Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 159 Who is the real suspect?

The maid could only retreat. Seeing Lu Jia approaching, she turned her gaze to Jiang Shi for help.

Jiang gritted her teeth and turned to look at Lu Jie, who had remained silent: "Why aren't you saying anything?"

Lu Jie looked back at her: "As I said before, the child has been wronged. Once the truth comes out, I will take care of her. Whether it is a servant who deceives his master or the instigator behind it, she can deal with it however she wants."

"Didn't Madam agree as well?"

Jiang was speechless. For so many years, Lu Jie had always listened to her, but she never expected him to respond to her like this at this moment.

After staring at him for a moment, Madam Jiang looked at Lu Jia, who had already forced the maid to stop.

Lu Jie also turned his gaze in that direction.

He truly hadn't expected Lu Jia to resort to such a drastic measure to remove Granny Du from under Jiang's nose; such a significant move was, in principle, impossible for her to accomplish.

Granny Du should be severely punished. Lu Jia didn't suggest punishing her severely, but instead proposed releasing her; Lu Jie knew what she was thinking.

But she ultimately overestimated Granny Du. Granny Du was just a servant; she could be taken down, but not allowed to set fires.

As long as she doesn't push Granny Du out at this moment, everything will be fine.

"You secretly took this jade last night and put it here, right?" Lu Jia on the other end had already started asking questions.

Although the jade was not taken by the maid herself, she was still a member of their main wife's family. What difference would it make if she denied that she put it there herself?
The maid gritted her teeth and remained silent.

Lu Jia continued, "So, starting from last night's banquet, you were all planning to frame me. But to frame me, you can't do it without Granny Du's cooperation. I ask you, where did you hide Granny Du?"

Upon hearing this, the maid was stunned.

Everyone in the main courtyard thought that Granny Du should be in the well, but she wasn't. Who could know where she went?
"A living person suddenly disappeared, and you actually told a huge lie, saying that you saw her fall into the well with your own eyes, and you insisted that I was the murderer. It seems that you are convinced that she is dead."
"Now that we can't find him, does that mean you killed her a long time ago and are now framing me?"

Lu Jia's next words not only made the maid panic again, but also gave Jiang Shi a sharp glint in her eyes.

She successfully cleared her name, catching them off guard, but now she's turning the tables on them?
That brat was really ruthless!
But if Du Mama wasn't at the bottom of the well, then where did she go?

We need to see him alive or dead; there has to be an explanation. A living person can't just disappear without a trace!

But if we can't find Granny Du, how will this matter end?
"Master, Madam, Du Mama's two sons have arrived and are waiting in the outer courtyard to take Du Mama home."

Just as Jiang was finding the situation troublesome, a servant from the outer courtyard hurriedly came over to report.

Everyone in the courtyard turned to look at her. They were her people, and she was the matriarch of the Lu family. Now that the Du family had arrived, how should she explain things to them? Shouldn't she be the one to give the order?
Jiang clenched her hands hidden under her sleeves, then looked at Su Zhixiao's family: "Have someone settle the two Du family sons in the outer courtyard first, and quickly lead people to search inside and outside until they are found!"

She didn't believe that Granny Du had simply disappeared. Whether she was dead or alive, she definitely couldn't have left the Lu family!

“The Lu family is so big, how long will it take to find them like this?” Lu Jia said. “My mother said before that she would not suddenly commit suicide, and what she said makes perfect sense.”

"She wouldn't commit suicide, so she certainly wouldn't disappear without a reason."

"Why don't we investigate first? What exactly happened last night? Who saw her? When was the last time someone saw her? Once we determine the approximate time of her disappearance, wouldn't the real suspects be those who saw her before she disappeared?"

At this point, she looked around at the crowd: "There must be someone among you who lives next door to Granny Du. Stand up and tell us, after she was beaten and went back to her room last night, who went to see her? Or who did she go to see?"

As soon as she finished speaking, many people turned their attention to Jiang.

Fuxiao stepped forward and said, "Reporting to Miss, many people saw that Madam went to Granny Du's room last night and talked for quite a while."

Jiang glanced at her, her gaze sharp.

Another old woman beside her snapped angrily, "How dare you! Are you trying to say that Madam did something unspeakable to Granny Du?"

“What is there that cannot be said?” Fuxiao straightened up. “I was merely responding to our young lady.”

"Besides, whether what I said is true or not, those who know the facts can judge for themselves. The truth cannot be hidden, and falsehood cannot be made true. If someone went, they went; if they didn't go, they didn't go. Why is Granny jumping up and down in such a hurry?"

"That makes you seem guilty."

The old woman blushed and was about to step forward when Lu Jie shouted, "Listen to the young lady's orders! Tell us who Granny Du saw after she returned to her room last night!"

The old woman immediately shut her mouth, lowered her head, and stepped back.

Jiang took a deep breath: "No need to ask anymore, I did go. But so what?"

She turned to look at Lu Jia and said, "Granny Du has been with me for decades. Even if she hasn't done anything great, she has certainly worked hard. Yesterday, your father wanted to expel her, so it's only reasonable for me to come and see her off before she leaves."

Lu Jia said, "Mother, you don't need to explain to me. I'm also trying to find someone so that you won't have trouble explaining to the Du brothers."

"Although she was a servant, she was still a human being. If the Du family takes her to the authorities, it will be detrimental to my mother's reputation."

"Mother, please don't waste your daughter's filial piety."

Jiang's face was cold and gloomy.

Just then, a servant from the outer courtyard rushed over: "Reporting to the master and madam, the Du brothers heard that Granny Du was beaten yesterday, and they insist on seeing her first."

"Fool!" Madam Jiang shouted, "Can't you just tell them that Granny Du still has some things to explain and that she can leave for now?"

The servants retreated tremblingly.

Jiang turned her gaze away and glared at Lu Jia again.

It's only just dawn, why is the Du family here so early?
It's fine if you arrive early, but why are you rushing me so much?
She would never believe it if no one went to inform her.

It's surprising that this girl is so skilled. It seems that she's the one who hid the missing Granny Du!

She didn't beat around the bush any longer: "Men, take some men and search the east side. Search every single courtyard on the east side thoroughly!"

Yixia Courtyard is just to the east. If this girl wanted to hide someone, she couldn't possibly have the ability to hide them somewhere else!