Chapter 31: Wrist Tricks_1

She rubbed the hand warmer, lowered her head, her eyes cold and clear. “At this hour, the Jing Zhaoyin’s office should have already received the report and sent people to the Burial Mound outside Dadu City to investigate those female corpses.”

Right now, the attention of everyone in the Capital was focused on the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage Mansion and the Duke of Zhen Mansion. From what she knew, many aristocratic families were openly and secretly probing for news about the two houses.

Mrs. Jiang of the Marquis Mansion naturally poured out her grievances and complaints, while Mrs. Dong, the wife of the Princely Heir of the Duke of Zhen Mansion, claimed to know nothing, only saying they needed to find the five maids sold by Mrs. Jiang to clarify the truth. Mrs. Liu, the second lady, avoided everyone out of worry for her daughter’s well-being.

However, the more these aristocratic families and commoners probed for information to no avail, the more they would speculate and fabricate stories, eagerly waiting for those five maids to be found and to prove their own wisdom.

Even Bai Jintong, who had been on the battlefield, was astonished by Mrs. Jiang’s clean and swift methods. She looked at Bai Qingyan and asked, “Eldest Young Lady, you found everything out, so you asked Aunt to report it to the authorities and escalate the situation?”

Bai Qingyan strolled leisurely. “The Jing Zhaoyin’s office received a report about five unidentified female corpses. Our mansion happened to be looking for the five maids sold by the wife of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage. The Jing Zhaoyin wouldn’t need to investigate deeply to guess that the wife who claimed to have sold the five maids would certainly have someone from our Duke’s mansion sent to identify the bodies.”

“But, Eldest Young Lady…” Bai Jintong placed one hand behind her back, exuding a bit of masculine aura. “In our dynasty, maids and servants are considered movable property of their masters. Even taking it to the authorities would only mean that Mrs. Jiang reached into Second Sister’s dowry, but this established reputation won’t harm Mrs. Jiang one bit. Is it worth it?”

“Therefore, this morning, we already had someone remove the maid status of those five maids, and Second Sister returned their contracts to their parents.”

Bai Jintong’s eyes brightened, and she wrapped her hands around Bai Qingyan’s arm. “Without their maid status, they are now commoners, and killing commoners requires repayment with one’s life! When Eldest Young Lady told Second Sister to keep those maid contracts, it was for today, wasn’t it?! So… can we really make that vicious woman pay with her life? Shouldn’t we think of more ways to ensure the outcome of this case? After all, that vicious woman deserves a thousand cuts!”@@novelbin@@

Bai Qingyan gazed at Bai Jintong’s bright eyes, feeling a hint of worry. Seeing that Bai Jintong was about to leave home, she realized her nature was still a bit lacking in steadiness.

Since she had spoken to Bai Jintong about these matters, it was a good opportunity to use this case to explain things more clearly to her.

Bai Jintong was the smartest and most clever of all the sisters, but due to her young age, she sometimes acted out of impulsiveness. Her greatest strength was that she understood immediately once the reasoning was explained.

“What we initially wanted was for your second sister to be free from her mother-in-law’s control and for the two girls in the Marquis Mansion to no longer dare to provoke your second sister. We didn’t want Mrs. Jiang’s life, right?” Bai Qingyan held Bai Jintong’s hand and spoke softly as they walked.

Bai Jintong nodded, not understanding Bai Qingyan’s intention.

“Then we must drive Mrs. Jiang out of the Marquis Mansion so your second sister can be completely free from this mother-in-law’s control. Otherwise, even if they live in separate houses, Mrs. Jiang could still use filial piety to force your second sister to tend to her if she claims sickness. As for the two girls in the Marquis Mansion, without their mother, your second sister as the eldest sister-in-law would have to handle their marriages. In that case, would they dare to cause trouble under her watch? Isn’t that correct?”

Bai Jintong thought for a moment and then nodded.

“So, the outcome of the case doesn’t matter! If Mrs. Jiang is sentenced to death, that would be delightful for us, but it is not the goal. What we want are the consequences like we planned after Mrs. Jiang is entangled in a murder case. Once involved in a murder case, even if she doesn’t pay with her life for those five maids, her reputation would be tarnished with the stain of murder. Aristocratic families involved in murder cases would surely alarm the Imperial Censorate, and the keen-eyed Censors would undoubtedly be itching to impeach. That’s the first point. The second is that the two daughters and one son raised by Mrs. Jiang, with their mother’s reputation damaged, would find it hard to hold their heads high in the Capital.”

“Now think about it… with the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s selfish and profit-seeking nature, would he keep Mrs. Jiang in the mansion, allowing her to continue damaging his and his children’s reputation? Our goal is almost within reach… but if you used methods to push Mrs. Jiang to her death and it backfired, what then?”

Seeing the slight hesitation in Bai Jintong’s eyes, Bai Qingyan stopped and adjusted her cloak, saying softly, “Soon you will leave home alone. Eldest Young Lady is taking this opportunity to teach you… whatever strategy you use, remember the goal you hope to achieve. All the tactics should pave the way for that goal. Never seek more than necessary, or you may end up with nothing. Furthermore, don’t just look at the outcome. Take this case for example, the outcome isn’t important. Think more about whether the consequence is what you want. The result and the aftermath might seem similar but are worlds apart.”

Bai Jintong suddenly recalled the moment in Bai Jinxiu’s room when Bai Qingyan said, “To subdue them, you must break their backbone in one strike and crush their support! Make them understand pain and fear, so when they hear your second sister’s name, their legs will tremble. Only then will your second sister have peace.”

Bai Jintong always prided herself on her intelligence, though she knew she wasn’t as good as Eldest Young Lady, she thought the gap wasn’t too wide. Now, seeing the Eldest Young Lady’s clean and swift handling of the Marquis Mansion, her meticulous planning made her realize she still had much to learn from her.

“Bai Jintong will remember Eldest Young Lady’s teachings, inscribed in my heart, never to be forgotten.” Bai Jintong bowed respectfully to Bai Qingyan, wholeheartedly convinced.

Bai Qingyan helped Bai Jintong up, holding her hand. “You are about to leave home. The world outside is vast and different from home. Eldest Young Lady said more today in hopes that you will be prudent in your actions.”

“Bai Jintong understands! Eldest Young Lady, rest assured!” Bai Jintong, with reddened eyes, squeezed Bai Qingyan’s hand and smiled. “I’ll accompany Eldest Young Lady back to the inner courtyard.”

As they walked a few steps, they saw Qin Shangzhi, recovering in the Duke’s mansion, standing not far away as if looking at them. Bai Qingyan smiled and bowed in greeting.

Bai Jintong, not knowing why, followed and bowed as well.

Qin Shangzhi looked at Bai Qingyan with a frown, wanted to say something, but in the end, he cupped his fists and turned to leave.