Chapter 490: Reason
Editor: Atlas Studios
Li Jinghua stood on the steps and looked down at them without saying a word. It was a hot day, but the person kneeling felt a chill run down her spine.
Fan Zijin rushed in from outside and glanced at the person kneeling on the ground. He asked, “Are Sister-in-law and the child alright?”
“Ah Ling is in good health. Although she gave birth early, she’s fine. The child is fine too.”
Fan Zijin heaved a huge sigh of relief. Although Spring had already said it outside, only upon hearing it from Li Jinghua was his heart put to ease completely.
He turned to look at the person kneeling on the ground and asked, “Is this the person who harmed Sister-in-law?”
The group of people on the ground lowered their bodies even more. Some of them were even trembling.
Li Jinghua said slowly, “We don’t know how many people are involved for the time being, but since we can pry open one person’s mouth, we can naturally pry open the mouth of the second person. Wen Cui, lock them up separately so that the rest of them can’t collude. All of you here serve Fourth Master and Fourth Madam. Putting aside Fourth Madam’s temper, you should know what kind of temper your Fourth Master has. You should also know how much he dotes on your Fourth Madam and Third Young Master. You should think twice about what to do.”
A maidservant immediately went limp and collapsed to the ground. Anyone could tell that there was definitely something wrong with her. The person kneeling beside her immediately moved a few steps to the side, as if this could draw a clear line between the two of them.
Wen Cui got someone to drag the maidservant away and lock her up in a room before locking up the rest of the people. This time, other than her, Rain, and Mama Wang, even Summer and Autumn were ordered to be arrested. Regardless of whether they were from the Jingzhao Prefecture or the original Qi Residence, they were all treated equally.
Seeing that Summer and the other young lasses were so frightened that their faces turned pale, Wen Cui whispered, “Don’t worry. Fourth Madam is soft-hearted. As long as you don’t do anything wrong, you will be released after they investigate thoroughly.”
Summer nodded and thanked her with reddened eyes.
Seeing that the courtyard was empty, Li Jinghua went to the reception pavilion with Fan Zijin.
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Fan Zijin asked, “What about the maidservant who offended Sister-in-law? Did she confess?”
Li Jinghua’s expression was ugly. “She committed suicide the moment Ah Ling was carried into the delivery room. It was also my people who didn’t keep an eye on her and allowed her to find a chance.”
Fan Zijin’s face darkened and he could not help but sit up straight. “How did she die?”
“She hit her head on the rockery.” Li Jinghua’s expression darkened when she thought of what she had seen today. She took a deep breath and said, “As usual, Ah Ling will walk around the small garden a few times after breakfast every day. That maidservant is in charge of cleaning the small garden…”
Before Mu Yangling got pregnant, she would pull the bowstring 100 times a day. Sometimes, she would also practice martial arts to train her body. After she got pregnant, she did not dare to do these things anymore, but she still insisted on going out for a walk every day.
As her due date was only half a month away, Mu Yangling also felt that her body was becoming more and more cumbersome. She had reduced her exercise in the past few days, but she still appeared in the small garden on time. The maidservant who was sweeping the area pulled a young lass behind the rockery and spoke. Her voice was not loud, but others could hear her clearly. “Fourth Young Master is surrounded by hundreds of thousands of bandits in Jinghu. Now, his life is on the line. I wonder if Fourth Madam’s baby is a boy. If so, won’t there be no one to carry on the family name for Fourth Young Master?”
Mu Yangling was not a fool. This was a classic palace drama scene. She kept telling herself in her heart that their intention was to agitate her and that they wanted something to happen to her and the child. However, her heart could not help but ache. She could not help but worry about Qi Haoran, whom she had not heard from for half a month…
Even though Mu Yangling quickly controlled her emotions and told herself not to think too much, her stomach still hurt. The minute she felt her lower body become slightly wet, Mu Yangling knew that something had happened to her.
She made a prompt decision. As she called the young lass behind her to run next door to call Li Jinghua, she asked Rain to pull the maidservant and servant girl out.
Rain knew that girl. She was a fool, the daughter of a kitchen maid in the main kitchen. However, she had some strength and helped carry water in the courtyard. Clearly, that maidservant couldn’t find anyone for the time being and decided to make use of this girl.
Mu Yangling knew that this maidservant was either determined to die or was certain that she could not do anything to her.
The maidservant was slightly taken aback when she saw Mu Yangling standing there steadily while Spring guardedly stood in front of her. Just as she was about to do something, she heard Mu Yangling ask, “You said that Fourth Master is surrounded by bandits in Jinghu. Is that true?”
“Fourth Madam!” Spring said anxiously. “This maidservant is spouting nonsense. Don’t listen to her nonsense. Fourth Master is fine.”
Mu Yangling didn’t look at Spring, but at the maidservant. The maidservant heaved a sigh of relief, and an imperceptible smile appeared on her lips. When she looked up, she said compassionately, “It’s true. Fourth Madam, everyone in the residence knows and only hides it from you. If you don’t believe me, just ask any servant in this garden. Not only do we know, but even the commoners outside have heard about it.”
As soon as the maidservant finished speaking, Li Jinghua hurriedly brought someone over. Mu Yangling turned around and said, “Sister-in-law, I’ll leave this person to you. Watch her closely. Don’t let her die, and don’t let her escape!”
The maidservant’s expression changed drastically. Only then did she realize that Mu Yangling had been stalling for time. She turned around and was about to knock into the rockery when Rain reacted and hugged her waist. The two of them fell together, preventing her from committing suicide. Li Jinghua immediately got someone to tie her up. Only then did Mu Yangling hold onto Spring and say, “Sister-in-law, I’m afraid I’m about to give birth.”
Only then did Li Jinghua see the bloodstains on the lower half of her dress. Her expression changed drastically. Afraid that Mu Yangling would have a difficult labor like her, she did not dare to move her casually. She could only get someone to carry the spring stool carefully to Zhaode Hall. Then, she got someone to call everyone from Zhaohua Courtyard to kneel as punishment, afraid that there would be someone among them who posed a threat to Mu Yangling and the child in her womb.
In the Qi Residence, the safest place was none other than the Zhaode Hall. This was because the people from the Zhaode Hall were brought here by them from the Jingzhao Prefecture. They were also servants who had been with the family for many years and had the highest loyalty. That was why Li Jinghua designated Mu Yangling to give birth here.
Li Jinghua originally wanted to lock up the maidservant for the time being and interrogate her after Mu Yangling gave birth safely. Unexpectedly, when the person who went to escort her saw the maidservant sitting on the ground dejectedly, she let down her guard. Coupled with the fact that the maidservant’s hands were tied up, she did not pay much attention and directly dragged her along to lock her up. However, after taking just ten-odd steps out, the maidservant elbowed away the person beside her and banged her head against a rockery, dying immediately.
Afraid that Mu Yangling would be worried, Li Jinghua did not tell her about this. However, she had to tell Fan Zijin about this.
“With such a clumsy method, I’m afraid that the maidservant was intent on dying from the beginning.” Li Jinghua blamed herself. “It’s also my fault for not reminding them not to give her a chance to kill herself.”
Fan Zijin lowered his eyes and considered all suspicious persons in his heart. However, he was even more puzzled now.
The first person he suspected was Madam Wu and her daughters-in-law, but the three of them didn’t seem to be faking their reactions at the entrance of the courtyard. Then, who else would use such methods on Mu Yangling?
“Sister-in-law, there are too many suspicious points about Sister-in-law’s matter. It’s not convenient for me to interfere in your internal affairs, so I’ll leave this to you to investigate. If you need my help with anything outside, get someone to inform me. I’ll get someone to investigate.” Fan Zijin originally wanted to take over and investigate personally, but he was busy now. Moreover, it was indeed not appropriate for him to interfere in the Qi family’s internal affairs.
Li Jinghua naturally agreed.