Jiang Caiping quickly glanced at her and said quietly, “Later we had dinner, then while making clothes, we chatted with sister until the second watch before going to sleep. Sister Wu and I were together the whole time – she never left.”

Wan Shi gathered her sleeves and said indifferently, “So after you fell asleep, you don’t actually know whether Wu Meixue was still in the room or not, correct?”

Jiang Caiping was stunned, then said urgently, “Sister Wu wouldn’t go out. Second Madam, please believe me – Sister Wu never did anything. The Feng family is wrongly accusing sister, just like how Jirong wrongly accused sister of causing Amu’s death.”

Wan Shi’s eyes grew cold as she called Zhaixing over, “Go summon Nanny Yang and all the people from the music workshop. I have questions for them.”

“Yes.” Zhaixing withdrew as instructed. After a while, she brought in Nanny Yang and a group of dancers. Fortunately, Yuxiu Pavilion was spacious, so even with so many people standing there, it wasn’t too crowded.

After they had paid their respects, Wan Shi swept her gaze over them and said slowly, “You’ve all surely heard about Chunxiu’s matter. Now I have some questions for you. If any of you know anything, answer truthfully without concealment or lies, otherwise you’ll all be expelled from the music workshop.”

After everyone answered in unison, Wan Shi said, “On the night of the ninth, did any of you see Wu Meixue leave the music workshop?”

The women carefully recalled the events of that night. After a moment, someone stepped forward and said, “In response to Second Madam, I remember – Wu Meixue did leave the music workshop that night on the ninth.”

Her words made Jiang Caiping’s pretty face turn pale. She bit her full lower lip tightly with her white teeth, her fingers already twisted white, and at the same time, sharp pain came from her scalp. She knew it was from Wan Shi’s gaze.

Wan Shi stared at Jiang Caiping for a moment, then shifted her gaze to that dancer, “What time was it? Where did she go?”

The dancer thought for a moment, “It should have been around the first watch, close to the second watch. As for where she went, I didn’t follow, so I don’t know.”

Wan Shi nodded slightly and looked at everyone, “Did anyone else see her?”

After a moment of silence, Zhao Shi stepped forward, “Reporting to Madam, although I didn’t see Wu Meixue leave the music workshop on the ninth, I do know about something.”

“Speak.” After getting Wan Shi’s permission, Zhao Shi said, “That day was Chunxiu’s first day returning to the music workshop. Nanny Yang arranged for me to share a room with her. After dance practice that day, I went to the kitchen to get food. When I returned, I didn’t see Chunxiu and searched everywhere. I found her standing outside Meixue and the others’ window, peeping…” Her face reddened slightly as she said quietly, “At them bathing.”

Except for Meixue and the others, only Zhao Shi knew about this matter. Hearing her mention it now, everyone showed expressions of surprise and disgust – after all, no one would like being spied upon. Zhao Shi continued, “Because I called out to her, Jiang Caiping and the others discovered us, chased out, and got into an argument with Chunxiu.”

“Do you know why Chunxiu did this?” In response to Wan Shi’s question, Zhao Shi said, “I also asked Chunxiu about it. She said it was just momentary curiosity, but I always felt there must be other reasons. Later, when we were preparing to eat, Chunxiu suddenly asked me if it was possible to leave the mansion. I said it should be possible with a waist token, and then she left immediately, not returning all night. The next day I heard she had stolen Steward Lin’s waist token and left the mansion.”

Wan Shi thought for a moment with her head lowered, “So you don’t know why Chunxiu left the mansion?”

“No, but…” Zhao Shi glanced at Yunyi and the other woman, hesitating to speak. Seeing her expression, Wan Shi said, “Say whatever you have to say.”

“Yes.” Zhao Shi said timidly, “I always feel that Chunxiu’s sudden departure was related to her earlier spying on Meixue and the others bathing. Moreover, as far as I know, Chunxiu and Meixue and the others never got along well. Her demotion to the woodshed was also related to this.”

Zhao Shi’s words gained unanimous agreement from the women. The deep enmity between Chunxiu and Yunyi’s group was known throughout the music workshop.

After signaling for Zhao Shi to step aside, Wan Shi stared at Jiang Caiping, “You said that before the second watch, Wu Meixue never left your sight. Why did someone else see her leave the music workshop? Is she also wrongly accused?”

Jiang Caiping said evasively, “I said before that I don’t remember that night’s events very clearly. At the time… sister might have taken a food box to the kitchen. It was just for a moment, and she came back quickly, so I didn’t think of it immediately.”

Wan Shi’s face darkened, “Sometimes you say you remember, sometimes you say you don’t. Jiang Caiping, what audacity you have, daring to lie repeatedly before me.”

Jiang Caiping’s legs went weak from her scolding. Just then, Yunyi said, “Second Madam needn’t make things difficult for Caiping. I did leave the music workshop, but I didn’t leave the mansion, so Chunxiu’s death has nothing to do with me.”

Wan Shi looked at her and said sternly, “Where did you go?”

Yunyi hesitated for a moment, then lowered her eyes, “Please forgive me, Second Madam. Meixue cannot say.”

“Is it that you cannot say or simply cannot speak!” Feng Cheng pointed at Yunyi and said through gritted teeth, “Wu Meixue, you killed Chunxiu. Today, I will definitely make you pay blood for blood!”

“No!” Wu Laosan said hurriedly, “No, it wasn’t the girl who did it. The girl just said she didn’t leave the mansion. Don’t wrongly accuse her!”

“Wrongly accuse?” Feng Cheng laughed coldly repeatedly. The next moment, he knelt before Wan Shi, “Madam, the matter is now clear. Wu Meixue secretly left the mansion to kill Chunxiu, and this woman…” He pointed at Jiang Caiping, “helped Wu Meixue conceal it – she’s also an accomplice. Please, Madam, hand both of them over to me to take to the county office for the magistrate to determine their guilt!”

Hearing this, Jiang Caiping said urgently, “Madam, Sister Wu never received a waist token – how could she leave the mansion? If you don’t believe it, you can check Steward Lin’s and the gatekeepers’ records. Sister Wu is innocent.”

Wan Shi stared at Yunyi, “Wu Meixue, I’ll give you one more chance. Where exactly were you last night?”

Yunyi didn’t answer her question but said, “Where I was isn’t important. The gatekeepers’ records are sufficient to prove my innocence.”

Wan Shi said coldly, “Those records can only prove you didn’t leave through the main gate, but they can’t prove you never left the Governor’s mansion.”

“That’s right. Besides the main gate, the Governor’s mansion has several side gates, but after the seventh hour each day, those side gates are locked. Unless one climbs over walls, it’s impossible to get out. Or does Madam think Meixue can fly over eaves and walk on walls?” In fact, she indeed could, but no one knew this.

Wan Shi took Zhaixing’s hand for support and slowly walked to stand before Yunyi, “Since that’s the case, you should truthfully state where you went last night to clear yourself of suspicion.”

Yunyi looked her in the eye for a long moment, then shook her head, “Are you truly trying to clear Meixue of suspicion, or do you simply not believe Meixue at all, Madam?”