Chapter 187: Chapter 187: Interrogation

As soon as these words were spoken, a constable rushed in, “My lord, it’s Mr. Fu of the Capital and Madam Fu banging the drum outside!”

“What?” Lord Tao abruptly stood up, puzzled, “Didn’t I just come back from the Fu Mansion?”

Something happened at the Fu Mansion?

He hadn’t heard about any issues when he was there!

Mr. Fu as well, why couldn’t he mention anything earlier, instead of staging a surprise attack.

Lord Tao dared not delay, quickly changed into his official robe, and went to the hall.

Seeing Mr. Fu and Madam Fu standing in the hall, Lord Tao hurriedly asked, “Mr. Fu, what is going on here?”

Mr. Fu said, “I am here to file a lawsuit against the second madam of the Marquis Changping’s household for disregarding human life!”

Mr. Fu and Madam Fu had discussed it before, initially about drugging Fu Mingzhu, no matter how much it was publicized, it was still an internal family matter, and Lin Qingqing couldn’t be prosecuted.

It was nothing more than a matter to be resolved privately, having Lin Qingqing reflect behind closed doors, not something to be taken to the court.

But with Jing Lai and Zhao Chang catching Chang Tai trying to silence that little maidservant on the spot, the situation was different.

Since Chang Tai said Lin Qingqing ordered the deed, even if he didn’t succeed in killing, an attempt on life was made.

This matter was indeed enough to be reported to the authorities.

“What?” Lord Tao was shocked, “When did this happen? Tell me the whole story, Mr. Fu, explain to me in detail.”

“Yes.” Mr. Fu took out a written complaint from his sleeve and handed it to Lord Tao, “This is the plea I drafted, please have a look, my lord.”

“The second madam of the Marquis Changping’s household, Lin Qingqing, instructed the close servant Chang Tai, who is by the second young master Xiao Fengxing’s side, to threaten a newly-entered maid in my household to drug my eldest daughter today. Fortunately, it was discovered, and a doctor was called in time. The little maid was also captured. But Chang Tai, again under Lin Qingqing’s orders, attempted to kill the little maid to silence her, which was fortunately stopped just in time by the deputy general Zhao Chang and Marquis Changping’s retainer Jing Lai who arrived at the scene simultaneously.”

“Chang Tai is currently under strict surveillance, and we have his confession and fingerprint seal. The little maid’s testimony is also here, along with that of her parents to attest, please, my lord, judge wisely!”

“Guards!” Lord Tao ordered, “Go to Marquis Changping’s household and bring Lin Qingqing!”

At the banquet in the Fu Mansion, Lin Qingqing was suddenly and forcefully taken back to the Marquis’s household by Xiao Chengyu’s people and subsequently received no news of Xiao Fengxing or Chang Tai.

Anxiously waiting in the household, she frequently sent people out to gather information about the situation.

However, the news was tightly sealed by Xiao Chengyu and Gu Yunze.

Moreover, Madam Fu and Mr. Fu guarded the Fu Mansion firmly, leaving Lin Qingqing unable to find out anything.

Even after the banquet at the Fu Mansion had ended, and the night turned deeply dark and quietly stifling, still, Xiao Fengxing and Chang Tai had not returned.

Lin Qingqing couldn’t sleep at all, drinking cold tea throughout the night.

“Miss!” Liu Yue rushed in with a panicked look.

“What happened?” Lin Qingqing quickly stood up, “Is there news?”

“Several constables have arrived outside, saying they want to take you to the Shuntian Prefecture for questioning!” Liu Yue said fearfully, “Miss, is it… is it…”

Has the matter been exposed?

“The second young master and Chang Tai have been missing, could they have been captured?” Liu Yue asked in panic.

“Impossible.” Lin Qingqing said in a low voice, “My husband is the second young master of the Marquis’s household, they couldn’t just capture him like that.”

At this moment, the constables’ voices came from the courtyard, “Second Madam, please come with us to the Shuntian Prefecture.”

Lin Qingqing took a deep breath, stepped into the courtyard, and asked, “May I ask what matter requires my presence?”

The elderly lady and Aunt Liu were also alarmed and hurried to the courtyard.

Aunt Liu anxiously asked, “What on earth is going on? What’s happened to Fengxing?”

“Yes, it’s so late at night, why have you suddenly come to the household to arrest someone?” The elderly lady also asked anxiously.

However, unlike Aunt Liu’s genuine concern, the elderly lady was merely putting on an act.

After Xiao Chengyu returned, he had briefed the elderly lady on the situation.

He asked the elderly lady to act accordingly.

Faced with the elderly lady’s questioning, the constable didn’t dare to refuse to answer, clasped his fist and said, “Mr. Fu of the Capital and Madam went to the Shuntian Prefecture to accuse the second madam of your household for orchestrating a crime and disregarding human life. We are here to summon the second madam for questioning.”

“How did such a big issue arise?” The elderly lady asked Lin Qingqing, “What on earth did you do?”

“Mother-in-law, I’m wronged, I didn’t do anything,” Lin Qingqing hurriedly said, “How could I dare do such a thing?”

“If you didn’t do it, go to the court and make things clear, Judge Tao will not neglect you,” the elderly lady said, “Either way, head to the Prefecture Yamen first.”

“Mother, is the Prefecture Yamen a place I can go?” Lin Qingqing hurriedly said, “I’ve never been to that place in my life!”

“If you haven’t done it, there’s nothing to fear, clarify the matter, and that’s it,” the elderly lady said, “Our Marquess household can’t disregard the law and prevent officials from handling the case.”

“What reason do you have not to go?” the elderly lady said, “Rest assured, I will also go over and watch.”

“If you are wrongly accused, I won’t let anyone wrong you,” the elderly lady feared Lin Qingqing would stubbornly refuse to go, so she reasoned with her, “With me present, no one can wrong you. Besides, if anything happens to you, it’s also detrimental to our Marquess household’s reputation.”

Hearing the last sentence, Lin Qingqing felt a slight relief.

Yes, for the sake of the household’s reputation, even the elderly lady has to protect her.

Seeing that there was no choice but to go, Lin Qingqing had to follow the constables to the Shuntian Prefecture.

Seeing the elderly lady had also arrived, Lord Tao quickly said, “Please seat the elderly madam!”

The elderly lady said, “I am here not to obstruct your investigation, my lord. It’s just that since this matter involves the young members of my household, I felt compelled to come and see exactly what’s going on; I don’t want to remain ignorant.”

“How my lord handles the case, I will not interfere; if this person from the Lins truly has committed such a great wrongdoing, our Marquess household will not shield her, investigate as you see fit.” The elderly lady said.

“Mother!” Lin Qingqing turned pale, looking over in panic.

Back at the Marquis household, the elderly lady didn’t say it like this.

The elderly lady picked up her teacup, not looking at her.

“Lin Qingqing,” Lord Tao said, “Do you recognize this person?”

Lin Qingqing turned and saw Chang Tai being dragged in and kneeling to one side.

“Chang Tai!” Lin Qingqing exclaimed in a lost voice, “My lord, I recognize him, he is my husband’s close servant, Chang Tai.”

“Good, and this person, do you recognize her?” Lord Tao asked again.

When Lin Qingqing looked again, she saw the maid who drugged Fu Mingzhu.

The maid knelt on the ground, trembling violently.

“I don’t recognize this person,” Lin Qingqing said.

She indeed hadn’t seen this maid before, so her claim was bold and assertive.

“Chang Tai, concerning the confession, do you plead guilty?” Lord Tao asked again.

“I plead guilty,” Chang Tai said.

“But Lin Qingqing says she does not recognize this maid,” Lord Tao pressed further.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep