Though the Sheng residence covered less than a hundred acres, its population was sparse. With three daughters married off and the eldest son assigned to an external post, only Sheng Hong and his wife Madam Wang, along with several concubines, occupied the main courtyard. Changfeng and his wife lived in another wing, while Old Madam resided in the Longevity and Peace Hall. The three infants stayed with their respective elders.
As Changdong grew older, Sheng Hong allocated the small courtyard formerly belonging to Molan to him (altering Rulan or Minglan’s quarters would require Old Madam and Madam Wang’s approval). Many rooms remained vacant, making it easy for Minglan to find a secluded, seldom-visited spot for interrogation.
Dragged unceremoniously by two matrons for a considerable distance, Kang Yima arrived dazed at a row of houses she vaguely recalled as storage rooms. The matrons maneuvered her through several turns before shoving her into a small partitioned space inside. Kang Wangshi seethed with the urge to curse and strike them, but with her jaw dislocated and half her body numb, she could neither shout nor break free. As resentment boiled within her, she heard movement and looked up to see her archrival stroll calmly into the room.
Xiaotao placed a stool in the open space, and Minglan sat down gracefully. Several burly men dragged in four servant women from outside, forcing them to kneel in a row before Minglan. Their clothes were disheveled, faces and hands marked with scratches—clear signs of prior struggle. The foremost matron, fierce-tongued and restrained, spat angrily, "We are from the Kang Family! What does the young madam mean by this? Even if our mistress has disagreements with you, there’s no reason to take it out on us—"
Tu Hu slapped her hard across the face, roaring, "Speak only when spoken to!"
The matron’s cheek swelled instantly, and she gagged, spitting out a mouthful of blood mixed with several teeth. Tears welled in her eyes, while the other three servants trembled, too terrified to resist.
Minglan looked up and said, "Thank you, Master Tu the Second." This initial intimidation was effective; he indeed understood interrogation tactics.
Tu Hu nodded grimly, clasping his fists.
Minglan turned back and stated bluntly, "My family’s Old Madam has fallen ill—poisoned by your mistress. Today, I’ve invited you here to discuss this matter."
All four women paled dramatically—two genuinely shocked, two feigning surprise, their eyes darting nervously. Inside the partition, Kang Wangshi also turned ashen. These four were her trusted confidantes: two certainly knew about the poisoning, while the other two likely had vague suspicions.
After exchanging uneasy glances, a kinder-faced matron, encouraged by her companions’ looks, forced a smile. "Heavens! Surely the young madam is mistaken. How could our mistress commit such a grave—"
Tu Hu delivered another heavy slap, leaving the woman’s mouth bloody as she clutched her face, sobbing softly. With doors and windows shut tight, only slivers of light pierced the gloom, casting Tu Hu’s face in a ghastly, terrifying shadow. He coldly reiterated, "Did you not understand? Speak only when permitted."
The four women trembled like sieves, faces blanched, none daring to utter another word.
Minglan’s heart remained unyielding, utterly unmoved. "The Sheng family will confront your mistress. Thus, I trouble you all to speak. Share every detail related to this matter, however small. I will reward you handsomely afterward."The four women remained silent for a long while. After a lengthy pause, the youngest of them—who had been the calmest thus far—slowly straightened her back and declared proudly, "Madam has shown us immense kindness that we could never repay even with our lives! How dare you ask us to accept silver and falsely accuse her? Absolutely impossible!"
Minglan gently clapped her hands and smiled. "Well, well, what a loyal servant!" Then she raised her voice, "Guards, bring her in."
Two guards dragged in the half-dead Mother Qian and unceremoniously threw her to the ground. The four servant women glanced over and saw that several fingers on each of Mother Qian's hands were mangled and bloody, causing their hearts to pound wildly.
Tu Hu pointed at Mother Qian and said, "After pulling out four of her nails, she confessed everything."
Minglan said coldly, "The Sheng Family has been bullied to the extreme. Let me be frank: your Madam will not be returning..." Upon hearing this, Kang Yima inside the room was deeply shocked.
"If you are willing to speak truthfully, I will ensure you return unharmed and even reward you with silver to soothe your nerves. If not..." Minglan's tone shifted as she turned her head, "Master Tu the Second, don’t be too rough. It wouldn’t look good if they have to be carried out."
Tu Hu grinned broadly. "Don’t worry, Madam. I have plenty of ways to make them wish they were dead without leaving a mark on their skin."
The four servant women trembled in terror, nearly collapsing.
Just then, a low male voice came from outside: "Madam, we have returned."
Recognizing it as Tu Long's voice, Minglan quickly ordered the door opened. Tu Long and several other guards entered, carrying three squirming sacks over their shoulders. They threw the sacks heavily onto the floor, then bent down to untie the ropes at the openings, gradually revealing the people inside. Everyone in the room looked on and saw three individuals tightly bound with cloth stuffed in their mouths.
The young wife gasped, "Steward Qi! Second Steward Qi... Steward Song..."
Minglan smiled. "Master Tu, your skills are impressive. You returned so quickly."
Tu Long pointed at Steward Song and said, "I inquired a bit and found out this fellow is one of the most trusted men under the Kang Family's Madam. I decided to bring him along as well."
Following Minglan's instructions, Liu Kun's wife had gone to deceive them. She went straight to the gatehouse to find Mother Qi's two sons, claiming that Madam Wang had fainted, the Sheng Family was in chaos, and Kang Yima lacked enough trusted helpers, so she had been sent to fetch the Qi brothers for assistance.
The Sheng Family was wealthy and prosperous; during such turmoil, even a chance to skim a little profit was considered a good opportunity. Everyone was tempted, but Liu Kun's wife insisted that Kang Yima only wanted the most trustworthy individuals. With Tu Long and a few others disguised as Sheng Family servants putting on an act, they were easily fooled.
The moment the Qi brothers and Steward Song stepped outside, they were ambushed with sacks thrown over their heads and loaded into a carriage.
Minglan pointed at the three men and said to the four women, "If you won’t talk, they certainly will." Immediately, two of the older women exchanged glances, their expressions shifting uncertainly.
"Alright, you may go about your tasks," Minglan said indifferently, then turned to Tu Long. "Will one day be enough?"
Tu Long glanced at the cowering figures on the floor and chuckled. "Two or three hours will suffice. I guarantee they’ll spill everything!"
Minglan pointed at the proud young wife and said to Tu Hu, "Since she’s so loyal, please handle her personally, Second Master." The more loyal they were, the more they were likely to know.Tu Hu let out a hearty laugh and roughly lifted the woman up. "For your own wicked heart, poisoning a kind elderly person—pah! Even the lackeys of corrupt officials show some loyalty! Fine! Let’s see whether my methods are tougher or her bones are harder!"
The woman’s face turned ashen, contorted in agony, her lips tightly bitten. The others on the ground were terrified; one woman’s eyes rolled back as she fainted from fear. The guards then began dragging them out one by one.
Once the room was cleared, Kang Yima was pulled out of the small side room by two elderly maids. One of them reached out to reset Kang Yima’s jaw, while the other helped massage her to restore circulation. Minglan rose to her feet, watching with a faint smile.
Leaning against the chair, half of Kang Yima’s face was numb with pain. After a long moment, she rasped, "Well, I underestimated you! I never thought there’d be someone like you in the Sheng family. This time, I’ve lost!" She never imagined that what was meant to be a triumphant visit to claim victory would turn into a disaster, like throwing meat buns at a dog—never to return.
Minglan, who loathed her to the core, dug her nails into her palm. "You should have realized it the moment you sent your cousin to the Marquis’s residence."
Kang Wangshi trembled with rage, filled with hatred and regret—hatred for how formidable her opponent was, and regret for not being more cautious. She had considered the consequences if she were discovered, but she had calculated that Madam Wang would be the first suspect, followed by herself, and then a round of questioning and disputes… It should have taken at least a day or two to unfold.
Yet, in just one night, this wretched girl had acted so swiftly and meticulously, seizing the initiative at every turn—kidnapping, deceiving, and stopping at nothing. It was utterly audacious, catching her completely off guard.
This was no sheltered young lady from a noble family—she was like a seasoned, ruthless official! Who could have predicted it?!
"Don’t think you’re something special just because you’ve captured a few servants!" Kang Wangshi spat bitterly. "Confessions under torture won’t convince anyone! If you want me to confess, dream on! Go ahead, torture me! Let’s see how you’ll explain this to the Wang and Kang families!"
Minglan chuckled softly. "Who said I want your confession? Whether you confess or not is irrelevant."
Kang Wangshi was taken aback. "You don’t want my confession? Then what do you plan to do with me?"
"Whether you did it or not, we both know the truth." Minglan’s expression darkened as she spoke slowly. "I only hate that I’ve been too restrained, bound by consideration for my siblings’ feelings and the Sheng family’s upbringing. If I could cast everything aside, I’d simply give you Three Cuts and Six Holes, hang you upside down from the beam to slowly bleed out, make you suffer excruciating pain until you die, then stuff you in a sack and toss you into the mass graves to be devoured by dogs!"
A chill ran down Kang Wangshi’s spine, and fear gripped her. She sneered, "Fine! Once I’m gone and the rest are silenced, my sister will be in the clear. How filial you are to your legal mother!"
Minglan raised an eyebrow. "Who said I’m letting her off?" As for Kang Wangshi’s accomplices who were in the know, she wouldn’t need to lift a finger—someone else would be more eager to silence them.
Kang Wangshi stared blankly, then burst into hysterical laughter. "Hahaha! Foolish sister, oh foolish sister! You thought by betraying me, you’d escape unscathed! You have no idea you’ve raised a wolf cub…!"
Minglan had no desire to listen to her ravings any longer and calmly ordered, "You two matrons, proceed."Two maidservants obeyed the order and immediately retrieved a bundle of fabric from a large cloth bag on the floor. With a gentle shake, it unfurled into a half-foot-wide, over ten-zhang-long strip of coarse gray-black cloth. Kang Yima panicked at the sight and scrambled to flee, but one of the maidservants seized her and pinned her down onto a chair.
Without pause, the two began wrapping the cloth around her—left and right, back and forth. The wide strip first bound her limbs and torso flatly, then continued winding around her and the chair together, finally securing her to a pillar. Dozens of layers were wrapped around her.
Kang Yima was firmly tied to the chair, her back pressed against the pillar, her entire body resembling a silkworm cocoon. The coarse cloth was exceptionally sturdy; she couldn’t even move a finger. In alarm, she cried out, "What are you trying to do? You... you wouldn’t dare torture me?!" Though her voice was loud, her heart trembled with fear.
Minglan looked left and right with satisfaction. "On the contrary, I’m afraid Aunt might do something rash and harm herself." If this wretched woman were to desperately dash her head or injure herself, the next act of the play would be hard to stage.
She turned and smiled. "Thank you for your hard work, nannies. The methods of the Wang residence are truly impressive."
One of the maidservants replied, "This trick originally came from the palace, specially used to handle unruly nobles and prevent them from suicide or self-harm."
Furious and flustered, Kang Yima opened her mouth to scream again, but the maidservant beside her swiftly stuffed a rag into her mouth, silencing her completely.
Minglan nodded and instructed, "Give her some broth every hour or two. No need for solid food. Let her relieve herself as she will." As long as she didn’t dehydrate, going hungry for a day was nothing.
The two maidservants acknowledged the order, then escorted Minglan out. Two guards were left at the door to keep watch, allowing the maidservants to take turns resting.
By noon, kitchens and servants throughout the estate were bustling. Under Madam Wang’s strict supervision, no one dared utter an extra word or approach the rear row of houses. Madam Wang, both frightened and anxious, retreated to her room, groaning and moaning. Only Hai Shi remained busy, managing household affairs while preparing resting places and meals for the marquis’s retinue.
Prudent by nature, Hai Shi didn’t ask a single question about the strange events that had begun the previous night. Treating the sudden arrival of numerous guards as if they were household guards brought by her sister-in-law for a visit, she maintained an amiable, gentle, and refined demeanor.
After a long stretch of work, as the sun began to set, she returned to her room to have a meal. A maidservant who had been waiting inside hurried over, leaned close to Hai Shi’s ear, and whispered, "The person has been sent out."
Hai Shi breathed a sigh of relief but asked cautiously, "Were they the Huangfeng steeds brought from my maiden family?"
The maidservant replied, "Rest assured, madam. Each rider has two horses to alternate. They can cover the distance in half a day."
Hai Shi clasped her hands together and murmured a prayer. "Heaven bless us. With this sudden trouble at home, I only hope the master arrives quickly!"
...
That day, the Sheng residence was unusually quiet. From a secluded row of houses at the back, faint cries and pleas drifted along the wind, barely audible as they reached the western compound.
Changfeng craned his neck to peer out the window, muttering to himself, "Why has it been silent for so long?"Madam Liu sat on the bed, gently teasing the child as she looked up and said, "My husband is truly amusing—restless when there are noises, yet still concerned when there's silence."
Changfeng let out a bitter laugh, walking over to sit by the bed. "My heart feels as if it's being scratched by a cat."
"I'm afraid they've already interrogated and found out." Madam Liu tucked the swaddling cloth tighter, picking up their daughter to soothe her, and whispered, "Husband, don't overthink it. The less we know about this matter, the better. Up to now, Father hasn't said a single word to you, which likely means the same."
The little baby made soft cooing sounds, her pink, chubby hands waving about, her big eyes fixed intently on her father. Changfeng's heart swelled with affection and tenderness as he reached out to take her, murmuring softly, "You're right, my dear."
...
As the sun set and the moon rose, the night passed, and the sky began to lighten faintly at dawn. An elderly woman hurriedly ran to the Longevity and Peace Hall, whispering a few words to Mama Fang. Mama Fang then approached the inner room's doorway and said, "Miss, the Wang Family has sent people."
Minglan rose from the reclining chair, stretching lazily. "Did the Kang Family not send anyone?" Even more intriguing.
Mama Fang replied in a low voice, "The Kang Family only sent Young Master Jin, but the Wang Family has come with quite a few."
Minglan walked to Old Madam's bedside and saw that her complexion was gradually losing its pallor, showing a hint of color, which eased her heart. Feeling uplifted and full of energy, she raised her voice, "Help me change my clothes."
Recalling the news Xiaotao had brought the previous night, her voice carried a hint of laughter. "And help my dear aunt change her clothes as well."
Let her spend the night covered in filth—first to vent some anger, and today we'll settle this with her.
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