Chapter 533: Chapter 175 Framing (2) Song Yanqing’s Help_2
Ming Yufang listened to what Xie Ruotong said.
And she suddenly felt there was some truth to it.
With Xie Ruotong hardly stepping out of the main door, let alone the secondary door, how could she possibly seek out a Taoist to cast spells, or go to Xie Ruilin’s room and place those talismans under Xie Ruilin’s pillow.
Indeed, there was something peculiar about this affair.
"Mother-in-law, with regards to the tampering with my aunt, this is a serious matter. As the young madam, I too am infuriated and feel that we must thoroughly investigate every person in the household to ensure no stone is left unturned and no one is wrongfully accused. If we fail to find the true culprit, it will only embolden them, and such incidents will undoubtedly recur," Xie Ruotong spoke righteously.
"How should we investigate?" Ming Yufang asked Xie Ruotong.
She was obviously somewhat persuaded by her.
"This basin of charcoal must be key. Just now Qiao’er went to the storeroom, and the storeroom keeper gave it to her, which makes the storeroom keeper highly suspect. Mother-in-law could summon the storeroom keeper for questioning now," Xie Ruotong said.
Her demeanor remained as calm and composed as ever.
It was not apparent at all from Xie Ruotong’s manner that she was the slightest bit flustered.
It seemed there was simply no way to suspect her of having anything to do with the matter.
Xie Ruilin just stood to one side, sizing up Xie Ruotong.
Indeed, Xie Ruotong was not to be underestimated.
Someone who had drifted outside for so many years naturally had much deeper schemes than the average person.
When faced with such a situation,
she was still able to remain so composed, and even made Ming Yufang believe her so swiftly.
She truly was no simple character.
If it were anyone else, the matter might just have been diffused by Xie Ruotong.
But,
Xie Ruilin was not an easy one to deal with either.
Over the years, she had been locked in constant covert and overt strife with Xie Ruiyao at the Duke Mansion.
Since she had gone this far, she certainly had thought everything through thoroughly.
She would not make the same mistakes as before.
Last time, during Ming Yufang’s birthday banquet, she ended up being the butt of the joke.
At her one glance,
one of the maids among the servants suddenly knelt on the ground.
As if she had been frightened,
her whole body trembling.
Her face also turned pale.
Ming Yufang’s expression turned cold; she was already in a terrible mood, and seeing her servant act this way made her face turn even uglier, "What are you kneeling for all of a sudden!"
He Xiang trembles and is too frightened to speak.
"There must be something wrong with this person," Xie Ruilin suddenly whispered in Ming Yufang’s ear, "Why has her face turned pale with fright all of a sudden!"
Ming Yufang, upon Xie Ruilin’s reminder, also felt that there was something very odd about this maid.
"Speak, what is going on?" Ming Yufang scolded He Xiang.
He Xiang’s body shook as she stammered, unable to utter a word.
Ming Yufang had no such patience with the servants.
"If you don’t speak, I will have someone slap you severely!" Ming Yufang commanded.
He Xiang, frightened, hurriedly said, "Madam, it was Qiao’er who made the servant place the talisman under the aunt’s pillow..."
After saying that,
she burst into sobbing.
Xie Ruotong’s complexion changed at once.
Qiao’er herself was also very anxious, completely at a loss as to why there would be a figurine in the charcoal she brought back.
And now, she was suddenly being accused by He Xiang.
Ming Yufang’s face changed drastically.
She looked at Xie Ruotong coldly.
The words that Xie Ruotong had said earlier were now falling apart on their own.
"He Xiang admits her mistake, He Xiang knows her wrong," He Xiang cried out loud for mercy, "He Xiang was only blinded by greed, Qiao’er gave the servant two taels of silver, and seeing money the servant agreed to follow Qiao’er’s orders..."
"When did I ever have you do such a thing, when did I do that?" Accused in this way, Qiao’er completely lost control, and quickly tried to explain to Xie Ruotong and Ming Yufang, "The servant did not, the servant is not familiar with He Xiang, how could she have asked He Xiang to help with anything, please Madam see the truth!"
"He Xiang, is what you said true?" Xie Ruilin suddenly interjected to ask.
"Every word He Xiang said is true."
"Do you have evidence to prove it?" Xie Ruilin said.
"There’s the silver Qiao’er gave to the servant as evidence."
"All silver looks the same, how can it be evidence?" Xie Ruilin asked.
"There is also a handkerchief from Qiao’er; the silver was wrapped in the handkerchief."
"Where is the handkerchief?"
"It’s under the servant’s pillow."
"Someone, go and search it for me," Xie Ruilin ordered.
Ming Yufang did not stop Xie Ruilin, allowing her to have the authority to investigate.
Several servants quickly left.