Chapter 36: The Washing Woman
After settling Yang Jiazhi, Qiandeng discussed with Aunt Xuanji and assigned a few meticulous and knowledgeable maids to go next door to take care of Yang Jiazhi.
"Let Madam Ping and Liu Niang go. Madam Ping was the one who delivered the county lady for Madam. Liu Niang is Madam Ping's eldest daughter, and she has also helped deliver babies in the neighborhood. Alas, Madam once joked with Madam Ping that if Madam Ping delivered Madam's baby in the future, her daughter would deliver her own daughter's, which would be fate..."
Qiandeng listened silently to Aunt Xuanji's chatter, feeling sad.
At this point, her mother's funeral is imminent, but even she still doesn't know who to choose to preside over the ceremony, who to choose to accompany her for the rest of her life, and having children is too far away.
Aunt Xuanji inquired about the reason why Yang Jiazhi came to stay with them. She learned that the Huang family had planned to abandon their unborn granddaughter because of their absurd words. She, who loved children the most, was so angry that her eyes turned red. "Why are there so many cruel people in this world? I've only heard of washing a boy three days after birth and a girl once after birth. I never thought this seemingly good family would do such a thing!"
Daimao was surprised and asked, "I've heard of washing a boy three times a day, but what is washing a girl once a day?"
"I grew up in the royal palace, so how could I know about these evil things that happen among the common people?" Aunt Xuanji sighed, unwilling to say more. "I've also heard Madam talk about it. She also cried sadly at the time. She said she heard of people drowning their first daughter after giving birth. This is called "washing the daughter" in order to hope for subsequent sons and prevent the birth of female babies."
Daimao was so frightened that his face turned pale. He patted his chest to calm down and said, "Fortunately, fortunately, we don't have such inhumane people here."
"But even for a family like the Huang family, grandsons are always more important than granddaughters."
A group of people sighed and went about their business.
Qiandeng finally had time to sit down and eat a pastry.
This is a cake bought from the market outside. Although it was bought from a reputable stall, it is not as good as the snacks that Shi Jingning carefully made for her.
Thinking of Shi Jingning, she couldn't eat and felt depressed and heavy in her heart.
Everyone in the mansion has been thoroughly investigated, and no one has the time or possibility to commit the crime.
The only suspect, Yang Huaijiang, was cleared of all charges by the witnesses and evidence at the scene, and was turned from a suspect into a victim.
Was Shi Jingning’s death really just an accident?
Is the current case unrelated to what happened in Zhuangzi back then?
The strange incident of a bloody handprint suddenly appearing in Gu Tengzhai naturally spread throughout the palace after Lady Dingxiang made a big fuss.
Because of the news spread by the workers of the Jin family, Jin Baoyi knew the news earlier than anyone else and hurried to find his son Jin Tang.
"Oh, my son, look at you. You've become so dark and thin." Jin Baoyi couldn't enter the palace, so he waited at the door. When he saw him come out, he stretched out his chubby hand with four gold rings and touched his son's cheek with heartache. "Look at you. You used to be so fair and tender, so festive. How come you've become like this after working so hard in the palace? Your grandparents would be so distressed if they saw you!"
Jin Tang frowned and opened his hand: "Dad, I'm already so old, why do I still need to be white and tender?"
Jin Baoyi looked around, pulled him into the alley next to him, and asked in a low voice, "Your grandmother's birthday is after the winter solstice. Will you be back?"
"Yes, I will go back to celebrate her birthday."
"No, what we mean is..." Jin Baoyi looked out the alley again, "You come back with me now and tell me you're planning a birthday party for grandma and want to stay home for a few days."
Jin Tang was puzzled: "There are so many people at home. Didn't you always think I was in the way before? Why are you calling me back so early now?"
"You're such a fool, kid!" Jin Baoyi slapped him on the back of the head. "There's been a bloody incident in the palace! There's a fire, people have died, and there are bloody handprints all over the palace. Why don't you run away?"
"What do you mean by bloody handprints all over the house? They're just one or two, not bloody, not scary. Don't listen to what those people are saying outside." Jin Tang rubbed the back of his head with a look of disdain. "Besides, I'm with the workers every day, my yang energy is strong. What ghost would dare to appear around a group of men like us in broad daylight?"
"Oh, it's better to believe it than not. Your grandparents have been nagging me all day, and your mother was chanting Buddhist scriptures for half the night last night. I'm really fed up with it. Please come home quickly."
"I can't leave here. I have to keep an eye on them building a warehouse, and now there's a kitchen too. It's really overwhelming." Jin Tang was full of fighting spirit and didn't care about his family's concerns. "Dad, you don't know, I'm doing so well now! Everyone in the palace praises me. The county lady also... also praised me and asked if I was overworked. Dad, the county lady cares about me very much. I, I must perform well in the palace..."
Having said this, he lowered his head in embarrassment, his slightly red cheeks showing a hint of shyness, which made Jin Baoyi frown and sigh helplessly.
"But have you ever considered that this palace is truly a difficult place to stay? The county lord's fate... this..." Although Jin Baoyi didn't believe in superstition, he still felt a lingering fear when he thought of the past. "Is she really destined to be unlucky? On the day of the selection of a son-in-law, the rebel army broke into the city, and then Yu Guangling died, leaving you in prison. Now something's happened in this palace again. What if it implicates you? Then... wouldn't that make our whole family regret it?"
"Dad, please don't listen to the nonsense out there, okay? What's with the idea of a husband-killing fate? I think the county lady is a husband-enhancing fate!" Jin Tang refuted with confidence, "When the rebel army entered the city, wasn't it her who saved me and allowed me to escape disaster at her farm? In the case of Yu Guangling, wasn't it her who solved the mystery and helped clear my name?"
Jin Baoyi was speechless after hearing his convincing words. After a long while, he said, "How can it be enough for you to just come back on the day of the birthday party? How about this, you can say that you bumped your knee or stubbed your toe or something, go home and recuperate for a few days, and come back after the storm here is over..."
When Jin Tang heard this, he curled his lips and turned away: "No, I'm busy, who has time to go home?"
Jin Baoyi stamped his feet: "Rebellious son! For the sake of the county lady, you are not afraid of death?"
"Every wrong has its perpetrator, and Shi Jingning's death has nothing to do with me. Besides, the county lady is in the palace, she will protect us, what should I be afraid of?"
Jin Baoyi thought about how the county lady looked when she took him to the academy to investigate a case, and he hesitated and sighed: "Alas, the county lady is indeed extremely intelligent, but who can tell the truth about the supernatural? Besides..."
Looking at his stubborn and obstinate son, he thought, besides, the county lady has all kinds of men in her backyard, who knows if she will take care of you first?
Although as a father, I don't want to admit it, but my son is indeed not outstanding in the palace. To win the favor of the county lady, he really needs to work hard in the palace and perform hard to have a hope...
Jin Tang finally stopped at the corner, thinking about the strange bloody handprint and Shi Jingning's inexplicable death in the fire. He turned around and said, "Dad, tell Mom and Grandma and Grandpa not to worry. I... I'll sleep with the workers tonight. No matter if it's a murderer or a ghost, who dares to sneak in among a group of grown men and harm me?"
Looking at his son's back as he walked away, Jin Baoyi shook his head helplessly, got on the carriage and went home with a heavy heart.
When passing by Shengfa Casino, there was another noisy traffic jam. Jin Baoyi lifted the curtain and saw that Shi Jingning's brand had been taken down and Yang Huaijiang's brand had been raised, apparently ranking third.
As for the person who ranked second...
"What? People in the market are so optimistic about my son?" Jin Baoyi craned his neck against the window, surprised and delighted, as if forgetting how irritated he'd just been by his rebellious son. "The number of people betting on him is second only to that universally admired Cui Shaoqing?!"
The servant boy who had been with Jin Tang before took a look and said with a wry smile, "Actually... most of it was staked by the young master himself."
Knowing that his son was spending a lot of money to support him, Jin Baoyi slammed the car curtain down in frustration.
The car was stuck in the street kerb, unable to move for a long time. He fumed and glared, finally pounding on the car window. "I'm going to close this lousy gambling house tomorrow, and my son will be the first one to go!"
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