Chapter 190

Chapter 190: The Loophole It was already dark, and a hanged person had appeared in the room. Cui Lingrong had everyone withdraw. She sent someone to find Lixiang's parents, but they wouldn't be able to come until the next day. As for Zheng Side, after a night had passed, there was news as well. Cui Lingrong woke up early and went over with Nanny Qiu. "This matter is no small thing, Eldest Young Madam," Nanny Qiu said in a low voice. "Could Concubine Zhuqing really be so ruthless—killing Zheng Side, and then killing Lixiang?" Could a pregnant woman have that kind of ability? To say Zhuqing could deal with Lixiang might be somewhat possible, but Zheng Side was a grown man—surely he couldn't have been defeated by Zhuqing? Nanny Qiu concluded, "Could there be an accomplice?" "Who?" Cui Lingrong asked. "People come and go through the marquis's residence. I'm aware of most of them, if not all. The person Zhuqing visits most often is none other than County Princess Rongjia. It can't be that County Princess Rongjia helped her deal with Zheng Side and then killed Lixiang, can it?" Nanny Qiu thought it over—that seemed unlikely. "You see, you can't think of anyone either. County Princess Rongjia needs the child in Zhuqing's womb, so perhaps she might indeed have acted against Zheng Side to protect Zhuqing. But why would County Princess Rongjia do it in the marquis's residence?" Cui Lingrong had already thought through all this last night. Acting within the marquis's residence would be nothing short of asking for trouble. Zheng Side was County Princess Rongjia's dowry servant. As long as County Princess Rongjia was displeased, she could find some excuse to punish him first, then assign him some undesirable task. Over time, once Zheng Side harbored resentment, she could drug him to silence and sell him off—no one would find it strange. Why resort to murder? To County Princess Rongjia, Zheng Side was someone she could deal with by simply lifting a finger. The current situation was most likely an unexpected turn of events—the killer probably hadn't intended for anyone to die. Cui Lingrong walked into the garden, where County Princess Rongjia, Song Shulan, and the others had already gathered. The coroner from the Rong Prince Mansion came forward to report, "County Mistress, Old Madame, Marquis, yesterday I conducted a thorough examination, and this morning I confirmed it as well. Zheng Side had wounds on his head, likely from impact, but there were no signs of pushing or shoving on his body. It's very possible he accidentally fell into the well himself. However..." "In broad daylight, how could he have fallen in by himself?" County Princess Rongjia couldn't help but interrupt. She was hoping the investigation would reveal murder, so she could pin the blame on Cui Lingrong. "County Mistress, please allow me to finish. However, on the back of Zheng Side's hand, there were several puncture holes. It appears that when he fell in, someone deliberately stabbed him to prevent him from climbing back out," the coroner said. Otherwise, a grown man—unless he was drunk—how could he have fallen in so carelessly? County Princess Rongjia pressed further, "What was used to stab him?" The coroner said he couldn't tell exactly, "But it was most likely something like a hairpin." A hairpin? That meant a woman. County Princess Rongjia turned to look at Cui Lingrong. Seeing that Cui Lingrong's expression remained calm, she began to scheme. At that moment, Old Madame Song asked, "Lady Cui, have you interrogated all the people who normally associated with Zheng Side?" "In response to Old Madame, all have been questioned. The gatekeeper said that every time Zheng Side came to deliver produce, he would slip the gatekeeper some benefits, saying he had a lover in the garden, but the gatekeeper didn't know who it was. As for those who drank with Zheng Side, they also said Zheng Side had been constantly seeking matchmakers to arrange a marriage—he very much wanted a Successor Wife," Cui Lingrong said, deliberately emphasizing the word "lover" to draw everyone's attention. Regarding the marriages of the servants in the marquis's residence, Cui Lingrong never interfered. If they took a liking to each other privately, they simply reported it to their master. Moreover, Zheng Side was County Princess Rongjia's dowry servant, and his indenture was also in County Princess Rongjia's hands. It wasn't Cui Lingrong's place to manage Zheng Side's marriage affairs. "Lover?" Old Madame Song's face darkened. "A lowly wretch—what does he take the marquis's residence for? Having a lover right here in the residence? Who is it? Have you found out?" Cui Lingrong said she hadn't. "What use are you then?" Old Madame Song scolded without mincing words. "You're the mistress of the household, and you didn't even know someone was carrying on right under your nose. Now that I ask you to investigate, you can't figure it out either. What kind of household are you managing?" People from the first, second, and third branches were present in the courtyard, though Madame Jiang was absent—she had recently given birth and wasn't well enough to attend such occasions. Madam Li remained silent as always, offering no opinion. County Princess Rongjia raised an eyebrow. "That's right, Sister Cui. Two people have died in the marquis's residence in a row, and such filthy deeds have been committed. You're really not up to the task." "Before County Mistress says such things, shouldn't she consider whose man Zheng Side was? And on whose account was he able to deliver produce to the marquis's residence?" After Cui Lingrong had regained her authority over household management, she had replaced most of County Princess Rongjia's people, but some who were less important she had left in place, lest she be accused of targeting County Princess Rongjia or being heartless. Now that she had spoken, Song Shulan also realized that Zheng Side's matter should be handled by County Princess Rongjia. "County Mistress, don't make things more complicated." Hearing this, County Princess Rongjia could barely contain her anger—what did he mean by her making things more complicated? At this moment, Cui Lingrong pointed out the connection between Zhuqing and Zheng Side, "Zhuqing's aunt is Zheng Side's biological sister. On several previous occasions, people also saw Zheng Side meeting with Zhuqing. I've already sent people to the estate to find Nanny Zheng. After all, who Zheng Side was introduced to and who he was involved with—his biological sister might know something." As she spoke, Zhuqing was brought in, also fetched by Cui Lingrong's orders. Cui Lingrong looked over, "I imagine you already know Zheng Side is dead. Do you know who the woman Zheng Side spoke of as his sweetheart is?" "Sweetheart?" Zhuqing let out an "ah" and pondered for a moment before saying she didn't know. "He did come to find me on behalf of my aunt. Mindful of my aunt's kindness, I entrusted him to bring some silver to her, so her days wouldn't be too hard. First Young Madam, could it be..." "Who?" County Princess Rongjia saw Zhuqing pause and urged her to speak quickly. Zhuqing's voice grew softer, "Could it be Lixiang? Those few times Zheng the estate head came, I noticed them exchanging flirtatious glances. And right after Zheng Side died, Lixiang hanged herself—could she have killed herself out of fear?" Generally speaking, a man like Zheng Side from outside would find it difficult to come into contact with young maidservants. His coming to find Zhuqing made logical sense, and it was normal for him to have seen Lixiang. It was indeed possible the two had taken a liking to each other. At that moment, Lixiang's mother had also gone to view Lixiang's body. Caiyue came to report that Lixiang's family had recently arranged a marriage for her—"The groom had already lost two wives and was forty years old, but Lixiang's father was gravely ill and urgently needed money for treatment, so her family had no choice but to arrange such a match for her." This also matched Zhuqing's claim that Lixiang had been downcast. Having a sweetheart of her own while her family arranged for her to marry an old man—how could Lixiang be willing? "Could it be that Lixiang had a quarrel with Zheng Side?" Old Madame Song felt the matter had become clear. "Then Zheng Side fell into the well, and Lixiang, unwilling to marry someone else and learning her lover was already dead, killed herself out of guilt?" Song Shulan also thought this logic held, yet felt something was off. County Princess Rongjia didn't want to see this outcome and questioned, "Then why did she steal Zhuqing's gold bracelet?" "Exactly. Her family was short on money—she should have stolen the bracelet and given it to her family first, rather than wearing it while waiting to die." As Cui Lingrong spoke, her gaze deliberately swept across Zhuqing's face. "Moreover, Zheng Side was an estate head managing an entire estate, with no small amount of perks at his disposal. If Lixiang liked Zheng Side, marrying him would still bring a bride price to treat her father—why would her family need to arrange another man for her?" "What if Zheng Side was stingy, unwilling to give money, or didn't want to marry Lixiang?" Zhuqing said anxiously. Cui Lingrong smiled, "As I said earlier, Zheng Side was eager to take a successor wife. So what reason would he have not to want to marry Lixiang? He was a man past thirty, and Lixiang was so young—Zheng Side had no reason not to marry her. As for the bride price, no matter who he married, Zheng Side would have to pay one. Zhuqing, you said Zheng Side and Lixiang were sweethearts, which means Zheng Side liked Lixiang." A deception always has its flaws. While everyone was still mulling it over, Cui Lingrong continued, "Since Lixiang's mother is here too, have her come over for questioning. If we're going to investigate, let's do it thoroughly, lest Old Madame thinks I'm incompetent in managing the household." The moment she gave the order, Caiyue went to fetch the woman. Zhuqing's heart sank heavily. Her lies couldn't withstand scrutiny. Never mind Lixiang's mother coming—when her aunt arrived, how would she cover up her story then?