“I just put some of Grandfather Li’s secret soul-confusing incense in the medicine.” Qiao Zhao casually attributed it to Physician Li.
The art of hypnosis was too extraordinary. Grandfather Li had instructed her to be cautious when using it – naturally, the fewer people who knew about it, the better.
Upon hearing this, Lady Liu no longer had any doubts.
What kind of person was Physician Li? He was no different from a living immortal. Having secret soul-confusing incense was perfectly normal. The third Miss was indeed blessed and capable of having gained Physician Li’s special favor.
“But she regained consciousness later. How did she end up confessing?” Lady Liu asked about her confusion.
At that time, she had accidentally knocked over the medicine bowl, and seeing Old Woman Wang’s expression change, she thought nothing could be learned.
Qiao Zhao smiled: “Old Woman Wang is an honest person.”
After hearing the information Lady Liu had gathered, she had decided to target Old Woman Wang.
Old Woman Zhang’s youngest son was a gambler, and gamblers were the most treacherous. Old Woman Zhang’s heart had probably been hardened by countless trials, making it difficult to break through to her. But Old Woman Wang was different.
With a chronically ill person at home requiring long-term medication, Old Woman Wang’s mental state was tense and fragile, making her suitable for hypnotic techniques.
More importantly, Old Woman Wang’s ability to care for her bedridden husband day after day for years showed she was a person of deep feelings. Earlier, when Lady Liu knocked over the medicine bowl and interrupted the hypnosis, if it had been Old Woman Zhang instead, nothing could have been extracted.
“An honest person still did such treacherous things!” Lady Liu bit her lip, but meeting Qiao Zhao’s smiling eyes, she couldn’t continue her angry words.
Well, if Third Miss said so, there must be a reason. As for what reason, since she couldn’t think of it immediately, it must be too profound. She’d better not continue and expose her ignorance.
Lady Liu quickly adjusted her mindset and called for someone to clean up the mess on the floor.
Qiao Zhao stopped her: “Second Aunt, don’t rush to clean up. We can call Old Woman Zhang now.”
“Call Old Woman Zhang over now?”
“Yes, draw the curtains and open the windows.”
Though Lady Liu didn’t understand, she followed the instructions.
Soon, a middle-aged woman with her hair in a round bun entered.
The woman had thin cheeks and slightly prominent cheekbones, looking rather shrewd. Upon entering, her eyes darted around, and she was slightly startled to see the broken porcelain and spilled medicine on the floor.
“Kneel!” Qiao Zhao suddenly spoke.
Old Woman Zhang was startled. Looking up to see clearly that it was Qiao Zhao speaking, she couldn’t help but hesitate.
Qiao Zhao set her teacup down heavily on the tea table with a crisp sound, her face slightly darkening: “Did Old Woman Zhang not hear what I said?”
Old Woman Zhang looked at Qiao Zhao with surprise and suspicion.
Why was Third Miss here at Second Madam’s place? For an unmarried young lady to speak so harshly to servants was truly unexpected.
Qiao Zhao’s gaze deepened as she said lightly: “Second Aunt, I remember Old Woman Zhang’s indenture contract is with you?”
“It’s with me.” Lady Liu replied.
When Old Madam Deng had assigned Old Woman Zhang and Old Woman Wang to watch Concubine Bing, to ensure their absolute loyalty to Lady Liu, she had directly given both women’s indenture contracts to Lady Liu.
Qiao Zhao smiled slightly: “Second Aunt, give me Old Woman Zhang’s indenture contract. When I go to the marquis’ residence in the future, I’ll take Old Woman Zhang’s family with me.”
Upon hearing this, Old Woman Zhang immediately knelt with a thud.
She wasn’t stupid – she certainly didn’t think Third Miss wanted to take her family to the marquis’ residence to enjoy good fortune. This was settling accounts after autumn!
She had been truly confused – how could she forget that Third Miss wasn’t an ordinary boudoir young lady, but the future Marchioness!
“This old servant deserves death, this old servant deserves death. Third Miss, please be magnanimous and don’t hold it against this old fool.”
Old Woman Zhang spoke while slapping herself.
Qiao Zhao watched with a smile, saying nothing.
Old Woman Zhang had initially been testing the waters with her self-slapping, thinking that young ladies were thin-skinned and couldn’t bear such scenes.
Who knew that after several painless slaps, the young girl sitting beside Lady Liu remained unmoved, even showing some mockery in her eyes.
Old Woman Zhang panicked, finally understanding that although Third Miss was young, she wasn’t easily fooled. She immediately increased her force.
After two such slaps, half of Old Woman Zhang’s face immediately swelled up.
“Stop hitting yourself.” Qiao Zhao said coldly.
Old Woman Zhang stopped, her expression toward Qiao Zhao no longer casual.
“Confess then. Did Concubine Bing take the contraceptive decoction or not?”
Seeing Old Woman Zhang’s lips move slightly, Qiao Zhao added with a faint smile: “I’m only giving you this one chance to speak. If you lie, then your whole family will come with me to the marquis residence in the future – including your youngest son.”
Old Woman Zhang’s expression immediately changed. She stared down at the broken porcelain on the floor, trembling with fear.
Why was Third Miss saying this? She must know something!
Should she confess or keep hiding it?
The words she had been about to speak without thinking were forcibly swallowed by Old Woman Zhang. In her internal struggle, large drops of sweat rolled down her forehead, falling onto the spilled medicine on the floor.
The strong medicinal smell flooded Old Woman Zhang’s nostrils, and her heart sank.
Old Woman Wang must have come in before her! That useless thing must have already confessed, otherwise Third Miss wouldn’t be so certain.
Thinking of this, Old Woman Zhang was immediately covered in cold sweat.
Old Woman Wang had already confessed, yet Third Miss didn’t say so – this was testing her. If she dared to lie, Third Miss would deal with her whole family without hesitation.
“Concubine Bing… didn’t drink the contraceptive decoction!” Old Woman Zhang gritted her teeth and spoke.
After saying this, she noticed that both Qiao Zhao and Lady Liu looked calm and unsurprised, making her both afraid and relieved. The rest of her words poured out: “This old servant truly had no choice – if my youngest son’s gambling debts weren’t paid, those people would chop off his hands…”
“Remember to explain these words clearly to Old Madam.” Qiao Zhao said indifferently.
Lady Liu immediately brought Old Woman Zhang and Old Woman Wang to Qingsong Hall.
After hearing both old women’s confessions, Old Madam Deng was so angry that her hands shook as she shouted: “Go fetch Second Master back for me!”
Li Guangshu returned home completely bewildered: “Mother, you urgently summoned me?”
The old lady grabbed the walking stick beside her and struck at Li Guangshu.
“Mother, what are you doing?” Seeing there were younger family members in the room, Li Guangshu felt greatly embarrassed, dodging while asking.
“You little bastard still dare to dodge?” Old Madam Deng was so angry she gritted her teeth. She simply stopped using the walking stick and punched Li Guangshu in the stomach.
Li Guangshu was hit so hard by the old lady’s forceful punch that he saw stars. Clutching his stomach, he stopped dodging: “Mother, please stop hitting me. What’s wrong?”
Old Madam Deng stopped, shook her hand, and shouted: “Both old women have confessed, you beast! To keep Concubine Bing, you’ve truly lost all shame!”
Upon hearing this, Li Guangshu’s expression changed slightly.
It was already unseemly for men to meddle in inner courtyard affairs. The old lady’s manner clearly showed she knew everything. Stubbornly arguing further would only be more embarrassing. Li Guangshu lifted his robe hem and knelt: “Mother, please let your son explain!”