The Second Madam waved her hand and said, "I’m fine." As she spoke, she took Nanny Xing’s hand and said, "You will take so won with you tonight; we can’t wait any longer."
Nanny Xing thought for a mont and then nodded.
As night fell, Nanny Xing led two won, crouching low as they crossed the garden, heading straight for the Fourth Madam’s courtyard. They circled around to a small gate, climbed over the low wall, and poured tung oil over a row of chairs...
Since the Fourth Madam had left Zitan and Nanny Li behind, it was impossible for her to stay elsewhere. Nanny Xing had inquired carefully, and it was very likely that this row of overturned chairs was where Nanny Li and Zitan were being held.
"Be careful, apply the oil thickly!" Nanny Xing whispered, lowering her voice.
The won responded quietly, and the three of them busied themselves with pouring oil against the wall.
"Do you need a flint?" Just then, around them, over a dozen torches suddenly lit up, illuminating the entire backyard as if it were daylight.
Nanny Xing looked toward Fourth Master Xiao, standing with an air of nace, his hands behind his back, then noticed Xiao Yanyi, whose face was filled with shock but couldn’t conceal his disgust. Her legs gave way, and with a thud, she fell to the ground!
"Marquis... Fourth Master..."
Fourth Master Xiao, however, did not even glance at her. With a wave of his robe sleeve, he ordered, "Bind them!"
Tiancheng led a few servants forward and quickly tied up Nanny Xing and the two won.
As if prepared in advance, the courtyard, which had been dark monts ago, was now lit with dozens of lanterns. Nanny Xing and the others knelt on the ground. Fourth Master Xiao glanced at Xiao Yanyi and instructed, "Go invite the Grand Dowager, the First Madam, and the Second Madam!"
A trial was to be held.
Nanny Xing had her mouth gagged, and she looked at Xiao Yanyi pleadingly, shaking her head repeatedly.
Within less than a quarter of an hour, the Grand Dowager, supported by Nanny Wu, arrived. Seeing Nanny Xing tied on the ground, she asked, "What happened?" Fourth Master Xiao succinctly explained the situation. The Grand Dowager looked at Xiao Yanyi in disbelief, "Setting the house on fire?"
Xiao Yanyi’s eyes were filled with grief as he nodded silently.
The Grand Dowager wavered, her vision darkening montarily. She held onto Nanny Wu’s arm, trembling uncontrollably, "Why would she set the house on fire?"
Fourth Master Xiao looked at the Grand Dowager, a hint of sarcasm in his eyes, "Naturally, to kill and silence witnesses!" The Grand Dowager beca more bewildered. How had things escalated to murder and covering up?
Fourth Master Xiao coldly commanded, "Bring everyone up."
Tiancheng and Tianjing led a few servants to the backyard and brought out Nanny Li and Zitan, who had been detained.
The Grand Dowager saw Zitan, who had been sent away from the residence, and Nanny Li, who hadn’t appeared in the residence for several days. Her face full of suspicion, she looked at Fourth Master Xiao, "What’s going on? How did they end up in your courtyard?"
"Mother, please wait a little longer," Fourth Master Xiao said with a sarcastic tone, "Let’s wait for the Second Sister-in-law to arrive before explaining."
Zitan’s face, though pale and covered with red rashes, was no longer feverish... Nanny Li was also bound at the hands and feet, and because she hadn’t bathed for days, she exuded a strong stench.
The First Madam arrived, and as soon as she entered, she wore a look of surprise, just like the Grand Dowager, then she stood understandingly behind her.
The courtyard was filled with people, yet no one spoke.
There was a deathly silence.
Every gaze was fixed on the entrance, waiting for the Second Madam to arrive!
After a long while, when the Second Madam still hadn’t arrived, Fourth Master Xiao furrowed his brows and said, "Mother, if you want to know sothing, just ask!"
The Grand Dowager looked somberly at Zitan, asking, "The people in the residence said you had smallpox. Why are you now in the Fourth House?"
Zitan’s wounds on her back had not healed, and as she knelt, she swayed slightly. She kowtowed to the Grand Dowager and replied, "Grand Dowager, this servant didn’t have smallpox; it was... it was Nanny Li who forced dicine on this servant."
The Grand Dowager’s eyes were like daggers as she glanced at Nanny Li, then scrutinized Zitan, asking, "Why did she force dicine on you?" Zitan, kneeling there, recounted the events in detail: "This servant replaced all the dicine packets the night before. Later, when everyone went to Xing’s room, this servant replaced all the dicine packets again... Grand Dowager, this servant was following the Second Madam’s orders. Otherwise, even with a hundred guts, this servant wouldn’t dare!"
The Grand Dowager’s fingers gripped the armrest of the chair tightly, as if she’d fall if she didn’t.
The Grand Dowager looked at Nanny Li again, "Is what she said true?"
Soone tugged the cloth from Nanny Li’s mouth, and after coughing for a while, she shook her head repeatedly, "No, Grand Dowager, you mustn’t believe her nonsense. How could the Second Madam do such a thing?"
Nanny Xing also nodded repeatedly.
The Grand Dowager wanted to ask more, but Fourth Master Xiao, full of impatience, said, "Beat her until she tells the truth!"
Nanny Li’s face changed, catching sight of Nanny Liu leading a few won over with thick wooden sticks. She kowtowed to Xiao Yanyi, "Marquis, Marquis, the Second Madam is your lawful wife; you must believe her, Marquis... you must believe the Second Madam."
Nanny Liu did not wait for her to finish, going straight up to slap her twice. Instead of dragging her away, they held her down on the ground and beat her.
With so many n and won around, Nanny Li, despite her age and thick skin, couldn’t endure it. She gritted her teeth through four or five blows before repeatedly pleading for rcy, "I’ll talk, I’ll talk!"
Fourth Master Xiao waved his hand, and Nanny Liu stepped back.
Nanny Li, lying on the ground, recounted the events described by Zitan and ntioned how she went to the main kitchen to drug Zitan.
Upon hearing this, Zitan frantically tried to move forward, but Nanny Liu held her in place.
Fourth Master Xiao was about to question Nanny Xing, but the Grand Dowager, her face pale, clutched her chest and waved her hand, "No need to ask, no need!" He turned to Xiao Yanyi and said, "You go personally to invite Chengning. I must ask her, our Xiao Family has not treated her poorly, why would she do this, why?"
Xiao Yanyi’s eyes were filled with a blood-red hue. Clenching his fists tightly, veins bulged on the back of his hands. He nodded heavily, as if taking another step would be an insurmountable challenge.
Before he could take another step, a maid from the Second Madam’s room hurriedly arrived, kneeling before the Grand Dowager, saying, "Grand Dowager, our Madam says she has a stomachache and is rolling in bed, begging you to invite the Imperial Physician from the palace."
The Grand Dowager was first startled, then realized the possibility.
She had just sent soone to invite Chengning, and then ca a ssage saying she had a stomachache.
The intention was obvious!
The Grand Dowager reflexively tried to stand up but then sat back down!
She recalled Old Madam Lou’s words: "You, sotis you’re clever, sotis you’re very muddle-headed, all because Xiao’s offspring are sparse, and you’re blinded by this."
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