The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Chapter 656: Chapter 656: Playing Dumb at a Loss

Madam Song returned from the Duke Mansion and went straight to Song Ci’s Chunhui Hall, her face dark and unsightly.

Song Ci looked at the nanny: ”Serve Madam a cup of Lotus Seed And Chrysanthemum Tea, it’s best not to let her get annoyed during the winter.”

Both Jiang Shi and Lu Shi were present, but they didn’t avoid suspicion; they also wanted to know what results the investigation at the Duke Mansion yielded.

Results?

”What results could there be? After investigating over and over, they just brought forth an inconspicuous scapegoat to fool us, saying that our Qi’er had once severely punished that maid, and that maid bore a grudge, always thinking about revenge, but had no opportunity to do so. Only by chance did she manage to accomplish the task of hiding the medicine.” Madam Song took a big gulp of the Chrysanthemum Tea handed over by the nanny.

Song Ci asked, ”Who is that maid affiliated with?”

Madam Song’s face darkened further.

”She’s a third-class maid from Ming Garden, rumored to be very close to Su Qing. Seeing that Su Qing is dead and the investigation into the bracelet is intense, she was scared, had nightmares, and talked in her sleep, which was overheard by a fellow maid in the room and reported.” She snorted coldly: ”When asked where the forbidden medicine came from and how she knew the bracelet had a secret compartment, she said that a month ago, a woman in a black robe had told her and given her the medicine, along with a piece of gold as a reward.”

”That third-class maid was also serving in the cleaning room. Taking advantage of the moment when Qi’er removed her bracelet to bathe, she hid the medicine inside it. Doesn’t this sound like nonsense? How could such a coincidence occur.”

Jiang Shi frowned and asked, ”Did she see what the person in the black robe looked like?”

”She said she did see her, but the person was dressed in black and hidden in the shadows, making it impossible to distinguish her appearance,” Madam Song replied: ”However, they found that piece of gold and two tablets under the maid’s bed. Then, you know what happened? When that maid was detained in the firewood room awaiting punishment, she hanged herself with a belt on the door, conveniently eliminating any evidence.”

Lu Shi, upon hearing this, said: ”It seems like they hastily concluded and finalized the matter, or as elder sister-in-law said, they just pushed someone out to take the blame.”

Madam Song sneered: ”That’s exactly it; they are underestimating us.”

Song Ci, twirling prayer beads, said: ”Even if they uncovered the real mastermind, they wouldn’t make a fuss about it, for the sake of reputation. A scapegoat must be prepared, and if it were you, you would only push out those who don’t really matter.”

Madam Song was at a loss for words, somewhat indignant: ”Is this not forcing us to suffer in silence?”

”The other side has already provided both witness and evidence; you have to swallow it, unless you don’t want to live a peaceful life. Besides, this matter wasn’t easy to investigate from the start. To trace where the medicine came from and when it was placed would require a vast amount of manpower and time. If you want to know the truth, Qi’er will have to gradually investigate it herself.” Song Ci’s motion with the prayer beads appeared rather indifferent.

Lu Shi then asked: ”Mother, who do you think is most suspicious?”

”It’s hard to say. Generally, in such cases, consider who benefits the most, but the complexity within Duke Ying Mansion is hard to decipher.” Song Ci inquired: ”Are there any personnel changes in the Duke Mansion?”

Upon hearing this, Madam Song had a somewhat meaningful expression and said: ”After the matter of the medicine surfaced, although the second lady explicitly pinned it on Su Qing, the tone she used suggested she was implicating the heir’s wife. After all, she also had a bracelet and was in charge of the household, making it too easy to act. To avoid suspicion, the heir’s wife relinquished her management power.”