Chapter 96 Blood Test to Identify Xiangling

Daiyu chuckled.

“Sister Zhou, do I look like someone who would hit someone? Huan-ge’er spoke rudely, and Third Sister was so angry that she couldn’t speak. I just said a few words for her.”

She would never admit that Jia Huan was disobedient and that she had to use some "force" to make him behave.

“I knew it! How could someone like Miss Lin possibly resort to violence?” Zhou Rui’s wife laughed.

"If Aunt Zhou hears anyone else saying such things, she must speak up for Daiyu." Yuan Hongqu had someone slip a purse to Zhou Rui's wife.

Even if they leave the Rongguo Mansion, they cannot leave with a reputation for assault.

Zhou Rui's wife was the second wife's maid. She had many connections and influence in this courtyard. As long as the money was right, it would be very easy for her to distort the truth and confuse the public.

Once Zhou Rui's wife accepted the purse, she knew what was going on. Her readily agreed would prevent anyone from misunderstanding Miss Lin, as a delicate young lady like Miss Lin would never dare to be rough with Master Huan.

She was about to take her leave after finishing her task when Yuan Hongqu stood up.

"I'll see Aunt Zhou off."

Yuan Hongqu escorted Zhou Rui's wife across the bluestone bridge. Zhou Rui's wife repeatedly said, "Please stay," but Yuan Hongqu insisted on seeing her off a few more steps.

"Aunt Zhou, do you know what happened in front of Rongyue Courtyard last night?"

"Are you saying that Aunt Zhao heard rumors and misunderstood that Miss Lin hit Master Huan?"

"Aunt Zhou's information network is indeed very good."

“Granny Yuan, there are some things that can’t be said in front of Miss Lin. Actually, last night Madam punished Aunt Zhao by making her kneel in the Buddhist hall, eat vegetarian food, chant Buddhist scriptures, and copy them. Aunt Zhao doesn’t know many words, so making her copy books is more painful than beating her!”

Indeed, Daiyu should never hear about these methods of punishment.

Yuan Hongqu sneered.

"Aunt Zhou, we've gotten to know each other quite well over the past few months. Are you trying to fool me with things that everyone knows?"

Zhou Rui's expression changed. She received a lot of benefits from Yuan Hongqu every month, especially from her youngest daughter, who became a famous midwife thanks to a prescription given by Yuan Hongqu.

Her daughter repeatedly said she wanted to come and kowtow to Granny Yuan, but Yuan Hongqu refused each time.

The reason she gave the prescription to their family was because she had heard that the mother-in-law of the family Zhou Rui's daughter married was a very famous midwife in the capital.

A good prescription might never have a chance to be used in her hands, but in the hands of a midwife, it could be a lifesaver for countless women in labor. Yuan Hongqu had no regrets about giving it up.

Zhou Rui's wife had seen countless people, but she truly couldn't see through someone like Yuan Hongqu.

Just when she thought she had figured Yuan Hongqu out, she never expected that it was only one side of her, and that Yuan Hongqu had countless tricks up her sleeve.

Zhou Rui's family's initial disdain for Yuan Hongqu turned into admiration, and now they can only look up to her.

"Granny Yuan, I heard that Suyun was also in the garden, looking for something for Lan-ge'er. She seemed to have heard some noises. When she was talking to the eldest mistress about it last night, Aunt Zhao happened to be passing by..." Zhou Rui's wife dared not lie; that was all she knew.

As for whether the eldest mistress deliberately chose to talk to Suyun about this when Aunt Zhao passed by, she didn't know and dared not speculate.

“Very good, Aunt Zhou. Have your daughter come to the Lin family to see me in a few days. I found another prescription and I'm working on it these past few days. Have her come and get it when she's finished.”

"Thank you so much, Granny Yuan! You are truly my daughter's benefactor. If it weren't for you, she wouldn't have such good fortune! She should be the one to kowtow to you!" Zhou Ruijia was overjoyed.

One prescription was enough for her youngest daughter to gain a foothold in her husband's family. If she had another prescription, her daughter would probably have absolute authority in her husband's family!

Yuan Hongqu didn't refute her, she just said casually,

“A few days ago, Master Lin wrote a letter saying that he might go to the capital to report on his duties before the New Year. We need to go back to the Lin family in the next few days to prepare. Aunt Zhou, you'll have to take good care of things in this mansion.”

Upon hearing this news, Zhou Rui's wife thought about it and realized that the Lin family had indeed sent another batch of goods from Yangzhou a few days ago. It seemed that this was the message sent by Lin's son-in-law.

Since Mr. Lin, the son-in-law, is returning to the capital, he naturally cannot stay at his father-in-law's house. He has his own house and will definitely go back to his own home.

It's perfectly reasonable for Miss Lin to go back early.

But why did Granny Yuan tell me all this?

Zhou Rui's wife suddenly realized what was happening and hurriedly said,

"Don't worry, Granny Yuan, this is what I should do."

Yuan Hongqu nodded. "Alright, Aunt Zhou, I won't see you off."

Seeing that Zhou Rui's wife had walked away, she turned around and went back to Rongyue Courtyard.

As soon as I got back, I saw Wang Xifeng come in loudly and with a large entourage.

Seeing her beaming with pride, head held high, waiting to receive her reward, Yuan Hongqu couldn't help but laugh: She really does look like a phoenix!

As soon as she entered, she dismissed everyone around her and said she wanted to practice calligraphy.

Before the paper was even laid out, she couldn't help but speak.

"Sister Yuan, I've successfully delivered the girl to the estate. Xiangtao truly lives up to your reputation as someone you've trained; she can cry on cue, and her tears fall faster than mine, even though I'm a professional. Her emotions are so genuine that even the old women nearby are wiping away tears, all urging Baochai to let her go... Xue Baochai is really in a bind this time; she has no choice but to release her." Wang Xifeng described the scene to Yuan Hongqu, recalling the moment.

"Your Xiangtao is really something. She said that if Miss Bao didn't believe her, she could just have the two of them drip blood to prove their kinship, and they would guarantee that they were sisters. Baochai actually had someone bring a bowl of water and have the two of them drip blood. She never expected that their blood would actually mix together..." Wang Xifeng laughed while clutching her stomach. She had seen this kind of trick many times before, but she never thought that it would be so easy to fool Xue Baochai.

"Even Xiangling, who initially didn't quite believe that Xiangtao was her biological sister, knelt down and called her sister when she saw the blood mingling."

"Sister Yuan, your trick was clever, but it was also too dangerous. If other people's blood were also dripped into that water, wouldn't it all mix together? Luckily, I said that on such a joyous day, that bowl of blood water was too unlucky, so I had Ping'er take it out and throw it away." Wang Xifeng was both excited and fearful.

Yuan Hongqu smiled and said, "Thank you so much."

"Given our relationship, why are you being so polite?" Wang Xifeng said with a smile.

"Sister Yuan, what if Xiangling remembers her origins and confirms that she doesn't have any sisters? Wouldn't this situation be ruined?"

"Whether she has an older sister or not doesn't matter. Xiangtao does have a younger sister who is about the same age as her. Xiangtao's hometown is also in Suzhou, next to the Gourd Temple. She has a godfather named Zhen Shiyin and a godmother named Feng. The whereabouts of the godfather are still being searched, and the godmother has already come to the capital, waiting to reunite with her sisters."

Wang Xifeng thought for a moment, then couldn't help but give a thumbs up.

"Sister, you're amazing..."