"Consort Jin, what's going on?" the Crown Princess demanded angrily.
Kim Bong-yi shook her head: "I don't know, I didn't instruct her, I'm innocent."
Yun Ji then said, "At first, Huan'er said that it was Jin Fengyi who ordered it. This thing is just flower seeds, and few people know that it has medicinal uses. It is not difficult to get. However, during the torture, she admitted that it was not Jin Fengyi who ordered it."
At this point, Kim Bong-yi stopped crying and breathed a sigh of relief.
"She said she didn't know who was instigating it, only that someone had been giving orders since Laiyang Prefecture. She just didn't know who it was. She only received instructions. In Laiyang Prefecture, it was an old woman living there. Because she was greedy and didn't want to serve Consort Jin, the person promised her a hundred taels of silver if she did the job well. So she agreed. At first, she just kept an eye on Consort Jin's whereabouts. After returning to the capital, she didn't receive any tasks. It was only in the last few days that she received instructions at the residence."
"So profound? How exactly is the message conveyed?" Su Liangdi asked curiously.
"It was originally agreed upon back in Laiyang Prefecture. There's a stone table under the tree behind the kitchen where people can rest and wait. The back of the stone table is rarely touched, so we stuck something to it underneath." Yun Ji said with a smile, "That was quite thoughtful."
"Were the morning glory seeds sent out in the same way?" Su Liangdi asked again.
“Exactly, that layer of pastry, there’s not much of it. When I gave it to her, I just stir-fried it, mashed it up, and sprinkled it on. If you’re not good at eating coarse food, you won’t taste anything.” Yun Ji chuckled, “Even if you did eat it, nothing would happen. At most, you’d have to go to the toilet a few more times. But…”
Yan Nangui smiled and said, "But I'm the only one in this mansion who likes that flower, and I'm the only one who grows it. Is this a case of hitting a cow from across the mountain? Or killing two birds with one stone?"
“Now that it’s been exposed, Huan’er really can’t confess anything,” Yun Ji said.
"This matter still requires some thought. I bribed her back in Laiyang Prefecture. Was it me, or Consort Murong? Only the two of us went with her. Coincidentally, I still have morning glory seeds." Yan Nangui laughed, "What a coincidence."
“Sister, you’re joking. How could you and I do such a thing? Either Huan’er is lying to protect her master, or it’s someone else,” Murong Liangyuan hurriedly said.
“What my sister says is quite right, but Jin Fengyi managed to pick it perfectly,” Yan Nangui said with a smile.
Jin Fengyi paused for a moment: "It was my own fault for not managing the people under me properly, and I also misunderstood Consort Yan. Please, Consort Yan, calm down."
"Guess whether I'm calm or not?" Yan Nangui sat there with a smile.
"Alright, lock Huan'er in the dungeon for now and continue the interrogation. Question all those around Consort Jin thoroughly. That's it for now. I'll inform the Crown Princess once the interrogation is complete," said Shu Chengfeng.
"Yes." The Crown Princess stood up. "Your Majesty, I understand."
"It's getting late. Consort Yan has been wronged today, so I'll have my meal at Jiyue Pavilion. You may all leave now. Consort Jin has been disrespectful and has offended someone of high rank; she will be fined three months' salary."
Kim Bong-yi hurriedly expressed her gratitude.
"As for the people who serve you, they will come back once the matter is clarified. In the meantime, we will replace them with other people."
"Yes." Kim Bong-yi lowered her eyes obediently.
Yan Nangui returned to Jiyue Pavilion with Shu Chengfeng, and Shu Chengfeng laughed, "You have quite a temper."
"So this is what you call temper? She tried to put me down, so how could I not teach her a lesson?" Yan Nangui chuckled and then snorted.
"Yes, you're right." Shu Chengfeng smiled as well: "You've been wronged."
"Your Highness," Yan Nangui looked up at Shu Chengfeng, "I've suffered a great injustice. Guess who wronged me?"
"Look, I'm infertile and not the principal wife. Everyone wants to harm me, but is it to harm me or you? If something happens to me, it won't be good for you, will it? Isn't my father a loyal minister? He never wanted to get involved in the princes' infighting. If I hadn't entered the Crown Prince's residence, even if my two younger sisters were capable of marrying princes, if they weren't the Crown Prince, my father would probably have severed ties with them. Now, if they cripple me, is it to cripple me or harm you?"
Shu Chengfeng raised an eyebrow and smiled.
Of course he knew, otherwise he wouldn't have come.
However, before he could comfort her, the woman figured it out herself.
“That Jin Fengyi…” Yan Nangui said, laughing at himself.
"Oh dear, really, it's just that I tend to overthink things." She smiled and pulled the person down to sit, then sat on their lap: "Your Highness, do you think that Consort Kim was originally one of Your Highness's people?"
Shu Chengfeng neither said yes nor no, but simply raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Don't be surprised how I know. First of all, if it really was just a singing and dancing girl that His Majesty casually gave you, I'm afraid you wouldn't even look at her. You certainly wouldn't have gotten her pregnant."
Shu Chengfeng still didn't explain, but he thought to himself that Jin's pregnancy was really unexpected.
However, she is right. If His Majesty were to give someone to him without knowing their background, he would certainly not touch them.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Yan Nangui gently scratched Shu Chengfeng's face with her fingernail.
Shu Chengfeng grabbed her hand: "What did you say? You're so smart, you guessed it all?"
"Hmph." Yan Nangui twisted her hand, not pulling it away: "Anyway, I've been wronged."
Shu Chengfeng tightened his grip, holding the person tightly: "You feel wronged? Hmm?"
"Then shouldn't I feel wronged?" Yan Nangui struggled but couldn't break free.
The struggle was so intense that it even brought Shu Chengfeng down with it.
The floor was covered with a thick carpet, and Shu Chengfeng wasn't in a hurry to get up. He simply pressed her down and asked, "What else do you know?"
"Why do I have a feeling you're going to silence me?" Yan Nangui blinked her beautiful eyes.
"How could I? I can't bear to part with her." He truly couldn't bear to part with a woman like that.
"I...ah..."
Someone's hands started to wander.
"Don't move," Shu Chengfeng said in a deep voice.
The maids had already left.
Now only the two of them are in the house.
“Cold…” Yan Nangui said, looking aggrieved.
Shu Chengfeng pressed his face against hers and gently rubbed it: "You can guess what I mean and see the layout of the mansion. Do you know how dangerous your life is?"
Yan Nangui smelled the faint fragrance emanating from him, feeling enveloped by his presence.
Like prey pinned down by a wild wolf.
But she wasn't afraid. She just smiled and put her arms around his neck: "Is it more dangerous to live or to live a clear-headed life? I love you so much, how could you bear to put me in danger? A day apart feels like three autumns, I look forward to seeing you every day. And now that I've seen you, you tell me I'm in danger? Has your heart been stolen by a dog?"
She stabbed him hard in the left chest with one hand.
"If you're willing to put me in danger, I won't be sad. I was just an adopted child; if the man I love takes me away, so be it. What does it matter?"
Shu Chengfeng laughed, his chest heaving: "You really are..."
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