Xie Jun replied, "Manzhu grew up with my younger sister since childhood. She's been in the household for almost ten years. Because my sister likes her, she's always been the best among the maids in the manor in terms of food, clothing, and other necessities. It's impossible for her to get an upset stomach. My family hired martial arts instructors to train my sister and me from a young age so we could both have good health. Although we didn't learn any particularly advanced skills, we're usually quite healthy during seasonal changes, when we fall into water, or during the hottest days of summer when we often catch colds." "No need for medicine. We can just move around, sweat it out, take a bath, and cover ourselves with a blanket, and we'll be fine by the next day." Manzhu was just like her younger sister in these matters. When they were little, to help her sister eat more and grow healthier, their father spent a fortune hiring the renowned physician Long to treat her. Manzhu had just entered the household then, and her sister, out of pity, also asked Long to examine her. For the past ten years, Manzhu had rarely been sick. Her sister always gave her the best food; she would never steal food like the other maids. So, why did she get a stomachache?
Gu Xin suddenly remembered what Chen Xiaoli had said in the cave earlier, so she asked, "You mean, your family hired a martial arts instructor for you and your brother, and Manzhu has also started learning martial arts?"
Xie Jun nodded: "That's right. Otherwise, given how much my father values my sister, how could he only allow her to travel with one maid? My sister has loved to play and make a fuss since she was little, and she doesn't just stay in the capital when she goes out. She often likes to go to the outskirts of the capital to play. They're not very good at martial arts, but they're definitely capable of protecting themselves."
Zheng Qiu stepped forward and whispered in Gu Xin's ear, "The deceased had not been involved in any disputes with anyone before his death."
Gu Xin immediately ordered the yamen runners to go to the Xie family and bring Manzhu back to the yamen.
After thinking for a moment, Gu Xin took out the beaded flowers and earrings she had just found and showed them to Xie Jun: "Do you recognize these two pieces of jewelry?"
Xie Jun picked up the earring and exclaimed in shock, "This is my sister's. I gave it to her."
Gu Xin asked again, "Where are the beaded flowers?"
Xie Jun looked at the beaded hairpin, thought for a moment, and shook his head: "This should be jewelry from the Xie family shop; it sells quite well."
After saying that, he asked anxiously, "Princess, where did you find the earrings? Didn't they say there was nothing at the bottom of the well? My sister's jewelry is all gone. She was dressed as a man, so why would she be wearing earrings?"
Gu Xin watched as Song Yi came out with the yamen runners and said, "Xie Jun, you can go back now! I'll have someone inform you if there's any news."
Xie Jun wanted to go to the yamen with her, but Gu Xin glanced at him and he shut up.
In the prison of the Jingzhao Prefecture, Gu Xin did not have Song Yi put in shackles, but instead made him sit on a bench. Song Yi looked at Gu Xin with a puzzled expression.
Gu Xin smiled and said, "The flowers, you and your mother showed them to me on purpose, didn't you?"
Song Yi was taken aback, then lowered his head.
Gu Xin continued, "You saw the girl who left with the deceased? And she was someone you knew, right?"
Song Yi looked up in surprise.
Gu Xin understood immediately: "Is it the Zhu family, or Ye Cuiru?"
Song Yi's eyes widened in surprise.
Gu Xin understood: "It's Ye Cuiru, right? You were close to her, and you only saw her leave with the deceased, without knowing what happened next. She was also very good to you and your mother. You didn't want to say it in front of her, did you?"
Song Yi said somewhat nervously, "Princess, I only thought it looked like it, but I didn't really see it clearly. It's just that Xiaoru happens to have a set of that outfit."
Gu Xin's face immediately darkened: "Really? Then how do you explain the flowers?"
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