Lin Wan’er’s explanation sounded somewhat more credible this time.
However, Xiao Che was no longer the Xiao Che who could be deceived by her tears.
He gazed coldly at Lin Wan’er, carefully folded the two letters, and tucked them into his chest.
“This matter, I will get to the bottom of it.”
“Until the truth is revealed, both of you will remain confined to your respective courtyards. Without my order, you are not to step outside your rooms.”
With that, he turned and issued a cold command to a certain corner of the air.
“An Yi.”
A dark figure silently appeared behind him.
“Immediately take men to Huichun Pharmacy in the southern city. Investigate that physician named Cen Yi and this prescription thoroughly.”
“Yes!”
An Yi accepted the order, his figure vanishing in a flash.
Xiao Che didn’t spare another glance at Lin Wan’er, who had collapsed on the ground, nor did he pay attention to Lin Shu, who remained composed beside them. He turned and left with a sweep of his sleeve, his retreating figure resolute.
The farce had temporarily come to an end.
Lin Shu stretched lazily, feeling refreshed and invigorated.
She walked over to Lin Wan’er, whose face was ashen, crouched down, and whispered with a light laugh, “Don’t cry so soon, little sister. The real show is just beginning.”
…
Tingxue Courtyard.
Whenever Lin Shu thought of Lin Wan’er’s deathly pale face, a mischievous smile couldn’t help but curl at the corners of her lips.
Hua Ping entered carrying a bowl of freshly steamed bird’s nest porridge. Seeing her young mistress glowing with vitality, she couldn’t help but laugh. “Young Mistress, you seem to be in high spirits today.”
“Naturally.” Lin Shu took the porridge and took a delighted sip. “Seeing your enemy suffer is more nourishing than any tonic.”
Hua Ping was amused by her words and leaned in closer, whispering, “Young Mistress, I just heard that the men Young Master sent to Huichun Pharmacy have returned. They say that Wang Daifu and his apprentice Cen Yi from Huichun Pharmacy are stubbornly tight-lipped, insisting they don’t know Second Miss and claiming the letter is forged. Young Master was so furious that he has personally taken men over there. He’s detained both the master and apprentice and is interrogating them right inside Huichun Pharmacy!”
Lin Shu paused mid-sip.
He went personally?
She set down the bowl, her eyes instantly sharpening.
According to the original story, this Wang Daifu was Liu Yiniang’s old flame, and Cen Yi was infatuated with Lin Wan’er. Both were utterly devoted to helping Lin Wan’er and would keep their mouths shut tight.
No matter how much Xiao Che interrogated them, he might not get anything out of them.
If this link broke, Lin Wan’er would have a chance to catch her breath and even counterattack.
No, she needed to add fuel to the fire.
Lin Shu immediately stood up and walked to the door, pulling it open a crack.
The two guards were still standing there like door gods, though they seemed considerably more relaxed compared to a few days ago.
She cleared her throat and focused her mental energy.
This time, she tried a new approach.
She whispered a command to the guard on the left: “You suddenly feel that life is meaningless and want to spend an hour watching ants move in the corner.”
The guard’s expression visibly shifted to confusion, then emptiness, finally transforming into a profound contemplation of life’s philosophy.
He silently walked to the corner of the courtyard wall, crouched down, and began intently studying a line of black dots on the ground.
The other guard watched this, completely baffled. “Old Zhang, what are you doing?”
Lin Shu immediately followed up, addressing the remaining guard: “You think your companion has achieved enlightenment, and you want to join him in meditation.”
The guard froze, glanced at Old Zhang in the corner, then looked up at the sky. A flicker of yearning actually appeared on his face as he scurried over and squatted side-by-side with Old Zhang. Two grown men sat facing the wall, sinking into deep contemplation.
Hua Ping watched from behind, utterly dumbfounded.
The Young Miss’s methods were becoming increasingly… supernatural.
“Keep watch over the house,” Lin Shu tossed over her shoulder before slipping out like a cat, heading straight for Huichun Pharmacy.
Under the cover of night, Huichun Pharmacy had long shed the bustle of daytime.
The pharmacy’s main door was tightly shut, the surrounding streets cleared out. Several guards from the marquis’ estate, clad in martial attire, stood watch outside, creating a grim and solemn atmosphere.
Lin Shu circled to the back alley, studying the moderately high courtyard wall. Gritting her teeth, she hitched up her skirt and began climbing hand over foot.
In her previous life, she’d scaled two-meter railings to avoid being late for work—this height was nothing.
Like a gecko, she silently flattened herself against the roof tiles, lifting a corner to peer inside where she had a perfect view of the entire hall.
The medicine hall was brightly lit, the air thick with the scent of herbs and tension.
Xiao Che sat in the master’s seat, his handsome face cold enough to frost over.
Kneeling before him were two men: one was the ashen-faced young apprentice Cen Yi, the other the half-gray-haired Wang Daifu, who appeared unusually calm.
“I’ll ask one more time,” Xiao Che’s voice held no warmth as he slapped two letters on the table. “Did these two letters come from you? Did Lin Wan’er obtain the poison from you?”
Cen Yi trembled violently, shaking his head like a rattle-drum. “N-no… Young Master, please investigate! This commoner has never seen these letters and doesn’t know any Second Miss Lin!”
Wang Daifu stiffened his neck, projecting righteous indignation. “Young Master, my Huichun Pharmacy has practiced medicine for generations, saving lives and helping the wounded. How could we commit such heinous acts? This is clearly a malicious frame-up! I beg Young Master to clear our names!”
Well, well. They’re putting on quite the act.
Lin Shu curled her lip on the rooftop.
The old man had decent composure—much better than that spineless Cen Yi.
Xiao Che’s patience had clearly run out. He picked up the letter requesting medicine and thrust it before Cen Yi. “Do you dare deny recognizing this handwriting? Do you dare claim you never received it?”
Seeing the familiar script, Cen Yi turned even paler, sweat pouring down his face, yet he still clenched his teeth. “This commoner… doesn’t recognize it.”
Xiao Che gave a cold laugh, done with wasting words. He glanced meaningfully at An Yi behind him.
Understanding the signal, An Yi drew a small porcelain bottle from his robe, poured out a black pill, and forced open Cen Yi’s mouth to shove it inside.
“This is the antidote for Intestine Severing Powder,” Xiao Che’s voice drifted ominously. “But it’s also a poison itself. If you don’t speak the truth within one hour of taking it, your intestines will rupture and you’ll die.”
“Do you want to try it?”
Terrified out of his wits, Cen Yi felt a sudden warmth in his trousers as he wet himself, the stench of urine instantly filling the air.
“I’ll talk! I’ll talk!” He completely broke down, sobbing hysterically. “It was… it was Second Miss! Second Miss came to me for the medicine! She said she just wanted to teach some bully servants in the manor a lesson! I… I admired her, so I foolishly agreed…”
Seeing his apprentice confess, Wang Daifu’s face changed dramatically. “You wretched apprentice! What nonsense are you spouting!”
With the truth about to be revealed, Lin Shu’s heart tightened.
No, Cen Yi is merely an accomplice. We must make the principal culprit, Wang Daifu, confess personally.
Gathering all her focus and disregarding the splitting headache she was already suffering, she issued a clear command to Wang Daifu below the hall.
“Wang Daifu, speak everything you know regarding Liu Yiniang and Lin Wan’er!”