Once he spoke up, Shen Guiya had no way to explain even if she wanted to. She was the one who mentioned their deep sisterly feelings this morning. Logically, it was natural for her to care for her own sister and provide better meals. Any further explanation would only make things worse.

What did it mean to lose both the wife and the soldiers? She had originally wanted to make people resent Shen Guiyan behind her back, but because of Xu Shi’s incident, she ended up dragging herself into the mess.

“Guiya only thought that since Fourth Sister-in-law was having her first meal at the residence, she should be given more care…” Gritting her teeth, Shen Guiya took responsibility for this matter: “But I knew nothing about that bird’s nest soup. I gave money to have the kitchen prepare it, never expecting these servants would be so greedy as to take the silver and serve Concubine Xu’s portion instead.”

She then covered her belly with a sorrowful expression: “Guiya is also going to be a mother. How could I harm someone else’s child? That would shorten my own child’s lifespan.”

Madam Gu frowned and glanced at Shen Guiya and Shen Guiyan, then her gaze fell on Shuang’er below: “Besides the North Courtyard, only people from the kitchen touched this bird’s nest soup?”

Shuang’er nodded: “This servant personally bought the bird’s nest and sent it to the kitchen. But midway, thinking I should return to care for my mistress, I entrusted a kitchen maid to watch over it. I never expected that when it was ready, it wasn’t sent to the South Courtyard but went to the North Courtyard instead.”

Lin Danniang quickly crawled forward a step on her knees: “Madam, please investigate clearly! Ever since there was a pregnant mistress in the residence, the physician personally came to the kitchen to instruct what could and couldn’t be used. We servants have been extremely careful. There’s absolutely no way we could have mixed aloe into the mistress’s bird’s nest soup. So many eyes in the kitchen were watching!”

Madam Gu nodded and looked at Shen Guiyan: “According to this, the North Courtyard still has the greatest suspicion. Of course I believe in Yan’er—newly arrived at the residence with no grudge against Mengdie, how could you do such a thing? But to restore the North Courtyard’s innocence, the servants should still be interrogated.”

Shen Guiyan frowned.

This clearly showed someone wanted to make trouble for her, yet they still wanted to interrogate the North Courtyard’s people? What could come from interrogation? Forced confessions?

“If there’s to be interrogation, both the kitchen and South Courtyard people should be interrogated together,” Gu Chaobei said with a couple of tsks. “What if all the kitchen staff colluded together, or what if someone from the South Courtyard was careless themselves?”

“How is that possible?” Shuang’er frowned.

“Yan’er, who just entered the residence, could be so supernaturally capable as to know the bird’s nest soup delivered was for Concubine Xu, and even know that pregnant women can’t eat aloe, thus deliberately adding it,” Gu Chaobei raised an eyebrow. “Then why couldn’t someone be even more supernaturally capable and set up a scheme to frame Yan’er?”

Shen Guiyan couldn’t help but turn to look at him.

Gu Chaobei still leaned carelessly against a pillar in the main hall, his expression smiling, not looking at her. But the words he spoke were exactly what she was thinking in her heart.

She had no standing to say these things. Fortunately, he was there.

“Chaobei, stop fooling around.” But Madam Gu dismissed what Gu Chaobei said, probably accustomed to his attitude and simply ignored it: “The matter of interrogating the North Courtyard servants will be handed to Steward Gu.”

Baoshan panicked slightly and called out softly: “Miss.”

In the inner courtyard, it was always the masters who fought while the servants suffered. She thought they had escaped Madam Shen’s clutches, but who knew this Madam Gu was also unreasonable.

Shen Guiyan straightened her kneeling posture and spoke: “Madam, please reconsider. Using private torture is highly improper.”

Madam Gu said with a stern face: “If we don’t do this, how can we restore your North Courtyard’s innocence?”

Madam Liu was still unconscious in bed, and Prime Minister Gu happened to have business tonight and stayed in the palace without returning. If there was no resolution before the Prime Minister returned, she, as the mistress, would be too derelict in her duties.

Actually, as long as it didn’t involve the East Courtyard, Madam Gu didn’t care at all. Whichever courtyard came forward to take the blame was fine. In the end, it would be pushed onto the servants anyway, just leaving the master with a poor impression of that courtyard.

Shen Guiyan lowered her eyes and thought for a moment, then said: “Since Concubine Xu mistakenly consumed aloe, Guiyan thinks we should investigate from the aloe itself, which would be much more useful than interrogating servants. Which courtyard in this residence planted aloe, or who purchased aloe and brought it back—once we trace the source and destination, won’t the truth come to light?”

Everyone was stunned. Gu Chaobei raised his eyebrows slightly, and Gu Chaonan directly nodded: “That’s a good idea.”

After this group of people shirked responsibility for so long, no one had thought of this. Shen Guiya pursed her lips: “Sister is right. Not many places in the residence need aloe. Since Guiya came to manage purchases, I’ve never bought this thing. But the South Courtyard grows two pots of it themselves.”

“Oh?” Madam Gu was somewhat put in an awkward position. She picked up her teacup and took a sip before coughing lightly: “Only the South Courtyard in the entire residence has aloe?”

Shuang’er, kneeling on the ground, was silent for a long while before saying: “There is indeed some in the South Courtyard, but haven’t other courtyards ever grown it? This matter couldn’t possibly be the mistress trying to harm herself, could it? Everyone has been carefully attending to that child. Just when it reached five months, it’s gone like this…”

Her voice choked with emotion as she lowered her head to wipe her tears.

Shen Guiyan said: “Setting aside exactly what happened in the South Courtyard, the North Courtyard and kitchen are cleared of suspicion. Madam, please investigate—the North Courtyard is innocent. On the first day Guiyan arrived, I looked around everywhere. Jiang Shi doesn’t like flowers and plants. The flower pots in the back courtyard are all empty, without any greenery, let alone aloe.”

Madam Gu frowned. Shen Guiya pursed her lips: “Even if the North Courtyard doesn’t have any, there could be a couple plants along the roadside outside. This matter is uncertain.”

She had explained everything that could be explained. If they still insisted on pinning this on her, Shen Guiyan felt powerless and could only silently glance at Gu Chaobei.

Gu Chaobei looked back at her with calm eyes, gently shaking his head. Let them be. At worst, the people in the North Courtyard would suffer some hardship. As long as she was fine.

“Madam!”

Just as Shen Guiyan was preparing to relent and let them investigate, a maid from the South Courtyard suddenly called out from outside: “Concubine Xu requests that Madam come to the South Courtyard!”

Xu Mengdie had awakened. After the induced labor, she cried bitterly in great sorrow. It was rare that she would summon Madam to come. Madam Gu rose, and Shen Guiyan and the group of servants also stood up, all heading to the South Courtyard together.

Having knelt for so long, her legs were somewhat numb. Shen Guiyan lowered her head, grimacing. Gu Chaobei extended his hand and said in a low voice: “Only you are so honest. Didn’t you notice Shen Guiya didn’t even kneel down? Once you knelt, you were too embarrassed to get up until called. How is it—numb from kneeling?”

Shen Guiyan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “Propriety should still be observed, shouldn’t it?”

“With some people, the more polite you are, the more they want to bully you,” Gu Chaobei scoffed lightly. “Enough is enough.”

Shen Guiyan was slightly stunned.

Shen Guiya walked ahead with Gu Chaodong. Gu Chaodong couldn’t help but glance back, then asked in a low voice: “Was it your doing?”

“What?” Shen Guiya’s expression changed: “Me?”

“Wasn’t it?” Gu Chaodong pressed his lips together: “It could eliminate Second Brother’s household’s pregnancy and also cause trouble for Yan’er. Aren’t you the one who benefits most?”

Shen Guiya gritted her teeth in anger: “Gu Chaodong, I’m your wife, helping you with things. Why are you using this accusatory tone? Setting aside that I didn’t do this—even if I had, what would you do? Divorce me for your sister-in-law?”

Gu Chaodong frowned. Calling him by his full name was extremely impolite, especially since he was her husband. And he had only asked one question, yet she had such a strong reaction, making him feel somewhat irritated.

After a while, Shen Guiya also felt something was wrong. Seeing Gu Chaodong’s displeased expression, she quickly smiled and took his arm: “I was too loud just now. Husband, don’t be angry. Wasn’t I just upset that you don’t trust me? How could I be so vicious?”

Gu Chaodong smiled slightly but said nothing. He was finding this woman increasingly difficult to understand. At first, he thought she was shameless, then later felt she was deeply calculating. How could a pampered young lady from a noble family make him, a grown man, feel somewhat afraid?

Arriving at the South Courtyard, Madam Gu entered first. Then a maid came out saying: “Please have the First Young Madam and Fourth Young Madam enter.”

Shen Guiyan took a deep breath and followed Shen Guiya inside.

It was said that Xu Mengdie was a very gentle woman from Jiangnan. She wondered what she would say when summoning them now. The North Courtyard had already taken half the blame. If this person also had a grudge against the North Courtyard and wanted to push all the blame over, then the people of the North Courtyard would have a beating to endure.

Upon entering, she saw a pale face. Xu Mengdie was very delicate and petite, with the unique graceful temperament of Jiangnan women. Seeing them enter, she even smiled at Shen Guiyan.

“Thank you for troubling Madam and the two Young Madams,” Xu Mengdie said weakly. “I ate something wrong—I can only blame my own bad fate. The child is gone, so let it be gone. Madam, please don’t make things difficult for the Fourth Young Madam.”

Madam Gu frowned. She knew Xu Mengdie would speak up for the North Courtyard when she woke. Second Master Gu was also a smiling tiger who got along well with everyone except Gu Chaodong. Such a major incident had occurred, yet she still wanted to take responsibility for the North Courtyard?

“Your perfectly good child is gone, and you don’t want an explanation?” Madam Gu said. “Nanyu (Madam Liu’s given name) fainted over this matter. How am I supposed to explain to her?”

“Children can be had again. Family harmony is most important,” Xu Mengdie said, smiling at Shen Guiyan. “The Fourth Young Madam just entered the residence. We can’t let this matter spoil her mood. When Madam Liu wakes up, Mengdie will explain to her myself.”

This holy mother aura is too powerful, isn’t it? Shen Guiya was astounded. Her own child was gone, yet she didn’t blame anyone at all, all for the sake of family harmony?

Ancient women were truly frightening.

Shen Guiyan also felt something was amiss. Just as she was about to say something, Xu Mengdie continued: “The moment I saw the Fourth Young Madam, I felt we had an affinity. She definitely wouldn’t be someone who would harm me. Further investigation won’t reveal anything anyway. Better to let it go and preserve the friendship between Mengdie and the Fourth Young Madam.”

Madam Gu fell silent and looked at Shen Guiyan.

Shen Guiyan lowered her head and thought for a while, then said: “Those who are innocent will clear themselves. It makes no difference whether there’s an investigation or not. It’s good that Mengdie can be so understanding.”