After about three incense sticks' worth of time, Doctor Lin and Bai Zhi returned.

Doctor Lin bowed to Lanqin and Lady Nian first, then reported, "Reporting to Consort, I have thoroughly checked all the items in the kitchen and the seasonings, and found no cinnabar!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Nian breathed a sigh of relief. She had been worried that the cinnabar was in the kitchen of the East Courtyard. If that were the case, then what the Fourth Master had said was indeed true. She had indeed been careless and negligent; someone had poisoned her kitchen, and for a long time, without her noticing at all.

The cooks and servants standing in the courtyard all breathed a sigh of relief. They were also afraid that the poison came from the kitchen, in which case they would all be implicated.

"Where did this poison come from?!" Fucha asked. The group exchanged bewildered glances.

Lanqin frowned; she didn't want to inflict torture on people unless absolutely necessary.

"What about the ingredients delivered to the East Courtyard every day? Are those ingredients inspected?" Lanqin asked Doctor Lin.

"Reporting to Consort Lin, the ingredients all came from the main kitchen, so there shouldn't be any problem. I just checked them and found nothing unusual," Doctor Lin said.

Everyone was shocked. If there was a problem with the ingredients, then the entire Yong Prince's mansion's meals would be in danger. Although both the East Courtyard and the South Courtyard had their own kitchens, the ingredients were all obtained from the main kitchen.

“It seems the problem lies with these people!” Fucha said to the cooks and servants standing in the courtyard.

“Yes, these people are all spineless; they won’t talk unless they are tortured!” Madam Ji quickly said.

Hearing their words, Lanqin had no choice but to torture them.

"If you ask me, the problem isn't with me. Niohuru, the Prince sent you to investigate Hongsheng's affairs, why do you keep focusing on me, the Princess Consort!" Seeing that she hadn't found anything, Lady Nian refused to let Lanqin continue investigating the East Courtyard.

"Consort Nian, I don't want to repeat myself. Since the Prince has ordered me to investigate, I will investigate as he sees fit. Consort Nian, you'd better not question me!" Lanqin was too lazy to argue with Consort Nian.

"You!" Madam Nian glared angrily, but she knew she was powerless to do anything about it.

"Baoqin, go tell the head nanny to send someone over!" Lanqin stood up and walked to the group of people, saying, "I didn't want to use torture, but you all know about the Third Prince's affairs. If you know anything, you'd better step forward now, otherwise, if I find out, the Prince will not let you off easily."

His words were delivered in a stern and forceful tone, and everyone standing below held their breath, but no one stepped forward to say anything.

"Consort Nian, why don't we have Doctor Lin examine you as well, not just you, but also your maid and the Third Prince's maid!" Lanqin suddenly thought of something and turned to Consort Nian.

Lady Nian was already dissatisfied with Lanqin's constant targeting of the East Courtyard, and now, seeing her say this, she stood up angrily and said, "Niohuru, what exactly do you mean?"

“I suspect that Consort Nian, as well as your maids and servants around Hongsheng, may all have been poisoned with cinnabar!” Lanqin said.

As soon as Lanqin finished speaking, everyone in the room was shocked.

"How could that be? We're all perfectly fine!" Mrs. Nian sneered contemptuously.

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