The Marquis Is Innocent

Ms. Zhu’s back was lying on the couch. Old Jiang was pounding her shoulders. Another maid was kneeling beside her, kneading her legs and feet.

“Does Madam feel more comfortable?” Old Jiang asked in a whisper.

Mrs. Zhu closed her eyes and complained: “If she makes offerings to Buddha, she can take her good granddaughter-in-law with her. Why must I go with her? When she went back to Zhongshan, why didn’t she invite me? I’m sure the Qiao girl must have said a lot about me in front of her.”

Old Jiang looked at the maid on the side and instructed her to go down. After only she and Mrs. Zhu were left in the room, she came to her ear and whispered a few words.

Mrs. Zhu sat up at once: “Really?”

Old Jiang nodded: “Just as Zheng Shu ordered before, this servant girl took advantage of today’s rare opportunity to tamper with it. As long as the Master sees it, he will question it. Let’s see how the Qiao girl defends herself!”

Mrs. Zhu exhaled a breath: “I remember Erlang kept this mahogany box for many years. It is very important. Usually, when the servants in the west room clean it, they are not allowed to move it easily. Even I don’t know what’s in it. A few years ago, I went to his house, and when I saw it and asked in passing, he did not tell me. He treats it like a rare treasure.”

Old Jiang said: “What else? It must be a love token from the Su girl for the Master. Speaking of this, Master is affectionate. After so many years, he still keeps it well.”

When she heard the ‘Su’ word, Mrs. Zhu frowned: “Is it her stuff?”

Old Jiang said, “Otherwise, what else could it be that could make the master keep it carefully for many years?”

Mrs. Zhu’s face showed a look of disgust, lost in thought for a moment, and asked, “Are you doing things properly?”

Old Jiang said: ” In the west house, there is a rough servant surnamed Sun, who usually secretly gains many benefits from me. She said the box was in the Master’s study. Previously, except for the sweeper, no one was allowed to enter the study. But recently, the Qiao girl frequently came in and out on her own. Today the west house was empty. I asked Old Sun to sneak into the study when no one was around and deliberately left traces of tampering on the lock of the box. When the Master finds out, he will be angry with the Qiao girl. Even if the Qiao girl denies it, he will not believe it. Master is a lord. Not only has he not married in the past ten years, but he did not even have a concubine. What is it if not for the sake of the Su girl? He married the Qiao girl and was bewitched by her beauty, but the Su girl must be incomparable in his heart. The Qiao girl tried to break the lock and take a look, but with the Master’s temperament, he will not forgive her. Let that Qiao girl slander Madam in front of the Old Madam!”

Mrs. Zhu said hesitantly, “What if Erlang is charmed by that Qiao girl and listens to her arguments?”

Old Jiang said, “Madam, don’t worry. According to the Old Sun, she spied on the door a few days ago. The Qiao girl moved the box and then put it back. The Qiao girl married into the Wei family for over half a year. She must have known about Su girl’s former relationship with the Master and guessed what was in the box. She was upset, spied on the Master’s personal belongings, then attempted to unlock the lock is logical. Where does it not make sense?”

Mrs. Zhu nodded and smiled: “Heaven help me! It turns out that the Qiao girl moved first, so she can’t blame us! Old Sun’s side, is it secure?”

Old Jiang said: “Old Sun once stole the east house belongings. She is now in my control. When asked about this matter, she would testify that the Qiao girl went into the study and moved the box. If someone testified and the Master’s heart stirred, how can he not believe it?”

Mrs. Zhu said, “Very good. Thank you for your hard work. After Chuyu left, you were the only one willing to think about me. Last time you had to suffer a lot for my sake. You had to lie down for a long time before you could stand on your legs.”

Old Jiang is grateful and sincerely says, “This servant girl was once in trouble. If not for Madam’s kindness in taking me, I would have become a lonely wild ghost. How will I survive in this world? As long as you are happy, I am willing to die in return!”

Mrs. Zhu was touched and ordered to stop pounding her back and rest. At that time, a maid came to report the Marquis had arrived.

Old Jiang looked scared immediately. Mrs. Zhu knew she had suffered previously. Old Jiang had palpitations and was avoiding her son when she saw him. She was afraid she would anger him again at this moment, so she told her to leave.

Old Jiang hastily climbed up. She reached the door, looked up, and saw Wei Shao’s figure striding in. He had already reached the door. She could not hide and took a few steps back in panic. She bowed towards Wei Shao, then hurried to leave. Suddenly, Marquis Wei barked ‘you stay.’ Old Jiang shivered, stopped, and slowly stood next to the wall.

Wei Shao walked up to Mrs. Zhu. He looked at his mother, who had risen and sat on the couch. He looked serious, not saying a word.

Mrs. Zhu saw he looked not good and was feeling a little weak. She forced to smile: “My son suddenly came here. Is there something? It’s late. I’m going to rest now.”

Wei Shao slowly knelt in front of Mrs. Zhu and said, ” I came here because I have something to ask Mother.”

“What is it?”

“There is a box in my study the servants were unallowed to touch without permission. Today, I found scratches on the lock. Someone has tried to open it. I want to ask mother if she knows about this?”

Mrs. Zhu pretended to be surprised and said angrily, “Who dares to be so bold! If I find out, I will not forgive them!” She paused for a moment, “You can ask that Qiao girl. In your house, the servants would not dare to touch it, let alone the scratch marks? She is the head of the west house. She should know the most about such an incident.”

Wei Shao stared at Mrs. Zhu: “Mother means she forcibly broke the lock?”

Mrs. Zhu coughed dryly and said, “It’s not that I don’t believe her. It’s just that it’s hard to say. She is inevitably arrogant because you gave her some face, did not take your words to heart, and even tried to spy on your private matters. Most women in the world are shallow like this.”

Wei Shao smiled: “Mother does not know. That box originally contained some of my old things, and then I moved the contents out, so it was empty. Some time ago, she saw the box’s nine-grid lock interesting and asked for it. Mother also knows that I am quite fond of her. If she wants, I naturally give her and tell her the unlocking method. She played with the method of unlocking the lock for a few days and was bored. She casually put some jewelry and silver in the box and left it in my study. Today, we found the lock forcibly picked.”

Wei Shao’s facial smile gradually disappeared, and the voice became cold: “I thought about it. If there is no ulterior motive, it is my west house servant’s had unclean hands and feet. Even if there are no belongings in the box, only an empty box, but can not allow the servants dare to pry into the Masters’ secrets. Mother has been in charge for many years. Mother must know how to deal with such things, right? I came here to ask for advice on how to deal with this matter!”

When Wei Shao said he had given the box to Xiao Qiao and told her how to unlock it, Mrs. Zhu’s face changed. She frequently looked at Old Jiang, who was standing by the wall. Old Jiang also changed her face. When Wei Shao finished talking, Mrs. Zhu was already sitting on pins and needles. She barely settled down and said: “I understand. You go back first. I will deal with it …… tomorrow.”

——

After a while, Chun Niang came in, saying she had interrogated several servants who stayed in the daytime and were always devoted to Lady. Even Old Lin said she had never seen any outsiders come in.

” Lady, there should be a traitor in the west house. There must be a servant instructed to sowing discord between you and Master. The most suspicious is the cleaning servant that can enter and leave the Master’s study. I heard from Old Lin that today, she saw someone wandering around the corridor in front of the Master’s study. At that time, she didn’t pay much attention to it, but now she thinks back carefully and says that the back looks like the Old Sun, a servant on duty in the courtyard. When I asked Old Sun, she denied it. I have asked someone to keep an eye on her. Lady, this matter can be big or small. In my opinion, why don’t we report to the old madam tomorrow and ask her to make a decision?”

Xiao Qiao frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and said, “You are right. This matter can be big or small. There is no need to alert the old madam. You go to the study and help me bring the box.”

Chun Niang was stunned: “What does the lady mean?”

Xiao Qiao said, “Just bring it to me.”

Chun Niang hesitated for a moment but finally went out. A moment later, she brought the box and gently put it in front of Xiao Qiao.

Xiao Qiao stared at the box and told her to get out.

Chun Niang hesitantly said, “Lady, isn’t Master not allowing you to move this box? You are ……”

Xiao Qiao seemed to have not heard her. Her eyes fell on the nine-grid lock and did not move.

Chun Niang saw her like she was engrossed.

Over the past two years, Chun Niang learned although the Lady likes to act like a baby in front of her when something big happens, she is always very assertive. Judging by her appearance, it didn’t seem like she was acting rashly due to sadness. She seemed to have other thoughts, so she stood by and accompanied her. The Lady raised her hand and lightly dialed the nine-grid lock.

…

……

The night was getting late.

Wei Shao finally returned to the west house. From a distance, he saw the lights still lit up from the bedroom window.

He hesitated for a moment but finally went in.

Chun Niang and several other servants were still guarding the entrance next to the side room. They greeted him when they saw him.

” Is the lady inside?”

Although it was a bit difficult to ask, Wei Shao finally asked.

Chun Niang said softly, ” The lady is inside.”

Wei Shao did not speak, straight across the steps and pushed open the door. He went inside, looked up, and froze.

Xiao Qiao kneels on the couch. On the table, there is a box placed squarely.

It was the forbidden box.

Wei Shao’s gaze paused on the box, then turned back to her face and met her eyes.

His expression was slightly frozen, and his gaze was tinged with doubt.

Although he tried his best to maintain a calm mood, perhaps only he knew his heart was vaguely dissatisfied.

He did not understand.

He repeatedly expressed he did not want her to touch the box. He regretted being angry at her. When he came in, he thought about what to say and do after going in and eliminating the unpleasant experience tonight.

But the moment after he came in, the scene that caught his eye made him unable to control himself.

He did not understand why she had to go against him, not listen to him. Is it really as his mother, Mrs. Zhu, said? Once a woman is favored more, she will inevitably be arrogant and not put her husband in her eyes.

“What do you mean by this ?”

After a pause, he asked, walking towards her.

Xiao Qiao raised her hand. Her fingers skillfully moved the nine positions on the nine-grid locks. Soon, a slight “pop” sound came from the box, the sound of the pop-lock mechanism correctly triggered.

Wei Shao revealed a look of surprise.

Xiao Qiao’s hand left the box and placed it on her lap, maintaining a standard sitting posture, and raised her eyes to look at Wei Shao and said: “Husband, the heavenly stems on the Jiugong lock represent numbers, arranged in a number array, no matter vertical, horizontal, or oblique, the sum of the numbers in the three directions is equal to fifteen, and five of them are in the middle and eight different types can be formed. This is not difficult. As long as you learn how to calculate, you can solve it. I unlocked it in front of you to let you know I never touched the lock. If I really couldn’t control my desire to see what was in the box, I would have opened it secretly. Why bother to leave scratches to make you suspect me? ”

Wei Shao stood in front of her, did not move, and did not say a word, but his look slowly turned ugly.

Xiao Qiao looked calm: “Since I can unlock the lock, you must be suspicious that I have opened and seen the contents. I can swear to God that just now, in front of you, was the first time I opened the lock. Indeed, I do not deny that I was curious about the contents of the box. Especially after I went to Zhongshan with Grandmother and met Madam Yulou, I was even more curious. This is why when I saw it by chance yesterday, I couldn’t help but take it out. I’m not going to lie. At that time, I shook it a few times. I felt the inside is a paper type of thing. Then I put it back.”

Wei Shao heard ” Madam Yulou ” from her mouth. His eyes jumped and looked uglier.

“The words I said just now, whether you believe it or not, all depends on you. I don’t force it, and I don’t care. The reason why I clarified to you that I didn’t try to break the lock is not to shrug off the mistake I made in this matter. After you left in anger, I did reflect on myself. What I did was not different from breaking this box. Ignored your previous warning and moved your private property without your permission. I was indeed at fault. Once again, I admit my mistake and swear I will never make the same mistake again, let alone have the slightest interest in thinking about what’s in here.”

Wei Shao kept looking at her. His expression changed from calm to astonished, astonished to ugly, and now he slowly recovered a bit.

“Then what is your intention when you unlock it in front of me?”

“I will admit my mistake. I didn’t do it and I don’t want to be framed. That’s why I unlocked it in front of you.”

Xiao Qiao replied in a calm tone.