After thinking for a moment, she simply smiled and said perfunctorily, "It's just good luck. But Pei Ji, the shop's business is the shop's business. I don't suspect Liu Furong and Ji Jingxu because of this."
Pei Ji saw that she didn't want to talk about the shop anymore, so he stopped asking and just said, "Well, then tell me why you have such doubts?"
"Here's what I think. The nanny who poisoned the mansion claimed to be a remnant of the feudal princes, but she had been lurking in the mansion for nearly twenty years without ever finding an opportunity to approach the Duke. How did she find an opportunity yesterday? According to her, because today was Ji Tingyou's adoption ceremony, the Duke's Mansion had invited many clansmen, and it was very lively, so the menial servants were mobilized to help. But over the years, hasn't the Duke's Mansion ever experienced something more lively and less staffed than an adoption ceremony?"
Su Li continued, "For example, Ji Jingxu's wedding and Ji Tingyou's birth were both more grand than the adoption ceremony. Moreover, the timing was too coincidental. It happened just before Ji Tingyou's adoption ceremony. This was clearly an attempt to prevent Ji Tingyou from being adopted by your father."
Pei Ji nodded and continued, "Once Ji Tingyou is adopted by my father, he will directly become the next Duke. At that time, the person whose interests will be harmed the most and most directly will be Ji Jingxu. The second person is Liu Furong, who has always wanted to kill Ji Tingyou and replace him with his son. Poisoning my grandfather can prevent the adoption ceremony from going ahead. So, if the person who poisoned my grandfather is excluded as the remnant of the vassal king, these two are indeed the most suspicious."
Su Li was surprised: "So, you also have this suspicion?"
Then he thought about it and it wasn't surprising. Pei Ji was an expert at solving cases, so he must be more perceptive than others in this regard.
"Well," Pei Ji replied, "As you said, the poisoner's story is indeed full of loopholes..."
"Then tell me, can we imagine that the Duke might also have such doubts?"
Pei Ji pondered, "Even if Grandfather is like us and thinks it's unlikely to be the remnant of a vassal king, he might not suspect Ji Jingxu."
Su Li agreed: "I understand."
After all, without solid evidence, no one would be willing to suspect that their own son would want to kill them, and besides, they are just guessing now.
"I'll ask my grandfather again when we go to the Duke's Mansion tomorrow."
"Oh, by the way," Su Li asked, "You said today that the Emperor sent you out of the capital on business. Where are you going? How long will it take?"
"Yifeng, go investigate some cases. The time is uncertain."
"Oh." It's still the same as the original.
In the original novel, Pei Ji went to Yifeng on orders to investigate the prefect of Yifeng. The prefect of Yifeng was very rampant. When Pei Ji was about to obtain evidence of his crime, he even sent someone to assassinate him. However, Pei Ji was well prepared, and the other party just walked into his trap.
But the situation now is different from the original.
"If it is really Ji Jingxu and Liu Furong who poisoned the Duke, then you must be careful when you leave the capital. Now, you are the legitimate heir to the Duke's throne. If Ji Jingxu and Liu Furong want to take over the Duke's position, the first person they will eliminate is you."
"Don't worry, I'll pay attention."
Su Li thought about it and still felt a little worried. Although the court would send someone to accompany him, there were always times when things were overlooked. "Why don't you take Zhichang and the other two with you?"
Zhichang and Zhitang were the secret guards Pei Ji gave her yesterday. They were said to be extremely skilled in martial arts. With them around, even if Ji Jingxu wanted to send someone to deal with him, it would not be so easy to succeed.
Pei Ji refused without a second thought: "They are your protectors. I can't accept them. Don't worry, Lin Muyang will go with me. In addition to the accompanying guards, the Lin family has also arranged a number of guards to accompany us. The number is enough to ensure our safety."
"Hmm? Lin Muyang?"
"I was so busy before that I forgot to tell you that Lin Muyang was transferred to the Dali Temple some time ago. This time, he will go to Yifeng with me."
"If that's the case, then I'm relieved."
In the original novel, Lin Muyang had not yet been transferred to the Dali Temple at this time, so he did not go to Yifeng with Pei Ji.
Considering that he was originally a rich second-generation and his family treated him as a treasure, and the journey to Yifeng was long, it was normal for the Lin family to send guards to accompany him.
It was getting late, and the two of them discussed taking Pei Zhao to the Duke's Mansion tomorrow before returning to their rooms.
In the west wing, Xiao Wu handed the lease contract that Su Er brought back today to Su Li.
She looked over several contracts and put them away only after confirming that there were no problems.
Then he asked Xiao Wu, "Is there any movement from Madam Kong's side today?"
"Madame Xiao said that Madame Kong left and returned to Princess Rongfu's residence when we went to Duke Ji's residence. Tao Ying lingered at the doorway after Madame Kong left, and only returned to her room after the mistress and the adults returned."
Su Li knew why she was lingering at the door. She thought that Tao Ying had already decided to pretend to obey and to seduce Pei Ji.
I just don't know whether she hooked up with Pei Ji because she was Pei Ji's person, or because of her status as an official's wife, or maybe both.
But no matter what, she thought, Tao Ying would be leaving soon...
As the night deepened, Madam Kong finally returned to the Zhuangyuan Mansion.
As soon as he entered the room, he asked, "Tao Ying, is Master Pei back?"
Tao Ying was very proud in her heart, and her face was full of respect and obedience: "I don't know, didn't Madam tell me not to go anywhere?"
"Hmph!" Madam Kong sneered disdainfully, "You're so obedient! I'm exhausted today. Come give me a shoulder massage."
"yes."
Tao Ying stood respectfully behind her and massaged her shoulders obediently.
Madam Kong said, "By the way, we must hurry up and complete what the princess has asked us to do."
Tao Ying replied naturally: "Yes."
Madam Kong continued, "You may not know this yet, but Master Pei is actually the son of Duke Ji's deceased eldest son. He is the legitimate grandson of the Duke Ji's family..."
The news that Duke Ji had been poisoned and was dying had already spread throughout the capital. Everyone thought that Duke Ji might not survive the day. However, before evening, news came that Duke Ji's eldest son and grandson had come to recognize him, and Duke Ji was relieved.
It was a great thing for the Duke of Ji's Mansion that the eldest son and grandson had returned to his ancestral home, so the Mansion did not hide it. Now, the news that Lord Pei was the eldest son and grandson of the Duke's Mansion who had been living away from home for many years had spread throughout the capital.
Tao Ying paused her hand that was pinching her shoulder, and a light flashed in her eyes.
The eldest son and grandson of Duke Ji? Wouldn't that make him the future Duke?
Her heart was pounding uncontrollably.
She knew how much the princess cared about Lord Pei. She cared so much about him that she didn't dare act rashly even when dealing with Mrs. Pei, whom she hated, for fear of offending Lord Pei. Otherwise, given the princess's personality, why would she choose such a roundabout method to sow discord between Lord Pei and his wife?
But if a person does not care for himself, he will be punished by heaven and earth. The princess probably couldn't imagine that she also likes Lord Pei as much as she does?
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