Zhen Shicheng glanced at Jiang Si from the corner of his eye.
How did this young girl know so much?
After a moment of reflection, Zhen Shicheng, being a meticulous person, quickly figured it out.
Of course, Miss Jiang was friends with Miss Xie, so it was natural for her to occasionally learn some information about Earl Yongchang’s household.
It was rather amusing that he now found himself inclined to think highly of this girl’s abilities.
Hmm, this wasn’t good. How could he maintain the air of an elder in the future?
“Dou Niang entered the household three months ago, yet she was able to work in the inner kitchen?” Zhen Shicheng asked, pushing aside these thoughts.
The inner kitchen was specifically for preparing meals for the masters. Generally, only skilled and trustworthy cooks were allowed to work there.
The steward hurriedly explained, “It’s because Dou Niang’s desserts are exceptionally good, especially the Young Miss who particularly enjoys them. A few days ago, Madam transferred Dou Niang to the inner kitchen—”
“Silence!” Xie Yinlou shouted harshly, interrupting the steward’s words.
Xie Qing’ao’s face turned ashen, her whole body trembling as she covered her mouth and silently wept.
If the killer turned out to be this cook before them, wouldn’t it mean that her craving for sweets had invited a wolf into their home and caused her mother’s death?
This thought nearly broke Xie Qing’ao.
The steward, realizing his mistake, quickly slapped his mouth, “Oh my, look at this old servant’s mouth, deserving a beating!”
Xie Yinlou supported his sister with one hand, his gaze towards the steward ice-cold to the bone.
The steward broke out in a cold sweat and couldn’t help but kneel.
Zhen Shicheng coughed.
Although he could understand the victim’s family’s pain, this was a crucial moment. If they kept hindering the investigation, he would get angry!
If the official didn’t get angry, they might think he was the Maitreya Buddha.
“Where is Dou Niang from, and what did she do before entering the household?” Zhen Shicheng asked.
The steward didn’t dare to speak, glancing at Dou Niang instead.
Dou Niang, on the contrary, cooperatively answered Zhen Shicheng’s question: “This humble woman’s husband was from Nanhe. He passed away two years ago, so I came to the capital to set up a stall selling desserts to make a living.”
“You came to the capital alone?”
“Yes.”
Zhen Shicheng stroked his beard, “You seem to be of a certain age. Do you not have any children?”
Hearing Zhen Shicheng mention this, Dou Niang’s expression changed noticeably for the first time. However, she restrained herself, pausing briefly before saying, “I had a son, but he also passed away two years ago…”
The steward, who had quietly stood up, sighed inwardly.
It was precisely because Dou Niang had no attachments and her circumstances were pitiful that Madam had made an exception and transferred her to the inner kitchen so soon after she entered the household. In the masters’ view, people without attachments were always more reliable.
“Your husband and son passed away around the same time. May I ask what happened?” Zhen Shicheng inquired.
Dou Niang lowered her head, her eyes reddening as she spoke, “My son accidentally fell into the water and drowned. He was our only child. My husband was so heartbroken that he fell ill and followed shortly after.”
“Then why did you come to the capital?”
Dou Niang gave a cold laugh, “My husband and I were both hardworking people and had accumulated some property. Too many people were eyeing me, a childless widow. I had to survive, and I heard that the people in the capital lived peacefully and prosperously. I thought selling food wouldn’t lack for customers, so I packed up my belongings and came to the capital.”
“How did Dou Niang enter the household?” Zhen Shicheng looked towards the steward.
The steward: “…” He had a bellyful of words, but he was afraid of being beaten if he spoke!
Zhen Shicheng frowned and glanced at Earl Yongchang.
“When the official asks, you answer truthfully!” the Earl commanded.
The steward wiped his sweat and said, “Madam was taking the Young Miss to Zhenbao Pavilion to choose jewelry. On their way back, they saw a long queue in front of Dou Niang’s dessert stall and sent a maid to buy two portions. The desserts were excellent, and Madam and Young Miss couldn’t forget them, so they sent people to buy them twice more. Later, when Madam and Young Miss went out again, they went to Dou Niang’s stall to buy desserts and happened to encounter a bully overturning Dou Niang’s stall. Madam then called Dou Niang over and asked if she was willing to enter the household as a cook, and that’s how Dou Niang entered the household.”
The steward pointed at the head maid Chun Fang not far away, “When Madam brought Dou Niang into the household, it was Chun Fang who told this servant about it.”
Chun Fang quickly confirmed, “It was exactly as the steward said.”
A middle-aged woman who entered the household three months ago and was exceptionally transferred to the inner kitchen, a middle-aged woman who could sell her property and venture alone into the capital after losing her son and husband…
Not to mention anything else, from the timing and her background, Dou Niang could commit murder.
Zhen Shicheng’s face darkened, “Dou Niang, then tell us why you killed Madam.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd burst into an uproar.
Previously, when questioning Qiu Lu’s sister and Chao Yun, Master Zhen had never explicitly called them the murderer.
Dou Niang was the killer who murdered Madam? It was too incredible.
Dou Niang’s face twitched slightly, but she remained calm, “Madam showed me great kindness. I’m not crazy or stupid, why would I kill her?”
“That’s what we’re asking you,” Zhen Shicheng’s gaze burned into Dou Niang as he sternly said, “Confess the truth now!”
Dou Niang knelt gently, her expression composed, “This humble woman has been wrongly accused.”
“Wrongly accused?” Zhen Shicheng let out a cold laugh, “Come, undo Dou Niang’s hair!”
Soon, two yamen runners came forward and held Dou Niang’s arms.
Dou Niang struggled, and seeing that she couldn’t break free, she cried out, “Master, you’re calling me the murderer without any evidence. Are you going to force a confession? This humble woman is truly innocent!”
“Be patient. I’ve ordered your hair to be undone so everyone can see the evidence,” Zhen Shicheng replied.
Jiang Si secretly worried for Zhen Shicheng.
She had an exceptional sense of smell and could detect the unusual fragrance in Dou Niang’s hair, but if Master Zhen used this as evidence to convict Dou Niang, it might not hold up.
Zhen Shicheng seemed to sense Jiang Si’s concern and stroked his beard smugly.
Without some solid evidence, he really would have been outdone by a little girl.
The seasoned investigator completely forgot that there was nothing to be smug about when comparing himself to a young girl.
Dou Niang’s hair wrap was quickly removed, revealing her hair.
While it was called beautiful hair, like Chao Yun’s, it was mixed with quite a few white strands.
The two women were very similar in this aspect. Although not yet forty, they both had prematurely graying hair.
“Everyone, look at Dou Niang’s hair. What’s different from others?” Zhen Shicheng asked in a deep voice.
“It has white hair!” a young maid blurted out.
The older woman beside her quickly jabbed her, whispering, “You little hussy, what’s wrong with having white hair?”
She had quite a few white hairs herself. Did that make her the murderer?
Xie Qing’ao stared intently at Dou Niang, suddenly widening her eyes and hesitantly said, “Her hair seems to be a bit curly…”
With Xie Qing’ao’s hint, those close to Dou Niang all noticed: the biggest difference between Dou Niang’s long hair and others was that it was wavy and curly, looking unique.
Dou Niang raised both hands to press down on her hair, clearly uncomfortable with her hair being loose under everyone’s gaze. She said anxiously, “What exactly does the Master want?”
Zhen Shicheng took out an oilpaper package and unwrapped it layer by layer, revealing two strands of hair inside. “These were found in the wardrobe where the killer hid. Everyone can see that these two strands of hair are the same as Dou Niang’s hair – they’re curly!”