Upon hearing this, Zi Jin's face suddenly tightened. "You old codger, aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning? You dare to play tricks in front of the Sixth Miss, and you dare to throw all sorts of dirty water on the First Madam!"

"Let me tell you, once Sixth Miss has punished you and calmed down, I'm going to take you to the Old Madam and let her judge the matter!"

Instead of saying that they would take Xiao Mama to Madam Jiang's place, they said they would take her to Old Madam Jiang's place. This was to show Jiang Segu that Xiao Mama really was not sent by Madam Jiang!

Jiang Segu's gaze shifted back and forth between Xiao's mother and Zijin, before finally gesturing for Qiaolian to help Zijin up.

"I was also fooled by Aunt Xiao, thinking that my aunt was at odds with me because of those two servants. Fortunately, you arrived just in time and cleared up the misunderstanding!"

As for the skills of interrogating people in the inner court, I, a young lady, am completely ignorant. Since Sister Zijin is here, why don't you trouble yourself to interrogate Madam Xiao for me, so as to clear Aunt's name!

Zi Jin understood Jiang Segu's intentions: firstly, she wanted to see if Jiang Segu could bring herself to harm Xiao's mother; secondly, she wanted to see if Xiao's mother would turn around and accuse the mastermind under severe torture.

It's true that Madam Xiao wasn't sent by the First Madam, but if the person behind Madam Xiao wants to shift the blame, what should we do if Madam Xiao tries to shift the blame onto the First Madam as soon as she makes a move?

Zi Jin was conflicted, but under Jiang Segu's watchful gaze, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree.

"Sixth Miss, interrogation may involve bloodshed. Why don't you go back to your room and wait?"

Jiang Segu gestured for Mama Hou to stay, and with Qiaolian's help, went to the side room where Qiaohe was.

Qiaohe is cheerful and outgoing with a sweet tongue, so she has made many good friends throughout the mansion and is therefore very familiar with the backgrounds of everyone in the mansion.

Jiang Segu came to ask about Xiao's mother's background.

"In response to your question, Miss, Mama Xiao was a second-class maidservant by the side of the late Marquis's wife. After the late Marquis's wife passed away, she was supposed to be sent out of the manor. It was only because the young master pleaded with the Marquis that she was allowed to stay in the Marquis's manor."

So, Xiao's mother must be related to her aunt!

But looking at the purple and gold, it doesn't seem like it's fake.

Jiang Segu was at a loss as to whose words to believe!

Just as she was thinking, Qiaohe continued, "Mama Xiao has a daughter who was married off and worked for the late Marquis's wife's family. Her husband's father-in-law was the second steward in the late Marquis's wife's family, and her mother-in-law was also well-regarded by the master."

I heard that her parents-in-law are very kind people. Her husband's family only has two older sisters, so there are no brothers vying for the family property. She also has two sons to rely on, so she is able to stand firm in her husband's family.

Later, for some unknown reason, she hanged herself! Surprisingly, Xiao's mother didn't even go to her son-in-law's house to inquire about the reason; instead, her son-in-law came to cause trouble several times!

Jiang Segu found it strange.

Xiao's mother's daughter should have been living a very happy life, so why would she commit suicide?

What surprised her even more was what Qiaohe said next.

"It's strange, but Xiao's mother had three daughters. After her eldest daughter committed suicide, her second daughter also drowned herself not long after. Her youngest daughter is still alive, but she's mentally unstable."

Later, Xiao's two sons got married, and her husband left the Marquis's mansion with their two sons and youngest daughter, but Xiao's mother did not go with them.

Jiang Segu remained silent, feeling that it was somewhat strange that Xiao's mother's three daughters had ended up like this.

Inside the room, the three of them, master and servant, were all deep in thought, while outside, Zi Jin had tried everything he could, but still couldn't get Xiao's mother to talk.

What chilled Zi Jin to the bone was that Xiao's mother had all ten fingernails pulled out, yet she didn't utter a sound!

His murky eyes gleamed with an extremely manic and terrifying light when he looked at her, which almost scared Zijin out of her wits.

Zi Jin mustered her courage and said, "Mama Xiao, our First Madam has never made things difficult for you. Why are you trying to sow discord between the First Madam and the Sixth Miss today?"

Madam Xiao trembled all over, but smiled. "Miss Zijin, please rest assured. The master has been kind to me, and besides, there is such a good person as the eldest daughter who has accompanied my daughter. I will not betray the eldest madam!"

Upon hearing this, Zi Jin was both angry and anxious, and was about to inflict further severe punishment, but suddenly his expression softened.

"Mother Xiao is truly a loyal servant, but I wonder which she will choose: her master or her family?"

Just when everyone thought that Madam Xiao would give in, Madam Xiao smiled nonchalantly and said, "Miss Zijin seems to have forgotten that my family has long since left the capital!"

So that's why Xiao's mother was so fearless.

But the First Madam has never mistreated Mama Xiao, so why would she stir up conflict between the First Madam and the Sixth Miss? What good would that do her?

What did she mean by saying that her daughter had an older girl accompanying her?

Zi Jin was puzzled, and seeing that Xiao's mother was unyielding, he had no choice but to go to Jiang Segu to discuss a solution.

"Sixth Miss, I am incompetent and cannot find out who is behind Madam Xiao, but I can guarantee with my life that Madam Xiao's search of the courtyard has nothing to do with our Madam!"

"Then I'd like to ask, is there any connection between the peony entering the manor and the First Madam?"

Zi Jin's eyebrows twitched slightly. "No!"

Jiang Segu slightly curled the corners of his lips. "Whether it matters or not, I already knew in my heart! After all, Zilan has been away from the manor for so long. It's quite cheap to find a monk outside the manor to talk nonsense in front of Grandfather! Don't you think so?"

"This servant doesn't know what Sixth Miss is talking about!"

"It doesn't matter whether you know or not, as long as your aunt knows! Go back and tell your aunt that I will investigate Xiao Mama's matter myself, and as for Shaoyao's matter, we'll deal with it another day!"

Despite the pressure, Zi Jin returned to Jiyue Courtyard and relayed Jiang Segu's words and Madam Xiao's words to Madam Jiang.

Contrary to Zijin's expectations, Madam Jiang was not furious upon hearing this; instead, she looked anxious and uneasy.

Zi Jin was surprised, but dared not say anything more.

After a long while, Doctor Jiang finally said slowly, "Go to the front courtyard and report this to the young master, and see how he handles it!"

Zi Jin was even more surprised. This was a matter of the inner quarters, and it was at this hour. Why would the First Madam disturb the Young Master?

She dared not ask, and could only obey the order and go to the front yard...

At the same time, Gu Songhan returned.

"How are you? Did that old woman give you any trouble?"

Sensing the tension in his tone, Jiang Segu couldn't help but raise the corners of her lips. "I am the master of this mansion, what can she do to me! But where did you take those two maids?"

"Naturally, it's in my household! Perfect timing, I'm short-staffed!"

Jiang Segu raised an eyebrow and deliberately said, "Could Deputy Commander Gu's residence be short of people? I'm afraid the threshold must be worn down by people!"

"That's not true! I'm not in the manor much during the day, and the gate between the front and back courtyards is locked at night. No one would go to my courtyard!"

Jiang Segu's smile grew increasingly uncontrollable, but when she thought of Xiao's mother, her smile faded slightly, and she frowned. "I wonder who caused this mess, and I wonder what that person is trying to do!"

Gu Songhan's fingertips twitched slightly, and he raised his hand to smooth Jiang Segu's furrowed brows, but in the end, he put his hand behind his back. "Don't worry, I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you!"