tallest building

Chapter 85 Trial of Sang Er

“When Miss Sang Er asked me what I had come for, I told her.”

She said she needed my help with something, and knowing I was good at making velvet flowers, she asked me to make two petals for her as a template.

Since she had already asked, the servant girl thought it wouldn't be polite to refuse. Since it wouldn't take long anyway, she followed her into the room.

"During this time, did the food box ever leave your hands or your eyes?" Gong Xu asked her.

“I really didn’t think much about it. I put the food box on the table in the outer room and followed Sang Er into the room. I sat down and made flower petals for her. She said she wanted to pour me some tea, so she went to the outer room, brewed a cup of tea for me, and brought it in.”

After finishing the flower petal arrangement, I didn't even drink her tea; I went out and took the tonic soup to Aunt Song.

"Is everything you said true?" asked Madam Gong.

“How could I dare to lie? It is indeed true. When I entered Sang Er’s room, Mei’er and Mama Yu in the west courtyard both saw me. If you don’t believe me, you can ask them.”

"Do you know that someone laced that tonic soup with a potent abortifacient?" Gong Xu's eyes were icy cold, making Mei Zhi so frightened that she didn't dare to breathe.

"Second Master, I didn't know, I really didn't know!" Meizhi cried. "It was just delivering some tonic soup, how could it have harmed someone?"

"Don't cry yet. I'll call Sang Er over to confront you in a bit," said Madam Gong. "Just remember, no matter what, you must tell the truth."

"Has the Second Madam gone to sleep?" Mama Xu asked, leading a maid to Wen Mingqian's room.

"It's Mama Xu! Our young lady just returned from Aunt Song's place and hasn't rested yet!" Zhang Ma lifted the curtain. "Does the old lady have any instructions?"

"It was the old lady who sent us over to ask Miss Sang Er to come and question her," said Xu's mother.

"Is that Madam Xu?" Wen Mingqian asked from the inside. "Why don't you invite her in quickly?"

"It's me, but it's getting late, and I didn't want to bother you any longer, Madam Xu," Xu Mama said with a smile as she entered the house.

Wen Mingqian was indeed still awake, but he had already removed his hairpins and outer clothes.

"Please sit down, Madam Xu. Sang Er, please make a cup of tea," Wen Mingqian said very politely.

"No need for trouble, the old lady is already waiting for me to return!" Xu Mama said with a smile. "I was called here to ask Miss Sang Er, who serves the madam, to come and ask her some questions."

"Why do you want to call Sang Er over?" Wen Mingqian asked, puzzled.

"This old servant doesn't know either; he's just following orders."

“Since it is the old lady who wants to ask her, then let her go! I wonder if I should also go?” Wen Mingqian asked.

"Second Madam, there's no need for you to go over there. Please rest now! Miss Sang Er only needs to come with me," said Mama Xu hurriedly.

"Sang Er, you must go with Mama Xu properly. The old lady will ask you some questions. Behave yourself and don't make her angry," Wen Mingqian instructed, calling Sang Er's name.

“Yes, Madam.” Sang Er lowered her head, unlike her usual lively self.

Madam Xu brought Sang Er to the old lady's room. Seeing that Gong Rang and his wife, as well as Gong Xu, were all there, she hurriedly greeted them one by one, starting with the old lady.

"Kneel down, I have something to ask you." Old Madam Gong was no longer as kind as usual, and appeared very stern.

Sang Er immediately knelt down.

"I'm asking you, did you take Meizhi to your room today?"

"Yes...this servant asked Sister Meizhi to make two velvet flowers for me," Sang Er quickly explained, "but I didn't dare to delay too long." "I think making velvet flowers is a pretense; your real intention is to poison me, isn't it?" Old Madam Gong suddenly bluntly stated, "Aunt Song miscarried after drinking the bowl of soup that Meizhi brought her..."

Sang Er was shocked and shook her head, saying, "No! Madam, I didn't! I wouldn't dare!"

"If you don't dare, who does?! Meizhi only met you on this journey, and you even tricked her into the house, leaving the food box outside. Do you think everyone is stupid?!" Gong Xu finally couldn't hold back anymore.

“Master, I did invite Sister Meizhi into the room, but I didn’t poison her!” Sang Er cried out, “I didn’t have the guts.”

"Sang Er, if you don't want to suffer, just tell the truth," the old lady said, frowning. "It's the middle of the night, nobody has the time to waste with you."

"Madam, I'm innocent..."

"Qiaoyun, slap her!" The old lady had a maid who did rough work, and she was very strong.

Normally, if any servants offended the old lady, she would be the one to slap them.

Qiaoyun stepped forward and, without saying a word, slapped Sang Er several times, causing Sang Er's fair and tender face to swell up immediately.

If Song had a miscarriage, it would be equivalent to losing her life.

Such a serious matter cannot be questioned gently. While it may not lead to a confession through torture, a show of force must be given.

"I'm asking you again, what exactly did you do to that soup?!" Old Madam Gong raised her hand slightly, and Qiaoyun stopped.

"Madam...I...I didn't..." Sang Er covered her face, her words slurred.

“Let me tell you, if you tell the truth frankly, we really won’t torture you. Although you’re from a humble family, you’ve clearly never suffered hardship since childhood. Especially this little face of yours, it’s so beautiful. Alas, what a pity…” Old Madam Gong sighed. “Go and heat up a branding iron, and brand her face with it. If she’s truly innocent, let the Second Master adopt her as his goddaughter, and our household will raise her for the rest of her life, as atonement for today’s sins!”

"No! Madam, no!" Sang Er was clearly terrified, covering her face tightly.

"Speak up if you have something to say! Are you really going to wait until your face is ruined before you speak?" Mrs. Xu urged from the side. "The old lady just wants you to tell her the truth."

"I'll talk! I'll talk..." Sang Er broke down in tears, "Don't brand my face..."

But when she said that, Madam Gong did not relax at all; instead, her expression became even more gloomy.

Gong and his wife exchanged a glance, their expressions both troubled.

"This servant...this servant did put something in that bowl of soup..." Sang Er stammered, "but it was just...a little laxative, it wouldn't...wouldn't cause Aunt Song to miscarry..."

"Laxatives? Who told you that was a laxative? And who told you to put it in?" Gong Xu's hand pressed against the back of the chair, his veins bulging.

“Yes…yes…” Sang Er stammered.

"Speak quickly!" Gong Xu slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups on it rattle loudly.

Sang Er was startled and stammered, "It was Madam... it was Madam... who told me to put it down."

"As expected! That wicked woman!" Gong Xu roared in fury. "I must kill her!"

"Where are you going? Sit down first!" Old Madam Gong scolded, "What age are you? You're still shouting for violence at the drop of a hat."

"The matter is still not fully understood; we need to get to the bottom of things first," Gong Rang also said.

(End of this chapter)