Jiang Yashuang's estimate was indeed correct. Qiu Yilan straightened her clothes and walked outside. She called Xiao Tao's people in and figured out the whole story without asking a few questions. Jiang Yadan took advantage of the chaos last night to make peace with her. Shui Jin's confidant maid Wan'er fell asleep!
Then Wan'er ran out of the Duke of Qin's mansion... and threw herself into a small forest two streets away!
"..." After Qiu Yilan finished listening, he was speechless for a long time and then asked, "What now?"
"Wan'er is highly relied upon by the Fourteenth Young Madam. She was very worried when she found out she was missing this morning. She even sent someone to Jingchuan Marquis' Mansion and borrowed a mastiff from Ling Xiaohou and searched everywhere. Only then did she find her... The servant smiled bitterly, "So I knew it was the Eighth Young Master... After that, I went to the old lady and cried and asked for the decision."
"Our young lady has worked hard to pay for the gift for half a day, but the fourteenth young lady still refuses to let go, knowing that you have a good relationship with her..." When the servant said this, he saw a wry smile on Qiu Yilan's face: " No matter how good the relationship is, we have only known each other for two or three years, but I have always been familiar with her, so how can I have the face to persuade her?"
That being said, the eldest sister-in-law in her room sent someone to ask for help, and Qiu Yilan couldn't help but ignore it: "I remember that Sister-in-law Fourteen always treated Nineteen as her own brother and loved her. In this case, you go back first, and I'll change my clothes." , asked Nineteen if he wanted to go together to pay his respects to his grandmother. "
She had just visited yesterday and hadn't even walked through her yard yet. How could she recognize the old lady's residence
After sending Xiao Tao's people away, Qiu Yilan went inside and told Jiang Yashuang what had happened. Jiang Yashuang also felt like she was vomiting blood: "There are so many servants in the family, no one is easy to take care of, so why bother with the fourteenth sister-in-law's people?" … I remember that the person in front of Sister-in-law Fourteen was both her close attendant and her helper in business. In the past, there were officials who were in their prime but had no heirs and asked Uncle Qiaocheng to marry him as a wife, but she rejected them all... Also I don’t know how angry Sister-in-law Fourteen is now!”
Qiu Yilan sighed: "Otherwise, the eighth sister-in-law would not have come to find us. It seems that when we were at my uncle's house, we made trouble in front of my grandmother. How could my grandmother not help smooth things over? This has not been resolved until now. ?”
According to Jiang Yashuang, this Wan'er is not only a maid, but also a powerful helper in the Shuijin business. The discovery and cultivation of this kind of talent not only takes a long time, but also depends on luck - in the end, he was accidentally killed. Jiang Yadan killed someone, even if he didn't mention feelings and only talked about interests - who would not go crazy? !
"But if we go, the Fourteenth Sister-in-law will probably take advantage of the situation to step down." Jiang Yashuang stood up, her face ugly, "After all, the maid can't compare with the Eighth Brother. She has been sad and uncontrollable for a long time, and there is no way she can continue to make trouble with her grandmother." All night long! The problem is, even if Sister-in-law Fourteen gives us face this time, it’s hard to say what she will think about Brother Benny later.”
He Shuijin is not a fuel-efficient lamp. Although she can't do anything to kill Jiang Yadan to avenge her maid, she should have no problem finding Jiang Yadan troubles from time to time.
Especially—now she is in charge of all the internal affairs of Duke Qin! If you want to rectify Jiang Yadan, you have a chance! Maybe by then even little Tao and the entire fourth house will be implicated...
"... Anyway, I have to go. Let's get this matter settled first. Let's deal with the grievances from the Fourteenth Sister-in-law... slowly!" Qiu Yilan rubbed her forehead and said angrily.
The two went to the main room where Mrs. Tao lived. As soon as they entered the door, they heard sobbing.
After entering the room, he saw Mrs. Tao, the superior, sitting upright with an energetic look on her face.
Both He Shuijin and Xiao Tao had faded hair, and they knelt in front of her, one on the left and the other on the right. The former was telling her about the innocence and tragic death of her maid, while the latter was extremely ashamed and apologized on her husband's behalf... Qiu Yilan looked around. But I didn’t see the person involved, Jiang Yadan!
"Are you here?" Mrs. Tao was visibly relieved when she saw them entering, and quickly gave her a wink, "Quickly, come and persuade you two sisters-in-law... This has been sad all afternoon. Poor maid, you have to do it too." Take care of yourself!"
Jiang Yashuang and Qiu Yilan came forward together, coaxing and persuading, but Qiu Yilan dragged the two of them up and sat them down on the table... In short, as Jiang Yashuang expected, after a heart-to-heart talk, the two of them got together. Shuijin sobbed and gradually stopped talking. After talking about Wan'er's cleverness and ability, he said to Mrs. Tao and little Mrs. Tao: "It's not that I don't know about Bage's character. It's also because I was too busy last night." , I didn't notice when Wan'er disappeared... Although this maid is just serving me, I think she is just like my own sister, but she is a servant after all, and it is not good to compare with Bage. Do I still dare to ask Bage to pay for her life? "
She sniffed and said angrily, "I just want to ask Bage face to face. There are so many people in his backyard, and he is no stranger to the Qin Lou Chu Pavilion outside. Why do you have to pick my people to attack?! But it's been so long! Grandma, how many groups of people have you and the eighth sister-in-law sent to look for me? I know that my grandmother and the eighth sister-in-law will not lie to me. It can be seen that Brother Ba is deliberately hiding... What's the matter?"
Little Mrs. Tao had nothing to say, she apologized repeatedly, promised compensation and a good life for Wan'er, and buried her in the name of Jiang Yadan's noble concubine. He Shuijin breathed a sigh of relief, shook his head and said: "Eight Sister-in-law's kindness, I will do it for you." Wan'er understands it. But since she went out to seek refuge, it's obvious that she doesn't want to be Ba Ge's person, so let's just bury her under her real name!"
Qiu Yilan thought that this was the right thing to say. Wan'er committed suicide because she was unwilling to be humiliated. How could she care about the title of a concubine? !
Mrs. Tao sighed: "Xiao Ba is really sorry for you master and servant this time. It is all your fault that your grandfather and I failed to teach him well."
"Grandma, your words are serious. How dare you be your granddaughter-in-law?" He Shuijin said hurriedly.
Having said that, the matter is almost over.
Everyone comforted He Shuijinhui again, and He Shuijin took advantage of the donkey's gesture to accept Xiao Tao's apology on behalf of Jiang Yadan: "What else can I say now? It must be Wan'er's own bad luck! Originally, I promised She will let her go home in two years and let her marry her cousin who has been with her for five years... Now... Alas, everyone has their own destiny, let's not talk about it. "
She did not refuse the compensation that little Tao said, "Her family is quite poor, so she sold her body to come to He's house to serve me. After all, it's a master-servant affair. I will take care of the burial. I don't want you to have a penny, but you I accepted the money on her behalf and sent it to her home."
Although I know she must still be resentful in her heart, it has been covered up on the scene. Mrs. Tao looked at the sky and symbolically offered to leave some food. After being rejected by the four juniors, she stopped saying: "It's raining, so be careful when you go back."
"yes!"
After leaving the old lady's yard, little Tao asked He Shuijin: "Sister fourteen, shall I take you back?"
"No need." He Shuijin shook his head, "We only need one row of yards in front and back. Sister-in-law Eight is very tired today, right?"
Little Mrs. Tao smiled awkwardly, not sure whether she was teasing her or not, so she could only remain silent.
Because the children who became a family in the Duke's Mansion lived in the courtyard where they were gathered according to their seniority, the four of them would go together for a long time.
But we were tired after such a day, so a group of people just walked in silence.
However, when they arrived at a deserted place, He Shuijin suddenly stopped and ordered his servants to retreat far away.
Xiao Tao, Jiang Yashuang, and Qiu Yilan were slightly surprised. After thinking for a while, they also ordered their servants, and then asked: "What's wrong?"
"Today, my grandfather gave your crested hairpin to the nineteenth younger brother and sister. It was from the big house who wanted to make a dowry for Huizhi." He Shuijin was in a bad mood. It was getting late now, so she didn't go into details and went straight to the point. , "But my grandmother didn't like Dou's tone at that time, so she didn't tell my grandfather. But this time my grandfather gave you the nineteenth younger brother and sister. You'd better be careful in the future, not only yourself, but also the people around you!"
Qiu Yilan was about to say something when He Shuijin said, "Don't be like me this time. Wan'er was tricked by someone if I wasn't careful. Not only did she lose her life, but Ba Ge took the blame!"
"What?!" Little Mrs. Tao exclaimed, and Jiang Yashuang asked unexpectedly: "Sister-in-law Fourteen, are you saying that Wan'er is not myna?"
"I don't know if it's him!" He Shuijin looked sinister and sneered, "But it definitely has something to do with the Dou family!"
Although she is not close to her eldest brother because she is the daughter-in-law of her third wife, she usually addresses the Dou family members as "eldest aunt". Now she keeps saying "Dou family" every time, which shows how much she hates her!
"They probably thought that I was so busy and there were so many people last night that I would have no time to notice when Wan'er walked away from me or was called away by someone!" He Shuijin gritted his teeth and said, "These losers are too young. Look at me! I took charge of the Jiang family's general account book before I even got in front of the door. Why? Because I'm better than all the managers above and below me! Wan'er left twice last night. After leaving for the second time, I never came back—I remember the moments clearly, not to mention the people!
"At that time, Mrs. Dou made the child cry when she was holding the grandson of Zhao Guogong's family. A group of female relatives gathered around to coax her. Seeing that they couldn't coax her, I went to help... At that time, even though there were more than ten people around, including masters and servants, Personally, but from the corner of my eye, I clearly saw Wan'er being possessed by a steward in the main room for a moment, and then followed him out! "
At this point, she shed tears again and choked up, "I still don't know the nature of the person I brought out! Even if Wan'er wants to commit suicide for such a thing, she will definitely leave me a letter explaining it. I definitely wouldn't pass by without saying hello... Moreover, the Duke's Mansion is so big, why is she afraid of finding a remote corner? Especially so late! Isn't she afraid of meeting other people? !”
"Sister-in-law Fourteen is saying that Wan'er didn't commit suicide at all, but was killed?" Qiu Yilan asked solemnly.
"That's right!" He Shuijin wiped his face and said through gritted teeth, "Why did she take refuge outside the Duke's Mansion instead of inside the Duke's Mansion? Because yesterday was your big day. If she died here, , Grandpa and Grandma will definitely be furious and will definitely investigate to the end - when the time comes, the flaw in Dafang's frame-up of Bago will be exposed. But if she dies outside, even though Grandpa and Grandma will be unhappy, they will choose to keep things quiet so as not to ruin the family! The joy of it!”
"That's why I've been making a fuss just now to make it clear to Bage in person!" He Shuijin looked at the pale-faced little Tao, and whispered, "Firstly, it was for the big room to see, and secondly, I really I want to ask Brother Ba - I know that he was very drunk yesterday in order to stop drinking for Nineteen. If he was not found by the servants with Wan'er's underwear in his hand, I am afraid he would not admit that he touched Wan'er! But maybe if he thinks about it carefully, he can remember some clues?"
Little Mrs. Tao trembled with her lips, and after a while she said bitterly: "I'll turn around... and tell him for you!"
"Don't!" Jiang Yashuang shook his head, "Ever since Bage was a child, whenever he got into trouble and was about to be punished, his uncle and aunt would always stop him! So he always felt that his uncle and the others were very nice... Sister-in-law Eight, you can only use your own name to say this, and Sister-in-law Fourteen must not tell him about her suspicions!"
"My sister-in-law has been wronged today." He Shuijin calmed down and said apologetically, "Although I think there is a high possibility that Bago has been tricked, but... I won't tell you without evidence. Grandpa... I think it's better to just go ahead with the trick. . It’s just that I didn’t have time to tell my sister-in-law in advance, but she just spent half a day with me.”
He looked at Jiang Yashuang and Qiu Yilan and said, "Why bother you to make this trip."
"If I hadn't made this trip, I wouldn't have known that I would have offended someone just by walking in!" Qiu Yilan snorted coldly in her heart, and said on her face: "Sister-in-law Fourteen's words are too outrageous."
"In short, what happened this time was clearly because Dafang deliberately wanted to sow discord between our two families! Over the years, the deaf have heard how my grandfather has treated Dafang! They are so heartless!" He Shui Jin breathed a sigh of relief and said seriously, "We are all from the same lineage as my grandfather, so I won't say much else - my relationship with Wan'er, my efforts to cultivate her, I will never let go of this matter. The eldest brother, please also ask the eighth sister-in-law, the 19th brother, and the 19th brother and sister to be careful when things happen in the future. Since the eldest brother plans to divide us, I’m afraid he won’t harm just one Wan’er!”
... When they returned to the yard where they lived, Jiang Yashuang's former maid Caiqi came up to greet them: "My maid boldly decided to place the dinner in the pavilion on the rockery because the weather was very stuffy and there was wind there, blowing..." readily."
Neither of them had any objections. They sat down in the pavilion, and the gusts of wind blew the cool raindrops, which seemed to float into the pavilion. It was indeed indescribably comfortable.
"The Marquis is as deep as the sea." Qiu Yilan couldn't help but sigh as she played with the small porcelain cup and looked at the endless flowers and trees of the huge Duke's Mansion outlined by the lights far and near in the rain.
Jiang Yashuang knew that she meant what He Shuijin had just revealed about Wan'er's murder. She pondered for a moment and asked the servants to retreat to the foot of the rockery after serving the food. She said calmly: "It's deeper than you think - You just came here, and you don’t know much about the people and things in the family. You’re tired today, so you probably didn’t pay attention to what Sister-in-law Fourteen just said, and there’s no evidence for it!”
"..." Qiu Yilan stopped spinning the porcelain cup and looked at him in surprise.
Jiang Yashuang looked at the rain curtain outside the pavilion with a heavy gaze: "Wan'er may have been harmed by Bago; it may have been harmed by Dafang; it may even have been her who was pushed out and sacrificed by the fourteenth sister-in-law in order to tell us what she said today! "
Qiu Yilan's thoughts raced: "Because... because my father is in charge of the Zhenbei Army?"
"That's right!" Jiang Yashuang said lightly, "Because of my grandfather's consistent attitude, although the third uncle was unwilling to give in, he was always suppressed by the uncle. He very much hopes that our father can stand on his side... But my father just wants to fight now. Take care of the Zhenbei Army, and don’t want to be dragged into the water, so no matter what the big house or the third house says, don’t believe it too much!”
"...I know." Qiu Yilan took another look at the shadows far and near in the dark night - during the day, looking at the dark willows and bright flowers, and the golden buildings, on this rainy night, they all seemed like thousands of mountains in the distance. Thousands of mountains, complex and deep, with hidden malice.
Wherever the lights shine, the drizzle is like silver threads, dyed by the firelight like green mist. Those blurry and chaotic lights in the night are just like the people's hearts in this mansion, dim and unpredictable.
(End of this volume.)