Chapter 19

“What’s with all the fuss? No manners at all.” Madam Shen looked displeased but didn’t scold. “What happened?”

“Someone died,” the old maid said, her face pale and voice shaky. “They drowned in the pond at Wan Feng Pavilion. The steward told me to come deliver the message.”

Madam Shen immediately stood up. “Who died?”

“I don’t know,” the old maid replied. “The steward has sent people into the water to retrieve the body.”

Madam Shen’s face grew tense as she walked quickly outside. “How outrageous—committing murder in broad daylight inside our household!”

Shen Qingtan hurried after her.

Shen Mingzhu jogged a few steps to catch up. “Big sister, don’t worry, Liuyue and Tingsue will be fine.”

“Who said I’m worried about them?” Shen Qingtan stopped and looked at her coldly. “My courtyard is in the north, Wan Feng Pavilion is in the south. Why would they go there?”

Shen Mingzhu didn’t dare meet her gaze—those eyes were so clear and sharp, as if they could see straight into her heart, making her uneasy.

She looked away. Then Shen Qingtan asked, “Or is there something going on that I don’t know about?”

“No!” Shen Mingzhu denied quickly. “I… I just noticed they weren’t around, and since something happened at this time, I thought of them, that’s all.”

“Why so agitated?” Shen Qingtan raised an eyebrow, her tone light. “I was only asking casually.”

Shen Mingzhu watched her walk away, feeling a rush of anger.

That wretched woman!

But then she thought of how Shen Qingtan would react when she saw the bodies of Liuyue and Tingsue, and her heart filled with satisfaction.

Let her enjoy her smugness for now.

Shen Mingzhu’s lips curled slightly upward, and she followed to watch the scene.

Concubine Liu and Concubine Hu exchanged glances and followed as well.

Madam Shen was walking so quickly she started to run out of breath and slowed down.

Shen Qingtan supported her arm. “Mother, let me help you.”

Madam Shen paused for a moment, then kept walking.

She had arranged for dowry maids to serve Shen Qingtan, but Shen Qingtan didn’t use them—she favored Liuyue and Tingsue instead. These two were loyal and refused to spy for her.

The only way to plant someone by Shen Qingtan’s side was to get rid of Liuyue and Tingsue.

By now, Mammy Wei should have succeeded.

Madam Shen’s heart was pleased, though her face still looked worried.

A large group arrived at Wan Feng Pavilion.

Shen Qingtan saw a few young servants pulling someone from the water and swimming toward the shore.

Madam Shen seemed unwilling to look. She turned to Shen Qingtan, pressing a handkerchief to her chest and murmuring, “I wonder who this poor soul is, to be killed on such a joyful day. If I find the murderer, I won’t let them off!”

“Mo… Mother…” Shen Qingtan saw who it was and her face changed. She staggered, unable to believe it. “How could this be…”

Madam Shen noticed her pale face, then saw Shen Mingzhu’s faintly excited expression. In an instant, Madam Shen’s own face drained of color.

Her heart sank as she looked toward the shore—lying there wasn’t Liuyue or Tingsue at all, but Mammy Wei!

“No… impossible…”

Madam Shen’s vision went dark, and she almost collapsed.

She couldn’t accept it.

She had sent Mammy Wei to lure Liuyue and Tingsue to Wan Feng Pavilion—everything had been perfectly arranged.

So how could Mammy Wei be the one dead?

Where were Liuyue and Tingsue?

“Find out!” Madam Shen gritted her teeth. “Everyone who came to Wan Feng Pavilion today—bring them here!”

Her gaze toward Shen Qingtan was filled with venom.

This had to be connected to that wretched girl.