Chapter 20

The steward was trembling, terrified. He had never expected that Madam Shen’s trusted servant would be the one dead.

Madam Shen’s face was dark with anger.

The steward didn’t dare look at her. “Yes, I’ll investigate right away.”

Shen Mingzhu stared blankly at Mammy Wei—her eyes and mouth open, clothes dripping muddy water, belly slightly swollen, foam coming from her nose and mouth.

It was her first time seeing a dead body. Just moments ago, Mammy Wei had been smiling at her, saying:
“Miss, you are like a precious pearl. Shen Qingtan is nothing but a sharp stone underfoot—unworthy even to carry your shoes. Don’t waste your thoughts on her. Madam and I will protect what’s yours and never let any stray cats or dogs take it away.”

Shen Mingzhu’s mind was blank, and her legs went weak. If not for her maid Late Winter holding her, she might have fallen.

Concubine Liu and Concubine Hu were also surprised. They secretly glanced at Madam Shen, then at Shen Qingtan, who kept her head lowered, wiping her tears. Beneath the surface, tension was running high between the two women.

They both guessed that Shen Qingtan’s identity had some hidden story, and they knew Madam Shen had set a trap for her.

But they had never expected that in this battle, Madam Shen would lose so badly.

Their gaze fell on Shen Qingtan’s slender, pale fingers—like flawless jade, unstained by blood—yet they had just severed Madam Shen’s most trusted aide.

“Was it you? Did you order Liuyue and Tingsue to kill Mammy Wei?” Shen Mingzhu snapped back to her senses and accused Shen Qingtan, tears welling in her eyes. “Big sister, how cruel you are. Mammy Wei only suggested that you take two maids by your side, and you slapped her for it. That wasn’t enough—you even wanted her dead!”

Madam Shen trembled, as if in disbelief. “No… Qingtan is gentle and kind. How could she kill Mammy Wei, who helped raise her?”

“Mother, if she really cared about Mammy Wei’s kindness, why would she slap her in the first place?” Shen Mingzhu pressed on, her voice choked with sobs. “It’s my fault, all my fault. If I hadn’t come back, Mammy Wei wouldn’t have worried about me so much and neglected my sister. If I hadn’t come back, my sister wouldn’t have married my sickly second cousin by mistake. If I were her, I would have resentment too… Yes, it’s all my fault…”

Lady Shen’s maid, Lüyin, cried and said, “Even if you are angry, you can’t just take someone’s life. Madam Wei wasn’t only Madam’s wet nurse — she also cared for the young lady in every way. And now she has ended up with such a miserable death.”

Shen Qingtan saw that they were putting on a show and throwing dirt on her name. If she didn’t act along, it would look bad.

She lifted her pale face, eyes full of tears, and said, “Mother, all my people went with me to the Zhao residence. When Madam Wei had her accident, I was eating with you. How could I have had the chance to harm her?”

Shen Mingzhu pressed her, “You still won’t admit it? Liuyue and Tingsnow left halfway, and right after that, Madam Wei had her accident. Those two disobedient maids haven’t come back yet — I say they’re the ones who did it!”

“Tan’er, Madam Wei was someone who served me for many years. Though she was a servant, I already saw her as family,” Lady Shen said with deep disappointment. “She was always steady and well-behaved — everyone in the household knew this. I believe she gave you advice sincerely, treating you like her own child. I never thought someone would hold a grudge and harm her like this…”

Tears streamed down Lady Shen’s face. Her voice choked as she said, “Even when you slapped her and hurt her feelings, she didn’t blame you, and she even spoke well of you to me. She did break the rules, so she deserved her punishment. But she even asked me to show mercy and let her make you a sugar cake to apologize.”

“Mother, if I am innocent, I am not afraid of being suspected. If I didn’t do it, I won’t confess,” Shen Qingtan replied calmly. “Liuyue and Tingsnow would never kill anyone. If they weren’t in my courtyard, they must have been getting snacks for you.”

Just then, Liuyue and Tingsnow came rushing over. “Young Lady, we went to the carriage to get the snacks,” they said. Liuyue handed a food box to Lüyin and respectfully told Lady Shen, “Madam, our young lady remembered you love Cuiyu Bean Cakes from Baixiang House, so she bought some especially for you.”

Lady Shen was surprised. “If so, why didn’t you give them to me when you first came?”

Shen Qingtan glanced at Shen Mingzhu and explained, “There were too many people at the gate, so I didn’t want to take them out then. I planned to give them to you after we returned to the residence. But later I thought, at that time you’d be tired and want to rest, so I had Liuyue quietly bring them in while changing clothes, to surprise you. I never expected Madam Wei’s accident.”

Lady Shen understood the glance — Mingzhu hadn’t prepared anything for her, so Qingtan was being considerate and didn’t want to show her up.

Just as Lady Shen was about to speak, the steward came over and said, “Madam, Madam Wei smelled of alcohol. It seems she drowned after getting drunk.”

“Impossible!” Shen Qingtan was the first to deny it, deliberately using Lady Shen’s own words against her. “Madam Wei was clearly making me a sugar cake — how could she be drunk? She was always careful and proper, and would never drink while on duty.”

Lady Shen’s face stiffened as if she had been slapped.

“Mother, I have always treated Madam Wei like family. Even if she acted disrespectfully and treated herself as the master, I didn’t mind. I only scolded her because I worried she might offend the wrong person one day and lose her life. You didn’t understand my good intentions. If it had been an ordinary maid, I would have had her beaten twenty times and sold off,” Shen Qingtan said firmly. “Whether I am wronged is secondary — I absolutely cannot let Madam Wei die unjustly. This matter must not be ignored.”

She then told the steward, “Go report this to the authorities!”

Lady Shen’s face changed. Qingtan was so certain she was innocent and even wanted to involve the authorities — could there really be a mistake?

Before she could think further, Shen Shaoheng strolled over lazily and said, “Report what? A disobedient servant is dead, so what? On the day both my younger sisters return home, do you want the whole city to know someone died here? Others hide their scandals — we’d be the ones showing them off.”

Lady Shen’s face darkened.

Shaoheng glanced at Madam Wei’s body and sneered, “I saw it myself. That old hag stole good wine and drank it in secret. The wine was strong — she just got drunk and drowned in the pond.”

He curled his lip and said coldly, “Second Aunt, she was nothing but a deceitful, two-faced woman. Do you really want to risk the lives of the household’s masters for a worthless servant’s life?”