The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 36

“What?!” Qin Dezhao knew he was drunk and thought he had misheard, “Has the capital mayor’s office lost its mind? How dare they come to my Zhongyong Marquis’ residence for no reason and take away the high-ranking Zhongyong Marquis’ Madam?!”

“The five dowry girls belonging to Eldest Daughter-in-law who were sold off by Zhongyong Marquis’ Madam, their bodies were found at a mass grave outside the city, and the dowry girls’ parents claimed the bodies. That’s why the capital mayor’s office is here to take Madam away. The servants at the residence are looking everywhere for Marquis. We’re waiting for Marquis to come back and make a decision!” the steward said with a mournful expression.

The drunk Qin Dezhao slammed his hand on the table and stood up. His eyes were filled with fierceness and he said angrily, “It’s just a few dowry maids that were beaten to death. Is the capital mayor crazy or does he want to be enemies with me?”

“No, Marquis, those maids had already been released from servitude and had become citizens. Madam is now involved in a homicide case, so the capital mayor’s office came to take her away! Marquis, please return to the residence quickly!” The steward was sweating profusely and he was on the verge of tears.

Qin Dezhao was now mostly sober. What was wrong with the Duke’s residence, actually releasing maids from servitude and letting them become citizens? In all his years, he, Qin Dezhao, had never heard of a dowry maid becoming a citizen!

“Back to the residence!”

The steward hurriedly picked up Qin Dezhao’s fur coat and helped him put it on, then supported Qin Dezhao down the stairs.

Just as they stepped out of the restaurant and Qin Dezhao was about to board his carriage, he saw his cousin, the Vice Censor-in-chief, Si Mayan’s carriage stopping in front of his own. Si Mayan lifted the curtain of his carriage and looked at Qin Dezhao.

Qin Dezhao hurriedly cupped his fists in respect, “Cousin…”

Si Mayan’s expression was grim, “News of your esteemed wife’s involvement in a homicide case reached the Censorate half an hour ago. And here you are, still drinking?!”

The hairs on Qin Dezhao’s back stood up, “I’ll return to the residence immediately!”

“Right now, the reputation of prominent families is not favoured by the current emperor. Dezhao, heed your elder brother’s advice and have your wife quickly accompany the officials from the capital mayor’s office to the yamen to answer their questions. Don’t rely on the prestige of the Marquis’ residence to oppose the capital mayor’s office! The feud between your second wife and legitimate son has already come to light. Qin Lang, the legitimate son, has voluntarily relinquished his position as heir and has received praise from His Majesty. There’s no guarantee that some courtiers won’t try to please His Majesty by targeting your Marquis’ residence. By then… It’s uncertain if His Majesty will decide to strip your Marquis’ residence of its prestige! Remember…”

A cold wind blew, and Qin Dezhao’s entire body suddenly became cold with sweat.

“Thank you for the advice, Cousin!” Qin Dezhao said respectfully.

Si Mayan sighed and shook his head at Qin Dezhao, “As the New Year approaches, make sure your wife stays out of trouble and doesn’t cause any more problems for you!”

With that, Si Mayan, the Vice Censor-in-chief, lowered the carriage curtain and the driver drove away.

Qin Dezhao quickly instructed his driver to return home quickly.

Ever since Jiang-shi’s spoiled daughters had injured Bai Jinxiu, who had recently married into the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence, misfortune seemed to have followed their Marquis’ residence. At this moment, Qin Dezhao also harboured resentment towards Jiang.

The main entrance of the Marquis’ residence was already surrounded by curious onlookers. The officials from the capital mayor’s office were present and the gates were closed tightly.

Qin Dezhao, wanting to avoid attracting attention, had the steward stop the carriage at a side gate. Then he entered the residence with a grim expression. As soon as he entered the inner courtyard, he heard Jiang-shi’s voice from inside the house, berating the servants for their incompetence. His temples throbbed he lifted the hem of his robe and strode in.

“Marquis…”

Aunt Wu saw Qin Dezhao enter and hurriedly curtseyed in greeting.

Qin Dezhao charged over and grabbed the cane Jiang-shi was using to beat the maids, then raised his hand and delivered a slap that sent the Zhongyong Marquis’ Madam sprawling onto the couch, “You ignorant and troublesome woman who causes nothing but failure! You’ve caused a huge mess, and yet here you are, still beating people and cursing like a mad dog!”

Aunty Wu and the other servants were so terrified that they all knelt down and bowed their heads, not daring to look up.

Jiang-shi covered her face and looked back at the furious Qin Dezhao with wide eyes. Initially intending to erupt in anger, she realised that officials from outside the residence were waiting to apprehend her. Quickly kneeling at the feet of the Zhongyong Marquis, she pleaded, “Marquis! Marquis, you must save me! This is a plot against me by the Duke’s residence! Yesterday when I visited them, they claimed that the contracts of those maids were in Bai Jinxiu’s hands. But as soon as they turned around, those five maids suddenly became commoners! The Duke’s residence is trying to drive me to my death, Marquis, you can’t ignore it!”

Qin Dezhao’s eyebrows twitched, and he unexpectedly calmed down. After a moment of contemplation, a strong coldness flashed in his eyes, “You said… They mentioned yesterday that the contracts of those maids were in Bai Jinxiu’s hands?!”

“It’s absolutely true! If I speak falsely, may I be torn apart to death by five horses! If you don’t believe me… Marquis, ask Aunty Wu!” Jiang-shi clung to Qin Dezhao’s legs, crying without any semblance of a lady’s noble dignity.

Trembling, Aunty Wu kowtowed heavily. “Marquis, yesterday, this old servant accompanied Madam to the Duke’s residence to fetch Eldest Daughter-in-law back to our residence and to ease the matter of the Young Master leaving the manor! But Third Miss Bai said that the Eldest Daughter-in-law suffered being hit by stones from our Young Misses, risking her life, to pave the way for the Young Master’s departure from our residence. Eldest Miss Bai also claimed that because the contracts of those five maids were all in the Eldest Daughter-in-law’s hands, she wondered which family dared to take the maids away without being shown their contracts! All of this is absolutely true!”

The Zhenguo Duke’s residence… Qin Dezhao gritted his teeth and his piercing gaze made everyone tremble. Aunty Wu was so frightened that she dared not lift her head.

Qin Dezhao closed his eyes. The alcohol had completely worn off. “Just go with the officials from the capital mayor’s office for now. I’ll have someone make arrangements and ensure that you are not wrongly accused! But if you refuse to go now… Our entire Marquis’ residence and your son will be implicated.”

Hearing Qin Dezhao’s words, Jiang-shi’s face turned pale and she collapsed to the ground.

The Zhongyong Marquis’ residence was in chaos. News of the Zhongyong Marquis’ Madam being imprisoned was relayed back to the Zhenguo Duke’s residence that same evening by a steward left behind by Bai Jinxiu at the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence.

This situation was just as Bai Qingyan had expected so there was nothing that excited her about it.

Before Bai Qingyan had settled in, Chuntao was hesitant to report that Yinshuang, the maid who had been secretly following Chunyan today, had come to inform her that Chunyan had met with a page boy in the front yard today.

“Seeing that page boy leaving the residence, Yinshuang, that little maid, didn’t know the severity of the situation and followed him out. As a result, she saw the page boy heading straight for the back door of Prince Liang’s palace and whispering to the servants there. Without a second thought, she rushed over and knocked him out with a single punch, and then carried him back. She just dumped him at Luhu Courtyard and happily ran to the entrance of Qinghui Courtyard, asking me for praises and pine nut candy…” Chuntao said with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

Sitting in front of the bronze mirror, Bai Qingyan was initially filled with anger, but was amused by the situation and burst into laughter, “Yinshuang is 14 this year, right?”

“Yes, Miss, she’s 14. Miss still remembers…” Chuntao took the white jade comb and started combing Bai Qingyan’s hair.

Yinshuang was brought back to the manor by Shen Qingzhu when she was only ten years old. Not only had she been extremely thin and not particularly bright, but she also possessed considerable strength. Due to the family’s inability to support her due to her hearty appetite, she was sold by her parents.

Bai Qingyan wondered about Yinshuang’s skills after following Shen Qingzhu all these years.

“Tomorrow, report to Aunty Qin and have Yinshuang transferred to Qinghui Courtyard. Let Chunxing and the others teach her some rules. She’ll stay at Qinghui Courtyard from now on,” Bai Qingyan instructed.

Chuntao’s lips moved slightly, thinking about the bond she shared with Chunyan as they grew up together, wanting to plead for her. “Eldest Miss, about Chunyan…”

“Don’t worry about her, just send someone to keep an eye on her.”