“Not really. It was Niu Daguai who said he found her. That’s his wife—she wouldn’t lie about it.”
Yao Shu suddenly understood: Fu Xiujin suspected Niu Daguai.
Liu Yu and Chen Suqing were similar in height and build. If Niu Daguai was lying, then claiming he had returned to his hometown with his wife was highly suspicious.
“Did Niu Daguai and Chen Suqing have any private dealings?”
Yao Shu immediately turned to ask everyone present. They all shook their heads, saying the two basically had no contact, apart from casual meals and chats with the group in the dining hall.
“I once saw Sister Zhu’er arguing fiercely with Uncle Niu. Later, Sister Suqing came out and led Sister Zhu’er away.” Little Shitou said this while shoveling rice into his mouth, completely unaware that his casual remark had just opened a new path in the investigation.
Fu Xiujin immediately decided: Fan Zhongliang would stay behind to continue investigating Niu Daguai and Liu Yu, while he himself took Yao Shu and Zhao Shaobai to pay another visit to the Chen residence.
Master Chen was shocked upon hearing the reason for their visit and quickly ordered the steward to summon Zhu’er.
Zhu’er knelt on the ground, stammering for a long time, unwilling to say much. Enraged, Master Chen kicked her so hard that she spat out blood. Yao Shu rushed forward to stop him before it turned deadly.
“Zhu’er, you entered this household young, and Suqing treated you like a sister. You know the truth yet refuse to speak—ungrateful, treacherous wretch!”
Master Chen cursed while trying to strike Zhu’er again, but Zhao Shaobai held him back firmly. Zhu’er clutched her chest, silently weeping, insisting she had never betrayed her mistress.
“Zhu’er, we now suspect Chen Suqing may still be alive. If you truly haven’t wronged her, then you must tell us the truth.”
At these words, Zhu’er suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with disbelief. She scrambled to her feet, clutching Yao Shu’s sleeve, trembling all over.
“Is it true? Is Miss really still alive?”
Yao Shu didn’t know how to answer. She wasn’t completely certain—it was only their conjecture. But seeing the hope in Zhu’er’s eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to deny it.
Finally, Fu Xiujin spoke. His tone was always calm, as though nothing in the world could stir his emotions: “She is very likely still alive. If you want to help her, explain the quarrel with Niu Daguai.”
Zhu’er collapsed back onto the floor. She glanced at Master Chen, then at Yao Shu and the others, and at last resigned herself to confess.
“Niu Daguai harbored improper thoughts about Miss. One time, during heavy rain, Miss went to the charity hall. Her clothes were soaked, so she had to change. I went to fetch her ginger tea, and when I returned, I found Niu Daguai outside, secretly watching her change clothes, while doing obscene things to himself. I shouted at him, and he fled in panic, pulling up his trousers. When Miss learned of it, she cried for a long time. I went to confront Niu Daguai, but Miss feared the scandal and persuaded me to leave. Before we left, she warned him: if he ever spoke of it or dared to cross the line again, he would be expelled.”
As Zhu’er spoke, she kept glancing at Master Chen’s face. Sure enough, he was already pounding his chest in fury.
“After that incident, Niu Daguai restrained himself. He never appeared before Miss again. Even if they met, he would bow and scurry away. So we treated it as if it had never happened. I didn’t want to speak of it because it would tarnish Miss’s reputation. I could not betray her.”