“I believe Wanqi isn’t that careless. We have three children, all under ten years old. How could someone who has been a mother of three be so careless? Therefore, I firmly believe that Wanqi definitely didn’t slip into the pool by accident.” The man named Duobi saw the hint of panic that flashed in Li’s eyes when she said those words, which further solidified his suspicions.

During the year he visited his family only once a month, the wet nurse Wanqi had mentioned Li, the concubine of the Fourth Prince, more or less. She said Wanqi showed little maternal love for the Fourth Prince and spent her days scheming to regain his favor. Moreover, last night, a woman wearing a bamboo hat and a gauze veil gave him one hundred taels of silver, saying that Li, out of pity for the wet nurse's young son, had specially given him her savings from her monthly allowance to bury Wanqi and for his future living expenses. Duobi's family used to be a respectable bondservant family with some military achievements, but in recent years, due to his gambling addiction, they had gradually squandered their once-prosperous fortune.

However, Duobi was not a mindless gambler. He had received the silver from Li's messenger and, based on his understanding of his wife, he guessed that the accident might not be as it seemed. When Que'er appeared at the gate and spoke to him, Duobi recognized her voice as that of the person who had delivered the silver to him the previous night.

Li stared at the somewhat disheveled Manchu man, her mind racing as she tried to figure out how to appease him. If he really took the matter to the Fourth Prince, the consequences would be extremely unfavorable for her. The Fourth Prince was still suspicious of her because of Honghui's affair, and she had only just met him through Hongshi. She absolutely could not let him become suspicious of her again because of this matter; otherwise, her chances of turning things around would be even slimmer.

"What, does Consort Li have nothing to say?" Duobi seized on the panic in Li's eyes and suddenly pressed forward.

Li gave Que'er a wink, and the latter understood. She immediately sent away the maids who were dusting in the room and ordered them not to say a word they heard there.

"Duo Bi, what do you want?" Li stared at Duo Bi with icy eyes. She could tell that this man was trying to gain something for himself through this matter. Otherwise, he wouldn't be standing in front of her saying these things. If he really wanted to seek "justice" for his wife, he would have already told the head nanny what he had just said.

"You're quite the straightforward lady, Consort Duo. You want to find me a job. Wanqi is gone, leaving behind a whole family. I need to find something decent to support them, don't you agree, Consort Duo?" A glint of shrewdness flashed in Duo's eyes. He had long since lost any affection for Wanqi. If her death could secure him a good position in the Fourth Prince's household, the benefits would be immense, far exceeding a mere hundred taels of silver.

Madam Li understood Duo Bi's intentions, smiled faintly, and in her heart she had already cursed this man's ancestors for eighteen generations, but on the surface she showed a calm tone and said: "This princess understands what you mean. It is not impossible to find you a job, but if you..."

Duobi raised his hand in a gesture of respect, interrupting Li Shi's words, and said, "From now on, Duobi will definitely treat Consort as my own mistress and continue to do my best for Consort on behalf of Wanqi."

Madam Li gave a faint smile and said, "Alright, you should go back and bury your wet nurse first. Once I've decided where to send her, I'll immediately send someone to deliver a message to you."

Duo Bi bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Consort. However, I have already mentioned this matter to a distant relative and instructed him to deliver the letter I wrote to the Fourth Prince should anything happen to me. Of course, if Duo Bi is unharmed and can live a good life under the Consort's guidance, that letter will never reach the Fourth Prince's hands."

Li glared at Duo Bi with hatred. If looks could kill, she would have killed him a thousand times over by now. However, to prevent the Fourth Prince from becoming suspicious of her, Li suppressed her extreme disgust and said through gritted teeth, "Don't worry, I will definitely do what I promised you. But I also hope that you can do what you promised."

After Duobi left, Li immediately picked up a vase from the table and smashed it hard on the ground. In an instant, snow-white porcelain shards scattered like broken flower petals.

Que'er dared not move, but Li Si was still not satisfied. She stood up and went to the antique shelf to start smashing things. The maids outside heard the sound of things being smashed inside and dared not enter the room, waiting for Li Shi to finish her tantrum.

"Master, why don't we just go all the way and have Master find someone to get rid of this family?" Que'er dared to step forward and dissuade her after seeing that Madam Li had stopped throwing things and was panting heavily.

"Do you think I don't have enough trouble right now? You absolutely mustn't touch this person. If his whole family is suddenly killed, what do you think Fourth Master will think?" Madam Li said sternly.

"So, Master is just going to let this despicable man blackmail him?" Que'er asked.

"Hurry up and take my waist token out of the mansion. Go tell my father to have my cousin send someone to keep an eye on this Duo Bi, and then see if we can find him a lowly clerk position in the yamen. In short, shut him up and keep a close eye on him." Li Shi never expected to be forced into such a helpless situation by a street ruffian.

Que'er agreed and left.

Meanwhile, Dobi, carrying the wet nurse's body in a carriage, left with the three children.

These messages reached the main courtyard immediately. Yan Yuzhen twirled the tourmaline seven-colored bracelet in her hand, listening to Chunliu and the Fujin's report.

"Yan Yu, what do you think of this matter?" the Fujin asked after hearing Chunliu's explanation.

"I suppose that wet nurse's husband wasn't willing to let it go so easily, so he went to Consort Li's place to ask for money," Yan Yu said disdainfully.

"How dare that man? Is our Consort Li such a weak person?" A hint of disbelief flashed across the Consort's face.

"Does elder sister mean that the man has some kind of leverage over her, which is why Madam Li had no choice but to meet him?" Yan Yu immediately understood the meaning behind the Fujin's words.

"It's a must! Granny Li, go to the Wu Ge residence immediately and make him find out who my wet nurse's husband is. As long as he reveals that incriminating evidence, then perhaps the grudges between me and Madam Li over the years can be settled." The Fujin said coldly.

Yan Yu saw the cold, murderous glint in the Fujin's eyes and knew she was plotting to kill.

“Elder sister, Niohuru is now favored by the master again. We must think of a way to stop her. In my opinion, Li is no longer a concern. The one we should really get rid of is her!” Yan Yu advised.