With these words, Zhuang Yuyan stood up and looked at Mu Yunjin, “Sister Yunjin, please wait here. I’ll have Ruhan help me in the kitchen.”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin nodded slightly.

As Zhuang Yuyan and Wen Ruhan walked toward the kitchen, Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrows slightly, also stood up, and quietly followed behind the two.

At this moment, the kitchen door was tightly closed. Mu Yunjin leaned against the corner outside the kitchen and made a small hole in the window to observe the activity inside.

In the kitchen, Zhuang Yuyan was kneading flour while chatting happily with Wen Ruhan, the smile on her face particularly genuine.

As for Wen Ruhan, although she was conversing with Zhuang Yuyan, her eyes wandered around, her mind not focused on their conversation.

“Ruhan, please add some water while I prepare some brown sugar,” said Zhuang Yuyan. After wiping her hands, she turned around to prepare the brown sugar.

Upon hearing this, Wen Ruhan nodded, then looked back at Zhuang Yuyan. Seeing that Zhuang Yuyan was busy preparing brown sugar, she quietly approached the flour that Zhuang Yuyan had been kneading earlier.

After pausing her steps, Wen Ruhan glanced at Zhuang Yuyan again, then with trembling hands, took out a small paper packet from her sleeve. She carefully unwrapped it and sprinkled all the powder into the flour.

…

…

She then crumpled the paper into a ball, stuffed it back into her sleeve, and after completing this series of actions, silently breathed a sigh of relief.

Watching this scene, Mu Yunjin curved her lips slightly and silently cursed Wen Ruhan as a fool who was being used by someone else without even realizing it.

It seemed she would need to properly warn Chu Qingqiang.

……

Soon after, when the water chestnut cakes were ready, Mu Yunjin was the first to return to the front hall.

Sitting in the front hall and drinking tea, Mu Yunjin caught sight of Zhuang Yuyan and Wen Ruhan walking in side by side. Her face revealed a smile, “The water chestnut cakes smell wonderful.”

“Indeed, Yuyan’s specialty is water chestnut cake,” Wen Ruhan smiled at Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin nodded slightly, then watched as Zhuang Yuyan placed the plate of water chestnut cakes on the table. Zhuang Yuyan casually picked up a piece and handed it to Mu Yunjin, “Sister Yunjin, try this.”

Mu Yunjin smiled and accepted the water chestnut cake.

Seeing this, Wen Ruhan lowered her eyes slightly, then also picked up a piece and handed it to Zhuang Yuyan, “Here, you’ve worked so hard, try it first.”

“You’re always so thoughtful, Ruhan.”

Just as Zhuang Yuyan was about to take a bite, a fit of coughing was heard, “Cough, cough, cough…”

Looking toward the sound, they saw Mu Yunjin covering her chest, coughing painfully.

“Sister Yunjin, what’s wrong?” Zhuang Yuyan put down the water chestnut cake in her hand and ran over, gently patting Mu Yunjin’s back.

After finishing coughing, Mu Yunjin took a sip of tea to catch her breath, then glanced at Wen Ruhan, who was standing motionless.

When Wen Ruhan met Mu Yunjin’s gaze, she froze slightly, then smiled awkwardly, “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” After speaking, Mu Yunjin picked up the plate of water chestnut cakes and held it in front of Wen Ruhan, “Didn’t Sister Ruhan say she wanted to eat water chestnut cake? Why are you just standing there? They’ll get cold if you don’t eat them soon.”

Seeing this, Wen Ruhan’s actions became hesitant.

After a moment, she forced a smile, “It’s fine, you eat first. I eat these water chestnut cakes quite often.”

“But weren’t you the one who first suggested eating the water chestnut cakes made by Sister Yuyan? Don’t be polite now, there’s a whole plate here, enough for all of us to share.” Mu Yunjin maintained her posture of offering the plate, with a deep smile in her eyes.

Zhuang Yuyan stood to the side, perplexed by Mu Yunjin’s sudden change in attitude. She bit her lip, her gaze fixed on the plate of water chestnut cakes.

Wen Ruhan, feeling Mu Yunjin’s meaningful gaze upon her, trembled slightly inside. She then took a piece of water chestnut cake, maintaining a smile on her face, “Alright, you both should eat too.”

Seeing that Wen Ruhan had only taken the cake but wasn’t eating it, Mu Yunjin put down the plate in her hand, her smile completely fading, “Why isn’t Sister Ruhan eating?”

“I prefer them a bit cooler. They’re still a bit hot right now,” Wen Ruhan smiled faintly.

Mu Yunjin responded with an “Oh” and nodded as if understanding. She glanced at the time, the corner of her mouth turning up into a very faint arc, “Then I’ll give you time to let it cool down.”

“Sister Yunjin, what do you mean? I don’t believe I’ve offended you today, have I?” Wen Ruhan put down the water chestnut cake in her hand and looked at Mu Yunjin with some annoyance.

Seeing the tense atmosphere, Zhuang Yuyan stepped forward and looked at both of them, “We are all sisters, there’s no need to spoil the harmony over these small matters.”

Mu Yunjin rested her head on her hand, not saying a word.

“Fine, it seems I’ve come at a bad time today. Yuyan, I’ll visit you another day.” With that, Wen Ruhan began to walk out.

“Stop!” Mu Yunjin called out to stop her.

Wen Ruhan halted her steps, biting her lip and speaking with a somewhat aggrieved tone, “What else does the Sixth Prince’s Consort command?”

“Ruhan, Sister Yunjin…” Zhuang Yuyan was somewhat at a loss.

Mu Yunjin sat up, picked up the plate of water chestnut cakes, and stepped over to Wen Ruhan’s side. Her eyes were cold as she said, “Eat it.”

“What exactly do you mean?” Wen Ruhan was somewhat angry.

“What do I mean?” Mu Yunjin smiled faintly, “Shouldn’t you know better than I do?”

After speaking, Mu Yunjin called out to the side, “Someone! Go invite the Prefect here and tell him that someone is trying to poison and murder people in our mansion!”

Upon hearing the words “poison” and “murder,” both Zhuang Yuyan and Wen Ruhan widened their eyes—one in disbelief, the other filled with guilt.

“Sister Yunjin, what is the meaning of this?” Zhuang Yuyan spoke with some fear.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin put down the water chestnut cakes in her hand, grabbed Wen Ruhan’s right hand, and pulled out a crumpled paper packet from her sleeve.

“Wen Ruhan, if you dare to put poison in the water chestnut cakes, you should also have the courage to admit it. This paper packet still has residual powder. When it’s examined, we’ll know whether the substance in this packet and the substance in the water chestnut cakes are the same.”

When Wen Ruhan heard Mu Yunjin’s words, she was so frightened that her legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground, “No, it wasn’t me…”

“Ruhan, why would you…” Zhuang Yuyan found it hard to believe, but then, remembering Wen Ruhan’s various unusual behaviors earlier, she couldn’t help but believe what Mu Yunjin had said.

“Yuyan, you must believe me! It wasn’t me! I don’t know how that packet got into my possession. Someone must be framing me!” Wen Ruhan spoke urgently, her eyes pleading.

Seeing this scene, Zhuang Yuyan took a deep breath, her eyes gradually darkening.

“The evidence is clear, but this Miss Wen is the daughter of a Minister of Works, a person of special status. I’m afraid this case will have to be transferred to the Court of Judicial Review,” Mu Yunjin said calmly.

Upon hearing “Court of Judicial Review,” Wen Ruhan’s mind flashed to Su Biqing’s fate of being sentenced to waist-chopping. No, this couldn’t happen!

“Sixth Prince’s Consort, Ruhan has been wronged! Ruhan was also coerced and had no choice but to do this!” Wen Ruhan immediately changed to a kneeling position and kowtowed heavily to Mu Yunjin.

Seeing that Wen Ruhan truly admitted to this matter, Zhuang Yuyan’s heart was filled with disappointment. She slumped into a nearby chair, turning her face away, no longer willing to look at Wen Ruhan.

“Sixth Prince’s Consort, the truth is, this was ordered by the Fifth Princess. The drug was also given to me by her. She specifically summoned me that day and asked me to do this for her! She threatened that if I didn’t help her, she would produce evidence of my father’s corruption in the Ministry of Works, and then our Wen family might face execution of the entire clan!”

“I know my father has been an honest official all his life and would never accept bribes or be corrupt. But the other party is the Fifth Princess, a member of the royal family. If she says she has evidence of my father’s corruption, she must be able to produce it.”

“I had no choice. To protect our Wen family, I temporarily lost my senses and did this foolish thing.”

“Sixth Prince’s Consort, Sister Yuyan, I beg you, spare me this time. I was forced into this.”

As Wen Ruhan spoke, she continued to kowtow.

At this moment, Mu Yunhan walked in from the direction of the back garden, his face tense as he observed the scene in the front hall, exchanging a look with Mu Yunjin.

Seeing Mu Yunhan arrive, Zhuang Yuyan lowered her eyes, feeling somewhat ashamed.

“Brother, how should we deal with this Miss Wen?” Mu Yunjin threw the question to Mu Yunhan.

Hearing this, Mu Yunhan’s elegant face turned icy cold, “Since it involves a life, we must handle it according to the law. Miss Wen will be transferred to the Court of Judicial Review.”

“No! Master Mu, please spare my life! I know I was wrong, and I promise I will never dare do such a thing again!” Wen Ruhan immediately crawled to Mu Yunhan’s side, clutching the hem of his clothes.

She knew deep down that once she entered the Court of Judicial Review, being involved in an attempted murder, even if she could leave without being found guilty, the mere association with a murder case would essentially ruin her life.

“Yuyan is kind-hearted, which is why she was previously used by opportunistic people like you. Yuyan has only been married into our family for one day, and such an incident has already occurred. If I were to spare you, how could I explain this to the Grand Tutor?”

“Someone, drag her out and transfer her to the Court of Judicial Review!”

After he spoke, several guards who usually followed Mu Yunhan came out and dragged the struggling Wen Ruhan out of the front hall door.

After peace was restored to the front hall, Zhuang Yuyan frowned, her face filled with displeasure.

“Sister Yuyan, don’t be sad. It’s a good thing to see this person’s true face early,” Mu Yunjin consoled.

Zhuang Yuyan nodded slightly, raising her eyes to look at Mu Yunjin, “Sister Yunjin, I owe today’s events to you. Otherwise, I…”

“That’s enough, we’re all family. No need for such formalities,” Mu Yunjin said.

Zhuang Yuyan made a sound of agreement, then rubbed her temples, her complexion somewhat pale, “I’m a bit tired. I’ll go rest for a while.”

“Cuizhu, help the Madam back,” Mu Yunhan said to a maidservant standing nearby.

After Zhuang Yuyan left, Mu Yunjin looked at Mu Yunhan and spoke softly, “It seems Chu Qingqiang truly treated our words from that day as mere wind in her ears.”

“What do you plan to do?” Mu Yunhan asked.

“There’s no need to do anything. Once the news of Wen Ruhan entering the Court of Judicial Review spreads, Chu Qingqiang will surely admit defeat this time.”

“If she still doesn’t learn her lesson after this, then I won’t need to keep her secret anymore.”

As Mu Yunjin finished speaking, the corner of her lips curled into a cold smile, and she coldly raised her eyebrows.