"They're just a few guards. When my sister died in the Earl's mansion, why didn't you stand up for her and seek justice?"

"You suspect that Jiang Yao was responsible for your sister's death?"

"Otherwise, my sister started experiencing headaches and weakness after marrying into the Earl's mansion. When she finally died, her mouth was rotting. The imperial physician said she had a strange illness, but guess what? I found a silvery-white liquid in her previous food. I couldn't detect any toxicity with a silver needle, but the horse that ate it died."

"..."

Jiang Shuwan was stunned for a moment.

She had always thought that Guo's eldest daughter had died of a sudden illness. If what Guo Yaqin said was true, then the silvery-white liquid should be mercury.

"Why don't you report this? Your Guo family is a prestigious family; if there is any injustice, His Majesty will surely help you..."

Jiang Shuwan couldn't continue her sentence halfway through.

The Liu family mansion was just an empty shell; Pei Jing married into it and that was that. The Guo family, however, was the real power family.

The Marquis's family already wields immense power. Given the old emperor's temperament, how could he allow the Earl's family to form a marriage alliance with the Guo family?

"You mean His Majesty? No, that can't be..."

Guo Yaqin was a smart woman, and she quickly realized this possibility as well.

However, she clearly couldn't even convince herself, because she remembered that when she discovered the mercury, her father stopped her when she wanted to report it.

Not long after, she was betrothed to the eldest prince by the old emperor.

At the time, she did want to use the eldest prince to avenge her sister, but the Guo family had always avoided getting involved with either prince. She thought her father would object, but to her surprise, he agreed, contrary to his usual behavior.

After that, she spared no effort in helping the eldest prince.

If her father already knew it was the old emperor's doing, then the Guo family's sudden switch of allegiance to the eldest prince would make sense...

"No...it's impossible..."

Tears of disbelief streamed down Guo Yaqin's face. The Earl's Mansion was a snob's place, and she had never thought that her sister's death had anything to do with the Earl's Mansion.

Jiang Yao married into the Earl's family in a hurry, so she was convinced that Jiang Yao was the one who did it.

Yes.

Even if Jiang Yao is incredibly capable, could she really bribe the censors and officials investigating the case? Only the old emperor had that kind of power...

"Waaaaah, sister... sister... my poor sister..."

Covering her face in anguish, Guo Yaqin burst into loud sobs, her voice filled with sorrow and grief.

The cry seemed to burst forth from the depths of the soul, sharp and mournful, echoing continuously in the air.

Her body trembled violently with her crying; she couldn't stop her whole body from shaking.

"Sister... Sister... My sister..."

Tears welled up, and even Qingxing, who was standing guard outside the door, couldn't help but wipe them away.

Jiang Shuwan brushed the snowflakes off her skirt and turned to leave, but Guo Yaqin grabbed her leg.

"Please spare my father, spare his life. Killing you was my doing, killing Jiang Yao was my doing, it has nothing to do with my father..."

"If only I had known then what I know now."

Jiang Shuwan stared at her, her eyes flashing with murderous intent. "If you had any conscience at all, you wouldn't have laid a hand on a newborn baby..."

"When did I kill Jiang Yao's child?"

“My men took one step before someone came to rescue Jiang Yao, and at that time Jiang Yao was still alive, and the baby in her womb had not yet been born…”

"..."

After returning from the Prince You's residence, Jiang Shuwan locked herself in her room.

She didn't leave the house for several days until the head housekeeper rushed in, "Princess, Concubine Liu has fallen into the pond."

Liu Yunyan couldn't swim at all. In the freezing cold, she was half-dead when she was rescued. Recently, Liu Yunyan had been managing all the affairs of the manor. When Jiang Shuwan went to see her, Liu Yunyan was lying on the bed, half-dead, with empty eyes, as if her soul had been taken away.

Seeing Jiang Shuwan, her eyes rolled, and she seemed to want to say something but then stopped, but the next second she shut up.

It was already dark outside.

Snow was falling again from the dark sky, and Liu Yunyan's house was as cold as an ice cellar.

Why wasn't charcoal burned?

"Your Highness, Consort Liu has been staying in the Prince's side room recently, taking care of him. There hasn't been any charcoal in the room," Xia Mama replied to Jiang Shuwan while embracing Liu Yunyan.

Jiang Shuwan frowned.

She hadn't paid attention to that, but Liu Yunyan had been staying in Pei Yanzhi's courtyard for the past few days, so it made no sense that she would move back to her own room after falling into the water.

Given Liu Yunyan's personality, even if the servants wanted to send her back, she would shamelessly beg them to take her back to Pei Yanzhi's courtyard.

Moreover, the place where she fell into the water was closer to Pei Yanzhi's courtyard.

"Princess, we carried Concubine Liu back. The old nanny Xia who serves Concubine Liu told us to carry her back to the Prince's courtyard. Concubine Liu was unwilling and was so frightened that she almost cried."

"Princess, did Aunt Liu see something she shouldn't have?"

Frowning, Jiang Shuwan was about to approach Liu Yunyan to ask her something when she heard the door behind her creak open.

"I heard my cousin fell into the water."

Pei Yanzhi's voice sounded from behind, and Liu Yunyan, startled, burrowed straight into Xia Mama's arms.

Jiang Shuwan: "..."

Frowning, Jiang Shuwan looked back and saw Pei Yanzhi, dressed in a moon-white robe, leaning against the door frame.

He was still recovering from his injuries and looked rather thin. He was speaking while coughing softly.

The man's handsome face was pale.

His hair was loose, only loosely tied back with a red and white embroidered cloud-patterned hairband. He looked both fragile and gentle, standing by the door like a jade tree, elegant and graceful.

One of the ten most beautiful sights in the capital city is Pei Yanzhi dressed in moon-white clothes. Just standing there doing nothing is a beautiful sight in itself, attracting everyone's attention, not to mention Liu Yunyan, who is already extremely infatuated with him.

Normally, when Liu Yunyan saw Pei Yanzhi, he couldn't even walk.

Today, however, she huddled right into Granny Xia's arms, clearly not even glancing at Pei Yanzhi.

"Princess." Pei Yanzhi smiled and walked towards Jiang Shuwan.

"Princess, may I speak with my cousin? She seems frightened."

Glancing at the stunned Liu Yunyan, Jiang Shuwan took a few steps to the door, which was then closed by her.

Not long after, the door opened from the inside again, and Liu Yunyan had returned to normal. She bowed respectfully to Jiang Shuwan, "Thank you for your concern, Princess. I was just frightened after falling into the water, but I'm fine now."

Jiang Shuwan: "..."

Jiang Shuwan glanced at Liu Yunyan's hand, which was tightly gripping the hem of her dress, but asked nothing. Just as she was about to turn back, Pei Yanzhi came to greet her with a palace lantern.

"I'll take you back."

Holding up the palace lantern, Pei Yanzhi walked very slowly.

Jiang Shuwan didn't urge her. The wind and snow were heavy, but she was dressed warmly.

Silently following behind Pei Yanzhi, Jiang Shuwan asked casually, "Have you met the old Marquis?"

"How did you know?" Pei Yanzhi's back stiffened for a moment.