“After that… after that, I heard she’d drowned herself in the well.” A-Li wiped his eyes. “I warned her long ago — being a concubine in the Yan Family is no easy thing. Didn’t the Master’s San Yitai end up hanging herself?”

He had barely finished speaking before he realized his slip. He looked at Yan Qing with sudden alarm. “I’m sorry, Sixth Miss. I didn’t mean to say that.”

“It’s of no consequence,” Yan Qing replied, without any trace of anger. “You may go now. What happened today — my coming to find you — I hope you will keep it to yourself.”

“Sixth Miss, if Cui Nong really was murdered, you must get justice for her.” As he said it, A-Li knocked his forehead against the floor three times in a deep bow before her.

Yan Qing glanced at Murong. Murong quickly stepped forward and helped A-Li up.

“That man genuinely loved Cui Nong,” Yan Qing remarked softly, listening as the sound of his muffled weeping faded away outside.

“Miss, do you believe what A-Li said? Maybe he was making it all up.”

“He is not the killer. His forearms, neck, and face show no scratch marks.” She had eliminated A-Li as a suspect from the very first moment she’d laid eyes on him.

“Could Cui Nong’s death be connected to the First Young Master?” Jing Zhi’s eyes went wide, as though she’d stumbled upon something explosive.

The First Young Master, Yan Qi, was the eldest son of the Yan Family, who already had a daughter. While he had certain habits of a pampered young master, he was not as arrogant and overbearing as Yan Jia’s Second Young Master. Of course, he also had no affection for Yan Qing — none of the children born of legitimate wives had ever been close to this younger half-sister.

Seeing that Yan Qing remained silent in thought, Murong asked at last, “Miss, what are you thinking about?”

“I’m thinking about something A-Li said. Cui Nong told him she had a way to get her older brother to take her as a concubine. What method could she have had?” Without the ability to perform an autopsy, she could not confirm her suspicion — but Cui Nong had most likely been… with child.

“Surely not. The First Young Master would actually kill someone? And even if it was him, we have no proof.”

After leaving the kitchen, Yan Qing was still turning the problem over in her mind as she made her way through the corridor. She hadn’t gone far when she heard a sharp quarrel.

“You dare talk back — I’m taking you to Steward Song right now.”

“I didn’t, I truly didn’t steal anything. I swear to heaven.”

“Caught red-handed, and you still deny it? Come on, to Steward Song — he’ll deal with you properly.”

As they spoke, Murong had already pushed Yan Qing up to the two quarreling maids. Both fell silent immediately upon seeing Yan Qing and bowed respectfully.

“What is this about?” Murong asked. “This is outside Sixth Miss’s courtyard gate. What is the meaning of this commotion?”

“I’m sorry for disturbing Sixth Miss’s peace.” The shorter maid hastily explained, “She was caught stealing and now refuses to admit it. I hope Sixth Miss will decide the matter.”

With Yan Qing’s tacit approval, Murong turned to the maid who was shaking and cowering, a large cloth bundle on the ground beside her. “The Yan Family has strict rules — anyone caught stealing will be expelled from the household, and serious cases will be handed over to the Jinlin Guard. You work here. How is it you don’t even know this basic rule?”

In the past, Murong hadn’t dared to speak with such confidence. Their young mistress had always been pushed around, with no authority to speak of. Whenever they encountered other household members, Yan Qing would make a wide detour, not even daring to look directly. But now, everything her mistress said and did gave Murong a sense of deep steadiness — she could hold her head up with perfect conviction.

“She stole something from a master’s room,” the little maid added. “From the First Young Master’s room.”

—