The Dougezhuang village ahead had already suffered disaster, and a murder case had occurred at the estate. Defense had become the most urgent matter now.

Song Chuyi had the hundred men Ye Jingchuan left behind surround all the entrances and exits of the estate tightly. The seventeen guards she had brought were divided into four groups to patrol within the estate, just in case.

She had traveled all day and still hadn’t eaten a proper meal. Nanny Xu felt terribly sorry for her and personally went to the kitchen to prepare several of her specialty dishes, telling her to eat first before discussing anything else.

She was indeed somewhat hungry. After eating dinner accompanied by Qing Tao and Hong Yu, she first asked Uncle Zhang what plans he had for the deceased hired worker.

“After all, we invited him to work here.” Song Chuyi sighed, her tone somewhat heavy. “He suffered such an undeserved disaster—who knows, perhaps he still has parents at home. Send people to find his relatives and see what they need. Try to accommodate them as much as possible.”

The Earl’s household had always been generous toward servants. Although Uncle Zhang was newly appointed as estate manager, the estate had established precedents for handling such matters in the past. He decided to follow the old precedent and add an additional sum of silver.

After finishing discussing these matters, Qing Tao leaned close to her ear and whispered, “My parents are already waiting. Miss, do you want to ask them today, or wait until after you’ve rested?”

Both of Qing Tao’s parents worked on Lady Li’s estate, and it was very difficult for them to make this trip. According to the original plan, they were supposed to return tomorrow.

Nanny Xu had already finished tidying up Song Chuyi’s lodgings together with Nanny Xu, and came over to invite Song Chuyi to go rest.

Song Chuyi thought it over and told Qing Tao to call her parents to the back courtyard.

Some matters would develop complications if delayed. It was safer to finish asking about them as soon as possible.

Although Qing Tao’s parents worked on the estate, they unexpectedly didn’t look at all like people who did farm work. Both husband and wife carried a somewhat scholarly air about them.

No wonder they could raise such a clever daughter. Song Chuyi looked at them thoughtfully as they finished their bows and rose, and gently told them to sit.

“Some days ago we had originally agreed to ask at Huangjue Temple, but then some matters came up, making Uncle and Auntie make the trip for nothing.” Song Chuyi smiled and nodded to them. “Please don’t take offense.”

Although Qing Tao had already briefed them, the two still hurriedly stood up, repeatedly saying they wouldn’t dare.

“Uncle has studied?” Song Chuyi noticed his refined manner, how his speech and responses were all very orderly, and suddenly felt somewhat strange. “Since you’ve studied, why would you condescend to do farm work on an estate?”

Qing Tao pressed her lips together and looked at her father for a long while, then suddenly interjected, “Miss doesn’t know—my father was originally a scholar who passed the civil examinations. Later, after some incident occurred, he was assigned to the estate.”

Qing Tao’s mother couldn’t help but shed tears. “Speaking of it, it was our own fault. Back then when we were with the Li family, we were handling matters for Second Madam and botched the job.”

Qing Tao had mentioned before that both her parents were household-born servants of the Li family.

Song Chuyi felt the matter was even more strange. After thinking it over, she asked again, “If it’s convenient, I wonder if Uncle and Auntie could tell me what matter you botched while at the Li family?”

Although Second Madam Lady Li had always thought highly of herself and considered herself a refined lady from a scholarly family, Old Master Li had been a farmer scraping food from the earth his whole life. It wasn’t until his son passed the imperial examination as Third Place Scholar and became an official that he was brought to the capital. Compared to other families with deep roots, even now the Li family’s footing wasn’t very stable. If they didn’t produce any accomplished talents, in another ten or twenty years, once Li Ruju retired, they would be nothing.

By comparison, household-born servants required several decades of breeding. Since Qing Tao’s parents were household-born servants, it meant the previous generation had at least followed Old Master Li. Given the Li family’s situation, even counting generously, they probably didn’t have many household-born servants. Unless they had committed some enormous error, no matter what, they shouldn’t have been sent to an estate to eat dirt.

Qing Tao looked anxiously toward her father, her tone somewhat agitated. “Daughter is already Miss’s person now. Are Father and Mother still clinging to other illusions?! Since Miss has asked, just answer directly!”

Qing Tao’s mother also repeatedly gave her husband meaningful looks.

Qing Tao’s father hesitated for a long while, finally heaving a long sigh and kneeling on the ground. “To be honest with Sixth Miss, back then the Old Madam specifically wanted me to forge a letter in Second Master’s handwriting.”

The smile on Song Chuyi’s face instantly vanished. She nodded, indicating for Qing Tao’s father to continue.

“The Old Madam wanted me to write a letter in Second Master Song’s name, addressed to your mother.” Qing Tao’s father closed his eyes. “She wanted me to arrange to meet her at Qingliang Temple in the letter. I sensed something was wrong, so when I went to deliver the letter, I threw it away. Who knew that the very next day I was scolded harshly by the Old Madam. She said she had waited at Qingliang Temple all day without anyone showing up. After this incident, the Old Madam felt I wasn’t reliable in handling matters and sent our whole family to the estate. Later, this estate was given as part of our eldest miss’s dowry.”

The Li family’s eldest miss was Li Jingshu—her stepmother.

A mocking smile appeared at the corner of Song Chuyi’s lips.

So the Li family had set their sights on her father and mother so early on. So Lady Li marrying Song Yi as his second wife was not at all arranged by parents, but had been premeditated long ago.

Qing Tao’s mother’s voice trembled somewhat as she took up the thread. “Moreover, moreover, our eldest miss was somewhat off at that time. She couldn’t eat much and always felt nauseous and wanted to vomit. After the Old Madam discovered these abnormalities, she also sent me to the estate.”

Everyone present was utterly shocked.

Nanny Xu hurried forward to cover Song Chuyi’s ears, afraid that Song Chuyi would hear these unclean words.

But Song Chuyi had already heard. Her gaze was cold and indifferent as she swept over everyone, sitting in her chair without saying a word.

The truth of the matter gradually unfolded before her eyes. Many things she couldn’t understand before now required no additional mental effort—just making a connection made everything clear.

Why had the Song family, which always valued propriety, been unable to even wait for the first anniversary of Cui Shi’s death before hastily welcoming Lady Li into the Song household as Song Yi’s second wife?

Why had the nannies and maids who served Cui Shi, all the servants Cui Shi had brought from the Cui family, been replaced almost entirely?

Why had Old Madam Li been so bold as to dare scheme against a legitimate daughter of the Boling Cui clan?

Because they needed to make room for Lady Li, who was already pregnant, they could only steel themselves and move against Cui Shi.

Nanny Xu’s heart was also full of indignation. After holding it in for a long time until her face turned red, she suddenly spat on the ground. “Bah! What refined scholarly family’s young lady?! She’s not worthy!”

She wasn’t worthy of taking Cui Shi’s position and living all these years. She wasn’t worthy of using the rooms Cui Shi had used, the husband Cui Shi had used, and even having the pair of children Cui Shi left behind call her mother. How could she be worthy!