After hearing Mu Yunjin’s words, everyone turned their gaze toward Chu Li and Chu Qingyuan, as if seeking verification of this matter from the two of them.

Being the focus of so many eyes, Chu Qingyuan immediately nodded. “This princess can guarantee that I indeed took Sister Yunjin to find that little old man. This matter also received my sixth brother’s approval.”

“Sixth Brother, isn’t that right?” Chu Qingyuan looked toward Chu Li and asked.

“Mm.” Chu Li responded with a casual sound of agreement.

After Chu Li and Chu Qingyuan both confirmed Mu Yunjin’s words, a deathly silence fell over the interrogation room. Everyone’s inquisitive gazes all turned toward Su Biqing and Mu Lingzhu, the mother and daughter.

Su Biqing and Mu Lingzhu now had ghastly pale faces. Their throats constricted, and suddenly they couldn’t utter a single word in rebuttal.

Minister Mu had been feeling waves of disappointment and shock ever since Chen Pu began reading the case files. He glanced sideways at the woman who had shared his bed for many years, then looked at the daughter he had been most proud of. He truly couldn’t believe that years of trust and affection had collapsed in his heart in an instant.

Su Biqing remained silent for a long while. After regaining some composure, seeing Mu Lingzhu beside her also under questioning gazes, she began to feel somewhat flustered.

…

…

At this point, no matter what happened, she couldn’t implicate her daughter Lingzhu.

…

Just then, several elderly men walked in from outside.

“These gentlemen are the owners of herb shops and doctors from medical clinics in Diehua City. They all claim that an elderly maid purchased Bai Xian Zhe medication. Is that elderly maid present?” Chen Pu asked.

Upon hearing this, the elderly men immediately looked around.

Aunt Li, upon seeing those elderly men, was already trembling uncontrollably. She now lowered her head, silently praying that the old men wouldn’t notice her.

“It’s her!”

After scanning the room, the elderly men unanimously pointed at Aunt Li.

Su Biqing closed her eyes slightly, somewhat unwilling to witness this scene.

After being identified by everyone, Aunt Li immediately fell to her knees in fear, repeatedly kowtowing to Chen Pu. “This old servant is wronged! Wronged!”

“With so many people identifying you, what wrongdoing are you claiming?” Empress Qin snorted coldly and waved her hand. “Take this cunning servant out and beat her to death!”

At these words, several guards ran over, grabbed Aunt Li, and were about to drag her out.

“No, this old servant is wronged!” After hearing the words “beat to death,” Aunt Li struggled continuously, then crawled on her knees to Su Biqing’s side, clutching at the hem of Su Biqing’s skirt.

“Madam, Madam, please save this old servant! This old servant has been utterly loyal to you, please speak up for me!”

Su Biqing, being clutched by Aunt Li and feeling utterly gloomy at heart, with so many people watching, stood up and pushed Aunt Li away. “Confused thing! How dare you do such an outrageous thing behind my back? You truly deserve to die!”

“Madam…” Aunt Li’s eyes widened, unable to believe that Su Biqing had cast her aside so easily.

“Take her away quickly!” Su Biqing immediately pointed at the guards.

Upon hearing this, Aunt Li suddenly went mad, scrambling to her feet and grabbing Su Biqing’s neck with one hand. “Su Biqing! I have served you loyally for twenty years, treating you like my own daughter. I never imagined you would turn your back on me!”

“Ah!” Su Biqing screamed, her neck in Aunt Li’s grip. For a moment, she couldn’t break free, yet strangely, no one stepped forward to stop it.

After a moment, Aunt Li released Su Biqing and knelt in Chen Pu’s direction. “Official Chen, everything this old servant did was under the Big Madam’s orders!”

“It was she who ordered this old servant to buy Bai Xian Zhe, saying she wanted to poison the Third Miss to prevent her from marrying the Sixth Prince.”

“And, the death of the Second Young Master last night was also arranged by the Big Madam, who hired assassins. The goal was to frame the Third Miss and eliminate her. The appearance of this Du San here is no coincidence either—it was all arranged by the Big Madam!”

Aunt Li pointed at the middle-aged man who had previously accused Mu Yunjin, trembling as she spoke.

Seeing the situation change, Du San immediately understood and also kowtowed several times to Chen Pu, trembling as he replied, “What Aunt Li says is true. I did indeed receive benefits from the Big Madam to come and falsely accuse the Third Miss.”

Su Biqing’s face had now turned another shade paler. She had originally thought that eliminating Mu Yunjin today would be a smooth matter, but never imagined that in an instant, the entire situation would turn against her.

After hearing the words of Aunt Li and the middle-aged man, Wei Hanqiao pulled the hairpin from her head and, as if mad, violently stabbed it into Su Biqing’s shoulder. Blood splattered as she cried out in anguish—

“Su Biqing, you truly are a venomous snake! Yi Yang at least called you ‘Aunt,’ and this is how you repay him?”

“Today I will kill you to avenge my poor son!” As Wei Hanqiao finished speaking, she prepared to strike again with the hairpin.

Seeing the situation spinning out of control, several guards immediately ran over and dragged Wei Hanqiao aside, preventing her from getting close.

At this moment, Mu Yunjin, who had been watching everything unfold, glanced toward Minister Mu. “Father, actually, on the day when the Second Madam was driven out of the manor, Mother already knew that the porcelain bottle contained Yu Wei Kui. She only made that scene later to make you drive out the Second Madam and Second Brother.”

…

“Madam Mu, what else do you have to say?”

Chen Pu sighed slightly, looking at Su Biqing, whose face had turned ashen below him. Then, as if remembering someone, he turned to Mu Lingzhu, “Fourth Miss, what explanation do you have for summoning Cao Pan into the city?”

Mu Lingzhu was startled, with an uncommon trace of fear in her eyes. She opened her mouth slightly but couldn’t speak for a long time.

Seeing this situation, Su Biqing had completely lost hope. She then heavily knelt before Chen Pu and spoke clearly—

“I, Su Biqing, confess my guilt!”

“The Bai Xian Zhe was purchased by Aunt Li at my command. Cao Pan was also summoned to the Minister’s mansion in Lingzhu’s name by me. The rumors in the city about Yi Yang and Yunjin a few days ago were spread by me after bribing Yi Yang.”

“Last night, I also hired several assassins to kill Yi Yang, intending to frame Yunjin!”

“All these sins were committed by me.”

After hearing Su Biqing utter the words “confess my guilt,” large teardrops rolled down from Mu Lingzhu’s eyes. She knew that from now on, she would have to rely on herself for everything.

Watching this scene, Mu Yunjin felt an inexplicable surge of satisfaction without a trace of sympathy.

She had warned Su Biqing early on and had given her chances. It was Su Biqing who had stubbornly persisted, blinding her conscience. All of this was merely reaping what she had sown.

“Oh my, truly one cannot judge people by appearances! Who would have thought that Minister Mu’s wife, who everyone saw as gentle and magnanimous by nature, could commit such heartless, heinous deeds!”

“And to do so many things with the sole purpose of killing her daughter—both the palm and the back of the hand are flesh, yet it’s remarkable how you could be so cruel!”

Empress Qin spoke with displeasure, glancing sideways at Mu Yunjin, her heart filling with even more love and pity for her.

This poor child—fortunately, good people are blessed by heaven, otherwise she would have died at Su Biqing’s hands long ago.

“Minister, what is your view on this matter?” Chen Pu paused for a moment and turned his gaze toward Minister Mu.

Minister Mu heaved a heavy sigh, his brows tightly furrowed. His eyes, marked with the traces of years, were now filled with disappointment and heartache.

“Please, Official Chen, strictly enforce the laws of Xi Yuan according to the statute!”

Chen Pu nodded, looking at the chaos in the interrogation room below. He slapped the table and announced in a resonant voice, “The criminal Su Biqing has committed multiple counts of murder. Her crimes are unforgivable. She will be executed by waist-cutting tomorrow at noon in the market square!”

Upon hearing the words “waist-cutting,” Su Biqing’s legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground, her eyes filled with despair.

She had lost!

In the end, she had been defeated by Mu Yunjin!

With this thought, Su Biqing laughed coldly, turning her gaze slowly toward Mu Yunjin and speaking chillingly, “Little slut, don’t rejoice too early. I will be waiting for you in hell!”

“Hahahahaha, I’m waiting for you…”

…

After leaving the interrogation room, Mu Yunjin slowly descended the steps, glancing at the fine weather around her. A faint smile gradually appeared at the corner of her lips.

Mu Yunhan walked beside her, glancing at Mu Yunjin, with a smile in his eyes. “Little girl has grown up. It seems you no longer need your brother’s protection.”

Mu Yunjin paused, turning to look at Mu Yunhan, with a trace of complexity in her eyes. “Big Brother, do you blame me?”

After all, Su Biqing was Mu Yunhan’s mother.

Mu Yunhan shook his head. “Mother’s crimes are heinous. Continuing to live would only deepen her sins. Death, perhaps, is the greatest pardon and release for her.”

“Big Brother, your thoughts are indeed different from ordinary people.” Mu Yunjin smiled.

Just as she stepped down the last stair, she heard Chu Qingyuan’s voice from behind, “Sister Yunjin, wait for me…”

Hearing it was Chu Qingyuan, Mu Yunjin stopped and looked back. She saw Chu Qingyuan and Chu Li slowly descending the stairs, walking in her direction.

When the two stood before her, Mu Yunjin smiled at them. “For today’s matter, I thank the Sixth Prince and the Ninth Princess.”

“Mm.” Chu Li uttered softly, his cool gaze sweeping over Mu Yunjin.

Seeing this, Chu Qingyuan covered her mouth and smiled. “Sister Yunjin, just now in the interrogation room, Sixth Brother was in a hurry to clear you of blame, fearing you might come to harm!”

“Qingyuan, don’t talk nonsense.” Chu Li glanced sideways at Chu Qingyuan, his words carrying a hint of displeasure.

Chu Qingyuan covered her mouth and ran off with an embarrassed smile.

To the side, Mu Yunhan looked at Chu Li, his gaze containing a trace of inquiry. After a while, he gave a light laugh without saying anything.

“Sixth Prince, I am tired today and will go back to rest now.” Seeing the atmosphere turning somewhat strange, Mu Yunjin smiled at Chu Li, then turned and walked away.

Mu Yunhan followed beside Mu Yunjin, both heading in the direction of the Minister’s mansion.

…

In the carriage, Mu Yunjin leaned against the compartment, somewhat wearily rubbing her temples. Mu Yunhan sat beside her, smiling as he looked at her. “I was originally worried that you would be at a disadvantage after marrying into the Sixth Prince’s residence. Now it seems that Chu Li is not such an unfeeling person.”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow. “Where did you see that he has feelings?”

“Sixth Prince Chu Li, among the many princes, is cold by nature, with distinct likes and dislikes. Today, in front of so many people, he helped a woman lie. Wouldn’t you say that shows he has feelings?”