Chapter 2419 - 2393: The Search

The County Magistrate Tang followed Madam Tang back to the main courtyard. As soon as they entered the room, the maids lined up to greet them. He spotted Xia He and Xia Cao immediately and knew that Madam Tang was about to do something. He let out a sigh of relief, turned, and went into the inner chamber to change out of his official robe into casual clothes...

Madam Tang saw him enter and turned to Xia He and Xia Cao, asking, "Why have you come together? Who is taking care of Rui Le?"

Xia He started, quickly replying, "Aunt Ma and the others are attending to her. The lady is not yet awake. If Madam is concerned, I will return immediately."

The lid of the cup Madam Tang was holding fell onto the cup with a clang, startling Xia He and Xia Cao. This also made Lord Tang jump in surprise, then he curiously pricked up his ears to listen.

Madam Tang said, "You are Rui Le’s dowries maid, meant to be her closest confidant. Even if I didn’t say, you should always be by her side. Yet, as soon as I called, you both came over?"

Xia He and Xia Cao turned pale with fright and promptly knelt down to admit their guilt.

Madam Tang waved her hand, instructing the maids to take them away for inspection.

Xia He and Xia Cao were bewildered and shocked, their faces blank as they had no idea what was going to be inspected. When they were taken to the side room to undress, they were scared to death, holding tightly onto their collars and refusing to let go.

Yun Cao walked in briskly from the outside, pushed Xia Cao backward and onto the bed, partially pinning her down as she said, "Are you foolish, trying to resist our Madam? Look who’s in this room. They’re respected ladies from our family. If you don’t comply, the coarse servant women might come in later, and they won’t know to handle you gently."

Xia Cao couldn’t help but cry and said in panic, "Cousin, what are you all going to do? At least give us some explanation. How can you simply start by stripping someone?"

Yun Cao replied, "How would I know what they’re going to do? It’s Madam’s orders, but don’t worry, we won’t harm you. You know our Master and Madam, don’t you? Every household in the city has a few concubines among the couple, right? You’re in Miss Man’s room, so no trouble will come to you. Just undress and let us see."

Xia Cao was still confused, whereas Xia He vaguely understood something. She shook her hands to loosen her belt, but the shaking prevented her from undoing it, and she managed to tie it in a dead knot.

The maid who had been standing with a stern face by the side finally relaxed, stepped forward to grab the belt, and swiftly untied it.

After the inspection was over, Yun Cao, with puffy eyes, returned to the room with two maids. Most of the people inside had retreated; at present, there were only Lord Tang and Madam Tang sitting together drinking tea.

Lord Tang had just taken a sip of his tea; when he saw them enter, he put down the teacup and looked at Madam Tang.

Madam Tang pondered with a somber expression for a moment before nodding and saying, "You may leave first."

Lord Tang raised an eyebrow, "I thought Madam wanted me to help you with a case, to be your voice for justice."

Madam Tang replied sternly, "There will be times when you’re needed."

Lord Tang raised his eyebrows and then got up to leave.

Once he left the courtyard, he let out a breath and waved for a maid to come over, asking, "What time did Madam come back today?"

The maid bowed her head and said, "She returned before 1 p.m."

"Was Miss Man with her?"

"Yes, along with Assistant Doctor Liu and Third Lady from the Zhou Family."

Lord Tang rubbed his chin—arrived before 1 p.m., now it’s already 7 p.m. Checking for an illness shouldn’t take more than a quarter of an hour, yet they took an hour and a half. That is not a short time.

Yun Cao knelt down and said, "...Xia Cao has three injuries on her body—apart from being kicked, there are many whip marks. Xia He’s injuries are more extensive; above the wrist, the wounds layer upon layer, so that the original skin is almost unrecognizable."

Madam Tang was furious, slammed the table, and asked, "What did they say?"

"Xia Cao only cried; Xia He said she needs to ask what Madam means before speaking."

Madam Tang tightly pursed her lips, feeling slightly relieved, though her hand felt burning pain.

With a grim face, she said, "Bring them over here."

Xia He and Xia Cao had their clothes back on, but their faces pale as if they might faint at any moment. They knelt down as soon as they entered the room.

Seeing them wilt upon entering, Madam Tang felt anger towards their incompetence and reprimanded them, "Kneeling there, whom do you think you’re impressing? Get over here!"

The two then moved forward on their knees, kneeling in front of Madam Tang.

Madam Tang lifted their chins and asked, "Tell me, how many times has your Madam had miscarriages, and how did they happen?"

The pair turned pale, trembling all over without uttering a word.

Madam Tang snorted coldly, releasing their chins, "Why? Hiding for the Ma Family, offering them loyalty—what good can they do for you?"

Xia Cao seemed boneless, collapsed onto the ground, completely limp. Xia He, though slightly stronger, also shook unable to string together a coherent sentence. Despite this, she stammered, "Madam, how, how do you intend to inquire?"

Madam Tang asked in a composed voice, "What do you mean by that?"

Xia He’s tears began to flow in streams. But with the first words out, she was less afraid, stammering shakily, "Since Madam knows, will she lead our lady out, out of misery? Or, or will she ask our lady to endure it again? If the Ma Family knows, they will beat her even worse..."

Madam Tang’s vision blurred; she gripped Xia He’s shoulder tightly, "What do you mean by that, did the Wang Family know?"

Xia Cao still lay trembling on the ground, crying.

Xia He, with white lips, nodded slightly and trembling mouth asked, "Second Madam said that husband and wife fight at the head of the bed and make up at the foot. Our lady, Miss Man, was barely home for two days before Second Madam had her sent back. The master then poured wine on her head, calling her lowly, saying if she was capable, she wouldn’t return. Without being fetched, she came back..."

Madam Tang, enraged, swept the cups and saucers off the table, grinding her teeth, muttering "Ms. Cui!"

These two words seemed to open the hearts of the two maids, and they both broke down. Xia He even looked to the sky and wailed heartbrokenly. Rushing forward to embrace Madam Tang’s legs, she cried uncontrollably, "Miss Man, Miss Man, our lady suffers! Second Madam, she is not human! She is not human! Our lady wants to see the Old Master, wants him to stand up for her. Second Madam said the family livelihood is getting tougher, and how could they bother Old Master with such trivial matters. Without even letting Second Old Master see, they sent our lady back. The Ma Family originally had only a bit of courage, but it suddenly inflated twelve-fold. That beast hasn’t treated our lady like a person ever since..."