Chapter 680: Chapter 680. A Great Turmoil
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Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Replying to the Empress, this lowly one did see it. Old Woman w.a.n.g took away Furen’s shoes. At that time, this lowly one thought she would send Furen back to the room. Later, I saw her throw the shoes into the pond. I even asked why she threw them into the pond. She said that it was because Furen had gone into premature labor, so throwing away the shoes would ensure the safety of the mother and child. She also asked this lowly one not to tell anyone, or else Furen and the child would die.”
Lafu recalled how she saw Old Madam w.a.n.g throw away the shoes. She still believed it!
Mrs. Zhang frowned when she heard Lafu’s words.
“What is this? Why haven’t I heard of it before?”
When Su Qing heard that Old Woman w.a.n.g had thrown away the shoes, she was even more confident that she had harmed Luan Hong. She immediately ordered the guards to bring her back.
“Bring Old Madam w.a.n.g here.”
The guards led the two guards to the woodshed. The old lady ordered someone to bring a chair for Su Qing. Su Qing sat on the chair with a dark expression.
Old Lady Zhang felt uneasy. She sent Old Woman w.a.n.g to take care of Luan Hong. Would the Empress think that she was the one who wanted to harm Luan Hong?
The guard who went to bring the woman quickly returned and reported to Su Qing with cupped fists,
“Reporting to the Empress, Old Woman w.a.n.g has been poisoned to death.”
“Dead?”
Su Qing frowned as she looked at Mrs. Zhang. Was she trying to silence her?
Old Madam Zhang felt she couldn’t clear her name by jumping into the Yellow River. She hurriedly knelt and kowtowed to Su Qing.
” Empress, I don’t know! No one gave her poison.”
“Help your old madam up.”
Su Qing only glanced at her and ordered the servant maids to help the old madam up. She then asked the guards to bring Old Madam w.a.n.g over for examination.
” Bring her over.”
Everyone in the Zhang Mansion was in danger. They were afraid that the Empress would blame the death of Old Woman w.a.n.g on them. They were even more afraid that the Zhang Mansion would be in trouble. There were too few good masters like this. They would have to sell themselves again if the Zhang Mansion were in trouble. At that time, they might not meet any kind master!
Soon, the guards carried Old Woman w.a.n.g’s body over with a door. Old woman w.a.n.g’s face was black and bleeding from all seven orifices. Su Qing pinched open Old Woman w.a.n.g’s mouth and found that her teeth had turned black. It was confirmed that she had died from the poison hidden in her teeth.
“Call everyone in the residence and line up for questioning.”
Su Qing’s expression was cold and stern as she ordered Zhang Manor’s steward to call everyone over. She wanted to question them one by one.
The interrogation was held in the West Wing and was completely confidential. They entered the room individually and were escorted out after the interrogation. They were not allowed to talk to anyone, and they were not allowed to tell anyone about the contents of the interrogation.
The atmosphere in the Zhang residence was agitated. Even the old madam was so frightened that she dared not breathe. The Empress had made such a big fuss. Could it be that she wanted to clean up the Zhang residence?
After a round of questioning, Su Qing ordered people to arrest the coachman Li Er and Lu Shan, who was in charge of purchasing in the Zhang residence. After interrogating everyone in the residence, she confirmed these two people were suspicious. She wanted to take them away for questioning.
When Li Er and Lu Shan heard that the Empress wanted to capture them, they wanted to commit suicide by biting poison. The guards who followed Su Qing were all experienced. They knocked them out before they could bite poison to commit suicide.
By the time they woke up, the poison in their mouths had already been removed. Su Qing did not waste any time and used the crudest and most effective method to make these two confess.
“Take them away.”
The confessions of these two people pointed to the same person. This person was also someone Su Qing suspected. She had confirmed it and immediately sent guards to arrest him.
“Go and capture the boss and shopkeeper of Dong Lai Shun.”
After Su Qing ordered the guards to leave Zhang Manor, she saw that the old madam was still anxious. She walked over and comforted her,”
“Don’t worry, Old Madam!”
Her words were like a calming pill. The old lady was relieved. This proved that it had nothing to do with the Zhang family. Su Qing took out the meat lingzhi and said to the old lady,
“I’ll have to trouble you to take care of Luan Hong. This is a meat ganoderma. Use it to soak in water and give it to the child and Luan Hong every day.”
“Thank you, Empress. This old woman will take good care of her.”
Old Madam Zhang hurriedly ordered someone to take the meat lingzhi and was grateful to Su Qing.
Before Su Qing could leave Zhang’s residence, Zhang Jinglin rushed back. He had just found out about Luan Hong’s premature birth and had rushed back without stopping. Seeing Su Qing in the courtyard, Zhang Jinglin hurriedly lifted his robe and knelt.
“This lowly subject greets the Empress.”
“Luan Hong is fine, don’t worry.”
Su Qing nodded at him. Zhang Jinglin had been running around for the sake of the royal family, and he couldn’t care less about his family.
“Many thanks, Empress.”
Zhang Jinglin thanked Su Qing emotionally. He was relieved when he saw Su Qing. The Empress could bring people back from the dead. As long as she had a breath, she could save people. With her around, Luan Hong would be fine.
“Go see your daughter.”
Su Qing smiled at him. This little girl was born by herself, and she would be an excellent candidate to be a daughter-in-law in the future. However, she would not force her children. In the future, their marriage would be decided by them.
Zhang Jinglin bowed deeply to Su Qingshen before turning to look at his precious daughter. How he looked at his daughter was filled with gentleness, just like how Xiao Zeyu looked at Yun ‘er.
Su Qing’s mouth twitched. Men liked their daughters. They were severe to their sons but doted on their daughters.
“Carry Miss inside!”
Zhang Jinglin only kissed his daughter once before he let the servants take the child away. He walked to Su Qing and reported.
” I’ve already found the pregnant woman’s mother-in-law.”
“Dead?”
Su Qing glanced at him, and Zhang Jinglin nodded. When they went there, they saw the pregnant woman’s mother-in-law being stabbed through the heart. The most hateful thing was that the other party did not even let the baby off. The child was thrown to the ground, but fortunately, the child was still alive. He ordered people to send him to the Imperial Academy of Medicine to see if they could save the child.
“I’ll go back and save the child. You’re in charge of interrogating the boss and shopkeeper of Dong Lai Shun.”
When Su Qing heard the child was still alive, she immediately decided to save him. A bad person had killed the child’s mother because of him, so saving the child could be considered as doing something for this poor pregnant woman.
“Reporting to the Empress, I sent someone to follow the shopkeeper and the waiter of Dong Lai Shun, but they found that the building was already empty.”
Zhang Jinglin hurriedly reported that Su Qing had asked them to send someone to keep an eye on the shopkeeper and the waiter of Dong Lai Shun. However, when they went there, they found that Dong Lai Shun was closed for business today.
When she found out the shopkeeper’s house, she realized that everyone had disappeared.
“He’s fast enough.”
Su Qing sneered. She felt their conspiracy was not as simple as slandering the royal family. There must be a bigger scheme.
” The entire city is under martial law. We can only enter and not leave. Search the city.”
Su Qing ordered Zhang Jinglin, and Zhang Jinglin left. Su Qing waited for him to leave before ordering the guard,
“Get Zhong Yong to send troops to protect the Zhang Residence.”
“Yes.”
The guard received the order and went to do it. Su Qing called out to him,
“Have Zhong Yong send troops to protect the Grand Preceptor Residence.”
“Yes.”
The guard agreed and left. Su Qing left the Zhang residence and looked at the busy streets.. She had a feeling that there would be a ma.s.sive upheaval in the capital!