Chapter 331

Chapter 331: Killed When Cui Lingrong learned about Qiuju's mother, she knew that Qiuju's death was inextricably linked to Zhao Susu. She arranged to meet with Madam Li again. After hearing this, Madam Li was momentarily stunned but not particularly surprised. "This does seem like something Madam Zhao would do, but nothing unusual has happened around her recently. Why would she kill Qiuju?" "Qiuju served in her quarters, so she must have discovered something," Cui Lingrong said. "Speaking of which, there is something strange that I happened to learn about by chance," Madam Li said, lowering her voice. "Madam Zhao has been especially favoring Wang Hechun's Wife lately. Some time ago, when Wang Hechun's Wife was punished, logically she should have promoted someone else to serve in her rooms. But Madam Zhao wouldn't let anyone else in, which is quite puzzling." Even when Madam Li's daughter visited Wutong Courtyard, Madam Zhao would send them away before they had sat for long. Madam Li thought for a moment. "Based on this, Qiuju shouldn't have been serving inside the rooms. How could she have learned Madam Zhao's secrets?" "Is Wang Hechun's Wife the only one serving in her rooms?" Cui Lingrong asked. "Yes, and I don't know how long this has been going on. I only found out recently when Wang Hechun's Wife fell ill. My second sister-in-law also told me that Madam Zhao doesn't trust outsiders—she's done too many bad things and fears someone might harm her," Madam Li said. "That is puzzling. If she fears being harmed, she could simply choose from her own people. Their indentures are all in her hands—what is there to fear?" Cui Lingrong said. Madam Li nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Who knows what she's thinking?" Madam Li then brought up Du Cheng, saying she still hadn't found any trace of him. "I even went to my second sister-in-law's place to look around, being rather petty about it, but found nothing. I also sat for a while at Wutong Courtyard." "Alright, thank you for your help." Cui Lingrong then asked about the family division. "Old Madame still won't agree, but my second sister-in-law manages the main kitchen, and Madam Zhao has had trouble getting food and water—she's already caused several scenes. I heard from Third Master that the Marquis is starting to consider it. It probably won't hold much longer." Madam Li felt increasingly hopeful at the thought of the family division. Life under Madam Zhao's control was truly suffocating. Cui Lingrong thanked Madam Li and brought some fabric to the Du residence. She said she happened to be passing by and came in to visit. "I just came back from the cloth shop and brought you some fabric. I hope I'm not disturbing you?" Mrs. He warmly invited Cui Lingrong to sit down. "Not at all. These days, anyone who still comes to visit is someone who thinks well of us." Without the Rong Prince Mansion, life for the couple had not been easy. "Speaking of which, I heard that Cheng ger is no longer attending the Guozijian?" Cui Lingrong was quite surprised to learn this. "How could that be? I saw him going to the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion just the other day." "What? He went to the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion? Are you sure you weren't mistaken?" Mrs. He became agitated. Cui Lingrong said she was certain. "That wretched boy! Zhao Susu doesn't even acknowledge him as her son, yet he insists on clinging to her." Mrs. He grew angrier as she spoke. "He was born into poverty. If the Du family hadn't adopted him, who knows where he'd be eating scraps. He finally got into the Guozijian, and now he just stops studying without a word. When the old master found out, he was furious. We usually can't even find him. Since you're sure you saw him, I'll go find Zhao Susu tomorrow!" Cui Lingrong said she was indeed certain. "I just wonder if Cheng ger has already left, since it's been some time." "Then I'll still go find Zhao Susu. She can't think that just because she's remarried, she can wash her hands of us. The Rong Prince Mansion may be finished, but she's still here—she can't cut off our support!" Mrs. He snorted. "Ah, studying is such an important matter. Cheng ger must have been led astray by someone. You should find him quickly, or Elder Master Du won't rest in peace." Cui Lingrong urged repeatedly. Mrs. He said, "Don't worry. Our Du family spent so much effort and resources raising him. If that boy won't behave, he can get out of the Du family!" That night, when Du Shinan returned, Mrs. He brought up the matter. The next day, the couple went to the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. When Zhao Susu learned they had come, she refused to see them. But Mrs. He made it clear: "Go tell your mistress that if she won't come to see me, I'm not leaving. She knows us well—I don't mind moving back into the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. Now that she manages the household, it would be even more comfortable." With no other choice, Zhao Susu had to come see the couple. "Madam Zhao, where is Cheng ger?" Du Shinan demanded. "Haven't I already told you? I don't know where he is!" Madam Zhao snapped. "I said this last time—why won't you believe me?" "It's not that we don't believe you. Someone saw Cheng ger come looking for you. Since such a big matter happened and you didn't come to tell us, we've come to demand the person from you," Mrs. He said. Zhao Susu was utterly disgusted with the Du family. "You can't keep track of your own people, and you have the nerve to come pester me. Where am I supposed to find him for you? Mrs. He, Du Shinan, have some shame, will you? The house you're living in now belongs to the Rong Prince Mansion!" "That's right, so we don't feel at ease living there—that's why we've come to rely on you instead." Mrs. He snorted. "Let me tell you, the old master already knows that Cheng ger has left the Guozijian. You'd better hand Cheng ger over, or else when the old master comes to Bianjing, you know what will happen!" "The old immortal is coming to Bianjing?" "Zhao Susu, who are you calling an old immortal?" At the mention of Old Master Du, Zhao Susu's face stiffened. She still harbored some fear of Old Master Du. Du Shinan: "So you do know fear after all? Let me tell you—if you're smart, you'll find Cheng ger. If you can't find him, then have the Rong Prince Mansion find him!" Just as Du Shinan said this, Song Shulan happened to return. Passing through the front hall, he overheard Du Shinan's words and immediately put on a stern face. "Find what? She, Zhao Susu, has long had no connection to your Du family. That Du Cheng is nothing but a scoundrel—you might as well strike him from the family registry!" Song Shulan forbade Zhao Susu from helping. "Fine then—if Zhao Susu won't help, just wait and see." Mrs. He's words carried a hidden meaning. "Marquis Song, this matter isn't for you to decide. Zhao Susu may not necessarily listen to you. Oh, and Zhao Susu, you're managing the household now, aren't you? Starting this month, send us an extra hundred taels of silver." "A hundred taels?" Zhao Susu clenched her fists. "That's right. You lost the person—shouldn't you give us a bit more money?" Mrs. He said as she rose, and when she passed by Song Shulan, she gave him an extra look. "Marquis Song, do take care of yourself?" Song Shulan had been perfectly fine, but hearing Mrs. He say that, he suddenly felt his breathing grow heavy. He recalled Cui Lingrong saying that Du Shibei had been poisoned to death by Zhao Susu. Now Mrs. He was demanding a hundred taels of silver, and Zhao Susu hadn't refused. This made him even more suspicious. It wasn't until the He couple had left that Song Shulan demanded, "Are you really going to give them money?" "My affairs are none of your business." Zhao Susu didn't want to talk more with Song Shulan. "Zhao Susu, do you have some leverage the Du family holds over you?" Song Shulan grew more certain. "Before, when they asked you to arrange things for Du Cheng, you did it. Now they come looking for trouble, and though you're angry, you still endure it." Very strange indeed. Zhao Susu shook off Song Shulan's hand. "I... what leverage could I possibly have?" "If you had no leverage, you'd have thrown them out long ago. You, Zhao Susu, have never been one with a good temper, yet you even arranged lodging for them. Tell me the truth—did you do something shameful in the Du family?" Song Shulan stared at Zhao Susu, trying to find a flaw. But Zhao Susu grew furious. "What shameful thing could I possibly have done? Fine, fine, fine—if you won't let me handle it, then I won't! I'll go tell my father right away to drive them out. But Song Shulan, are you really so certain that my Rong Prince Mansion will never rise again?" Once her father regained the Emperor's favor, she would make Song Shulan bring her water to wash her feet! Song Shulan said nothing. Zhao Susu took his silence as agreement. "Fine, I misjudged you. You, Song Shulan, are nothing but a snob!" She returned to Wutong Court and embraced Du Cheng, weeping. "I was truly blind back then—how could I have married someone like Song Shulan? If not for my father and mother, would he be where he is today?" "Song Shulan really has gone too far. He can't perform as a man, and his character isn't manly either. Someone like him—living and still making you suffer. Susu, don't cry. I'll kill him for you, so he can never hurt you again!" Du Cheng said he would vent her anger. Zhao Susu hurriedly said no. "If you kill him, you'll lose your life too. For someone like him, it's not worth it!" "But I can't bear to see him hurt you! And as long as he lives, we can never be together openly." "I... I have a way. Let me handle it." In her urgency, Zhao Susu grabbed Du Cheng's hand. "Don't act rashly. Leave it all to me—I can make him die without a sound."