Time to eat, time to eat!
Jiang Yun Sui was always the most eager when it came to mealtimes.
But as they stepped into the dining hall, they found Shen Qingzhu had not yet left. He stood before the table, holding a dish in his chopsticks, his expression grave. Steward Li stood beside him, looking equally troubled.
The moment Ji Yan’an saw this, his face hardened.
Jiang Yun Sui hopped forward, but sensing the heavy atmosphere, she fell silent at once and tried her best to make herself as small and unnoticeable as possible.
“It is moon-pollen,” Shen Qingzhu confirmed, bringing the dish close to his nose to sniff. “This substance will trigger and worsen the poison already present in the Young Lord’s body.”
Jiang Yun Sui stared at the dish. It looked strangely familiar, and a sudden feeling of unease settled in her chest.
“Bring everyone who has handled this dish before me,” Ji Yan’an ordered, his voice cold and sharp.
Clearly, there would be no meal today.
Jiang Yun Sui rubbed her empty stomach, but she knew better than to speak up now.
Soon, all those who had come into contact with the dish were brought out into the courtyard. Following the others, Jiang Yun Sui caught sight of Cook Chen kneeling on the ground.
In total, five people knelt there: Cook Chen, the head chef, two kitchen helpers, and the maid who had carried the food to the table. All of them trembled, their faces ashen with fear.
Jiang Yun Sui’s own heart raced she suddenly realized what the dish was made of.
It was those mushrooms I dug up.
What should she do?
Shaking slightly, she hobbled over and knelt obediently beside Cook Chen, her small face turning pale.
All eyes immediately turned toward her.
“What are you doing now?” Ji Yan’an asked, his gaze dark and heavy. This little maid always seemed to do the most unexpected things.
Cook Chen looked at Jiang Yun Sui, her expression growing even more anxious.
Jiang Yun Sui swallowed hard, her voice trembling. “I… I was the one who dug up those big mushrooms.”
She gripped Cook Chen’s sleeve tightly. “They… they aren’t poisonous, I promise.”
Ji Yan’an stared at her intently, his eyes unreadable.
At that moment, Shen Qingzhu spoke up. “The mushrooms themselves are harmless. The poison was added later.”
Hearing this, Jiang Yun Sui let out a breath of relief. “Then… then Aunt Chen is not in trouble?”
“Quiet. I will question everyone properly,” Ji Yan’an cut in.
Jiang Yun Sui obediently clamped her mouth shut mostly because the look in his eyes was far too fierce. She stayed kneeling beside Cook Chen, listening as Ji Yan’an began to interrogate the others.
Cook Chen was questioned as well, but she explained that after handing the mushrooms over to the main kitchen, she had not touched them again.
“Moon-pollen dissolves easily in water,” Shen Qingzhu added. “Ingredients are always washed thoroughly before cooking. If Cook Chen did not handle the mushrooms after delivering them, then she can likely be ruled out.”
Cook Chen was quick to speak up. “As a cook, I work in a separate kitchen responsible only for the servants’ meals. I did not set foot in the main kitchen after handing those mushrooms over. Everyone in the side kitchen can vouch for me.”
The others also gave their accounts, and none appeared to be lying.
Ji Yan’an remained silent, but Steward Li could tell he was deeply displeased.
“Moon-pollen carries a distinct scent,” Shen Qingzhu suggested. “If I remember correctly, the Ji army trains hounds specially for tracking could they be of use here?”
“Nan Mo, bring Blackie,” Ji Yan’an commanded.
While waiting for the dog, Ji Yan’an turned back to the kneeling servants. “Think carefully. Did anyone else come near this dish at any point? If we cannot find the culprit, I will have no choice but to hold everyone responsible.”
His voice, though young and clear, carried a cold, ruthless edge. This was a side of Ji Yan’an that Jiang Yun Sui had never seen before. He was not making an empty threat.
Realizing this, Jiang Yun Sui pressed herself even closer to Cook Chen.
She pressed her lips together and remained silent.
“I… I remember something now,” the maid who had carried the dish said, her voice trembling. “It was Zhou Zhuzhu. Just as I was about to bring the dish out, she leaned in, lifted the lid, and said she wanted to see how Chef Zhu prepared it so she could learn for herself.”
Ji Yan’an’s gaze shifted to Chef Zhu, who began to shake uncontrollably, already cursing Zhou Zhuzhu in his heart.
“Young Lord, I only gave her a few pointers on cooking because her mother and I come from the same hometown. I have no other connection to her at all!”
Jiang Yun Sui’s mind wandered the name sounded strangely familiar.
“Bring her here,” Ji Yan’an ordered.
They did not have to wait long. Soon, Aunt Zhou and her daughter Zhou Zhuzhu were led into the courtyard.
Jiang Yun Sui realized at once so it’s them! No wonder the name rang a bell.
The moment they arrived, both began loudly protesting their innocence.
“Zhou Zhuzhu,” Ji Yan’an said calmly, “you added moon-pollen to this dish.”
Zhou Zhuzhu’s face turned ashen. Her eyes darted left and right, clearly revealing her guilt, yet she shook her head frantically and insisted she knew nothing about it.
Aunt Zhou was trembling all over. “Young Lord, we have no idea what this ‘pollen’ is! It must be those mushrooms she brought they are the ones at fault!” She pointed accusingly at Cook Chen.
Ji Yan’an suddenly smiled, but it was a smile that sent chills down everyone’s spine.
“When did I ever say which dish was poisoned?”
Aunt Zhou’s mind went completely blank. She tried to defend herself, but only managed to stammer out disjointed, confused words. “I… I don’t know… it must be… no, I mean…” Cold sweat poured down her back.
Zhou Zhuzhu was quicker-witted. She pressed her forehead hard against the ground, making a loud thudding sound. “Young Lord, what my mother means is that seeing Cook Chen here, she naturally assumed the mushrooms were to blame since Cook Chen only brought those mushrooms to the main kitchen and never went near it again after that.”
Aunt Zhou nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, exactly!”
But in his heart, Ji Yan’an was already certain the two women were involved.
Just then, Nan Mo returned, leading a large dog. It was jet-black, with a glossy coat and a strong, sturdy build.
“Young Lord, I have brought Blackie.”
Jiang Yun Sui could not help but stare at the animal.
The dog noticed her too. Without warning, it tugged Nan Mo off course and trotted straight over to Jiang Yun Sui. Once again, she found herself the center of everyone’s attention.
Jiang Yun Sui thought helplessly: I really don’t want this kind of attention, thank you very much.
She glanced shyly at Ji Yan’an, then gently pushed the dog’s head away. “You’re working right now go back.”
But Blackie’s tail wagged so fast it became a blur, and he kept trying to nuzzle and rub against her. Even Nan Mo could barely hold him back.
Jiang Yun Sui felt close to despair. We’re in the middle of catching a culprit, and this dog is clinging to me like this what if the Young Lord gets the wrong idea?
“Blackie, come here.”
The big black dog glanced at Ji Yan’an, gave Jiang Yun Sui one last affectionate rub, then trotted over and sat obediently at his master’s feet looking every bit the dignified hound he was supposed to be.
Ji Yan’an rested a hand on the dog’s head. “Bring the dish out.”
Granny Zhou nodded and carried over the dish made from the fine mushrooms.
“Go on,” Ji Yan’an commanded, patting Blackie’s side.
The dog leaned forward and sniffed deeply.
Woof!
Ji Yan’an looked sharply at the people kneeling below. “Search it out.”
Blackie bounded forward, and everyone he passed trembled in fear.
Finally, he stopped right in front of Aunt Zhou and her daughter, barking loudly: Woof! Woof!