"It was for the Fifth Master. After the Mistress instructed to purchase it, I was to leave the wine at the entrance of the Fifth Master’s Courtyard. There’s always a wine jar there. I simply exchanged the wine I bought with the one in the jar, so no one would notice anything unusual."
"Did you know this wine had sothing to do with the Gu Insects from Nanjiang?"
Mrs. Liu hastily shook her head. "I didn’t know!"
"You didn’t know? Then why would you help Mrs. Lin buy the wine, and for more than a decade at that?"
Hearing Ji Youzhi’s question, Mrs. Liu couldn’t help but look up at Mrs. Lin and say, "She is my Master! And I... I am a servant. When the Master tells a servant to do sothing, naturally, I do it. Why would there be so many questions?"
Ji Youzhi sneered. "Is that so? I’ve investigated your background. You were originally Mrs. Lin’s dowry maid. Less than two years after Mrs. Lin married into the family, you were married off to one of the Xie Family’s long-term laborers. After your marriage, instead of staying ho to care for your husband and children, you went to the Xie Family’s Kitchen to specifically oversee Mrs. Lin’s als. Such a comfortable job is hard to find in the entire Capital City. What’s more, your wages were quite generous! Look at the material of the clothes you’re wearing; it’s much finer than that of the Xie Family’s own Third Young Mistress."
Hearing Ji Youzhi’s words, Elder Mrs. Xie’s anger flared, and she slamd her hand on the table.
"Mrs. Liu! If you still refuse to speak, there’ll be no need for Divine Hunter Ji to throw you into the Celestial Prison. I’ll have you beaten half to death first!"
Elder Mrs. Xie’s furious shout terrified Mrs. Liu.
"No, Elder Madam, please, I beg you!" Mrs. Liu pleaded with Elder Mrs. Xie, then turned to Mrs. Lin. "Eldest Miss!"
Mrs. Lin glared at her furiously but said nothing.
"Elder Madam, this matter... C-can I not speak of it here?"
Mrs. Liu glanced at the people around them, then kowtowed to Mrs. Lin. "I am sorry, Eldest Miss! I... This servant has failed you!"
Mrs. Lin kicked Mrs. Liu hard in the chest. "Useless thing!"
Elder Mrs. Xie heard her words. She must be implying sothing, she thought. Occasionally, she knew a thing or two about why Mrs. Lin made things difficult for the Luo Family. So, she said to Xie Zian, "Eldest son, take everyone else and leave now!"
Xie Zian was reluctant. "Mother! I... If I leave, what if they make baseless accusations?"
"Leave!" Elder Mrs. Xie ordered sharply.
Helpless, Xie Zian had no choice but to usher the mbers of the Second, Third, and Fourth Households who were involved in this matter out of the room.
Seeing that all uninvolved mbers of the Xie Family had departed, Elder Mrs. Xie then looked at Ji Youran, his wife, and Elder Mrs. Ji.
"Elder Mrs. Ji, it seems I must now attend to so family affairs. Might I trouble you to accompany the Princess and the others to the rear Garden for so tea and a rest?"
Elder Mrs. Ji was perplexed. But, rembering her purpose for coming, she said, "Elder Mrs. Xie, this matter doesn’t just concern your Xie Family affairs; it also involves Nanjiang! I trust you are aware that I ca here precisely because of the matter concerning your family’s Third Young Lady, Xie Pan’Er!"
Hearing this, Elder Mrs. Xie was quite incensed. She naturally knew Elder Mrs. Ji had co for Xie Pan’Er. "Elder Mrs. Ji, I personally assure you, once this matter is settled and my Xie Family is stable again, I will certainly give you a proper explanation!"
"Mother, it’s best you don’t involve yourself in this," Ji Youzhi interjected. "Why don’t you take Suisui to the rear Garden to rest for a bit? Leave the matters here to , your son."
Hearing Elder Mrs. Xie’s words, My objective has been achieved, Ji Youzhi thought, and subtly signaled to Elder Mrs. Ji with his eyes.
"Very well then," Elder Mrs. Ji said. "Mother will take Suisui out to rest. You just focus on investigating the case properly."
Elder Mrs. Ji led Suisui to the rear Garden. Xie Zian personally arranged for tea and refreshnts to be served to them, though he appeared quite distracted.
"Lord Xie," Elder Mrs. Ji said, "you must be very concerned about the case. Please, go attend to your business. Just ensure no one cos to disturb us here."
Xie Zian thanked her profusely and quickly departed.
Elder Mrs. Ji picked up a piece of Dim Sum. She glanced at Ji Youran, and though he said nothing, It’s fine, she understood.
"Suisui, would you like so Pastries?"
Instead of saying she wanted Pastries, Xiaosuisui opened her eyes wide and asked a question.
"Doesn’t Pretty Sister’s eldest paternal aunt like Pretty Sister’s dad? If she likes Pretty Sister’s dad, why would she use a Gu Insect on him?"
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