Lin Qingge, feeling that Hua Jinrong's considerations were still not thorough enough, paused for a moment before speaking indignantly:
"How can no one do anything about Xing Wanli's arrogance?
Besides, this is Li Manor, after all. How can Steward Li tolerate an outsider like him living here so openly?"
"Steward Li initially disliked Young Master Xing, and Young Master Xing was also very afraid of him.
But a year ago, Steward Li suddenly changed. Not only did he provide silver for Young Master Xing to study and achieve success, but he also allowed Young Master Xing to move into the manor."
"A year ago?
Did anything special happen around that time?"
"Anything special...
Except for the big argument between Steward Li and Madam, and Steward Li ordering people to drain the lotus pond and water it again, nothing special happened."
Having asked enough, Lin Qingge found an excuse and left.
As soon as she walked out of the courtyard, Leng Ningyue's clear and cold voice drifted over:
"Enjoying your chat?"
"It's for the investigation, how could there be any enjoyment?
Moreover, how could they be as captivating as you, Madam!"
As if unable to bear Lin Qingge's fawning demeanor, Leng Ningyue couldn't help but sigh:
"That's not what I meant.
Never mind, where are we going next?"
"The study!"
Although Lin Qingge said she was going to the study, she actually went to the room next to it, which was converted from the original study, according to the maidservant Xiao Cui and others.
Pushing open the door.
The room was simply furnished, so simple that it could be seen at a glance.
After Lin Qingge's careful inspection, she finally found something unusual by the head of the bed.
She reached out and felt around the corner of the bed.
Soon, a crisp 'click' sound was heard.
Immediately after, the inconspicuous wardrobe not far away slowly parted in the middle, opening to both sides...
Lin Qingge and Leng Ningyue exchanged a glance and stepped into it.
The secret chamber contained a carved wooden bed, a dressing table, and a wardrobe.
From the jewelry displayed on the dressing table and the rouge boxes placed there, it was not difficult to deduce that a woman likely resided here.
"This place is clean and tidy, clearly cleaned regularly.
However—"
At this point, Lin Qingge picked up the lip rouge from the table and sniffed it, then frowned:
"Madam, although I don't know much about this, has this gone bad?"
Leng Ningyue took the lip rouge to examine it and said faintly:
"This is a lip rouge called 'Unfading Youth' from the Linglong Rouge Shop.
It is highly sought after for its beautiful color and short shelf life, but consequently, it is also very expensive.
However, no matter how short its shelf life, it should last at least a year, but this has clearly gone bad."
"So, the woman who was originally imprisoned here was no longer alive a year ago?"
As Lin Qingge spoke, she went to rummage through the wardrobe beside her. She found that the clothes inside had turned yellow and mildewed from being kept in the dark cabinet for a long time, which further confirmed her guess.
"The embroidery and fabric of these clothes are extremely exquisite. Later, let Master Hua take them to a clothing shop to inquire; I'm sure we'll get some useful clues."
With that, Lin Qingge used the bedsheet to roll up two relatively well-preserved clothes.
Emerging from the secret chamber, she happened to encounter Qin Han walking out. Lin Qingge called out to him.
"Qin Han, have you finished piecing together those torn papers?"
...
Qin Han, feeling that the ten taels of silver for post-mortem examination his young master usually charged was actually too little, stopped his forward steps and cupped his hands:
"Reporting, sir. I have just meticulously re-examined Steward Li's body.
I discovered an刺破 mark on a part of Steward Li's left ear, suspected to have been injected with some kind of liquid.
Although the residual imprint is very shallow and the original scent of the liquid has completely evaporated,
based on my analysis, it should be a sap extracted from an exotic plant.
It is highly poisonous, possesses a fragrance, acts on the heart, and causes instant death.
It leaves no visible signs of poisoning on the corpse, making it appear as if death was due to a heart condition."
"You mean Steward Li died of poisoning?"
"Yes, sir. As I followed in the young master's footsteps, I had the good fortune to hear him mention that there is a rare flower from a foreign land with such an effect.
However, the flower's name was too difficult to pronounce, and I didn't remember it. I only know that the flower emits a faint sweet aroma."
"A sweet aroma?"
Lin Qingge raised her eyebrows slightly in surprise. Seeing this, Leng Ningyue inquired:
"Do you already know who the murderer is?"
"Knowing is not enough; we still need the motive for murder."
Lin Qingge finished speaking and looked at Qin Han, instructing:
"Hurry up and piece together those torn papers.
Also, don't forget to re-examine Yin Tao's body."
"Yes, sir."
As Lin Qingge and Leng Ningyue reached the main hall of the front courtyard, they heard an old woman's clamoring voice from the entrance:
"Please, let this old woman in, let this old woman in!"
"This old woman only wishes to see your steward, just let me see him!"
By the time Lin Qingge arrived at the entrance of Li Manor, a crowd had already gathered.
She saw the butler, Wen Bo, earnestly explaining to a white-haired old woman:
"Elder Aunt, we don't have the person you're looking for here. You should hurry back with your granddaughter!"
Upon hearing Wen Bo's words, Lin Qingge noticed a young woman in her early twenties beside the old woman.
The young woman was supporting the old woman. When she saw Lin Qingge and the others approaching, her cold gaze, containing a faint murderous intent, swept over them.
Leng Ningyue immediately stepped forward and shielded Lin Qingge.
Murderous intent?!!!
They were meeting for the first time, strangers, so why did the woman look at her as if she wanted to devour her?
Despite her thoughts, Lin Qingge coughed lightly and stepped out from behind Leng Ningyue.
"What has happened?"
Unexpectedly, Leng Ningyue, who was usually very concerned about her safety, did not pull her back.
Looking around, the woman who had previously glared at her lowered her head, appearing so harmless that everything that had just happened seemed like her hallucination.
As Lin Qingge felt suspicious, Steward Wen, standing nearby, quickly explained before the old woman could speak:
"Reporting, sir. This old woman's son and our steward are from the same hometown.
Years ago, they left their hometown together to make a living in Jingzhou.
However, her son was not fortunate; he accidentally fell off a cliff on the way to Jingzhou.
This old woman, having received some news from somewhere, claims that our steward knows her son's whereabouts and insists on seeing our steward.
She also claims she has already filed a complaint at the imperial court in the capital, and the capital's prefectural office has accepted it.
Including yesterday, she has caused trouble in front of our manor twice in a row."
"Filed a complaint at the imperial court?"
A flash of inspiration struck Lin Qingge, and she vaguely understood where this old lady was coming from.