"You go back and see what other items are missing..." Bai Qingyan looked at the inner clothes in Chun Tao’s hand. "Give me these inner clothes first!"
Chun Tao bit her lip, got up, handed the inner clothes to Bai Qingyan, and left the main room.
Dong Qingyue sat steadily like a mountain, without any expression, completely leaving the handling to Bai Qingyan.
Madam Dong understood Bai Qingyan’s intention, picked up the teacup in her hand, and asked casually, "Since you said these inner clothes were left by Chun Tao at your place, has Chun Tao given you other tokens of love? It’s unlikely that Chun Tao has been in Dong Mansion for only a few days and already reached the point where she can’t hold back her feelings for you."
Luo Fugui hurriedly said, "There are no other tokens of love, but Chun Tao did express her admiration for me and wanted to marry me. I dare not deceive Madam Dong; these inner clothes weren’t left by Chun Tao. I hid them secretly because I was afraid she’d deny taking advantage of me."
Mrs. Cui sneered. "Chun Tao is the only close maid the Princess of Zhen brought to Dengzhou. Chun Tao serves her almost every day. I wonder when Chun Tao had the time to meet you."
Luo Fugui seemed to be waiting for someone to ask him when he met Chun Tao, and he quickly said, "It was on August 20th. That day, the Princess of Zhen went to Lord Dong’s study, and Chun Tao called Qiu Huan to fetch me. As soon as I arrived... Chun Tao seduced me."
Nanny Wang’s heart sank. She thought that her niece might have indeed collaborated with Luo Fugui in some scheme against Bai Qingyan’s maid.
Bai Qingyan’s eyes narrowed. Qiu Huan...
That day, Chun Tao told Bai Qingyan that Qiu Huan tricked her by pretending to be summoned by Nanny Wang and took her to a secluded place, sending away the two maids who were following, and knelt down to apologize to Chun Tao.
Holding Chun Tao’s inner clothes, Bai Qingyan said with a faint smile, "Then let’s call Qiu Huan over and ask her!"
Nanny Wang tightened her palm and responded, personally going out to summon Qiu Huan, intending to warn her.
Aunt Luo, who was kneeling in the yard under the scorching sun, felt dizzy. When she saw Nanny Wang coming out, she quickly straightened her back. "Nanny Wang!"
Nanny Wang didn’t even glance at Aunt Luo, crossing the courtyard gate directly.
Soon, Nanny Wang found Qiu Huan outside Madam Dong’s courtyard. She immediately called, "Qiu Huan! Come over here!"
When Qiu Huan saw Nanny Wang’s pale face, she knew Nanny Wang was looking for her and hurriedly stepped forward. "Aunt, has something happened inside?"
Nanny Wang grabbed Qiu Huan’s arm and pulled her aside, gritting her teeth. "Be honest with me, are you involved with that useless brother of Aunt Luo, scheming against the Princess of Zhen’s close maid?"
Qiu Huan’s palm tightened, she guiltily said, "No! How could I do such a thing!"
"The Princess of Zhen wants to question you. You’d better be honest; otherwise... If the Princess wants your life, I won’t save you! Do you understand?" Nanny Wang warned seriously.
Qiu Huan felt increasingly uncertain, but then thought that since the Princess of Zhen called her for questioning, she might not fully believe in Chun Tao.
Especially now, Luo Fugui had already spread the word everywhere in Dong Mansion. Chun Tao is the close maid of the Princess of Zhen. If Chun Tao doesn’t marry Luo Fugui, the Princess’s reputation would be damaged!
Qiu Huan didn’t believe the Princess would ignore her own reputation for the sake of a maid!
Thinking of Chun Tao’s pitiable appearance when she marries Luo Fugui, Qiu Huan felt delighted. She had always been overbearing in Dong Mansion and had never been humiliated this much. She decided to make Chun Tao regret for life.
"Nanny Wang!" Dong Changlan saw Nanny Wang and Qiu Huan and called out.
Qiu Huan quickly turned and stood beside Nanny Wang, bowing along with Nanny Wang to greet Dong Changlan and Dong Changmao. "Young master, second master!"
Dong Changmao saw his aunt kneeling under the scorching sun, his fists clenched tightly with a grim expression. He asked, "Nanny Wang, how’s it going inside?"
"Luo Fugui said Qiu Huan helped deliver the message that day. Miss is calling Qiu Huan in for questioning." Nanny Wang said, giving Qiu Huan a harsh look.
Dong Changlan’s gaze fell on Qiu Huan, who lowered her head, "Miss is fully aware of what kind of person Chun Tao is. Qiu Huan... When you go in, you’d better speak wisely. If there’s a single false word, even Nanny Wang cannot save you. Understood?"
Dong Changlan’s voice was cold, causing a chill to crawl up Qiu Huan’s spine. She quickly bowed.
"Let’s go in!" Dong Changlan turned and gently patted Dong Changmao’s arm, leading the way inside.
Dong Changmao followed Dong Changlan into Madam Dong’s courtyard. Seeing his aunt in tears, her makeup smudged, his fists tightened.
"Changmao..." Aunt Luo cried out upon seeing Dong Changmao, tears streaming pitifully.
Dong Changmao steeled himself, not looking at Aunt Luo, following Dong Changlan into the main room.
It wasn’t that Dong Changmao didn’t appreciate Aunt Luo’s kindness over the years, but Aunt Luo had always support Luo Fugui without principles. Dong Changmao had warned her many times; she always promised to stop but continued nonetheless.
Moreover, Luo Fugui bullied the villagers everywhere, boasting as Dong Changmao’s uncle. Dong Changmao had to clean up after him many times and was often ridiculed because of it.
This time, Luo Fugui dared to target the Princess’s close maid. Dong Changmao didn’t know what role Aunt Luo played in it. If she was involved, he would be completely disappointed in her.
Dong Changlan, Dong Changlan, and Nanny Wang entered with Qiu Huan, while Chun Tao carefully checked her belongings.
Chun Tao knelt at Bai Qingyan’s feet, choking with sobs. "Miss, the maid also lost the earrings you rewarded me and the jade pendant cousin gave!"
The jade pendant was a gift from Chen Qingsheng for Chun Tao’s birthday. It was of excellent quality. Chun Tao didn’t wear it to avoid drawing attention, keeping it in her purse and only looking at it occasionally. She didn’t expect it to go missing.
Qiu Huan’s palm tightened, her throat rolling. She had stolen the pendant and earrings and had not yet had the chance to sell them.
"I’ve seen that jade pendant. It’s of excellent quality. It’s no surprise someone would covet such a good thing!" Bai Qingyan looked at Nanny Wang. "Nanny Wang, I trust you. Please personally go to Qiu Huan’s room and see if Chun Tao’s jade pendant and earrings are there. Since you are Qiu Huan’s aunt, you wouldn’t falsely accuse her."