Chapter 176 - 174: A Death That Makes Perfect Sense (Part 1)

Chapter 176: Chapter 174: A Death That Makes Perfect Sense (Part 1)

The Young Madam Jiang’s cold, cutting gaze suddenly shifted onto Xin Zhiwan, who felt a shiver in her heart. Although her sister-in-law was from the Jiang Family, she wasn’t particularly spoiled. Over the years, due to Little Snowball’s death, she hadn’t shown Xin Zhiwan any kindness, but simply ignored her. Yet she had never looked at her like this.

With a mocking curve at the corner of her mouth, the Young Madam Jiang said, "Who said there were no bees? Soon, I’ll show you the bees! But before that, I want to ask Zhiwan, who encouraged you to draw that picture of Little Snowball?"

Everyone’s faces changed; they knew about Xin Zhiwan’s picture of Little Snowball that had upset the Young Madam Jiang. Even Lady Huaiyin had harshly scolded Xin Zhiwan, but seeing the Young Madam Jiang had no intention of pursuing the matter, they were content to let it go lightly.

No one expected her to bring it up at this moment.

Lady Huaiyin couldn’t help but say, "Yanxia, didn’t you say that matter was settled? I have already scolded Wan’er for it!"

The Young Madam Jiang looked at Lady Huaiyin with an expressionless face, "I initially said it was settled because I thought it was just a childish prank. Later, I discovered that Zhiwan may have been utilized by someone with ill intentions."

Xin Zhiwan’s face turned pale as she subconsciously glanced at Lady Hua beside her. Lady Hua suddenly bit her lip, timidly stepped forward, and said, "I, I admit, I’m related to Zhiwan drawing that picture, but, but I didn’t intend to use Zhiwan for anything! Back then, when I was chatting with Zhiwan, we were talking about the pets we had as children. Zhiwan said she had a kitten named Little Snowball, which was very cute. I said I wanted to see what Little Snowball looked like, so Zhiwan drew the picture to show me. I truly had no other thoughts!"

Xin Zhiwan also hurriedly said, "That’s exactly how it was. Later, when showing the picture to my sister-in-law, it was my idea alone, it has nothing to do with Zhiwan! If someone is to blame, blame me!"

Xu Jing, standing behind the Young Madam Jiang, couldn’t help but silently smile.

This Xin Siniang, being completely used as a pawn without realizing it.

Even if she hadn’t originally intended to show that picture to the Young Madam Jiang, Lady Hua would have insinuated her into doing so.

Seeing their "sisterly affection," the Young Madam Jiang’s smile became even more mocking, "Fine, let’s say showing me the picture was your decision alone. To specifically choose to paint Little Snowball playing in this corridor, it couldn’t have been just your idea! I’m certain, Lady Hua must have encouraged you during the painting process! And her purpose was to make me recall the tragic state of Little Snowball’s death, so that, like before, I wouldn’t dare walk through this corridor again!"

Xin Zhiwan looked at her in astonishment, unable to find words for a moment.

She... wasn’t wrong. When she painted Little Snowball, it was Zhiwan who mentioned, "I heard Little Snowball often played in the corridor leading to the old lady’s room," which prompted her to decide to paint Little Snowball in the corridor.

But what does this have to do with Zhiwan trying to harm her?!

The Young Madam Jiang continued, "If I don’t walk through that corridor and want to go to the old lady’s courtyard, I’d have to go through the outer yard. Coincidentally, Liu Da, who is in charge of that area, has been on sick leave for diarrhea these past two days; it’s suspiciously coincidental!"

Xin Lei was taken aback and said in disbelief, "Do you mean to say the bees are in the yard?"

"Impossible!"

Lady Huaiyin quickly said, "Liu Da has only been on sick leave for two days. Even if bees came to build a nest, how could they possibly do so in just two days..."

"Mother, don’t you have any idea what Liu Da’s daily work is like?"

The Young Madam Jiang coldly interrupted her. At this point, she had no intention of sparing her any dignity.

"Liu Da usually loves to skimp on his duties. Although he’s good at keeping up appearances, in places where the naked eye can’t see, he might only tidy up once every ten days or half a month! My husband wasn’t wrong— I’m saying the bees are in the outer yard, in the furthest corner of that elm tree, where a new beehive has been built! Since it’s normally covered by leaves, you can’t see it unless you get close.

I don’t know whether this beehive is Lady Hua’s handiwork, or if she discovered it by chance, but the result is clear—"

The Young Madam Jiang looked at Lady Hua with a sneer and said sharply, "You clearly intended to use that beehive to kill me secretly and without anyone’s awareness!

If I hadn’t discovered the subtle clues today and walked into the adjacent yard wearing the step-shaking ornament scented with beeswax, Lady Hua would only need to find a way to disturb that beehive from a distance, either by throwing a small stone or using a slingshot to hit the beehive, the bees inside would be startled and swarm out. At that time, I would be their living target!"

Those with some common sense know that the scent of beeswax is extraordinarily attractive to bees, and bees’ sense of smell far exceeds that of humans. Even a faint scent of beeswax on the step-shaking ornament can be detected by them.

It’s truly an elaborate and painstaking scheme.

Xu Jing looked coldly at Lady Hua, who was panic-stricken in the distance, having some admiration for her.

Her thoughts are so careful that even with Liu Da’s habitual laziness, she wasn’t relieved and somehow managed to make him ’sick’.

Liu Da didn’t need to be ’sick’ for long; the Young Madam Jiang’s health had already improved over these two days. It was estimated that by tomorrow or the day after, she’d be able to pay her respects to her elders, smoothly stepping into her death trap.

Although bee stings don’t necessarily lead to death, the Young Madam Jiang had just recovered from a serious illness; her vitality wasn’t fully restored yet. Being stung by a swarm of bees would likely frighten her to death. Then, when her condition became critical, the application of some small tricks would make the Young Madam Jiang’s ’death’ seem so natural and justified.

Everyone would think it was just an accident, not realizing it was her conspiracy.

Everyone looked incredulous, Xin Lei’s face slightly darkened, and he immediately called his long-term follower, "Shuangquan, go to the elm tree in the yard right away and see if there’s really a beehive!"

The long-term follower responded and quickly walked over. Soon, his voice was heard from the yard, "Princely Heir, there, there really is! And the beehive isn’t small!"

Everyone slightly widened their eyes, taking a cold breath.

It turned out to be true!

A maid beside the old lady couldn’t help but say, "I told you, whenever passing by that path lately, I’ve always seen one or two bees. But with many flowers still blooming in the courtyard during early autumn, I didn’t think much of it..."

After all, who would have thought, in the Marquis Huaiyin’s Mansion with so many gardeners, there would be such a significant threat!

The always composed old lady couldn’t stay calm anymore, her face completely sank, "Yao, what’s going on here! Is what Yanxia said true?!"

"I, I didn’t! Old Lady, please believe me, I really didn’t! The Marquis Huaiyin’s Mansion kindly took me in, I’m grateful beyond measure, how could I do such a harmful thing!"

Lady Hua shook her head desperately, her eyes red, appearing extremely pitiful as she said, "As Zhiwan mentioned, the Young Madam’s medication was handled by people around her. How could I have done anything? And during the Young Madam’s illness these few days, I only entered the Young Madam’s room when accompanying Zhiwan to visit her. When would I have taken the chance to steal the Young Madam’s hairpin or tamper with the remaining step-shaking ornament..."

The Young Madam Jiang was already uninterested in watching her final struggles, closed her eyes, and said, "Indeed, you didn’t have the opportunity, because you bribed one of my maids to do it! Today, I will clean house.

Jingshui, your new master is already so embarrassed, yet won’t you stand up and say something on her behalf?!"

Upon hearing their Young Madam say Lady Hua bribed someone on her side, Jing Dan and Jingyi were shocked. When the Young Madam mentioned Jingshui by name, they couldn’t help but abruptly turn their heads, staring incredulously at the bewildered Jingshui.