Suspects Party

Guan Qing had just used a few words to deflect Fu Xiuxiu’s, and Fu Xiuxiu finally realized what she just said.

She had let slip that she liked Wen Yuansi!

OH NO!

Thankfully, she hadn’t come by herself. Another voice interrupted the conversation.

“Oho, isn’t this the eldest daughter of the Guan family?”

Fu Xiuxiu immediately started crying when she saw who had come, “Sis-in-law…”

Song Caitang turned and saw that it was Madam Ji.

Madam Ji had married into the Fu family and was now Fu Xiuxiu’s sister-in-law, so she was definitely going to defend Fu Xiuxiu. Besides, she was better at arguments than the younger Fu Xiuxiu and immediately retorted, “I was wondering who in the world could be speaking in such a nasty fashion. So, it’s the businesswoman who schemes in even greater detail than men do.”

Guan Qing, who had kept a frosty expression all this time, suddenly broke into a smile. She looked down at her wrist and adjusted her bangle, “That’s true. My business schemes are a cut above the rest, and even the men are envious of my capabilities. Are you interested in learning from me? It’s good for women to have reliable skills so that they can both feed the family and be in a position above others. Everyone loves a person like that.”

Song Caitang noticed that this Eldest Sister of hers had a strange sense of humor, and her focus was often a little different from others. She realized this when she noticed Madam Ji’s expression suddenly become twisted for a moment.

Guan Qing was probably mocking Madam Ji for having trouble keeping her man and that her married life wasn’t going smoothly. But Guan Qing was not married yet and was the daughter of a reputable family too, so she couldn’t say such things in an overly obvious manner and chose to just hint at it. Others might not understand it, but Madam Ji knew exactly what she was talking about, since she was in this very situation herself.

Madam Ji understood, but her ability to suppress her emotions was pretty good after many years of experience. She didn’t retort directly and chose to shift the attention to Song Caitang, “Since you’re so good at business, why did you ill treat your cousin and make her resort to extorting money from others?”

Guan Qing didn’t quite understand what Madam Ji was getting at and did not respond immediately.

Madam Ji covered her mouth with a hand and laughed. She was pleased to have confounded Guan Qing, “You’re so concerned over your cousin, but your cousin doesn’t feel the same. So much for thinking you’re very clever – did you expect this at all?”

Song Caitang’s lips curled upward slightly.

The only person she had ever extorted money from was First Madam Wu back at the coffin home.

But this matter was top secret and First Madam Wu was a clever woman, so she wouldn’t have told just anyone about it. And if she told someone about it, that person was definitely someone important to her.

Madam Ji was definitely on very good terms with First Madam Wu.

When she thought about what Guan Qing had said to Fu Xiuxiu, it seemed to imply something else…she immediately realized that the two families were very closely tied together.”

“Madam, how could you say something so unreasonable? How could you accuse me of such a thing? I haven’t extorted money from anyone.” Song Caitang looked at Guan Qing with an innocent expression on her face, “Eldest Sister, that First Madam Wu tried to get me to marry her son and regretted it in the end. Isn’t it only right for her to compensate me with some money?”

Guan Qing immediately patted Song Caitang’s head, “Of course it’s only right of her to do that. If she compensated you and regretted it, then went around sullying your reputation, she can’t be considered human anymore.”

As she spoke, Guan Qing seemed to glance at Madam Ji a few times. It was clear that she was throwing an insult with these words as well.

Madam Ji narrowed her eyes, “You know, it’s hard to find a man if you’re going to be like this. Guan Qing, are you sure you want to offend me?”

These words seemed to have come from nowhere and implied a lot of things. Her gaze was very confident, as though she knew about something or she had dirt on Guan Qing that would affect Guan Qing significantly.

This was a real threat.

Song Caitang quickly exchanged glances with Guan Qing.

Guan Qing frowned. She clearly had no idea what was going on. Song Caitang…was even more confused. Did Madam Ji really have some hold on her?

A married woman threatening an unmarried woman with her marriage prospects was certainly a matter very difficult to respond to.

While they were still thinking about how to respond, another voice interrupted the conversation.

“What’s going on? Mrs. Fu-Ji is a matchmaker? You’re not in the best position yourself and the ladies can’t be just a little impolite?”

Someone walked out from behind the pillar. Song Caitang turned to look and found it was another familiar face – Madam Ge.

Madam Ji and Madam Ge were both suspects in the Yun Nianyao case.

The two didn’t seem to like each other. Madam Ji snorted at Madam Ge, “What is it now? The woman as kind as Buddha is trying to poke her nose into my affairs again?”

Madam Ge had a kindly expression and a genial smile. Even when talking back to Madam Ji, she did not get agitated at all, “Some people don’t care about giving their fellow women some leeway and don’t care about keeping their dignity as the older one. I wouldn’t dare to do that. They’re all young ladies who are in the prime of their youth, yet you attacked them. I wouldn’t bear to.

Madam Ge looked warmly at Guan Qing, then at Song Caitang, “Has the old lady of the family gotten well yet?”

“Thank you for your concern.” Guan Qing bowed sincerely and elegantly, “My grandmother has recovered from her illness. She doesn’t cough or have a fever anymore, so she’s in much better spirits.” She then tugged at Song Caitang and introduced her, “This is Madam Ge of the Lin family and she is extremely skilled in acupuncture. She came to see Grandmother personally before.”

This visit meant that Madam Ge had come to diagnose Madam Bai’s illness before.

Song Caitang did not know about this, but she bowed like Guan Qing did and said with a smile, “Thank you, Madam Ge.”

Madam Ji rolled her eyes, “Hypocrite.”

Madam Ge ignored her and continued to look at Guan Qing, “It’s very hard for women to survive in this world, so you have to be alert and wary at all times, especially when you’re out in public. You must be careful…”

Her reminder was like Madam Ji’s threat. It seemed like it carried a hidden message, but maybe not.

Song Caitang frowned slightly.

All the exchanges had been quibbles between women and had nothing to do with the case. So, this “threat” and “reminder” probably had nothing to do with the murder case.

So…it was targeted at Guan Qing?

Song Caitang looked a little worriedly at Guan Qing.

But Guan Qing shook her head with a slight smile to indicate that she was fine. Her expression was one of confidence.

While the two cousins were communicating with each other with their eyes, Madam Ji and Madam Ge had already begun arguing.

Madam Ji’s voice was shrill, “Stop pretending! We all know each other! You’re supposed to be the wife of a genius doctor and have the heart of a Buddha, but you’re still corrupt in the end. You’ve done things for the sake of money several times too! You’ve come here to visit Yun Nianyao on the pretext of checking on her pregnancy, but you’re really just hoping to get into her network and make demands when you get the chance, aren’t you!”

Madam Ge’s expression didn’t flinch, “Doctors care for people and they survive using their medical skills. Isn’t it only right for them to collect fees proportional to their service after they’ve put in the time and effort to treat patients? You’ve classified all human interaction as transactions for selfish gain – it’s clear that your life is pathetic and tragic.”

“You know just a little about me and you simply shoot your mouth off like that? Do you even know what sort of life I live?”

“I don’t know, and I don’t care. I hope that you will not corner others like this in the future so that there’s room for reconciliation. That would save you some face too.”

“Are you insulting me?”

“I only speak the truth. I don’t insult others.”

“Why, you!!”

While the two women were arguing, or rather, while Madam Ji was railing at Madam Ge, a man suddenly came out of nowhere, “We’re in the sacred grounds of a temple! Can’t both of you behave more peacefully?”

This person had a gloomy expression on his face and a hoarse voice. His entire body seemed to exude tiredness. It was Gao Zhuo.

Song Caitang instinctively looked into the sky.

This was her lucky day! She was here with ALL the suspects!

She had to take this chance to observe them carefully! She must not waste this golden opportunity!

Song Caitang pulled Guan Qing backward by several steps.

Guan Qing felt that she shouldn’t be here anymore and there was no way they could help in this situation, so she went with Song Caitang to a more secluded area nearby.

Meanwhile, the one who picked this fight in the first place, Fu Xiuxiu, stared at the two women in front of her with a pitiful look on her face.

Madam Ji was supposed to have helped her to gain the upper hand and bullied the two cousins. Why did things suddenly end up like this? Where had everything gone wrong?

“Sis-in-law…” She pouted and tried to pull Madam Ji back to the original topic at hand, to continue defending her and teaching the cousins a lesson, only to find that Madam Ji was ignoring her completely.

The moment that man had walked over, her own sister-in-law, Madam Ji, had her eyes glued on him. The look of infatuation in her eyes was so obvious. She didn’t even bother trying to look away!

Just as she felt awkward and embarrassed, she noticed Song Caitang smiling at her as though she was mocking her!

ARGH! Fu Xiuxiu stomped her foot. Her face was even redder and she was even more embarrassed, “Sis-in-law!”

Stop embarrassing yourself in front of so many people, will you?!

Madam Ji ignored her. She just continued gazing at Gao Zhuo and sounded like she had been wrongfully accused, “I wasn’t trying to disturb the peace…”

Gao Zhuo became frustrated when he saw the look on her face, “Mrs. Fu! You’re crying whenever the wind blows? You must be ill!”

Song Caitang nearly burst out laughing.

Crying whenever the wind blows? Gosh, Gao Zhuo made it sound really legitimate!

Not only did he turn it into something legitimate to save Madam Ji from embarrassing herself, but Madam Ge picked up on it immediately and added, “This illness is neither a very serious one nor a mild one. If left untreated, it can become a major illness. Luckily, I’ve brought my needles with me. Mrs. Fu, do you need me to take a look at you?”

Madam Ji’s eyes were slightly red and she gave them a look of disbelief, “The two of you…the two of you are ganging up against me!” She was getting angrier and angrier by the minute and words rushed out of her mouth before she had time to think, “You’ve fallen for him too, have you?!”

Madam Ge raised her voice, “Mrs. Fu, watch your words! My husband and I are a loving couple and everyone knows that! Besides, my sons are going to get married in just two years’ time – stop thinking that everyone is like you! Stop thinking that everyone has thoughts they shouldn’t have like you!”

“And do you dare to say that you don’t have even the slightest feelings for him?”

She had already said those things, so even though her face was red from shame, she gathered her courage to finish saying her piece, “If you don’t feel anything for him at all, why do you keep hanging around him? Why are you always helping him to keep his distance from me? Why do you know everything I’ve done? Do you dare to put your hand over your heart and swear that you don’t have even the slightest impure thought?”

Madam Ge was really angry now, “I did that because…”

“Enough! Stop arguing!”

“Women are all like that, they only know how to pine after the men of their dreams and have forgotten what they ought to be focused on!”

Another voice could be heard at the same time as Gao Zhuo’s. Song Caitang turned to look and her eyes lit up.

That was Coroner Sun and Prefectural Judge Guo!

Both of them were in the prefectural governor’s faction. Since they were here at this time and in such a manner, their arrival had to be arranged by the prefectural governor…

Governor Li was determined to crack the case today and blow this whole thing up!