The first to react was Jiang Xu. His expression was extremely ugly as he shouted loudly, “Imperial physician! Quickly fetch an imperial physician!” At this moment, he could barely spare attention for the panicked Crown Prince, much less all the many guests.

The Crown Prince stood frozen on the spot, his face still covered with countless blood spots. Only when the Crown Princess beside him handed him a handkerchief did he startle awake. Looking back at the Crown Princess, he instead turned to support the deathly pale Concubine Jiang Lan. “Lan’er, don’t be afraid!”

Jiang Lan’s face was unprecedentedly pale. She actually pushed the Crown Prince aside and quickly walked forward, trembling as she knelt before the Duke’s wife.

Li Weiyang watched this scene, her expression becoming very strange—seemingly mocking, yet also sighing. To outsiders, it appeared she was frightened and momentarily didn’t know how to react. The events happening in the great hall were like a play, and she stood there, eyes wide open watching that play from beginning to end, feeling an abnormally eerie calm.

Jiang Xu sent people everywhere to find Jiang Tian, but to no avail. Jiang Tian seemed to have evaporated—he hadn’t appeared at his grandmother’s birthday banquet at all. With no choice, he hurriedly summoned the imperial physician. Everyone in the great hall looked at each other, involuntarily crowding forward. A heavy oppressive feeling pressed down, making Li Weiyang feel the air here had a suffocating quality that was nauseating. She involuntarily took a step back.

“Are you alright?” A voice suddenly came.

Li Weiyang turned her head to see Li Minde had already crossed through the crowd to her side, his face showing concern.

Li Weiyang shook her head, her gaze looking toward the crowd again. By that grand armchair, the Jiang family’s direct line had gathered. Outsiders had no way to get close, and Li Changle had also rushed over in a panic, appearing extremely distraught.

Through the heavy crowd, Imperial Physician Liu’s words carried over: “Lord Jiang, accept my condolences. The old lady has… stopped breathing…” In her line of sight appeared Jiang Xu’s furious face, and Jiang Hai loudly rebuking, “Imperial Physician Liu, don’t speak nonsense! My grandmother was just fine a moment ago!”

Hearing this, Imperial Physician Liu’s expression was equally displeased. For a physician, nothing was more humiliating than having his medical skills questioned. His hands tucked in his sleeves trembled with anger as he said loudly, “Young Master, no breath means no breath. Would I lie about this?! If you don’t believe me, see for yourself—even her pulse is gone!”

Hearing his mother had suddenly died, Jiang Xu felt a breath stuck in his chest, unable to speak at all. The others were even more dumbstruck, never imagining that on what was clearly the happy occasion of a sixtieth birthday—just moments ago they’d seen the old lady full of vigor and robust health—how could she have stopped breathing in such a short time?!

Jiang Lan suddenly said sorrowfully, “Grandmother! Grandmother! What happened to you! You were just fine—how could you suddenly be gone!”

Seeing his beloved concubine’s face full of grief and distress, the Crown Prince quickly said anxiously, “Imperial Physician Liu, what illness did the Duke’s wife have? Why did she suddenly vomit blood and immediately die?” He’d just wiped the blood from his face, but his complexion showed no improvement whatsoever.

Jiang Hai also quickly said, “Imperial Physician Liu, my grandmother caught a cold several days ago and was quite seriously ill. Could it be because of that—”

Imperial Physician Liu shook his head. “No, this doesn’t look like an ordinary external cold pathogen…”

Old Madam Li watched from afar, feeling more and more wrong. Her heart couldn’t help jumping, a sense of foreboding rising. As if to confirm her words, Imperial Physician Liu’s next statement was: “Actually, the Duke’s wife was poisoned.”

Hearing this, Jiang Xu’s expression immediately changed drastically. “Poisoned?”

Imperial Physician Liu nodded, took out a silver needle, and tested it in the blood the Duke’s wife had vomited. Then he held up the silver needle for everyone to see. His lips parted slightly, his teeth closing to emit ice-cold words: “The Duke’s wife was indeed poisoned to death.”

Everyone saw that the needle tip had indeed turned slightly black.

Jiang Xu couldn’t help closing his eyes. For a moment, his palms were cold with sweat and two words kept revolving in his mind—poisoned! Actually poisoned! Who had such audacity! To dare poison someone at a birthday banquet!

Everyone looked at each other. The Duke’s wife was a first-rank lady and Duke Jiang’s legitimate wife. The Empress Dowager had personally issued a decree ordering everyone to celebrate her sixtieth birthday. Yet at the birthday banquet, the originally perfectly healthy Duke’s wife suddenly died—the cause being poison. This incident was like a thousand-layer tidal wave rising to the heavens. Once verified, the implicated parties would be numerous. And they happened to be standing here at this moment, personally witnessing this tremendous change—destined to no longer be able to remain uninvolved!

For a time, the storm was about to break. Jiang Lan cried even more inconsolably. “Crown Prince! Please seek justice for Grandmother!”

Indeed, hearing this, the Crown Prince was enraged and slammed the table. “How outrageous! Who is it? Who dares poison the Duke’s wife? We must thoroughly investigate and root out this murderer!”

With this command, everyone immediately erupted into commotion.

Both the Capital Magistrate and the Minister of Justice stepped forward. Yao Changqing said, “Your Highness, this matter should be reported to His Majesty as soon as possible, and the entire Jiang residence should be sealed to prevent the murderer from escaping!”

The Duke’s old lady’s food and drink all had people specially responsible—there was no way accidental poisoning could occur. Everyone felt this must be murder, and murder that challenged the Empress Dowager and His Majesty. Weren’t you going to grandly celebrate Lady Jiang’s birthday? Look at the result now?! One could imagine the Emperor would be extremely enraged.

The Crown Prince nodded. “Someone, immediately enter the palace to report to Father Emperor, and seal the entire Jiang residence. Lord Zhang, Magistrate Yao, please conduct thorough interrogations—you must get to the bottom of this matter!”

Minister of Justice Zhang Hui’s expression was grave. He exchanged a glance with Yao Changqing and both responded in unison, “Yes.”

On the other side, Li Minde, who had been silently observing everything, said quietly, “I see this won’t be resolved quickly.”

Li Weiyang glanced coldly at the Jiang family members, but her gaze fell on the weeping Li Changle. She said slowly, “Of course. They haven’t made it big enough yet—how could they stop here? Let’s prepare ourselves!” She appeared as if she’d already anticipated this. Li Minde smiled slightly and said nothing more.

Jiang Xu ordered people to immediately place the Duke’s wife in a side hall, instructed household members to prepare mourning clothes and other matters, then asked all guests to wait seated in the great hall. Next he arranged for the Capital Magistrate’s people to begin checking the entire great hall, reception room, even the Duke’s wife’s bedroom—to determine where exactly she was poisoned and who administered the poison. Crown Prince’s Concubine Jiang Lan’s eyes were red, as if forcibly suppressing her grief, speaking with Jiang Xu and others. Li Changle covered her face with her sleeves, weeping continuously, showing extreme sorrow. The remaining crowd all wore expressions of deep concern.

Fifth Prince Tuoba Rui glanced at the extremely sorrowful Li Changle, seeming to want to comfort her. But remembering that bald head crawling with insects he’d seen last time, he involuntarily felt incomparably disgusted. After several attempts at psychological preparation, he still couldn’t make his legs walk to that great beauty’s side. With no choice, he turned his gaze away and said to Third Prince Tuoba Zhen, who had maintained silence from the start, “Third Brother, when can we leave here? They can’t suspect us, can they?”

Tuoba Zhen withdrew his gaze from the Jiang family members and said thoughtfully, “Didn’t you hear the Crown Prince say? We must find the murderer before we can leave here!” In other words, if they couldn’t find the murderer, everyone had to stay here—even if you were an imperial prince.

Fifth Prince Tuoba Rui snorted coldly. “He’s just bewitched by that Jiang Lan, listening to everything she says! The Duke’s old lady couldn’t possibly have been poisoned to death by us. Detaining so many people—what’s the point? Simply ridiculous!”

Tuoba Zhen didn’t speak. His gaze involuntarily turned toward Li Weiyang, who was speaking with Li Minde over there. Not having seen her for several days, her countenance remained coolly unchanged, her demeanor still low-key as always. Her dress was even more inconspicuous. But sitting there, she was already a strange landscape—where her brows and eyes flew, her spirit and beauty reached their peak. Every word and action was like a brilliantly blooming sea of flowers, making him involuntarily look toward her. This wasn’t because Li Weiyang was particularly beautiful, but because he’d already fallen for this person and would unconsciously pursue her. Finally, Tuoba Rui spoke to interrupt him. “I really can’t sit still anymore. I’ll go see what Yao Changqing has discovered!” With that, Tuoba Rui stood up and walked toward the grave-faced Capital Magistrate.

At this moment, Tuoba Yu stood at Yao Changqing’s side, saying to him, “We can conduct detailed examinations to further narrow the scope. Since the Duke’s wife was poisoned to death, that means the murderer had opportunity to contact her. Half the people in this great hall can be eliminated from suspicion because they had no way to enter the inner residence, much less poison the Duke’s wife’s food or items she contacted.”

Yao Changqing nodded. “Indeed so. After narrowing the examination scope, we’ll focus on checking the Duke’s wife’s close personal maids to see if we can find clues from them…”

Just then, Tanxiang suddenly exclaimed, “Eldest Miss, are you alright?!”

Everyone immediately looked toward Li Changle and saw her face was extremely pale, her entire body leaning on Tanxiang as if about to faint at any moment. Jiang Lan, familiar with her since childhood and on good terms with her, quickly went forward. “Changle, are you alright?”

The Jiang First Lady frowned and quickly said, “Changle’s health has always been delicate. Today, the old lady who always doted on her suddenly passed away—I’m afraid she can’t bear the blow. Quickly help her inside to rest!”

Jiang Lan then instructed Tanxiang, “Help your miss to the embroidery tower I used to live in!”

“No need to trouble you. I’ll rest in the guest room for a moment.” Li Changle appeared extremely weak, about to lean on Tanxiang and leave the great hall. But she suddenly saw Li Weiyang stand up and smile. “Elder Sister, this—wouldn’t be appropriate.”

Everyone looked at Li Weiyang and only saw her show a trace of difficulty. Jiang Lan frowned. “What’s inappropriate about this?”

Li Weiyang’s gaze fell on Li Changle, her tone calm. “Grandmother just passed. No one isn’t heartbroken. The matter here hasn’t been clarified yet, so I think Elder Sister should please endure a bit. At least wait until the case is resolved. Moreover, you care so much about Grandmother—how could you leave before catching the murderer?”

Li Changle’s body swayed, showing slight disbelief. “So Third Sister means that even if I’m unwell, I must stay here?”

Jiang Lan’s beautiful face took on a trace of coldness as she turned to stare at Li Weiyang. “Princess Anping, you’re being… too harsh toward Elder Sister.”

“Does Concubine Lan think I’m being harsh?” Li Weiyang repeated the four words “too harsh” as if somewhat surprised, but quickly her expression became solemn. “I’m merely raising reasonable suspicions. Before the matter is resolved, everyone is suspect. Crown Princess, wouldn’t you agree?”

Hearing this, the Crown Princess was startled, not expecting Li Weiyang to direct the question at her. For a moment she looked at her in great surprise. Li Weiyang said lightly, “Though this is the Jiang residence, the most honored person present is His Highness the Crown Prince. Since the Crown Princess has also arrived, naturally we must respect your opinion in this matter. What do you say—should people be allowed to leave this great hall alone to rest?”

The Crown Princess looked coldly at Jiang Lan. She could tell Li Weiyang and the Jiang family were at odds. Similarly, she and Jiang Lan were at odds. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Since Jiang Lan wanted to protect Li Changle, why shouldn’t she protect Li Weiyang? Women’s logic was sometimes this simple. Just moments ago she’d felt Li Weiyang was inconsequential, but now she immediately felt she’d become much more agreeable. She couldn’t help showing a trace of coldness. “Concubine Lan, this is the Jiang residence. We should respect the host’s wishes and not interfere casually. Moreover, this matter involves the Duke’s wife’s death—it truly is no small matter. Of course, I’m not saying I suspect Miss Li. It’s just… the county princess is right. Anyone could be suspect and shouldn’t be easily indulged. Miss Li needs rest—she can certainly rest in this great hall. Someone, grant her a seat.”

Li Changle hadn’t expected the Crown Princess to interject. Her expression grew even worse, and she could only reluctantly thank her for the seat. Just as she was about to walk to the chair, she seemed to inadvertently stumble. Tanxiang alone couldn’t support her—she was about to fall again when a hand reached out and steadily supported her.

Turning back, she saw it was Li Weiyang.

Li Weiyang’s voice was gentle. “Elder Sister, you must be very careful.”

Li Changle absolutely hated the person before her but didn’t dare make a scene in front of everyone. She weakly looked around—Li Xiaoran’s expression was grave, Old Madam Li’s face was impassive, her uncles and cousins were discussing funeral arrangements, Concubine Jiang Lan no longer dared contradict the Crown Princess’s wishes… Finally, she could only glare viciously at Li Weiyang and turn her head. “Thank you.”

Her voice was extremely stiff, and she quietly took a step back.

Li Weiyang glanced at her hatred-filled expression and smiled faintly, as if not noticing anything. “No need for courtesy.”

After this small interlude, the people in the great hall could only sit dispersed in their seats. Of course, the guests who could enter this great hall were all people of status and power, while ordinary well-wishers had long been controlled outside. But making these people just sit doing nothing was extremely painful, so they preferred to stand and view the gifts originally meant for the old lady.

Tuoba Zhen’s gaze fell on a very special gift. He stood up and walked to the lacquered screen to examine it carefully. Seeing this screen had four panels, each carved with an exquisite painting. The images were inlaid with gold, silver, jade, pearls, and agate—undoubtedly a precious antique. He couldn’t help saying, “Imperial Brother, is this your gift?”

His Highness the Crown Prince was startled, then walked over. Glancing at this magnificent screen, he involuntarily sighed. “Yes, Concubine Lan prepared this gift for me over three months. I’d thought to make the old lady happy today, but who knew she’d pass before even seeing the screen? Lan’er’s heartfelt effort was wasted.”

Being mentioned at this sad point, Jiang Lan naturally couldn’t help wiping her tears again. “Your Highness, I grew up at Grandmother’s knee—we were closest. I only beg you, for my sake, please seek justice for Grandmother!”

The Jiang Second Lady’s expression stiffened for an instant, but she quickly lowered her eyes as if hearing nothing. Li Weiyang saw this but wasn’t surprised. Everyone knew the Jiang family greatly valued the legitimate-concubine distinction. The family’s sons had many concubines but few concubine-born sons and daughters. This Jiang Lan was both the only female among the Jiang grandchildren and the only concubine-born of this generation—an extremely awkward and subtle status. Yet the Duke’s wife had actually taken her to raise at her side, later even sending her into the Crown Prince’s residence. One couldn’t help sighing. Now seeing the Jiang Second Lady’s expression, Li Weiyang became even more certain that the Jiang Second Lady disliked this Jiang Lan—and quite intensely. Of course, this wasn’t her focus of concern, so she quickly looked away as if not noticing.

At this moment, an official quickly stepped forward. Everyone’s eyes immediately widened, waiting to see the conclusion of their investigation.

Yao Changqing quickly asked, “What exactly is going on?”

The official said loudly, “Reporting to all the lords, this subordinate discovered something peculiar in the small reception hall where the Duke’s wife received guests. One tray contained this year’s fresh tribute candied dates. The remaining trays held ordinary pastries like lotus cakes and butterfly crisps, plus some melon seeds and preserved fruits—nothing seemed special. But under the tea table we discovered a dead mouse and half a candied date that had been gnawed, rolled on the floor. We then questioned the maids in the reception hall and learned this room is cleaned daily—if there were a dead mouse, it would certainly be discovered and wouldn’t remain until now. So this mouse must have just died. We immediately had the coroner dissect the dead mouse and found—”

Jiang Xu jumped up first and demanded, “Found what?” After asking, he immediately realized it was improper for him to question ahead of the Minister of Justice and Yao Changqing, but since it was his own mother who died, no one would take issue with him. Yao Changqing also nodded. “Continue!”

The official continued, “After dissecting the dead mouse, the coroner actually found some candied date flesh in its belly. So we became suspicious of these candied dates. We then examined the remaining candied date flesh on the floor and finally discovered where the poison came from.”

Third Young Master Jiang Hua, who’d been very silent since the incident, couldn’t help his heart stirring. “You’re saying the murderer placed poison inside the candied dates?”

The official immediately said, “Yes. After discovering the candied dates were poisoned, this subordinate immediately ordered the coroner to examine them in detail. We finally discovered that besides this one poisoned date, among the other thirteen candied dates, two more were poisoned. This shows the murderer’s time for committing the crime wasn’t sufficient, preventing them from poisoning every candied date. Of course, this also shows they were very close to the Duke’s wife to have such opportunity.”

Jiang Hua slowly shook his head. “They had no need to poison every candied date—they only needed to ensure the poisoned ones were eaten by my grandmother! This person has truly vicious thoughts!”

When they mentioned the candied dates, Li Weiyang’s expression had already changed. This change was extremely subtle—except for Li Minde standing beside her, not even anyone else noticed.

The next moment, that originally delicate Li family eldest miss suddenly stood up. Her powdered face was as white as snow accumulated on branches, her feet slightly stumbling. Beside her, Tanxiang quickly supported her firmly. She cried out, “Third Sister, why did you harm Grandmother!”

This cry rang out, and everyone looked toward Li Weiyang.

Though Li Weiyang’s expression didn’t change greatly, the coolness in her eyes was no different from ice and snow. “Elder Sister, what do you mean by this!”

The Crown Princess’s heart jumped, but her face remained calm. “Miss Li, you mustn’t speak recklessly!”

Concubine Jiang Lan suddenly stood up coldly. “Crown Princess, you haven’t even heard her finish speaking—how do you know she’s speaking recklessly! Changle, continue!”

The Crown Princess snorted coldly and indifferently. “Very well! Miss Li, explain your words clearly. What do you mean Princess Anping harmed the Duke’s wife?”

Li Changle’s eyes filled with rolling tears, as if she herself couldn’t believe it. She pointed at Li Weiyang. “You… you were the one who handed that fruit plate to Grandmother. You personally watched her eat those candied dates. Besides you, no one else could possibly have touched those things—”

Li Weiyang’s expression turned cold. Her eyes swept coolly across Li Changle’s face. “Elder Sister, you’re mistaken. Besides me, there was also our mother who touched that fruit plate. She handed the plate to me first. Moreover, the maids in this room must have touched the fruit plate too. Otherwise, did this fruit plate fly into the room by itself?!”

Li Changle said angrily, “But they had no reason to harm Grandmother! Mother and Grandmother have always been close, and the maids around her are all loyal and devoted. They absolutely wouldn’t do such a thing!”

Tuoba Yu heard something wrong and immediately rebuked, “Miss Li, without evidence, how can you say such vicious words!”

But Li Changle showed a fierce and stern appearance. Her gaze was like sharp swords, wishing she could viciously stab two bloody holes in Li Weiyang’s face. She continued hatefully, “I saw it with my own eyes—everyone in the room saw it with their own eyes! Mother, didn’t you personally see Third Sister hand those candied dates to the old lady?”

Jiang Yuelan’s face showed shock. After carefully thinking for a moment, she finally answered, “This… is indeed true!”

Li Changle looked toward the several maids who’d been serving at the Duke’s wife’s side. They looked at each other, carefully recalling the scene at that time, but could only nod in agreement.

“What the young miss says is correct. At that time, only the county princess held that fruit plate for the longest time!”

“Yes, the old lady took that date from her hands!”

“Right, right! Only the county princess could have had opportunity to poison! Moreover, no one else would possibly murder the old lady!”

Public opinion was overwhelming. Everyone believed Li Weiyang had administered the poison because at that time in that small reception hall, only she had such motive. Li Changle was the old lady’s own granddaughter—with the Duke’s wife’s death, she’d lost more than half her backing. There was absolutely no need to frame Li Weiyang by murdering her own support. The same applied to Jiang Yuelan. She relied on the Jiang family’s power to marry into the Li family and quickly establish herself—what reason would she have to harm the Duke’s wife? As for those Jiang residence maids, that was even more impossible. But Li Weiyang was different. Previously, because of Jiang Nan’s matter, she’d made a huge scene with the Jiang family in the golden hall. Especially everyone had heard about how the Duke’s wife had cursed her out then. Perhaps she harbored resentment because of this and took the opportunity at this birthday banquet to kill the Duke’s wife… All this reasoning seemed logical and reasonable. The only person with both motive and opportunity to kill the Duke’s wife was Li Weiyang!

Everyone’s suspicious gazes shot toward Li Weiyang like sharp swords. Even Old Madam Li showed an expression of disbelief. “Weiyang, what exactly is going on?!”

Li Weiyang looked coldly at Li Changle. “Elder Sister, are you saying I poisoned Grandmother to death? Just because I once touched that fruit plate? Or because Grandmother and I were once at odds? Even so, I had no need to kill her in front of so many people. Wouldn’t I fear being exposed afterward and implicating myself?”

Li Changle’s voice trembled, as if unable to stand steady. “Third Sister, I never imagined that even now you’re still making excuses. Perhaps you took advantage of the lively birthday banquet to act, hoping to escape punishment amidst the chaos of many people. If we hadn’t discovered the abnormality with that dead mouse just now, who would ever think those candied dates were poisoned! Everything Grandmother ate was strictly checked before being placed on the table, so there absolutely couldn’t be any problem! But this could only last until you entered the reception hall. Once you poisoned things inside, everything became different!”

Li Weiyang looked at Li Changle’s vicious eyes and suddenly laughed derisively. “Elder Sister, your imagination is too rich! Since you say I poisoned her, then what method did I use to poison? I must be carrying poison on my person, right? Where is the poison?! Inside my skirt?”

Li Changle’s face was cold and stern as she stared at her, saying word by word, “Third Sister, since you so confidently claim you didn’t poison anyone, do you dare let people search you?”

Li Minde watched Li Changle’s certain expression and couldn’t help sneering coldly, but just lowered his head without speaking. This play was truly too wonderful—Li Changle could actually think up this move to frame Li Weiyang. It was all thanks to her foolish brain! Thinking about it, everyone would certainly believe that no one in this world would use their own life to frame someone else. The Duke’s wife certainly wouldn’t either. So the murderer must be in the reception hall. And now, the only person who’d had grievances with the Duke’s wife had become the target of all arrows.

Tuoba Yu frowned and was first to speak. “Miss Li, words alone are no proof. To demand a search based solely on your speculation is far too arbitrary!”

But Li Changle didn’t even glance at him, only staring aggressively at Li Weiyang, her eyes flashing with brilliant hatred. “Third Sister, do you dare prove your innocence?!”

Li Weiyang looked at her, her face gradually showing a trace of faint mockery. Seeing this mockery in Li Changle’s eyes, she thought her opponent had been forced into a corner and couldn’t help continuing, “If you don’t dare, that can only prove—”

Li Weiyang stood up methodically. “I have a clear conscience—what wouldn’t I dare?”

A peculiar smile appeared on Li Changle’s face. This smile made Sun Yanjun, watching from the side, inexplicably feel strange—as if Li Changle anticipated they would definitely find something on Li Weiyang. But how was that possible? Sun Yanjun walked to Li Weiyang’s side and blocked her path. “Miss Li, you’re being so aggressive—do you want Weiyang to be searched in public?”

Li Changle laughed coldly. “Of course there’s no need to search in public. The Crown Princess is present here. As long as she’s there to witness, that will suffice. Just find a room to search properly!”

Li Weiyang’s dark, cold eyes swept lightly across her face as she smiled. “Good! Since we’re searching, we should search everyone thoroughly. What if there are fish that slip through the net? Elder Sister is so impartial—surely you won’t mind.” As she spoke, she looked toward Jiang Yuelan and others who had also been in the reception hall, showing an inquiring expression.

Old Madam Li spoke up. “Indeed, this matter can’t be confirmed solely based on Changle’s suspicions alone. Without catching the criminal red-handed, it’s too hard to convince people. But if only Weiyang is searched, that’s too unfair. If we’re searching, everyone should be searched together.” She was clearly helping Li Weiyang. Moreover, this matter was no small thing. If it were ordinary people, they would have long since become panicked and flustered, but Li Weiyang was very composed. Old Madam Li couldn’t help hoping she truly had a way to prove her innocence.

Li Changle scoffed lightly with several traces of contempt. “Grandmother, not just Third Sister—me, the maids in the room, you, even Mother—all can accept being searched! Why don’t we ask the Crown Princess to witness—how about that?”

The Crown Princess glanced at Li Weiyang and pondered for a moment. “What does the Crown Prince think?”

The Crown Prince nodded. “This is most fair. Someone, immediately prepare an empty room.”

The Crown Princess stood up. “For this to be most impartial, I must personally oversee it. Oh yes, would Concubine Lan be interested in coming along?”

Jiang Lan had no choice but to stand up. “Crown Princess, please go first.”

Everyone watching this scene showed traces of coldness on their faces. If something was truly discovered shortly, that would be murdering a court first-rank lady—naturally a capital offense. Though Li Weiyang had confidently stated her innocence, if evidence was found on her person…

Old Madam Li’s expression was most worried. She vaguely felt today’s events were extremely strange—as if someone had deliberately targeted Li Weiyang. But she truly didn’t understand. The Duke’s wife being alive benefited everyone. Whether Li Changle or the Jiang family members, they absolutely couldn’t use murdering her to frame Li Weiyang. What difference was there between this and killing the chicken to get the eggs? Not one person here would do such a foolish thing!

Li Changle was the first to be searched. The Crown Princess ordered people to carefully check all her clothing and sachets—even her hair ornaments were examined repeatedly. But nothing was found. Next came Jiang Yuelan and the other maids. Similarly, nothing was found on them. The last person was Li Weiyang. Because she was suspected by everyone, she was examined for the longest time. When she emerged, half an hour had already passed. Everyone saw the Crown Princess leading her out and couldn’t help asking, “Did you find anything?”

Li Changle smiled coldly at the Crown Princess. They would definitely find something—she had this confidence! However, under everyone’s watchful gaze, the Crown Princess shook her head and said lightly, “No, nothing at all.”

Li Changle’s smile seemed frozen by frost in an instant. Her brows and eyes still held a smile, but her lips already showed anger. Her smiles and anger were originally both extremely beautiful, but at this moment they became a strange and bewitching face that made people’s hearts turn cold. She immediately looked at that maid called Hanxiang—just now she’d been the one to lead Li Weiyang to change the skirt dampened by tea water. But Hanxiang’s face at this instant similarly showed shock and bewilderment. Something must have gone wrong in some step—how could nothing have been found?! The medicine was clearly sewn into the hem fold of the skirt! Li Changle thought no more and stepped forward first. “Even if nothing was found in the search, that doesn’t prove Third Sister’s innocence!”

Li Xiaoran rebuked loudly, “Changle! How can you speak like this?!” He wasn’t trying to help Li Weiyang—just that at this time, Li Weiyang related to the Li family’s reputation!

Li Changle looked at Li Xiaoran sorrowfully. “Father, do you want me to just watch helplessly as the grandmother who loved me since childhood dies unjustly?”

Li Xiaoran said coldly, “Changle, then what do you want! Have the Capital Magistrate take your sister back to the yamen?”

Li Changle’s white teeth bit lightly, as if unintentionally. “Before the facts are clarified, I can only trouble Third Sister.”

Old Madam Li was first to object. “This won’t do! Where’s the precedent for a young lady of good family entering the yamen!”

Jiang Xu’s face was frosty. “Old Madam Li, this matter concerns my mother’s life! If your family won’t give us an explanation, we cannot let this rest!”

The Crown Prince also looked troubled. “In that case, I’ll have to trouble Princess Anping to accompany Magistrate Yao back to the yamen.”

Was the Capital Magistrate’s yamen a place ordinary people could go? Li Weiyang was a lady of good family and Princess Anping. If she entered the yamen, even if she could emerge safely, she would become the laughingstock of the entire capital. Tuoba Yu frowned, about to speak for Li Weiyang. However, he heard Li Weiyang speak first.

Facing layer upon layer of pressure, Li Weiyang said slowly, “Elder Sister, do you truly wish to discover the cause of Grandmother’s death?”

Li Changle’s expression was ice-cold as she said sternly, “Naturally! I absolutely won’t let the murderer escape justice!”

Li Weiyang showed a half-smiling expression. Li Changle couldn’t help growing angry. Li Minde’s eyes changed and changed again, finally settling into a bottomless abyss. He said slowly with a darkening face, “Since Elder Sister insists on this, I have a good idea.”

Everyone looked at this Third Young Master Li whose handsomeness was almost too dazzling to look at directly. His gaze was colder than the snow of deep winter. “As long as we conduct an autopsy, we can discover more clues. We won’t be limited to the so-called candied dates but can further determine when exactly the Duke’s wife was poisoned and who administered the poison.”

Li Changle’s face paled. She only felt her palms growing cold and clammy as she loudly said, “We cannot!”

This cry drew the attention of Third Young Master Jiang Hua. His eyes examined this cousin carefully, seeming to fall into deep thought.

Before anyone else could speak, Li Changle had already realized her loss of composure. She quickly said, “Grandmother has already passed—she should be properly laid in her coffin. How can we disturb her body? That would be too disrespectful!”

Yao Changqing was also shaking his head. He naturally knew they should conduct an autopsy, but according to this dynasty’s established practice, coroners were only used to examine material evidence and only conducted surface examinations of bodies, not autopsies. In the past he’d encountered a case where a man named Zhou Cheng went to a friend’s house to drink. After returning home, his stomach hurt terribly and he couldn’t help vomiting continuously, actually spitting out over ten poisonous insects from his mouth. Seeing himself vomit so many insects, he was so frightened his spirit collapsed. He actually died just like that. On his deathbed, he told his wife Zhang Shi that after he died, she should cut open his belly to see what kind of insects were causing trouble and find evidence to sue the friend who’d harmed him.

Zhang Shi followed her husband’s dying wish and personally cut open the corpse to examine it after her husband’s death. When neighbors learned of this, they went to Yao Changqing to accuse her of destroying her husband’s corpse. Though this matter had extenuating circumstances, Yao Changqing still arrested Zhang Shi. Additionally, because Zhou Cheng’s son Zhou Jin didn’t prevent his mother from damaging his father’s corpse, he was also arrested together.

Great Li’s laws only stipulated: Harming a dead body warranted four years of hard labor; a wife harming her husband should be sentenced to five years of hard labor; an unfilial son toward his parents warranted death. These three laws couldn’t be directly applied to this case. Yao Changqing and the then Minister of Justice, Lord Shi, had disagreed on this matter. He felt Zhang Shi had painfully followed her husband’s dying words, and Zhou Jin as a son had no reason to prevent it. Considering the motive of this matter, it wasn’t cruelly harming her husband’s remains and should be treated leniently.

But Lord Shi felt Zhou Jin had committed the crime of unfilial conduct, and Zhang Shi should be handled as a case of a wife harming her husband. The result of their sharp confrontation was having the Emperor judge. The Emperor didn’t consider it much and quickly approved following the Minister of Justice’s opinion to judge this case: both were capital offenses. Now, encountering this kind of matter again, he subconsciously looked at Zhang Hui, the current Minister of Justice—who was that Lord Shi’s prized disciple—

Indeed, the next moment Zhang Hui flew into a rage. “Princess Anping, don’t you know conducting an autopsy is an insult to the deceased?! Or are you unaware my mentor once judged such a case! Don’t you know His Majesty’s decree at that time?! Considering your young age and ignorance, this official won’t hold it against you. Stop speaking such nonsense!”

This case had been quite sensational at the time—even young children knew about it. Li Weiyang smiled slightly. “May I ask Your Excellency one question—when His Majesty judged that Zhang Shi guilty, what was it for?”

Zhang Hui immediately said, “Of course because she opened the coffin to examine the corpse—”

Li Weiyang smiled. “No, it was because she privately dissected the corpse! The so-called destruction of her husband’s body—that was her crime! If she’d gone through the official coroner to publicly conduct the dissection, that wouldn’t be a crime but rather seeking justice for her husband! Moreover, though our dynasty’s legal code doesn’t state the deceased must undergo autopsy, it also doesn’t state autopsy is absolutely forbidden! His Majesty’s decree also only said women cannot privately destroy their husband’s bodies without permission—it didn’t say one cannot request the authorities to conduct an autopsy, did it?!”

Zhang Hui was startled. Thinking carefully, he was immediately speechless. He coughed heavily twice. “Even so, the deceased’s family must agree! Lord Jiang, do you consent?!”

Jiang Xu’s face was iron-blue. “Mutilating and abandoning corpses is the ultimate punishment of ancient times! This absolutely cannot be done!” Not to mention dissecting the remains—even exposing one’s relative’s body before everyone for examination would be viewed as utter humiliation and desecration of the relative’s remains.

Li Weiyang looked at them coldly. “Didn’t you want to discover the cause of Grandmother’s death? Didn’t you want to clear her name? Now you’re obstructing in every way—what does this mean? I know—though Great Li’s legal code doesn’t stipulate corpses must undergo autopsy before burial, you’d rather watch Grandmother’s murderer escape justice than consent to an autopsy. What’s the reasoning?! Are you willing to shield the murderer?!”

Jiang Hai said in exasperation, “Li Weiyang! You’ve gone too far! Grandmother suffered violent death in life—already unfortunate. You claim to seek justice for my grandmother, but clearly you want to harm her so that even after death she must suffer bone-scraping and flesh-steaming torment! Your heart is truly extremely vicious—how can you bear it!”

Li Changle wept inconsolably. “Yes, Third Sister—how can your heart be so cruel!”