Wan Shi glanced at them and said coldly, “Enough. Save whatever you have to say for when you get to Yuxiu Pavilion. Take them away.”

“Second Madam…” Jiang Caiping felt unconvinced and wanted to argue further, but just as she said three words, she heard Wan Shi say, “Zhaixing, if anyone keeps babbling endlessly, slap her mouth for me!”

“This servant obeys.” Zhaixing curtsied slightly and walked to Jiang Caiping’s side with a cold smile. Yunyi quickly tugged at Jiang Caiping’s sleeve, signaling her not to suffer this immediate loss.

Jiang Caiping bit her teeth tightly until her face turned red from holding back, finally swallowing the words on her lips. Just then, a soft, sweet voice reached everyone’s ears: “Sister, whose mouth are you planning to slap?”

Hearing this voice, Wan Shi’s expression changed slightly. After the women saw clearly who was slowly approaching, they quickly curtsied and said, “Greetings to Third Madam.”

The newcomer was indeed Third Madam Lin Shi of the residence. A rose-red fine brocade robe with gold embroidery and carved silk swayed with her movement, gleaming brilliantly in the winter sun. A pair of lifelike gold-inlaid ruby butterfly hairpins with trailing wings were inserted into her hair styled in a serpentine chignon, adding several more touches of beauty to her charming face.

“Everyone rise.” She supported herself on Jichun’s hand and stepped forward to curtsy to Wan Shi, saying with a smile, “I just heard Sister mention slapping mouths. What happened? Which blind servant made Sister angry?”

Wan Shi said indifferently, “Zhiyun returned to the residence yesterday and brought back a small dog that his master gave him. The servants didn’t watch it properly and let it run away. We only found it today, but it’s already like this – not only was its belly cut open, but all four limbs were brutally broken.”

Lin Shi looked at the small dog Li Zhiyun held in his hands and shook her head repeatedly, “How pitiful.” After sighing several times, she turned and said, “Has Sister found the culprit?”

Wan Shi pointed to the clothing held by the servants and said, “There were silk threads tangled in the dog’s claws, and Wu Meixue’s clothing of the same color and texture has damage, making her undoubtedly the most suspicious. I was just about to take her back for detailed interrogation.”

Jiang Caiping quickly said, “Third Madam, Sister has a kind heart and shows mercy even to ants. She would never do such a thing. It’s Ji Rong who deliberately framed Sister.”

Lin Shi raised her carefully drawn distant mountain eyebrows in surprise and said, “Such a thing actually happened?”

Jiang Caiping nodded repeatedly, recounting yesterday’s events, then said, “We are truly wronged. Please, Third Madam, uphold justice for us two.” She wasn’t stupid either, knowing that in the current situation, Lin Shi was the only one who could help them, so naturally she grabbed onto this desperately.

After listening carefully, Lin Shi said to Wan Shi, “Sister, judging that Meixue and the others killed this dog based on just a few silk threads – isn’t that a bit too hasty?”

Wan Shi suppressed the disgust in her heart and said indifferently, “Then in Sister’s opinion, what wouldn’t be hasty?”

Lin Shi smiled and said, “This sister can’t say for certain, but at least there should be both witness and physical evidence, right?” As she spoke, she took the clothing from the servant’s hands and looked at it, saying, “This kind of fabric isn’t rare in the residence. Jichun, you also have a piece, don’t you?”

Jichun curtsied and said, “Reporting to Madam, this servant had one before, and later Nanny Fang sent over some more fabric. Besides this servant, Liuxia should also have some.”

Lin Shi glanced at her and said, “I remember your garment – the sleeve area was torn somewhat, wasn’t it?”

Jichun’s expression froze momentarily, then she understood and said respectfully, “Yes, this servant was careless last time and tore it somewhat. I’ve been forgetting to mend it.”

Lin Shi smiled and said, “Sister heard that – Jichun’s piece is also torn. Could it be that she also had a part in killing the Fifth Young Master’s dog?”

Wan Shi stared at her with gloomy eyes and said, “What does Sister mean by this?”

Lin Shi looked innocent and said, “What could I mean? I just want to tell Sister not to be too hasty in all matters.” As she spoke, she walked in front of Yunyi and said slowly, “As the saying goes, one’s appearance reflects one’s heart. Looking at this Wu Meixue’s clear and refined features, she doesn’t seem like someone who would do such a thing. It should just be a misunderstanding. Please, Sister, don’t make things difficult for these two.”

“When did Sister learn physiognomy?” Lin Shi seemed not to hear the sarcasm in Wan Shi’s words and smiled charmingly, “If I really knew physiognomy, I would definitely read for Sister first, to see Sister’s… longevity!”

A cold light flashed in Wan Shi’s eyes as she said slowly, “Sister still loves to jest as always!” After saying this, she brushed her sleeve and said, “Well, I still have matters to attend to, so I won’t chat idly with Sister. If this matter truly wasn’t Wu Meixue’s doing, I will naturally release them.”

“I already said it wouldn’t be them. Sister is truly stubborn. Should I also have Jichun and Liuxia brought back for Sister to interrogate?”

Wan Shi stared at her and said, “Doesn’t Sister think she’s meddling too much?”

Lin Shi met her gaze and laughed lightly, “Perhaps, but I’m doing this for Sister’s good. Besides, even if it really was them who killed it, so what? Is Sister planning to make them pay with their lives for a dog? The Governor has always been benevolent and tolerant. If he knew Sister was doing this, he would probably be displeased.”

Li Zhiyun, heartbroken over Amu’s tragic death, became agitated upon hearing Lin Shi’s words and immediately said, “A life for a life is the natural order of things!”

Lin Shi covered her mouth and laughed, “The Fifth Young Master is right, but no one ever said that killing a dog also requires paying with one’s life, right? If word spreads, people will say that the masters of our Governor’s residence abuse their power to bully others.”

Li Zhiyun couldn’t argue with her and was momentarily left speechless. Wan Shi said indifferently, “When did I ever say I would kill anyone? Sister is overthinking.”

“That’s good then.” Lin Shi patted her chest and said with concern, “I was truly worried that Sister might do something wrong in a moment of anger.” As she spoke, she glanced at Yunyi and the other woman, saying, “Let’s release these two for now. After Sister investigates clearly, it won’t be too late to summon them again. They’re right here in the residence anyway – isn’t it a matter of summoning them whenever needed?”

Ji Rong was secretly anxious. How strange – she had never heard of Meixue and the others having any dealings with Lin Shi. Why was Lin Shi speaking up for them like this? She hoped Wan Shi wouldn’t be influenced by her and would not spare Wu Meixue.

Wan Shi’s eyes flickered as she said coldly, “What if I insist on taking them away?”

Lin Shi smiled and said, “If Sister insists on this, I as a younger sister naturally won’t obstruct you, but… I was just planning to visit the Governor. I wonder if the Governor will be displeased to know that Sister is arresting people so indiscriminately?”

Wan Shi’s fingers tightened slightly, but the next moment she was already smiling pleasantly, “It was just a jest. Why is Sister taking it seriously? Since that’s the case, let’s do as Sister says – everything can wait until after the investigation is clear.” With that, she pulled Li Zhiyun away.

Li Zhiyun was unwilling to leave just like that and tried to turn back several times, but was firmly held by Wan Shi and couldn’t break free. He said angrily, “It was clearly that person who killed Amu. Why is Third Mother speaking up for her?”

Wan Shi said coldly, “I’m afraid this matter is connected to her.”