Jiang Su rarely interfered in matters concerning the inner quarters, but that didn't mean he was unaware of them.
Granny Lai was a servant in Jiang Zhenlin's courtyard. She had previously been punished with a monthly salary for sowing discord, but was later sent to Ningsi Garden to serve as an apology to Lin Qingwan by Jiang Yanwan.
Behind Granny Lai were Jiang Zhenlin and Jiang Yanwan.
Jiang Su rubbed his fingers together, his expression growing increasingly gloomy.
Lin Qingwan was a little unsteady on her feet, but Qiu Hong noticed in time, "Miss Qingwan, you..."
Lin Qingwan patted her arm. "It's nothing. Just a sore throat."
When Qiu Hong saw the red marks around Qing Wan's fair neck, she was shocked. The young master had really tried to strangle her!
Lin Qingwan's voice wasn't loud, but it was clearly audible in the room where you could hear a pin drop. Jiang Yanwan was secretly pleased, but her face showed concern. "Ah Lin was just worried about Mother, that's why he acted impulsively. Don't be angry with him."
Lin Qingwan didn't even lift her eyelids. "He's not a three-year-old. If he wants to apologize, he should apologize to me himself."
The implication is that this matter has nothing to do with you, Jiang Yanwan.
Jiang Yanwan felt as if she had been slapped in the face in public. Her bright eyes trembled, and she forced a smile, trying to suppress her grievances. How could this not be considered being bullied?
Jiang Zhenlin, who was standing outside, also had sharp eyes. Seeing this situation, he confirmed what he had been thinking and angrily said, "So what if I pinched you? If you have the guts, pinch me back! What kind of person bullies my sister!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yanwan's eyes welled up with tears.
Lin Qingwan wasn't feeling well and didn't want to pay him any attention.
Jiang Su waved his hand and ordered his servants, "Gag the young master. He's chattering away, it's annoying."
Jiang Zhenlin was surprised. Before the servants could make a move, he stared at Lin Qingwan's back and shouted, "If you really poisoned Mother, I'll beat you to death!"
Lin Qingwan turned her head and saw that although his mouth was covered, his eyes seemed to want to stare a hole through her.
She raised the corner of her eye and said sarcastically, "Fine, Young Master Jiang wants to kill the murderer, so don't hold back later."
Jiang Zhenlin took this as a provocation, "She doesn't even deserve to die at my hands! She should be sent to the authorities to be skinned alive for poisoning the mistress!"
His lust burned ever brighter, and he didn't notice that Jiang Yanwan's body suddenly tensed up.
At this moment, the steward brought Granny Lai over, bound and gagged.
When Granny Lai saw Jiang Su's murderous aura, even though she was mentally prepared, she still shivered and subconsciously glanced at Jiang Yanwan.
Jiang Yanwan strongly disliked her action, but fortunately Xia Yan coldly said, "Speak properly! Miss Yanwan made you repent in Ningsi Garden. Do you harbor resentment towards Miss Qingwan and secretly switched the medicated oil?"
With her hands tied behind her back, Granny Lai couldn't slap her thighs, so her wailing became even more exaggerated: "I'm innocent!"
"Miss Qingwan forbids me from entering the room to serve you. I don't know what kind of medicinal oil it is."
The servants retrieved the handkerchief from Qiu Hong's residence. Qiu Hong questioned her, "This handkerchief has your surname embroidered on one corner, and it still smells of medicinal oil. How do you explain this?!"
Granny Lai's eyes flickered, and she curled her lips into a smirk. "Miss Qiu Hong, this... this is indeed my handkerchief. But I don't remember when I lost it."
"Since you found it, why don't you return it to me?"
Handkerchiefs are a woman's personal item, so Granny Lai's scolding doesn't seem out of place.
She added, "The handkerchief has been missing for several days. How could it not be that someone deliberately smeared medicine on it afterward to frame me?"
Granny Lai kowtowed to Jiang Su, "Prime Minister, please do justice for me! How could I have dared to poison Madam? Besides, where would I get the poison!"
"Even if there were, how could it be hidden from Miss Qingwan?"
“Miss Qingwan returned to the manor with many medicinal herbs, so she must be knowledgeable in pharmacology.”
Qiu Hong was furious. Not only did she refuse to admit it, but she also shifted the blame back to Lin Qingwan.
“That day I was sent by Miss to find you, and I saw you drop your handkerchief. After I picked it up, you had already disappeared. So I decided to wash it and return it to you.”
Granny Lai's eyes darted around. "The handkerchief has been in your hands for several days, and the girl herself isn't innocent either."
"Besides, who can prove that I dropped it and that you didn't take it from me?"
"You!" Qiu Hong hadn't expected to get herself into such trouble. "How could I possibly harm Madam?"
Granny Lai was also sensible. She knew that Qiu Hong couldn't be implicated in just a few words, so she muttered, "The girl is honest, but who knows if you're being used too?"
Qiu Hong was so angry she almost vomited blood.
"It definitely can't be Qiu Hong."
Qin Ma emerged from behind the screen, looking tired but with a resolute gaze. She bowed to Jiang Su, who then understood that the Madam had awakened.
When Granny Lai saw that Qin Ma had spoken, she immediately followed up, "Of course. Miss Qiu Hong would never harm Madam. She only asked me to come because she wanted to find the murderer and avenge Madam."
"But I really didn't do anything."
Jiang Yanwan raised her chin slightly. "Qingwan, are there any other... clues?"
She spoke of clues, but gave the impression of "let's see what Lin Qingwan has to say now."
All eyes turned to Lin Qingwan again. She sat quietly in her chair, occasionally rubbing her temples. Her face was much paler than when she arrived.
He seemed very nervous.
But she spoke slowly and deliberately, “The poison in the medicated oil should contain a bitter herb called 'bitter ginseng'. Once you touch it, the poison can stay on your skin for two or three days, and even soap cannot wash it off.”
"The last time Qiu Hong rubbed medicated oil on me was a few days ago, and Granny Lai's handkerchief was lost the day before yesterday."
"Why don't you trouble the pharmacist to try using a needle?"
"If this medicine gets on your hands, the blood that flows out will also have the taste of bitter ginseng."
Granny Lai's expression tightened, and she subconsciously clenched her bound hands, then looked in Jiang Yanwan's direction.
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