Shipin Dalizheng

Chapter 330 Toughness

"How much do you know about Mother Yao's family?"

Steward Tao was momentarily bewildered. "Master, I entered the mansion later than Miss Yao. She came when Madam was still young. Oh, and I heard she had a daughter the same age as Madam. She worked as a maid by Madam's side, and later Madam betrothed her to someone else. I don't know to whom."

"Then apart from her, no one knows what happened to my mother in her last days?"

Housekeeper Tao recalled carefully that in Madam Rong's last days, there were indeed few people around her. Madam Yao had been with her for decades, and there were two other maids, but they were sold by Yang as soon as she died. Now no one knew the inside story.

Things are often like this. When you trust someone wholeheartedly, you believe everything she says. Now you have doubts and find that the past is so unreliable.

It just so happened that Madam Rong died and all the maids and servants disappeared, except for an old slave who had poisoned his master to death, who was found right away.

Steward Tao was sweating in the freezing cold. "She had a nephew from her mother's side who lived off her. Others? Others... Oh, by the way, two weeks before Madam died, she drove away a housemaid named Qiu Kui. As for the rest, I don't know. I was confused at the time and wasn't Madam's confidant."

Rong Tang immediately ordered, "Rong Wanli, immediately check Qiu Kui and the other two girls who were sold to see if there are any other clues."

Rong Wanli took the order and left.

"Also, please ask Mother Yao to come over. I have something to ask her."

Mother Yao was called over and her attitude was as respectful as usual, but Rong Tang's first question made her panic.

"Mother Yao, you told me yourself that it was my mother who didn't want to burden me, so she asked you to buy poison and commit suicide. Tell me, what poison did you buy? What was my mother's reaction before she died? Was she in pain? Where did you buy the poison? Which doctor prescribed it? Which pharmacy picked it up? Did the pharmacy know that it would be fatal?"

Mother Yao's face turned pale. "Why did you suddenly ask this, young uncle?"

"Is it sudden?"

Rong Tang untied the Buddhist beads from his wrist and twirled them one by one. "I've been fasting and chanting Buddhist scriptures recently, and I've had dreams of my deceased mother weeping in the underworld. As a son, I can't sleep well. I want to get to the bottom of this so I can hold a ritual for her before the New Year. What's the matter, Mother Yao? Is it so difficult to answer? You bought the medicine yourself, have you forgotten?"

Mother Yao's lips trembled a few times, and it was hard to tell whether she was regretting something or not. Finally, under the intense gaze of the crowd, she revealed the name of the pharmacy. But at the end, she added, "We don't sell poison in pharmacies. This old servant found the heartbreak grass in the wild. My dear uncle, it was really Madam's order. Even if I had the courage of the sky, I wouldn't dare to kill my master."

Rong Tang stroked his forehead with his hand and said softly, "Whether it is or not, we will know after checking it out."

Mother Yao looked dejected. "Young Master, do you suspect me? If so, why not give me a bowl of medicinal juice and let me die so I can accompany your wife?"

Rong Tang didn't say much to her. He asked Rong Shen to write a confession and asked her to sign it. "Look carefully, every word on this is what you said with your own mouth. Do you admit it?"

Mother Yao could read a little and after reading her own confession, she found that there was indeed no word that wrongly accused her. She even wrote clearly that it was the Madam who ordered her to prepare the poison, which she insisted on.

"Yes, I admit it."

"Admit it, then sign it. I'll investigate and make sure you're not lying, and I won't do anything to you. But if you lie, you know the consequences."

Seeing this, Mother Yao had no choice but to sign the contract, so she gritted her teeth and did it.

"Rong Qianqi, escort Mother Yao's painting to Jingzhao Prefecture for recordation. Also, please have someone from Jingzhao Prefecture verify that we did not force a confession from Mother Yao."

Mother Yao retreated with a pale face.

Rong Qianqi escorted the painting to Jingzhao Prefecture before the government office was closed. Nangong Jing didn't understand why, but he still sent a yamen runner to verify and prove that Yao Ma was not beaten or forced to confess.

As soon as the yamen runner left, Rong Xiuyu complained, "Tang'er, what are you doing? Madam Yao has always done her job properly. How can she still have dignity after you make such a fuss?"

Rong Tang found it amusing. "Madam, are you becoming more and more confused? I'm investigating the cause of my mother's death, and you're asking me to save the reputation of a middle-aged woman! She herself admitted to killing my mother, and I'm just trying to find the truth. Is that too much?"

Rong Xiu was speechless for a moment, then said after a while, "It's been so long. I don't believe Mother Yao would intentionally kill the Master. Otherwise, why would she bring it up as soon as we met? Of course, she must have been honest. Otherwise, if she hadn't said a single word, who would have known she had done it?"

This is also where Rong Tang felt something was wrong. Normally, if she hadn't mentioned it, he would never have suspected that she would poison the mistress.

"I'll get to the bottom of this, Madam. There's no need to worry too much. As you said, if she has a clear conscience, I won't do anything to her. By the way, the Sima family is hosting a banquet tomorrow. As the Madam of the Jian'an Earl's Mansion, would you like to go and congratulate them?"

Rong Xiu was obviously not interested. "The invitation hasn't been delivered yet, so I won't go. The New Year is coming soon, and I want to buy some New Year's goods and go to Rongjia Village."

"The village has gone through the ceremony, but haven't you seen the ladies who took it back?"

Rong Xiu was clearly unhappy. "Tang'er, this isn't how family should behave. When Rong Zheng was still around, he would send several carts of rice, flour, and meat to distribute every year, and he didn't ask the villagers to return the favor. That was support. You gave it away, and now you're taking it back, leaving the clan members with nothing to gain. What's the point of this trip? Miss Tang became a princess, and that's her honor, but it has nothing to do with us. I'm making this trip to restore your reputation."

Rong Tang smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "So Madam Tai feels that if she doesn't give gifts to the clan members for free, she will lose her reputation."

Rong Xiu still frowned. "I really don't understand. You've already inherited the Rong family's title and have acquired so much wealth. Why would you bother giving a little benefit to your clansmen? Anyway, no matter what you say, I must make this trip."

Seeing that her tone suddenly became tough, she turned her face away, as if she would not give up until she achieved her goal, Rong Tang felt extremely strange.

What does it mean that he has inherited the title of the "Rong family" and obtained "a lot" of family property, and what does it mean that he is "comparing" gains and losses with his clansmen?

"Okay, if Madam feels that the gifts are not enough, you can send some more tomorrow."

Rong Xiu turned her head to look at him, "Are you serious? Can I use the money to buy things?"

"can."

Rong Xiu bit her lip and said, "Tang'er, if you really listen to your great aunt, can you not marry Miss Tang?"

"Madam Tai gave me a reason. The elders arranged the marriage, and His Majesty granted the marriage by imperial decree. What excuse could I have for not marrying?"

"because……"

Rong Xiu snapped her lips and turned away, "Forget it, we'll talk about it later. Anyway, you take care of yourself."

Even though Rong Tang was baffled, he was still patient to the limit. With his temper, he was about to lose his temper. Fortunately, Rong Zhan winked at him.

"Madam, please take a rest!"

As soon as he left, Rong Xiu almost collapsed, covering her face and crying, "Mother Yao, I was so scared just now. He's so cruel and we're not close."

Mother Yao comforted her, "Don't be afraid, Madam. He has agreed to it, which means he is guilty."

Rong Xiu twisted her handkerchief with her hands and bit her lip as she asked, "Mother Yao, do you think Jin Shizhao knows that Rong Tang is not his biological son?"