Chapter 312: Chapter 273: It’s Hard to Guard Against a Thief Within the Family_2
Mrs. Ning said: "I knew you came for this reason. You truly have a nature as inquisitive as Zhen Er’s, always trying to get to the bottom of things. But what suspicious circumstances could there be? My father passed away from illness naturally; don’t overthink it. If there were any issues, wouldn’t I have reported it to the authorities long ago?"
Pei Zhan frowned: "Is there anything mother is worried about? Though I am but a humble son-in-law, I believe I possess some abilities to ensure the safety of the Ning Family."
Mrs. Ning smiled and shook her head: "Truly, there is nothing."
Though her words were light, they were as decisive as cutting iron. Pei Zhan gazed at her for a moment, then helplessly withdrew his gaze.
...
Fu Zhen returned to the residence, washed up, and sat in the hall listening to the stewards report on everything. After arranging some matters, Pei Zhan returned amidst the dusk.
Initially, Fu Zhen ignored him, but seeing he still wore a stern face and sat clutching a military book without speaking for a long time, she approached him: "Where did you go afterward?"
Pei Zhan turned away from her.
Oh, wow!
He was throwing a little tantrum.
Fu Zhen, not indulging him, pinched his arm.
Pei Zhan hissed softly, covered his arm, and sat up: "How many times have you pinched me today?"
Fu Zhen replied: "I just pinched twice. It’s not like I cut your flesh. Are you made of tofu?"
Upon hearing this, Pei Zhan reclined back again with an elbow supporting his forehead, eyes brimming with a playful glint: "If I were made of tofu, what would you do?"
"If you were made of tofu, I’d chop you into tofu crumbs!"
Fu Zhen snorted through her nose, then got up and moved to the stool beside: "I guess you went to the Ning Family."
"Smart one."
Pei Zhan closed the military book, rolled it up, and lightly tapped his leg with it.
"But staying at the Ning Family alone for an entire afternoon seems unlikely. Was it because my mother had something to discuss, or did you visit other places too?"
Pei Zhan took a deep breath and sat up: "I questioned my mother-in-law. She didn’t let a single word slip, insisting adamantly that the old man died of illness.
"So afterward, I sought out Manager Su, and through him, found several doctors who had treated the old man."
"And the result?"
"Got nothing." Pei Zhan shook his head, "Everyone’s statements were completely consistent."
Fu Zhen furrowed her brows.
All their statements were so consistent, was it not infallible?
There were clearly so many dubious points!
After dinner, Pei Zhan went to the study, while Fu Zhen took Guo Song and Yang Tong out.
Under the corner gate of the Ning Family, she had Yang Tong call out Ning Jia.
"Sister..."
"Go open the small gate of Yixin Hall where I live. I need to go in there but don’t want mother to know."
Before Ning Jia could finish his greeting, Fu Zhen interrupted him.
Ning Jia paused and promptly asked: "Did you have a fight with brother-in-law?"
Fu Zhen didn’t know how to explain her true intent for coming, and thinking this was a reasonable excuse, she vaguely urged him to hurry inside.
How would Ning Jia dare delay?
He immediately turned and went in.
Meanwhile, Fu Zhen reached the outside of Yixin Hall, and as soon as the corner gate opened, she slipped inside with two guards.
"Sister, how did you fight with brother-in-law? What did he do to you?"
"Why burden your young mind with such concerns? Hurry back to your room! I’m staying here tonight. Make sure mother doesn’t find out."
While coaxing him out, Fu Zhen entered her own courtyard.
Previously, no outsiders came to this courtyard. Now that it had a door opening onto the street, it became an independent space where Yang Tong and others could come and go freely.
After Ning Jia left, Fu Zhen instructed Yang Tong and Guo Song to stay put, then opened the gate herself and headed toward Mrs. Ning’s main room.
Once in the residence, who could stop her? Yet she chose to walk in the shadows.
Initially, she didn’t intend to pry into Mrs. Ning’s thoughts, but since Pei Zhan’s investigations were so thoroughly blocked by Manager Su and the others, didn’t this merely suggest that things were out of the ordinary?
Fu Zhen could no longer hold back.
The main room was lit, and as the maids came out carrying a copper basin, Mrs. Ning sat down by the window.
The cool summer night breeze blew through the half-open window, the crescent moon hanging in the sky like a shining scythe.
Mrs. Ning gazed into the distance, then lifted her right hand to rub her temples.
After a while, she lowered her hand, reaching inside her left sleeve to pull out the letter she had read during the day.
The door creaked open, and Jin Zhu entered with a lantern. Once the lantern was set up, she approached Mrs. Ning: "Ma’am, reading this again? You probably have all the words memorized by now."