“I think the matter is quite clear now.”

Young Master Pei tapped his finger on the table, signaling everyone to listen carefully to what he was about to say.

“Chu Yanting’s suspicions weren’t wrong. The matter was done by Shen Du Ruo. She was a hidden piece planted in the Crown Prince’s residence by that person. To plant this person, they even specifically created a poisoning case.

During her years at the Imperial Medical Residence, she used her medical skills to gain the trust of the Crown Princess and Crown Prince, delivering a fatal blow to the Crown Prince’s residence at the critical moment.

After the incident, everyone died, but she was pardoned by that person. Feeling she had no place to stand in the capital, she fled far away.

When Imperial Physician Shen was young, he must have had deep ties with that person.

And Imperial Physician Shen only had this one daughter. To compensate, the benefits fell to Imperial Physician Shen’s four sons. That’s why that person turns a blind eye to the Shen family’s affairs.”

Having finished, Young Master Pei admired himself—how did his mind suddenly become so sharp?

“The cause and effect do make sense.”

Yan Sanhe’s pure black eyes stared directly at Young Master Pei. “But there’s one thing that doesn’t make sense.”

“What doesn’t make sense?”

Young Master Pei wasn’t convinced.

Xie Zhifei, who hadn’t spoken in a while, said lightly, “With Shen Du Ruo’s temperament of not hearing anything beyond her window and focusing solely on studying medicine—why would she agree to be a hidden piece?”

Yan Sanhe gave Xie Zhifei a light wink: Smart.

“Simple.”

Young Master Pei said, “Either her father, Imperial Physician Shen, forced her, or that person forced her.”

“I think there’s an even deeper reason.”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Li Buyan.

Li Buyan propped her chin on her hand. “She didn’t want to marry and have children, didn’t want to live an ordinary woman’s life. She could use this matter as an opportunity to flee far away and become the itinerant physician she wanted to be.”

Clearly, Li Buyan’s words were more reasonable.

One wanted freedom, one wanted to ascend to power—the two hit it off immediately.

Pei Yu sighed. “No wonder the Shen family has kept absolutely silent about Shen Du Ruo all these years.”

Yan Sanhe asked, “You don’t discuss her either?”

“Involved in that case—who would dare discuss it?”

Pei Yu pointed at his own head. “Keeping one’s life is more important.”

Xie Zhifei looked at Yan Sanhe. “This also explains why among the capital’s elite circles, there’s still a figure that even I, Third Master Xie, didn’t know about. This Shen Du Ruo is truly quite mysterious.”

Indeed mysterious.

Yan Sanhe made a mental note, picked up her tea cup, and raised it toward Pei Yu.

“Imperial Physician Pei, tonight’s matter—just treat it as having drunk with us juniors. Once you sober up, forget everything.”

Oh dear.

He’s being excluded.

This time Pei Yu didn’t pick up his wine cup but glanced at his son and Xie Zhifei.

“Miss Yan, these two foolish boys’ lives and deaths are in your hands…We’re all old now. We have no other hopes—we just hope the children can be well.”

These words made Yan Sanhe’s heart tighten. “I will be careful.”

As soon as she finished speaking, there was a knock at the door.

“Master, it’s me.”

It was Zhu Qing’s voice.

Xie Zhifei quickly said, “Come in.”

Zhu Qing pushed the door open, walked to Xie Zhifei’s side, and relayed in detail all the information he’d gathered from Han Yong.

There wasn’t much useful information—mostly what Imperial Physician Pei had already said.

The only useful piece of information was bad news—

Ever since Old Imperial Physician performed the Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles on the Second Madam of the Zhu household, his health had been poor. Recently it had worsened, and the household had already begun preparing funeral garments.

Young Master Pei calculated the old imperial physician’s age and quickly said, “Time is running out. We need to quickly find a way to see him.”

Pei Yu raised his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. “If worse comes to worst, it’ll be like last time when we went to the Lu residence—you can dress as my servant.”

“Right, right, right.”

Young Master Pei nodded while saying, “Our two families are on good terms. If my father goes to visit, no one will be suspicious.”

In the past, Yan Sanhe would have agreed immediately without a second word. But now…

Seeing Old Imperial Physician Shen was simple, but what after seeing him?

Ask if your daughter helped His Majesty frame the former Crown Prince?

First, he wouldn’t say. Second, it would alert the enemy.

Yan Sanhe looked up at Xie Zhifei, who gently shook his head.

“Let’s not rush to see this person yet. Wait until I’ve had a good sleep and sorted through my thoughts.”

She turned her face. “Buyan, go to the Zhu residence and explain the situation to Zhu Yuanmo. Also have him cast a divination for the old imperial physician’s fortune.”

“Alright.”

Li Buyan stood up and left. At the doorway, she turned around. “Third Master, remember to send my young lady home. If a single hair is missing, this young mistress will settle accounts with you.”

Did she really need to say that?

Xie Zhifei waved her off. Young mistress, go on, stop worrying needlessly.

The door closed.

Yan Sanhe asked, “Imperial Physician Pei, I want to see this person Bai Zhenshan.”

“Can’t see him anymore.”

Pei Yu pointed downward. “Buried underground long ago.”

Yan Sanhe was startled. “What about the Bai family now?”

Pei Yu’s face showed considerable regret. “The Bai family no longer works as herb gatherers for the Shen family. The Shen family’s third and fourth sons have taken over this work.”

“Why? Didn’t you just say it was for generations?”

“The great tides of the world—what’s divided must unite, what’s united must divide.”

Pei Yu said, “We outsiders don’t know the specific reasons. What I heard was there was some unpleasantness with the masters.”

Yan Sanhe asked, “Was this before or after Bai Zhenshan’s death?”

Pei Yu replied, “While Master Bai was alive, even if there was unpleasantness, it could be resolved.”

Yan Sanhe asked, “Where are the Bai family now? What do they do?”

Pei Yu said, “They left the capital and moved to Tianjin Prefecture. I heard they’re still in the herb gathering business, though their reputation isn’t as grand as before.”

Then there was nothing more to ask.

“Chengyu, please see Imperial Physician Pei off.”

“Alright.”

“Mingting, go home with your father.”

He absolutely had to go home—he still needed to butter up his old man some more.

Yan Sanhe looked up at Zhu Qing. “Have Ding Yi come in to eat. Order whatever dishes he wants.”

Zhu Qing was stunned.

Why did it feel like Miss Yan had gained a bit more human warmth compared to before?

…

The night was like water.

Yan Sanhe stood by the window, her eyes looking at the scattered lights in the distance, her mind carefully reviewing Imperial Physician Pei’s words again.

As Young Master Pei had said, things were indeed quite clear now.

As long as the insider was Shen Du Ruo, the general framework of the Crown Prince Witchcraft Case emerged, and this heart demon could basically be wrapped up.

What needed to be done now was to find evidence confirming that Shen Du Ruo was the insider.

Everyone from the Crown Prince’s residence was already dead. Currently, the only ones who knew were Old Imperial Physician Shen and his wife.

But alarming these two would undoubtedly alarm the one on the dragon throne.

Too dangerous!

So what other methods were there?

When Xie Zhifei returned and looked up to see the small figure by the window, his gaze instantly softened.

“When the cart reaches the mountain, there will be a way through.”

Yan Sanhe turned around. Her peach-blossom eyes were even brighter than the lamplight behind him.

She smiled slightly. “Let’s stop here for tonight. I’m tired too.”

“Hold out your hand.”

“What for?”

“Hold it out.”

Fine, she’d hold it out.

A malt candy dropped into her palm.