Shen Guiya returned full of joy, only to see the entire residence shrouded in somber gravity.

“First Young Madam, the Master is in the main hall and has requested everyone to go there.” A maid came forward and bowed.

Shen Guiya asked curiously, “What happened?”

The maid looked left and right, then said in a low voice, “Fourth Young Madam said that Lin Danniang put arsenic in Fourth Young Master’s food. Lin Danniang has already fled to escape punishment, leaving only Chef Tian detained in the main hall. The Prime Minister is furiously angry and wants everyone to hurry over.”

Her heart jumped. Shen Guiya hastily grabbed the maid’s arm. “What about Fourth Young Master? Is he alright?”

“Fourth Young Master didn’t eat that food, so naturally he’s fine.”

That’s good. Shen Guiya patted her chest and hurriedly lifted her skirts to head to the main hall.

“A dignified Prime Minister’s residence, with servants of over ten years—yet they can still do such things!” Prime Minister Gu slammed the table in fury. “Today it’s Bei’er—next time, will it be this old man’s turn?”

People from all four courtyards—east, south, west, and north—were present, none daring to breathe loudly. Shen Guiyan stood beside Prime Minister Gu, her expression extremely grave.

Seeing Shen Guiya enter, Shen Guiyan looked up at her once, her gaze containing icy shards that startled Shen Guiya.

Why was she looking at her like that? Shen Guiya patted her chest and found where Gu Chaodong was standing and went over.

Prime Minister Gu only glanced at her once before continuing to interrogate Chef Tian below. “You and Lin Danniang are husband and wife. Do you have anything to confess now?”

“This servant knows nothing at all.” Chef Tian looked utterly wronged, kowtowing repeatedly. “Master, please discern clearly—that woman and this servant have been quarreling lately. Whatever she did truly has nothing to do with this servant!”

Shen Guiyan lifted her eyelids slightly and stepped forward. “Father-in-law, please discern clearly. Guiyan has already had Baoshan bring all the household servants from the kitchen courtyard. Regarding what Chef Tian says about his recent relationship with Lin Danniang, Father-in-law might as well listen to what others say.”

Chef Tian froze, truly not expecting that Shen Guiyan had not only brought him to the main hall but had also brought all the kitchen servants. How did she know he would deny everything?

“Bring them in.” Prime Minister Gu granted permission.

Two maids and two male servants came out and knelt, their bodies trembling with fear. The maid at the very front didn’t wait for Prime Minister Gu to ask again before rushing to speak. “Chef Tian and Lin Danniang haven’t been quarreling recently at all. They’ve been getting along well. This morning, Lin Danniang even gave Chef Tian silver—this servant accidentally saw it. A very large bundle.”

Chef Tian’s face turned ashen. His mouth moved, but he said nothing.

“A very large bundle of silver?” Prime Minister Gu snorted coldly. “Where did it come from?”

Chef Tian kept his head down and said nothing.

“Do you know that the indenture contracts for both you and Lin Shi are in the Prime Minister’s residence?” Prime Minister Gu said coldly. “Lin Shi fled from the residence without permission. If this old man sends people to capture her, they can beat her to death on the spot.”

Chef Tian shuddered and hastily kowtowed again. “Master, spare my life! This humble one will confess, will confess everything. The silver was brought back by my wife, who said it was a reward from First Young Master. As for why he would reward her, this humble one doesn’t know. Why my wife would put arsenic in the food, this humble one also doesn’t know!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell into deathly silence.

Prime Minister Gu’s face turned iron-blue. After a moment’s pause, he stood up and grabbed a teacup from the side, smashing it directly at Chef Tian’s head.

“Crash!” With a sound, the teacup shattered. Chef Tian’s eyes rolled back and he fainted.

Shen Guiyan jumped in fright. The other women in the room also instinctively took a step back.

“Nonsense!” Prime Minister Gu raged. “Drag this lowly person out!”

“Yes!” The steward responded and hastily had the servants drag him away.

“Father-in-law!” Shen Guiyan frowned and stepped forward. How could they just knock him unconscious like this? He had already said it was First Young Master…

Prime Minister Gu turned to look at her, his gaze sharp as a sword, frightening Shen Guiyan into swallowing back all her remaining words.

Gu Chaodong came forward and knelt. “Father, please discern clearly. Today, a petty person has slandered your son. Your son’s innocence is self-evident—I only hope Father will investigate this matter thoroughly.”

His tone was upright and completely sincere. Shen Guiya beside him thought for a moment, then also came forward to kneel. “Father-in-law, please investigate clearly. Husband has been in poor spirits lately and has stayed shut up in the courtyard without taking half a step out. Where would he have had the opportunity to bribe Lin Danniang to poison Fourth Young Master?”

Shen Guiyan took a step back, retreating to Gu Chaobei’s side, who hadn’t said a word this whole time. Gu Chaobei was still holding a file, trimming his fingernails. No matter how chaotic the residence became, he never lifted his head for a glance.

“I naturally know right from wrong.” Prime Minister Gu glanced at Gu Chaodong. “Send people to capture Lin Danniang. Bring her back and send her to prison together with Chef Tian to be tried for attempted murder.”

“Yes!” Steward Gu acknowledged and left.

The main hall regained its peace. Prime Minister Gu glanced at Shen Guiyan, pressed his lips together, and said, “Yan’er, Bei’er, you two come with me to the study.”

“Yes.” Shen Guiyan curtseyed.

Chef Tian was just dragged away like that. Shen Guiyan looked at him with extreme unwillingness. He had clearly already told the truth—why wouldn’t Prime Minister Gu listen?

“Little fool.” On the way to the study, Gu Chaobei said softly in her ear, “Do you think this world is all about justice, that once you identify the culprit they can be brought to justice?”

Shen Guiyan froze.

“Even among relatives, there are degrees of closeness and distance.” Gu Chaobei glanced at her and chuckled softly. “Don’t upset yourself. Whatever the old man says later, don’t talk back—just agree.”

Staring blankly at Prime Minister Gu’s back ahead of them, Shen Guiyan couldn’t quite understand. Didn’t people say that Prime Minister Gu also loved his youngest son dearly? Now someone had tried to murder Gu Chaobei—could it be that just because the culprit was his other son, he could act as if this incident had never happened?

She turned to look at Gu Chaobei’s face. It was full of mocking laughter, as if he had already completely guessed what Prime Minister Gu would say next.

“Yan’er, I know you feel distressed for Bei’er.” Prime Minister Gu walked into the study and sat down, then looked up at Shen Guiyan standing below. “But regarding today’s matter, just be more careful in the future and let it go. Don’t continue pursuing it.”

“Why?!” Shen Guiyan’s eyes widened. For a moment, she forgot Gu Chaobei’s warning, feeling only waves of fire surging upward in her heart. “Chaobei is also your biological son! If it weren’t for Yan’er’s sharp eyes spotting it today, he would have been killed!”

They’re not pursuing it? Back then, when Concubine Qin died, Father also said not to pursue it. All these people knew who the culprit was, yet they deliberately let them get away with it. Shen Guiyan couldn’t calm down. She had never been able to move past Concubine Qin’s death, which was why this time when Shen Shiqing had his official seal confiscated, she hadn’t thought of helping at all.

So what if he was her birth father? He watched helplessly as her birth mother was killed by someone. Not saving her was one thing, but he didn’t even give her justice!

And now, Prime Minister Gu, whom she had always respected, was saying almost the same words as Shen Shiqing.