Old Madam Wang was made somewhat embarrassed by the questioning. She did not know why, but when facing Qi Yuan, she always felt an inexplicable sense of pressure.
Especially when Qi Yuan asked this question, her tone was indifferent, even carrying a trace of ridicule.
It made her somewhat collapse. “What do you young people know? When many mouths speak, even metal can be melted; accumulated slander can destroy one’s very bones! Rumors can kill! Now Ah Chan has been snatched away by others, and things have fallen into their hands, others are the knife and chopping board, and we are the fish and meat…”
Qi Yuan narrowed her eyes mockingly. “What do you mean, others are the knife and chopping board, and we are the fish and meat?”
She tossed the sachet in her hand and asked in a deep voice, “Grandmother’s natal family has been in the capital for some time now, haven’t they? They should have come to take the imperial examinations? I wonder which one made the move?”
Earlier, Qi Yuan had already determined that the one who could abduct Wang Chan would not be an outsider.
The reason was simple.
When great households go out, they basically go to a few fixed places, all to avoid being jostled by commoners.
To know which restaurant the Wang family was going to, to know the exact time, and then seize the opportunity to abduct Wang Chan, such people must be very close to the Wang family.
And after obtaining this sachet, the target of suspicion became even clearer.
The embroidery on this sachet was not ordinary. It was not common embroidery, but a unique technique from Song City, hair embroidery, using strands of hair as thread.
One point might be considered a coincidence.
But when two points matched at the same time, it was absolutely impossible to be a coincidence.
Thinking about the situation of Old Madam Wang’s natal family, she more or less knew what the circumstances were.
Old Madam Wang’s lips trembled. She gritted her teeth and closed her eyes.
At that moment, a maid’s trembling voice reported from outside the door, “Old Madam, the in-law madam has arrived.”
Old Madam Wang’s face darkened at once. Almost grinding her teeth, she shook her head. “Say it’s too late and have her go back first. I won’t see her!”
Qi Yuan shook her head inwardly.
The wolf had already caught the scent of meat, how could it easily give up prey that was almost in its grasp?
Sure enough, before long the maid returned. “Old Madam, the in-law madam has gone to Miss Chan’s room!”
Old Madam Wang shot to her feet at once, so angry she did not even know how to react.
Even if Old Madam Qi had not understood before, she now reacted.
This matter had been done by Old Madam Wang’s natal family, and the reason for doing it was to force Wang Chan into a marriage beneath her station!
What a vicious and despicable scheme they had come up with!
She could not help asking Old Madam Wang, “What exactly are you thinking? If the He family truly did such a thing, then they deserve to die! Why are you still concealing it?!”
Old Madam Wang hurried toward Wang Chan’s room, both angry and anxious, crying as she explained, “I also did not know they harbored such wolfish ambitions! Besides, when such a thing happens, what can a girl do? She can only accept her bad luck…”
Old Madam Qi stamped her foot. “You are simply muddleheaded!”
She also knew some of the He family’s situation.
They had once been an official family, but starting from Old Madam Wang’s younger brother’s generation, the family had been dismissed from office due to a crime. From then on, no descendant had held office again, and the family could only engage in business.
At long last, in the current generation, Old Madam Wang’s younger brother’s grandson, someone had shown promise, passed the provincial examination as a juren, and now come to the capital to prepare for the metropolitan examination.
If the two families were to form a marriage alliance, it was indeed somewhat mismatched.
But after all, they were close relatives. If they truly wished to arrange a marriage, the He family could have sincerely proposed.
To resort to such despicable means before the marriage was even arranged, their character was evident at a glance!
What benefit could there be in marrying into such a family?
Old Madam Wang herself was also angry. She could not help explaining anxiously, “I never thought of marrying Ah Chan over there either. When I said accept her bad luck, I only meant that this matter should not be made into a big affair…”
She simply did not want to report it to the authorities!
However, while Old Madam Wang did not want to make a big issue of it, some people wished for nothing more than for it to become as big as possible.
Upon hearing that Madam He had arrived, Madam Lu subconsciously frowned, hurriedly turning to glance at her daughter. Seeing that Wang Chan was still unconscious, she let out a breath of relief and quickly closed the door before stepping out of the inner chamber.
She had barely stepped out when Madam He began crying exaggeratedly. “Sister-in-law, I heard that Ah Chan couldn’t bear it and did something foolish, is that true?”
Madam Lu’s face darkened. Already exhausted, she now felt even more irritated and could only suppress her anger as she retorted, “Nothing of the sort. Who has such a big mouth to tell you such nonsense, Sister-in-law?”
Madam He’s tears began to fall again in rapid drops as she grabbed Madam Lu’s hand, eyes brimming. “We are only concerned about Ah Chan. Tell me, how could such a thing happen when everything was fine?”
She sighed and looked troubled. “A perfectly good girl, now the outside world is spreading all kinds of rumors. Tell me, what is she to do in the future?”
Madam Lu had already been in an extremely foul mood. Hearing Madam He speak like this, her face turned iron-blue. “Sister-in-law, what do you mean what is she to do? Nothing happened to her. Why do you make it sound as though something did?”
Madam He was momentarily choked silent, sneering inwardly.
What did she mean nothing happened?
We are all foxes of a thousand years, why play ghost stories here?
A young girl, lost even for a short while, how could it possibly be that nothing happened?
Because rumors are like blades, capable of killing a girl without leaving a trace.
Before, Wang Chan stood high above others, the legitimate daughter of a noble count’s household.
But now, Wang Chan had already become a woman who had lost her reputation.
And Madam Lu still put on airs in front of her.
How laughable.
She wiped the corners of her eyes. “Sister-in-law, whether something happened or not, what use is it for us to say? Go listen to what people outside are saying, there are all kinds of ugly words. I am only worried for my niece. What will Ah Chan do in the future?”
Old Madam Wang had not yet entered when she heard Madam He say this, and she immediately felt smoke rising from all seven orifices in fury.
Her chest ached sharply from anger, and without caring for anything else she first rebuked sharply, “Shut your mouth!”
Hearing the rebuke, Madam He jumped in fright. Turning and seeing Old Madam Wang, she quickly recovered and stepped forward with a smile, attempting to support her. “Aunt, you’ve come.”
Old Madam Wang avoided her hand and looked at her irritably. “What were you saying just now? What ugly words? Say them for me to hear.”
Madam He’s face showed worry, her expression tense. “It’s nothing much. People outside are just saying some nonsense, saying that since Ah Chan was lost, she must have been…”
Old Madam Qi now found it difficult to conceal her disgust toward Madam He. Hearing this, she lowered her eyes to hide the coldness within them.
As for Qi Yuan, she watched Madam He’s performance with leisurely composure.
Madam He’s tears came as she pleased. “Aunt, my heart aches for Ah Chan as well. Tell me, what will Ah Chan do? Her whole life has been ruined just like this…”
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