Chapter 345 - 346: Not Uncommon
Chapter 345: Chapter 346: Not Uncommon
Zhou Shixiong pointed to the scar on his face. "Don’t just talk up the advantages of our family. Show them my portrait, too."
With a face like his, he had already scared many timid young ladies to tears on the border. He didn’t think these delicate, sheltered young ladies would have a much better reaction.
Empress Zhou knew her brother was speaking the truth. She sighed and said, "Later, I’ll have an artist visit your residence. When they do, please make time for them to paint your portrait, Brother."
Zhou Shixiong breathed a sigh of relief. "If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave the palace now. I’ve already made plans with Old Brother Gu to go out for tea later."
Seeing her brother’s heartfelt smile, Empress Zhou smiled in understanding. "You really should relax, Brother. I’ll have the artist visit tomorrow, then."
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As Jin Qianqian listened to Qingzhu’s report, a bold suspicion took root in her mind.
’But I can’t just make baseless claims.’ "Have Xu Dawang and the others go to all the apothecaries and inquire if Xiao Wanyu bought any medicine recently. Find out exactly what she bought—get all the details."
Qingzhu readily agreed. She and Qing Lan had now been assigned out of the inner courtyard to help their Madam handle some external affairs.
Jin Qianqian waited for her to leave, then turned to ask Liu Qingmei, "If you despised someone, what would you do?"
Qing Mei thought for a moment. "I don’t think I’ve ever really despised anyone."
"Not once in your entire life?"
Liu Qingmei shook her head. "When I was little, I started helping with chores at home as soon as I could walk. I rarely went out to play.
Later, when I was a bit older, I was sold to you, Madam. The only people I’ve come into contact with are these kind sisters, so I’ve never really felt any ill will toward anyone."
Jin Qianqian was speechless.
Nanny Ou, who was attending nearby, chuckled. "Madam, you shouldn’t have asked this girl. She’s a simple soul; even if someone scolds her, she’ll just think they must have a good reason.
Is Madam perhaps thinking that Lord Niu’s death isn’t so simple?"
Jin Qianqian didn’t hide it. She nodded and frankly shared her theory, "If Lord Niu were a bit older, a sudden illness would be quite normal.
But he was only in his forties and usually took great care of his health.
But those aren’t the main points of suspicion. What really baffles me is his mother. Lord Niu may have been her most successful child, but she had other sons to provide for her. Why would she be so distraught as to kill herself by bashing her head against a wall?
And what’s most convenient is that no one was present at the time. Don’t you find that a bit suspicious?"
"Even if she wanted to kill herself, bashing your head against a wall is so painful. If it were me, I’d just buy poison..." Liu Qingmei’s eyes instantly widened. ’Even I understand such a simple concept. How could an old woman not think of it?’
Jin Qianqian paid her no mind. "Actually, there’s another suspicious detail. Her own husband passed away, and she wasn’t by his side. The old mother died by hitting the wall, and she claims she was visiting the Huang family. Would a newly widowed woman really be in the mood to visit relatives?"
"Madam, why did you have someone investigate this Mrs. Niu?" Nanny Ou asked, a bit puzzled. "Usually, Madam doesn’t seem to care for such gossip. I’m surprised you sent people to investigate this time."
Jin Qianqian, of course, held nothing back from Nanny Ou. She explained her and Ancient Wen Heng’s thoughts on the recent events, as well as her own suspicions.
"Women like her are not uncommon," Nanny Ou said with the look of someone who had seen it all. "Ever since the previous Emperor issued an edict encouraging widowed women to remarry, some women in difficult situations have started getting ideas.
The clever ones can do it without a trace, but some are too crude and are quickly exposed by their late husband’s family.
With two consecutive deaths, the Niu Family didn’t notice anything amiss?"
Jin Qianqian replied, "Xiao Wanyu’s stepson and stepdaughter did cause a scene. They even had the government officials come and investigate at the time, but they found nothing."
"They’ve both been buried by now, haven’t they?"
Jin Qianqian nodded.
Nanny Ou continued, "Then there’s essentially no evidence to refute her story. Plus, with the Minister of the Ministry of Justice Mansion backing her, this matter will probably just be dropped.
However, in a situation like hers, the true mistresses of the great households all know what’s what. They generally don’t allow such people into their families. Madam, you should still warn the Master a few more times. I’m afraid she might have more tricks up her sleeve."
Jin Qianqian’s expression immediately grew somber. When it came to these inner-courtyard schemes, she was truly just a beginner, not on the same level as those who had been immersed in them since childhood.
’Nanny Ou’s reminder was right. A thief can try for a thousand days, but you can’t stand guard for a thousand days.’
’If her scheme were to succeed, she and Ancient Wen Heng would likely be disgusted for the rest of their lives.’
...
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Li Cuicui, leading her two granddaughters, walked straight around Wang Caiyue, who was blocking her path. She had lost count of how many times Wang Caiyue had stopped her to complain. It was always the same few lines, and she really couldn’t be bothered to hear them again.
"Mother, we’re your children and grandchildren too! Why can’t you look out for us?" Wang Caiyue chased right after her.
Having lived in the village for so long, she had a clear picture of how much the Gu brothers’ lives had improved.
Ancient Wen Heng was now a Capital Official, so she couldn’t latch onto him. But the other brothers were all living prosperous lives thanks to Jin Qianqian’s secret recipe. On what grounds were she and her family being excluded?
"Mother, you can’t be so biased!" Seeing the old woman ignoring her, Wang Caiyue shouted.
"Biased? When the family was divided back then, why didn’t you say I was biased? When you encouraged the Second Son to distance himself from the rest of us, why didn’t you say I was biased then?
I know you’re just jealous that your brothers-in-law are doing well now, but what does that have to do with you? That recipe they worked day and night and poured their blood, sweat, and tears into—on what grounds do you think you can just reap the rewards without doing any work?"
Li Cuicui sized up Wang Caiyue. "Take a look at yourself. Is there anything lacking in the food you eat or the clothes you wear?
Ever since you two came back, haven’t his brothers sent you plenty of money and goods? Mrs. Wang, a person shouldn’t be too greedy, lest you end up with nothing."
"That’s all just small favors and handouts! By rights, we should have a share of the recipe Seventh Wife provided. I just want my husband to be able to work with them. What’s wrong with that?" In her mind, Wang Caiyue felt she wasn’t in the wrong; it was everyone else who was too greedy.
Li Cuicui took a deep breath. "When you came back, didn’t Seventh give you money to settle in? With that, plus what his brothers have given you these past days, you’ve fixed up your house nicely and even bought some land. Wouldn’t it be good to just be a respectable, small-time landowner?"
"On what grounds?" Hearing that Li Cuicui had already planned out their future for them, Wang Caiyue’s voice grew even sharper. "It would only take a single word from you! Why won’t you go and speak to them for us?"
In Wang Caiyue’s eyes, her mother-in-law Li Cuicui’s words no longer fell on deaf ears as they used to. On the contrary, because she had a successful son like Seventh, everyone now just tried to curry favor with her.