Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 523 - 526: Attitude (Part 3)

However, without comparing to previous years, she dare not draw conclusions blindly!

For more than half a day, Xiqiu immersed herself in the thick accounting books, meticulously recording data from various places...

The Grand Dowager, with a sullen face, asked Nanny Wu: "Did he really say that?"

Nanny Wu also nodded with a gloomy expression: "The doctor indeed said so, claiming the medicine’s effects are so mild that they can’t be detected through the pulse. If he hadn’t spent several years in Miaojiang, he wouldn’t have known that once a woman consumed this medicine, a faint red line would appear on her abdomen due to blocked blood flow, which would only gradually fade after the woman’s cycle returns in a month!"

With a bang, the Grand Dowager slapped the tea table and squinted her eyes, saying: "Take Nanny Liu and have her detained first. Search her room thoroughly!"

Nanny Wu knew that, ever since the Tong Xihua affair, the Grand Dowager had become particularly sensitive to Miao medicine; even the few pieces stored in the warehouse were destroyed. Now, such harmful substances appeared again; how could she not be furious!

"Miaojiang, Miaojiang!" The Grand Dowager’s voice trembled with anger: "Investigate thoroughly; leave no stone unturned!"

"Yes!" Nanny Wu replied respectfully, lifted the curtain, and headed straight to Teng Qiuniang’s courtyard with Nanny Liu and the servant.

From afar, Zitan saw them, quickly turned around, and returned to the room. The Second Madam was reclining on the Imperial Concubine’s Couch, enjoying fresh plums sent by the Empress Dowager, exquisitely sour. Nanny Li sat beside her, detailing the Fourth Madam’s reactions. Seeing Zitan enter with a somber face, the Second Madam raised an eyebrow and asked: "What’s wrong, why are you so disheartened?"

"Madam!" Zitan glanced at Nanny Li. Knowing Zitan had something to say, Nanny Li got up to leave, but the Second Madam gestured for her to stay and said: "Speak, what is it!"

Zitan lowered her voice and pointed outside, replying: "I saw Nanny Wu and Nanny Liu leading the servants to the backyard."

The Second Madam was startled, sat upright, and Nanny Li quickly steadied her: "Take it easy, take it easy!"

"It’s nothing." The Second Madam furrowed her brow, waved her hand, and asked Zitan: "Are you sure they went to the backyard?" Zitan confirmed by nodding worriedly: "Madam... will Madam Teng say anything she shouldn’t?"

The Second Madam squinted her eyes and sneered: "I doubt she’ll dare." The matter of the Teng Family is far from settled!

"I’ll go look again." Zitan said, preparing to head out, but the Second Madam shook her head, stood up with Nanny Li’s help, and said: "Help me change clothes; we’re going to the Grand Dowager."

With an incident involving a concubine in the Second Madam’s quarters, it wouldn’t be reasonable for her not to appear as the main wife. Nanny Li and Zitan said no more, helped the Second Madam change clothes, and supported her to the Grand Dowager’s room.

Watching the Second Madam depart, Jinxiu quickly returned to her chamber, panting as she reported to Madam Shen: "Madam, the Second Madam is heading to the Grand Dowager’s room. Will she plead for Teng Qiuniang?"

"Ha..." Madam Shen squinted, filled with bitter hatred, and coldly laughed: "If she pleads, she wouldn’t be the Second Madam." She paused and continued: "I will ensure they pay dearly for my child’s life!"

Filled with hatred, Jinxiu couldn’t help but shiver, yet thinking of Madam Shen’s suffering made her heart ache, gritting her teeth: "Thank goodness the Grand Dowager will ensure justice, or else the young master would have died in vain because of them."

Madam Shen’s gaze gradually grew distant, recalling her poor days at her natal home, when she and her mother often went hungry. Despite bearing the Wuchang Count’s name, life was tough. Later, when the Old Madam Shen sought a virtuous woman from the clan, she was recommended by her uncles but said nothing, knowing that for her mother to have a better life, sacrificing her own purity was the only way.

She expected many wives and concubines in the household she’d go to, preparing herself mentally. Yet, arriving at Xuanning Marquis Mansion, she became the Marquis’s concubine.

Thinking of that breezy man, Madam Shen’s heart warmed.

Everything is fate, but her child was innocent!

She tightly clutched the quilt beneath her, full of hatred: "Teng Qiuniang, you won’t die peacefully!" She paused and told Jinxiu: "The Grand Dowager serves justice? She’s merely afraid Teng Qiuniang will use the same method to harm the Second Madam."

When comparing legitimate versus illegitimate, the Grand Dowager was naturally more concerned about her legitimate grandson.

In the afternoon, Xiqiu felt weary. Biwu came in from outside with a peculiar expression. Xiqiu raised an eyebrow and asked: "What’s wrong, what happened?"

"Madam Teng has been confined by the Grand Dowager; her courtyard is guarded inside and out, no one can enter or leave!" Biwu said, recalling the scene at the Second Madam’s courtyard with lingering fear: "Nanny Wu and Nanny Liu searched Madam Teng’s room thoroughly but found nothing. Yet, Madam Teng has been detained."

Hearing this, Xiqiu was stunned, asking: "What about the Second Madam, what’s her reaction?"

The miscarriage of Madam Shen was too suspicious. If before she was sure the Grand Dowager would investigate, now she was even more certain.

No matter the circumstances, Madam Shen was carrying the Xiao family’s bloodline, and given the difficulty of heirs, the Grand Dowager couldn’t allow anyone to harm them secretly. Furthermore, since the Second Madam is now pregnant, if that malicious person strikes again...

"The Second Madam is in the Grand Dowager’s room." Biwu replied.

Bihuai frowned, pondered briefly, and asked: "Do you know why the Grand Dowager confined Madam Teng?" Biwu nodded and whispered: "It’s said that Madam Shen’s child was harmed by Madam Teng, who secretly drugged her tea!"

Bihuai’s face changed: "The Grand Dowager found evidence, so she imprisoned Madam Teng?"

"Whether there’s evidence, I don’t know." Biwu hesitated and continued: "However, Madam Teng has confessed." Nanny Liu was a specialist in disciplining and dealing with those who broke rules in Xiao Mansion, her methods are numerous and terrifying. Biwu trembled at the rumors.

Bihuai was secretly alarmed and glanced at Xiqiu: "Madam, now that Madam Teng has confessed, according to mansion rules, she likely won’t be spared, right?"

Xiqiu was already reviewing the accounting books again, without raising her head: "It depends on the Second Madam’s attitude!"

What does it have to do with the Second Madam?

The few maids listened in bewilderment, unable to understand. Xiqiu just smiled and said no more, telling Biwu: "If you have spare time, don’t bother gathering information up front; instead, pay close attention to Qiuping’s movements with Wenyu."

More than Teng Qiuniang’s fate, she was concerned about the Second Madam’s attitude and Xing’s safety.

"Understood." Biwu answered, wanting to ask why to keep an eye on Qiuping but dared not, only mumbling as she left.

In the afternoon, Bihuai went to Housekeeper Hu’s place to get a list of frequent visitors to the mansion. Seeing the detailed list, Xiqiu was momentarily stunned; it was meticulously recorded, spanning three pages, arranged by frequency of interaction with the mansion, with Dongchang Bo Mansion, Count Chengyi, and Count Shouning on the first page, classified as frequent familial contacts.