Chapter 261 - 259: Hidden Malice (First Update)

Chapter 261: Chapter 259: Hidden Malice (First Update)

Mr. Yao asked, "Have the servants living outside been investigated?"

Chief Manager Cao immediately replied, "Our household has a rule that anyone working here must live on the premises. If they need to go out or take leave, they must register. Some of those who reach the age to marry and have children are sent to the estate, and if they want to return to work here after having children, they must adhere to the household rules."

After all, servants are just ordinary people. Letting them live outside might lead to numerous issues, which could adversely affect the masters.

It’s easier to manage them by keeping them within the compound.

Many large families in the Western Capital handle it the same way.

Xu Jing looked at Mr. Yao and said, "Earlier, the people from the government office said they already questioned Xu San Niang, and she was very sure that she didn’t disclose much while she was at the Xu Family, right?"

Mr. Yao nodded, "Xu San Niang mentioned that her idea came only after the incident between the two children and Miss Xu on the street seven days ago. In those seven days, she only returned to the Xu Family twice, and the only time she mentioned that plan was four days ago. When they spoke to Young Master Xu about Mr. Xu and Miss Xu frequently visiting Baoyue Pavilion, she and Tanyun discussed this plan in a secluded part of the courtyard.

But they were very cautious and checked to ensure no one was around before speaking.

They never mentioned this plan outside the Xu Family and Wang Family premises.

The only people aware of her plan were Tanyun and the two guards who are currently missing."

"Xu San Niang has no reason to lie now. If, as she says, they confirmed no one was around before speaking, how did the kidnapper find out?"

Xu Jing pondered then suddenly arched her eyebrow, "I can only think of two possibilities: First, the kidnapper didn’t initially know what they were planning. They noticed their unusual behavior and stealthily observed them to figure it out."

Beside her, Xiao Yi glanced at her and said, "A person wouldn’t closely monitor someone else without reason. Besides, in the situation you described, that person wasn’t just secretly observing; they were likely stalking and surveilling Xu San Niang and her group, which is how they knew where they hid the two children."

Xu Jing nodded, "Correct. According to Xu San Niang, Tanyun found the location, but she confirmed it with her own eyes. Whether that person was following Xu San Niang or someone around her, they could know the location. As Vice Minister Xiao said, simply noticing some slight oddities wouldn’t warrant such stalking and surveillance. Therefore, the kidnapper was likely already observing Xu San Niang from the shadows."

Mr. Yao’s heart skipped, "You’re saying the kidnapper already had ill intentions towards Xu San Niang?!"

Xu Jing replied, "We can’t rule out that possibility. The kidnapper might have long wanted to gain something from Xu San Niang or intended to do something to her..."

Mr. Yao furrowed his brow, "I also had a thought earlier. What if those two guards or Tanyun unintentionally leaked information, or perhaps they betrayed Xu San Niang..."

After all, they were most familiar with Xu San Niang’s plan.

"This kidnapping involves the Wang Family’s direct descendant. If found out, the consequences are not something ordinary people can bear. Those two guards and Tanyun shouldn’t go around sharing this, given their unreliability. Xu San Niang wouldn’t have included them in the plan if they were so untrustworthy.

However, as a precaution, we should investigate the people around these three.

As for betraying Xu San Niang... we can’t rule that out either. Once the government officials return from searching the mountain, we might better understand what happened in that cabin."

They arrived at the cabin at night, and their observations by torchlight were limited.

Later, in their haste to investigate at the Xu Family and Wang Family, Jiang Shaobai left a small team of officials to continue searching Qiu Lin Mountain.

Xu Jing said, "I recall Mr. Yao mentioned that the Western Capital’s government office has an official skilled in footprint analysis. When the kidnapper fought with the guard at the entrance, there was blood, leaving some bloody footprints. A thorough analysis should reveal how many people were there at the time."

However, even if a third person was detected, it wouldn’t clear the three from suspicion of betrayal.

They might have colluded with someone outside, pretending to be the victim to clear their names.

As the saying goes, no possibility can be excluded during an investigation. Our task is to find ways to disprove those possibilities until we find one that cannot be disproven, which is the truth.

Mr. Yao proudly said, "Indeed, footprint analysis is Chief Fang’s specialty in our government office. He can uncover any trace left by the kidnapper, however small.

As it stands, the main suspects are those two guards, Tanyun, and the four currently not at the Xu Family."

Saying this, Mr. Yao turned to Chief Manager Cao, who was listening in confusion, and asked, "According to what you said earlier, among those four, three have returned to their hometowns. Where exactly are their hometowns?"

Chief Manager Cao hurriedly responded, "Mrs. Tao’s hometown is in a village called Willow Leaf Village just outside the Western Capital. It’s not far from here, a bit over an hour’s journey.

Guard Zhang’s hometown is further, in Baoding County of Qingzhou. Even by carriage, it takes a full day to get there.

As for Manager Yang, his hometown is even farther..."

As he spoke, he glanced at Xu Jing suspiciously, his tone becoming odd, "As you know, Fourth Young Lady is quite familiar with this, as Manager Yang and Mrs. Xu come from the same place."

Xu Jing was slightly taken aback, thinking of a possibility, and her eyes darkened slightly, "Are you referring to Manager Yang as Yang Quanfu?"

The same Yang Quanfu, who once cared for the main character like a father or elder brother before betraying the Xu Family and the main character.

Chief Manager Cao was about to grin smugly but suddenly felt a killing aura.

That aura unmistakably came from the handsome and authoritative man standing next to Xu Jing. Chief Manager Cao broke out in a cold sweat and quickly lowered his head, saying, "Fourth Young Lady is... correct."

Yang Quanfu was also implicated in this kidnapping case.

Xu Jing pondered for a moment, then spoke calmly, "You should address me as Miss Xu. I am no longer part of the Xu Family. I’m here now as a consultant for the Western Capital’s government office to assist in the investigation. If Chief Manager Cao continues discussing unrelated matters, it might lead to suspicions that you’re trying to obstruct the investigation."

Although her tone was calm, Chief Manager Cao’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat, and he almost knelt to prove his innocence, "That’s not the case! This concerns Young Master Xu’s safety; how could I possibly hinder the investigation!"

Xu Jing, unwilling to waste words with him, said, "What about Steward Dou? If he didn’t go back to his hometown, the most likely place he went is..."

Before she could finish speaking, a smart-looking young servant ran up from a distance, saying, "Chief Manager Cao! Steward Dou has returned!"

A short, stout man who appeared very honest quickly followed behind, and upon seeing the scene, he was so frightened that his legs almost gave out. Without waiting for Xu Jing and the others to ask any questions, he hurriedly said, "I... I went out for a bit in the afternoon, but I swear, Master Xu’s kidnapping has nothing to do with me!"

Mr. Yao stepped forward, asking, "Why did you go out in the afternoon?"

Steward Dou hesitated, and Mr. Yao lost patience after waiting a while, sternly saying, "At this point, you still dare to hide the truth? Someone, take Steward Dou back to the office for thorough questioning..."

"No, no, no, I’ll talk! I’ll talk!"

Steward Dou immediately knelt down, panicked, "I... I went to Gui Xiang House in the afternoon. Lady Huaiyu from Gui Xiang House can vouch for me..."

Chief Manager Cao was stunned, then became furious, "Lady Huaiyu is the top lady of Gui Xiang House! Where did you get the silver to visit Lady Huaiyu? Did you privately take the master’s possessions?!"

"I... I..."

"Enough! Take him away! The madam isn’t in the mood to deal with such sordid matters!"

Mr. Yao didn’t even glance at Steward Dou, who was dragged away wailing. He called an official, saying, "Go to Gui Xiang House and verify his claim."

Xu Jing then turned to Chief Manager Cao, asking, "These four, have they had any disputes with Xu San Niang?"