“Crack!”

A teacup was smashed to the ground, shattering into pieces.

“Who was it?”

Qiao Mu’s icy voice made everyone shudder.

The person kneeling on the ground hadn’t even fully processed Feng Jiu’er’s words, and now was even more terrified.

“Princess Consort, Madam, I didn’t do it!”

Hongmei trembled uncontrollably.

“The porridge — I cooked it, and I brought it to Mister Jiang.”

She bit her lip red before daring to look up again.

“I really didn’t do it! I didn’t! Princess Consort, you must believe me, how could I possibly poison Mister Jiang? I didn’t do it!”

Feng Jiu’er handed the finished prescription to Duan Liuyang, her gaze shifting to Hongmei.

“The porridge being poisoned is a fact. By your own account, you prepared the porridge for Mister Jiang. Hongmei, you need to clear yourself of suspicion.”

Duan Liuyang took the prescription, glanced at Zhao Yusheng, turned, and walked out.

Hongmei stared unblinking at Feng Jiu’er, tears already spilling out.

“Princess Consort, I didn’t do it! Truly! I—” her eyes darted, and she continued, “I wasn’t watching the pot the whole time.”

“In the middle, I went out to wash sweet potatoes with Hongtao, and we also shelled beans together — you can ask Hongtao.”

“Reporting to the Princess Consort, what Hongmei says is true.”

Hongtao looked up and cupped her hands.

“Everyone was very busy yesterday, and a few of us weren’t on duty. Today it was our turn, and we all got up very early.”

“There was a lot to do, and Hongmei really did help me wash sweet potatoes and shell beans.”

“Princess Consort, I can vouch for her!”

Another man cupped his hands.

“When I went in, I did indeed see Hongmei and Hongtou shelling beans together.”

Feng Jiu’er looked toward the man who had spoken, raising an eyebrow.

“So you went in too?”

“Yes.” The man responded without hesitation, cupping his hands.

“At the time it was still early, and not many stoves were lit. I even went over and looked at that pot of porridge.”

“Princess Consort, I was inside the whole time.”

A woman named Yanyan pressed her lips together. “I was in charge of tending the fire.”

“I brought a few brothers this morning to prepare firewood. I was the one who carried the materials in.”

Yanyan watched Feng Jiu’er’s gaze land on her, and waved her hands vigorously. “Princess Consort, it wasn’t me, truly it wasn’t!”

“You were inside the whole time, and never left?”

Feng Jiu’er asked calmly.

The situation was serious now — she no longer had the luxury of simply choosing who to trust and who not to.

Yanyan withdrew her hands, furrowed her brow, and nodded. “Mm, I was inside the whole time.”

“Did anyone else go in?”

Feng Jiu’er lightly rubbed her fingers together.

She appeared calm and unhurried, but was in fact fully focused.

Feng Jiu’er was trying to read the changes in these people’s expressions, to deduce who exactly was lying.

Unfortunately, so far, she hadn’t been able to make out anything conclusive.

In truth, she trusted her own people quite a bit — but given the circumstances, she couldn’t afford not to be careful!

Yanyan wrung her fingers together, glancing left and right before answering, “The people who came in were Hongmei, Bao Ge, and Xiaosong.”

“That’s all, no one else.”

Yanyan, flustered, had tears rolling down both cheeks.

She bent over and bowed, speaking again with agitation. “Everything this humble one says is the truth, please, Your Highness, Princess Consort, see clearly!”

“This humble one did not poison anyone, please, Your Highness, Princess Consort, see clearly!”

The remaining four all bowed low, murmuring softly.

Once their voices fell, the hall grew completely silent — no one dared say another word.

They all knew who Feng Jiang was. Attempted murder of a reigning prince — who would dare have such nerve?