Steward Sun’s face changed dramatically! It was impossible! How could Concubine Song, who was just recently pregnant, be under supervision and without attendants?

Jin Chao said calmly: “Steward Sun probably doesn’t know, but my mother didn’t simply hang herself. It was Concubine Song who caused my mother’s death, and she has been confined by my father. Never mind that she’s currently pregnant… even if she gives birth to the child, she still won’t be able to redeem herself.”

Steward Sun naturally didn’t know about this! But he couldn’t be sure if Gu Jin Chao was just saying this off the cuff.

Luo Liu, however, was truly frightened after hearing this. Seeing Xue Shiliu eyeing him fiercely, he hurriedly crawled before Jin Chao, kowtowing while saying: “Young Miss, I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you everything! I didn’t go to the inner courtyard to harass maids; I was ordered to go there! Please spare me, don’t let Xue Shiliu beat me to death!”

After being so frightened, Luo Liu finally confessed!

Jin Chao continued to question him: “Who gave the orders? What did they want you to do in the inner courtyard? Tell me everything.”

Hearing this, Steward Sun wanted to rush over and cover Luo Liu’s mouth, but he was firmly held by Xue Shiliu and another guard. He struggled continuously, threatening Luo Liu: “…Don’t you dare say anything! Do you not want to live?”

Luo Liu cowered for a moment, then quickly said: “It was Steward Sun who ordered me! Concubine Song wanted to harm the Madam, so she sent her maid Yu Xiang to meet me in the strange willow grove, instructing me to pass messages to Steward Sun about adding Da Huang to the Madam’s medicine! This servant went there four times in total, and Steward Sun added Da Huang to the Madam’s medicine for almost half a year… This servant was originally unwilling, but was threatened by Steward Sun…”

Steward Sun listened in disbelief. This dog told me everything! He told me everything!

Before Luo Liu finished, he continued: “About the ledger matter Young Miss mentioned, the Madam’s belongings were actually stored separately, and the ledger still exists. Steward Sun wanted to…”

Jin Chao interjected: “Steward Sun wanted to embezzle my mother’s belongings, so he lied to Madam Xu claiming the items were mixed up, isn’t that right?”

Luo Liu was somewhat bewildered. Even if Steward Sun was bold, he wouldn’t dare to openly steal from the manor. But he quickly understood Gu Jin Chao’s intention and hurriedly nodded in agreement: “That’s exactly it! Steward Sun wanted to embezzle the Madam’s belongings, so he claimed he had mixed up the items!”

Steward Sun listened until the veins on his forehead were throbbing. He had tampered with the Madam’s medicine, but Gu Jin Chao was deliberately slandering him about the other matter!

Steward Sun angrily rebuked: “Luo Liu, you’re extremely bold!” Then he addressed Jin Chao, “Young Miss, you’re distorting the facts. I never intended to embezzle the manor’s belongings! You must be reasonable!”

Jin Chao nodded and said: “I’m naturally reasonable with reasonable people. Since Steward Sun isn’t being reasonable, what can I say? You dared to set aside my mother’s belongings for Concubine Song and told Madam Xu they couldn’t be found. If I hadn’t been watching, wouldn’t you have embezzled everything from my mother’s private storehouse? That’s not how you curry favor! If you hadn’t angered me, why wouldn’t I be reasonable with you?”

“Even if I am reasonable with you, do you think you could get off lightly? Conspiring with a concubine to harm the main wife—you deserve to die several times over!”

Hearing her words, Steward Sun’s face turned pale. Gu Jin Chao was right; just for harming the main wife, he deserved death. Adding the embezzlement of manor belongings, several lives wouldn’t be enough to pay for his crimes!

He said reluctantly: “Even if Young Miss wants to charge me with a crime, it must go through the Master. I am the steward of the accounting office; I can’t be convicted based on Young Miss’s words alone! I won’t admit to such a false accusation!”

Who cares whether he admits it or not?

Jin Chao said calmly: “Guard Xue, Steward Sun conspired with a concubine to harm the main wife and also stole what he was entrusted to protect. His conduct is extremely vile. Bind him now, break his legs, take nothing from him, and throw him out!” Xue Shiliu acknowledged the order and moved to bind Steward Sun, who punched and kicked, continuously shouting to be released. Another guard came, and the two quickly seized Steward Sun and carried him out. Seeing this, Luo Liu was so frightened that he trembled continuously on the ground.

Jin Chao looked at Luo Liu and asked him: “Do you want to live?”

Luo Liu was extremely fearful, his face as pale as paper: “Young… Young Miss, I’ve done everything you said. You can’t kill me now.”

“I won’t kill you.” Jin Chao smiled at him, then said: “You’ve revealed the mastermind, which counts as meritorious. Not only will I spare your life, but I’ll also give you one hundred taels of silver to leave the Gu family. But you’ve also seen Steward Sun’s fate. I can guarantee that if you don’t listen to me, your fate will be a hundred times more miserable than his.”

Luo Liu hurriedly nodded: “Of course, whatever Young Miss says, I’ll comply!”

Jin Chao smiled, “That’s best. Just repeat to the Master what you told me, and I’ll find people to testify for you.” She called Madam Xu in and asked her to take Luo Liu and Yu Xiang to find her father and clarify the matters of Steward Sun and Concubine Song. With two witnesses, the evidence was irrefutable.

Madam Xu acknowledged and left.

Gu De Zhao was copying scriptures in his study. He felt guilty about Ji Shi’s death and hadn’t visited Concubine Luo in these days, instead staying alone in his study copying the “Great Compassion Heart Dharani Sutra.” Some days ago, he had donated one thousand taels of silver to Ciguang Temple to print scriptures for Ji Shi and erect a merit stele.

Just as he finished copying a volume, Shui Ying came to knock on the door: “Master, Madam Xu wishes to see you.”

Hearing it was Madam Xu, Gu De Zhao quickly asked Shui Ying to let her in.

Madam Xu entered, followed by a manservant and a maid.

Madam Xu curtseyed and said: “Peace to the Master. This servant has come to explain a matter to you. It concerns the Madam, so please listen to my detailed account.”

Gu De Zhao said: “Madam Xu, speak freely. Is there an issue with Xiangjun’s funeral arrangements?”

Madam Xu shook her head and said: “It’s not that… Today, Young Miss went to the accounting office to itemize the Madam’s belongings, but Steward Sun claimed the Madam’s items had already been mixed with the manor’s and refused to give them to Young Miss. Perhaps seeing that Young Miss had lost her mother, he treated Young Miss so disrespectfully. While Young Miss was helpless and angry, a servant named Luo Liu came to speak with her, saying he knew some things about Steward Sun and wanted to tell Young Miss.”

Luo Liu immediately knelt and said: “Master, this servant is Luo Liu.”

Gu De Zhao, hearing that Steward Sun had disrespected his daughter, was already somewhat angry. Ji Shi had died so recently, yet these stewards dared to bully his daughter! Did they think he was dead? They even dared to hide Ji Shi’s belongings from his daughter!

He suppressed his anger and asked Luo Liu: “What did you tell my daughter?”

Luo Liu hurriedly said: “These days since the Madam’s passing, Luo Liu has been extremely uneasy and fearful, believing the Madam’s death was truly unusual! This servant once saw Yu Xiang, the maid from Concubine Song’s side, coming to find Steward Sun, giving him something to add to the Madam’s medicine… This servant was in charge of the Madam’s medicine and later found out that thing was Da Huang! Concubine Song had been conspiring with Steward Sun all along, intending to harm the Madam’s life…”

“After the Madam’s death, this servant has felt guilty! If this matter were not revealed, this servant would never be at peace for the rest of his life. Today when Young Miss came, this servant boldly reported to her… Young Miss already knew about this matter but didn’t expect Steward Sun’s involvement in the conspiracy. Please, Master, investigate clearly and do justice for the Madam.”

Yu Xiang curtseyed and said: “This servant is Yu Xiang, and what Luo Liu said is indeed true… This servant was originally working for Concubine Song and witnessed many of her actions, but at that time, this servant was under Concubine Song’s control and didn’t dare to speak out. The Concubine framed the Madam, which shocked this servant immensely. Besides harming the Madam, the Concubine did many other things. Listing them all would truly be unbearable to hear, but please listen as this servant reports them one by one…”

Hearing Yu Xiang’s words, Gu De Zhao felt extremely angry.

At that time, when he heard Concubine Song mention Da Huang, he thought Ji Shi was trying to compete for his favor…

When his daughter told him about the Da Huang matter, he only thought Concubine Song was colluding with a servant. He never imagined she was conspiring with the outer courtyard steward to harm Xiangjun. Besides this, she had done so many other things! Driving a wedge between his daughter and Rong’er, smearing his daughter’s reputation. She was so vicious! Doing all these things right under his nose—did she think he was dead?

He was so angry he couldn’t speak. After a long while, he finally gritted his teeth and said: “Where is Steward Sun? Bring him to me!”

Madam Xu said: “Master, Steward Sun has already been beaten and thrown out on Young Miss’s orders.” Outer courtyard stewards generally didn’t sign indentured contracts, so they couldn’t determine the steward’s life or death; this was already the severest punishment.

Gu De Zhao took a breath and said harshly: “Find him and bring him back, break his legs! I’ll see how he lives after that!”

Madam Xu paused, then said softly: “Young Miss said the same thing.”

Hearing this, Gu De Zhao pressed his lips together, seemingly very anxious, pacing the room several times, unable to suppress his anger.

Seeing Gu De Zhao in such a state, Madam Xu added: “There’s one more thing this servant must report to the Master. The Second Young Miss came to me saying she wanted to find the maids who used to serve Concubine Song to return to her… The current two maids seem not to satisfy Concubine Song.”

Hearing this, Gu De Zhao closed his eyes tightly, then angrily said: “She still wants her former maids! Not a single one is permitted to return; they’re all a bunch of lowly gossip! If she still insists on having her servants back, drive away the remaining two as well! After she gives birth to the child, send her to a nunnery! Don’t let her stay in the Gu family any longer!”

He took several breaths, then added: “Gu Lan is not allowed to see her mother! Make her practice calligraphy diligently in the study! If she dares to go see her mother again, break her legs too!”

Madam Xu still acknowledged, and Gu De Zhao didn’t know what else to say.

Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, Madam Xu said: “…Young Miss has other tasks for this servant. If Master has no further instructions, this servant will take her leave.”

Gu De Zhao closed his eyes and nodded, allowing Madam Xu to leave.

As Madam Xu turned to leave, she heard him say softly: “Now you help my daughter manage the inner courtyard, take good care of her. If she suffers any grievances… tell me.”