Chapter 31: I stand upright and fear no shadow; I welcome anyone to come and investigate the culprit.

Su Zhiyan turned her gaze toward Jiang Nian.

This was the eldest daughter of Jiang Ping by his first wife. It was rumored that her mother had taken her younger sister and left the manor after a legal separation.

If that were the case, she should naturally be standing in opposition to Mistress Qiao.

Picking up on Jiang Nian’s words, Su Zhiyan said, "Indeed, Master. I have a clear conscience, and I have no fear of anyone investigating the killer!"

Mistress Qiao’s expression darkened. Was she implying that whoever opposed the investigation was the murderer?

Jiang Nian looked at Mistress Qiao with indifference. Of course, she did not truly intend to report this to the authorities; how could Jiang Ping possibly involve the officials over a mere maid? The entire household had been thrown into chaos by laxatives; if news of this spread, he would be the laughingstock of his colleagues until his dying day.

She only wanted everyone to see Mistress Qiao’s attitude—who was advocating for an investigation, and who was blocking it.

Jiang Ping’s face was as cold as frost. While he could not involve the authorities, he could have his own people determine the cause of death.

"Everyone unrelated, disperse! Send for Old Tian!"

Old Tian had once served as a coroner at the magistrate’s office. He had a penchant for raising horses, and in his old age, he had entered the Jiang household, where he now served as Jiang Ping’s personal coachman.

He arrived quickly, and the crowd of onlookers was driven away.

Jiang Ping pointed to the maid’s corpse and said to Old Tian, "Examine how she died."

The deceased maid lay where she had fallen, covered now by a white cloth. Old Tian lifted the cloth, but upon catching the stench, his expression became indescribable.

After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the cause of the young maid’s death was determined.

"This girl did not die from diarrhea. The fatal injury was a long needle driven through both ears; the weapon was hidden in the ear canal and was difficult to detect."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ping’s face turned grim. "Understood. You may go."

Su Zhiyan’s name was cleared, but Mistress Qiao was seething with rage. Now, everyone would surely believe that she was the one who had poisoned the food and the one who had silenced the witness!

Jiang Ping looked at the corpse and said coldly, "The affairs of the inner court are managed by Rong. I leave the investigation of the murderer to you." With that, he flicked his sleeve and departed.

Qiao Rong watched his retreating back, a heavy weight pressing down on her heart. In recent years, Jiang Ping’s official authority had grown, and she no longer dared to clash with him head-on.

Although the Qiao family had contributed to Jiang Ping’s current status, the Ministry of Personnel was the head of the Six Ministries, and one could not simply secure the position of Vice Minister through connections alone; Jiang Ping had to possess genuine ability. Furthermore, the State Preceptor in the imperial court was not a man to be trifled with. If Jiang Ping were incompetent, he would never be able to hold such an important post.

Mistress Qiao took a deep breath, trying to ease the stifling frustration in her chest, but she inhaled a lungful of the foul odor and burst into a rage. "What are you standing there for? Get someone to clean this place up!"

The servants hurried into action, some cleaning the area, others removing the body. As for the murderer, Mistress Qiao would likely never find them. Everyone had already decided it was her; whoever she accused would simply look like a scapegoat.

By the afternoon, the news that a concubine in the Vice Minister’s manor had been poisoned had spread like wildfire, reaching almost every corner of the capital. By the time the news reached Mistress Qiao’s ears, it had gone through several versions and had long since been distorted.

However, the core theme remained unchanged.

Mistress Qiao was furious, glaring at the maid who had delivered the news. "Say it again!"

The maid jumped, trembling as she repeated, "O-outside, they are all saying that you, Madam, ordered a maid to poison Concubine Su and then silenced her to cover your tracks... the methods were extremely cruel..."

Nanny Zhao remarked, "I have kept people watching Wuhua Garden closely. It is unlikely that Concubine Su was the one to spread this. Could it be the Third Madam, or perhaps the Third Miss?"

"I believe they all had a hand in it! Every one of them is trying to make things difficult for me! Do they think I am made of clay?"

Mistress Qiao suddenly felt as though everyone in the house had become her enemy.

"Nanny Zhao!"

"I am here, Madam." Mistress Qiao whispered a few words in her ear.

Nanny Zhao nodded cautiously. "I will see to it at once."

...

When Jiang Nian returned to Biyu Pavilion, she said to Qing’er, "The maid Xiangcao, who died in the main kitchen, had an aunt working in Mistress Qiao’s courtyard. I didn’t see her in the crowd today; I wonder if she was deliberately sent away by Mistress Qiao. Keep an eye on her."

"Yes, Miss."

If Jiang Nian remembered correctly, Nanny Lin doted on her niece, Xiangcao, very much. With Xiangcao dead, Nanny Lin would certainly harbor resentment.

The Jiang manor was riddled with Mistress Qiao’s eyes and ears. Jiang Nian could not act openly; she had to pluck the feathers one by one, then pull out Mistress Qiao’s claws and teeth, before finally tearing her apart.

"By the way, how is that bedfellow of Father’s, Fang Mei?"

"Since you ordered me to secretly deliver food and medicine every day, her health has improved significantly. She can now get out of bed and walk."

Jiang Nian nodded. "Very good. See that Mistress Qiao does not discover her."

"Don’t worry, Miss. Perhaps because it has been so long, Mistress Qiao pays her no mind at all. There is hardly anyone guarding Fang Mei’s courtyard."

Jiang Nian nodded. "That is good. Mistress Qiao has lost face today and will certainly not swallow this insult. She will try to regain her standing at Concubine Su’s expense. Tell Fang Mei that a chance to rise will come soon; she must be ready to seize it."

"Yes, Miss!"

...

A few days after the laxative incident, trouble struck Concubine Su’s quarters once again.

"Miss, a young maid in Concubine Su’s courtyard was caught in an illicit affair with one of the manservants near the Master. Nanny Zhao, who serves the Madam, caught them in the act!"

Jiang Nian’s hand, holding the teacup, paused. "When Concubine Su was outside the manor, Father visited her often. It is only natural that the maid and the manservant became familiar and developed feelings."

In a great house with strict rules, neither masters nor servants dared to overstep their bounds—especially not in such illicit affairs. Once such a scandal occurred, there was no other outcome but death.

"Miss, do you think this is true? Could it be a trap set by Mistress Qiao?"

"Hmph, nine times out of ten."

Qing’er felt a lingering fear. "The Old Madam and the others have already gone to Wuhua Garden. Debauchery in the inner court is no small matter. That maid’s legs were beaten until they were broken in several places! Her screams were deafening; it was truly harrowing!"

Jiang Nian sneered. "It is, after all, Mistress Qiao’s territory. Despite Concubine Su’s vigilance, she still failed to hold her ground and let someone exploit a loophole. That maid was likely coerced. What about the manservant?"

"He fled. We haven't found a trace of him yet. He was surely bribed by Mistress Qiao to take the money and run."

"Let’s go and see."

...

In Wuhua Garden, the Old Madam and the others were present.

In the courtyard, besides the maid who had fainted from the pain of her broken legs, the other maids were kneeling, their faces deathly pale.

Fuxiao watched as Fulan, who had grown up with her, was beaten into such a state and wept until she nearly fainted.

The Old Jiang Madam sat on a chair placed under the veranda, watching them with a somber face.

Concubine Su knelt not far from her, her expression tense and silent, while Mistress Qiao stood behind the Old Madam, a flicker of satisfaction hidden beneath her angry facade.

Jiang Nian entered the courtyard, took in the expressions of everyone at a glance, and walked over slowly to offer her greetings.

Mistress Qiao eyed her coldly.

Ever since this cursed girl returned, one incident after another had plagued the manor, leaving her no time to deal with her.

Once she finished with Su Zhiyan, it would be her turn!