Everyone’s expressions became subtle and astonished.

The First Madam’s face changed instantly. She abruptly stood up, then slowly sat back down, saying, “Miss Wang, you must have seen wrong. It’s already dark outside—”

Miss Wang shook her head vigorously, “No, no, I didn’t see wrong. If you don’t believe me, ask my maid—she saw it too!”

The maid’s face was also pale green, looking thoroughly frightened, “What Miss said is true. This servant also saw it—hanging from the plum blossom tree with the tongue sticking out. It was so terrifying!”

The First Madam had a very bad premonition in her heart. She instinctively glanced at Li Weiyang. Somehow, she felt this matter had an inseparable connection to that wretched girl who was currently lowering her head to drink tea. Thinking of this, she made a quick decision, “You must have seen wrong! Someone, help Miss Wang back to her seat.”

Miss Wang wanted to say more, but seeing Madam Wang’s expression, she immediately didn’t dare speak further. She returned to her seat but still looked unsettled. Young ladies nearby immediately came to inquire about the situation. She was about to say something when Madam Wang suddenly coughed loudly, and Miss Wang immediately fell silent.

Li Weiyang looked across at Li Minfeng, who was still oblivious and toasting the Fifth Prince, and the corners of her lips curved up slightly.

Li Xiaoran’s expression didn’t look good. The First Madam hurriedly said, “It’s dark out—perhaps Miss Wang saw wrong for a moment. I’ll immediately send someone to check.”

Li Xiaoran nodded, about to dismiss the matter. Suddenly, he saw the wife of the Minister of War, Wang Shi, stand up. Her face no longer held its previous dignified composure but was full of panic, “My Su’er is missing!”

Everyone was startled. The wife of Minister Liu of the Ministry of War had only gotten this son at age forty and treasured him like a jewel, taking him everywhere. How could he suddenly disappear?

The First Madam hurriedly consoled her, “Madam Liu, don’t worry. I’ll send people to search immediately.”

Madam Liu was about to nod when the Third Madam showed a hesitant expression, “It’s already dark. A small child running around everywhere is certainly dangerous. Miss Wang just said something happened under the plum blossom tree… Let’s go check there first.”

The First Madam glared at the Third Madam and consoled, “Don’t speak such alarming words. Children are just playful—we’ll find him soon.”

How could Madam Liu still listen to her? Her face had already lost its composure, “No, I must go search myself!” She pushed aside the nearby maids and stood up first.

When the Minister of War saw this, he felt somewhat embarrassed. Though he feared offending the Prime Minister, he ultimately cared about his only flesh and blood. He also stood up to excuse himself, then quickly followed.

With such disruption, how could the banquet continue?

Everyone also stood up one after another, chattering:

“Let’s go see as well.”

“Yes, yes! Minister Liu only has this one precious son. If something happened, it would be a major matter!”

“Prime Minister, we’ll also go take a look!”

Seeing everyone speak this way, Li Xiaoran had no choice but to nod, “In that case, everyone should go together.”

The First Madam was anxious inside. She quickly exchanged a glance with Nanny Lin at the side, telling her to go ahead first and immediately check what had actually happened under the plum tree—she must handle that suddenly appearing corpse before everyone else arrived. But when Nanny Lin reached the doorway, she encountered everyone heading out and was momentarily blocked at the entrance, unable to enter or exit.

Li Weiyang saw everything and revealed a faint smile.

The Seventh Prince, Tuoba Yu, happened to catch this trace of a smile and couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows with interest. This Third Miss was truly quite peculiar.

“Seventh Brother, aren’t you going to watch the excitement?” Tuoba Zhen suddenly interrupted his observation.

Tuoba Yu turned his head and smiled faintly, “Naturally I must go see. Third Imperial Brother, please go first.”

Meanwhile, the Fifth Prince had long since followed Li Changle and was no longer at his seat.

Everyone successively arrived at the garden. Because of the Third Madam’s earlier reminder, Madam Liu ran desperately toward the plum blossom tree. By the lake stood a plum tree blooming especially vigorously—it was easy to distinguish. She walked in the lead, having completely forgotten her status and the propriety expected of a noble lady, her heart focused only on finding her son.

When she reached the plum blossom tree, she immediately saw a human figure hanging from the tree, swaying back and forth. Madam Liu was so frightened she retreated a step. Looking carefully, she saw the shadow was long, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief—it wasn’t her son!

The crowd came running over successively and all saw this corpse. Then they heard a maid cry out in alarm, “It’s Ziyan! It’s Ziyan!”

Bai Zhi rushed over, embracing the corpse as tears streamed down continuously, “Ziyan, what happened to you! Ziyan, what on earth happened to you!”

Li Minfeng, who had rushed over, saw this scene and was shocked speechless. He never expected that Ziyan would appear here.

Li Weiyang said coldly, “Take the person down.”

Naturally, rough-work servants quickly went up to take the person down. Checking for breath, she had long been completely dead. Looking at Ziyan’s pale white face, Bai Zhi’s tears flowed uncontrollably, more and more.

Li Minfeng clenched his fists, his eyes completely red, “Impossible! How could she—” He had clearly ordered those people to dispose of Ziyan and quietly send the body out of the manor. How could she be hanging from the plum blossom tree!

Li Weiyang, whose expression had been smooth just moments ago, looked at him coldly, “Eldest Brother, a perfectly good maid—you asked me for her and I gave her to you. Now, after not even a few days, how is she dead!”

Li Minfeng was startled, then couldn’t suppress the anger on his face, “What are you to question me!”

Just then, Li Minde frowned and said, “Eldest Brother, Third Sister was personally enfeoffed as County Princess Anping by His Majesty. You yourself have no achievements or titles yet. By propriety, when you see Third Sister you should bow to her. Third Sister is magnanimous and doesn’t hold it against you—how is it that you can’t even speak properly!”

The area between Li Minfeng’s brows twitched faintly, but constrained by everyone’s presence, he could only suppress this anger in his heart.

Seeing this scene, Li Xiaoran’s expression was extremely ugly. He rebuked coldly, “What exactly is going on!”

The First Madam’s expression was uncertain. She said slowly, “Master, this maid Ziyan was nowhere to be seen all day today. I thought she had taken leave to visit her family.”

Li Weiyang looked at Li Minfeng indifferently, “Eldest Brother, Ziyan is your concubine. If she wanted to take leave, how could she not mention it in advance?”

The First Madam said coldly, “Weiyang, you child are confused. Ziyan is merely a maid—how is she any concubine?”

Taking a concubine before marrying a wife was absolutely not the practice of great families and showed disrespect to the new daughter-in-law. The First Madam was currently selecting the best wife candidate for the eldest young master. If people learned that the eldest young master already had a concubine, wouldn’t it make people feel the Prime Minister’s manor didn’t teach its sons properly?

Li Weiyang smiled slightly, “Whether she is or not, Eldest Brother knows in his heart.”