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Chapter 646: Cross-dressing (6/6)

She had already noticed the watchful eyes on her, and the atmosphere in the Ning residence was becoming increasingly tense.

Hearing Chu Qingzhi’swords, NingYuting’s expression was wooden. He did not know how to react to such grievous news. In the end, he could not suppress his grief and knelt on the ground, crying softly.

At the peak of his grief, all that remained was the simple instinct to cry.

Chu Qingyue stayed behind to accompany Ning Yuting, while everyone else left the study.

In the courtyard, Chu Qingning expressed her anger, “Such ruthless people must not be let off easily!”

“Fourth Sister, be careful. Walls have ears.”

Realizing her carelessness, Chu Qingning quickly composed herself.

Chu Qingzhi sorted through the information in her mind and decided to look for the mysterious maid first.

Now that the “snake” had retreated into its hole, the only option was to lure it out.

Narrowing down the scope of the investigation…

The Ning residence’s front and back gates were manned by dedicated gatekeepers who would surely notice any strangers coming and going.

Chu Qingzhi, accompanied by Chu Qingning and Chunli, headed to the back gate.

The back gate was guarded by an elderly man in his fifties. The gate was usually closed, only opened from the inside by the old man, allowing people from outside to enter.

Chunli approached and inquired, “Uncle Sun, have you seen any unfamiliar faces entering or leaving these past few days?”

Uncle Sun, recognizing Chunli, immediately responded warmly, “No, apart from some strangers who came to the kitchen to deliver items before the young master’s marriage, it’s been just our people coming and going.”

Chu Qingzhi personally asked, “Uncle Sun, are you sure no strangers have come and gone in the past few days? Any uncertainties?”

After carefully recalling, Uncle Sun shook his head affirmatively, “No, the young master had his wedding celebration, and there were many items to tidy up. I stayed by the gate to avoid any mistakes.”

“Thankyou, Uncle Sun.”

“It’s okay.”

With the back gate checked, Chu Qingzhi and Chunli moved to the main gate, asking the same questions. The gatekeepers there also reported no sightings of strangers.

At the lotus pond, Chu Qingzhi stood at the edge, lost in thought, when someone on the opposite side caught her attention, “Chunli, what’s over there?”

Chun Lei looked and explained, “That’s where people from the second and third branches come from.”

Chu Qingzhi decided, “Let’s go take a look.”

Chu Qingning whispered, “Fifth Sister, if there’s nothing unusual at the main and back gates, the mysterious maid must have used the gate we just saw. It’s evident that it’s either the second or third branch.”

Chu Qingzhi cautiously said, “The second and third branches are too broad. We need to narrow it down to an individual. Even knowing who it is, we still need to find evidence.”

“We’ll definitely find the evidence.”

They approached a corridor-like archway about three meters long, leading to a spacious and beautiful garden flanked by orderly houses, with servants occasionally passing by.

Chunli shared, “This area was expanded by the Ning family. The expansion doubled the original size of the Ning estate, with the second and third branches occupying half each.”

Chu Qingzhi used her divine sense to get an overall view of the Ning residence, noting the similar sizes and decorative styles of the three branches, showing Grandfather Ning’s equal treatment of his sons.

To the left of the garden lay the second branch’s quarters, and to the right, the third family’s.

Chu Qingzhi asked, “Chunli, how many people are in the second branch? And in the third?”

“Seventy-nine in the second branch, eighty-five in the third.”

Chu Qingzhi whispered a few words to Chu Qingning, who nodded and left the Ning residence.

Chu Qingzhi then told Chunli, “Notify everyone that the Young Madam appreciates their hard work preparing for the wedding banquet and plans to distribute some reward money. Ask them to come and collect it immediately.”

This would also help gather support for her elder sister. In a few days, when they leave, it would be up to her elder sister to manage on her own.

Chunli smiled and agreed, “Yes, Fifth Miss.”

Chu Qingzhi returned to the courtyard where Chu Qingyue was staying.

Ning Yuting had regained his composure, but his calm was filled with sorrow, which was heart-wrenching to see.

Chu Qingzhi informed them about distributing reward money to the servants, and both supported the idea unconditionally. Chu Qingyue immediately gave Xia Mei some banknotes, instructing her to exchange them for smaller denominations of silver at the bank to use as reward money.

Chu Qingning returned with a bottle of medicine, “Fifth Sister, as you instructed, the medicine is prepared.”

Chu Qingzhi opened the medicine bottle and sniffed it, pleased with the high purity, “Good.”

Chu Qingning confidently assured, “You can count on me.”

Chu Qingzhi prepared a censer, poured the medicinal powder into it, lit it, and placed it in a room. She then closed the door to create a sealed space, planning to use it later.

Soon, Xia Mei returned with the exchanged small denominations of silver, which were placed in the room where the censer had been set up.

The news about Chu Qingyue distributing reward money quickly spread throughout the estate…

“The Young Madam is giving out reward money!”

“Is that true? Isn’t the Young Madam from a village? They say she’s very poor, how could she possibly give out reward money?”

“It’s true. A maid from the young master’s courtyard notified us. Let’s go get the reward money and take a closer look at this Young Madam.”

Nobody dislikes money, and it wasn’t long before the Ning estate’s servants, including the two elderly gatekeepers, gathered at the entrance of Chu Qingyue’s courtyard, waiting to receive their reward money.

Chunli came over, announcing loudly, “Line up, everyone gets a share.”

The crowd quickly formed an orderly line.

Xia Mei opened the door, “Please, Young Madam.”

The room was filled with a refreshing fragrance, which was uplifting and comfortable to smell.

However, those who had recently been in contact with cotton seeds would experience a completely different reaction to this smell, with some potentially fainting due to more severe reactions.

Chu Qingyue entered the room, exuding the aura of the Young Madam, and sat to one side, “Each person gets three coins. Come one by one, everyone will get their share.”

“Yes, Young Madam.”

Hearing this, the crowd grew even more excited, and their affection for Chu Qingyue soared.

Everyone lined up to enter the room and receive their reward money.

Chu Qingzhi stood to one side, silently observing everyone.

Suddenly, a servant boy with a fair complexion and somewhat androgynous features appeared in her field of vision.

As the boy neared the room and smelled the fragrance, his brow furrowed, growing tighter the closer he got…

Chu Qingzhi thought to herself, it’s him, fitting the descriptions provided by others perfectly.

How interesting. They actually let a servant dress up as a maid. If they were searching for female members of the household, they would never suspect him. She wondered who had come up with the idea.

The boy wanted to leave but, seeing everyone else receiving their reward money, was reluctant to give up. So, he gritted his teeth and stubbornly waited his turn.

When the boy stepped into the room and reached out to receive the reward money, he finally couldn’t hold on any longer and fainted.

Chu Qingzhi had already given instructions in advance; Xia Mei quickly had two maids carry the boy to the next room and tie him up.

Chu Qingzhi did not leave, as she needed to see if there were any accomplices.