Chapter 383 - 384: Several Versions

Chapter 383: Chapter 384: Several Versions

Having gotten what she wanted, Jin Qianqian smiled brightly at Madam Huang and said, "Thanks to the Huang Mansion family for fanning the flames, I’ve managed to become a woman of some means here in Shangjing.

As for how you handle your household affairs from now on, I will not be getting involved."

"I hope Mrs. Gu keeps her word." Madam Huang thought about the gifts she’d sent over before, an entire estate among them, all just to quell this matter. She had no desire to see Jin Qianqian’s smug face again, so once she had her assurance, she hastily led her people away.

Jin Qianqian shook her head, a little disappointed. ’What a shame. I went to all the trouble of weaving such a long, intricate tale. The people of Shangjing are truly out of luck, missing out on such a magnificent story.’

The thought that she couldn’t drag the Huang Mansion down with her made the things before her seem a little dull. She handed them over to Li Xia to be registered and put into storage, then immediately plastered on a smile and headed for the rear courtyard.

The madams of the great mansions were all stunned. One moment, people were gossiping about the minor affairs of the Golden Scholar and his wife, and the next, the narrative had completely changed overnight. How did it become a shocking tale of murder for money?

But life in the inner courtyards was dull. Now that a rare new topic had emerged—one spread with such vivid detail—everyone appointed themselves judge and jury.

"I always said there was something suspicious about the deaths of those two members of the Niu Family. This would explain everything."

"Truly, a woman’s heart is the most venomous. If you really felt the Niu Family wronged you, you could have chosen to divorce. There was no need to take lives."

"Does anyone know what’s become of that daughter of the Xiao Family? She’s a murderer, so she can’t still be living in the Niu residence, can she? Let’s just hope she doesn’t move on to some other mansion and bring disaster upon them."

"You’re all being too naive. She probably had a secret lover all along and has already run off with him."

"Ah! If that’s true, that’s just too outrageous! How did the Shuntian Prefecture not find this out at the time?"

"Maybe they were bribed..."

"..."

With Jin Qianqian fanning the flames, this new wave of rumors made everyone completely forget what they had been discussing before. They were now fully invested in digging up the truth.

After brewing for just one day, the matter became the talk of the town.

Madam Huang had been keeping a close watch on the situation. When she discovered that the gossip stopped with Xiao Wanyu and went no further, she breathed a small sigh of relief.

Immediately after, she began to clean house in the rear courtyard with bold and decisive strokes, using the opportunity to root out all the spies planted by the second branch.

She also disciplined the gatekeepers, ensuring that entry into the once freely accessible rear residence now required her express permission for every matter.

Mrs. Huang Qian from the second branch certainly had strong objections, but hearing the rampant rumors outside, and considering the mansion’s losses that day, she could only stay holed up in her own courtyard.

She turned a completely deaf ear to the predicament her own daughter-in-law was now facing.

Xiao Wanyu’s confusion was finally resolved, thanks to Yu Xiaoju’s inquiries.

Seeing the panicked state Yu Xiaoju was in, Xiao Wanyu’s hands began to tremble uncontrollably.

’This matter was already in the past. How could it be stirred up again?’

She racked her brain, trying to recall any clues she might have left behind. ’Impossible, I didn’t leave any loose ends.’ She then snapped at Yu Xiaoju, "Don’t be so flustered! It’s nothing but baseless rumors."

Yu Xiaoju had been out and heard several versions of the story, each told so vividly it was as if the storyteller had witnessed it firsthand.

What terrified her most was that these versions included suspicious details she herself had once considered.

Of course, she had no way of knowing that Jin Qianqian had simply cobbled together these little stories based on her own suspicions.

Cast a wide enough net and you’re bound to catch a fish. It seemed the strategy was working.

"Tell me everything you heard, in detail." The calmer Xiao Wanyu’s face appeared, the more she panicked inside.

Several small details she thought she had hidden perfectly had been exposed, forcing her to wonder if she hadn’t covered her tracks well enough.

"I told you she was a jinx!" Old Mrs. Ning, leaning on her cane, aimed at a blurry shadow and swung, ready to strike.

Unexpectedly, at this critical moment, she was stopped by Fang Yuan.

"It’s true what they say: some people are just hopeless!" Old Mrs. Ning unleashed all her anger on Fang Yuan. "You’re the primary wife, yet you’ve spent all your days hiding in your room! The servants have all but forgotten you exist!"

But unlike her usual silence, Fang Yuan grabbed the old woman and started dragging her toward her own room.

"What do you think you’re doing? You unfilial wretch, are you trying to throw me to the ground?"

Once they were inside, Fang Yuan quickly whispered in her ear, "I know what you’re angry about, but we cannot afford to provoke that woman.

If she could eliminate Lord Niu and his mother without a trace, we can’t afford to confront her head-on. We have elders and children to think about."

Old Mrs. Ning froze. She had been so focused on her anger about Aunt Xiao bringing rumors upon the family that she had completely forgotten the woman was as venomous as a scorpion.

Recalling all the nasty things she had done to Aunt Xiao, the old woman suddenly panicked. She grabbed Fang Yuan’s hand. "Do you think that venomous witch has already tried to harm me? Am I going to die soon?

Oh, this is a terrible fate! My son has only just started to make something of himself, and now I’m going to die here.

Quick, send for a doctor! I need to see if I’ve been poisoned! No wonder I’ve been feeling so dizzy lately."

The more she spoke, the more unwell she felt, until her entire body went limp and she collapsed against Fang Yuan.

A flicker of impatience flashed in Fang Yuan’s eyes, but she coaxed gently, "Mother, please don’t panic. She hasn’t been in the kitchen lately, so she shouldn’t have had a chance to strike yet."

"Are you hoping I get poisoned to death sooner too? I told you to fetch a doctor, why are you chattering on?" Old Mrs. Ning pinched Fang Yuan viciously.

"Ever since that woman came into this house, you’ve done nothing but hide away with your children. You knew something all along, didn’t you?

So that’s your game, Mrs. Fang! You’re just waiting for that witch to poison me to death so you can swoop in and reap the rewards!"

Fang Yuan secretly rolled her eyes. "Mother, I came to the capital with you. I’ve been stuck in this same small compound the whole time. Where would I possibly learn such secret things?"

’The only reason I’ve been so on guard is that I wanted to see what kind of trouble they would stir up, and whether it would end up dragging my children down too.’

’Besides, with the Old Madam’s combat prowess, why should I bother getting involved in all the drama?’

’I just didn’t expect such a pleasant surprise to come so suddenly. Even if the rumors aren’t true, Aunt Xiao’s reputation is ruined for good.’

Old Mrs. Ning had no time to ponder any of that. "Hurry up and send for the doctor! And not just for me—everyone in this house needs to be examined."

Fang Yuan peeked through the crack in the door at Xiao Wanyu, who was still standing in the courtyard. Her head was bowed, and it was impossible to know what she was thinking.

After instructing her two children to stay inside the room, she opened the door and called over a serving woman. "The Old Madam is feeling unwell. Go quickly to the end of the street and bring the doctor."

Still uneasy, she then called over her personal dowry maid. "You two, stand guard here," she ordered. "Don’t let anyone in."