Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 551 - 554: Interrogation (4)

Ruan Jingliu frowned, showing a thoughtful look, with a hint of disdain in her eyes, "The inner house is just like this, filthy beyond belief!"

She must have experienced it herself. Xiqiu continued, "So what can we do in these three days? We can’t just wait for him to wake up, can we?"

Ruan Jingliu replied, "I’ve invited a doctor from the clinic to sit for a consultation. I’ll stay in the mansion these few days. You don’t need to worry about it."

With her around, Xiqiu felt somewhat relieved.

Biwu came in from outside the door and said, "Madam, Fourth Master requests you and the Grand Dowager." Xiqiu was taken aback; could it be that something was discovered?

She stood up and said to Ruan Jingliu, "Sister Jingliu, I’ll leave Young Master Xin in your care," her tone rather solemn.

Ruan Jingliu understood what she meant, nodded, and said, "Rest assured, I won’t leave his side!" Xiqiu felt reassured and left the room across.

The Grand Dowager had already woken up, and was being helped with dressing by the First Madam and Ziwei. Presumably, someone had informed her.

"How is Young Master Xin? Did Nurse Zhang say anything?" The Grand Dowager asked anxiously as she saw her come in. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Xiqiu relayed Ruan Jingliu’s words to the Grand Dowager and said softly, "We must see these three days through."

The Grand Dowager’s eyes reddened again. She got dressed and, without even sipping her tea, went directly to the parlor opposite, sat on the bed for a moment, wiped her tears, and went out the door.

The three went to the side room.

This was the servants’ room, and since there weren’t many people in Xiqiu’s courtyard, it had always been vacant. It was furnished with a table and chairs, but nothing else. Fourth Master Xiao and Xiao Yanyi sat on one side, and when they saw the Grand Dowager enter, someone brought a chair for her to sit.

On the floor, Qiuping and Zitan knelt side by side. Nanny Cen, Lianqiao, Wenyu, Young Master Xin’s wet nurse, and a few kitchen maids knelt behind them.

No one spoke, and the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive.

Since it was a matter of the inner house, it was ultimately for the Grand Dowager to inquire about.

"What exactly is going on?" The Grand Dowager’s gaze swept over Zitan and Qiuping, asking with displeasure.

Upon hearing the Grand Dowager’s question, Qiuping immediately began to weep and said, "Grand Dowager, this servant did nothing. I truly care about Young Master Xin. Our Madam nearly died giving birth to him; I love him too much to ever harm him."

Xiqiu noticed a look of mockery flash in Zitan’s eyes.

The Grand Dowager frowned, glanced at Xiqiu, and asked, "What do you mean by nearly dying, cherishing... Explain it clearly."

Qiuping looked towards Xiao Yanyi and Fourth Master Xiao; seeing no sign of disapproval from them, she began recounting the events of the afternoon, "Indeed, this servant arranged for Cuicui to watch over Fourth Master’s courtyard. My intentions were only out of concern for Young Master Xin. Later, while attending to some tasks, I saw Zitan outside Fourth Master’s courtyard. I followed her quietly and saw her enter the kitchen. At that time, Nanny Cen and the other maids were busy there. Zitan stayed inside for a while and then went to the main room, where she remained for a long time. The more I thought about it, the more worried I became, so I went into the courtyard and the kitchen as well..." She paused and glanced fiercely at Zitan, "The poison must have been placed by her at that time. She was acting under the Second Madam’s orders to poison. Grand Dowager, Marquis, and Fourth Master, you must see the truth clearly and not let her or the Second Madam off!"

"Silence!" The Grand Dowager snapped, exclaiming, "You say Zitan did it, and that the Second Madam instructed it. What evidence do you have?"

Qiuping was stumped. She really had no evidence, only suspicion!

"Grand Dowager, think about it. Young Master Xin is the legitimate eldest son of the mansion, and now the Second Madam is pregnant. With her high status, how could she allow her child to be subordinate to others? She can’t tolerate Young Master Xin inheriting the title..." Not waiting for Qiuping to finish, the Grand Dowager already wore a cold expression and said, "So there’s no evidence?"

Qiuping paused, her face suddenly turning white, the color draining away!

Upon seeing her like this, Zitan kowtowed to the Grand Dowager and reported, "Grand Dowager, she accuses the Second Madam of ordering me to poison, but when I entered the kitchen, Nanny Cen, Ziyang, and several other maids were present. I was standing at the doorway and didn’t even enter, so how could I poison anything?" She paused and continued, "Even without mentioning these, she claims the Second Madam is apprehensive of Young Master Xin, wanting to take the position of Princely Heir. Although I’m lowly and my vision is limited, even I know that the gender of the Second Madam’s baby is unknown. Why would she take such drastic actions against Young Master Xin?"

Zitan spoke with conviction, reasoning soundly and logically, "Even putting these aside, consider our Madam’s character. As someone who even walks around ants when she sees them, how could she commit such an act? She is clearly finding excuses to cover up!" She paused again and said, "Moreover, our Madam wouldn’t stoop to such actions. When the young master or miss arrives in the future, even without any blessing from the mansion, the Madam will seek a position from the Empress Dowager. Why would she cling to the Marquis Mansion’s position of Princely Heir?"

"You..." Qiuping was rendered speechless by her words.

Even Xiqiu couldn’t help but privately admire Zitan’s eloquence. Usually, she only saw her serving by the Second Madam’s side, never imagining she possessed such verbal skill!

"In my view, you’re clearly just jealous that our Madam took the place of the previous Second Madam. You must feel unbalanced; wasn’t it known that you hoped to become the Marquis’s concubine when the previous Second Madam was alive? Now you have nothing, confined to the courtyard without freedom like before. The disparity in treatment must breed resentment within you, something no one else can understand."

It must be said that Zitan’s arguments made a lot of sense, at least on the surface.

It seems Fourth Master Xiao and Xiao Yanyi didn’t extract useful information from Zitan. She sighed inwardly; if someone like Zitan was truly responsible, unless there’s solid evidence, one must return the favor in kind, forcing her to reveal herself.

Xiqiu glanced at the people kneeling with Nanny Cen at the back and suggested to the Grand Dowager, "Mother, there were many people in the courtyard at the time. Why not listen to their perspectives?" Her gaze then fell on Lianqiao, who had brought the medicinal food into the room.

The Grand Dowager nodded.

Xiqiu asked Nanny Cen, "I told you the medicinal food couldn’t be given to the young lords. How did Young Master Xin end up eating it?" Lianqiao was originally the Grand Dowager’s maid!

"Here’s what happened," Nanny Cen said, looking at Lianqiao while answering Xiqiu, "I remembered Madam’s words well and did not give the medicinal food to any of the young lords. What Young Master Xin ate should have been the bowl that Miss Lianqiao brought into the room!"

Everyone was taken aback. Fourth Master Xiao and Xiao Yanyi were unaware of such details, so they hadn’t questioned to this point.

The Grand Dowager’s face turned cold, looking at Lianqiao with anger, she asked, "Explain yourself!"

Lianqiao’s face changed color, as she knelt and responded, "At that time, Miss Zitan came at the Second Madam’s orders to see Young Master Xin. I accompanied her while she was there talking in the room. Later, Zitan commented on how fragrant the medicinal food was. Thinking it was rare for her to visit, I went to the kitchen and asked Nanny Cen to serve us another portion. Later, as we entered the room, Young Master Xin remarked on how good it smelled... I didn’t know he was not supposed to eat it, so..." Lianqiao cried, "If I had known, no matter what, I wouldn’t have dared to let Young Master Xin eat it!"