The Fourth Prince looked weary. Lanqin knew he was exhausted from court affairs and now had to worry about matters in the inner court. So she said with concern, "Your Highness, I will investigate this matter thoroughly. Please don't worry about it."
The Fourth Prince closed his eyes and said softly, "Liu has always been restless. I only kept her around because she had once carried my child. I never expected that she would dare to lay a hand on the Third Prince today. It is truly intolerable to have someone you know so well."
Lanqin nodded, waved to Doctor Lin, and then said softly, "Madam Nian overheard two maids chatting and learned that Madam Liu had said some unpleasant things in private and complained a bit. Your Highness, don't you think this matter was handled a little too easily?"
Fourth Master opened his eyes, gave Lanqin a meaningful look, and said calmly, "You mean someone deliberately made Nian think it was Liu, but now we have indeed found cinnabar in her room!"
Lanqin hesitated for a moment, then sighed and said, "She concluded that Hongsheng's death was related to Liu Shi after hearing the two maids' accounts. I feel that this is a bit far-fetched. As for the cinnabar found at Liu Shi's place, we need to examine it carefully and hear her explanation."
Fourth Master tapped Lanqin's forehead and said, "Very well, if the Nian family finds evidence, the Liu family will naturally be punished. If it really is related to Hongsheng, she will not escape death. But I doubt she has the guts..."
Lanqin looked up, startled. She hadn't expected that although the Fourth Prince didn't concern himself with household affairs, he had the same thought as her. She said, "That's right, that's why I'm having trouble. Although Liu is wicked and has even harmed me before, I still believe she has nothing to do with Hongsheng's death. Nian is currently grieving the loss of her son, so it's understandable that she might have some extreme thoughts upon hearing these comments. But even if Liu is punished, if the murderer isn't Liu, not only will Liu be wronged, but the real culprit will also go unpunished."
The Fourth Prince sat on the couch, examining the jade chessboard on the soft couch. He casually picked up a chess piece and muttered resentfully, "I can understand Madam Nian's feelings. Hongsheng's death needs to be investigated thoroughly. Although punishing Madam Liu is the best way to quell this matter, the actual problem remains unresolved. Lanqin, you are still so stubborn..."
Lanqin moved to Fourth Master's side, poured a cup of hot tea, and offered it with both hands: "It's not that I'm stubborn, I just feel something is amiss. Why would Madam Nian happen to overhear the conversation between the two maids? So I still implore Fourth Master not to punish Madam Liu before the matter is fully clarified. I want to interrogate those two maids!"
Fourth Master finally placed his chess piece down, looking at Lanqin as she gestured for him to sit. Lanqin smiled, picked up another chess piece, thought for a moment, and placed it on the edge of the board. She looked up and met Fourth Master's eyes. Fourth Master said firmly, "You make the decision. Just remember not to do anything dangerous, and don't wrong yourself or hurt yourself... to put my mind at ease..."
Inside the small courtyard, Xiufang stood awkwardly in the room, her eyes occasionally glancing at Fucha Shi sitting beside her. Fucha Shi, however, looked completely indifferent, as if watching a spectacle unfold. But when no one was looking, she would glare fiercely back at Xiufang, a warning and a subtle hint in her eyes.
Nian's eyes were still red and swollen. She calmly wiped away her tears with a handkerchief from time to time, but her eyes never left Liu, who was kneeling on the ground, as if she was ready to pounce and tear her apart at any moment. Liu had been interrogated all night and could barely support herself, ignoring everyone.
Lanqin, sitting at the very back, was growing impatient. The atmosphere in the room was tense, with everyone preoccupied with their own thoughts. After about half an incense stick's time, Lanqin instructed the maid beside her, "Go and see why they haven't arrived yet."
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