Chapter 267

Chapter 267

How on earth did Wan Linlang manage to investigate the backgrounds of these maids and servants one by one so thoroughly?

That wasn't in the original script either, was it?!

Xie Run paused, suddenly recalling something!

In her past life, Wan Linlang loved collecting all kinds of information, starting from the tiniest details, she'd destroy people without a sound.

At the time, when conditions permitted, the maids who served her—she'd dig up everything about their families three generations back.

Once she became Virtuous Consort, Wan Linlang had been at the height of her power, and her need for control intensified.

The first thing she did after taking power was plant her pawns in every palace, then investigate the backgrounds of the palace staff in each palace.

Those she could use, she'd quietly buy off. Those she couldn't use and who might threaten her later, she'd simply eliminate.

Actually, in both her past and present lives, Wan Linlang had always been like this.

It's just that in this life, she'd been stuck in the position of a concubine, cramping her ability to show what she could do.

Which made people look down on her a bit.

Now Wan Linlang had proven through her actions that she was still the same Virtuous Consort Wan from her past life.

In her past life, Wet Nurse Mu had always taken care of the eldest young master, and in the end, the eldest young master did die because of a small matter.

But back then, it was Fang Yuaner who'd plotted it.

Knowing Wan Linlang's temperament, even if Fang Yuaner hadn't acted, she'd have done it sooner or later.

Preparing in advance by checking Wet Nurse Mu's background made perfect sense.

The eunuch below went on: "That hunter also said the first time he was with Wet Nurse Mu, she gave birth to his son. He'd thought it was just a chance meeting, a one-night stand."

"But who'd have thought Wet Nurse Mu's husband and mother-in-law weren't content—after getting a son, they wanted yet another son—so they coaxed and threatened Wet Nurse Mu into doing it a second time, and she gave birth to a daughter."

"The second time around, the hunter had grown somewhat fond of Wet Nurse Mu, so he'd secretly go to see his son and daughter."

"At first, he was still sneaking around, going just once a month. Later, when he saw that Wet Nurse Mu's husband and mother-in-law couldn't handle him, he started going every couple of days."

"Two months ago, an old woman suddenly approached him and tried to get information out of him."

"The hunter wouldn't talk at first, but the old woman suddenly poisoned him and threatened him. The hunter chickened out and spilled everything."

When Xie Run heard the word "poison," she couldn't help sitting up straight: "Poison?!"

"No kidding! The hunter said the poison was pure torture—day after day, it felt like thousands of bugs biting and gnawing at him, tormenting him until he was sobbing."

Hearing those words, Xie Run was pretty much certain this was Wan Linlang's doing.

"The hunter was scared witless by the poison, so he did as the old woman ordered and went to harass Wet Nurse Mu's family daily."

"Wet Nurse Mu's family was afraid that if it got out, none of them could ever hold their heads up again, so they had no choice but to push Wet Nurse Mu."

"The hunter was scared of trouble, and since the old woman hadn't come after him, he hadn't been visiting his son and daughter much lately."

"Tonight, we servants were in luck—he couldn't resist, happened to catch a rabbit, and used it as an excuse to come over. That's when we happened to catch him."

The Princess Consort's people really worked fast.

Not only had they gotten the information, but they'd also brought Wet Nurse Mu's whole family straight over.

"The Princess Consort said in detail that once this family is brought before Wet Nurse Mu, there's no fear she won't speak."

Xie Run: "...The Princess Consort is indeed swift and decisive."

Wet Nurse Mu had previously refused to speak because she knew that once she opened her mouth, she'd be branded a wanton woman for all to condemn.

Her son and daughter would also suffer scorn, treated like rats in the street, despised by all.

The mother-in-law and husband who'd forced her to conceive would never protect her—instead, they'd abandon her without hesitation, sever ties, and trample her into the mud.

She'd still held a sliver of hope, wanting to use her own life to protect her family's lives.

But when she saw her husband and children brought before her, her resolve instantly crumbled, and she confessed everything.

It was late at night, so Xie Run didn't make a special trip herself.

She only sent her personal maid to listen and report back the information afterward.

Xiaoshu went once and told Xie Run everything she'd heard in full detail.

"Wet Nurse Mu was originally serving properly in the residence when one day she suddenly received a note from Concubine Wan, which wrote about Wet Nurse Mu's conceiving children through a surrogate."

"Wet Nurse Mu was scared half to death, but she was skeptical and didn't dare easily harm anyone."

"It was Concubine Wan who ordered the hunter to harass the family daily, and with her family pressuring her, she finally agreed to do Concubine Wan's bidding."

"She followed Concubine Wan's instructions, damaged the rockery, and helped Concubine Jiang frame you for the miscarriage."

"During this time, she indeed only exchanged information with Xing'er once."

Xie Run raised an eyebrow after listening. "That's all?"

Xiaoshu nodded: "That's all."

Xie Run laughed. "Wan Linlang went through all the trouble of controlling this pawn, just to help Jiang Baobao stage a miscarriage drama?"

"If that's the case, couldn't Xing'er or Guiyuan have done it?"

Xiaoshu: "Wet Nurse Mu said that the people around Concubine Jiang were too closely watched, with no opportunity to tamper with Feihong Pavilion. Only someone like her from the front courtyard, with little connection to the back courtyard, could quietly make alterations without anyone noticing."

"Aside from that, Concubine Wan also had Wet Nurse Mu frequently whisper divisive words in the eldest young master's ear, making him resent the other children in the residence."

Xiaoshu paused, then added two more points: "Not just the children. Those who'd once clashed with Concubine Ning and have now become Secondary Consorts—all of them are targets of the eldest young master's hostility."

"Especially Secondary Consort Fang and you, Mistress."

Xie Run listened, then asked in confusion: "She didn't mention why she was scolding the eldest young master by the rockery that day?"

Xiaoshu: "Wet Nurse Mu said that day was an accident. The eldest young master heard he was to attend Fifth Young Master's birthday banquet, suddenly threw a tantrum, and ran to the rockery to make a fuss."

"The eldest young master was cursing Fifth Young Master and you near the rockery, and coincidentally, you happened to be nearby."

"Wet Nurse Mu was afraid you'd notice something was off, so she made up an excuse on the spot."

Xie Run furrowed her brow: "So you're saying the eldest young master didn't know the rockery had been tampered with?"

"That day he was chatting with Consort Sun under the rockery and got hit by Jiang Baobao—was that really just an accident?"

Xie Run asked this because she didn't believe it in the slightest.

Xiaoshu nodded: "I confirmed it several times with Guard Jin and Nurse Mu, and Nurse Mu was very certain."

"She said the eldest young master is stubborn and sinister by nature; even though he's young, he's very set in his own ways."

"Nurse Mu didn't dare tell him anything, afraid he'd mess things up, and even more scared he might scheme something bad."

"The eldest young master getting knocked silly by accident and Consort Sun's disfigurement—Nurse Mu never saw any of it coming; she had no idea."

Xie Run smiled: "Nurse Mu didn't tell him, but that doesn't mean he didn't figure it out on his own."

"Looks like we need to question the people around him to see if he has any close confidants."

Now that the eldest young master had been left a simpleton, even the most devoted maids and servants would worry about their own futures.

Xie Run: "Now that the investigation is nearly complete, have Guard Jin write up the case file, have these people sign their statements, and wait for the princess consort's decision."

"When the prince gets back, I'll have something to show for it."

Xiaoshu said softly: "Consort Jiang's mess has caused a huge uproar; everyone in the household has been keeping their heads down these days, scared of getting dragged into it."

"Consort Jiang did this to herself, so there's not much to say about it. But the eldest young master's been left a fool—when the prince returns, he's bound to be furious, and who knows what he'll do with him."

"As for Consort Sun, though her injuries are the lightest, a woman's face is everything... She's stopped handling household matters entirely, holed up in her courtyard without a peep. I just don't think she'll take this lying down."

Xie Run said: "Now that the case has come to light, Consort Sun has someone to resent—she won't stay idle."

Xiaoshu blinked: "The culprit, Concubine Wan, is still in Qiangwu. If Consort Sun wants to resent someone, she'll first blame Consort Jiang..."

Xie Run sat before the vanity mirror and undid her hair, with Xiaoshu assisting by her side.

Xie Run said slowly: "She's been wronged; she'll need somewhere to vent."

"Though this matter doesn't concern us, now that we're in charge of household affairs, we must act cautiously and not be used by others."

Xiaoshu immediately nodded: "I understand."

That evening, Xie Run was still worried about Consort Sun making a move against Jiang Baobao. Before dawn the next day, she was shaken awake.

"Master, something terrible has happened!"

Xie Run took a moment to gather her senses before replying, "What happened now?"