Chapter 193 The Death of Granny Su
Upon hearing Qiu Heng's name, Granny Su's expression changed drastically: "I don't know, I don't know!"
The man stopped Granny Su, who was about to leave, and said, "Just say a few words, and the money is yours."
"I don't want money—" Granny Su subconsciously pushed away the person blocking her way, but her clothes were suddenly grabbed.
The unremarkable-looking man smiled, but his eyes were filled with murderous intent. He asked in a low voice, "Neither money nor your life?"
Granny Su turned pale with fright and looked around, but she couldn't see a single person besides them!
"What are you looking at? Even if someone hears your cries for help and comes, do you think they'll be faster than this dagger?"
Granny Su lowered her head tremblingly and saw the dagger pressed against her abdomen; her face turned even paler.
"Besides, people who come to places like this aren't exactly busybodies, don't you think?"
"Yes, yes..." Granny Su gave up her plea for help, her voice trembling violently.
"Now can we talk about Qiuheng?"
“She—” Granny Su’s face trembled, and even more fear welled up in her eyes, “I don’t think she’s human…”
The man, who had been expressionless the whole time, paused, his eyes growing even colder: "Have you had enough of living?"
Granny Su shuddered, her voice rising involuntarily: "No, no, I'm serious! She, she can summon spirits, and she's so light she doesn't need to walk..."
After hearing what Granny Su had to say, the man grabbed her by the back of her collar and pushed her head into the river.
It snowed just two days ago, and although it hasn't frozen yet, it's still bone-chillingly cold.
Granny Su convulsed for a moment, and when she raised her head from the water, she gasped for breath.
"Aren't you going to tell the truth?"
"I'm telling the truth!" Granny Su cried and snotted, nearly collapsing. "I saw her with my own eyes summoning the soul of the Third Young Master... I swear, if I'm lying, may I be struck by lightning!"
"So it seems you weren't lying."
"No, no, please let me go—" Granny Su pleaded.
She thought being trapped in a brothel was bad enough, but she never expected to suffer like this. The river water was too cold...
In her terror, Su Mama heard the man calmly say, "Alright, I'll let you go."
Before Granny Su could even catch her breath, her head was pushed back into the river.
"Help—" As soon as Granny Su opened her mouth, the icy river water mixed with the scent of cosmetics poured into it, making her unable to make a sound, only gurgling bubbles rising to the surface.
In her heart, Su Mama cried out for help, thinking that when that person pulled her out again, she would not tell the truth, but would tell a lie that would make that person believe her.
She wanted to live; she didn't want to die!
But the hand that was pressing down on her head never moved away.
Just as she was about to be completely swallowed by suffocation, Granny Su suddenly regained some clarity and saw a girl in plain clothes smile at her, then lightly float away with a lantern in her hand.
"Sixth Miss Qiu is really not human"—Grandma Su opened her mouth, and her consciousness completely vanished.
Seeing that Granny Su had stopped struggling, the man released her and kicked her into the river as if she were filth.
Granny Su's body quickly sank into the Xiangsha River.
Inside the small building, Su Mama was nowhere to be seen even as night fell. The madam then asked, "Where is Su Mama?"
Someone said, "Mother Su went out during the day."
"If they don't come back by now, could they have run away? People from wealthy families always seem to feel wronged here and are always trying to leave."
The madam sneered, "Where can she run to? It's all on the government's records."
A commotion broke out outside.
The madam instructed her servant, "Go and see what's going on outside."
The servant rushed in as fast as the wind not long after he left: "Someone has drowned, it seems, it seems to be Madam Su!"
The madam's face changed upon hearing this, and she hurriedly went out to check.
As night fell, the Xiangsha River was brightly lit, and a large crowd had gathered at the front section of the river. The madam squeezed through the crowd and confirmed Su Mama's identity.
Those familiar with the madam remarked, "Is this the new 'discipline mother' you've hired for your building? Tsk tsk, I wonder if she's fallen into prostitution or just had a moment of despair."
"She must have been thinking too much. I heard that this person used to be a high-ranking nanny in the treacherous minister's household..."
The madam's face darkened, and she cursed, "Bad luck!"
In a place like Xiangsha River, it's common for a few people to die every year. Su Mama's death was like a pebble thrown into the river, creating small ripples that subsided quickly.
Xue Quan received the news.
"Yang's trusted nanny was bought by a brothel in Xiangshahe and committed suicide by drowning yesterday..."
After hearing this, Xue Quan was filled with doubt: "Are you sure it was suicide by drowning?"
"It's said there were no external injuries on her body, and some guess she accidentally fell into the water, but most believe she committed suicide. Since that old woman, Granny Su, went to the Xiangsha River, she would go for walks during the day when she had nothing to do; everyone says she couldn't bear such a change..."
Xue Quan shook his head slightly with a sullen face.
No matter how respectable she is, she's still just a servant girl. Even the masters of the Fang family, who have fallen from grace, are reluctant to die. How can an old servant have such ambition?
joke.
Having witnessed much of human affairs, Xue Quan knew all too well that for the vast majority of people, a miserable life was better than a good death.
If people commit suicide because they are miserable, then 90% of the people in this world would be gone.
Did he accidentally fall into the water?
Xue Quan instinctively didn't believe it.
In the dead of winter, when the water level is low, this is possible, but unlikely.
If she died from murder, that would be interesting. He was just about to summon Granny Su to ask about Qiu Heng's condition when Granny Su died.
Judging from this, he may very well have been right; Qiu Heng is the one with the problem!
Xue Quan pinched the bridge of his nose, his heart heavy.
This little girl, who seems so peculiar, has won Han'er's favor. Is it a coincidence, or is he deliberately trying to get close to her?
But what exactly is wrong with her?
Xue Quan felt as if there was a thick fog before his eyes, and he could not see clearly.
Since Granny Su is dead, let's ask someone else.
Besides Madam Yang and Granny Su, Qiuheng interacted most frequently with other people after moving into the Fang family home, including—
Xue Quan raised an eyebrow, thinking of one person: Yang's daughter.
"What is the name of Yang's daughter?" Xue Quan asked directly, thinking of this.
The eunuch who was able to work for Xue Quan was quick-witted and thoughtful. He wouldn't be so foolish as to ask Su Mama about her alone. He immediately replied, "Yang's daughter is named Fang Rui. She was bought by the Cheng family."
“Minister Cheng?” It was related to someone in the palace. Xue Quan thought for a moment and realized, “I remember that Minister Cheng’s wife and Consort Wu are sisters.”
The eunuch hurriedly said, "Cheng Susu, the daughter of Vice Minister Cheng, is a close friend of Fang Rui. When the Fang family fell on hard times, the Cheng family bought Fang Rui. Everyone says that this Miss Cheng is righteous."
Xue Quan was too lazy to comment, he only cared about one thing: "So, Fang Rui is now married."
"yes."
Xue Quan met with Vice Minister Cheng that same day.
"I heard that Fang Yuanzhi's granddaughter, Fang Rui, is at your residence."
Cheng Shilang's heart sank, and he hurriedly explained, "My daughter and Miss Fang have known each other since childhood. As a girl, she is soft-hearted and cannot bear to see her friend fall into prostitution."
It would be one thing to be convicted of embezzlement and bribery, but Fang Yuanzhi was charged with treason, a crime that most people would not want to be associated with.
"Our family would like to meet this child."
The sensible Minister Cheng didn't ask any further questions. Once he got home, he sent someone to invite his daughter, Cheng Susu, over.
(End of this chapter)
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