Chapter 1095: Chapter 1095: The Murderer is Miss Gong
Shu Yu asked quickly and urgently, and Meng Yunzheng did not interrupt.
When she finished asking, he spoke softly, "The real murderer is my half-sister from the Gong Family."
Shu Yu frowned, "Her?"
She remembered Meng Yunzheng mentioning that this sister seemed to be only about fourteen years old this year.
Besides, wasnât she close to Madam Gong and that Second Young Master Gong? Why would she want to kill the second young master?
This Miss Gongâs biological mother, Concubine Chen, used to be a maid by Madam Gongâs side, so they were naturally close.
Later, because Madam Gong hadnât conceived, she asked Gong Qiu to take Concubine Chen into his quarters, thinking they could raise the child she bore.
However, Concubine Chen did not earn Gong Qiuâs favor, and he rarely visited her.
Instead, another concubine got pregnant and gave birth with difficulty to Second Young Master Gong. The concubine died, and since it was a boy, he was ideal for Madam Gong, therefore the second young master became Madam Gongâs son.
It was not until Second Young Master was three years old that Concubine Chen gave birth to Miss Gong, Gong Ya.
Concubine Chen was eager for Madam Gong to take Gong Ya under her name as the legitimate daughter of the Gong Family. Unfortunately, Madam Gong already had Second Young Master Gong, and since his health was poor, Madam Gong spent a lot of energy taking care of him and didnât want to add more trouble.
Moreover, Gong Ya was just a girl, who would marry off sooner or later; acknowledging her brought no benefits. Instead, if she were to marry off as the legitimate daughter, Madam Gong would have to provide a dowry.
Yet, despite this, Concubine Chen and Gong Ya never gave up on this idea. For many years, Gong Ya diligently served by Madam Gongâs side.
She considered herself on Madam Gongâs side, hence viewed Meng Yunzheng as an enemy. She considered herself and Second Young Master Gong as the legitimate young masters of the Gong Family, while Meng Yunzheng, an outsider who returned to the Gong Family at the age of ten and disrupted the harmony, was an outsider and should be expelled.
Meng Yunzhengâs reputation hadnât been great in recent years, largely due to her.
Although Meng Yunzheng never said it explicitly, Shu Yu had speculated from his and Zhao Xiâs remarks that the idea to poison Meng Yunzheng into muteness likely came from Gong Ya, suggested to Madam Gong.
Why would a girl who treated Second Young Master Gong and Madam Gong as her support kill Second Young Master Gong?
Meng Yunzheng said, "Gong Ya is over fourteen, an age suitable for marriage proposals."
Shu Yu was taken aback, "Are you saying Madam Gong and her son meddled in her marriage matters?"
"Yes." Meng Yunzheng nodded, "Gong Chang is seventeen this year, an age suitable for engagement if not for marriage. But due to his health, itâs been delayed."
Given the Gong Familyâs status, even if Gong Chang was seriously ill, some would still want to marry into the family. The problem is, Madam Gong looked down on such families.
However, the ones she favored werenât willing.
No parents who loved their daughter would want to marry her off to a sickly man, especially one not considered the legitimate son of the Gong Family.
Thus, Gong Chang remained unengaged.
Madam Gong was naturally anxious, yet, because of the incident of poisoning Meng Yunzheng, Gong Qiu was displeased with her, leaving her without people to confide in.
Coincidentally, news from Duke Liuâs family surfaced recently, seeking a match for the elder granddaughter.