Madam Cai wanted to remarry, but her future husband’s family would certainly not compare to the Ye family. She would only be a stepmother, and her life would predictably be difficult. Rather than serving a large family and enduring the ill temper of in-laws and stepchildren, she might as well stay with the Ye family.
But staying with the Ye family, though her life would be comfortable and affluent, she couldn’t bear the loneliness. In the end, for the sake of a comfortable life and a man, she sacrificed her daughter.
Madam Cai had managed to keep her affair secret for over a decade, and had even lived in isolation for this purpose. She was indeed a person of strong will and determination.
She cried out, “How would I know she would become like this? Which young lady doesn’t stay within the confines of her home? But what’s the use of pursuing these matters now? Doing as I say is the best solution. I’ve done wrong, and I’m willing to pay with my life. What more do you want?”
With that, she began to sob loudly.
Madam Tao and Madam Yin both looked toward Old Lady Ye.
Old Lady Ye said, “We’ll decide after the investigation is complete.”
Then she rose and left the room.
Returning to the main hall and taking a seat, Old Lady Ye related the situation to Ye Chongming, then frowned and said, “It’s hard to tell which parts of her story are true and which are false. She keeps changing her account.”
Ye Chongming looked at Ye Yaming. “Ming’er, what do you think?”
Ye Yaming asked, “Was Madam Cai also averse to socializing in the past? What was her temperament like when she first married into the Ye family?”
Madam Tao and Madam Yin exchanged glances.
Madam Tao said, “Indeed, she wasn’t very sociable. She didn’t like to go around and engage in idle chat. However, when she did meet people, her manners were appropriate.”
Madam Yin added, “Her temperament was somewhat peculiar.”
“According to her, that man entered the household when Fifth Sister was three years old. It’s been nine years now. Did Madam Cai undergo any sudden changes nine years ago?”
This question startled both Old Lady Ye and Madam Tao.
“She moved to that courtyard exactly nine years ago,” Old Lady Ye said. “I advised her against moving at the time, saying the place was too secluded, but she insisted.”
Madam Tao nodded in agreement.
Ye Yaming said, “The truth of this matter still lies with the servants in her courtyard. If Auntie Lu is skilled at interrogation, it shouldn’t be difficult to spot inconsistencies.”
It seemed that what Madam Cai said later was indeed true.
When she initially claimed that Ye Yayu was not of Ye family blood, she probably thought the Ye family was benevolent and would not take her life over such a matter, but would allow her to divorce and leave the household.
And she was unwilling to part with Ye Yayu, or rather, she knew that with Ye Yayu’s temperament, the girl would completely fall apart after her departure. If Ye Yayu was not of Ye family blood, Old Lady Ye would certainly have her take Ye Yayu along when she left.
But later she must have come to her senses.
If she had been carrying on with that man for so long, wouldn’t that mean she had been unfaithful to Ye Hongfan while he was still alive? In that case, the Ye family might hold her responsible for Ye Hongfan’s death.
She became frightened and quickly recanted her testimony.
In Ye Yaming’s view, the vast majority of people in the world were ordinary. They might have small schemes and make mistakes, and often have moments of insufficient forethought. But they were certainly not evil.
Madam Cai had spent her entire life in the inner chambers, with all her material needs met. Apart from her early widowhood, she had not experienced life’s hardships. To say she was deeply calculating might not be entirely accurate.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have trapped herself in such a predicament from the beginning. She had simply committed a foolish error.
If she had voiced her recent explanation from the start, Old Lady Ye might not have suspected her of murdering her husband, but would have contemplated what to do with her.
Ye Chongming and Old Lady Ye naturally had their considerations as well.
But regardless of their speculation, they needed evidence to speak for itself.
Ye Chongming stood up and said, “Let’s go over and see for ourselves.”
Thus, the group proceeded to where the servants were being detained.
Auntie Lu had just finished interrogating a maid. Seeing the master’s approach, she signaled for a pause.
“How is it going?” Old Lady Ye asked.
“Their statements are consistent, and they don’t appear to be lying. It seems Madam Cai’s claim that the man entered the household years later is true,” Auntie Lu said.
These servants had no desire to lose their lives for Madam Cai’s sake. As long as they weren’t accusing Madam Cai of murder, they were willing to answer whatever was asked.
“However, over the years, Madam Cai has released some servants and brought in new ones. Some don’t even know that the person was a man. Because he only lived in Auntie Zhang’s quarters and rarely came out. Those maids all said he was Auntie Zhang’s relative.”
Auntie Zhang held a position in Madam Cai’s courtyard second only to Auntie Zeng.
When maids reached the age of twenty, they were typically married off. Otherwise, keeping them in the household might lead to problems, and they would certainly harbor discontent toward the masters.
The Ye family originally matched them with household servants. But the maids in Madam Cai’s courtyard were all brought from the Cai family, with their contracts in her possession. Madam Cai also had a peculiar temperament, so when she wanted to marry off these maids and purchase new ones from outside to replace them, Old Lady Ye didn’t interfere and allowed her to proceed as she wished.
Ye Yaming asked, “How many servants are there in her courtyard in total?”
“She has eight, and the Fifth Miss has six. Along with Auntie Zeng, there are fifteen in total.”
“How many were brought in from the beginning and were not married off?”
“Including Auntie Zeng, there are three, all older women who were already in their thirties or forties when they entered the Ye family. One is in charge of purchases, and another is a rough work servant.”
Ye Yaming asked, “In charge of purchases? Aren’t the supplies for the Third Branch’s courtyard purchased centrally?”
Auntie Lu said, “They are purchased centrally. But sometimes when the Third Madam wanted to eat something different, or if there was something special to buy, she would send Auntie Zhang to make the purchase.”
“Did Auntie Zhang go alone?”
“No, she would always take a maid with her.”
At this point, everyone began to detect an issue.
Madam Cai had grown up in a sheltered environment. If she were naturally quiet and willing to confine herself for the sake of a man, it might be understandable. But for that man to remain here for ten years would be unbearable for anyone.
Could it be that he often left the estate with Auntie Zhang?
Ye Yaming said, “During your interrogation, also investigate the relationship between Auntie Zhang and that man.”
“Very well. You continue with the interrogation, and we’ll sit in the next room,” Old Lady Ye said.
Ye Yaming understood that their questioning might involve topics inappropriate for a young lady to hear, and they might even resort to some torture. Her presence would make Auntie Lu uncomfortable.
She said, “You can carry on. I’ll go check on Fifth Sister.”
Old Lady Ye patted her hand and said, “Go ahead.”
Ye Yaming nodded and returned to the main house, going to the room where Ye Yayu was staying.
Upon arrival, she didn’t enter but called Ming’er out to inquire about Ye Yayu’s condition.
Ming’er said, “The Fifth Miss is very frightened and has been crying continuously. Her nanny and servants have tried to console her for a long time without success.”
“Didn’t you avoid the Fifth Miss when entering the Third Branch’s courtyard?” Ye Yaming asked.
“The Fifth Miss happened to be in the Third Madam’s courtyard at the time. The Third Madam seemed to be scolding her, saying she wouldn’t allow her to keep cats anymore. We couldn’t avoid her even if we wanted to.”