At the end of the line of sight was Aunt Zheng!
Her personal maid, Cui'er, had a mole below her lip.
Madam Shen immediately ordered someone to summon Cui'er to Zhuijin Hall. Before she could even step inside, Master Jingming started shouting at the top of his lungs, "It's her! Yes, yes, it's her!"
"She asked the innkeeper to pass me a note, asking me to meet her in the alley behind the inn."
"Although the note is gone, the innkeeper can vouch for me; what I said is true!"
Cui'er remained frozen, one foot still on the step.
Clearly, she also recognized Master Jingming.
She walked into the room trembling, and subconsciously looked at Aunt Zheng.
The latter looked nervous, almost unable to hide it.
Without Qian Chuan and the others needing to deliberately scare her, Cui'er confessed everything while crying and sobbing during normal questioning.
“It was…it was my aunt who told me…” Cui’er knelt on the ground, crying pitifully: “She said that if the Third Miss hadn’t been trying to compete with the Second Miss, she wouldn’t have done such a foolish thing and been sent to the estate to suffer.”
"And the second young master, whose reputation was also ruined by the second young lady."
"She wants revenge!"
Upon hearing this, Aunt Zheng immediately became agitated: "You wretched woman, who taught you to frame me like this?"
As she spoke, she lunged forward, baring her teeth and brandishing her claws, intending to attack Cui'er, but Qian Chuan stopped her with a shout while brandishing his sword!
After listening to the story, he concluded that the whole affair was a case of the concubine framing the mistress, and that she should have nothing to do with the deer bone used by Jingming.
However, given the gravity of the matter, Qian Chuan dared not be careless and decided to investigate thoroughly before proceeding.
Aunt Zheng was both anxious and afraid, but there was nothing she could do.
Until Shen Mengyin said in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, "Auntie, don't be anxious. Everything requires evidence. No one can wrong you if you didn't do something."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qiyin immediately looked at her, a hint of interest flashing in her eyes.
Aunt Zheng was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and then, as if grasping at a straw, she argued vehemently, "They conspired together to frame me, I refuse to accept it!"
"Unless they produce evidence."
Qian Chuan: "We'll investigate the evidence; you don't need to worry about that!"
Since Jingming said he was doing things for money, then we should start by investigating the source of the money.
As a concubine of Zheng Shi, and from a family like the Shen family, it's easy to imagine that her monthly allowance wasn't much. The fact that she could pay Jingming twenty taels of silver and promise more afterwards suggests that she must have pawned some of her hairpins and jewelry.
As long as you find the pawn ticket or the stub at the store, you'll have the evidence!
But to everyone's surprise, Jingming spoke weakly at this moment, "I...I...I have evidence..."
He gestured towards the pocket he carried with him: "I still have that piece of paper that girl gave me, which is filled with the birth dates of everyone in this mansion. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to remember them, so I didn't dare to throw it away. I take it out and memorize it from time to time. I even looked at it before entering the mansion."
He smiled obsequiously, "Just compare the handwriting on those pieces, and the truth will be revealed."
"Alright, you've done a good job!"
As Qian Chuan spoke, he bent down to search and found a piece of paper that was almost crumpled up.
It's clear that he has indeed watched it many times.
When Aunt Zheng saw that piece of paper, her face turned pale.
She suddenly confessed: "...I admit it!"
"It was I who instructed Cui'er to bribe this old Taoist priest, trying to slander Madam and the Second Miss and drive them out of the Shen family, but so what?"
"In the end, this is just a family matter within our household. I'll accept whatever the old lady decides to do, whether it's to beat or kill or sell off the family, but there's no need to involve the authorities, is there?"
Aunt Zheng's words are absolutely right.
Madam Shen, not wanting to air her dirty laundry in public, also tried to protect her.
But they all overlooked one problem.
Qian Chuan explained, "Madam, it's not that I'm not giving you face, but she has a conflict of interest with Jingming, and Jingming has violated the law by using deer bones, which is a crime of disobedience and insubordination. Those involved must be taken back for a thorough interrogation."
After saying that, he immediately put shackles on Aunt Zheng: "Go!"
"Brother Qian," Shen Qiyin suddenly stood up, "I have two things I'd like to say to my aunt, is that alright?"
Qian Chuan thought that Aunt Zheng was determined to harm them, and it was only natural for Shen Qiyin to retaliate in kind, so he stepped aside to make room for them.
Shen Qiyin walked with her back to everyone to Aunt Zheng. Under the other woman's surprised and suspicious gaze, she lowered her voice and said to her, "Although I don't like you, Aunt Zheng, I can't help but be moved by your love for your daughter."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Zheng's eyes widened in surprise.
Shen Qiyin lowered her eyes, concealing a myriad of thoughts, and her face returned to its usual calm and composed demeanor.
She said, "If you want to keep Shen Mengyin, I will grant your wish."
"After all, this mansion is getting more and more deserted. With her to keep me company, I can relieve my boredom."
Aunt Zheng looked on warily: "What do you want to do?!"
Shen Qiyin did not answer, but turned and went back into the house.
Aunt Zheng wanted to say something more, but she and Cui'er were forcibly taken away by Qian Chuan.
After being given the antidote by Shen Qiyin, Master Jingming finally regained his strength. However, his arm had not been reattached, and blood was seeping from his thigh. He walked with a limp, as if he had come back to life.
Qian Chuan and his group quickly disappeared at the entrance of Zhuijintang. Old Madam Shen finally vented her suppressed anger, grabbing the teacup beside her and throwing it away fiercely.
"You little slut who's asking for trouble!"
She was angry at Aunt Zheng.
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