Chapter 20: Another Explanation for Uncle's Death
After explaining the whole story to Han Qiongyue, Han Qiongyue followed Deng Youning to see Deng Ren's grave.
She could also be sure that there was definitely something wrong with the soil in this grave.
"Grandmother, my great uncle was only nine years old when he died. What kind of grudge could he have caused that would make him unable to rest in peace more than thirty years after his death?"
"And this coffin nail, I suspect, fell from my great uncle's coffin."
Deng Youning handed the cleaned coffin nails to Han Qiongyue.
There's nothing special about the coffin nails.
But Han Qiongyue was thinking exactly what Deng Youning had just said.
That year, after receiving the news of his son's death, I was unable to rush back immediately.
She knew nothing about many of the inside stories of Deng Ren's death; she had only heard them from others.
"Ningning, you can't tell anyone about this."
"Grandma has other plans."
I don’t know what Han Qiongyue is thinking.
After returning home that night, Han Qiongyue sent people to dig up Deng Ren's grave overnight.
There is no body in the grave!
Upon hearing this conclusion, Deng Youning's hand holding the teacup shook three times.
When Han Qiongyue got the news, Deng Youning happened to be there too.
She didn't hide it from Deng Youning.
"Ningning, what do you think about this?"
Seeing that she usually had a lot of clever ideas, Han Qiongyue took the initiative to ask.
I also want to see how capable my granddaughter is.
"I dare not speak rashly, but I think that if we want to find our great uncle's body, the most important thing is to find out the cause of death first."
"This way we can follow the clues and find out who is preventing him from living in peace."
She knew very little about her uncle in her previous life and could only make a rough calculation based on the current clues.
As soon as she said this, before Grandmother could reply, Madam Dou exclaimed:
"Miss, do you think there is something fishy about Mr. Da's death?"
Uncle Deng died of smallpox at the age of nine.
This has been confirmed for more than thirty years.
How could it be wrong?
Han Qiongyue did the same, looking at Deng Youning with disbelief.
Deng Youning had doubts about the cause of his uncle's death when he was kneeling in the ancestral hall that day.
"Grandma, although smallpox may seem dangerous, it is not a fatal disease that is difficult to cure."
"Besides, we are the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion. We can hire the best doctors and prescribe the best medicine."
"Besides, smallpox is highly contagious. Why was it that only my uncle was infected, while none of the maids and servants who served him were sick?"
Deng Youning listed his ideas one by one.
She seriously suspected that there was another explanation for her uncle's death.
"this……"
Nanny Dou was speechless.
Obviously, Deng Youning's words had convinced her.
Han Qiongyue felt complicated.
If Dalang died of other causes, why would everyone in the mansion keep it secret?
What truth did mother-in-law Meng want to cover up in order to get the whole mansion to speak with one voice?
"Most of the people who knew what happened back then are already dead."
"The servants employed by the Deng family have always been on a working basis. After so many years, it is not easy to find those people."
By the time Han Qiongyue finished speaking, Nanny Dou already understood the next task.
"I wonder if the old lady still remembers... Qingdai?"
Seeing her grandmother's horrified look, Deng Youning bowed silently and left the room.
Not to mention her, I'm afraid even Deng Zheng and the others don't know about these old stories.
Seeing that Deng Youning was so perceptive, Nanny Dou continued speaking boldly.
"That child was only ten years old back then. She must be alive now!"
Han Qiongyue nodded in approval.
"I remember that she was sold to Jingefang as a prostitute."
"Go contact Qing Huan, she has many informants, ask her to help investigate this person."
Nanny Dou bowed and accepted the order.
Deng Youning had no idea what the master and servant were saying.
Naturally, she would not ask about things that her grandmother was unwilling to tell her.
As for her uncle's affairs, she will help to the extent she can, as long as it does not conflict with what she is doing.
After Qingming Festival, the temperature gradually warms up.
Her grandmother made her some new clothes.
Unfortunately, the clothes of these noble ladies are too complicated and they cannot move freely when wearing them.
She simply kept only one set to wear on important occasions, and smuggled the rest out of the house and pawned them for money.
It has been nearly a month and a half since she came to the Deng family, and her little treasury has almost saved up two thousand silver coins.
Every time she left the house, Deng Yi's men would follow her.
But with Deng Youning's intelligence and talent, it would be easy for her to get rid of them.
This time, in addition to saving money, she also wants to go to the ghost market to buy some poisonous herbs.
When I asked the secret guards of Wanshe Valley to help me find poisonous herbs, I heard them mention the Ghost Market several times.
Deng Youning was very curious about this.
The ghost market in Beijing is located in a cave that never sees the sun. All kinds of people, including bandits and fugitive human traffickers, hang out here all year round.
There was a certain herb that Deng Youning couldn't find after searching around for a long time.
Someone introduced me to Qianji Pavilion, and told me that I could try my luck.
I don't know where the Pavilion Master came from, but let alone mere herbs, even rare treasures can be obtained as long as the price is high enough.
"Excuse me, is there any strange fragrant wood?"
In order to prove that she was determined to get this thing, she even generously showed the recipe to the shopkeeper.
"The strange fragrant wood is actually not difficult to find. We do have it in our pavilion."
"But I see that this young master's prescription seems to be a poisonous prescription that could kill people."
This time, she deliberately wore men's clothes.
Her tall figure made her look no different from a man.
"It is a poisonous recipe. I have a friend who is a disciple of the Ten Thousand Snake Valley and asked me to buy it."
The name of the evil cult in Wanshe Valley is still widely known in places like the Ghost Market.
After she said that, the shopkeeper stopped beating around the bush with her.
"Please wait a moment, my dear."
"I'll go get the goods now."
The shopkeeper had enthusiasm in his eyes and went upstairs quickly.
The overall lighting in the Ghost Market is extremely dim, and the same is true for the Qianji Pavilion.
Deng Youning could only see the lower half of the stairs clearly. When the shopkeeper went up to the second floor, his figure was completely merged into the darkness.
"Young Master, there is a girl dressed as a man downstairs who wants to buy the Qiling Fragrant Wood. Do you know what she wants it for?"
The shopkeeper bowed to the young man behind the screen and asked happily.
The room was also dim, with creepy red candles lit everywhere.
Behind the lotus screen, sat a noble young man, sipping tea and fiddling with his rosary.
"What use is she going to make, and what does it have to do with us?"
"If there is any stock in the pavilion, just sell it to her."
The young master's tone was calm and indifferent.
The shopkeeper explained anxiously and excitedly: "Young Master, she wants to refine the long-lost poison Nan Ke Meng!"
Upon hearing this, the young master paused while pouring tea.
He had also heard of this poison in rumors.
It can make a person die in their sleep without any pain. It is the most gentle way to kill someone.
It is colorless and odorless, and if it sticks to you, you will die. There is no antidote!
"Are you sure?"
The young master's tone was obviously a little nervous.
"It's absolutely true. I just saw the prescription. She said it came from the Ten Thousand Snake Valley."
When the shopkeeper mentioned the Ten Thousand Snake Valley, the man's surprised look was much less surprised.
It would not be surprising if someone from the Valley of Ten Thousand Snakes could refine this poison.
I just don't know if this little girl has the ability to successfully refine the poison.
"Pass the order to buy up all the Qilingxiang wood in the city, so that she can only buy from us."
"Go and negotiate a deal with her. When the Nan Ke Meng is finished, ask her to sell some to us, no matter the price."
The fingers twisting the beads stopped at the Buddha's head, and the young master made a decision.
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