When they arrived at the front hall, Li Shimin was already there. Steward Bai stepped forward and bowed respectfully, “Report to Second Young Master, all the people from the music quarters have arrived.”

Li Shimin nodded, his gaze sweeping over everyone, lingering on Yunyi for a moment before saying to Steward Bai, “Begin.”

“Yes.” Steward Bai responded, pointing to a side room, “Alright, now go in one by one and do as that person inside instructs. No disobedience.”

The women dared not ask questions and filed in as he directed. But what puzzled Yunyi was that every person who came out had a flushed face and clutched their collar tightly. Some even had tears in their eyes, as if something inside had made them feel ashamed and distressed. Jiang Caiping was the same when she came out. Before Yunyi could inquire, Steward Bai had already called, “Next, Wu Meixue.”

Yunyi entered the side room as instructed. Inside stood a nanny over fifty years old with graying hair. After the door closed, she said, “Take off all your clothes. Not a single piece may remain.”

Hearing this, Yunyi understood why everyone’s expressions had been so strange. “Why?”

“That’s not a question you should ask. Just do as I say.” Seeing Yunyi hesitate, she said impatiently, “Hurry up and undress. Don’t force me to do it myself!”

Yunyi said nothing more and followed her instructions, removing her garments one by one until she stood completely naked before the nanny. The nanny stared at a blood-red plum blossom tattoo on her left shoulder and asked, “What is this?”

Yunyi looked down and said, “When father found me, it was the depths of winter when plum blossoms were in full bloom. My shoulder happened to have a plum blossom tattoo, so he named me Meixue.” Then she asked, “Is there a problem?”

“Nothing.” The nanny reached out and touched Yunyi’s cheek. After a moment, she withdrew her hand, “Alright, put your clothes back on.”

“Thank you, nanny.” As she spoke, Yunyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, after killing Moping yesterday, she had feared Li Shimin would suspect her, so she had cut a piece from her undergarment overnight and pasted it over her left shoulder to cover the wound, painting a plum blossom to disguise the difference between the fabric and real skin. As long as no one touched it, the deception wouldn’t be discovered. It was also fortunate that the nanny didn’t know where she was injured, otherwise she might not have been able to hide it.

As for the nanny touching her face just now, it was clearly to check if she was wearing a mask. This Li Shimin was frighteningly shrewd, but no matter how much he calculated, he could never have calculated that she looked exactly like Meixue and needed no mask at all.

After Yunyi left, the dancers behind her went in one by one. When everyone had been examined, the nanny emerged from the side room and bowed to Li Shimin, “Second Young Master, all the dancers have been examined. Nothing abnormal was found.”

Before Li Shimin could speak, Duan Zhihong was already frowning, “Nanny Qi, are you certain you examined everyone carefully? This is the last group. If the assassin is still in the mansion, they must be among them.”

Duan Zhihong’s questioning made the nanny somewhat unhappy. Her face darkened as she said, “Is Guard Duan suggesting that this old woman is in league with the assassin? Should I be examined as well?” Her voice became stern toward the end.

Duan Zhihong knew this nanny’s status and understood he had misspoken. Not daring to argue, he said, “How would Zhihong dare suspect Nanny Qi.”

Nanny Qi snorted coldly. Li Shimin spoke up, “Please don’t be angry, nanny. How could Zhihong suspect you? He just wants to catch the assassin quickly, so he asked an extra question.”

This Nanny Qi was the wet nurse of Li Shimin and his brothers. She had been with the Li family for over twenty years and was utterly loyal to them. Later, when she grew old and her legs became troublesome, Li Shimin relieved her of duties and let her retire peacefully in the mansion. This time, because the matter was so serious and they feared assassin accomplices might still be hidden in the mansion, Li Shimin had arranged for her to conduct the examinations.

“This old woman also knows this matter is extraordinary, so I examined very carefully. There really was nothing.” Nanny Qi’s words made Li Shimin frown tightly. After inconspicuously glancing at Yunyi in the crowd, he pulled Nanny Qi aside and asked with some urgency, “What about Wu Meixue? She also showed no abnormalities?”

“Who is Wu Mei…” Halfway through, Nanny Qi showed understanding, “This old woman remembers now. It’s her.”

Li Shimin had been preparing to point her out to Nanny Qi, but hearing this, he asked in surprise, “Nanny knows her?”

“I wouldn’t say I know her, but she mentioned her name.” Nanny Qi then recounted discovering the plum blossom tattoo on her left shoulder.

“Left shoulder…” Li Shimin murmured these two words. If he remembered correctly, the assassin had been shot by an arrow in the left shoulder as well.

Thinking of this, he pressed further, “Nanny, are you certain that was a tattoo and not an arrow wound?”

Nanny Qi said unhappily, “Though I’m old, my eyes aren’t dim yet. How could I not distinguish between an arrow wound and a tattoo? It was definitely a tattoo. Moreover, following Second Young Master’s instructions, I felt along her neck and found no trace of a mask. She shouldn’t be the assassin you’re looking for.”

Strange. Could it be that the assassin hadn’t disguised herself as Meixue? But the way she killed Shen Moping yesterday—how could that be connected to the Meixue he had known before?

He suppressed his doubts and said, “I understand. Thank you for your hard work, nanny. I’ll have someone escort you back.”

Nanny Qi waved her hand, “No need. I can walk myself. Second Young Master should hurry and find the assassin. Only by catching the assassin can this Governor’s mansion truly be peaceful.”

After Nanny Qi left, Li Shimin glanced at everyone and said, “There’s nothing more. You may all withdraw.”

Just as Yunyi was about to step over the threshold, Li Shimin suddenly called out, “You stay.”

Jiang Caiping paused, looking hesitantly at Yunyi. The latter patted her hand, “It’s nothing. Go back first. I’ll come shortly.”

After everyone left, Yunyi bowed to Li Shimin, “I wonder what other instructions Second Young Master has?”

Li Shimin’s handsome, open face wore a gentle smile, “I haven’t properly thanked you for yesterday’s events.”

Yunyi lowered her eyes, “Second Young Master speaks too highly. This was my duty. Besides, both Young Masters have already rewarded me with many precious things.”

Li Shimin walked to her with his hands behind his back, “Regardless, you saved elder brother. Those few things are nothing.” He paused, then said, “How are those things? Are they to your liking?”