jdhmnovel Chapter 247 The Wife is Cold-Hearted by Nature (10)
Chapter 247 The Wife is Cold-Hearted by Nature (10)
“Master, a few people claiming to be your aunts have come to the door, making a scene and demanding to see you. We can’t get rid of them.”
"Oh! Interesting. I almost forgot about that. People, go and take a look."
As she spoke, Qingmo took the lead and headed towards the gate of the mansion, with Bao Yi and the others following behind.
As Qingmo approached, she heard a commotion outside the mansion gate.
A middle-aged woman shouted loudly, "Fellow villagers, come and see! This niece has become rich now and doesn't recognize us poor relatives anymore. She actually stopped us, her own aunts, at the gate of her house and didn't even invite us in for a cup of tea. What a terrible thing to do!"
Another person added, "Sigh, back then, seeing that they were a widow and an orphan, we aunts all helped them out. I never thought that now when we come to ask for a cup of tea, they won't even welcome us. The world is going to the dogs."
Qingmo smiled mockingly and walked up to the group.
After standing still, she spoke calmly and slowly: "What brings you here today, my aunts? Are you here to return the property you seized from my family after my mother's death? If so, I will certainly welcome you with open arms. But if you come to cause trouble and make a scene, don't blame me for being impolite."
Upon hearing this, the women showed a hint of guilt on their faces.
One of them forced a smile and said, "We, as your aunts, just wanted to see how you are doing since we haven't seen you in so long."
Qingmo sneered: "Is that so? But I'm not very welcoming to my aunts. After all, they took a lot of family property from my family, forcing my father to sell a small portion of the family property and move me to the old house. Since you've come again today, just say what you want. If there's nothing else, then I won't see you off."
At this moment, the onlookers began to point and whisper again. The women's faces were ashen, but their aura remained strong, and they continued to speak with righteous indignation.
The eldest aunt said, "Qing'er, before your mother passed away, she had a very good relationship with us sisters. She even said that you would take good care of us and take care of us in our old age. Now, your aunts just want you to help out. You wouldn't go against your mother's last wishes, would you?"
Second Aunt: "Yes, yes, your mother is our youngest sister. We all doted on her when she was little. Now that we're old, your niece should repay her mother's kindness, right?"
Qingmo clapped lightly, her eyes full of sarcasm: "What a show of sisterly affection. But how come I remember that when Mother was alive, you were always fighting each other? So how can you say you have a good relationship? As for Mother's last wish, I think what she would have liked to see more was that you return what you once stole."
Upon hearing this, the murmurs grew louder. The aunts were somewhat flustered.
The aunt hurriedly exclaimed, "You child, how can you be so unfilial, slandering your elders with empty words?"
Qingmo remained unmoved: "Since that's the case, let's go to the officials to settle this matter, so that everyone can know who is right and who is wrong."
When the aunts heard that they were going to find the authorities, they immediately looked frightened. They knew all too well that the shameful things they had done back then could not withstand scrutiny.
Aunt's eyes darted around, and she knelt down with a thud, crying out, "Niece, we were forced to do this because we're really starving. Please help your aunts out!"
Seeing this, the other aunts also knelt down, as if they wouldn't leave until Qingmo paid them.
Qingmo looked at the farce unfolding before her, feeling utterly disgusted.
He sneered, "I had no idea my aunt's family was in such dire straits that I had to take care of her? Perhaps all my cousins are dead, and I have to support their mother? Why don't I write a lawsuit on behalf of my aunts and go to the yamen to seek justice?"
"No, no, no, that's not necessary..."
The women started acting pitiful and throwing tantrums again, but Qingmo remained unmoved. Seeing this, the women knew they wouldn't get any more benefits and could only slink away.
With the excitement over and the crowd dispersed, Qingmo sneered inwardly.
In the original owner's memories, these so-called relatives had bullied her and her orphanage countless times, and now they were trying to take advantage of her, which was utterly ridiculous.
"Baoyi."
He summoned Bao Yi, whispered a few words in her ear, and then Qingmo went out to drink and have fun.
Sure enough, Xiao Fengxian in that brothel is no wonder she's the top courtesan; her singing is really good, and Qingmo often goes to support her.
A few days later, Bao Yi came back to report that the matter had been completed and that he had brought back a large sum of money, which Qingmo had pocketed.
Tsk tsk tsk! Sure enough, her good aunts are all greedy. They clearly don't lack money, but they still have their eyes on her. No wonder she's ruthless.
"Master, those two constables have come to the door again."
"Let's go and have a look."
It was half an hour later when Qingmo leisurely made her way to the front hall.
Zhang Ying and Zhou Yue didn't look too good. They had already drunk several cups of tea before Xie Qing finally arrived, which showed how arrogant he was.
Zhou Yue said unhappily, "Hmph, is Madam Xie disrespecting the officials? We came here to investigate a case, and you are so negligent. You are far too arrogant. Why don't you come with us to the yamen?"
Zhang Ying also felt that Qingmo was being rude, so she did not speak to stop Zhang Ying, but simply lowered her head and drank her tea in silence.
Qingmo ignored Zhou Yue and went straight to the main seat to sit down before saying, "Zhou, you're making a mountain out of a molehill. You didn't notify me in advance that you were coming. I have my own things to do. Do you expect me to stay here all day waiting for you two to come knocking?"
"Hmph, that's just sophistry." Zhou Yue was extremely disdainful of Qingmo's rebuttal, and her attitude was even more hostile.
At this moment, Zhang Yingcai stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "Alright, Zhou Yue, say less. Madam Xie is so busy with her affairs, she doesn't have time to entertain us two lowly yamen runners."
Qingmo raised an eyebrow but did not answer. These two lowly yamen runners really take advantage of her kindness.
Zhang Ying then added, "Thank you, Madam. I've come here today for a major case, and it's also related to you."
"Oh! Zhang, you may speak freely. I am all ears."
Zhang Ying: "Two days ago, I received a report that 186 members of your Xie clan, regardless of age, were murdered in their homes, and all their money was looted. I wonder if Madam Xie is aware of this?"
Qingmo's face showed a look of shock at the right moment, but she didn't show much emotion. She said calmly, "Is this true? I don't know, and I haven't heard any reports from the servants. After all, when my father took me away from the clan, the two sides had no contact anymore."
Zhang Ying: "I am aware of this matter, but I heard that some of your aunts came to see you some time ago, but you turned them away. Not long after they went back, this murder occurred. Xie Niangzi is indeed a strong suspect."
Qingmo shrugged indifferently, "The innocent are innocent. I have no conscience about what I did. Since all the money has been stolen, it may be the work of bandits. Sir, you should solve the case as soon as possible. Otherwise, this shocking case will cause panic among the people, which would be bad."
Zhou Yue: "Hmph, I think this matter is probably related to you. Why don't you come with us to the yamen for a trial, and the truth will come out naturally."
Qingmo: "Officer Zhou, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. How can you frame Xie without any evidence and arrest him? Are you trying to force a confession? You can't solve the case, so you're using me as a scapegoat? Has the law become so lawless under the emperor's nose?"
“You…” Zhou Yue’s face was so angry that the veins on her face bulged.
"Alright, Zhou Yue."
After scolding Zhou Yue, Zhang Ying turned to look at Qing Mo.
She said, word by word, "The net of heaven is vast, its meshes are wide, yet nothing escapes it. Heaven is watching what people do. We have no evidence now, but we hope that when we find it, Lady Xie's mouth will still be so stubborn. Zhou Yue, let's go."
The three parted on bad terms. Qingmo squinted at their retreating figures without saying a word.
Bao Yi: "Master, these two filthy yamen runners are courting death, repeatedly coming to provoke us. Perhaps..."
Qingmo tapped her fingertips lightly on the table and said in a slightly cold voice, "No rush, let's talk about it later. Let's send their families down too, it's not good to separate a family by death."
"Yes, Master is kind and wise."