Remembering what that person had told her, Duoya made up her mind and said to Lin Yuqiao in a trembling voice, "Consort, it was you who sent me to the Marquis's mansion to find the Second Young Master. The dog blood in the jar was also brought by the Second Young Master. You can't just put all the blame on me now."

Hearing that she had even implicated her second brother, Lin Yuqiao's fear turned into anger. Who on earth came up with this scheme, not only dragging her into it but also targeting Lin Yucheng?

“You say I told you to, but when exactly did I tell you? What day, where, how many people were there, and what did they say to you? Tell me everything clearly. Also, when did you go to the Marquis's residence, what reason did you give for returning, who did you meet, and who can testify that my second brother gave you the things? If you don’t clarify these things and find evidence, you think you can slander us with just empty words? It’s not that easy.”

Lin Yuqiao glared angrily at Duo Yatou, her mind racing, wishing she could blurt out all the suspicious points in one breath to prove her innocence.

She had good intentions, but Wang Shi, overwhelmed by hatred, staggered to her feet, crying and cursing, pointing at Lin Yuqiao and saying, "Enough! Duo'er is your woman, and now there are witnesses and evidence, yet you still deny it! Your Highness, how can such a vicious woman as Lin Shi continue to be a concubine! You must avenge Feng'er!"

Finally, the princess looked at Liu Heng, hoping that he would stop remaining silent and quickly convict Lin Shi, considering his son's misfortune.

The princess's words were filled with anguish, but to Lin Yuqiao, they sounded like a death knell.

She no longer had time to resent Liu Heng's distrust of her; she had to find a way to muddy the waters first. If she were truly convicted, her fate for the rest of her life would be uncertain, but the key issue was that Lin Yucheng might also be implicated innocently and suffer a terrible end.

Therefore, taking a deep breath in secret, Lin Yuqiao turned to face the princess and said, "With so many suspicious points, why doesn't Your Highness let me confront Duoya? You keep calling me a poisonous woman, and you want to convict me based solely on the slander of a servant. That's the behavior of a poisonous woman! I think you clearly bribed Duoya in advance to frame me, and you don't even care about your son!"

Lin Yuqiao's words were so hurtful that the princess almost couldn't stand up, and a metallic taste rose in her throat.

"Lin family, how dare you be so rude!"

Before the princess could speak, Liu Heng finally broke the silence, pulled her to sit down on the couch, and stopped Lin Yuqiao.

Having gone through a life-or-death ordeal, the two were once deeply in love, but now Liu Heng treats her with icy indifference.

She had treated him with sincerity, believing that "I can entrust my life to you and I will never betray you," but all she got in return was his cold skepticism and rebuke.

Lin Yuqiao felt a chill in her heart, and she could no longer hold back her tears.

“Even if the Prince and Princess insist on framing me with a fabricated crime, they cannot lie through their teeth. Not to mention that doing this would not benefit me in the slightest, even if I really did it, how could I let her leave such obvious evidence! In the past few days, how many opportunities have I had to quietly dispose of that jar of braised food?”

After saying this, Lin Yuqiao still stared at Liu Heng with her neck stiff, biting her lower lip hard, and blood slowly spread in her mouth.

"Mr. Lin, please go back first. Once this matter is thoroughly investigated, justice will be served."

Looking at her stubborn figure, Liu Heng felt a strange sense of panic. Seeing her so heartbroken, he couldn't help but put aside his original plans.

Therefore, in order to ease the current situation, he asked Lin Yuqiao to go back.

Originally, there was no clue about Dafu's illness, and he couldn't find anything useful. But someone deliberately added unnecessary details, and these subsequent clues gave him a starting point.

From the moment Duo Yatou implicated Lin Yuqiao, he didn't believe a word of it. Later, when Duo Yatou also implicated Lin Yucheng, he had a breakthrough. He realized who was probably behind it, confirming his long-held suspicions.

The other party was despicable and used underhanded tactics. Targeting him alone was not enough; they even extended their reach into his backyard, making Liu Heng both hate and despise them. He decided to plan ahead.

No matter what he encountered, even when facing life and death, he never stopped pursuing his goal. Now, although he was heartbroken by the loss of his youngest son, he did not lose his composure. Instead, he immediately devised a plan and made other arrangements.

Although Liu Heng considered the overall situation, his decision to let Lin Yuqiao go back was seen as blatant favoritism by the princess.

The princess, thinking of her innocent youngest son suffering immense pain as his life slowly faded away, while the murderer remained unconvinced, vomited up a mouthful of blood that had been stuck in her throat.

Upon seeing the princess vomit blood, everyone around them immediately panicked. Granny Zhou rushed over, wailing and wailing, and used a handkerchief to wipe away the blood from the princess.

Liu Kang also had tears in his eyes, quite dissatisfied with Liu Heng's actions.

"Father, you must be discerning! The evidence is irrefutable. You must not show favoritism and let your brother suffer this injustice!"

The doctor who had previously examined the problematic braised food was called back. Liu Heng arranged for someone to help the princess back into the house. Turning around, he looked at Liu Kang, who had a face full of resentment and anger, and felt a little disappointed.

"A true man stands tall and upright, why act like a woman! Don't be tripped up by superficial things."

These successive accidents left Liu Heng feeling exhausted and unwilling to say anything more, only offering Liu Kang a final piece of advice. He had high hopes for Liu Kang, hoping he would use his brain more and not disappoint him.

After returning home, Lin Yuqiao, disregarding her sadness, lashed out at Jiang Mama and the others without even taking a breath.

She entrusted them with all the affairs of the courtyard, but they failed to do a good job in every aspect.

Given Duo Yatou's usual behavior, even if she didn't do anything disloyal today, it should have been dealt with sooner rather than later. Why didn't anyone tell her?

"Do you really think nobody knew she was such a troublemaker?!"

Upon hearing her words, everyone lowered their heads, and Granny Fang couldn't help but kneel down, her knees buckling.

"My lady, it's all my fault. I'm on good terms with Granny Lu, so I gave her some face, thinking that Granny Lu and her husband are both reliable. I thought that Duoya would be fine once she was married off. I never expected to cause you so much trouble."

Sighing and suppressing her anger, Lin Yuqiao tried to reflect on herself in her heart first.

She was too stupid and clueless, and she had big problems with both Liu Heng and her daily life.

From childhood to adulthood, she was used to Li Shi and Lin Yucheng making plans for her in everything. Even after she got married, she remained dependent on them and never stood on her own two feet.

To avoid being lazy, she delegated all the affairs of the courtyard to those around her, and had absolutely no control over the other servants who followed her. Before this incident, she didn't even know who Duoya was.

The fact that she acted so thoroughly as a hands-off manager created a loophole that others could exploit.

She thought everyone could be like Li, doing everything for her without her having to worry about anything, and simply enjoying the fruits of her labor. She even thought that by capturing Liu Heng's heart, she had everything, that she didn't need to care about anything else, that everything would be within her grasp, and that she would have all the benefits.

Reality has now dealt her a harsh blow. If she doesn't change herself and continues to be foolish, even if she gets a good hand, she won't be able to win in the end.

Now, a mere girl has caused her such a miserable situation, almost leading to her utter ruin. Even after she returns, the blame she carried hasn't been cleared, and she might even implicate her second brother.

Lin Yuqiao suddenly slammed her head hard on the table, leaving Jiang Mama and the others stunned.

Grinning and touching the swollen bump on her forehead, Lin Yuqiao had never been so lucid.

Whether her sincere feelings were misplaced or the mishaps caused by Duo Yatou, now is not the time for resentment and complaints. The right thing to do is to make amends and live well in the days to come.

As for Liu Heng, the two had different values, and she was even a concubine in terms of status. She didn't know where she got the confidence to have such high expectations of him.

Lin Yuqiao quietly let Qingming apply the medicine to her. Looking at the still-kneeling Granny Fang, she said softly, "Granny, you've watched me grow up since I was little, and you're the person I trust most. To be honest, I was partly to blame for what happened today, but I never usually interfere in these matters. This is the first time, so I won't hold it against you. Granny, you'll be fined half a year's salary. In the future, Granny, please don't let personal relationships dictate your actions."

"This old servant knows that such a thing will never happen again."

Granny Fang kowtowed on the ground with tears in her eyes, making a promise.

Looking at the others, Lin Yuqiao wasn't going to let them off the hook either. "Don't any of you know what kind of person Duo Ya Tou is? Yet you didn't tell me, and you were all fined three months' salary. I'm easy to talk to, but you can't fool me with that."

Although she has always been gentle with those around her, she must also have the principles she is supposed to uphold.

"I'm only giving you this one chance. If any more problems arise, I won't be so lenient. I've given you all this face, and I hope you won't let me down."

Everyone knelt down and formed a circle, nodding in agreement.

After disciplining the people, Lin Yuqiao remembered that the Lu family was part of her dowry, so she asked Granny Jiang, "Is the Lu family's indenture with me? Bring it to me."

These indentures were considered important part of the dowry. Granny Jiang always carried the key with her, and upon hearing her words, she quickly took out the key and went to retrieve it.

Holding the three thin sheets of paper, Lin Yuqiao sighed. The Lu family had signed a death contract when they were in the Marquis's mansion, meaning they would be slaves for life.

In those days, once a person's fingerprint was affixed to a contract of indenture and the matter was reported to the authorities and recorded, they became the property of their master, like living objects whose fates were entirely at the master's disposal.

"Go and give the indenture to the prince, and tell him what I said. Torture them to death. I don't believe they can keep their mouth shut and not tell the truth."

Duo Yatou betrayed her first, and if she were to be soft-hearted towards these people again, she would only harm herself.

After Qingming received the order and left, Lin Yuqiao instructed Jiang Mama and Fang Mama, "Give me the roster of everyone in the courtyard. Each person should have their own duties. If they need to leave the courtyard, they must inform you first, and then you can report back to me. Tell the old women at the gate to keep a close watch. The rules in the courtyard need to be established. How can we allow just anyone to come and go as they please!"

She should have done this a long time ago. She had already dealt with a few people, and the others seemed to behave themselves a bit better, but the rules were still not strict enough.

Meanwhile, Liu Heng accepted the indenture presented with the sword, and after hearing Lin Yuqiao's message, he nodded slightly. She was quite quick-witted; her reactions today were also very fast, and her questions were all spot on.

"Let's do as the concubine says."

Under severe torture, Liu Heng heard a reply early the next morning: Duo Yatou had told the truth.

When Duoya was in the Marquis's mansion, she had an affair with Chenghu, a servant in the courtyard of the Third Young Master Lin Yufeng. Chenghu was clever and handsome, so Duoya was devoted to him even before they were engaged.

As a result, during the triennial marriage ceremony for the servants in the mansion, Madam Li arranged for one of her maids to marry Cheng Hu. When Duoya learned of the news, she cried her heart out, but her parents insisted on preventing her from going to see the madam, and Cheng Hu did not refuse the marriage.

After the wedding, she discovered she was pregnant. Old Mrs. Lu, feigning a cold, personally brewed medicine for her and forced it down her throat. She was in excruciating pain, and by the time she managed to abort the child, her body was ruined, and she could no longer have children.

Duo Yatou suddenly felt that she had no hope left. From then on, she became a completely different person.

Later, she went to the Prince of Huaiyang's mansion with Lin Yuqiao, and continued to cause trouble. Her reputation was ruined, and no one wanted to marry her anymore. Her parents gradually stopped talking about marriage, which made her even more reckless.

Cheng Hu was on good terms with Cheng Bao, the servant of Lin Yuqi, so Cheng Bao also knew about this case. At night, he told his beloved wife about it on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Cheng Bao's wife, Lin Lang, was a maidservant to Lady Jin, the wife of the Crown Prince. When she learned that Lady Jin was looking for someone to contact the person who went to the Prince's mansion with Lin Yuqiao, she mentioned the maidservant.

Jin coerced Chenghu into sending a message to Duoyatou, inviting her to a pavilion outside the city.

After the others arrived, Madam Jin personally persuaded Duoya to agree to "help out" in the Prince's mansion.

At first, Duoya didn't dare, but Jin threatened her, "Anyway, you know everything now, and you won't live if you don't agree. Not only you, but I'll also make sure your father and mother don't live long. Even if you go to the Prince's mansion with the concubine, you're still from the Marquis's mansion, and your indenture is still with me..."

Although she herself didn't care about anything anymore, Duo Yatou's Achilles' heel was her parents. She was their only child, and they doted on her. The thought of her parents being tormented by the Crown Prince's wife because of her made her soften.

Seeing that the man was already frightened, Jin tried to persuade him gently, "If you agree, after the matter is settled, I will make sure that Chenghu divorces his wife and marries you again."

Cheng Hu was the dream and tenderness in Duo Yatou's heart for life, and the thought of marrying Cheng Hu again made Duo Yatou's heart flutter. Now she had no choice but to agree, so she mustered up her courage and obeyed the Crown Princess's arrangement.

Everything was going smoothly until Duo Yatou hooked up with Dao Tong and, taking advantage of the early morning when there weren't many people around, she pestered Dao Tong to go see Da Fu.

Daotong secretly showed Dafu to her, and she also took out the braised duck feet from her purse and fed them to Dafu.

Although she was frightened when she was taken to the Princess's residence, she was prepared. The Crown Princess had told her that their indenture was not in the concubine's possession, and that if the concubine was convicted, the Marquis's mansion would be notified. Upon hearing the news, Jin went to the Prince's mansion to try and bring her family back.

Although she would suffer a bit, as long as she remembered what she should and shouldn't say, when she returned to the Marquis's mansion, Madam Jin would release her entire family, including Cheng Hu, and give them some money. At that time, they would no longer be slaves and could go wherever they wanted.

Duo Yatou was surprised that the concubine reacted so quickly, and she was stumped by one question after another, and was not convicted on the spot. At that moment, she felt uneasy.

That night, the entire family of three was tortured. She herself was the lightest, while her parents were hung in the basement and beaten to death. Neither the Marquis's mansion was notified, and no one cared whether they lived or died.

“Our family’s indenture is at the Marquis of Chenliang’s residence. You, you should go find the heir’s wife and ask her to take us back.”

Duo Yatou was beaten so badly that she couldn't bear it anymore. Seeing that her parents were covered in blood, she could no longer cry out. She felt an indescribable regret and quickly brought up the Crown Princess.

The steward, who was watching the execution from the side, sneered upon hearing her words.

"Who do you think you are? Killing you is as easy as crushing a few ants. Who cares where your indentures are? After doing such a thing, you still expect the Marquis's mansion to send someone to take you out? I advise you to be honest. For your parents' sake, hurry up and tell them everything."

Watching her parents go from crying incessantly to falling silent, Duoyatou felt both fear and regret. Everything was different from what the young master's wife had said; not only was she suffering, but her parents were also implicated.

Finally, unable to resist any longer, she had no choice but to tell the whole story in order to stop her parents from being beaten.

"It was all the Crown Prince's wife who asked me to do it. It was the Crown Prince's wife!"

Liu Heng sneered inwardly after hearing the reply. The other group of people he sent out also found out that Lin Yuqi and Feng Jin had met before. It was obvious who was behind this.

The Crown Prince is now at his wit's end and is resorting to desperate measures. Now that he's on the verge of losing his position, instead of trying to make amends, he's trying every possible way to retaliate.

The ordeal of his youngest son made Liu Heng even more vigilant amidst his pain. He needed to act quickly; the first priority was to remove the crown prince from his position.

To avoid further attacks on his backyard using various loopholes, he decided not to publicize the results of the investigation and instead used his youngest son's situation to divert attention from the outside world, creating the illusion that his backyard was unstable.

His original plan was to first make Lin Yuqiao take the blame, so as to lower the guard of the Crown Prince and the others. After his plan was successfully implemented in a couple of days, he would then reveal the truth and make up for the grievances she had suffered.

But her expression on the field was so aggrieved, and seeing her tears, he couldn't bear it. He didn't want her to suffer even if it was just for a few days.

The plan was changed at the last minute. Liu Heng neither revealed the truth nor convicted Lin Yuqiao, but temporarily confined her to her quarters. However, it was not easy to keep it from the Princess.

"You can handle these people as you see fit."

Liu Heng ordered the executioner to deal with Duo Ya's entire family. He didn't intend to seek revenge on Lin Yuqi and her husband. After all, they were just the Crown Prince's dogs; he'd let them run wild for a few more days.

Once he achieves his goal, these two people will definitely not have a good ending.

Before Liu Heng could explain the truth to the princess, Liu Feng passed away around noon.

The princess had cried until she had no strength left. She knelt by the bed, holding Liu Feng's hand tightly. Having vomited a large amount of blood earlier, her face was sallow and she looked extremely haggard. Liu Kang and Liu Ling also knelt beside her, weeping.

Suppressing his grief, Liu Heng released the princess's hand and personally changed his son's clothes for burial.

Liu Feng suffered this misfortune entirely because of his father; he had wronged Liu Feng.

A tear fell, landing on the lid of the coffin. Clenching his fist, Liu Heng vowed in his heart that he would not let his son die in vain.

That very night, Liu Heng explained to the princess, who was struggling to stay upright and determined to seek revenge on Lin Yuqiao, that everything was done by the Crown Prince and the heir of Chenliang Marquis and his wife, and had nothing to do with Lin Yuqiao. After hearing his words, the princess slumped onto the couch, her expression blank.

Her son's death felt like it had taken away half of her life. On the day Liu Feng died, she seemed to have cried all her tears out.

Because Liu Feng was not yet fully grown, his funeral could not be grand; he could only be quietly buried in the royal mausoleum. After enduring the ordeal of Liu Feng's burial, the princess fell ill.

The residence of Marquis Chen Liang.

When Lin Yuqi and Madam Jin heard that the third young master of the Prince's Mansion was ill, they knew that their plan had succeeded.

But after waiting for several days, no message came from the Prince's Mansion to her family, saying that it was done by the concubine. Lin Yuqi began to feel uneasy.

"Do you think Duo Yatou might have already betrayed us?"

Mrs. Jin was also annoyed, "That idiot! I taught her what to say, and it still didn't work out!"

Seeing how easily Lin Yuqi could handle things, Madam Jin felt contempt and continued, "Don't worry, I had Cheng Hu arrange to meet Duo Yaya outside the city. No one will see us. That thing was brought back from the Crown Prince's residence by you, so it won't be traced back to you. Besides, even if she tells us, Cheng Hu is the Third Prince's servant, so there's no evidence to implicate us. If they ask, we can turn the tables. If you're really worried, find a chance to get rid of Cheng Hu in the next couple of days."

She never intended to care whether Duoya lived or died. Their family's indentures weren't even in the Marquis's mansion; her previous promises were just to appease her. She was certain that even if Duoya implicated her, there wouldn't be any conclusive evidence, and she could still deny it.

Who could believe that her sister-in-law would scheme to harm her sister-in-law's eldest son?

Cheng Hu was the third brother's servant, which fits the previous claim that he had implicated Lin Yucheng. They were brothers, so they must have been of one mind and had helped Lin Yuqiao harm the prince's legitimate son.

The thought that the one who died was the Third Young Master filled Jin with regret.

If only the heir of the Prince of Huaiyang had been the one who was harmed back then, this matter would have definitely blown up. No matter how much the Prince of Huaiyang liked Lin Yuqiao, he wouldn't have let her off the hook. Lin Yuqiao and Lin Yucheng would both have met with bad ends.

"Go and find out more. I don't believe the princess can tolerate the concubine killing her own son."

She ordered her men to continue gathering information, but Jin still didn't believe that even if the prince was biased, the princess could let Lin Yuqiao go unpunished.