Apart from the master and servants of the Prince's mansion, even Bai Baozhu's family of four, along with the servants they brought, had all been checked. Among the dozens of people, big and small, no one had any new wounds on their hands.
Third Master Bai spoke again: "Your Highness, are you absolutely certain that the marks you found could injure someone's hand? You can't just guess based on your imagination!"
Gu Xin glanced at Master Bai, her face darkening.
Zheng Qiu found skin flakes under Bai Shijie's fingernails. He must have been arguing with someone before he died. But none of the Bai family members were injured. So what was the skin flakes?
Gu Xin had just seen the piece that Zheng Qiu had taken out; it was definitely human skin, nothing else.
The other members of the Bai family also looked at Gu Xin, their eyes clearly wanting an answer.
"Is there anyone in the Bai family who is an expert in pharmacology?" Gu Xin asked.
Zheng Qiu said that not only were there skin flakes under the fingernails, but the deceased Bai Shijie's stomach also contained a mildly toxic drug. Although Bai Shijie's death was not due to poisoning but suffocation, no drugs were administered to him. The murderer could not have killed him so quietly.
The Bai family members looked at each other in bewilderment. Bai Baozhu said, "Princess Xinxin, when my elder brother was alive, he was physically weak and became a doctor due to his long illness. He was well-versed in pharmacology. I haven't heard of him as well as the others."
Master Bai gave Bai Baozhu a disdainful look. "A married daughter is like water spilled from a cup," he thought. "I've spoiled this girl for nothing. She's completely siding with outsiders."
The princess nodded in agreement: "The eldest son does indeed have some knowledge of pharmacology, but..."
Gu Xin then asked, "What about the people who served the young master when he was alive?"
The Bai family looked at Zhang Shi and Bai Shiying.
Zhang was still reeling from the loss of her son, and remained expressionless.
Bai Shiying, looking somewhat unwell, rose and walked into the hall: "Please forgive my impertinence, Your Highness, but does your question imply suspicion of those who served my father? Was my brother's cause of death poisoning?"
Gu Xin said, "The cause of death was not poisoning, but there were residual toxic drugs in his stomach. The cause of death for Young Master Bai was suffocation."
The Bai family was horrified. This person had been drugged first, and then smothered to death without anyone noticing. Who could be so vicious?
Bai Shiying, fighting back tears, said, "Your Highness, when my father was alive, he had a servant and a young maidservant by his side. They were father and son. After my father passed away, they were sent to manage the estate. They only returned once a season, and they were supposed to return to the manor in late June."
Gu Xin continued, "Does that father and son have any close friends in the household?"
Bai Shiying shook her head: "I didn't know. I was still young when they left."
The Second Master Bai, who hadn't said much all evening, stepped forward: "Your Highness, the Xie family father and son are honest people. They haven't had any conflicts with anyone, but they're not particularly close to anyone either. After the eldest brother passed away, they went to the estate. Each time, only the eldest would come back, while the younger one would stay at the estate. When they returned and met the old people in the manor, they would exchange a few words. As for being particularly close to anyone, that's not true."
Princess Consort sighed: "Princess Xin Xin, can you tell what kind of poison it is? If so, have someone search the house! Since the toxicity is mild, the villain might still have some left."
"Mother!" the three Bai brothers called out in unison, their faces full of reluctance.
The princess frowned: "Hmph, do you three brothers have something to hide?"
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