Chapter 291: Chapter 291: Framing
Peony Garden.
Princess Nanzhang sat in front of the dressing table, while Mrs. Zhao helped her comb her hair into a bun.
The maid held the copper mirror beside her to help her see.
Princess Nanzhang touched her perfectly groomed sideburns, a satisfied smile appearing at the corners of her lips.
Outside, a young maid rushed in.
She happened to bump into a maid carrying a tray of tea.
"Ouch!" the maid exclaimed.
Princess Nanzhang’s expression turned cold.
Mrs. Zhao scolded, "Clumsy!"
The young maid hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Princess, something bad has happened!"
Princess Nanzhang’s face showed displeasure.
Already shadowed by ill luck so early in the morning.
"What happened?" Mrs. Zhao asked.
"People on the street are saying it was Third Master’s impotence, and it was because you, Princess, used the Eldest Young Madam’s name to get antidiarrheal medicine from Marquis Dongxiang, but the Marquis gave impotence medicine instead," the young maid said with a trembling voice.
Princess Nanzhang’s face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.
Mrs. Zhao scolded, "Who spread this rumor?!"
"I heard it was the Eldest Young Madam who had people spread it," the young maid said.
Princess Nanzhang held a golden hairpin in her hand.
In a burst of anger, she slammed it on the table.
The finely carved golden hairpin deformed slightly under the impact.
It was Princess Nanzhang’s favorite hairpin, a keepsake left by her mother—
She fueled her own anger.
Princess Nanzhang wished she could have Su Jin dragged here and beaten to death with sticks.
In her rage, Princess Nanzhang naturally had no appetite, but Su Jin heartily enjoyed her meal.
Last night was porridge and steamed buns, and though she had a small stove prepared, it was far from lavish.
Su Jin complained in front of the maids, and Xingxing went to the large kitchen and brought back half a roast duck.
The small kitchen was fearful throughout the night, so breakfast was extravagantly prepared, covering an entire table.
The meal left her extremely satisfied.
Walking from the Agarwood Pavilion to Qihao Hall, her full stomach had not subsided, and as she rubbed her stomach, she contemplated making an excuse that she had left something behind at the Agarwood Pavilion and returning to retrieve it.
"Let’s go in," Xie Jingchen said.
Su Jin then entered Qihao Hall with him.
Inside the main hall, the Old Madam was sipping tea.
Princess Nanzhang, the Second Madam, the Third Madam were all present, along with Xie Jinyu and others who had come to pay their respects, everyone who should be there was present.
Princess Nanzhang had a sullen expression.
The Second and Third Madams had expressions of amusement.
Upon seeing Su Jin enter, a glint of fury and schadenfreude flashed in Xie Jinxiu’s eyes.
Su Jin’s lips curved into a smile.
This setup—
It seemed like she was about to be interrogated like a prisoner.
She genuinely couldn’t remember what mistake she had made this time.
Could it be because she didn’t go to the Buddhist Hall to kneel as punishment?
No, it shouldn’t be.
After such a brazen threat, would Princess Nanzhang still dare to punish her?
Su Jin stepped forward to pay her respects to the Old Madam.
The Old Madam’s gaze lingered on Xie Jingchen and she said, "The maids said you injured your arm while saving the Eldest Young Madam?"
"I’m sorry to worry you, Old Madam, I am not injured, I just pretended to be hurt to tease her," Xie Jingchen calmly replied.
"..."
Worried they wouldn’t believe him, Xie Jingchen moved his arm to demonstrate he was perfectly fine.
The Old Madam remarked, "How did your married life become the talk of everyone, worrying so many people?"
Su Jin blinked.
Worry?
Who showed worry on their face?
She hadn’t seen any.
"It wasn’t a big deal, at least it didn’t trouble the doctor to enter the mansion," Su Jin said.
"..."
The Old Madam paused with her Buddha Beads, and a coldness crept onto her face.
Even though Su Jin didn’t say it outright, it sounded as if she was mocking their insincere concern.
If they truly cared about Xie Jingchen, they would have sent someone to inquire, to call a doctor, rather than summoning Xie Jingchen for questioning.
Yet, as the Third Master still needed her favor, the Old Madam, despite her change in expression, didn’t chastise Su Jin.
Xie Jinyu, being impatient, exclaimed at Su Jin, "Yesterday you threatened my mother, and she agreed to your terms, yet you turned around and spread rumors about her going to Dongxiang Marquis Mansion for pills. What do you mean by this?!"
Xie Jinyu glared at Su Jin with hatred.
Su Jin was bewildered.
She looked at Xie Jinyu, "Could you be more specific?"
Xie Jinyu had never encountered someone feigning ignorance so blatantly, and she said, "Now the entire street is talking about it!"
"It was you, Eldest Sister-in-law, who sent someone to spread it!" Xie Jinyu accused angrily.
Su Jin looked bemused.
She glanced at Xingxing.
"Xingxing, when did you learn the Clone Technique?" Su Jin asked.
"..."
"Miss, what is the Clone Technique?" Xingxing asked, looking confused.
"..."
Su Jin held her forehead and looked at Xie Jinyu.
She let out a light laugh, a bright smile rippling like waves across her face.
"I wonder which dimwit, lacking a brain, spread the tale of my mother seeking pills and framed me for it."
"Such a clumsy frame-up is laughable."
"The entire Duke Zhen Mansion knows I only brought one maid to marry, my maid follows wherever I go, how could I spread rumors?" Su Jin sneered.
Fewer maids meant less information flow.
However, having fewer maids also had its advantages; such a clumsy frame-up would fall apart on its own.
Su Jin was genuinely curious about who committed this act.
Though, admittedly, it was a bit stupid—
Yet the action played right into her hands.
Xie Jinyu’s face felt as though it had been slapped by Su Jin, hot and burning.
"If not your personal maid, there are plenty of maids at the Agarwood Pavilion!" Xie Jinyu insisted.
"There are indeed many maids at the Agarwood Pavilion. If the eldest girl is so sure it’s me, you can investigate. I stand unafraid of any shadows," Su Jin said with a smile.
"Once you find the culprit, do as you wish, I am at your disposal," Su Jin added with a smile.
After speaking, Su Jin looked at Xie Jinyu and said, "They say rumors stop at wise people, and it’s indeed true."
"You!" Xie Jinyu was so angry she wanted to bite Su Jin.
Princess Nanzhang cast her a glance.
Xie Jinyu suppressed her anger.
Su Jin said she wanted to return to the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, to which the Old Madam replied, "Bring back the pills as soon as possible."
Su Jin raised her eyebrow, selling out the Third Madam, "Aunt said she would deliver them in five days to the South Courtyard."
The Old Madam’s gaze shifted to the Third Madam.
The Third Madam cursed Su Jin in her heart and said, "The Master has lost weight over these few days. I fear that once the pills are brought back, he will consume them, so I wanted him to rest and recuperate for a few days first."
This explanation had no flaws, each word expressing concern for the Third Master.
Yet the Old Madam saw through the Third Madam’s little scheme at once.
She wasn’t concerned about the Third Master.
She just didn’t want more concubines in the backyard due to her own condition, so she postponed it by a few days.
Just yesterday, she had admonished her, delivering a harsh rebuke, and yet she had learned nothing, stubbornly carrying the label of jealousy on her back?!
The Old Madam was deeply disappointed, her frustration finding no outlet.
Seeing that the matter no longer concerned her, Su Jin gave her courtesies and took her leave.
After Su Jin and Xie Jingchen left, Xie Jinyu annoyedly said, "Mother, I will find out who left the mansion and spread these rumors!"
Xie Jinxiu secretly laughed.
Rumors?
Was that a rumor?
That was the truth!
It was just that yesterday she was so angry she forgot the Eldest Sister-in-law only had one maid, otherwise she would have falsely accused the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.