While the old woman went to report to the authorities, the front yard also received word of the incident. Hou Xucheng, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, disregarded everything else and quickly spoke softly to the Duke of Dingguo.

"My lord, there was a misunderstanding in the inner quarters today. My wife was foolishly used as a pawn. Now that Princess Qingyu is alright, the Duchess insists on reporting it to the authorities. If it really is reported,... it won't do anyone a good job!"

"How about we just let this matter drop?"

When the Duke of Dingguo heard the report from his wife's attendants and then listened to Hou Xucheng's explanation, he felt a chill in his heart.

In his early years, he was one of those who helped His Majesty defend the country alongside the Duke of Wei, and made great contributions.

As he aged, the physical pain caused by his old injuries returned, and the Duke of Dingguo entered a period of retirement.

It's a pity that he was away fighting in the early years and had children too late. Now, his younger generation has only been in the court for a few years and their positions are only at the sixth rank, so they are not yet worthy of the attention of these powerful families.

Thus, these people were able to openly humiliate the Duke of Dingguo's mansion!

They really think they're made of paper and clay!

So the Duke of Dingguo chuckled and said, “Normally, we men don’t interfere in matters of the inner quarters. But today, someone actually set a trap in my mansion, trying to wipe out my Duke of Dingguo’s family, Lord Hou’s wife, and Princess Qingyu and her husband. I can’t let this go so easily.”

Duke Dingguo glanced at Hou Xucheng and advised in a kind tone, "If you ask me, they've already schemed against your wife, and you're still thinking of covering it up? You should expose them and let those scoundrels who are bullying my Duke Dingguo's mansion and your Vice Minister's mansion by taking advantage of their lack of talent be dragged out!"

Hou Xucheng almost cried: "!!!"

There's no need for you to seek revenge for me like this!

Two days ago, Hou Xucheng heard his wife ask about Qi Yunxiao's situation.

Upon learning that Qi Yunxiao's wife had given birth to triplets, who were also the long-lost daughters of the Duke of Wei's mansion, he immediately set his sights on them.

Ms. Liang said that her niece suffered a severe hemorrhage during a miscarriage and was saved, but was then cruelly divorced by her husband's family.

If Princess Qingyu could be tricked into this scheme, and her innocence was completely ruined, Qi Yunxiao would definitely drift apart from her even if he didn't divorce her.

At that time, whether he marries a concubine or divorces his wife and marries another, his niece from his maternal family who cannot bear children will have a great advantage.

At the time, Hou Xucheng was worried: Qi Yunxiao is now a favorite of His Majesty. If this is not handled properly and it gets to His Majesty's attention, His Majesty might punish him.

Lady Liang said: "His Majesty cares about Qi Yunxiao, not Princess Qingyu."

Moreover, the Duke of Wei has been missing for many years, and the Duchess of Wei is rarely in the capital. Even if Princess Qingyu were to get into trouble, no one would stand up for her or speak well of her.

Hou Xucheng acquiesced.

But who could have imagined that failing to capture Princess Qingyu would anger the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, ultimately backfiring on them?

Memories flashed through Hou Xucheng's mind, and a chill ran down his spine. He wanted to say something more, but the Duke of Dingguo stood up and said, "I'm getting old and feeling a bit dizzy. I'll go and rest first. Zhongkui, you stay here and greet the gentlemen."

The heir of the Duke of Dingguo agreed and asked everyone to sit down for a moment in a gentle voice.

It was unprecedented that the government had been alerted to investigate such private matters within the inner quarters of the household without any major problems arising. Many ladies felt they had lost face and complained one after another.

Lady Dingguo said with a dark face, "The one who should be most heartbroken by today's events is this old woman! I meant well, but who would have thought that someone would disregard the reputations of all the ladies and do such a heinous thing."

“If we don’t investigate this thoroughly today, everyone here will be a suspect, and your younger family members will all be getting married in the future. Who would want to bear such a reputation?”

The ladies and young women looked at each other, bewildered: none of them wanted this kind of reputation.

"I have no choice but to swallow my pride and ask the authorities to clear the names of all the ladies and young women and to find the person behind this."

"Otherwise, who would dare to visit my Duke Dingguo's mansion as a guest in the future?"

Upon hearing this, anyone with a clear conscience naturally fell silent and waited for the person to arrive.

Shen Qingyu glanced back and saw the female guard disguised as a maid hand her a teacup.

Shen Qingyu said calmly, “This is the teacup I drank from. After I finished drinking, my maid, who has some medical knowledge, smelled that the tea had been laced with medicine, so she went to find my husband.”

Everyone's expression changed drastically, only then realizing that Shen Qingyu had actually hidden the teacup!

"The imperial physicians will know what the medicine in here is. They can then check where in the capital this medicine is sold and whose household has bought it, and then they will know everything."

Upon hearing this, the teacup in the hands of the Vice Minister's wife, Lady Liang, clattered to the ground.

All eyes turned to Madam Liang.

Liang's face was already deathly pale, and she couldn't hide it anymore.

She turned her head and glared fiercely at her personal maid.

The personal maid felt a chill in her heart, thinking of Liang's unscrupulous methods, and then thinking that her sons' indentures were still in Liang's hands...

The personal maid gritted her teeth, glared at Shen Qingyu, and blurted out, "I didn't expect you to see through me! I just can't stand your greedy attitude! You dared to sell my mistress such a small amount of soap for two taels of silver a piece! Why don't you just rob her?"

"Madam told me not to talk too much, but I won't! I want to see you make a fool of yourself!" After saying this, the personal maid suddenly slammed her head against a pillar and died instantly.

"You...you insolent servant..." Madam Liang fainted before she could finish speaking.

Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment: of all the people involved today, it was Liang who was making the biggest fuss. Sure enough, it really was her.

No one believed the lies her personal nanny hastily fabricated.

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