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  Ming Xuan's great uncle, Yongning Hou Gu Changqi, was a man of limited ability but with some ambition. Since he inherited the title, he has been committed to making the Yongning Hou Mansion prosperous, but unfortunately, his own talent is limited and his mind is not deep, so in many things, he is not very clever.

  But no matter how mediocre a man is, being in the position of Marquis should at least know what's important. What kind of crime is it to harm the imperial concubine and the crown prince? Is this also something that can be spoken about recklessly?

  Madam Hou was slightly stunned, and after a long while, she shook her head. "After Shu Fei passed away, my uncle came over once in a hurry, although he didn't say it directly, but the implication was clear. He said that the stinger of a yellow bee is at its tail, and the heart of a woman is the most poisonous. He never thought he would marry a vicious woman like me."

  She smiled bitterly, "In his eyes, Bai Niang was killed by me, Xi Niang was killed by me, Zhou Niang was killed by me, even my mother Lu Shi was killed by me. Shu Fei's one corpse and two lives are also related to me."

  Ming Xuan's body trembled slightly, "Auntie, what did you say?"

  The sapphire earrings were still in her bosom, and she was about to take them out to ask a question, but before she could ask, Madame Hou said those words with such an tone. Madame Hou's expression was sorrowful and resentful, with a hint of bitterness and grievance in her voice, somewhat like the saying "giving someone a bad name", but in any case, this showed that Madame Hou was indeed aware of Lu Shi's death, and even had some suspicions.

  "Ming Xuan pressed on, 'Aunt, how did my mother really die?'"

  Rui's aunt hurriedly blocked in front of Madame Hou, saying as if explaining, "Seventh Miss, these are all Master Hou's one-sided words, not the truth."

  "Like that white lady, she was having an affair with a young servant and was discovered by the master himself, who personally ordered her to be beaten to death. What does this have to do with Madame Hou? The birth mother of Ninth Miss, Evening Lady, had been kept outside by Master Hou all along, and only died after falling gravely ill. Madame Hou didn't even know where she lived, how could she harm her? As for the Imperial Consort's affair, it's even more unnecessary to mention. You've been to the palace before, you should be clearer than anyone about what kind of place that is. Even if Madame Hou had the audacity to try and harm the Imperial Consort, she wouldn't have had the opportunity."

  She paused for a moment, looking at Ming Xuan's face and said in a low voice, "As for the third madam, Madame Hou would never harm her own family members."

  Ming Xuan's gaze shot a hot and piercing glance at Rui Yaoyao's face, causing Rui Yaoyao to shudder involuntarily.

  Madam Hou raised her head and said, "Mother Ru, go wait outside for a moment, I have something to say to Seventh Miss."

  The quiet inner chamber soon left only two people, Madame Hou looked at Ming Xuan. Her tone was low and melancholic, with a hint of chilliness. "Xuan sister, is a capable and clever child, I suppose you also know from others that my relationship with my mother-in-law is not harmonious. My maternal grandmother's surname is Tian, originally she and my mother were cousins, because of this relationship, after she married in, she took precedence over everything. She was above me, Lord Hou respected her more than he did me as his wife, I have some jealousy towards her. Usually, I rarely interact with her."

  She paused for a moment and then continued, "But despite all that, I have never had any intention of harming her in my heart."

  Ming Xuan's heart skipped a beat, as if she had been placed in an ice cellar. "Auntie, tell me, what really happened on the day my mother passed away? Was it really...?"

  Although Lu was the birth mother of Ming Xuan, to this outsider, she was just a symbol, and she had no memory of her. But for some reason, as she spent more time in this era, she seemed to be more and more integrated into Ming Xuan's original life. She had a natural affection and dependence on Gu Yuanjing. Every time she thought of the wrongly accused and dead Gu Changping and Lu's couple, there was always a string in her heart that was tightly strung. The kind of heart-wrenching pain and nostalgia were no different from her previous life's longing for her deceased mother.

  She seems to have gradually merged into Ming Xuan's body, except for the change in her feelings towards Han Xiuxiu, she is just like Ming Xuan, not much different from before.

  Now, the cause of Lu's death is right in front of her, like a well-hatched egg that could crack open at any moment. She is both anxious and afraid. She is worried that Madame Hou's answer will not satisfy her, and she is also afraid that if this dying woman in front of her is indeed the murderer, how should she face it?

  Madam Hou shook her head, her eyes looking confused, "I don't know."

  Her lips trembled, and her voice shook as she said, "It was the wife of Dingguo Gong who told me that my father had hanged himself to death in the prison of the Ministry of Punishment. I originally wanted to keep it from my mother, but she kept asking me repeatedly, and I couldn't bear it anymore, so I blurted it out... My mother's body was not good to begin with, and at that time she was still unconscious. The blow she received was too great, and when I told her that my father had died, although she seemed to have no reaction and said she didn't believe it, but the next day she passed away!"

  The next moment, Madame Hou's face suddenly turned pale and ashen, her eyes sunken and empty. She grasped Ming Xuan's hands tightly, her gaze chilling to the bone. "But I didn't expect that this news was false, Father hadn't died at all, he indeed hanged himself later, but that was two days after... I rushed to Dingguo Gongfu to question Madame Dingguo, but she said she also heard it from someone, who would have thought that my careless words would spread so quickly without being verified..."

  She was on the verge of tears, "Although it was an unintentional mistake, my mother indeed passed away the next day after hearing this news, and my father's death may not be unrelated to this. I've been telling myself over and over again that this has nothing to do with me, it's not my fault, but in reality, I feel like all of these are my mistakes. The most despicable thing is that I clearly know I'm wrong, yet I'm unable to face this mistake, I don't dare admit it, nor do I dare make amends, fearing people will see through my guilty conscience."

  Ming Xuan sat dazedly, like a pine tree.

  Madam Hou wept and confessed, but it didn't make her feel any better; on the contrary, she only felt a chill in her heart.

  She is not the kind of person who would hastily judge someone as innocent or guilty without considering the circumstances. Her good upbringing and keen judgment, combined with some evidence in her hands, made her realize that Mrs. Hou was just a scapegoat for the mastermind behind the scenes. Although she had once brought a severe snowstorm to Lu Shiwen's doorsteps, dealing him a fatal blow, Mrs. Hou was merely being used. This distinction she could still make.

  What chilled her heart was the attitude of Madame Hou. Let's not mention whether Lu Shi was harmed by Madame Hou or not, but since such a thing had happened in the past, why could Madame Hou still conceal it with a clear conscience and pretend to be an innocent person? Not only that, but also the humiliation and blows that Ming Xuan suffered in Yongning Houfu, although it was a cruel world where people flattered those in power and bullied those who were weak, if Madame Hou had not intentionally tolerated it, things would not have gone so far!

  Madam Hou's voice grew even weaker, "These past few nights, I've been dreaming of my mother. She was embroidering a pattern in the warm pavilion of Antai Temple and asked me if I wanted to join her. In my heart, I thought this must be some kind of omen."

  She raised her head, "Xuan sister, actually I have always been suspicious of the intentions of Ding Guo's wife, and I have also privately questioned her several times. However, she died soon after, and this matter became a cold case. I also had the intention to speak out, but neither the Emperor nor the Marquis wanted to reveal it, and coincidentally, I also had my own private motives, so I didn't tell."

  But my life won't last long, some things should be said clearly, I shouldn't bring these guilt and doubts to the afterlife. If you want to resent me, this is also my own fault, I... am willing to bear it all."

  Ming Xuan remained silent for a long time before looking up and asking, "What did Grand Aunt originally want me to do?"

  Madam Hou's face showed some surprise, but she continued to say, "The noble consort is doing well in the palace, and I have no worries about Huang's character. Cai Shi is also a capable daughter-in-law, with her help, the Yongning Hou Mansion will be even better than when I was in charge. My days are numbered, and my only concern is the marriage of Xian Ge and Lin Jie. Previously, because of the delay by the wife of Pingchang Bo, if I were to go, it would likely be delayed again, and both Xian Ge and Lin Jie are not young anymore..."

  Her eyes were slightly warm, and she begged in a low voice, "I asked Mother Rui to invite Master Hou over for a visit. I want to arrange some things after my death, but Master Hou is unwilling to come. I don't want to ask for help from my natal family either. If the matter of my disagreement with Master Hou becomes public, it will be difficult for our children in the future. As relatives, we need to help each other out. I don't want to cause discord between the two families. On the side of the Hou estate, I also don't want this matter to become known to everyone and have people laugh at us."

  Madam Hou's eyes were filled with anxiety, "I've thought it over and over again, but only Xiang sister can help me deliver this letter to Master Hou."

  She pulled out a yellow letter paper from under the pillow, folded into a square shape. "Thirty years of husband and wife, when it comes to the end, there is no need to tear our faces apart and make it so ugly for the children to live with. Xiao Wu has not yet married, I am also afraid that he will be affected by me. Xiang sister, I hope you can see that although I was wrong, I was used and framed by others, help my elder brother's wife this time, take this letter to my elder brother. At this time, perhaps only the delivered letter, he would take a serious look at it."

  Ming Xuan's eyes slightly lowered, and she took over the letter.

  When a person is about to die, their words are good. Although she found Madame Hou detestable, there was no need to quarrel with someone who was about to die. Moreover, Lin Jie was her good friend and had a mutual affection with Fifth Brother Yuan Xian; in the future, they would have to live together at the Yongning Marquis's residence, the Gu family home. If things were blown open, it wouldn't be good for Lin Jie either. And if Grandmother found out, she would inevitably be heartbroken.

  She thought for a moment, took out the sapphire earrings from her bosom, and asked in a stiff tone, "So to speak, this pendant was left behind by the late Madame Dingguo?"

  Madam Hou's eyes widened bigger than copper bells, and she exclaimed in shock, "How did this thing get on your hand?"

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