Qin Suining’s guess was correct—Cuizhu was merely a small servant girl attending to others. How could she possibly risk her own life?
She struggled only a little. The moment she saw Qin Suining actually scoop a ladle of water from the vat, she immediately panicked.
“No—don’t! I’ll talk, I’ll tell you everything……”
As soon as Cuizhu opened her mouth, the wound on her face hurt even more.
The beating she had just suffered was not light at all. Facing this mother and daughter, she was deeply fearful.
To survive, she didn’t dare hide anything and spilled everything like beans pouring out of a bamboo tube.
“You’re saying… your princess has taken a liking to… my husband?”
Madam Zhou was momentarily stunned. A noble princess, with so many handsome and outstanding young men to choose from, had instead chosen a poor scholar?
Cuizhu nodded. Although she also didn’t quite understand it, a servant like her could never comprehend the princess’s thoughts.
“Master Qin is refined and gentle. He and our princess fell in love at first sight……”
Seeing Madam Zhou looking utterly devastated, Cuizhu even felt the pain on her face ease slightly, and there was a hint of gloating in her tone.
She quickly explained everything about Qin Shubai’s life in the capital, emphasizing key points.
“Master Qin and our princess are deeply in love and inseparable. He even said he is now alone in the world, and his wife and daughter already died in an accident……”
These words were like sharp blades stabbing into Madam Zhou’s heart, leaving it bleeding.
“Your father… he, he actually could be so heartless……”
Madam Zhou only felt her vision going dark, a metallic taste rising in her throat.
Seeing his mother on the verge of collapse, Qin Suining’s eyes turned sharp. She swung her hand and slapped Cuizhu hard across the face.
“Cut the nonsense. I’m asking you—how many others came with you this time?”
Those mysterious floating words had mentioned it clearly—after Cuizhu succeeded, others would come to their home to search for that so-called “cheat ability.”
“Ah, I’ll talk, I’ll talk! There’s also Grandma Gui. She’s the princess’s wet nurse and one of her most trusted aides……”
Cuizhu rolled her eyes slightly, trying to be clever.
Qin Suining didn’t notice this and only focused on the key information before falling into thought.
The floating words had disappeared for now.
Without more clues, she could only rely on herself.
“Mother, we must leave immediately. Staying here means certain death.”
There is no thief who can guard forever—only a thousand days to be a thief, not a thousand days to guard against one.
“But… where can we go, just the two of us?”
Madam Zhou, despite everything, could no longer care about her marriage ties. A mother becomes strong for her child; even if she didn’t want to live, she had to let her daughter survive.
“If necessary, we’ll go to Dingshuo Prefecture to find your uncle. It’s still better than waiting here to die.”
Her maternal uncle, Zhou Yuancheng, had once been a caravan escort. Later, he was appreciated by a local official in Dingshuo Prefecture and settled there with a family.
They had frequent correspondence years ago, but after Qin Shubai disapproved, contact gradually decreased.
“The address should be in his letters. I’ll go find it.”
With the situation urgent, Madam Zhou hurried back into the room to search through boxes and cabinets.
If they were to leave, they would need travel money. Food, lodging—all required silver. It would be best if they could even hire an ox cart.
Madam Zhou had never traveled far and was at a loss.
Never mind—she would first gather all valuables in the house.
Now she regretted giving all their money to Qin Shubai, thinking only of sending him safely to the capital exam.
Who would have thought he would not only climb a higher branch, but also try to kill his wife and daughter?
“You came this time not only to kill us, but what else did your princess ask you to find?”
Qin Suining needed to understand exactly what that thing was.
“I don’t know, I really don’t know—please spare me……”
Cuizhu avoided eye contact.
She had already heard their conversation—they intended to run.
If she failed her mission and let them escape, that was already a crime.
If she also failed to bring back the item, she would be even more doomed.
Grandma Gui might only get scolded, but she would likely be beaten severely.
The princess only looked kind on the surface—those close to her knew how cruel she truly was.
Cuizhu never even considered whether she could leave this place alive.
In her mind, these rural mother and daughter were nothing but ignorant country bumpkins. How could they possibly dare harm someone from the princess’s household?
Even though blood was still at the corner of her mouth and her head was ringing, she still believed she would survive.
“If you don’t know, then drink this bowl of water.”
Qin Suining’s eyes turned cold and she wasted no more words.
Since there was still that so-called Grandma Gui coming, they might as well wait for them all like catching turtles in a jar.
Her movements were decisive.
Cuizhu never expected this young girl—only about ten years old—to be so ruthless.
She bit her lip hard, trying to resist, but Qin Suining had already grabbed her throat.
Over the years, Qin Shubai only focused on studying. All household work had been handled by Madam Zhou and Qin Suining together.
She might not have much strength, but dealing with a thin servant girl like Cuizhu was no problem.
Moreover, Cuizhu was already tightly bound and could barely struggle.
Half a bowl of water went in, half spilled—but it didn’t matter. There was still half a vat outside.
Qin Suining said nothing and walked back toward the water vat again.
Cuizhu coughed violently but before she could recover, another bowl of water was already at her lips.
“No—please spare me! I’ll talk, I’ll tell everything……”
Damn it—the water in that vat had been laced with arsenic!
Cuizhu broke down completely, crying and begging.
“It’s… it’s a wooden hairpin… with a peach blossom carved on it……”
She cried as she confessed everything, hoping this would finally be enough.
But Qin Suining did not follow any rules.
She raised her hand again—and forced another bowl of water down her throat.
Live? What nonsense.