Zhuyan, formerly the sixth daughter in her family and a minor scribe in the Ministry of Justice, had never received such generous treatment. She quickly declined Madam Zheng’s offer and chose a chair from the row on the left to sit down.
Seeing this, Madam Zheng naturally couldn’t sit beside Shendu and had to remain standing, asking, “What do you mean by that, Madam Shen?”
Besides the steward and the Local Constablenl, several of the Liang family’s servants had also entered with them.
These servants were all strong and burly. Madam Zheng glanced at them, then looked behind, seeing no one else. She frowned, “What’s going on? Where are the people you were supposed to apprehend?”
It turned out that after the incident, Madam Zheng had assumed Rong Zhui had come to cause trouble out of anger for Kuang Zhanxin’s death. She had sent people to summon the Local Constablenl while ordering the servants to go to Tongming Hall to make arrests.
Shendu and Zhuyan had just met the servants returning from Tongming Hall in the courtyard.
The servants exchanged glances, pushing one forward to report, “Madam, when we arrived at Tongming Hall, the madam there refused to see us, and the pimps there were all insolent and abusive.”
“We intended to force our way in to capture the madam, but those pimps outnumbered us and drove us out. Many people were coming and going near Tongming Hall, and we feared causing a scene that would damage our family’s reputation, so we returned to seek your instructions.”
Some of the servants had bruises on their faces, while others had tears in their clothes, showing they had suffered at Tongming Hall.
Madam Zheng showed anger but had to restrain herself due to Shendu’s presence.
At this moment, a voice was heard: “If she refuses to come out, she must have a guilty conscience. You should report directly to the authorities and have officials arrest her! What’s the point of keeping you in the household if you can’t even handle such a simple task?”
Several people emerged from behind the purple sandalwood eagle-stone mountain flower folding screen. In the middle was a woman in brocade clothes, looking haggard and supported by two maids. She occasionally coughed into a handkerchief.
Recognizing the newcomer, Madam Zheng’s expression changed slightly, forcing a smile, “Elder Sister-in-law, if you’re unwell, why not rest properly? I can handle these matters.”
“My son lies in his grave, wronged, with his murderer still not found. Now the Liang family is being insulted by a lowly prostitute from a brothel. How can I sit still?” The newcomer was Madam Liu, the first wife of the Liang family’s main branch and Liang Chenzhong’s mother. She curtsied to Shendu before being helped to a seat. She looked up at Madam Zheng and snorted lightly, “Leave it to you? I’d like to see how you handle it! We can overlook the incident with Nanny Jiang, but now all of Chang’an must be laughing at our Liang family, and you can’t even bring back one person.”
The implication was that she was accusing Madam Zheng of incompetence.
Madam Zheng’s face darkened further, but as it was the truth and given the presence of others, she could only show some respect to Madam Liu.
“Elder Sister-in-law is right. In the future, I will be more diligent in handling household matters.”
“Enough,” Madam Liu, clearly ill, coughed lightly into her silk handkerchief again. “We can handle family matters ourselves. There’s no need to discuss them in front of outsiders.” Her words carried a hint of hostility as she turned her gaze to the servants at the door. “Why are you still standing there? Take more people and bring that old madam back today, even if you have to tie her up!”
“Yes,” the servants responded, about to turn and leave.
Zhuyan quickly stood up to stop them. “Madam Liu, please don’t be hasty. Allow me to say something.”
Madam Liu originally had no good feelings towards people from the Ministry of Justice. If Zhuyan wasn’t Shendu’s wife now, she wouldn’t have paid any attention to her at all.
For Shendu’s sake, Madam Liu suppressed her displeasure and asked calmly, “Madam Shen, please speak your mind.”
Given Madam Liu’s permission, Zhuyan glanced at Shendu’s face, which remained impassive and cold.
“Young Master Liang’s affair with Kuang Zhanxin is already widely known. If Rong Zhui truly believed the Liang family was responsible for the murder, she could have reported it to the authorities immediately. Using such a small trick to arouse suspicion, if it was indeed her doing, wouldn’t that be like lifting a stone only to drop it on her own feet?”
Although Zhuyan’s analysis wasn’t conclusive, it made some sense.
The servants who had retreated to the door also stopped, unsure of what to do.
Madam Liu lowered her eyes slightly, her breathing a bit rough, as if suppressing some emotion. “Then in Madam Shen’s opinion, who is responsible for this?”
“This matter still needs to be investigated. Without evidence, I dare not make any assertions,” Zhuyan replied.
“Hmph…” Madam Liu sneered sarcastically, “I thought Madam Shen had a suspect in mind when she spoke like that. I didn’t expect it to be just empty words.”
Shendu suddenly spoke, “I think my wife has a point. Rather than focusing on those who cannot be suspects, we should pay attention to those who could be.”
As he finished speaking, Shendu gave Jinglin a meaningful look.
Jinglin bowed and withdrew, while a smile spread across Zhuyan’s lips.
It was rare for them to be on the same page.
“What does the Grand Chamberlain mean by this?” Madam Liu’s face showed anger, while Madam Zheng also looked towards the door.
Could it be that they had discovered something?
In just a moment, Jinglin brought a servant girl before everyone.
The servant girl looked panicked and didn’t dare to raise her head after kneeling.
“Sir,” Jinglin clasped his hands and said, “When I went out to investigate, I saw this person eavesdropping under the window. I found her suspicious and brought her here for your judgment.”
“Isn’t this… isn’t this Cuier, the servant girl who was recently assigned to serve Madam Wei?” Madam Zheng was the first to recognize her.
Upon hearing this, Cuier became even more terrified, her face turning pale as she kowtowed and begged for mercy, “Please spare me, Madam. I was just confused for a moment. Please forgive me this once.”
Madam Zheng frowned slightly. Although she was the Liang family’s main madam, with Madam Liu and the Grand Chamberlain present, she, as merely the second branch’s madam, had no say in the matter.
“What exactly happened? Speak quickly!” Shendu’s voice rang out, instantly filling the hall with a chilling atmosphere that sent shivers down everyone’s spine.
Cuier trembled, almost biting her tongue as she spoke, “In… in response to the Grand Chamberlain, I am indeed a servant of Madam Wei. A few days ago, while cleaning the room, I accidentally broke a leaf of her money plant. Madam scolded me and had me receive twenty strokes as punishment. I… I know I was wrong. Please, Grand Chamberlain, have mercy and forgive me this once.”
“Was the chicken blood on the door you’re doing?” Zhuyan turned to ask.
Cuier nodded hesitantly, looking like a frightened deer, “It was my foolishness, I just wanted to cause some trouble for the family. I didn’t think it would lead to so many issues. I know I was wrong, truly wrong.”
“How despicable!” Madam Liu slammed the table, “The Liang family has always been fair in rewards and punishments. You made a mistake and not only failed to repent but sought revenge. Guards, take this servant to the authorities to await judgment.”
“Yes,” the servants responded, coming forward to bind and escort Cuier out.