Ling Qingwan still remembered that the last time she saw Qiao'er, she was still a maid sweeping the front yard. She was dark and thin, not very likable.
At that time, the old lady had just promised Ling Qingwan that she would not interfere in the affairs of the mansion from then on and enjoy her old age in Fuluxuan. But Ling Qingwan was still a little worried. After all, the old lady's heart was still with Ling Chuchu.
As long as Ling Chuchu makes a fuss, the old lady will probably still help her.
Therefore, Ling Qingwan thought of placing someone of her own in Fuluxuan.
But most of the people in Fuluxuan had served the old lady for many years and had long been loyal to her. It was also by chance that Ling Qingwan saw Qiao'er.
She wanted to promote Qiao Er, so she told the old lady about her temperament and preferences. The rest depended on Qiao Er's own luck. Unexpectedly, Qiao Er was so successful. In just a few months, she became a favorite of the old lady.
Now that the old lady has Qiao Er by her side, she is no longer as kind to Ling Chuchu as before. In addition, Ling Chuchu is a bad person by nature, so the old lady sees through her even more.
"Why did you come to see me at this time?" Ling Qingwan asked with a smile.
"I'll go to the kitchen to prepare food for the old lady, and I'll come and say hello to you when I have time." Qiao'er responded.
"It seems that you have gained the old lady's trust and become the person in charge by her side." Ling Qingwan was very pleased with this.
"It is because of the young lady's cultivation that I was able to succeed." Qiao'er said modestly.
"I just told you a few words about the old lady's preferences. In the final analysis, it's because you are smart." Ling Qingwan's eyes were full of tenderness.
The two exchanged a few casual pleasantries.
"By the way, Miss, the eldest lady just came to Fuluxuan." Qiao'er told Ling Qingwan.
"Why did she go to Fuluxuan? To ask for money?" Ling Qingwan sneered.
She knew Ling Chuchu very well.
Whether in the past life or this life, Ling Chuchu has never changed and has always been a greedy and selfish person.
"If it was just for money, the old lady wouldn't be so worried." Qiao'er shook her head. "I was outside the courtyard at the time, so I couldn't hear it clearly. I only vaguely remember that the eldest lady mentioned the word dowry."
dowry
A sharp light suddenly flashed in Ling Qingwan's eyes.
Qiao'er still had things to do, so after saying hello to Ling Qingwan, she left in a hurry.
Ling Qingwan's expression became more serious.
"Miss, this afternoon, your wife came to Lanyuan to talk to you about the dowry, and then Ling Chuchu went to the old lady to discuss the dowry. She heard the news too quickly." Nanny Park sighed.
"I thought so too." Ling Qingwan frowned.
She suspected that there was a spy in Lanyuan or Lingshen's side.
"Madam Park, please ask Hong Chang to go with you and check if there is any suspicious person who leaked the information to Ling Chu Chu."
"I'll do it right away!" Nanny Pu agreed immediately.
Madam Park had been to both places before, so she was very familiar with them. Hong Chang was also very smart. Within half an hour, the two of them had found the informer.
It turned out to be a maid working in Ling Shen's courtyard.
When Ling Qingwan and her group found Mrs. Zhuang, she did not resist. As soon as she saw Ling Qingwan, she knelt down.
In this case, there is no need to ask her if it is true or not. She has already admitted it anyway.
"Mrs. Zhuang, why is it you..."
Nanny Park let out a long sigh.
Mrs. Zhuang had been with Ling Shen for more than 20 years, and she was an old acquaintance of Madam Pu. Not to mention Madam Pu, even Ling Qingwan couldn't believe that Mrs. Zhuang would help Ling Chuchu.
"I was bewitched and had evil intentions. I am so sorry to the Madam and Miss. I deserve to die!" Mrs. Zhuang choked up.
Ling Qingwan frowned.
"Mrs. Zhuang, can you tell me why you want to help Ling Chuchu? What benefits did she give you?"
"Just tell me, Mrs. Zhuang. Since the young lady has asked about you, she can find out even if you don't tell her." Seeing that Mrs. Zhuang was hesitating, Nanny Park advised her.
Afterwards, Mrs. Zhuang told Ling Qingwan why she helped Ling Chuchu.
It turned out that Mrs. Zhuang had three children, two daughters and a son. Because they had a child in their old age, Mrs. Zhuang and her husband doted on the youngest son, so they spoiled him to be lawless and turned him into an idle hooligan.
Although the youngest son had no ability, he had no bad intentions, so Mrs. Zhuang turned a blind eye to it. Originally, her youngest son married a wife and had a daughter, but the daughter-in-law thought that the youngest son was idle and had no future, so she wrote a letter of divorce.
From then on, the youngest son and his daughter lived off Mrs. Zhuang.
As a result, some time ago, for some reason, the youngest son got addicted to gambling and lost a lot of money. He couldn't pay it back, so he had to ask Mrs. Zhuang for help. Where did Mrs. Zhuang get so much money? Just when she was worried, Ling Chuchu found her and said she could give her money.
Mrs. Zhuang was desperate and had to agree to the request.
"Granny Zhuang, have you ever thought that the Ling Mansion is not what it used to be like when it was a marquis' mansion? The monthly allowance for each courtyard is much less. Ling Chuchu doesn't even have enough money for herself, so where would she get the money to help your son pay back the debt?" Ling Qingwan's tone was gentle, but mixed with a hint of helplessness.
Mrs. Zhuang was stunned for a moment before she finally understood.
"How much silver does your son owe?" Ling Qingwan asked again.
"Five thousand taels." Mrs. Zhuang told Ling Qingwan.
Five thousand taels? Even if she sold Ling Chuchu, she couldn't get that much. She could only deceive the innocent Zhuang Pozi.
"Are you sure your son really lost so much money in gambling?"
"I haven't seen it with my own eyes. But some time ago, someone did come to our house to collect debts. My husband told me about it. Later, he promised to help the eldest lady, and the creditors never came again." Mrs. Zhuang still had a little hope in her heart.
At least her son didn't lie to her.
After Ling Qingwan had found out what happened, she stopped talking to Mrs. Zhuang and asked Madam Pu to take Mrs. Zhuang to the woodshed and lock her up, and make plans the next day.
She needs to investigate this matter carefully.
The next day.
When Nanny Park came to open the door and saw the scene inside, she was stunned.
Mrs. Zhuang died in a miserable way.
There were only sickles and firewood in the woodshed, and Mrs. Zhuang used the sickle to cut her wrist. When Madam Pu saw her, she had already fallen in a pool of blood, which had already dried up.
Upon learning that Mrs. Zhuang had committed suicide, Ling Shen was extremely sad and even issued an order to give Mrs. Zhuang a grand funeral.
At the same time, the matter that Ling Qingwan sent Mingyue to investigate two days ago has also had results.
"Miss, as you expected, Granny Zhuang's son is not addicted to gambling. He was bribed by Ling Chuchu to help Ling Chuchu deceive Granny Zhuang and let Granny Zhuang do things for Ling Chuchu." Mingyue told Ling Qingwan.
Ling Qingwan's heart trembled.
Even though she had been prepared, Ling Qingwan still felt mixed emotions after confirming the truth.
Unexpectedly... Granny Zhuang was eventually killed by her own son.