Qiaohe went out and didn't return until dinner time!
She thought it wouldn't be a difficult task, but the people who came with her cousin were all as tight-lipped as clams. She was so busy that she spun around like a top, asking everyone from the cousin's maid to the coachman, but still got nothing!
However, fate gave her an unexpected surprise!
While she was questioning the coachman, she overheard Zhao Si, who was in charge of the old lady's carriage, gossiping.
“It’s been strange lately. Whenever Madam Zhou goes out, she doesn’t use the carriages provided by the manor. She insists on spending extra money to rent carriages from outside. Do you think Madam Zhou is upset that I’m not a good driver?”
Some people joked that Zhao Si is getting old and should step down and make way for a more capable person!
Someone also asked the question that was on Qiaohe's mind, "How did you know that Zhou Mama went out to rent a carriage?"
"Both times, Aunt Zhou rented a horse-drawn carriage from Old Zhang's house next door. Old Zhang knows Aunt Zhou and mentioned it to me when we were drinking!"
"Did he say where Zhou's mother went?"
Qiaohe approached the group and, mimicking the rickshaw drivers, squatted in the corner and asked them questions.
Zhao Si was also alert, knowing that it wasn't good to discuss his master's affairs behind his back, so he smiled innocently and said, "I didn't ask..."
Qiaohe didn't ask any further questions. At that moment, the coachman next to her bumped Zhao Si's shoulder and said, "Stop pretending! Of course you'll ask. Tell the truth! While Qiaohe is also interested in knowing, who knows, if the old lady wants to dismiss you one day, Qiaohe might be able to plead for you in front of the sixth young lady!"
Qiaohe glanced gratefully at the driver who had spoken, but feigned concern and said, "Uncle Xing, please don't frighten Uncle Zhao. He's already worried. If you scare him like this, he might get seriously injured, and that would be your fault!"
After saying that, she stood up and dusted off her clothes, which were not actually dust. "Although our Sixth Miss is kind-hearted, there are some things she can't do by standing up for herself. I won't chat with you any longer, I'm leaving now!"
Zhao Si quickly spoke up: "Old Zhang said that Mother Zhou went to the Resurrection Hall!"
He was really afraid that he might be fired one day!
Besides, he is serving the old lady. To put it bluntly, the old lady is already old and often ill. What will he do if she passes away one day?
If he could get close to the Sixth Miss, out of respect for the Old Madam, she might even arrange a new job for him!
Qiaohe noted it down, turned around and thanked Zhao Si. She intended to go back now, but Zhao Si started talking like a summer rain and couldn't stop.
"The old lady used to go to Huishengtang to get medicine, and even Doctor Zhang seemed to have some connection with Huishengtang."
Normally, it wouldn't be suspicious if someone got used to going to the same pharmacy regularly. However, I noticed a few times that when Zhou's mother went to the pharmacy, she was never in the front hall, but was led to the back courtyard by the shopkeeper.
Moreover, on several occasions, Zhou's mother returned without bringing the medicine.
Zhao Si's words triggered some memories for Lao Xing. "Now that you mention it, I also remember that Dou Kou, who serves Second Madam, seems to visit Hui Sheng Tang quite often."
Someone interjected, "Doesn't Second Madam's family own a pharmacy? Why is she going to Huishengtang instead of patronizing her family's shop?"
"Don't interrupt me, I haven't finished speaking yet! Zhou's mother asked me to take her to Fanjin Clothing Shop a few times, but I heard that the old lady did not have her clothes made there those times."
So I became suspicious. I don't know if it was a coincidence or what, but every time Zhou's mother went to Fanjin Clothing Shop, someone from the Song family would also be there!
Qiaohe quickly returned to Huilan Courtyard with the news and told Jiang Segu about it.
Jiang Segu and Aunt Lan exchanged a glance, but neither of them spoke.
Qiaohe felt the atmosphere was a bit tense, so she made an excuse to leave, thinking that Aunt Lan and Jiang Segu could talk alone.
“General Gu has already gone to investigate over there…” Jiang Segu spoke first.
Aunt Lan looked relieved. "It's good that the young lady can think things through!"
She had previously worried that Jiang Segu would be deceiving himself, so there was no point in talking about revenge anymore!
***
Zhaotaiyuan.
"Madam, what should we do now? The Sixth Miss is not what she used to be. Trying to use her to drag Madam Yin down is probably as difficult as climbing to heaven!"
Madam Jiang remained calm. "What's there to be afraid of? Didn't I force the Yin family to send people over again?"
“But she’s just a young girl! Even if we kill her, it won’t cause much loss to the Yin family!” Mother Zhou said earnestly. “Madam, if you put in the same amount of effort, you could have easily brought one of the Yin family’s sons into the capital. Why did you specifically target Miss Yin?”
Madam Jiang fiddled with the prayer beads in her hand, "You underestimate a young lady's abilities! Yuan Niang is not a young lady yet, but if anyone wants to harm that person, they'll have to use Yuan Niang's hand!"
"Only by entering the palace can the eldest daughter get close to the emperor. How could the eldest daughter of the Yin family implicate the entire Yin family?"
"You're too impatient! We've waited all these years, why are you getting more and more anxious as we get closer to success?"
Suppressing her inner turmoil, Zhou's mother calmed herself down by taking deep breaths.
"It was this old servant who was too impetuous. The composure and foresight with which Sixth Miss dealt with those people at the gate today truly alarmed this old servant. Coupled with General Gu's methods, this old servant was genuinely afraid that before the Old Madam could avenge Young Master Tong, ...
"Don't worry, I won't let any of those who harmed him back then get away with it!"
With a sudden burst of strength, Madam Jiang snapped the string of the prayer beads, and the broken beads rolled in all directions.
"Tomorrow, you should pass a message to Awen, telling her to take advantage of the opportunity of delivering medicine to the palace to pass on a message to Yuanniang..."
After giving Zhou's mother a few detailed instructions, Zhou's mother's tightly furrowed brows relaxed. "The old lady is truly wise and resourceful."
Then, a hint of hesitation crept in.
"Speak your mind; there's no need for us to hide anything from each other."
"Young Master Liang probably won't last more than a few days!"
Madam Jiang's cloudy eyes immediately reddened.
She's sorry to her sister!
He had hoped to protect his sister's child, but who would have thought he would end up like this!
Then his eyes filled with determination.
Everything must go smoothly from now on, so that Brother Jie can be considered to have died a worthy death!
"There's been no movement from the Song family?"
"With Grand Tutor Song under General Gu's command, he probably won't dare to make any further moves!"
Madam Jiang's lips curled into a sarcastic smile.
This is the once glorious Song family, now utterly defeated by an unknown Gu Songhan!
She really misjudged the Song family!
However, the Song family is not entirely timid. The second young lady of the Song family is a woman of strong character, so it seems that we can meet again.
"Go to Tang Fanjin Clothing Shop tomorrow!"
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