When Jiang Segu returned to the courtyard, Qingying had already returned.
"That maid went to the main kitchen to get some snacks and delivered them to Huilan Courtyard. She didn't stay there for long before returning to Jiyue Courtyard."
"After she left, did anyone from the main kitchen leave?"
Qingying shook her head and added, "No one has left the eldest young lady's courtyard either."
Jiang Segu lowered his eyes in deep thought.
Zijin suddenly brought up the matter of snacks at that time, was it really just because he was afraid of neglecting the two palace maids?
Jiang Segu felt something was wrong no matter how he thought about it.
Just then, Cailan came outside to report.
"Miss, someone from the yamen has come. The Marquis wants you to go to the front yard."
The expressions on everyone's faces in the room changed.
Jiang Segu acknowledged and whispered a few words of advice to Qiaolian before instructing her to deliver the South Pearl headdress to Huilan Courtyard. He then led Qiaohe to the front courtyard.
In the front courtyard, in the hall of spring, the Marquis was talking to people from the yamen.
"Deputy Commander Gu, you are truly a promising young man! If my son were as capable as you, I could retire from this position of Marquis with peace of mind!"
Chun Zai Tang is not only home to Marquis Changping, but also to Master Jiang.
These were just polite words, but in the ears of Master Jiang, they became sarcastic remarks.
He lowered his head, concealing the resentment in his eyes.
If his father hadn't stubbornly refused to pass the title of Marquis to him, forcing him to remain the heir for over twenty years, would he have become the person he is today?
"Your Excellency is too kind. I was merely fortunate to have gained the Emperor's favor."
"Deputy Commander Gu is too modest. If you didn't have the ability, how could you have caught the Emperor's eye!" Marquis Changping laughed heartily. "Speaking of which, you and my family are truly destined to meet! Our two families both live in this Magnolia Lane. Your family is favored by the Emperor because of Deputy Commander Gu, while our family is favored because of our granddaughter. It's truly a coincidence!"
Gu Songhan smiled and agreed, glancing towards the door.
"I wonder if Deputy Commander Gu will be free on the second day of the fourth month?"
Gu Songhan knew that it was Old Madam Jiang's birthday that day, but he didn't show it on his face. He replied, "If the Marquis has any requests, please give them. I will do my best to fulfill them!"
Marquis Changping was very pleased with these words and chuckled, "What could an old man like me possibly have to trouble Vice Commander Gu with? It's just that it's my wife's birthday that day, and I'd like to invite Vice Commander Gu over for a drink!"
"Then I will respectfully accept your offer and will certainly come to visit you at that time."
Marquis Changping liked Gu Songhan's calm and composed demeanor very much, and found him increasingly pleasing to the eye. Without thinking, he asked, "I wonder if Deputy Commander Gu has taken any wives or concubines?"
"Because I have been fighting on the battlefield for many years and there is no one to take care of the family, I have not yet married."
Marquis Changping's eyes narrowed with a smile. "A man should first establish himself!" He then added, "However, now that you have achieved some success, you might as well consider settling down!"
As he spoke, he coughed lightly.
Master Jiang raised his head knowingly. "My father is right. You've risen to the position of Deputy Commander Gu at such a young age and have won the Emperor's favor. How could you not have a chance to advance? From what you just said, my dear nephew, your parents are no longer with you?"
"yes!"
"It's not that your uncle is intentionally reopening old wounds, but rather that he feels sorry for you at such a young age, with no one to take care of you! If you were to get married, you would have someone caring for you and looking after you!"
Gu Songhan tactfully replied, "Uncle Jiang is right!"
Marquis Changping and Lord Jiang were quite satisfied with Gu Songhan's tact.
The father and son exchanged a glance, both seeing the same scheme in each other's eyes.
It was at this time that Jiangse Valley arrived.
Upon seeing Gu Songhan sitting in the hall, Jiang Segu was first startled, then hurriedly lowered his head and greeted Marquis Changping and Master Jiang.
Marquis Changping was very pleased at this moment, and even showed some kindness towards his granddaughter whom he had always disliked.
"Ah Zi, Deputy Commander Gu has come to talk to you about Madam Hou! You know, if an old woman in the courtyard died, you could have just told your grandmother. Why bother the government and make Deputy Commander Gu come all the way here in person!"
Gu Songhan spoke up at the right moment to defuse the situation, "The younger generation lives next door, it's just a matter of convenience."
He then said to Jiang Segu, "The coroner's examination of Madam Hou's body revealed that she was first given poison and then thrown off the artificial hill to make it appear as if she had fallen to her death..."
Jiang Segu's heart was filled with mixed emotions when he talked about Mother Hou.
After all, she was the one who had taken care of him since he was a child, and Hou's mother had always been extremely caring. It was hard for her to accept that such a person had betrayed her and ended up being murdered!
"Today, I have come to your residence for three reasons: first, to inform Miss Jiang of the true cause of Madam Hou's death; second, to inquire about the person who found Madam Hou that day; and third, to see the place where Madam Hou fell to her death."
"Oh dear! Someone in our Marquis's residence has poisoned people! This is terrible! I beg Deputy Commander Gu to find the black sheep in the Marquis's residence and prevent her from harming more people!"
"This is my duty as a junior!"
"Then I'll have someone summon those two old women on night duty!"
“No need. I still need to check where Madam Hou fell to her death, and I also need to ask Miss Jiang if Madam Hou behaved anything unusual before her death.”
"It was my oversight!" Marquis Changping smiled sheepishly and instructed Jiang Segu, "Azi, you must treat Deputy Commander Gu well and not neglect him!"
"Yes, grandfather."
Thus, Jiang Segu led Gu Songhan out of Chunzaitang and headed towards the backyard.
As soon as the two stepped out of Chunzaitang, Marquis Changping impatiently said to Master Jiang, "Quickly, quickly have your wife bring out the girls of similar age, including Second Madam!"
After agreeing, Master Jiang went to the backyard...
Gu Songhan was unaware that he had been targeted by Marquis Changping and Lord Jiang, and was questioning the old woman on night duty.
“The night before last, Granny Lai and I were on our usual night patrol when we heard a scream. We followed the sound to the rockery, and when we found Granny Hou, she was already dead!”
You said you heard a scream at the time?
The two old women answered tremblingly.
Since Hou's mother was poisoned to death beforehand, she naturally wouldn't scream.
And the person who harmed Hou's mother wouldn't make a sound at that time to attract attention.
Then there is only one possibility.
Someone witnessed Mrs. Hou being thrown off the artificial hill and cried out in shock.
Do you remember that scream?
The two old women were stunned. How do you know if someone remembers something?
Jiang Segu, who had been silent until now, rolled his eyes and said to the two old women, "If I let you hear that scream again, will you be able to tell the difference?"
The old woman, who had been silent all along, seemed to suddenly remember something, and her slightly hunched body straightened up abruptly.
"Replying to Sixth Miss, this old servant suddenly remembered that the scream didn't sound like the old woman's, but rather like the daughter-in-law's. If I were to listen to it again, I might be able to recognize it!"
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