Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 349: Preparing to Change Fate

In the capital, at the Jiaofangsi, there is a pipa-sounding inner room.

Du Qingniang had her hair tied up in a high bun, with a translucent jade hairpin holding it up. Her hair was completely black, with no other hair accessories.

She was wearing a green Taoist robe with loose sleeves that fluttered in the wind, but could not hide her graceful figure. Her every move was rhythmic, and her demeanor was transcendent and radiant.

Opposite Du Qingniang sat a young woman, tall and graceful, with a beautiful face, an old copper hairpin in her hair, and a pair of bright eyes as clear as lacquer, with a clear expression.

She wore a pink plum-patterned thin silk double-breasted jacket, a white cross-collared coat, and a beige long skirt. She was graceful and elegant, with a hint of coolness.

It was Zou Miner, the disciple Du Qingniang had taken in a year ago, and now an important figure in the Shenjing branch of the CRRC Corporation Limited.

Du Qingniang said, "A few days ago, the Dali Temple interrogated a serious criminal who was escorted from Liaodong. This person was the one who escaped the big case of the Jinling Water Conservancy Bureau."

Zou Miner's expression was moved when she heard this. Du Qingniang had mentioned this matter a month ago. Now that she brought it up again, it must mean that there has been some progress on the matter.

Du Qingniang continued, "After being interrogated by the Dali Temple, this person has confessed some details about the Water Supervision Bureau case. This is the confession transcribed by the Central Vehicle Bureau."

As he spoke, he took out a document and handed it to Zou Miner, who opened it and quickly glanced through it, with an expression of surprise on her face.

Du Qingniang asked, "You are the daughter of Zou Huaiyi. The person mentioned in your confession is closely related to your father. Do you know this person?"

Zou Min'er thought for a moment and said, "At the beginning, Min'er was just a girl in the boudoir. I don't know much about my father. I just heard my father mention this man's name a few times, and I don't know anything else.

Then he looked a little excited and asked, "Madam Qing, according to the confession, this man is the real mastermind of the Water Supervision Bureau case. Is my father also under the instruction of this man?"

Du Qingniang shook her head and said, "It is impossible to determine at the moment. Zhou Suqing is just a businessman responsible for selling stolen goods. He knows very little, and what he said would not be the final inside story.

You should know about the major case of the Water Surveillance Bureau. Those Japanese wanderers robbed dozens of merchant ships in the open sea, involving millions of taels of foreign goods and property. Now all the stolen goods have disappeared.

Your father committed suicide in the mansion that day, but it also allowed many people to escape unscathed. Your father wanted to use his own life in exchange for the safety of his family, but he did not succeed... "

When Zou Miner heard this, a painful expression appeared on her face.

Du Qingniang said solemnly, "Based on various intelligence reports and documents from the Dali Temple and the Court of Inquiries, the Central Vehicle Division concluded that Zhou Suqing had only reopened the unresolved case of the Water Supervision Division.

Due to his limited identity and knowledge, his confession did not seem to touch the final truth.

The Zhongchesi is your Majesty's running dog, and what they follow and practice is your Majesty's will and sacred heart!
Jinling was the place where Taizu gathered strength to establish his country. It was the secondary capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty, which governed six prefectures and one state in the south of the Yangtze River. It has always been a place with complex forces and a deep and unfathomable place in the world.

At the beginning, Your Majesty was able to ascend to the throne by chance, and he has a deep connection with the land of Nanjing, so he is also very concerned about the major cases in Nanjing.

Now the emperor has issued an edict, sending the left minister of the Dali Temple as an imperial envoy to inspect the case and coordinate with relevant government officials to go to Nanjing to handle the case of Zhou Suqing's confession.

Si Gong wanted the Ministry of Vehicles to send out capable people to secretly go to Nanjing to investigate the unfinished major cases of the Water Supervision Department, so as to avoid any omissions in the open investigation by the Dali Temple.

Your father committed a serious crime. Although he could not escape death, his life and death should be decided by the law of the country, which is the right way. However, he died to cover up the sins of others. As a child, can you accept this? "

Zou Miner was shocked when she heard this. Her beautiful eyes flashed with sharp light as she stared blankly at the confession on the table.

Her father died, her mother died of depression, her family was broken up, and she was sent to the Jiaofang Bureau as a slave.

What on earth supported her to continue living? Could it be the hatred towards the young man who forced his father to commit suicide? But this hatred was so pale and powerless...

Just as Du Qingniang said, Jia Cong did nothing wrong. If it were someone else, her father would still have no way out because he did commit a heinous crime.

Whenever she thought of this, Zou Miner's heart was filled with contradictions and pain. The reason for her survival was like willow catkins with broken roots, without support, drifting in the wind, and impossible to catch.

Her father died because of heinous crimes, while those who committed the same crimes got away with it and are at large. She clenched her teeth and a faint smell of blood was spreading in the air.

Du Qingniang glanced at Zou Min'er and said, "I think no one will be more dedicated to this major case than you. You are the best person to be sent to Nanjing to assist in the investigation."

Zou Min'er's eyes lit up and she said, "I will definitely not let you down, my lady."

Du Qingniang looked at Zou Miner and nodded with satisfaction.

She saved Zou Min'er from danger because she felt pity for her unfortunate experience and she was impressed by her strong and unyielding character.

As the head of the Central Vehicle Department, Du Qingniang was in Nanjing on duty when the major case of the Water Conservancy Department occurred. Naturally, she knew the case in detail.

Therefore, she knew clearly that when Jia Cong had Zou Huaiyi executed in Jinling, it only brought the case to a close, and the hidden inside story would cause a stir again one day.

Zou Min'er was a person who was deeply involved in the case. She introduced Zou Min'er to the CRRC Corporation Limited as a precaution. Such a person would be of great use if he met the right person at the right time.

Rongguo Mansion, Tanchun Courtyard.

Jin Chuan jumped into the well and Baoyu whipped her, these two incidents caused quite a stir in the mansion.

Tanchun went to Mrs. Wang to plead for mercy but to no avail, and came back feeling a little depressed.

But he saw Jia Cong, Yingchun, Daiyu and Baochai were all in their rooms.

Yingchun, Daiyu, Baochai and others just went to visit Baoyu in his room. Baoyu was beaten badly this time and it is estimated that he will not be able to get out of bed for half a month. The sisters should be polite when visiting him.

After coming back, they all went to Tanchun's room to wait for news.

Yingchun and other sisters all knew about Jinchuan who lived in the lady's room, but they didn't interact with her much and were not very familiar with her.

But this time Jia Cong rescued her from the well, and they all noticed that Jia Cong cared about this maid, probably because he saved her.

So they also started to pay attention to this matter.

These ladies in the boudoir all have soft hearts, and victims like Jin Chuan are always easy to be sympathized with.

And when they found out that it was Baoyu who caused this trouble, the sisters all knew that this brother was used to hanging out with maids, and his words and actions were usually not measured, and finally he caused trouble.

Not only did he get beaten, but he also caused a maid to end up in such a situation. It's really pitiful.

……

As soon as Baochai saw Tanchun's expression, she knew that she must have returned empty-handed. She was surprised and didn't expect that Brother Cong could guess this.

Tanchun said somewhat frustratedly, "Madam said that Jinchuan has a bad temper and jumped into a well for a little thing, so we can't use her anymore to avoid any more trouble.

Third brother, my sister is really useless. She can't even do this."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Third sister, what are you talking about? It's not your fault. I think this is the result."

In fact, Jia Cong had just thought about it carefully and probably guessed that the reason why this matter had caused such a big fuss was nothing more than Jin Chuan's words asking Baoyu to take Jia Huan and Caiyun away.

Only this sentence implied the secret of the inner house, and perhaps touched upon Mrs. Wang's inner viciousness and scheming. Although this was only Jia Cong's inference, he believed it was not far from the truth.

The rest of the conversation between the two people was not of great significance and could not have aroused such a big reaction from Mrs. Wang.

Therefore, it is easy to understand that even with Tanchun's cleverness and eloquence, she could only return empty-handed.

……

Yingchun said, "Brother Cong, you pity Jinchuan. Actually, it is very easy. Just place her in the East Palace as a maid."

Daiyu said, "It is not appropriate to do this. Second uncle thinks highly of third brother and has always been very kind to him. Now second aunt is determined to drive Jinchuan away.

If the third brother takes her to the East Mansion for resettlement, it will not look good for the second uncle and the second aunt, and it will probably cause other gossip in the mansion, which will be bad. "

Baochai's eyes moved and she saw that Jia Cong did not say anything but just nodded slightly, obviously agreeing with Daiyu's statement, and what Daiyu said was indeed reasonable.

Baochai saw Jia Cong frowning slightly, and thought that he actually cared so much about the whereabouts of Jin Chuan. She had never seen him sad about anything before.

He said, "Brother Cong is a kind person. This girl is a little pitiful. No wonder you feel pity for her."

Jia Cong said, "I just think that although Jin Chuan's words are a bit reckless, she has done nothing wrong. She shouldn't have ruined her reputation and life in vain. As long as she has a proper place to live, she will have done her best."

Baochai didn't think that Jia Cong cared for Jin Chuan just because she was pretty and he was attracted to her.

He is a man who can do great things. He is not Baoyu, and he will not lose his temper when he sees a beautiful woman. Moreover, the maids in his room are all as beautiful as flowers, and none of them is better than Jin Chuan.

Now after hearing what Jia Cong said, I understood it even more clearly. His words were just pure sympathy and pity for a person.

Thinking of this, her heart softened for no reason.

After thinking for a while, he smiled and said, "Actually, this isn't that difficult. Just wait a few days. I have a surefire way."

(End of this chapter)