Ever since the New Year passed, Seventh Miss had gradually reassigned all the supervising nannies who appeared incapable through her cold observations, or who were too close to the Fifth Branch. Now the steward nannies coming and going from Mingde Hall were all extremely careful, handling matters with trepidation. Even in private, they didn’t dare say a single unpleasant word, fearing someone might secretly record it in the files and present it to Seventh Miss, making things awkward for everyone.

Precisely because of this, Seventh Miss handled the Xu family’s household affairs very smoothly. Recently, if it weren’t for the Fourth Young Madam making various demands and the Fifth Branch not stopping either, she would only need to spend about an hour each morning listening to reports from the various nannies, then spot-check the submitted reports. She didn’t have much to worry about each day.

Because of this record-keeping method, when needed she could check any matter large or small and immediately have clarity. Even social obligations and such all had precedents, with even the reasons and proper measures clearly recorded in the registers for Seventh Miss to consult at any time. In terms of social relations, there were even fewer matters to handle.

Today the Fourth Young Madam was in poor spirits. She had probably just returned to Shendu Hall when she began feeling unwell and sent someone to Mingde Hall requesting that Seventh Miss send for Doctor Zhong. Seventh Miss naturally didn’t dare delay. She instructed servants to fetch him quickly, then handled a few other small matters. The various nannies then returned to their positions to attend to their duties. Seventh Miss called out to the old nanny, “Old nanny, please stay a moment.”

The old nanny had now clearly become an important minister by Seventh Miss’s side. When Madam Xu went to Xiaotang Mountain to recuperate, she would only accompany her for a few days by custom before returning to serve at Seventh Miss’s side—truly the most successful figure in the Qingping Courtyard faction. Hearing Seventh Miss call her, she quickly put on a smiling face. After everyone had dispersed, she quietly asked, “What are the young madam’s instructions?”

Seventh Miss gestured to Lixia with her head. Lixia and the others immediately understood and filed out of the room, closing the door behind them. Only then did she say quietly, “Yesterday I already gave orders to bring all fifteen servants who originally served in Mingde Hall from mother’s dowry estate and lock them in the side courtyard.”

Just this one sentence was enough to shock the old nanny.

Seventh Miss had been married for a year and a half now. It had already been over three years since Fifth Miss was murdered.

Three years later, this case that had once caused bloody turmoil throughout the Xu household was finally going to see the light of day again.

She couldn’t help but shrink back a bit. Seeing Seventh Miss’s calm expression, she still couldn’t resist advising, “Should the young madam perhaps delay a bit longer… Setting aside everything else, right now the Duke and the Grand Madam both…”

“Today this matter, tomorrow that matter.” Seventh Miss’s expression remained calm. “When managing a household, trivial matters never end. If we slow our steps because of such things, I’m afraid that whether intentionally or not, such matters will never stop.”

Before the old nanny could respond, she continued, “When the case was being investigated back then, the nanny must have been in attendance. Do you still remember how these servants performed under interrogation?”

This question stumped the old nanny. Seeing the old nanny blinking, unable to answer immediately, Seventh Miss added, “For example, who was better able to withstand severe torture, who was weaker—once they suffered punishment, who started talking nonsense…”

Only then did the old nanny suddenly understand. Seventh Miss wanted to probe the backgrounds of the people in Mingde Hall.

She immediately changed her expression, sat up straight, and began counting them off one by one. “The four little maids who sweep the courtyard are named…”

Seventh Miss listened while making notes with her quill pen in a large ledger. After quite a while, the old nanny finally got to Xiao Songhua.

“Her whole family came from the madam’s courtyard. Speaking of it, we watched her grow up.” The old nanny’s face showed some sympathy. “But the madam showed no mercy—she was put in finger presses and made to kneel on broken porcelain shards. This girl was quite tough though. She didn’t beg for mercy and answered every question clearly. Those two days she had diarrhea and only ran two errands—the first was going to Qingping Courtyard to fetch medicine, the second was passing a message for the deceased young madam, telling the servants below to prepare to go to Guangfu Temple to fulfill a vow. Then she asked for leave to rest in her quarters. She knew nothing else.”

She paused, then said, “The young madam also knows that many people can’t endure torture and either confess or randomly implicate a coworker. Among these dozen or so people, she was the only one who refused to implicate anyone. Word got out that her family raised her well.”

This was a veiled plea and excuse for Xiao Songhua. It seemed the old nanny had no awareness at all of the Xiao family’s wrongdoing.

That made sense. After all, the Xiao family had been extremely thorough. Even she herself—hadn’t she only obtained that precious lead by seeking Feng Jin’s help?

Seventh Miss’s face showed no trace of anything. She efficiently recorded the details the old nanny had mentioned, then asked with a smile, “So she’s quite rare then. Since the nanny watched her grow up, do you know what her family members are doing now?”

The old nanny thought for a moment before saying, “I’m not very clear on that. Her parents, while not exactly stupid, are certainly not clever either. Her father seems to be a minor steward in the outer courtyard. He worked in the accounting office for a while, but when the books had errors, the madam felt it reflected poorly on her, so she had him transferred to manage the stables. Her mother has always been a minor supervisor in the laundry, not a sharp person either. It seems recently the young madam hasn’t even seen her face.”

In great aristocratic families with hundreds of servants, one needed quite a bit of standing just to get a glimpse of Seventh Miss. Seventh Miss nodded without asking more. Instead, the old nanny thought for a long time, then said, “Oh, she also has an older sister. But when it was time for her to enter the household for service back then, because there were too many people that year and the Xiao family had little standing, she couldn’t enter to serve. After living outside for a few years, she sought permission to be released. She seems to have married someone from out of town. Over these years she’s rarely returned to her parents’ home.”

Only then was Seventh Miss truly satisfied. If the old nanny hadn’t mentioned this Xiao Daniang, it could perhaps be explained as being old and forgetful, but ultimately it would have added some suspicion. Now that she’d even mentioned Xiao Daniang, it was clear she truly only knew this much.

She didn’t ask more, instead calmly signaling the old nanny to move on to the next person. After half an hour like this, she had densely filled several sheets of paper. Only then did Seventh Miss pick up her tea bowl and smile. “Good, the nanny has been a tremendous help.”

She showed her intention to see the guest out. The old nanny naturally didn’t dare linger and quickly stood up. “If the young madam has no other instructions, this old one will take her leave.”

She walked to the door, then turned back to look at Seventh Miss. Her lips moved, and after a moment she finally couldn’t resist saying, “Young madam, family harmony brings prosperity to all. This matter, in this old one’s humble opinion… I’m afraid it should be handled more slowly. Given the Duke’s temperament, I fear he already has a poor opinion of the young madam regarding Second Miss’s funeral arrangements, and with this chamber maid matter… If the young madam isn’t careful, I’m afraid it will pain those close to you and please your enemies!”

The old nanny truly lived up to being a major figure beside Madam Xu. These words struck right at Seventh Miss’s heart.

However, that she would say such words also showed the old nanny didn’t believe Seventh Miss could identify the true culprit, much less that now was the time to do so. The Fifth Young Madam hadn’t been completely defeated yet, and she’d just won the favor of two elders…

Seventh Miss smiled slightly. “I understand the nanny’s good intentions.”

She stood up, easily closing the book in her hands. “However, I already have some confidence about this matter. The nanny should just wait and see.”

The old nanny couldn’t help but feel deeply puzzled. Within this puzzlement was also rare excitement. She swallowed and said sincerely, “With the young madam’s methods, this old one thinks there will indeed be quite a show to watch in the household these coming days.”

#

After seeing off the old nanny, Seventh Miss didn’t delay a moment and went directly to the side courtyard of Mingde Hall.

Duke Pingguo’s manor had very northern architectural characteristics—square, stable, and symmetrical. As the center of the western wing building complex, Mingde Hall’s main structure occupied a vast area, and even its side courtyards and wing rooms were larger than buildings like Zhishan Hall. There were still two side courtyards that normally had no residents and were just used to store Seventh Miss and Fifth Miss’s dowries.

Seventh Miss casually selected one side courtyard, opened a room to lock these dozen or so servants inside, and arranged for two fierce-looking old nannies to guard them. She herself entered the room, examined everyone through the window for a few glances, then entered the interrogation room that Lixia and the others had prepared early that morning.

This was set up according to some vague impressions remaining in her mind, which she’d used to guide several maids in the arrangement. Inside the room there was nothing but a chair, a table, and an oil lamp. Even the windows had been covered with black paper, so that even during the day one had to light a lamp upon entering.

Seventh Miss went in to look and was quite satisfied. She told Lixia and Shangyuan, “You two guard the door. Don’t come in unless I call for someone.”

She sat in the chair and adjusted the direction of the lamplight. Only then did she satisfactorily take out her quill pen and give instructions. “Bring people in—remember to arrange Xiao Songhua as the seventh or eighth one.”

Lixia and Shangyuan naturally followed her instructions. Before long, they brought in a sallow, thin middle-aged woman.

Seventh Miss adjusted the lamplight so the lamp’s glow shone directly on the woman’s face. Only then did she ask neither warmly nor coldly, “You’re Nanny Jiang?”

“What do you do in Mingde Hall?”

After questioning like this for a while and seeing that the woman’s answers matched exactly what was recorded in the files, she flipped through the handbook and saw that her family members’ behavior over the past two years had also been perfectly normal. She closed the book again and asked, “Regarding the matter in Mingde Hall, what do you have to say?”

The woman just shook her head and prostrated herself on the ground, trembling and quietly pleading, “Young madam, this servant truly has nothing more to say. If the young madam doesn’t believe me, please feel free to force a confession—this servant has no objections…”

Ignoring her shackles and leg irons, she suddenly threw herself to the ground and pleaded miserably, “Only this servant’s son and daughter—please show mercy, young madam, and don’t implicate them. This servant will be your ox or horse in the next life to repay your kindness—”

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but feel a wave of nausea. She felt dizzy and her stomach churned. She turned her head away and said lightly, “If you are truly innocent, not only your children but you yourself will be fine. Now, get out.”

Though she understood clearly that her position and all its glory and wealth came from enjoying the fruits of oppressing and exploiting the lower classes, understanding this principle still didn’t compare to the direct stimulation of witnessing the misery before her eyes.

She took deep breaths of cool air and calmed her emotions before calling out to Lixia. “Bring in the next person!”

After interrogating several more people like this, Seventh Miss cross-referenced the information in the ledger with each one and couldn’t help but admire the old nanny. She hadn’t misremembered these people’s personalities and reactions at all. It seemed she truly had put effort into the interrogation at the time.

Of course, since their reactions were the same, these people’s testimonies also had little value. After all, for them, the day up until the incident had been extremely ordinary and uneventful. Everyone had performed their duties—there were neither any abnormalities nor any small flaws to notice.

Seventh Miss remained impassive, just carefully recording several people’s testimonies. After patiently interrogating several more, she finally reached her main objective for the day.

Xiao Songhua was the eighth person brought into the room.

This little maid was quite pretty. Though not beautiful, at least her features were proper. Even after doing farm work in the countryside for two or three years, her bearing was still very clean. Though her clothing and accessories were simple, they were also quite appropriate. She was more presentable than some careless middle-aged nannies—these people had been confined to Madam Xu’s dowry estate for three years, so naturally they weren’t doing well. Some nannies’ clothes were only slightly better than those of vagrants on the street.

She naturally also wore shackles and leg irons. After bowing to Seventh Miss, she knelt on the spot with her head lowered, waiting for Seventh Miss to question her. Seventh Miss looked down from above, examining her carefully for a long time. She showed no unusual reaction.

Able to keep her composure, appearing rational and clear-headed…

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but furrow her brow inwardly, then immediately relaxed. If she weren’t reliable, how could she be competent for the job of poisoning?

She slowly asked, “What’s your name?”

Xiao Songhua moved slightly and answered quietly, “This servant is Xiao Songhua. My family name is Xiao.”

After answering just this one sentence, there was no further response.

Seventh Miss hummed, then said, “What were you doing on the day of the incident?”

“This servant was unwell with some diarrhea. I rested in my quarters in the morning and only came to serve in the room in the afternoon.” Xiao Songhua recounted slowly.

Again, no unnecessary words.

Seventh Miss compared her account and saw the old nanny’s recollection contained the same information. She nodded and asked, “Then what did you do the day before the incident?”

Xiao Songhua showed a thoughtful expression. She boldly raised her head to glance at Seventh Miss.

Seventh Miss concentrated her vision and looked over, finally detecting that in this glance, the girl had indeed revealed some deep thought.

“This servant can’t remember clearly.” After another moment, Xiao Songhua said haltingly, “It seems I was just doing odd jobs in the courtyard. Because the deceased young madam had many matters, I also ran a few errands for her.”

“I heard you went to Qingping Courtyard to fetch medicine for Fifth Sister.” Seventh Miss stared intently at Xiao Songhua. “Is that right?”

Xiao Songhua tilted her head in thought for a moment, then admitted quietly, “Yes.”

“Do you know what medicine it was?” Seventh Miss drew out her words.

But Xiao Songhua shook her head without hesitation. “Not very clear.”

She added an explanation, “Because Mingde Hall didn’t have some medicines, when Doctor Zhong came and wrote prescriptions, we would first search in the former young madam’s dowry. If we didn’t find it or it wasn’t good quality, we’d go to Qingping Courtyard to look. I vaguely remember that during those two or three days, this servant alone went to Qingping Courtyard over a dozen times to fetch medicine. About the day before the incident, this servant also went two or three times to get medicine. I remember once was to get codonopsis, another time was scutellaria, and for the remaining one or two times, I don’t remember very clearly.”

Just listening to Xiao Songhua’s explanation, Seventh Miss truly wouldn’t suspect her at all. This little maid was not only incredibly calm, all her answers were well-organized with appropriate emphasis. She both painted a picture of the situation at the time and cleverly exonerated herself.

She hummed with interest, then jumped topics. “Who else is in your family?”

Xiao Songhua was clearly taken aback for a moment before quickly answering, “This servant’s family still has parents and a married older sister. Father Xiao Dalong…”

She introduced her family members once more. What she said wasn’t much different from the old nanny’s account, just adding some speculative wording. “Because I’ve had no contact with outsiders, I also don’t know if things are still this way now.”

“When did your sister marry, and who did she marry?” Seventh Miss asked casually while writing in the ledger.

Xiao Songhua’s answer came very quickly. “He was an outsider from the neighborhood who came looking for work. When he saw my sister, he liked her very much and hired a matchmaker to propose. They returned to his hometown not long after the wedding. I only know my brother-in-law’s surname is Qiu, but not what his name is… I’d already entered the household to serve by then, so contact with my family decreased considerably.”

Seventh Miss raised half her face, looking at Xiao Songhua with a half-smile. “Don’t know what his name is? Your brother-in-law is called Qiu Shisan, nicknamed Old Earthworm, serving as a centurion in Guangzhou… Your family rarely has such a respectable relative—you couldn’t have forgotten so quickly, could you?”

A flash of surprise crossed Xiao Songhua’s face. She tilted her head thinking, then showed a puzzled expression, saying slowly, “This servant doesn’t quite understand the young madam’s meaning… This servant’s brother-in-law is from Hebei. Whether he has the nickname Old Earthworm, this servant also—”

Seventh Miss narrowed her eyes, leaned back against the chair, and looked Xiao Songhua up and down. After a long while she smiled. “Fine, refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit. It seems if I don’t use some methods, you won’t tell the truth.”