Mrs. Zheng waved her staff heroically, and the red polo broke through the door, attracting a round of applause.
She was not very happy, so she mounted her horse to organize an attack, and shouted loudly to cheer up the opponent: "Cheer up, don't let me!"
The opponent's team of servants responded with a bang, and then fell behind significantly, allowing Mrs. Zheng to win the game.
Madam Zheng rode her beloved pony back to the stables and sighed boredly: "I'm so timid that I can't even play polo!"
When she received no response, Madam Zheng looked at the taciturn maid standing beside her: "Bai Zhu, if it's Xiang Xiu, she will definitely help me speak at this time."
Bai Zhu lowered his head and said: "My servant has never been good at words..."
"You have to be more active so that you won't be bullied in the future!"
Mrs. Zheng was very helpless. She bent down and rubbed her calf, and breathed a sigh of relief: "It's finally healed!"
"I was beaten so hard that my legs and feet were disabled a few days ago. When I entered the palace to see the Crown Princess, I didn't dare to walk quickly for fear of showing my cowardice. Aye's attack was too cruel!"
"But my brother's legs were also broken, so I'm not biased..."
She was talking to herself alone, and there was no sound next to her. She looked at her nose with her white eyes, and her nose at her heart, without saying a word.
However, a crisp call came from not far away: "My dear! My dear!"
Mrs. Zheng turned her head and smiled immediately: "Xiangxiu!"
The maid Xiang Xiu has an outstanding appearance and is quick at work. In addition, compared to Bai Zhu's dull manner, she is much more articulate and very lovable.
Less than two years after entering the palace, this one has become another personal maid of Miss Zheng, with a vague tendency to catch up from behind.
Sure enough, Xiangxiu came to her side, and after hearing the result of the polo match just now, she curled her lips and said: "They are cowardly and useless, and they also make our little lady seem to be narrow-minded. It's really boring. Fortunately, there are many noble girls from Chang'an.
You can show off your skills, and winning will be a blessing!"
Mrs. Zheng smiled broadly and nodded repeatedly: "That's the truth. Xiangxiu, you really understand me! The steamed cake you presented a few days ago was very delicious. Let's make more tonight!"
Xiangxiu responded: "My lady likes that steamed cake, and my servant is also happy! My grandma taught me that, and she also taught me a lot of drinks and snacks..."
Mrs. Zheng thought of the kind-hearted old lady, nodded and said: "Your grandma is a capable person, well-versed in people. She talked to me last time, and I also benefited a lot. Is she still helping in the kitchen now?"
?”
Xiangxiu's voice deepened slightly: "She has been feeling slightly unwell these past few days and has not come to the kitchen to help."
Mrs. Zheng said with concern: "Old people are careless. Have you sought a doctor?"
Xiangxiu showed a grateful look: "My grandma has always been healthy. This time she is just slightly unwell. If she doesn't feel better after a few days of rest, she will definitely go to a doctor. Thank you for your concern!"
Just as he was talking, a limping figure appeared. Zheng Hui, who was holding a crutch, came not far away and called: "Little sister! Little sister!"
Madam Zheng looked displeased and stood still: "Brother, what's the matter?"
There was a bit of embarrassment on Zheng Hui's face: "Little sister, come here, brother, I have something to tell you."
Mrs. Zheng raised her voice and shouted: "If you have something to say, just say it, why do you have to hide it?"
Zheng Hui sighed, simply walked over and stretched out his hand, dragging his sister directly to the corner and started muttering.
Bai Zhu stood quietly with his head lowered, while Xiang Xiu took a step forward slightly, pricked up his ears and listened. There were vague words like "Du Zhi", "Traveling Far Away" and "Farewell" floating into his ears. The rest could not be heard clearly, but the content was also unclear.
If you can guess the general idea, you can't help but feel strange.
This young man is really an infatuated man. He was almost poisoned to death last time, but he still can't forget his wife, Douzhi. He heard that he was going to be released from the land of Jiangnan, and he took his sister to say goodbye to a prostitute?
As expected, the two immediately started arguing. It was not until Zheng Hui made a pleading look that Mrs. Zheng reluctantly followed him out.
"You stay, don't follow me!"
Xiangxiu immediately wanted to catch up, but when she saw Mrs. Zheng waving her hands impatiently, she could only stay where she was with Bai Zhu, watching the brother and sister leave.
Mrs. Zheng was furious. She relied on her legs and feet to recover faster and walked out of the house with her head held high. It wasn't until she got into the carriage that her expression changed: "You just said that Li Jiyi asked us not to disturb other people in the house, especially
He is a servant of the inner house, could it be said that there is a thief hiding in the house?"
Zheng Hui chased hard on the road, and said breathlessly: "Luoyang has been very uneasy recently, and my father is the governor, so it is possible..."
After all, the two brothers and sisters are direct descendants of the Zheng family. They have received excellent education since childhood. They are very cautious when encountering major events. They quickly shut up and wait silently.
Soon the carriage entered Beishi City, arrived at a quiet alley, and went directly to Lady Yan's Douzhi Courtyard.
When they entered the courtyard, they saw Li Jiyi and a man with a fierce face standing side by side, and they hurried forward to greet him.
Li Yan got straight to the point: "I invite you two to come here this time because I have something important to ask. Since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and all the officials came to Luoyang, has there been an elderly woman haunting the inner residence of your mansion?"
Zheng Hui shook his head: "No."
Mrs. Zheng frowned: "I really have one here, my personal maid Xiangxiu. A grandmother came from my hometown to help in the kitchen and the meals she cooks are delicious."
Yang Zaiwei became energetic: "Is this old woman still in your house now?"
Seeing the blood-red color in his eyes, Mrs. Zheng was a little scared and whispered: "I heard from Xiangxiu that her grandma has been feeling unwell for the past two days and has not come to the house."
Yang Zaiwei was immediately disappointed, but he was also a little lucky that he didn't directly surround the house just now: "I didn't expect this old thief to be so vigilant and disappear at the slightest sign of trouble..."
Li Yan said: "We can't confirm her identity yet, and we can't suspect someone of stealing the axe. Madam Zheng, do you still remember that in the poisoning case, the laxative you wanted to change ended up being poison?"
Hearing this, Zheng Hui raised his buttocks, while Mrs. Zheng said bitterly: "This is a vicious plan to kill my whole family, how can I forget it?"
Li Yan asked: "Then the maid Xiangxiu you just talked about knew your plan in advance. Did she have the opportunity to secretly exchange your medicinal powder?"
Mrs. Zheng's face changed: "Of course she has a chance, I asked Xiangxiu to buy the laxatives!"
"She is smart and very good at getting things done. I asked her to go to the drugstore and buy a pack of laxatives. I also got some potato starch and mixed them together. If I didn't smell them carefully, there was no difference at all from my brother's fake death drug..."
"I have never doubted her at all. She is my personal maid. What is the benefit of doing such a thing? If she is discovered, she will die. If she is not discovered, if something happens to me, she will also be implicated!"
Li Yan was almost sure, but out of caution, he continued to ask: "Where is Xiangxiu's grandma? What are her characteristics?"
When Miss Zheng thought that the thief was actually her favorite maid, she was so frightened that she broke into a cold sweat and said quickly: "This old woman is indeed not like an ordinary old woman. Every word she says is particularly in line with my wishes, and since then
After she arrived, Xiangxiu also mentioned her in front of me from time to time..."
Li Yan waved and asked the inner guard who was good at portraits to come forward: "Describe her appearance and features."
After Mrs. Zheng described it, the painter drew it, but when everyone saw it, they couldn't help but frown.
This is the appearance of an ordinary old woman. At most, she has a kind-hearted look, but no specific characteristics at all. Where can I find this?
Yang Zaiwei said bitterly: "This old thief must have disguised himself!"
Li Yan also frowned.
Disguise is not a change of appearance, but is similar to the makeup of later generations. As early as Chang'an, another Meihuawei Niang used disguise to change between the two identities of a fake mother and a steward of the Dou Chamber of Commerce. At that time,
Li Yan also thought of Pang Sanniang in history. After her beauty faded in old age, she was able to pretend to be her own granddaughter and deceive guests through makeup. She was called Qiao Biluo in the Tang Dynasty.
Thinking of Rong Niang, Li Yan frowned. He immediately asked the painter to draw a picture of Rong Niang and showed it to the Zheng brothers and sisters: "In your opinion, have you seen this woman before?"
Zheng Hui was stunned when he saw it. He vaguely felt that he looked familiar, but was not sure. Mrs. Zheng looked at it carefully and said: "Although she has lost a lot of weight, judging from her appearance, this is Xiangxiu's mother. She is a
Mute, who came to my house more than a year ago, has always worked hard and silently, is she also a thief?"
When Li Yan heard this, his face suddenly darkened, and his eyes showed murderous intent: "Shang Gong!!"
Yang Zaiwei asked: "Who is this person?"
Li Yan said coldly: "No wonder Rong Niang, Wan'er's mother, can't be found in Chang'an. It turns out she came to Luoyang. I hope she was just forced to pretend to be mute..."
Yang Zaiwei's anger had nowhere to vent, and he wanted to blow Shang Gong's head off: "Now the evidence is conclusive. As you expected, Shang Gong regards Luozhou Governor's Mansion as his stronghold. Since Rong Niang is here, it must be
There are more men!"
Li Yan asked: "Rong Niang is pretending to be Xiang Xiu's mother, and Shang Gong is pretending to be Xiang Xiu's grandmother. Are there any other relatives of Xiang Xiu in your house?"
Madam Zheng pursed her lips and said, "There should be. With Xiangxiu's status, this is also normal..."
Xiangxiu was the most beloved by Mrs. Zheng, so the other servants naturally had to fawn over her, and arranged for her relatives to work in the house. One of them would be able to ascend to heaven, so selling a few favors was normal, as was the case for many wealthy slaves.
Yang Zaiwei said: "Since Rong Niang is here, can we contact her and lure Shang Gong out?"
Li Yan shook his head slightly: "Rong Niang is Wan'er's mother. Now that Wan'er is out of Shang Gong's control, it is impossible for Shang Gong not to guard against her and ask her to provide support. I am afraid that not only will she fail to achieve her goal, but she will also be put in danger.
Dangerous place..."
"But there are so many plum blossom guards in the Zheng Mansion, which is good news for us. Now that Shang Gong has failed to get what he wanted and has seized the Gong family, she will not give up the stronghold of the Zheng Mansion so easily!"
Yang Zaiwei narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment and said, "I understand!"
He took out a medicine bag from his waist and handed it to Mrs. Zheng: "You think of a way to give Xiangxiu this medicine. She changed your medicine to kill your whole family. Now it's your turn to fight back, tooth for tooth.
Blood for blood!”
Mrs. Zheng took it with trembling hands. Although she felt bitter in her heart, her face turned pale again: "I...I..."
Yang Zaiwei sneered and said: "Don't worry, this medicine is used for torture. It's called Juexin Powder. It's extremely painful when it attacks, but it won't kill people!"
"I configured this myself. Shang Gong must not know about it. She will only get the news that Xiangxiu is poisoned!"
"Once this personal maid dies, Shang Gong's arrangement in the Zheng Mansion will at least be greatly affected. I want to see if this old dog can bear it and not come out!"