Chapter 513 Jiang Hongling's Death
Ah Shuang, who was pretending to be asleep, subconsciously called out softly when she saw her about to enter the inner room.
Zhu Xi stopped abruptly, frozen in place.
After a while, she returned and sat on the stool next to the low couch, facing Ah Shuang.
Under the dim light, Zhu Xi looked at A Shuang with a complicated expression.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" A Shuang felt a little uncomfortable being stared at by Zhu Xi.
After thinking about it, I realized that the person who should feel guilty and uncomfortable is the other person.
Then she straightened her back, raised her head, frowned, and glared back, "Why didn't you sleep properly after you came back? What were you trying to do sneak into the old lady's room?"
Zhu Xi gave a wry smile. "What do you think I want to do?"
"How would I know what you're planning to do?" Ah Shuang glared at her unhappily.
Zhu Xi took a deep breath and said bluntly, "You don't trust me. What about the old lady? Does she not trust me either?"
"You've been secretly observing my hiding place, watching what I'm doing all the time..."
A Shuang's heart skipped a beat; she hadn't expected that everything she had done had been seen through by Zhu Xi.
"Was this your own idea, or did the old lady give the order?"
Zhu Xi finally voiced the question that had been lingering in her mind.
If the old lady didn't trust her, then why did she put so much effort into naming her in the first place?
Zhuxi, Zhuxi, chasing the light.
She thought she could really find the light.
So it turns out, it was all just her imagination?
Ah Shuang frowned and said, "What do you mean? Why do you look like you've been wronged?"
"Isn't it because you didn't protect the old lady properly and disobeyed her orders that I'm on guard against you?"
"I……"
Zhu Xi was about to say something when A Shuang interrupted her.
"What do you mean, 'me'?"
"Do you dare say that when you were imprisoned at Dali Temple, you weren't only focused on catching the assassin and didn't care about the old lady's safety at all?"
"Do you dare say that when the old lady of the Jiang family gave you instructions today, you didn't hesitate or make excuses?"
"Do you dare say that you didn't truthfully report everything the old lady said and did to your superiors?"
"Do you dare say that you don't see the old lady as someone you're monitoring, but rather as someone you want to protect with all your heart?"
"I……"
Zhu Xi tried to explain herself again, but was interrupted by A Shuang once more.
"What do you mean, 'you'?"
"If you treat yourself like an outsider, then naturally I'll treat you like an outsider and be on guard!"
“I know you are the person His Majesty placed by the old lady’s side. You represent His Majesty, and it is your responsibility to monitor the old lady’s every move and report it truthfully.”
"But I still have to warn you, before you report any information, you'd better think carefully about what should be reported and what shouldn't be reported. If you dare to harm the old lady, I'll drag you down to hell with me, even if it means I die!"
This time, Zhuxi remained silent.
She didn't try to say anything more.
Because she knew that no matter what she said, it would be pale and powerless.
Because before this, she had indeed, as A Shuang said, not considered herself a member of the Qiao family, so it was only natural that she was questioned and guarded against.
She shouldn't feel wronged, nor does she have the right to feel wronged.
"The old lady is kind and doesn't care whether you will harm her, but we, as her subordinates, should naturally think things through for her."
Ah Shuang said aggressively, "I'll be keeping an eye on you!"
"I see."
Zhu Xi stood up, returned to the chaise lounge by the window, turned her back to Ashuang, and lay down fully clothed.
Nothing was said that night.
Perhaps because she was too tired yesterday, Qiao Qinghe woke up much later than usual this morning.
After inquiring about the situation of the Qiao family, and learning that the entire Qiao family, from the oldest to the youngest, had not yet gotten up, Qiao Qinghe inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.
There was nothing that could be done; Old Mrs. Qiao was just too good at finding fault.
If she knew that I got up later than her, an elder, she would probably take the opportunity to say something sarcastic to her.
After she finished her breakfast and was about to go for a walk in the yard, someone from Old Mrs. Qiao's side came and said that Old Mrs. Qiao had gotten up.
Qiao Qinghe quickly abandoned her idea of going for a walk and instead headed to Grandma Qiao's place.
But before they could even leave the house, Amo rushed in.
"Madam, something has happened."
Originally, after receiving the news, the gatekeeper would pass it on to the maid at the hanging flower gate, who would then relay it into the inner courtyard.
But Amo bypassed the maid and came in himself to deliver the message. This shows how urgent the matter was.
Qiao Qinghe naturally sensed that something was amiss and quickly asked, "What happened?"
Amo quickly replied, "The Jiang residence has been decorated in white."
"What did you say?!" Qiao Qinghe's heart sank, instinctively trying to ignore her suspicions. "Which Jiang family? Who died?"
Amo quickly and truthfully replied, "It was the residence of Minister Jiang Huai of the Ministry of Works. The deceased was the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, Jiang Hongling."
Qiao Qinghe slumped into a chair with a thud, her whole body trembling uncontrollably.
"How could she... how could she..."
"Madam? Madam! Quickly go and fetch a doctor!" Seeing that Qiao Qinghe's complexion was not right, A Shuang hurriedly went to call someone to fetch a doctor.
Qiao Qinghe grabbed A Shuang's hand, still somewhat incredulous, and asked, "Did you just hear that? Amo said that Miss Jiang is dead! Was it Miss Jiang?"
"She was perfectly fine yesterday, how could she suddenly die?"
"How did he die?"
Qiao Qinghe didn't know how she felt, but she felt a tightness in her chest, as if she couldn't breathe properly.
Ah Shuang couldn't help but tear up. She knew that the old lady actually liked Jiang Hongling. If it weren't for Min Pan'er, the old lady wouldn't have ignored Jiang Hongling and cut off all contact after returning to the capital.
Even after what happened yesterday, the old lady still asked Doctor Mu to treat her.
Ah Shuang comforted her, "Madam, don't be sad. Everyone has their own destiny. This was Miss Jiang's own choice. Even if you had known beforehand, you couldn't have stopped her."
Ah Shuang's words undoubtedly confirmed her guess.
Qiao Qinghe clutched her chest, feeling an indescribable sadness. "I noticed her unusual behavior yesterday. Why didn't I think of this then? Why did she have such thoughts?"
"If I had spent more time and effort on her..."
"Madam, please don't think like that!" Ah Shuang was startled and quickly advised, "No one wanted Miss Jiang's situation to happen, so please don't take the blame upon yourself."
"In my opinion, Miss Jiang may be terminally ill, and medicine may be ineffective. Don't worry too much, we'll know the situation when Doctor Mu returns."
Qiao Qinghe sighed, "Send someone to check if Doctor Mu has returned yet?"
"Yes," A Shuang replied, giving A Mo, who was still there, a wink. A Mo then took his leave and went out to make arrangements.
Half an hour later, Mu Jin finally arrived.
Before Mu Jin could even offer her greetings, Qiao Qinghe hurriedly asked to confirm, "Is Jiang Hongling really dead?"
Mu Jin nodded. "Yes. Miss Jiang is really dead."
Having received a positive answer, Qiao Qinghe's last shred of hope vanished.
"How...how did she die?"
Qiao Qinghe asked with difficulty, "Was it suicide? Was it because of what happened yesterday that you committed suicide?"
Was it because she had offended the Enping Marquis's Mansion and her that she feared the Jiang family would suffer retaliation, and thus risked her life to appease their anger and protect the Jiang family?
However, both Su Rongrong and she had already personally agreed to forgive Jiang Yingluo and the Jiang family yesterday!
Why would she do something so foolish?
Mu Jin nodded, then shook her head. "Miss Jiang did commit suicide. However, even if she hadn't, she wouldn't have lived much longer."
Qiao Qinghe looked at Mu Jin in surprise, "What do you mean by that?"
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