Dong Shi said helplessly to Qin Yunyun: “Sixth Sister, come with me.”

Qin Yunyun gathered her spirits, her steps feeling like treading on clouds, unsteadily following Dong Shi outside.

After walking just a few steps, they saw Qin Yongtao return with a dark expression and swift strides, pointing at Qin Yunyun: “Stop! Girl Yun, who else knows about Cai Luan going out at midnight?”

Earlier, Qin Yunyun had only mentioned making Cai Luan retrieve things at midnight, but hadn’t mentioned how she later sent Caiying out to look because she was restless.

Qin Yunyun mumbled: “Also, also Caiying…”

“Smack!” Qin Yongtao slapped Qin Yunyun across the face, then said to Qin Kaiyu who had followed closely behind: “Go find Caiying immediately. Once found, lock her up at once. Handle it personally!”

Struck by Qin Yongtao, Qin Yunyun’s ears rang with buzzing sounds. Not daring to fall, she forced herself to stand, her face growing even paler, body trembling uncontrollably.

This was her biological father, striking his legitimate daughter for the second time!

Qin Yongtao pointed at Qin Yunyun, shouting sternly: “Go with your second brother, and Dong Shi too—quickly!”

After their shock, both Qin Kaiyu and Dong Shi understood Qin Yongtao’s meaning. The two exchanged glances, and Qin Kaiyu immediately dragged Qin Yunyun by the arm outside.

Who would have thought—after searching everywhere, they couldn’t find any trace of Caiying.

Qin Yunyun’s face grew even more ghastly pale. It seemed Caiying understood the danger and gravity of the situation and had hidden herself! Right, she remembered now—she hadn’t seen her after getting up this morning, though she had been too distracted to notice at the time. That damned girl…

“Master, Master!” Steward Qin ran over breathlessly, wiping his sweat: “Master, Cai Luan’s mother is wailing that Cai Luan was actually two months pregnant!”

Upon hearing this news, Qin Kaiyu’s eyes widened in shock, his expression extremely panicked: “What did you say?!”

Qin Yongtao noticed his abnormal reaction, narrowed his eyes, and stared intently at Qin Kaiyu.

Qin Yongtao was Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, an old bureaucratic fox, and not one without means. When he showed his authority, his intimidating power was considerable. Qin Kaiyu felt his hair stand on end under his gaze, unconsciously saying: “Father, why, why are you looking at me like that?”

Qin Yongtao continued staring at him.

Under his dark, sharp gaze, Qin Kaiyu had almost nowhere to hide. Cold sweat soaked his back, and he involuntarily stepped back two paces.

“Very good.”

Two words shot from Qin Yongtao’s nostrils, then he turned and strode toward the pond.

Qin Kaiyu’s hands and feet went cold. Ignoring Qin Yunyun’s strange expression, he hurried to follow.

Qin Yunyun showed a look of sudden realization, walking three steps and stopping three steps, lost in thought.

Dong Shi was relatively far from them and hadn’t seen Qin Yongtao’s expression earlier.

She was trying hard to digest this news—she managed all inner quarter affairs, so such a scandal made her difficult to escape blame. The question was, was Cai Luan really pregnant? Whose child was it? She had managed affairs in the south for so long without major incidents, but how was it that upon returning to the capital, there were only these unmanageable messes!

By the pond.

“My poor daughter! Someone wanted to kill you to silence you! Whose child is in your belly, whose is it? Open your mouth and speak, speak! Mother will definitely seek justice for you!”

Cai Luan’s mother wailed desperately, hair disheveled, tears streaming down her face in misery.

Cai Luan’s father sat on the ground, silently looking at Cai Luan’s corpse that had been placed on a bench, his eyes vacant, not saying a word.

Dong Shi looked at Cai Luan’s abdomen—slightly swollen. Though not yet obvious, any woman who had borne children could tell at a glance. Whose child was this exactly?

When Qin Yongtao arrived, a servant said to Cai Luan’s mother: “Cai Luan’s mother, Master has arrived.”

Cai Luan’s mother turned to see Qin Yongtao, scrambled up, and knelt on the ground: “Master, please show mercy. Cai Luan was murdered. She was already pregnant—this is killing to silence her. This is two lives for one death. Master, please find the murderer. This servant will work like an ox or horse to repay your kindness!”

Cai Luan’s father also knelt on the ground. Though he didn’t speak, he kowtowed vigorously.

Qin Yongtao’s expression was solemn: “Rest assured, since this happened in the mansion, I will certainly give you an explanation.”

Steward Qin said: “Steward Zhou, the dead are paramount. Since she has unfortunately perished, first take Cai Luan back and bury her according to proper rites. Master has handled countless cases and will certainly give you an explanation. You can rest assured.”

Dong Shi secretly clenched her handkerchief. Steward Qin’s words represented Master’s intention. This was to… what was the inside story here? Dong Shi didn’t dare think further.

Cai Luan’s mother cried and lamented for a while before agreeing: “Thank you, Master, thank you, Master!”

Qin Yunyun also cried very sadly—but hers were tears of joy. She could finally avoid bearing alone the responsibility for killing Cai Luan. Father would certainly find ways to cover up her mistakes.

Qin Yunyun wept over Cai Luan’s corpse: “Cai Luan, wah wah wah… rest in peace. We were master and servant—I will definitely help investigate the truth for you… woo woo woo…”

Everyone discussed among themselves, saying Cai Luan had followed a good master.

Steward Qin said to several male servants: “Help Steward Zhou take this poor child back to the Zhou family for proper burial. Hu Er, go to the accounts and withdraw one hundred taels of silver for the Zhou family’s funeral arrangements first.”

Several male servants went to cover Cai Luan’s corpse with white cloth, wrapped it, and prepared to carry it away.

Cai Luan’s father, Steward Zhou, kept his head down, saying nothing, as if immersed in grief beyond recovery.

The four male servants had just finished wrapping Cai Luan’s corpse when they heard a servant running and shouting: “Master, Master, Magistrate Cao has arrived! Magistrate Cao has arrived!”

Qin Yongtao was stunned for quite a while before realizing who the Magistrate Cao the servant mentioned was: “He, how did he…” He didn’t finish his words because he had already seen Magistrate Cao striding over.

Magistrate was an official title—a sixth-rank magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture.

“This official greets Minister Qin!” Magistrate Cao cupped his hands. His position was lower than Qin Yongtao’s.

Qin Yongtao stood with hands behind his back: “Magistrate Cao, what brings you to my mansion?”

Magistrate Cao smiled: “Someone from your esteemed mansion reported a case—someone murdered a maid in your household. This official comes in official capacity to verify the facts.”

Though servants could be bought and sold, in the Great Zhou Dynasty, servants were registered with the authorities, and if there were deaths or disappearances, the authorities had to investigate.

Qin Yongtao said indifferently: “Then Magistrate Cao has made a wasted trip. The matter has been investigated and cleared. The deceased’s parents are about to take the body back. No need to trouble Magistrate Cao.”

Who would have thought this Magistrate Cao wouldn’t give him any face, saying arrogantly: “Oh? Cleared already? Minister Qin is indeed swift! May this official know what the truth is?”

Qin Yongtao: “Then please come this way. I’ll explain everything clearly to Magistrate Cao.”