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"Interesting, the Beggar's Gang mber who stole the Lotus Bowl said he was forced by rry Woods, the Eight-Bag Elder of the Beggars' Sect died under the signature deadly technique of the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Dragon Sect, and the Deputy of the Heavenly Dragon Sect was killed by an expert wielding a staff."
Ma Lu stroked his chin, "Is it my illusion, or do I always feel like soone is intentionally intensifying the conflict between the Beggars' Sect and the Heavenly Dragon Sect?"
"Eh, you think so too? I've had this vague feeling while investigating the whereabouts of the Lotus Bowl these past days."
Gu Qingyi was overjoyed to find her thoughts coincided with Ma Lu's, but she imdiately sighed again, "It's a pity... I can't find any evidence."
During the conversation, she had already turned the room upside down, yet nothing suspicious was found.
Afterward, Gu Qingyi wanted to chat with Mada Xu, but she was politely turned down.
Mada Xu had just lost her husband and was still in sorrow. Gu Qingyi did not press her and asked Manager Zhou to gather all the maids and servants of the mansion, questioning each one in turn.
As a result, she actually did tease out so information this ti.
"You're saying the Deputy of the Heavenly Dragon Sect was sick?" Gu Qingyi looked at a maid working in the back kitchen.
The latter did not answer imdiately but looked at Manager Zhou first, who nodded.
"The master is no longer here, there's no need to keep it a secret anymore."
After speaking, he bowed to Gu Qingyi and Ma Lu, "The master did indeed have a secret illness. About more than ten years ago, he was injured by a very powerful enemy, who left a strand of Yin-Shade True Qi in his body.
"Although this strand of True Qi was suppressed by the master's refined Inner Strength at the ti, it was never fully resolved. Over the years, the master tried many thods and sought nurous divine doctors, but none could do much about this Yin-Shade True Qi.
"When the plum rain season ca, the Yin-Shade True Qi would act up, causing the master unbearable pain, and during severe episodes, he would even struggle to speak.
"Fortunately, later on, Divine Doctor Qu arrived in Qingzhou and prescribed a dicine for the master. As long as the master took it regularly, it would greatly alleviate the suffering during the outbreak."
Upon hearing this, Gu Qingyi slapped her thigh, "That explains it!
"At first, I thought soone had poisoned the Deputy of the Heavenly Dragon Sect, but no signs of poisoning were found when I tested the corpse with a Silver Needle.
"Now it seems that whoever wanted to harm the Deputy didn't need to use poison at all. Simply by tampering with the dicine that the Deputy was supposed to take, making that concoction ineffective, would achieve the sa result."
After speaking, she then asked the maid, "It just happens to be the plum rain season, did the Deputy take his dicine last night?"
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The maid nodded.
"Who prepared the herbal dicine, you?"
The maid seed frightened by Gu Qingyi's aggressive gaze and took a half step back before responding, "The dicine has always been personally prepared by Mada for the master."
"Oh, it was prepared by Mada Xu?" Gu Qingyi turned her head towards Steward Zhou, "I want to talk to Mada Xu."
Steward Zhou's face showed a hint of displeasure, "Haven't I told you already? Mada is overwheld with grief and it is inconvenient to et guests at the mont. And are you suspecting Mada?
"Mada and the master have always been very loving; it is absolutely impossible for her to harm the master."
Steward Zhou spoke decisively, while Ma Lu noticed that a maid seed hesitant to speak. Therefore, while Gu Qingyi and Steward Zhou were arguing, he pulled the maid aside and said softly.
"What is your na."
"Cai… Cai Die."
"Cai Die, do you have sothing else on your mind? It's alright, speak boldly. If anyone blas you, just ntion my na.
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"I am the only heir of Xu Deputy Sect Leader, and even in the presence of Mada Xu, I have a say,"
Hearing him say this, Cai Die felt a bit more at ease and whispered softly, "Then co a bit closer, I'll only tell you."
Upon hearing this, Ma Lu took two more steps towards her and leaned in close to her mouth, catching a whiff of the faint fragrance of orchids.
"Normally, nobody else is allowed in the kitchen when the lady is brewing herbal dicine, but last night, she stepped away for a short while, and that's when the young master sneaked in. I was picking vegetables by the back door and saw everything,"
After finishing, Cai Die blushed and glanced at Ma Lu again, "Young Master Ma, I don't know if this information is of any use to you."
"Thank you. The clue you provided has been a great help,"
Ma Lu smiled at Cai Die, then pulled Gu Qingyi aside to share the news, and Gu Qingyi's spirits lifted.
"This makes Young Master Xu a major suspect."
"Exactly. I rember Fragrance Master Tan also ntioned that Young Master Xu has been infatuated with a courtesan nad Xiao Hong recently, spending seven or eight thousand silver on her. If soone could control Xiao Hong, it would be tantamount to indirectly controlling Young Master Xu."
"We could wait for Fragrance Master Tan, couldn't we? Didn't he go to find soone?"
However, Ma Lu and Gu Qingyi were not able to wait for Tan Mazi's return. Instead, as dusk fell, another beggar appeared at the door.
The n arranged by the Heavenly Dragon Sect to protect Xu Mansion in secret imdiately surrounded the beggar.
Yet the beggar was not afraid at all and even requested to see Mada Xu, claiming he had sothing to deliver to her.
Eventually, Mada Xu, accompanied by Manager Zhou and several of the Heavenly Dragon Sect's capable n, ca to the front door.
This was Ma Lu's first ti seeing Mada Xu; she was a full twenty years younger than Xu Deputy, barely in her forties—perhaps her youthful appearance was due to ticulous self-care.
Aside from the corners of her eyes, there were hardly any wrinkles on her face, clearly she had also been a beauty.
However, at the mont, she looked quite haggard, possibly from having cried too much. Her eyes were slightly swollen and her complexion lacked color; she walked with a shaky step.
The beggar handed over a purse, and upon seeing it, Mada Xu's pupils contracted sharply.
And when she opened the purse and saw the Green Jade Pendant inside, she staggered even more.
"What, what have you done to Erlang?"
The beggar wiped his nose, "Mada Xu, rest assured, your young master is unhard, not a single finger is missing.
"However, a short guy covered in pockmarks brought a big group of thugs and suddenly stord our Yicui Tower, attacking everyone they saw and terrifying the girls inside. Mada Xu, how do you suggest we handle this situation?"
"As long as you don't harm Erlang, I can pay you whatever amount of money you want," said Mada Xu, her voice trembling.
"Good, Mada Xu is indeed straightforward. We won't ask for much, just a thousand silver pieces will suffice, but it must be you who delivers it in person," said the beggar.
"Alternatively, Mada Xu could also try seeking help from the Heavenly Dragon Sect, although we are just a bunch of beggars, we never shy away from trouble."
As he spoke, he looked provocatively around at those gathered, his gaze defiant.
One of the Heavenly Dragon Sect's n, infuriated by his arrogant attitude, was about to make a move, but was stopped by Mada Xu, who said, "Alright, I will go with you."
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