The Marquis lady came from a noble family and was personally enfeoffed as a County Princess by the late emperor. Though gentle in temperament, she carried an undeniable authority between her brows.
She was a close childhood friend of Lin Shu’s mother, Li Wanwan, and the marriage alliance between the two households had been personally arranged by the two women.
“Mother.” Xiao Che bowed in greeting.
“Sit. Have you heard the rumors from the Chancellor’s estate?” The Marquis lady set down her teacup, her voice carrying authority without anger.
Xiao Che remained silent.
“Che’er, you’ve been clever since childhood. I’ve always trusted your judgment in reading people and situations.” The Marquis lady’s gaze rested on him—not sharp, yet seemingly capable of seeing through one’s heart. “But this time, you seem somewhat confused.”
She didn’t mention Lin Shu, instead bringing up another matter.
“I was inseparable from Shu’er’s mother. I know better than anyone what kind of person she was—gentle and serene, yet because of this, she suffered repeatedly in the inner household conflicts. What worried her most on her deathbed was her daughter, Shu’er.”
“That child Shu’er has a spoiled and domineering nature, foolish yet unaware of it. But I’ve watched her grow up too. At her core, she isn’t a malicious or vicious person.”
“Would a child who only knows how to express jealousy and dissatisfaction in the most foolish ways resort to poison? And using such insidious, slow-acting poison at that? Che’er, do you think this is a method she could have conceived?”
The Marquis lady’s words struck hard at Xiao Che’s heart.
Indeed.
Lin Shu was spoiled, foolish, and empty-headed.
She only knew how to embarrass him publicly, to cry and clamor to marry him, to bully Lin Wan’er using the most clumsy methods.
Framing someone with poison, linking each step meticulously, remaining calm and collected after the plot failed, even employing that bizarre dark magic for self-preservation.
This was simply not the Lin Shu he knew.
“But what happened in the woodshed…” Xiao Che’s voice was somewhat hoarse.
“I don’t care what happened in the woodshed, nor do I know what occurred. I only know there’s no smoke without fire.” The Marquis lady interrupted him. “Now the rumors outside are spreading vividly, claiming that Wan’er girl hired assassins to kill, attempting to murder Shu’er’s personal maid. If it were truly baseless, how could it spread so quickly and in such detail?”
“Che’er, you are the heir of Jing An Marquis Estate, Shu’er’s nominal fiancé. This matter not only concerns Shu’er’s innocence but also the reputation of our Jing An Marquis Estate and the Chancellor’s estate.”
“No matter how much favor you hold for that Wan’er girl, you must investigate for me! Investigate thoroughly! I will never allow anyone to trample over my dear friend’s daughter and soil the honor of my Jing An Marquis Estate!”
The Marquis lady’s voice suddenly turned severe.
Xiao Che’s heart jolted violently. He stood up and bowed solemnly with cupped hands.
“Mother’s reprimand is justified. Your son understands.”
“Your son will definitely get to the bottom of this and give an account to you, and to Lin Shu.”
When he emerged from the East Wing, Xiao Che’s expression was already cold as ice.
He uttered a single word coldly into the air.
“An Yi.”
A shadowy figure appeared silently behind him like a ghost, kneeling on one knee.
“Master.”
“Go, keep a close watch on Qing Feng Courtyard, especially Lin Wan’er.” Xiao Che’s voice held not a trace of warmth. “Who she meets, what she says, where she sends people—not a single strand of hair is to be missed. Report everything to me.”
“Yes!”
An Yi’s figure merged back into the shadows and disappeared.
…
Inside Tingxue Courtyard.
Hua Ping was animatedly reporting the outside situation to Lin Shu.
“Young lady, you should have seen it—now all the servants in the mansion avoid anyone from Qing Feng Courtyard. Those old women who used to flatter Second Miss are now calling her a vicious woman behind her back!”
“This servant also heard that the Marquis lady just summoned Young Master and gave him a stern scolding. When Young Master came out, his face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. He immediately called for his Shadow Guard—it looks like he’s going to investigate thoroughly!”
Leaning against the soft pillow, Lin Shu showed a faint smile on her pale face.
Excellent.
The Marquis lady truly was the best assist.
Although the original host’s mother was somewhat weak in character, her judgment in choosing friends was first-rate.
This Marquis lady was reasonable, tough in her methods, and extremely loyal. With her putting pressure on Xiao Che, this matter couldn’t possibly be brushed aside lightly.
Over the years, the Marquis lady had helped the original host stay safe and sound on numerous occasions. Now that she wanted to turn things around, the Marquis lady would definitely be her best ally.
“Young lady, what should we do now? Should we… send that letter to Young Master?” Hua Ping lowered her voice, her eyes full of anticipation.
“Not yet.” Lin Shu shook her head.
Sending it now would indeed prove that Lin Wan’er had poisoned her, but it wouldn’t explain how she obtained the letter.
After all, the rumor about hiring assassins was just a rumor.
She needed a more natural opportunity to connect all the evidence, letting Xiao Che discover the truth himself.
What was passively received could be considered a favor.
What was actively uncovered would be solid proof.
She looked at Hua Ping, a calculating glint flashing in her eyes.
“Hua Ping, you’ve been frightened these past two days, your spirit seems unsettled, and you keep having nightmares at night. That’s only natural, isn’t it?”
Hua Ping was momentarily stunned, then understood her young lady’s meaning and nodded vigorously. “Yes, every time I close my eyes, I see those two assassins raising their knives. It makes me tremble all over.”
“Very good.” The corners of Lin Shu’s lips lifted slightly. “Go find some familiar sisters to confide in. Say that in your nightmares, you always hear those two assassins shouting something about Huichun Pharmacy. Tell them you don’t know what it means, but it terrifies you.”
“Remember, say it unintentionally, say it fearfully, as if you’ve been scared out of your wits and are babbling nonsense.”
Hua Ping’s eyes lit up—her young lady was truly clever.
Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!
This way, the clue would be delivered in the most inconspicuous manner, with double the effect.
Even if Lin Wan’er tried to counteraccuse later, she could only claim that Hua Ping had been overly frightened and spoken nonsense. No one would be able to find any concrete evidence.
“Young lady, don’t worry, this servant understands!” Hua Ping accepted the order and immediately turned to leave.
Watching her retreating figure, Lin Shu slowly let out a breath.
The night grew deeper.
In Xiao Che’s study, the lights were brightly lit.
On the desk before him lay an unsheathed long sword, its blade gleaming coldly, reflecting his equally icy expression.
A dark figure appeared once again.
It was An Yi.
“Master.”
“Speak.”
“Lin Wan’er has remained in her room, sending Cui Huan out to gather information. She tried to bribe servants with silver to speak in her defense, but no one paid her any attention. Everyone in Qing Feng Courtyard is panicked.”
This was within Xiao Che’s expectations.
“What else?”
An Yi paused briefly before continuing, “While monitoring, I overheard some servants discussing that Hua Ping, the Eldest Miss Lin’s maid, seems to have been frightened out of her wits by the assassination attempt that night. She’s become mentally unstable and keeps babbling nonsense in her dreams.”
“Nonsense?” Xiao Che’s brow furrowed.