Chapter Thirty-Nine: Inferior Methods
The next day, just as dawn was breaking and Song Yiqiu was not fully awake, the courtyard gate was violently kicked open.
Song Sangyu stormed in with a large group of old women and maids, shouting orders:
"Search thoroughly, don't miss any corner!"
Song Yiqiu put on her coat and got up, frowning as she looked at the chaotic scene before her, her tone displeased:
"What is my sister up to all this commotion so early in the morning?"
Song Sangye turned around and spoke in a deliberately serious tone:
"Sister, you probably don't know yet, but after the flower viewing and tea party, the manor's storeroom was inventoried, and they discovered that several antique treasures were missing. These were all top-quality items worth a thousand gold pieces, including two that were imperial gifts. If Father finds out, he will surely be furious!"
Song Yiqiu sneered:
"Something went missing from your residence, and instead of reporting it to the authorities, you're running around in my courtyard like a madman? Does my sister suspect that I stole it?"
Song Sangyu said hypocritically:
“Heh, of course I wouldn’t dare to doubt my elder sister. But with a thief in the household, it’s not a good look for anyone. We must find this audacious thief as soon as possible.”
"I have offended you today, but it was for the sake of peace in the manor. I hope you will not take offense."
She said she wouldn't dare, but her eyes signaled to her men to search even more thoroughly.
Before Song Yiqiu could fully react, she saw an old woman rush out of Qingzhu's room in a panic, holding up something wrapped in a handkerchief and shouting:
"Found it! Found it! Second Miss, it's been found in the old servant's room!"
She rushed to Song Sangyu, opened the handkerchief, and inside was a jade bracelet with excellent clarity.
The old woman pointed at Qingzhu, who had come out after hearing the noise, and said in a shrill voice:
"Song Yiqiu! You still say you didn't know? Your maid dared to steal valuables from the storeroom in broad daylight! What is her punishment?"
She turned to Song Sangyu,
"Second Miss, the thief has been caught red-handed. Arrest this thieving maid immediately, give her twenty lashes, and expel her from the manor!"
Bai Mei immediately stepped in front of Qing Zhu, glaring angrily:
"Let's see who dares to touch her."
Seeing this, Song Sangyu became even more smug and said sternly:
"Take them all down! Anyone who tries to stop us is an accomplice!"
Watching these people talk amongst themselves, Song Yiqiu finally understood.
This is a scheme targeting Qingzhu.
She stepped forward and blocked the way for the crowd:
"Wait! Stealing imperial gifts is no small matter. How can you be so arbitrary? We should at least get a clear answer."
She turned to Qingzhu, who instinctively wanted to continue feigning madness, gave her a reassuring look, and asked:
"Qingzhu, tell me, did you take this bracelet?"
Qingzhu received Song Yiqiu's gaze and instantly understood. This was an opportunity given to her by her mistress, a chance to legitimately regain her senses.
Although she spoke slowly, her words were logical:
"No...no...I took it."
Song Sangyu scoffed as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world:
"What a joke! You can believe the words of a madwoman? She can't even explain who she is!"
Song Yiqiu looked sharply at Song Sangyu and said, word by word:
"What if...she's not crazy?"
Song Sangyu was taken aback:
"What?"
Song Yiqiu calmly explained, half true and half false:
“A few days ago, a few audacious thieves broke into my courtyard and injured my maid. Qingzhu was hit on the head and was frightened, but perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. In the past few days, she has gradually become more lucid, although she still can’t speak very fluently.”
Song Sangyu's expression changed slightly, but she forced herself to remain calm:
"Even if she regains her senses, doesn't that just make her more likely to steal from the storeroom? Maybe she's been pretending to be crazy all along just to make it easier to steal things and sell them for money!"
Song Yiqiu retorted with a cold laugh:
"Second Miss, please be careful with your words! Most of the important items in the manor's storeroom have special markings. Once such items enter the market, they are very easy to trace and extremely difficult to sell."
"Second Miss, you can't just make baseless accusations and smear someone's reputation based on a bracelet alone. What evidence do you have? Besides this bracelet that somehow ended up in her room, what else is there?"
Bai Mei immediately chimed in:
"Exactly! Produce the evidence! You think you can convict someone based on this bracelet of dubious origin? Who knows if some people are dishonest and deliberately framed you!"
Just then, Madam Song Shen also rushed over upon hearing the news. Without even asking what happened, she sternly said:
"What more evidence do we need? We have witnesses and physical evidence! What's there to argue about? Guards! Drag this sleazy, dishonest servant away and beat her severely!"
Song Shen was most worried that Qingzhu might have a chance to regain consciousness.
"Wait!"
Song Yiqiu stopped him again.
"Mother, what's the rush? We have to let the person involved finish speaking, right? Qingzhu, speak slowly, don't be afraid. Where did you get this bracelet from?"
Qingzhu had no idea where the bracelet came from, but she was extremely clever. When she saw Song Yiqiu glance almost imperceptibly in the direction of the West City Villa while she was speaking, she immediately understood.
She began to speak, her tone still carrying a hint of madness, yet her words were clear and coherent:
“A pretty lady gave it to me. That lady… wore a pink silk flower in her hair, and had yellow flowers painted on her forehead. She was dressed so beautifully. She told me to put this bracelet on my bedside table… saying it was a gift for me…”
Song Yiqiu immediately turned her head and sternly questioned the servants around her:
"Has any unfamiliar woman dressed like this, with a floral design on her forehead, visited the manor recently?"
A timid little maidservant replied tremblingly:
“Reporting to Miss… from Sister Qingzhu’s description, it seems… it seems to be Cui Rui, the maidservant that the Third Young Master placed next to Ying’er in the West City Villa.”
"She did come to the manor the day before yesterday to deliver something to the Third Young Master, and she was dressed like that..."
Upon hearing this, many people present instantly understood.
The Third Young Master, Song Haochu, is notoriously love-struck; it's not impossible that he would steal from the storeroom for Ying'er!
Song Yiqiu sneered inwardly, but turned to Song Shenshi, her tone becoming meaningful:
"Mother, I have already asked Wu Langzhong of the Ministry of War's Performance Evaluation Department to take care of my elder brother's official position. He can take office tomorrow."
"Doctor Wu even specially invited me to play polo on my day off... I hope Mother can thoroughly investigate this matter and clear my maid's name. Otherwise, I'm in a bad mood and I'm afraid I won't be in the mood to keep the appointment."
How could Madam Song not understand the threat in those words? She originally wanted to take this opportunity to eliminate Qingzhu, a potential threat, but she never expected that she would actually regain her senses as a result of this misfortune!
If pushed too far, this girl might reveal some old stories... Moreover, her son's official position and cultivating connections with the Ministry of War are even more important!
She suppressed her anger and said dryly:
"Yiqiu... well, a country has its laws, and a family has its rules..."
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