The Concubine's Survival Manual

Chapter 130

Qin Niangzi lived a comfortable life for the next month.

Aside from Xu Fengjia's mysterious going out, although the mansion was undercurrents and turbulent, all the turmoil was due to the fact that she seemed to have forgotten the word "receiving power", and it was only an undercurrent, not too many turbulent waves were set off.

Fifth Young Madam's attitude towards Seventh Lady is becoming more and more kind every day. Even Mrs. Tai seems to be a little more pleasing to Seventh Lady. Although there is no shortage of words in normal times, the two sides are still in peace.

Seventh Lady just cleaned up the inside and outside of Mingde Hall wholeheartedly, and then set up a small Buddhist hall in the small room in the east wing near the outer wall, where Fifth Lady often lived, and enshrined a picture of Fifth Lady ——This was drawn by Qin Niangzi herself from memory.Although the brushwork is not as exquisite as the painters outside, it is better because she is familiar with Wu Niangzi.

In the painting, Wu Niangzi stands under the flowers, her lips are slightly raised, and her innocent demeanor has a little arrogance, which can be regarded as a vivid miniature.

Then I cleaned a few rooms on the side of the courtyard in the east wing, and prepared places for Shiro and Goro. Among the dowry maids, Xia Yuan, the most honest and calmest maid, was chosen as the leader, and the old mother She came out and picked four second-class maids who knew things well in Qingpingyuan, and the eldest wife specially married them over. The former nanny who was good at taking care of babies became the mother in charge, and picked seven or eight little maids with clean hands and feet and elegant manners. It roughly filled up the establishment around Shiro and Goro.

All Mama Liang could do was to educate a few new mothers in charge, teaching them how to advance and retreat, but these mothers could sit in the position of small stewards on their own, so naturally they didn't have fuel-efficient lamps, but With a little bit of coaching, they have already learned quite well.Apart from accompanying Qiniangzi all day to prepare for welcoming Shiro and Wulang back home, she had nothing else to do.

Seventh Lady didn't ask her to send her back to Yang's house for a long time, so Mother Liang naturally didn't dare to make a mistake. She lived in Mingde Hall and had no errands, but she gradually became a little uneasy.

It was now October, and Xu Fengjia's letter from Guangzhou had arrived. One was addressed to Qin Niangzi by name. It's tricky, but I'm afraid I'll be able to set off and come back by next spring at the latest.He also told Qiniangzi to be wise and protect herself, so that she could do it for herself, and do what she can do, if she feels forced, don't interfere.

After thinking about it, Qiniangzi could only answer the eight words "be kind to yourself, take care of yourself and return as soon as possible", and couldn't say anything else.But knowing that Xu Fengjia arrived in Guangzhou safely, she felt relieved.

It soon entered the end of October. First, the Sun family made a filial piety and held a big banquet, followed by Brother Nine's wedding. Mrs. Wu sent the gift lists of both families to Mingde Hall for Seventh Lady to have a look. It's okay to just smile - this fifth young lady is really interesting in her actions.

She can wait and slow down, how can Mrs. Xu not wait?Originally, the first year for a bride to enter the house was also a year for establishing rules. In the first few months, Xu Fengjia had other errands outside, and Qin Niangzi could calm down, so Mrs. Xu would naturally not be more impatient than her.

Her life was very peaceful, no matter whether Mrs. Tai or the sisters-in-law, no one confronted her. Seventh Lady would greet the two elders every morning and evening, but she had nothing to do all day long. Either reading or writing, in a place like the Xu family, I have stolen a peaceful life.

On October 23, Mingde Hall became busy inside and out, and it was Madam Xu's birthday in three days. The old man said: I don't want anything for my birthday this year, I just want two golden grandchildren to bow to her.

Even if everyone knew it was just an excuse, at least it was a natural excuse.

Seventh Lady asked Ann to come back, so she went into the East Wing herself and inspected the two children's bedrooms. Seeing that everything was well-arranged and warm, she nodded with satisfaction.

If something happens to the group of babysitters I have prepared, there is nothing I can do about it—Mrs. Experts come to assassinate, this level of security can stop them for a while.

but……

She pondered for a moment.

"Chun Equinox and Guyu, are the two big girls locked up in mother's dowry village now?" When the old mother came to talk to Liang's mother, she was called into Xisanjian by Seventh Lady for questioning.

The old mother was slightly taken aback, and there was something wrong with her eyes.

"That's not true, they... are your fifth sister's dowry maids after all."

Just from the words "marry the big maid", you can see the weight of the vernal equinox and the rain.

Mama Wang and Mama Liang are the eldest maids of the eldest wife, and the old mother is also the eldest maids of Mrs. Xu.The relationship between the dowry maid and the bride, and sometimes even kissing the sisters and parents. There are many things that parents may not be able to do, but the dowry maid will do it for you without hesitation.Her honor and disgrace, life and death, have already been tied to the bride alone. Unless there is a very special reason, she can be absolutely trusted as a dowry maid.

Seven Niangzi also didn't think that Chun Equinox and Gu Yu had any motives, methods, or courage to murder Fifth Niangzi.The life experiences of these two people are like blank sheets of paper, and the whole family is in the hands of the Yang family. Once the fifth lady died, their status suddenly plummeted...

I'm afraid Mrs. Xu has also seen through this point, so she didn't send Gu Yu and Chun Equinox to Zhuangzi to take care of them.

"If you are in the mansion now, please send a message from the old mother to let them come to see me." Seventh Lady told the old mother.

The old mother's expression was faintly uneasy, but she could also see traces of excitement. She nodded, took a deep breath, and then went out of Mingde Hall to deliver the message in person.

Qin Niangzi also understood why the old mother showed such an expression.

The interrogation of Chun Equinox and Gu Yu was the first signal she sent out. Although it was small, it really involved the past that was selectively forgotten by everyone in the mansion: that brutal murder.

This is the one thing that really moves the whole body.

I'm afraid that I can enjoy the peace for more than a month, and I should also attribute it to this murder.

Of course, Qin Niangzi's performance in the murder case cannot be hidden from others.Who asked Quan Zhongbai to taste the medicine, and who asked the messenger step by step... The rumors can't be hidden from others.

After entering the door, apart from giving Mrs. Tai a few soft nails, she has nothing to offend anyone. If someone rashly squeezes out the bride, wouldn't it be tantamount to calling the spotlight on himself, and writing the words "guilty" on his face?

Whether the first young lady was concerned about this matter, Seventh Lady didn't know, but the fourth young lady definitely thought of this, so she basically didn't come to provoke Mingdetang.Otherwise, with her character, can she come to Mingde Hall to find out?
Seventh Lady even doubted whether Fifth Young Madam's abnormal politeness and accommodating towards her had something to do with it.

She sighed as she pondered.

Based on her understanding of human nature, this murderer may be mentally abnormal to a certain extent.

It's not that she must be a pervert, but I'm afraid she ignores the rules of secular morality.

Qin Niangzi didn't think that the female family members of the Xu family were all pure white and flawless angels, but a big family has its own rules.If someone is not pleasing to the eye, it will be poisoned with a dose of medicine. If things go on like this, will life be over?
It is not uncommon for insignificant Tong Fang, aunt, or even helpless concubine and concubine to be poisoned to death with a dose of medicine.No one would be serious about such a death, do it more secretly, and bury it properly. Even if there is doubt, it is easy to deal with it.

Like Wu Niangzi, whose parents are healthy and popular in her natal family, she can drink to death with a dose of medicine. This kind of thing, at least Qi Niangzi herself, has never heard of it in these years.Saying it out, it's a bit shocking.

And this person was so secretive that even Mrs. Xu couldn't find any clues.This person has to be careful, bold, and crazy, completely ignoring the unspoken rules of the world, to commit such a case without leaving any traces afterwards.

In terms of motives, the three sisters-in-law and Mrs. Tai are all suspects, but after contacting them in the past month, she doesn't think anyone has such characteristics.

Mrs. Ni has some tricks, but if you want to say how clever it is, it can't be said, otherwise how could she be crushed by Mrs. Xu before?If such a person is bold and crazy, Mrs. Xu will be the first to die, instead of letting Mrs. Xu's body weaken by herself.

Unless the eldest young lady has a dual personality, she will follow her indifferent and indifferent momentum, not to mention taking the initiative to prescribe drugs to kill people. I am afraid that she will wait until the fifth lady is breathless, and she will poke and test, and then step on it.

The fourth young lady is bold, but she is not careful at all... The fifth young lady is careful enough, and she is not crazy at all.

It's no wonder that with Mrs. Xu's ability, she can't find out what Ziwu Yinmao is. For this kind of medicine, I always carry a small medicine bag, and when I go in and out, I take a chance to go in - there are no fingerprints in this era, and physical evidence is absolutely impossible. There will be, and there will be witnesses.

However, no matter how many tortures the woman who made the medicine had suffered, she only insisted that she did go out twice to the east toilet, but when she went in and out, she didn't see anyone coming in and out of the small gatehouse.And the concierge doesn't have a clock, so she can only vaguely remember the time on the hourglass—it's useless at all, and the time of going to the East toilet these two times happened to be the time when the women in the house came in and out, and almost everyone was at the same time. At this time, there are in and out.Mrs. Xu had already personally explained to the eldest wife that this clue would not work.

If it was really easy to investigate like that, I'm afraid it won't be my turn to enter the door. Mrs. Xu is afraid that she will find out the murderer a long time ago and explain to the Yang family.

Seventh Lady couldn't help sighing.

What's more subtle is the position of the two factions. With Mrs. Xu's identity and her own identity, I'm afraid that there is no conclusive evidence, and it is difficult to convince Ping Guogong only with the testimony of a few servants.Otherwise, Mrs. Xu could have beaten her into a trick and wronged a concubine's daughter-in-law at will. I'm afraid this matter will end like this.At the same time appease the Yang family, and at the same time attack Mrs. Tai's faction, wouldn't it be the best of both worlds?
But Ping Guogong has worked hard on the battlefield for many years, so how can he be a person who is fooled by others?There is no physical evidence, let alone Ping Guogong, and Seventh Lady herself doesn't believe it... In order not to be resold, Ms. Wang dared to go to Xu's house and scold Mrs. Tai. If she wants to live, what can people say?
Besides, it is not that there is no natal family behind the sisters-in-law. Although it is not as prominent as the Yang family, the evidence is not obvious, and the Xu family has no way to explain to the in-laws.This case not only needs to be investigated, but also be investigated beautifully, convincingly, and the witnesses and evidences are convincing.

This brings us back to the original point: it is indeed difficult to have physical evidence for the case itself.

This is not poison, poison has its source, and the source of expensive poison is even very limited.However, they are the most common two kinds of medicinal materials, and they are even commonly used: saffron is often used in the refuge soup of rich and powerful people, and the Xu family's own small medicine storehouse always has these two medicinal materials.

Qiniangzi always felt that the simplest cases were often the hardest to solve.In this case, it is said that in the end Duke Ping personally went out on horseback and tortured all the servants, but still found nothing.If I want to find out the clues myself, I probably have to find another way.

No wonder Xu Fengjia said that she had better not get involved in this matter.

Seventh Lady's eyes were cold.

To find out the real culprit of this case, you have to get the background of the four suspects together to see if there are any traces of murder in the stories behind these people...

This is reaching out to the dirtiest and most dangerous aspect of the Xu family: whose past can withstand scrutiny?Even Qin Niangzi has many things that she doesn't want to be known.

Now, she undoubtedly does not have this ability.

Without being in power, relying on the decency of her natal family, the decency of her mother-in-law, and the decency bestowed by the palace, she can hold her head high, but she can only hold her head high, and she can't do whatever she wants.

The problem came back to the original point - if she wanted to be in power, she had to wait patiently for Xu Fengjia to come back, at least she had to settle the house first.Otherwise, it would be a talking point for Jinger, "I'm still a girl, so I want to meddle in the family affairs...", she hasn't learned enough about the eloquence of the people in the capital?

Besides, what I should worry about now is probably not something difficult to solve.

Xu Fengjia hasn't heard from her since she sent a letter back.Mrs. Xu's complexion is getting uglier day by day, and when she greets Lord Pingguo, the old man's face is getting more and more worried... I'm afraid she guessed right. It did take a three-point risk.

In case something happened to Xu Fengjia, all the plans would come to nothing again!

Seventh Lady let out a long breath.

She adjusted her mood, looked at Gu Yu who walked into the door tremblingly, and showed a faint smile.

#
Being able to see Qiniangzi again, it could be seen that Gu Yu was excited.

She has lost a lot of weight, and it is obvious that her life has not been very good in the past year. For a young girl, there are already a few bright spots of silver on the top of her head.

Seventh Lady sighed in her heart, but her expression remained calm.

Let her sit down on the small table, exchange some pleasantries, and then cut straight to the point.

"I heard that you have no other errands this year, just helping to mend some clothes in Qingpingyuan?"

Gu Yu nodded slightly, and said in a voice like a gnat, "Madam has orders, Chunfen and I seldom go out."

"Go back to Mingde Hall to serve in the future." Seventh Lady told Gu Yu in a straightforward manner without any tact. "After all, you are the closest maids around Fifth Sister, who else would care more about Shiro and Goro?"

Gu Yu trembled immediately, she slowly raised her eyes, and looked at Qin Niangzi, tears slowly came out of her lifeless eyes.

Qin Niangzi didn't intend to say any more words to win people's hearts: this matter itself is enough to win the minds of Gu Yu and Chun Equinox.

Around Shiro and Goro, there are grandmother's confidantes, grandmother's confidantes, stepmother's and aunt's confidantes, but the only thing missing is the confidant of the biological mother.

"In the future, when the children grow up, someone can tell them about their mother." Seventh Lady added lightly. "However, if something happens to the children..."

Gu Yu immediately knelt down on the ground and kowtowed to Qin Niangzi, "If the children want to shed a single hair, Chun Equinox and I would rather take human heads to pay for it!"

People who have been relegated before, of course, will seize the opportunity in their hands vigorously.

Not to mention that Qin Niangzi is tantamount to telling Gu Yu that when the children grow up in the future, they will definitely look at the biological mother's close maid with special respect.

All kinds of people around Shiro and Goro may have their own thoughts, but as long as Chun Equinox and Guyu are not stupid, they will know who their future lies in.With their constant care, in the first one or two years, as long as the two children are not too unlucky, it is estimated that nothing will go wrong.

Qin Niangzi also secretly breathed a sigh of relief: since it is impossible for her to take care of the children herself, she can only try to ensure their safety.

"Of course, I'm here for other reasons." She started again, her expression still calm.

Now that he is the immediate boss, he can no longer treat Gu Yu with a nonchalant attitude.

Gu Yu was quick-witted, with a little fear in her eyes, she touched her knee.It seems that he has already prepared for Qinianzi's question.

Qin Niangzi couldn't help frowning - she didn't know whether the torture was Mrs. Xu's idea or Ping Guogong's idea.She asked, "Fifth Sister is in the Xu family, so of course it's impossible for her to have no enemies... You must have noticed any conflicts with the sisters-in-law."

Gu Yu felt a little confused again, she answered yes softly.

Seventh Lady took a sip of tea. "Then pick up a few things you can remember and tell me."

After half an hour, she waved back the valley rain and sent in the vernal equinox.

(End of this chapter)