"Was the pillow switched? The Fujin just said the whole set was made of Suzhou satin with auspicious cloud, ruyi, and longevity patterns, but this pillow is different. It's clear someone tampered with it," Song Shi said immediately. Her words implied that the Fujin was even more suspicious. Where did the original pillow go? How could it have been switched?
"I don't know. After I sent this set of bedding away, how could I have kept an eye on it to see if anyone had touched it?" The Fujin glanced at Song Shi, who was always invisible to her.
"Master, have you checked the medicinal herbs in the manor?" Lanqin asked.
"We've already checked, and there's no record of that substance. That means the person who poisoned us didn't get the lily of the valley pollen from the manor," Fourth Master said.
"Who could possibly change the pillow in the Third Prince's room without being noticed? Ever since Imperial Physician Yang diagnosed the Third Prince's illness, I've had all the people who used to serve him detained by the head nanny, and sent Qingdai and Qingmo to serve him instead. I also specifically instructed Cui Niang to keep an eye on things there. In other words, the person who changed the pillow did so before Lanqin did it," Lanqin explained carefully.
Lady Yin glanced at the pillows and bedding uncomfortably, but little did she know that the Fujin would catch a strange glint in her eyes.
"You vile woman, you actually changed the pillow, yet you kept it a secret from me." The Fujin stared intently at Yin Shi for a few moments, and immediately felt much more at ease. It was clear that Yin Shi had changed the pillow and hidden it.
"Does the concubine mean that the person who changed the pillow had already discovered something unusual about it before changing it? And that she was able to change it immediately?" As the Fourth Prince spoke, he couldn't help but look at Madam Yin.
Lady Yin did not expect that the Fourth Prince had begun to suspect her, so she quickly avoided his gaze. Little did she know that her avoidance only aroused the Fourth Prince's suspicion.
“Madam Yin, you have been taking care of the Third Prince. However, he has been repeatedly poisoned and murdered while he was with you. Regardless of whether you did it or not, this alone is enough for me to punish you.” The Fourth Prince walked back to his wife’s side and said coldly to Madam Yin.
Lanqin had already returned to her seat and was also looking at Madam Yin.
"I know I haven't taken good care of the Third Prince. Please punish me, Your Highness," said Madam Yin, standing up in fear and trepidation. She knelt down in front of the Fourth Prince and pleaded. She hoped this wife would speak up for her. If the wife hadn't given her that lily of the valley poison, the Third Prince's condition wouldn't have been known, and she wouldn't have been reprimanded by the Fourth Prince like this.
However, the Fujin was still resentful that she had secretly done such a thing behind her back. Although she had helped her cover it up for the time being, the Fujin was always proud and would never allow anyone to deceive her like this. Besides, she was afraid that speaking up for Lady Yin now would not have any effect, so she remained silent.
"Su Peisheng, take men to search Yin's house. I will not let any place go unchecked." The Fourth Master's cold voice slapped Yin's face, making her too ashamed to raise her head again.
Lanqin frowned as she looked at Madam Yin. She was determined to expose the Fujin, but now everything was turning in Madam Yin's favor. So, this time, she had to let the Fujin get through this safely, and let Madam Yin bear all the blame again.
"Yin, did you really poison the lily of the valley? If you don't speak now, once we find any clues in your room, you won't be able to open your mouth anymore." Lanqin couldn't help but say to the kneeling figure. Although she wasn't much better than the Fujin, Lanqin really didn't want to see her become someone else's pawn again, and end up as a scapegoat.
As if encouraged by Lanqin's words, Lady Yin trembled involuntarily. Seeing that Lady Yin was being swayed by Lanqin, the Fujin quickly said, "Sister Yin, if you did something you didn't do, please don't admit it. The master will investigate everything and will never wrong you."
Hearing the words of the Fujin, Madam Yin felt more confident and bowed down, saying, "My lord, I have never done such a thing. Please investigate thoroughly."
Once again, everyone left the front yard with their own thoughts. Lanqin wanted to say a few more words to Madam Yin, but the Fourth Master had already ordered her to be sent back to the West Courtyard for safekeeping, and forbade her from stepping out of the house again.
When Lanqin and the others returned to the South Courtyard, it was already past lunchtime. She was now much happier, her morning gloom gone. The Fourth Prince had already ordered an investigation into the origin of the pottery jar, and now he was sending people to search Madam Yin's house. If they found any clues, they could once again point to the Fujin (the Princess Consort).
Meanwhile, after the Fujin (principal wife) came out of the main courtyard, she waited for Wu Shi (madam Wu) to come out. When Wu Shi came out, supported by Hong Qian, she naturally ran into the Fujin, who was already waiting there, on her way back.
"This humble servant greets the Fujin (the principal wife)." Seeing that the Fujin had waited for her, Wu Shi greeted her with utmost respect and trepidation.
"Sister Wu must be feeling the most relaxed right now. All of this has nothing to do with you. I saw that Sister Wu looked really relaxed just now." The princess was displeased. She wanted to ask Wu to talk to the fourth prince, but before she could do anything, Lanqin had already found the quilt again.
"Please forgive me, Madam, I have no idea how things got involved with the bedding you gave to the Third Prince. Is there any lily of the valley poison on that pillow?" Madam Wu asked in surprise.
"Originally, I wanted you to talk to the Fourth Prince, but now they've already chosen that set of bedding. Even if you go and tell him, the Fourth Prince probably won't believe you," the wife said resentfully.
“That’s exactly the point, which is why I’m also at a loss to help you, Madam,” Wu said, glancing at Madam cautiously.
"Now I want you to find a way to get the pillow that Madam Yin has hidden from her. Do you have a plan?" the Madam asked.
"You expect others to do everything for you." Wu rolled her eyes at the Fujin in her heart, but continued aloud, "But Lady Yin has been confined by the master, and I'm afraid not even a bird can fly into her room now. How can you expect to get what the Fujin wants from her?"
"You don't need to get it yourself. I just need you to deliver it in. I already have a set of bedding exactly the same as the one I gave to the Third Prince. Now I want you to take that pillow to Madam Yin. Just make sure the Prince's men find that pillow. Do you understand?" the Princess said.
A complex light flashed in Wu's eyes, but she couldn't refuse, so she said, "I'm afraid the head maid's people have already arrived at the west courtyard. In such a tight time, it's probably too late to hand a pillow to Madam Yin."
A look of displeasure flashed across the Princess Consort's face, and she hurriedly said, "I have already instructed them to prepare, are you unwilling?"
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