"Young lady, I remember now, didn't you lose some of your jewelry a while ago? Did you take it?"
"It was me! I took it, Madam. I was blinded by greed." Zi Ling slapped her across the face, which frightened Cui'er into quickly admitting her guilt.
Ruan Yu Mu had already guessed who it was, so she asked, "But you saw that my courtyard was really shabby. Although I was pregnant, the general did not treat me well. So you went and found a richer man instead, didn't you?"
“Madam, I didn’t go looking for them; they found me. I had no choice! Besides, if I didn’t accept it, they would beat me to death.”
As Cui'er spoke, she took out her arm, which was covered with thin knife cuts, connected by wires, making it look shocking.
"My lady, if I don't agree, they'll tear the wire and rub salt into my wounds! My lady, please investigate!"
Ruan Yumu leaned back on the soft couch, already knowing who had done it. "Who did it?"
“It’s Consort Liu, and Ning’er from her courtyard. I was originally from the same courtyard as Ning’er. Before the original Madam Jiang Meng died, she sent us to the side of the two consorts, which was to leave a way out for Miss Chu.”
"Who would have thought that Ning'er would so quickly turn against us and become a favorite of Lady Liu? I was already at odds with Ning'er, and now I'm even more forced into a corner."
Cui'er knelt on the ground, weeping, completely unlike the confident person she had been when she first reported the incident.
"Get up and get to work. I'll have Ziling pack some money for you. Take your belongings and set off back first thing tomorrow morning!"
Cui'er's eyes lit up. "The concubine is so kind-hearted! Thank you, concubine! Thank you, concubine!"
Cui'er knelt on the ground and kowtowed for a long time before leaving.
Seeing how Ruan Yu Mu treated her, the servants tidying up the house became even more determined to take good care of her, hoping that one day their master would give them a sum of money so they could get a contract to return home and reunite with their parents.
Zi Ling was indignant. "Why should she? Miss, no! You just let her go like that? Is that fair? Bah! And you even gave her money! This kind of person should be beaten to death with a stick!"
A mocking smile flickered across Ruan Yumu's lips, but she didn't answer. She gently picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said, "It's cold!"
That evening, Zi Ling helped Ruan Yu Mu bathe. "Zi Ling, there's a hidden compartment under the bath fragrance box."
"Girl! You mustn't! Even if you don't think of yourself, you have to live for your child!"
Zi Ling naturally knew that it contained arsenic. Years ago, Ruan Yumu was pressured by the old lady and almost drank it all. It was Zi Ling's constant persuasion that made her give up those thoughts. She simply hid it in a secret compartment.
Unexpectedly, Ruan Yumu discovered it again. The general was like this again today. Could it be that the young lady is about to have another breakdown?
"What are you thinking?" Ruan Yumu poked Ziling's forehead with her finger. "Go give it to her. Under the cover of darkness, have someone drag her to Yun Gui Lou."
"Is that Cui'er?"
Zi Ling wasn't quite sure, but she still asked tentatively.
"Could it be you again?"
"Yes, madam."
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