Shen Tangning stepped forward: "She seems to have a particular fondness for orchids."
Liu Yi nodded again: "Orchids symbolize noble character and not conforming to worldly ways. Many literati like to compare themselves to orchids. It is not surprising that she is in such a situation and wants to seek spiritual sustenance from them."
Shen Tangning had only mentioned it casually. She went to the dressing table to check it out when there was a sudden knock on the door.
Liu Yifu didn't even look up: "Come in."
She looked up and saw a pretty maid cautiously enter the room. She seemed a little flustered, her hands awkwardly moving before she gave a curtsy: "Greetings...Greetings, Your Excellency."
Liu Yi noticed the tremor in her voice and looked up: "Are you Jinxiu?"
Jinxiu pursed her lips and nodded: "Yes, my lord, that is indeed it."
"Don't be nervous. I just wanted to ask you about Pingting." He maintained a businesslike tone, but his attitude was not forceful or aggressive.
Jinxiu unconsciously relaxed a little: "Sir, please ask. Mama said that I should cooperate with you."
Liu Yi glanced at her indifferently: "How long have you been serving Pingting?"
Jinxiu recalled for a moment: "It's been three years."
Three years is not a short time.
Liu Yifu's gaze swept around the room: "What are your daughter's hobbies? Who has she been spending a lot of time with lately?"
Jinxiu replied, "In my spare time, I play chess and zither, but I don't have any particular hobbies."
"As for who she gets close to... this servant hasn't noticed. Miss Pingting is quiet by nature and prefers to be alone most of the time, and she doesn't allow this servant to come close to serve her."
Liu Yifu nodded casually and turned around: "On the night of the incident, did your daughter see anyone or do anything unusual?"
“On the night of the incident…” Jinxiu bit her lip, then suddenly widened her eyes and said hesitantly, “When I was guarding the door, I seemed to hear Miss Pingting talking to someone, but she was the only one in the room at the time. I suspect that I misheard, or that she was talking to herself.”
Shen Tangning paused, then subconsciously looked over.
Liu frowned again: "And then?"
"There's also the part about drawing colored paper and talking to people. Originally, this wasn't a part of the activity. My mother said it was Pingting who suggested it herself."
Pingting was willing to build relationships with the guests, and Mama Hua was overjoyed; how could she possibly refuse?
Who could have imagined that this very action would lead to his death...
After Jinxiu Mei finished speaking, she looked at Liu Yifu with a nervous expression.
His brows furrowed, and doubts arose in his mind.
So, Pingting does indeed act strangely and is highly suspicious.
"A-Tang...A-Tang?" He called twice but received no response. He frowned and looked over. Shen Tangning was standing in front of the dressing table, holding a hairpin in her hand and looking at it intently.
She suddenly snapped out of her daze, her eyes blank: "Sir, what are your orders?"
Liu Yi gave her a deep look and stepped forward: "What are you looking at so intently?"
Feeling somewhat guilty, Shen Tangning offered the hairpin in her hand with a slightly ingratiating tone: "My lord, look."
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