Chapter 142
Chapter 142: Confession
Everyone froze when they heard it.
How could Wang Yu be someone from the first branch?
Second Madam, as if catching Madam Jia’s weakness, jumped up in excitement and pointed at Nanny Sun: “A year ago, I went to the flower garden to pick flowers and saw Nanny Sun scolding Wang Yu. It seemed Wang Yu had killed Elder Sister-in-law’s favorite peony. After that, I never saw Wang Yu again. I just learned he has been tending plants for the second branch. Tell me that isn’t suspicious.”
Her words clearly meant that Madam Jia only pretended to drive Wang Yu away so he could hide in the second branch and, at the right time, frame Second Madam.
Nanny Sun’s face changed. She dropped to her knees to explain: “Cousin Miss, it’s all a coincidence. Second Madam is only guessing.”
Second Madam pressed her, unwilling to let go: “Do you dare say Wang Yu isn’t one of your first-branch people?”
Nanny Sun didn’t know how to answer and looked at Madam Jia without thinking.
When Second Madam spoke, Madam Jia was stunned. Who was Wang Yu? A garden boy who tended flowers. She had never even seen him, so how could she use him: “A boy who looks after plants doesn’t deserve to stand before me. Second Younger Sister-in-law, you are making trouble and biting at people for no reason.”
Nanny Sun nodded again and again, then looked to Xia Meng Yan. She now understood that in a room full of people, only Xia Meng Yan could save Madam Jia: “Cousin Miss, Wang Yu did stay in the first branch for several years. Madam loves peonies, and the peonies Wang Yu raised were especially fine, so he was assigned to tend Madam’s peonies in the garden. Later he failed in his duty and I drove him out of the flower garden to do other work. After that, I never saw Wang Yu again. Please trust my madam, Cousin Miss. She truly knows nothing and never wished to harm you.”
After hearing Nanny Sun, Xia Meng Yan roughly understood.
Her clear eyes held a hint of a smile, but her words made hearts jump: “Uncle, Wang Yu is not simple. He worked in the first branch, then in the second branch. If we ask who his master is, he likely won’t say. Why not take him down and question him properly.”
The Lin Family had its own ways of questioning people. Xia Meng Yan had heard that few could withstand them.
Sure enough, when Wang Yu heard the word “question,” his face changed. He knocked his head to the floor in panic and begged: “Cousin Miss, I have already confessed. Please show mercy for my years in the Lin Family and spare me the pain.”
Xia Meng Yan rested a hand on her belly and looked at him, speaking softly: “You tried to harm me and my child, yet you want me to spare you. How laughable. Men, take Wang Yu down and question him well.”
The guards looked to the Eldest Master, and when he did not object, they grabbed Wang Yu and dragged him out.
Not long after, Wang Yu’s screams came from outside.
Some in the hall trembled with fear. Others were used to it.
A guard threw Wang Yu into the courtyard and reported: “Master, Wang Yu confessed. He said Madam Jia told him to do it to frame Second Madam.”
Before the Eldest Master could speak, Madam Jia rose in anger: “I don’t even know him. How could I buy him off? Someone must have told him to say that.” Then she looked at the Eldest Master: “Master, Wang Yu left the first branch years ago, and he was forced out for making mistakes. He must bear a grudge and is slandering me.”
The Eldest Master frowned. He had not expected the matter to circle back to the first branch.
“Since this touches the first branch, I should not take part. Yan’er, you question him.”
Madam Jia had thought the Eldest Master would protect her, but he cut himself clear at once. She bit her lip, her eyes cold with hurt.
Xia Meng Yan nodded.
Just then, the person sent to investigate Wang Yu returned, yet it was Song Mo who came in.
Song Mo walked openly to Xia Meng Yan’s side and bent to whisper a few words in her ear.
Xia Meng Yan’s face changed. She glanced toward Wang Yu lying in the courtyard, then curved her lips in a faint smile.
She beckoned Song Mo close and whispered to him. He turned and left.
Everyone in the room saw their murmuring and formed their own thoughts.
Second Madam showed displeasure. After Song Mo left, she was first to speak: “Meng Yan, what did you find? Say it here in front of everyone. Why hide things?”
Second Master Qian’s face sank. He scolded her coldly: “Be quiet. Elder Brother let Meng Yan handle it. She will be fair. What are you rushing for?”
Second Madam explained with grievance: “Master, Wang Yu now serves the second branch. How can I not be anxious? With such a big black pot slammed onto us, who knows what people in the manor will say.”
Second Master Qian’s look eased a little. He lifted his eyes to Xia Meng Yan: “Your Second Maternal Aunt has a point. Meng Yan, did that man find something? Tell us so everyone can weigh it.”
Watching the couple act before her, Xia Meng Yan did not grow angry. [The dogs that bark do not bite; it is the quiet ones who do harm.]
“Second Uncle, don’t worry,” she said. “There are still things I don’t fully understand. I have already sent people to check. When I am sure, I will tell everyone. But for now, I can tell you this: Wang Yu is lying.”
Second Madam curled her lip, rolling her eyes: “Wang Yu already admitted it was Elder Sister-in-law who ordered him. There is confession and evidence. You think you can brush it off with one sentence.”
Her tone was one step short of saying Xia Meng Yan was biased and hiding the results on purpose.
Xia Meng Yan ignored her and looked at Second Master Qian and Third Master Zhou: “Do you two think so as well?”
Second Master Qian rubbed his hands, unsure what to say. If he agreed and it later proved the first branch was not involved, he would offend Elder Brother. If he disagreed, he would miss a chance he wanted. Elder Brother had held more than half of the Lin Family’s businesses for years. Second Master Qian always wanted to take them over but had never found an opening.
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Third Master Zhou smiled and flicked tea dregs from his fingers: “I believe Meng Yan.”
Hearing that, Second Master Qian glared at him in anger. The old fox. Did he think currying favor with Xia Meng Yan would win the love of their adoptive father and mother?
Xia Meng Yan set a slender finger on the rim of her teacup, a slight curl of scorn at her lips: “Since both Uncles will follow my lead, I will speak plainly. I just got word that Wang Yu’s family is dirt poor. There are no jewels at home, no silver notes, no gold ingots. Neighbors say his mother’s illness has grown worse. She is only kept alive by common medicine, and there is no sign of improvement. If Wang Yu had been bought, the first thing he would do is hire a physician for his mother. But the truth is the opposite.”
Second Madam snapped, unwilling to lose this chance: “Impossible. How could there be nothing? Maybe your people did a poor search.”
Hearing there was no evidence, Madam Jia’s sunken heart rose again: “Younger Sister-in-law, what kind of talk is that? Sorry you didn’t get to find stolen goods.”
She had long known the second branch was full of ambition. She should have driven them out of the Lin Family back then.
Second Madam’s intent got exposed. She stiffened her neck and argued: “I did not. I only found it strange. Can’t I ask?”
Madam Jia snorted, too lazy to listen to her. She looked at Xia Meng Yan: “Meng Yan, go on. Since there is no stolen money, does that not show I was framed?”
Xia Meng Yan did not answer that. She asked the room instead: “If Wang Yu wanted to harm me, he should have scattered the powder inside my courtyard, not outside. He is in charge of plants. If he mixed the powder into the flowers and then sent them into my yard, wouldn’t that be safer? With such a good chance, why would he sneak in at midnight to do it himself?”
In her eyes, Wang Yu seemed foolish, like someone who suddenly regretted doing wrong.
Out in the courtyard, Wang Yu’s eyes flashed with panic when he heard this.