“Poison…” Jiang Yi could hardly believe what she had heard, repeating in a murmur, “How could it be poison, how could it be poison…”

In her memory, her gentle and loving mother – could she not have died from illness, but was murdered?

Suddenly, she thought of something and grabbed Jiang Si’s wrist, her voice changing pitch, “What about Grandmother?”

Grandmother had the same symptoms as Mother. If Mother died from poisoning, wouldn’t that mean Grandmother was also poisoned…

This thought made Jiang Yi shudder.

Jiang Si glanced at the doorway and lowered her voice, “Elder Sister, both Grandmother and Mother were poisoned. I suspect the source is within the Marquis Yining’s manor!”

Jiang Yi was shocked, growing increasingly bewildered.

After a while, she finally found her voice, “Fourth Sister, why do you say that?”

Jiang Si’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, “Since it’s poison, it couldn’t have simply appeared in their bodies. There must be someone who administered it. Think about it, Elder Sister. If the poisoner was from the Earl’s manor, Mother passed away over ten years ago – their reach couldn’t extend to the Marquis Yining’s manor now…”

Jiang Yi agreed wholeheartedly.

If someone could poison both Mother and Grandmother, that person was almost certainly from the Marquis Yining’s manor.

Her lips moved, wanting to ask Jiang Si how she discovered Grandmother had been poisoned, but she swallowed her words silently.

Jiang Yi had always been considerate; if the other person didn’t speak of something, she wouldn’t ask.

“When Mother passed away, Second Aunt hadn’t married into the family yet, right?” Jiang Si suddenly asked.

Jiang Yi was startled by the question, instinctively shaking her head before her expression changed, “Fourth Sister, do you mean—”

Jiang Si smiled coldly, “While we can’t be certain who the poisoner is, we can at least eliminate some suspects.”

Though she said this, in her heart, she already had a vague suspicion.

Jiang Si stood up and walked towards the door.

Jiang Yi held her back, “Fourth Sister, where are you going? You’re not thinking of reporting this to the authorities, are you?”

The incident at Baiyun Temple where her sister had impulsively reported to the authorities had left an indelible impression on Jiang Yi.

Jiang Si’s tense face relaxed, and she couldn’t help but smile, “Elder Sister, am I someone who loves to report to the authorities?”

Jiang Yi looked at her suspiciously.

She wasn’t trying to stop her sister, but with no evidence and this being their maternal grandfather’s home, reporting to the authorities would be inappropriate.

Moreover, Fourth Sister was now a Princess Consort; reporting to the authorities would invite ridicule.

As Jiang Yi was worrying about various scenarios, Jiang Si’s next words shocked her so much that she forgot her concerns.

“I’m going to find Grandfather!”

Jiang Yi hurriedly blocked Jiang Si, “Fourth Sister, don’t be rash. Grandfather is elderly; his emotions can’t handle such upheaval. Besides, although you’ve noticed Grandmother has been poisoned, you have no evidence and can’t identify the culprit. At least wait until we find some clues before revealing this…”

“I can find evidence,” Jiang Si said resolutely. “Elder Sister, we can’t afford to be patient; Grandmother’s health won’t wait. How can we be at ease if we don’t identify the person harming Grandmother as soon as possible?”

That person is also Mother’s murderer!

Thinking of this, Jiang Si gritted her teeth in hatred.

If Mother hadn’t died, she wouldn’t have been so sensitive and insecure in her previous life, making one wrong choice after another.

If Mother hadn’t died, Father wouldn’t have been left alone, growing old in solitude, and perhaps her siblings wouldn’t have suffered those misfortunes.

Jiang Si admitted these were all hypotheticals, but it didn’t stem her overwhelming hatred for the poisoner.

She was determined to uncover this person’s identity!

“Fourth Sister, can you find evidence?”

Seeing Jiang Si nod, Jiang Yi’s expression changed several times before she finally let go, “Alright then, let’s go together.”

The old Marquis Yining was still crouching in the corridor, smoking his pipe. As he smoked, he began to cough.

Jiang Zhan quickly patted his back, advising, “Grandfather, you should smoke less.”

The old Marquis glanced at his grandson and offered him the pipe, “Want to try?”

Jiang Zhan hesitated for a moment before taking the pipe and mimicking his grandfather’s actions, bringing the mouthpiece to his lips.

He had never smoked before, but if it could make his grandfather happy, it wouldn’t be so bad.

Just as he was thinking this, a gentle voice called out, “Grandfather, Second Brother—”

The pipe in Jiang Zhan’s hand flew out suddenly.

“Cough, cough, Fourth Sister, are you feeling better?”

The old Marquis watched as the jade mouthpiece of the pipe that had fallen to the ground cracked, his beard trembling with distress.

This treasured pipe was his solace when he felt troubled.

Jiang Si approached the old Marquis, picked up the pipe, and handed it back to him.

The old Marquis reached out to take it, wiped off the dust, and said in a dejected tone, “After seeing your grandmother, you should head back soon.”

“Grandfather, I have something I want to tell you,” Jiang Si said softly.

The old Marquis finally raised his eyelids to look at Jiang Si.

This granddaughter resembled his deceased daughter the most.

In the blink of an eye, she had grown so much.

The old Marquis’s gaze softened as he asked, “What is it?”

“Please come to where I was resting earlier.”

Before the old Marquis could react, Jiang Zhan was already helping him up, “Grandfather, let me assist you.”

“I don’t need your help,” the old Marquis grumbled, tapping Jiang Zhan’s hand with his pipe.

This foolish boy was in league with his sister.

Jiang Zhan wasn’t offended and just grinned.

Back in the previous room, the old Marquis tucked his pipe into his waist and looked at Jiang Si.

“Grandfather, please sit down first,” Jiang Yi helped the old Marquis to a seat.

What Fourth Sister was about to say was too shocking; it was better for Grandfather to be seated first.

The old Marquis sensed something amiss and frowned at Jiang Si.

In others’ eyes, this girl was a Princess Consort, but to him, she was still his little granddaughter. If she was being foolish, he would certainly scold her.

“Grandfather, when I visited Grandmother today, I discovered something,” Jiang Si began.

“What is it?”

“Grandmother isn’t ill; she’s been poisoned.”

“Say that again!” The old Marquis suddenly shed his frail demeanor, his eyes flashing with sharpness.

Jiang Zhan looked bewildered.

Jiang Si didn’t flinch at all and firmly repeated, “Grandmother isn’t ill; she’s been poisoned!”

The old Marquis stared intently at Jiang Si, his voice stern, “Fourth girl, do you have any proof for what you’re saying?”

“Grandmother’s body is the proof. I can force out the poison, but I need your help, Grandfather.”

The old Marquis’s face regained its composure as he asked in a deep voice, “How can I help?”

Jiang Si looked towards the door and said deliberately, “I need to find the poisoner. Please gather all the elders of the household together first.”

“Are you saying… the poisoner is among them?” The old Marquis’s expression changed doubt in his eyes.

Jiang Si said calmly, “Mother’s symptoms back then were the same as Grandmother’s. Where do you think the poisoner is most likely to be found?”

The old Marquis was stunned for a moment, anger surging in his eyes, “I’ll call them over!”

“No, please have them all go to Grandmother’s room.”

Soon after, many people had gathered in the outer room of the old Madam’s chambers.

Uncle Su looked inside and said to the old Marquis, “Father, Mother is asleep. All of us being here might disturb her.”