“But you’re the one in charge of the kitchen!” Fourth Master said. “The person who can consistently add appetite-stimulating powder to Uya’s tonics must be someone from the kitchen. It’s impossible for anyone else to be there so often without attracting attention!”

“So what?” Lanqin raised an eyebrow.

“Therefore, someone who can command the people in the kitchen must either be in charge of the kitchen or be able to bribe the people inside,” Fourth Master said.

"Besides Lanqin, who else in this inner quarters can be bribed? Why did you specifically come to ask me if Zhao Mingcai is one of my people? Why is that?" Lanqin asked.

When Lanqin asked him this, Fourth Master suddenly realized that she made a good point. His own words didn't seem to confirm that it was Nan Xiaoyuan who did it, so why did he feel that it was Lanqin?

"Besides these deductions, what else can prove that what you just said to Lanqin is based on evidence?" Lanqin even smiled slightly and said, "Is it that someone once said to you that Lanqin was the one who instigated it?"

"Qin'er, I'm not entirely without reason to ask you this. After all, you've been in charge of the kitchen for so long, and you still are. The tonics for the Uya family have run into problems in the kitchen, do you really think you bear no responsibility whatsoever?" Fourth Master said.

"Oh, ha! Does that mean that as long as I am in charge of the kitchen, I will be responsible for any poisoning or poisoning of anyone in the inner quarters!" Lanqin scoffed, her heart feeling as if it were in the dead of winter.

"I am discussing this with you, not asking you to take responsibility! What kind of attitude is this, Consort? Even if what I said just now did not have a solid basis, it is at least true that Consort has always been dissatisfied with Uya Clan." Seeing Lanqin's disrespectful attitude, the Fourth Prince spoke a little harshly.

Lanqin looked at the Fourth Master, her mind replaying the moments she had spent with him over the past seven years since she transmigrated, and the four children they had borne. But now, all of that seemed to have vanished in front of Wuya.

“I do have grievances against Lady Wuya, and I dislike her very much. But does that mean I would harm her? Lady Nian took over the management of the kitchen when I gave birth to Hongli. Not long ago, she suddenly returned it to me, and I still don’t understand why she’s waiting for me here,” Lanqin said. She had to stand up for herself; she wouldn’t be a lamb to the slaughter. Even if she herself didn’t care, the maids in the South Courtyard and her own children couldn’t be allowed to be tormented. So, although Lanqin’s heart was bleeding, she still suppressed her immense bitterness and argued with the Fourth Prince.

Fourth Master was surprised that Lanqin would speak so frankly about her true feelings, and he became even more suspicious. He said, "You yourself admitted that you have never liked her. Now Zhao Mingcai has admitted that someone instructed him. After a few days of torture, even the toughest bone will be revealed. I came here today, but I still don't believe it was you who said it."

"But Master has already decided in his heart that it was Lanqin who did it, hasn't he?" Lanqin forced back the tears in her eyes, not letting them flow out without dignity.

"I haven't made up my mind yet. I only have doubts. Qin'er, I've always treated you differently from other women. I've said that Wuya is a hurdle in my heart. Actually, I just want her to have a place to stay. She can never stand shoulder to shoulder with you, so why are you forcing her?" Fourth Prince said.

Lanqin clenched the handkerchief in her hand and said, word by word, "I did not harm Princess Wuya. Although I am in charge of the kitchen, it does not mean that I am the one who ordered it. Before judging me guilty, please present the evidence. Your Highness, aren't you supposed to value evidence the most? Why are you making such a subjective judgment in this matter!"

The Fourth Prince had never been criticized like this by a woman before, and he immediately frowned and said, "We'll see what happens after Zhao Mingcai tells us. I'm going to go see Hongli."

After saying this, Fourth Master stood up, looked at Lanqin, and saw that she remained calm and unmoved. He then turned and left.

Cui Niang and the others had been standing outside the house, and upon hearing the conversation inside, they were all extremely anxious.

“Master, your attitude towards the master just now was a bit…” Cui Niang immediately walked in and grabbed Lan Qin’s arm.

"How can we let him have his doubts? In his heart, he's already convinced it was me. If I don't refute it, what awaits us is the ridicule of the Uya clan and the person behind this whole thing. How will he deal with me, with you, with the children?" Lanqin's tears finally fell.

"What's wrong with Master? He clearly dotes on you, so why does he distrust you so much when he encounters Wuya?" Si Hua asked from the side.

“Because she is his first love, and in his heart, she is perfect and unmatched by anyone. On the scales between me and her, he has already leaned towards Uya,” Lanqin said.

“But my lady, are we just going to wait like this? I feel like all of this has happened too suddenly. How did the matter of that Princess Wuya suddenly get involved with us?” said Cui Niang.

"This is precisely the skill of the person behind this scheme. It seems this has been planned for a long time. Uya's increased appetite, leading to her obesity, was deliberately orchestrated. The purpose must be me. They are truly patient!" Lanqin said.

"Master, is it the Fujin?" Cui Niang felt a chill in her heart and asked tremblingly.

“I don’t know, but what I can say is that they have probably joined forces with the Uya clan. How exactly the Uya clan miscarried is now quite terrifying. She was even willing to abandon her own child to slander me,” Lanqin said.

“Master, we can’t just sit here and wait to die. We have to do something. We can’t just let them frame us.” Cui Niang said.

"Cui Niang, go find the head nanny immediately and find out Zhao Mingcai's background from her. Then go out of the manor immediately and see if you can find out anything at his house. The only people who could make him risk his life are probably himself and his family," Lan Qin said.

"Sihua, go and talk to Sister Wu about Chunmei, who was stationed in the Fujin's room back then. Ask her if the Fujin has seen anyone," Lanqin said.

Cui Niang and Si Hua left as ordered, and Lan Qin lost her appetite. She suddenly realized she might have fallen into a trap. If she continued like this, they might have the Fourth Master deal with her, and even her child might be targeted. Could her fate be the same as Li Shi's?

Thinking of this, Lanqin suppressed all the bitterness in her heart. She was, after all, a transmigrator; she couldn't be so pathetic as to be framed!