Following rules is not wrong, but being overly domineering and inconsiderate, using one’s status to turn everyone around into enemies, often leads to no good end. Humans are, after all, social creatures.
Taohua’s concerns about Qin Huaiyu were justified, but she couldn’t stop her. Three days later, a major incident occurred in the household.
“Lady Jiang!” A maid from Qiujing Hall came running, her eyes red, and called out, “Please come quickly!”
Slightly startled, Taohua rose and followed her, bringing Qing Taialong.
The Xiang mansion suddenly became clamorous that morning, with people from various quarters rushing towards Qiujing Hall.
Guards stood outside Qiujing Hall, preventing others from entering. Inside were only Duan Yunxin and Jiang Taohua. Liu Xiangjun’s body had already been taken down from the rafters. A suicide note lay on the table, which Taohua was carefully reading.
“My life is as worthless as grass, no match for Concubine Qin’s noble status. Repeatedly humiliated, I cannot find peace. Since there is no one in this world to uphold justice for me, I shall seek favor in the underworld. May the King of Hell assist me, allowing my spirit to linger and seek justice from Concubine Qin!”
The characters were written in blood, crooked, and barely legible. The body on the ground was covered with a white cloth, giving the entire room an eerie atmosphere.
Duan Yunxin frowned deeply and said, “Yesterday I heard her come to me crying, saying Concubine Qin was too overbearing. She was, after all, a concubine, yet was repeatedly humiliated in front of servants.”
Taohua pursed her lips: “Concubine Qin’s actions were indeed improper, but Concubine Liu has always been resilient. Why would she suddenly take her own life?”
Duan Yunxin shook her head: “Think about it, my lady. Liu was only a concubine. Despite being repeatedly humiliated, no one could seek justice from Concubine Qin on her behalf. Living in this household while being mocked by servants, how could she find peace?”
While this was true, and Taohua had indeed witnessed Qin Huaiyu’s unreasonable bullying when Liu Xiangjun was beaten in front of so many servants,… it had only been a few days. Liu Xiangjun had always seemed clever to her. Shouldn’t she have tried to plot revenge secretly rather than directly taking her own life?
“Qingta,” Taohua said softly, “go examine Concubine Liu’s body.”
“Yes,” Qing Tairesponded, but just as she was about to go, Duan Yunxin frowned and said, “The deceased has passed. My lady, you’re still letting servants touch her?”
Looking at her curiously, Taohua asked in confusion, “Does my lady think this body doesn’t need to be sent to the magistrate’s office for the coroner to examine? The coroner will touch her anyway, what’s the issue with Qing Taitaking a look?”
Slightly taken aback, Duan Yunxin frowned: “She committed suicide, she wasn’t murdered. Why send her to the magistrate’s office for an autopsy? When the master returns and explains the situation, we should bury her quickly to prevent her resentful spirit from lingering in the household.”
The room fell silent for a moment as Taohua held Liu’s suicide note, quietly looking at Duan Yunxin.
“…What? Did I say something wrong?” Lowering her eyes, Duan Yunxin asked in confusion, “What are you looking at, my lady?”
“I’m curious,” tilting her head slightly, Taohua smiled gently. “How can my lady be so certain that Concubine Liu committed suicide and wasn’t murdered?”
Her body stiffened, and Duan Yunxin frowned, “It’s written in her suicide note. If not suicide, what else?”
Shaking her head, Taohua adjusted her sleeves and said, “My lady has perhaps been in this peaceful Xiang mansion for too long and hasn’t seen many methods of murder. Often, leaving a suicide note doesn’t necessarily mean suicide. Hanging can also be done by others. These things can be determined by the coroner’s examination.”
This was a bluff. She only felt that Duan Yunxin was acting unusually today. Logically, Liu Xiangjun’s death should have been related to Qin Huaiyu and had nothing to do with her. Yet, instead of her usual compassionate expression, she seemed somewhat nervous.
No matter how well a person disguises, their eyes cannot hide the truth. Coincidentally, she was most skilled at observing others. While others might think Duan Yunxin was no different from usual, Taohua felt she had something to hide.
“I see,” Duan Yunxin nodded, her eyelids no longer lifting. “Since my lady says so, and you’re currently in charge of the household, you should make the decision.”
“Mm.”
Qing Taihad already lifted the white cloth and looked for a while, about to say something when someone suddenly rushed in from outside.
“What happened?” Qin Huaiyu’s eyes widened. “How did she die so suddenly?”
Duan Yunxin and Taohua were both startled and turned to look at her simultaneously.
Feeling uneasy under their gaze, Qin Huaiyu lowered her head and said, “This wasn’t my doing. She offended me a few times, and I disciplined her accordingly. Our grievances were clear, and I didn’t do anything excessive.”
“Would my lady like to look at this?” Duan Yunxin pointed at the paper in Taohua’s hand with a serious expression.
Glancing at the body on the ground from the corner of her eye, Qin Huaiyu fearfully moved to Taohua’s side, took the suicide note, looked at it once, and then threw it away in fright. She quickly ran to the doorway, clinging to the doorframe, and said, “I don’t want to look at that filthy thing. Just tell me how she died.”
“She hanged herself,” Duan Yunxin bent down to pick up the suicide note. “Concubine Liu left this, saying she couldn’t bear your insults and chose to seek justice from the King of Hell in the underworld.”
“What?” Qin Huaiyu couldn’t believe it. “How can she be so petty? It was just a couple of beatings!”
“Concubine Qin,” Taohua frowned, finally unable to hold back. “As the one inflicting punishment, you have no right to judge whether others can bear it or not. The pain is felt by others. Everyone values different things. What if the face was what Concubine Liu valued most? You might think it’s not a big deal, but you’ve genuinely hurt someone. This is your mistake.”
Being scolded by Taohua for the first time, Qin Huaiyu immediately became more subdued and said softly, “How was I supposed to know…”
How was she supposed to know this Concubine Liu was so fragile? Moreover, she was the one who provoked her first. How could she be blamed for retaliating?
Sighing, Taohua was about to say a few more words when she saw the guards outside make way as Shen Zaiye strode in.
“My lord!” Everyone quickly stood up to bow, and Qin Huaiyu also knelt, anxiously looking at him.
“I just returned from morning court, and such a big incident has occurred in the household?” Shen Zaiye’s expression was full of annoyance. “What exactly have you all been doing?”
Taohua braced herself for the scolding, inwardly lamenting Mei Zhaoye’s cleverness once again. With her illness, Taohua had been pushed out to take the blame, and everything would be pinned on her.
“Please calm your anger, my lord,” Taohua spoke softly. “We can discuss everything outside. The officials from the magistrate’s office will be here soon to take away Concubine Liu’s body.”
Glancing at her, Shen Zaiye angrily swept his sleeves and led everyone to sit in the courtyard.
“Explain,” he said in a deep voice. “Why did a perfectly fine person suddenly take her own life?”
(End of Chapter)