"A white character?" Yanran murmured softly, her face showing confusion.

Shen Yu's eyes were filled with rage; it was indeed Bai Yehua who had killed her father.

"Haha..." She laughed bitterly, tears streaming down her face. Bai Yehua had promised before his departure that he would bring her father back safely. Now it seemed it was all a lie.

------

"Young lady, please get up quickly, the old lady has passed away."

Chen Yu was startled awake. She hastily threw on her clothes and rushed to Yixiang Garden, asking about the situation as she went.

"How did he die?"

"Drowned."

"Where did she drown? Was the old lady out?"

"Yesterday, a river was dug outside the back gate of Peony Garden. In the early morning, someone found two people floating in the river. When they pulled them out, they found that it was the old lady and Granny Liu. Liu Xiaoniang has reported it to the authorities and sent someone to Cheng Garden to deliver the message."

Shen Yu went straight to the back gate of the Peony Garden to investigate the situation. The newly dug river was not wide and the current was not rapid. Although Madam Bai was weak, Granny Liu was strong and healthy. Moreover, both of these women were from Jiangnan and were skilled in swimming. How could they have drowned?

Suspicious, she circled around to the main gate of Yixiang Garden and heard bursts of wailing, "Old Madam, yesterday you were still having tea and chatting with Yao'er, asking her to have children for the General's Mansion, how could this happen today..."

Upon entering the courtyard, one sees Liu Yao'er kneeling beside Madam Bai's body, weeping uncontrollably and nearly fainting.

Upon seeing Chen Yu arrive, Gu Erlang stepped forward and lowered his voice, saying, "The coroner has examined the bodies, and both individuals drowned. The yamen has also questioned the people at the Peony Garden. Yesterday, Madam Bai went to the Peony Garden for tea and left after dark, saying she wanted to discuss with Madam Bai whether to build a small bridge at the back gate of the Peony Garden. So she went through the back gate and must not have known that a waterway had been opened outside the gate, which is why she accidentally fell into the water."

Shen Yu naturally didn't believe it. Why would Madam Bai specifically go through the back gate of the Peony Garden to find her? She should have gone through the main gate to take the carriage.

This is clearly a lie fabricated by Liu Yao'er.

She feigned agreement and choked up as she said, "Thank you, Second Brother. Chenyu will handle the old lady's funeral properly."

Turning around, she solemnly instructed the steward of the manor to arrange for the announcement of the death.

The butler looked troubled, knelt down with a thud, and sighed helplessly: "Alas! The old lady is from Jiangnan and has no close confidants anymore; when the master was wronged and the Bai family fell into ruin, all relatives and friends have cut off ties. I'm afraid the only families we can go to are the Mu family, the Gu family, and the Zuo family."

The Bai family was indeed isolated and desolate, which was why Bai Yehua was so eager to curry favor with the Zuo family. The Zuo family had the backing of the Crown Prince and was also related to the Gao family through marriage.

Although the Gao family is unassuming, they hold a prominent position. The former Prime Minister Zhang had close ties with the Gao family, and now that Prime Minister Zhang has died, it is Lord Takahashi Seika who has taken over the position of Prime Minister.

Shen Yu was well aware of the Gao family's power. A few days ago, when Consort Gao disfigured her, she had already asked the Beggars' Sect to investigate Liu Yao'er's background and the Gao family's origins.

Thinking of Bai Yehua killing her father, she couldn't help but burst into tears. She waved to the butler, "In that case, go."

After saying that, she walked towards Liu Yao'er and instructed her, "Liu Xiaoniang has just had a miscarriage and should not be too sad. Quickly help her back to her room to rest."

After Liu Yao'er left, she dismissed all the servants, leaving only Gu Erlang by her side.

She veiled herself, knelt down, and lifted the white cloth covering Madam Bai's body to examine her closely. Although Madam Bai had been submerged in water for several hours, her protruding tongue was enough to prove that she had not drowned. Then, she turned to examine Granny Liu's body, which was in the same condition as Madam Bai's.

It seems that Madam Bai and Granny Liu were suffocated to death and their bodies were dumped in the river.

Although Bai Yehua harmed her father, she absolutely could not let Madam Bai die unjustly. Moreover, the real culprit was very likely Liu Yao'er.

She covered the two corpses and went with Gu Erlang to the yamen to find Master Gu.

However, Master Gu avoided meeting him, claiming that he had important business to attend to.

Shen Yu naturally didn't believe it; the coroner's conclusion differed greatly from the facts, suggesting that the Zuo family had bribed the authorities. Since Old Master Gu was avoiding her, she could only try another way to force the murderer out.

So she went to the back gate of the Peony Garden again to investigate, and to her surprise, she saw Zhang Changle holding a girl's hand tightly, standing by the river. She quickly pulled Cuiwei behind a big tree and quietly watched.

The girl was tall and strong; could this be Zhang Xing'er?

Suddenly, a voice called out "Sister Chang Le," and turning around, they saw a little girl walking towards Zhang Chang Le and her companion. The little girl was just up to Zhang Chang Le's shoulder, and she was quite pretty. Could this be the Zhang Xing'er that Yan Ran had mentioned?

Who is that tall girl?

Continuing to spy, Zhang Changle pulled the two women together towards the main gate of Yixiang Garden. The three of them looked like a family of three from behind. In particular, the tall woman had her arm around Zhang Changle's waist, like a married couple.

Cuiwei asked in confusion, "That girl seems to be a man, and her back view is very familiar. Did you recognize her?"

Shen Yu stared intently. The figure was broad and tall, almost as tall as Liu Yu. The man who was broader than Liu Yu was Bai Yehua, Mu Li... Shen Yu suddenly realized: "It's the Crown Prince."

The Crown Prince dared to disguise himself as a young woman and enter the Peony Garden so openly; he must be having a secret rendezvous with Zhang Chang Le. Could the murderer be someone else? Perhaps Madam Bai and Granny Liu witnessed the Crown Prince's shameful act and were silenced?

Indeed. Shen Yu's guess was spot on.

Yesterday evening, Madam Bai and Granny Liu, with good intentions, went to the Peony Garden to inform Liu Yao'er that a waterway had been opened at the back gate to prevent anyone from accidentally falling into the water. However, as soon as Madam Bai and Granny Liu entered the room, they stumbled upon the Crown Prince and Zhang Chang Le's shameful act. Enraged, they threatened to report it to the Empress.

How could the Crown Prince let Madam Bai go? So, together with Zhang Chang Le, they smothered Madam Bai and Granny Liu to death with a quilt.

Fortunately, Chen Yu noticed something amiss.

She instructed her guards to prepare two boats by the river, then returned to Yixiang Garden to change into a white dress. She then had Cuiwei carry several white garments and hurriedly went to Peony Garden.

The gates of the Peony Garden were tightly shut. Cuiwei knocked on the door, saying, "Madam has brought white clothes. Please open the door quickly."

After a long while, a maid came to open the door.

Cuiwei questioned, "Why has it been delayed for so long?"

"Please forgive me, Madam, but Madam Zuo and her two daughters are talking in Miss Liu's room."

The maid's answer was irrelevant, clearly indicating that she had something to hide.

Shen Yu did not go to Liu Yao'er's room. Instead, she pretended to be angry and shouted, "The old lady has passed away. I want to see how many people know to change into white clothes!"

She searched all the rooms and finally found the bed in the east wing in a mess, along with a black undergarment. Clearly, this was where the Crown Prince and Zhang Changle had their affair.

Seeing the maid follow them in, the two quickly rushed into Liu Yao'er's bedroom.

Liu Yao'er was lying on her back on the bed, Zhang Changle and Zhang Xing'er were sitting on the edge of the bed, and the tall girl was standing next to Zhang Changle with her face down.

As she approached the bed, she smelled a greasy odor. Without a doubt, the tall girl must be the Crown Prince.

To confirm her suspicions, she feigned sobbing, took out a handkerchief to cover her nose, and slowly walked up to Zhang Changle, already choking with grief, "Thank you, Madam Zuo, for coming to see the old lady off on her final journey. But I wonder, who are these two young ladies?"