The Prime Minister's Darling

Chapter 352: Chapter 188: The Next Game (Second Update)_2

Another portion of the silver was exchanged into gold bars by Madam Ling and deposited in the bank. This portion was siphoned off for her personal use.

The old Madam Gu had no idea what Madam Ling was accumulating this private money for? Could she possibly be planning to elope with that bastard?

The old Madam Gu was furious enough to die!

The final ten thousand taels of silver had a rather interesting record. The use was unknown, only several servants’ names were recorded.

“Zhang De…” Marquis Gu muttered this name, feeling somewhat familiar.@@novelbin@@

Huang Zhong said, “My lord, is it that little Zhangzi?”

Marquis Gu pondered, “Little Zhangzi?”

Huang Zhong explained, “Zhang Budao! That man who never gets drunk no matter how much he drinks! A formidable drinker! He used to manage the warehouse before, and later drove the carriage for the late madam for over a year!”

Upon his explanation, Marquis Gu remembered him, the heavy drinker who often messed things up and was later sent back to the warehouse by little Madam Ling, “Is he still in the mansion?”

“He is!” Huang Zhong said.

“What about these others?” Marquis Gu handed the ledger to Huang Zhong.

“These are all here, this one called Liu Chunchun, though…” Huang Zhong was not sure.

“She is not here anymore! But I know where she lives now!” The old Madam Gu’s trusted old maid said from behind the curtain.

Huang Zhong and the trusted old maid were dispatched to locate these people. Most of the servants listed in the ledger were found, a few were missing, but it did not affect the final investigation.

Marquis Gu confronted them in front of Madam Ling.

At first, they denied everything.

Marquis Gu coldly said, “Denial also works, it is written here how much silver you all took, return it to me immediately. If you fail to return it, take it as stolen, and I’ll report to the authorities! I am Marquis Gu, those reported by me and brought into Yamen, I’m afraid they’ll never come out alive!”

At his words, everyone was stunned.

Zhang Budao was the most cowardly, the first one to kowtow and plead, “Mercy, my lord! This silver was given to us by Madam Ling! She asked us to spread rumors throughout the mansion and around the Capital City that the mistress was responsible for the death of the late madam!”

“She also ordered this servant to shatter the inkstone beloved by the Third Young Master and frame it on the little master!” an old maid said.

“She told this servant to tell the Second and Third Young Masters that once the marquis had a new wife, he would abandon them! If the new wife gave birth to a son, the Marquis Residence would belong to the younger brother!” another old maid said.

Among them were those who had served Gu Chengfeng and Gu Chenglin closely.

Gu Chengfeng and Gu Chenglin harbored great prejudices against Yao Family, one part came from the old Madam Gu and Ling Family, another part from the manipulation of these servants.

But their manipulations were skillful, all directed by Madam Ling from the shadows, so that both brothers would listen and the servants wouldn’t be implicated.

A young servant said: “There is also… the time when the dungeon was locked… the Third Young Master wasn’t strong enough, so the door wasn’t completely closed. Madam Ling instructed this servant to close the door completely…”

Even Gu Chenglin himself didn’t know about this matter, he thought he had closed the door fully.

Gu Yan couldn’t open the door due to a heart attack and nearly died inside.

Marquis Gu almost beat Gu Chenglin, his third son, to death.

Gu Changqing was always by the old marquis’ side; Madam Ling couldn’t directly make her move on him, so she extended her control towards Gu Chengfeng and Gu Chenglin.

Whenever the two boys felt wronged by Marquis Gu, crying about how bad their father was and they didn’t want him anymore, the servants would say, “It’s not the marquis’s fault, he used to treat you very well. It’s all because Yao Family gave birth to a younger brother for you, that’s why the marquis is ignoring you.”

The two children vented all their anger on Gu Yan.

Poor Gu Yan, at such a young age, eagerly running to find his brothers, only to be met with their cruelty.

The fury of Marquis Gu finally exploded completely. He stood up, kicked Madam Ling in the chest, and sent her flying!

Madam Ling fell heavily onto the ground, vomiting blood from the corner of her mouth.

The truly heartbreaking moment was now.

Even when he believed that she was carrying another man’s bastard, he never got so angry. But now, after she had made minor moves against Yao Family and Gu Yan, he had such a fit of rage?

That vile woman and her son are unharmed, right?

Aren’t they alive and well?

Could it be about those two hundred thousand taels of silver?

Ha, she served as a beast of burden in this family, even the right to be a mother was stripped away from her!

Isn’t she deserving of this money?!

“Why did you do this?” Marquis Gu looked at Madam Ling confusedly.