Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Interrogation

Jing Lai and Zhao Chang threw the people in front of Madam Fu.

“Just now, Zhao Vice General and I were patrolling the mansion and happened to come across Chang Tai trying to silence this maid. Fortunately, we stopped him in time,” Jing Lai said.

“If Madam permits, I will take them to the woodshed for interrogation,” Zhao Chang said. “Using our military methods, even spies from enemy nations can’t withstand them. I doubt these two can endure it.”

Even Chang Tai grew tense upon hearing this.

The maid beside them turned pale with fright, and began wailing, “Madam, spare me, spare me! I was forced by them, otherwise, they would harm me and my family. If I didn’t obey, neither I nor my family would survive.”

“I will confess everything I know, just please spare me!” the maid cried, kowtowing continuously until her forehead broke and blood ran down her face. “I beg Madam to spare me, I will tell all, I’ll confess everything, please spare me!”

“Would Vice General Zhao trouble himself to take Chang Tai to the woodshed for interrogation, and Jing Lai, you bring this maid with me. I want to hear what she has to say,” Madam Fu said. “Then compare it with what Jing Lai said, and we’ll naturally discern how much truth and how much lies there are in their words.”

“If everything you say is true, I might consider sparing your life,” Madam Fu said. “But if there’s even one lie, Xiao Fengxing could take your and your entire family’s lives, and so can I.”

Since Chang Tai was captured, this matter naturally could not be separated from Xiao Fengxing.

The little maid was trembling violently and quickly said, “I will tell the truth, I swear not to lie, I beg Madam, spare my life!”

“Don’t be too hasty in asking for respite. Let’s wait until you have said everything,” Madam Fu replied.

Jing Lai carried the maid along as he went with Madam Fu to the hall at the rear.

Involving Fu Mingzhu, Madam Fu ordered someone to call Aunt Cheng over.

Upon seeing the maid, Aunt Cheng spoke hatefully, “It is you who want to ruin my daughter!”

“I was forced!” the maid kowtowed, “Madam, spare me, Aunt, spare me! If not for my family’s lives, I would never harm the First Young Lady!”

“Nanny Yu, do you recognize her?” Madam Fu asked. “Is she truly from our mansion?”

“Yes,” Nanny Yu replied, “A few days ago, several new servants joined the household, and she was among them.”

“At the time, she arrived with a human dealer, appearing earnest and honest. Unexpectedly, this old servant misjudged her,” Nanny Yu said. “I implore Madam to punish me.”

Madam Fu said, “This matter cannot be blamed on you. Since she had the intention to infiltrate, she naturally had to put on a good show.”

“Speak, who contacted you?” Madam Fu asked.

“Before coming to the mansion, no one contacted me. After I joined the mansion, on a day I was off, I went outside to buy some things to take home, but was stopped by that man named Chang Tai.”

“He threatened me with a dagger, forcing me to go with him. After many twists and turns, he led me to a place resembling a warehouse. Once inside, I discovered my parents and brother were tied up in there.”

“Chang Tai threatened me to follow his orders. If I didn’t comply, he would kill my parents and brother right before my eyes. If I agreed and succeeded, he promised to release my parents and brother and even give my family some money.”

“Since I signed a service contract that allows payment for release.” The maid confessed earnestly.

“I don’t care about the money. I’m just an ordinary person wanting to find a job to support my brother’s education. My parents adore me, and even though life is tough, they never thought of selling me, but allowed me to sign a service contract to work at a big house, with the freedom to leave any time.”

The maid wept as she spoke, “I beg Madam to spare my life. I couldn’t watch as my parents and brother were killed before my eyes.”

“I deserve to die. I know I shouldn’t harm others, but…” the maid cried, “I don’t want to harm people, but I also don’t want to lose my family.”

“Do you know where that warehouse is?” Madam Fu asked.

“At the time, they covered my eyes, only knowing it was surely within the city,” the maid replied. “I was captured by Chang Tai outside the Book Pavilion. I had originally gone to buy paper for my brother.”

“Chang Tai first took me to an alley not far from the Book Pavilion,” the maid recalled carefully, “east of the Book Pavilion, next to a stall selling candy figures.”

“In the alley, he blindfolded me. I remember going out of the alley, turning left, walking 265 steps, turning left again and walking 310 steps, turning left one more time, walking about 420 steps, and then…”

After thinking carefully, the maid added, “turned right! After another 56 steps, we entered the warehouse.”

“You remember quite clearly,” Madam Fu said.

Jing Lai said, “I will send people to search immediately!”

“The Marquess has a guard skilled in such matters,” Jing Lai explained.

“Then I entrust this to you,” Madam Fu said.

Jing Lai hurried off.

“Continue speaking,” Madam Fu said.

“Chang Tai gave me a packet of medicine, instructing me to act when the opportunity arose today.”

“I have been avoiding him all day, thinking if nothing happened today, I couldn’t be blamed.”

“Unexpectedly, he still found me and said the First Young Lady was at the pavilion. He ordered me to put the medicine in the tea and serve it to her. Later… you know the rest…”

“If you are telling the truth,” Madam Fu said, “and if you can testify in the future, I will spare you and your family’s lives.”

“Yes! Yes!” the maid exclaimed in relief, “I will definitely testify!”

“Take her away and get her witness statement signed,” Madam Fu instructed further.

Not long after, Jing Lai returned with a guard from Xiao Chengyu’s side.

“Madam, we indeed found a couple and a boy,” Jing Lai reported.

Bringing them in, Madam Fu questioned them again to confirm they were indeed the maid’s family.

She inquired to ascertain their home’s location, and prudently sent people to the village to verify their identities against their statements.

Then she instructed that the family be taken away.

Chang Tai was still under interrogation, and Mr. Fu took a moment to come over from the front.

After all, it was an auspicious day, and Mr. Fu’s absence might raise suspicion.

Madam Fu shared the investigation’s outcome with Mr. Fu, angrily stating, “They even dared to attempt murder today!”

“Today is Changqin and Jingyun’s joyous day. If they had succeeded, and on such a joyous day blood was spilled, it would be extremely inauspicious and utterly hateful!” Madam Fu said through clenched teeth.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep