it was troublesome, and secondly because it was embarrassing.

In a case like Su Qingyi’s drowning, if the family didn’t report it, the authorities wouldn’t bother to investigate on their own.

Seeing Master Su’s silence, Jiang Ancheng frowned and said coldly, “There are only two possibilities for Yi’er’s death: either he accidentally fell into the water, or someone pushed him in. If it’s the first case, it has nothing to do with Si’er, and their Brother-in-law questioning her like this is unreasonable. If it’s the second case, as parents, don’t you want to find the culprit and avenge your child?”

Jiang Ancheng’s words made Master Su hesitate.

“Report it to the authorities!” the Old Madam of Marquis Yining said firmly.

“Mother (Old Madam)—” multiple voices rang out.

The Marquis of Yining, who usually didn’t involve himself in such matters, echoed, “Then let’s report it.”

“Father, I don’t think it’s necessary to involve the authorities,” Master Su said, glancing at Jiang Si.

He couldn’t understand where Jiang Ancheng’s confidence came from. If the authorities came and discovered something between his niece and second son, it would be embarrassing for both families.

Although Jiang Ancheng wasn’t usually a meticulous person, he was particularly alert when it came to his daughter. Seeing Master Su’s expression, he became angry.

After all this talk, they still suspected Si’er!

This was why he insisted on reporting to the authorities.

He believed in his daughter’s innocence and the capability of Zhen Shicheng, the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture. Therefore, involving the authorities was the wisest choice. It was certainly better than having his daughter questioned like a criminal in front of everyone.

“If Brother-in-law thinks it’s unnecessary, others shouldn’t interfere. But I won’t allow you to question my daughter like this!”

Madam Yu became furious, “Earl, is your daughter a precious gem while my son is just a broken tile?”

Jiang Ancheng had long been irritated by Madam Yu’s attitude towards his daughter. He laughed coldly, “That’s why I suggested reporting to the authorities. If they come to question Si’er, I won’t stand in their way.”

“Then let’s report it!” Madam Yu was convinced that her second son’s death was related to Jiang Si and spoke vehemently.

Seeing this, Master Su no longer objected.

While waiting for the authorities to arrive, Madam Yu wept incessantly by Su Qingyi’s body. The Old Madam of Marquis Yining, exhausted, was accompanied by the Marquis to rest inside. Master Su remained silent throughout.

Jiang Ancheng quietly patted Jiang Si and said in a low voice, “Don’t be afraid, Father is here.”

Jiang Si nodded, “Daughter is not afraid.”

They didn’t wait long before Zhen Shicheng arrived hurriedly with a group of yamen runners. Master Su went to greet him, saying sorrowfully, “Thank you for your trouble, Prefect Zhen.”

“My condolences, Heir Su.” This wasn’t the time for pleasantries. Zhen Shicheng greeted Master Su and then swept his gaze across the crowd, sighing deeply when his eyes fell on Jiang Si.

To encounter this girl every time there was a case truly was fate indeed.