Tianliangyuan

Chapter 460 People are panicked

The Prince of Zhong was completely confused, so it was his steward who was following behind him who explained the situation.

Xiao Tao had inadvertently offended the princess before the New Year, and was therefore ordered to be beaten to death.

But how could a dead person suddenly appear in Madam Jiang's courtyard?

Could it be that Madam Jiang's miscarriage was actually caused by Xiao Tao?

Is it Xiao Tao's vengeful spirit returning for revenge?

But that doesn't make sense either!

The one who ordered her to be beaten to death was the princess, so if she wanted revenge, she should have gone to the princess, not Lady Jiang.

Things are getting more and more outrageous and frightening!

Upon hearing this, Song felt even more relaxed.

Once it's proven that Jiang Ning was simply a victim in this matter, then everything will be fine.

However, today's events were all orchestrated in secret, and how could they possibly satisfy the Song family?

Don't assume that just because Jiang Ning miscarried, she's the victim and can play dumb or act pitiful!

As for Xiao Tao, King Zhong naturally did not believe in ghosts and gods, so he immediately sent people to search for her!

However, after searching Jiang Ruren's courtyard, they couldn't find Xiao Tao. But in a shed, they found Xiao Tao's usual basket, so they brought it over.

Xiao Tao used to be a maid in the sewing room, so she often carried a basket to do needlework.

Especially in spring and summer, she would often sit under the eaves, basking in the sun, and do some needlework.

It was precisely because she was too focused on her needlework last year that she failed to pay her respects to the princess in time, which angered the princess.

Strictly speaking, Xiao Tao was also unlucky.

The princess was in a bad mood that day and came in a huff, so Xiao Tao just happened to walk right into her trap.

The old woman beside the princess lowered her head, looking somewhat guilty.

The reason why the princess punished Xiao Tao that day was mainly because she had been angered by Madam Jiang, so she took it out on Xiao Tao to vent her anger.

Perhaps that's why Xiao Tao's soul returned and immediately sought revenge on Madam Jiang.

This matter was thus left unresolved.

How can we investigate further?

Is it really haunted?

In any case, Madam Jiang suffered an undeserved misfortune.

Moreover, after being instructed by the Song family, Jiang Ning only said that he had heard about this secret in the streets and wanted to have someone investigate whether someone was deliberately fooling the people and whether the person behind it was related to Li Ye, so he arranged for someone to investigate.

As for why suspicion was placed on Li Ye?

That's because one of the old women who accompanied Li Ye when he fled the capital was skilled in this tactic, and she even helped Li Ye win over several minor officials.

Of course, they were all dealt with in the end.

Jiang Ning's statement seems to be flawless; its starting point is still for the sake of the prince.

Therefore, this matter really cannot be blamed on Jiang Ning.

The matter was temporarily put to rest, and the old woman Zhang was handed over to the authorities for legal proceedings.

Since Zhang Daopo had no murder cases on her hands, she only had to pay a fine to settle the matter.

When Song returned home, she told her husband about it, but she felt uneasy, thinking there must be some other hidden story behind it.

"How can a dead person appear in broad daylight? This is clearly just Feng's nonsense, and you believe it?"

"But we did find the basket that Xiao Tao used to use, and her name is still on it. There's no mistake."

Jiang Yanhui shook his head: "Someone must be up to something in the dark."

It is said that another ghost story occurred in the Prince Zhong's mansion that very night.

One of Zhao Yue's senior nannies actually hanged herself.

This is so scary!

Just before resting that night, she received praise from the princess, and her servants came to fawn over her. Some even offered their daughters to her son as concubines.

Just when she was riding high, who could have imagined that a few hours later, she would be found hanged in her own room? There were no signs of a struggle, not even a stranger's footprints. Could it really be suicide?

I don't know who shouted first, "Xiao Tao was beaten to death. Although it was the princess who gave the order, I remember that she was the one who brought it up. The princess just nodded, and then the nanny gave the order to beat her to death!"

Now, everyone panicked.

When the news reached the main courtyard, Zhao Yue was naturally terrified.

The Prince of Zhong has already entered the palace to attend the court assembly, so he is not in his residence.

Zhao Yue was already quite frightened yesterday because of the ghost of Xiao Tao, but when she woke up this morning, she heard the news that the old woman had committed suicide.

Zhao Yue naturally knew about the gossip among her subordinates.

As a princess, she naturally possesses a certain dignity.

"Pass down the order: if anyone dares to spout nonsense again, throw them out!"

"Yes, princess."

"Have someone investigate thoroughly and find out what really happened."

"Yes."

At this moment, everyone in the Prince Zhong's mansion, from top to bottom, was filled with anxiety.

Jiang Ning, who was still grieving over her miscarriage, was filled with fear after hearing the news. She couldn't care less about being sad or not.

Yes, it's fear!

Others might just be spreading rumors about Xiao Tao's ghost killing people, but Jiang Ning truly believed it!

The reason is simple: she herself was reborn. So if she can be reborn, why can't Xiao Tao be resurrected?

Jiang Ning scared herself so much that she fainted on the spot.

The servants didn't think too much about it, assuming that Madam Jiang was already heartbroken and weak from the miscarriage, and it was perfectly normal that she couldn't accept such frightening news.

After more than an hour of investigation, the butler was completely numb.

Because in the nanny's room, they found the clothes that Xiao Tao was wearing when she was beaten to death, which was the same clothes that Madam Feng saw in Madam Jiang's courtyard yesterday.

Now, the rumors that Xiao Tao's ghost had returned for revenge were spreading like wildfire and could no longer be suppressed.

The news even leaked out of the Prince's mansion, because Xiao Tao had an older sister who had been redeemed from her servitude and married a few years ago. Now she runs a mutton soup shop, right next to a shop that makes flatbread and steamed buns.

In this way, some travelers who were taking a break came over and ordered flatbread from the east shop or steamed buns from the west shop, and had a bowl of hot mutton soup with her. They were very happy!

Xiao Tao was beaten to death last year, and the person who was best able to collect her body was this mutton soup shop owner.

Just when everyone in the Prince Zhong's mansion was in a state of panic, Xiao Tao's sister received a pair of very heavy silver bracelets.

The person who delivered the bracelets was a servant from the Prince Zhong's residence, and Xiao Tao's former good friend. She said that the bracelets were a gift from the Princess Consort last summer because Xiao Tao's needlework had won her the Princess Consort's favor.

"When Xiao Tao was alive, she wanted to give these bracelets to her niece, but unfortunately, she was of lowly status and did not have the freedom to leave the mansion. Now that these things have finally been delivered to you, I can finally fulfill a wish and leave the capital with peace of mind."