Zhao Jiaqi let out a silent sigh, hoping as Su Ya had said, for a good outcome!
Xiao Ce took the shortest time to investigate everyone and everything in the manor, but found no clues.
In the study, Xiao Ce stood before the desk, dejected and dispirited. "I just don't understand. I couldn't get any leads on the person, and even the events in the manor had their own explanations. I investigated thoroughly, but none of it has anything to do with the Old Madam's poisoning!"
Zhao Jiaqi looked at his head, the scalp already showing. At just over thirty, he was already balding. It seemed he had put a lot of thought into things over the years!
Never mind, it was better to let him keep his hair and marry Su Ya properly. Otherwise, if he went bald, people might think he was a monk getting married!
"If it's not about the manor, then it must be about outside. Anyone connected to the manor, or anyone who delivered things to the manor, must be investigated. Don't miss a single detail!"
Her words gave Xiao Ce a hint. He looked up, a flicker of life in his eyes. "I'll go investigate right away!"
As soon as he spoke, he was out of the room. She felt like a shadow had flashed before her eyes.
Not long after he left, Su Ya brought Qi Xuan to the study.
Zhao Jiaqi told him about Xiao Ce's investigation results and watched his expression, which shifted from frowning to dawning realization, as if he had thought of something.
Qi Xuan said, "Since no one in the manor has any problems, and there are so many people outside to investigate, this investigation will take a long time. Why don't we play along with their scheme?"
Zhao Jiaqi was unclear about his plan, so she gestured for him to explain.
"Qiqi, here's what I'm thinking. Why don't we publicly announce that the Old Madam has passed away and see if the person behind this makes any moves!"
"If they make a move, then our plan will be effective. If they don't, it will also serve to protect the Old Madam in secret, preventing the person behind it from harming her again. This would be killing two birds with one stone!"
After he finished, he sat on a chair and waited quietly for Zhao Jiaqi to make a decision. She didn't have to wait long before she agreed to the plan. Although it wasn't particularly elaborate, it would at least play a role in protecting her mother-in-law for now!
However, her mother-in-law wasn't dead yet, and if the mastermind wasn't found, they would have to continue the act. The prince's mansion would truly have to hold a funeral!
She wasn't an indigenous person, so it didn't matter to her, but the others in the family were. She didn't know if they would reject it.
Whatever, they would proceed with this plan for now. After the matter was resolved, she would explain to everyone. For the time being, they would keep it a secret.
She nodded and agreed to Qi Xuan's plan, and also instructed him, "I'll handle this. But I'll have to trouble Uncle Qi to look after my mother. If the person who poisoned her doesn't react, we'll have to see the act through. We'll first safely transfer my mother out, but during the funeral, someone will come to pay their respects..."
As soon as she said this, Qi Xuan understood her meaning!
He interrupted her, dispelling her unease. "At that time, I will prepare a fake death elixir. I'll dilute it with water and give it to the Old Madam. The funeral will certainly be convincing. After she is in a safe place, I will give the Old Madam some ginseng soup!"
Hearing this, Zhao Jiaqi's heart eased slightly. She had to admit that Qi Xuan had resolved all her concerns.
Once the matter was settled, the remaining task was to find a safe place for the Old Madam. The prince's mansion was out of the question. The villa was too conspicuous, and the manor was too crowded and easily observed, making it difficult to act. This was now Zhao Jiaqi's headache.
Qi Xuan went to the pharmacy to prepare the fake death elixir, while she rubbed her temples, racking her brain to figure out where the safe place should be.
After much thought, she realized that the most dangerous place was often the safest.
Instantly, her eyes lit up. How could she have forgotten this saying?
The place most people would avoid was the graveyard, and therefore, the graveyard would be the safest place!
Wasn't this the most reliable place?
Indeed, she was a genius in this regard.
That afternoon, after Qi Xuan examined the Old Madam again, he shook his head at Zhao Jiaqi. He stroked his beard several times and said solemnly, with grief and pity, "The Old Madam... she only has a day or two left. Please accept my condolences, Your Highness."
"Ah... Mother~~~ My mother, how could you leave so suddenly? Wuwuwu..." Wang Zhaodi, hearing this, sobbed and wailed, burying her face in Zhang Cuihua's body.
Her sudden outburst startled the two people who were talking. Zhao Jiaqi saw her sister-in-law so heartbroken and hesitated to speak.
Qi Xuan looked at her dramatic display of grief. The veins on his forehead twitched uncontrollably. He bent down and said coldly, "Your mother is seriously ill, she's not dead yet. But if you keep pressing down on her like this, you'll smother her even if she doesn't die!"
"Hiccup~~" Wang Zhaodi was so scared that she quickly got up. With teary eyes, she looked at Qi Xuan and quickly stood up, her voice choked with sobs. "I... I'm just too sad. My mother is leaving so young... Yingyingying!"
As she spoke, she became even sadder. She stopped crying loudly and instead began to sob quietly. Listening to her mosquito-like cries, Qi Xuan truly regretted it. It would have been better if she had cried louder, as that would have been more bearable!
On the other side, her father-in-law was also sobbing. However, he was much more reserved. Tears streamed down his wrinkled face, making his entire face wet. His snot also flowed down, mixing with his tears and almost entering his mouth.
She took out a handkerchief and quickly wiped his face for him, so that the old man wouldn't have to taste the mixture of tears and snot.
Although she knew that the news Qi Xuan had spread was fake and the sadness wasn't entirely genuine, seeing the sorrowful expressions of her brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and father-in-law, she also put on a show of being heartbroken.
"Father, Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister, Mother needs quiet in this state. We still have things to prepare. We need to pull ourselves together!"
She couldn't bring herself to say "Accept my condolences," and she was deeply resistant to it.
But no matter what, she had to tell them to take care of themselves. Before the Old Madam died, if they cried themselves into an illness, then even if the prince's mansion didn't want to hold a funeral, they would have to.
Her father-in-law sniffled, pulling back a snot that was about to drip. He waved his hand to everyone in the room and choked out, "You all go and get busy. Your mother is with me!"
Seeing her father-in-law like this, Zhao Jiaqi couldn't say anything more to persuade him. A life partner, a true companion. Before he had even done anything, he was about to lose his companion. The pain of separation, the pain of reluctance, he would experience it more deeply than the children.
Seeing this, Zhao Jiaqi helped her sister-in-law, with her brother-in-law following closely behind. Qi Xuan was the last to come out.
He stepped forward and said, "I'll go to the pharmacy to prepare some more ginseng soup for the Madam. Let's see if we can keep her alive a little longer, until the Prince returns."