Lin Yun's gaze fixed on Song Ruotang behind him. "If it's related to Song Ruotang, I want to deal with her myself."
"No way." Pei Zhiyan refused without hesitation. Lin Yun let out a cold laugh. "Even if she's the culprit, you still want to protect her, don't you?"
"If she's the culprit, she should be dealt with according to the law." Pei Zhiyan lowered his eyes and calmly retorted.
Lin Yun tightly clutched the embroidered handkerchief in her hand and bit her lower lip hard. Song Ruotang lowered her eyes and gently stepped forward. "If elder sister wants to deal with me, I have nothing to say."
Her tone was soft, with a hint of charm, as if she were seducing someone. Lin Yun got angry when she saw Song Ruotang's appearance. She glared at Song Ruotang fiercely. "Fine, this is what you said yourself."
Pei Zhiyan frowned and turned to look at Song Ruotang. "The evidence is not complete yet. Why did you just..."
"If it can make elder sister feel better, it doesn't matter whether I'm the culprit or not..." Song Ruotang forced a smile and acted like a delicate flower.
A feeling of pity welled up in Pei Zhiyan's heart. Song Ruotang knew he was in a difficult position between her and Lin Yun, so she took the initiative to bear Lin Yun's anger.
And Lin Yun really didn't stare at Pei Zhiyan anymore. Instead, she looked at Song Ruotang coldly. "Don't act coy here. Wait until the master finds out the truth. You won't get away with it."
Song Ruotang didn't say a word. She just smiled slightly.
Naturally, she deliberately acted delicate to draw Lin Yun's anger. She wasn't the culprit, but she wanted Lin Yun to be angry with her. Only in this way would Lin Yun be in the wrong after the truth was revealed.
Pei Zhiyan lowered his eyes. Lin Yun seemed a bit impatient. The poison in her body hadn't been removed, and her abdomen was in great pain. Arguing here had exhausted all her strength. A thin layer of sweat appeared on her forehead, which was wiped away by Yan'er.
Lin Yun took a breath. "Master, please investigate this matter as soon as possible."
After saying that, she let Yan'er and Nanny Sun support her and left.
Pei Zhiyan watched her leave before frowning and looking at Song Ruotang worriedly. "You shouldn't have agreed to her just now."
If it was really a scheme set by Lin Yun, Song Ruotang would surely not be able to escape Lin Yun's punishment this time. Now that she had endured it herself, it would be even harder for her to deny it.
Song Ruotang shook her head. "It's okay. You just focus on investigating the case."
Pei Zhiyan knew she must have had a plan when he saw her expression, so he didn't say anything more and just nodded.
Mo Qing came back at this time. Pei Zhiyan turned to look at him. "How's it going?"
Mo Qing sighed and shook his head. "I've already investigated. There's nothing abnormal about the First Lady. There are no suspicious drugs or actions."
Song Ruotang had expected this. She lowered her eyes and thought for a while, then looked up at Pei Zhiyan. "Check the things in my room again."
Pei Zhiyan thought for a while and could only agree.
The news that Lin Yun had made a big scene in the study and even hit Pei Zhiyan quickly reached Du Lingxuan's ears. She spat out fiercely. "This Lin Yun actually dared to hit the master..."
But then she thought about it and laughed. "Now that their relationship has broken down, and Lin Yun is such a shrew, the master will surely dislike her."
Nanny Jiang also laughed beside her. "Yes, Madam. I heard that Song Ruotang was also there. Lin Yun is sure that it was Song Ruotang who poisoned her. She'll deal with her as soon as she finds the evidence."
Saying this, Nanny Jiang laughed even more cheerfully. "And guess what? That Song Ruotang actually agreed." She seemed to be telling a joke, with a mocking look in her eyes. "Song Ruotang must think that she has a clear conscience and is not afraid of being investigated, so she dared to agree."
Du Lingxuan curled her lips into a smug smile. Her gaze fell on the teacup on the table. The tea leaves were floating and sinking in it, rippling circles. "Since she has agreed, shouldn't we fulfill her wish?"
Nanny Jiang understood what she meant. A glint of light flashed in her eyes, and she smiled. "Yes, I'll go and do it right away."
Several people came to Qingyi Courtyard. To prevent Pei Zhiyan from being partial, Lin Yun specially sent Nanny Sun along. She was there to supervise.
Song Ruotang was on guard. Since Lin Yun was poisoned here, she hadn't touched anything in the room.
Except for Qingxing, none of the other maids in the courtyard were allowed to enter.
So when Pei Zhiyan's people came to investigate, everything was still the same as on the day Lin Yun had the accident.
Pei Zhiyan and Song Ruotang were sitting at the table, listening to the people in the room rummaging around. Qingxing stepped forward, picked up the teapot, and was about to leave. Pei Zhiyan's eyes flashed, and he stopped Qingxing. "Wait a minute."
Qingxing was puzzled, but she still stopped and looked at Pei Zhiyan. "What's your order, Master?"
Song Ruotang also suddenly realized. All the things in her courtyard had been checked, but only this teapot. That day when she called the maid in to report, the maid didn't mention this teapot either.
She pursed her lips, picked up the teapot, and carefully examined this carved purple clay teapot. Then she turned to Mo Qing behind her and said, "Brother Mo, please test this."
At this moment, Song Ruotang remembered that on the day Lin Yun was poisoned, when she came back, the tea was cold. Qingxing went to make a pot of hot tea, but before they could drink it, there was news that Lin Yun was feeling unwell. Then she went to Lin Yun's place and didn't drink the tea.
She didn't know if there was any residual poison in her room these days, so she didn't touch anything here. She could only pin her hopes on this teapot to see if she could find out something.
Mo Qing nodded seriously. He called the coroner beside him to conduct an examination. After a while, the coroner came over and nodded at Pei Zhiyan. "My lord, there is the toxin of Qianjiyin on the edge of the teapot lid, but the toxicity is very weak."
As soon as he said this, Nanny Sun, who was standing at the door, immediately exclaimed. "I knew it. It must be this black - hearted Third Lady who did it! Poor our kind - hearted lady. She just came here to give you a hairpin. Why did you poison her?"
Nanny Sun said pitifully and knelt down. Looking at Pei Zhiyan, she said, "Master, you must avenge our lady!"
Pei Zhiyan frowned and looked at the teapot. Nanny Sun at his feet was still crying. "Master, now the evidence is conclusive. Can't you make a decision?"
Song Ruotang also looked surprised. She seemed unable to believe it. She took a few steps back and almost lost her balance. Qingxing quickly supported her. She shook her head in disbelief. "It's impossible... Master... I didn't..."
Nanny Sun turned and glared at Song Ruotang fiercely. "Don't try to argue. You knew that the Second Lady was punished and was no longer a threat to you, so you set your sights on our lady. You wanted to harm her so that you could take her place!"
She spat. "Just look at your own status! Our master is an upright and just judge in the Ministry of Justice. How can he allow you to cause trouble? Now that the evidence has been found, do you still want to deny it?!"
While belittling and scolding Song Ruotang, Nanny Sun also flattered Pei Zhiyan, subtly reminding him of his status and telling him not to be partial.