Lin Yun picked up the handkerchief and gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. Then she turned to look at Pei Zhiyan. "My lord, I know that younger sister has always resented me for transferring her maid, but I never expected that she would..."
Pei Zhiyan closed his eyes, let out a breath, and then opened them. He looked at Lin Yun. "So what do you plan to do?"
Lin Yun paused for a moment, dried her tears, and glanced sideways at Song Ruotang kneeling on the ground. She said softly, "Although she poisoned me, she didn't really want to kill me. So I won't take her life either."
At this point, Lin Yun looked up and gave Pei Zhiyan a smile, as if showing off her kindness. But Pei Zhiyan didn't look at her, so she had to continue, "But I've suffered for so long. If younger sister doesn't receive any punishment, I can't just let it go like this."
A flash of impatience crossed Pei Zhiyan's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. He asked in a deep voice, "So?"
"If younger sister can also experience the excruciating pain in the abdomen like I did, the same as what I've endured, then I'll stop pursuing this matter." Lin Yun said it casually, but her tone was full of unyielding determination.
Song Ruotang opened her eyes wide and suddenly looked up at Lin Yun. Nanny Sun gave a soft snort. "What's the matter with Third Madam looking at our mistress like this? Since you did it, you should also experience what our mistress has suffered."
After Nanny Sun finished speaking, Song Ruotang lowered her eyes. "If elder sister insists on this, I have nothing to say. But I still want to say that I didn't poison her." As she said this, her tears fell like pearls, which made people feel heart - broken.
Seeing Song Ruotang's pitiful appearance, a look of disgust flashed in Lin Yun's eyes. "Even at this point, you still want to quibble. It seems that you're not satisfied with the punishment I mentioned." She turned her head to look at Nanny Sun. "Nanny, give her a few slaps and make her behave."
Nanny Sun happily responded. Pei Zhiyan frowned suddenly. "Didn't you just say that you wanted her to suffer the same pain as you from the Qianji Yin? Why do you want to slap her now?"
Seeing Pei Zhiyan's expression, Lin Yun pursed her lips slightly, and her face showed a look of grievance again. "My lord, you just heard it. Song Ruotang is still being stubborn. I really don't want to argue, but if she doesn't admit that she poisoned me, can't I even take action against a murderer who poisoned me?"
Pei Zhiyan paused. Lin Yun looked up and stared at his expression. Song Ruotang spoke up. "If it can make elder sister happy, it doesn't matter if I get a few slaps. But regarding the poisoning incident, could elder sister ask the lord to investigate it clearly? I don't want to bear the blame for poisoning others."
"It's really not certain that it was Song Ruotang. If it was someone else who poisoned... " Pei Zhiyan nodded. "Give me some time..."
In Lin Yun's view, these words meant that the two of them were just stalling for time so that Pei Zhiyan could fabricate false evidence. So she didn't give Song Ruotang a chance at all. She frowned slightly. "My lord, no need to say more." She looked at Nanny Sun. "What are you still standing there for? Hit her."
Nanny Sun had been eager to do it for a long time. As soon as Lin Yun gave the order, she raised her hand and slapped Song Ruotang hard. The loud sound of the slap echoed in the room. Pei Zhiyan suddenly clenched his fingers tightly. When Nanny Sun was about to slap her a second time, he roared angrily, "That's enough!"
Nanny Sun was so frightened that she trembled and didn't continue. Everyone in the room looked at Pei Zhiyan. He frowned and looked at Lin Yun. "I originally thought that since you didn't like Ruotang, I would just follow your wish and let her kneel down and apologize. But you've been pushing your luck..."
Lin Yun was a little stunned. At this moment, she realized that Pei Zhiyan's impression of her had changed. She was a little flustered and quickly explained, "My lord, I didn't..."
"There are doubts about this matter. Although there was poison on the teapot in her room, she also used it. It's very possible that someone else poisoned Ruotang, but you accidentally ate it. Yet you firmly claim that it was her doing." Pei Zhiyan sighed. "Lin Yun, isn't your intention very obvious?"
Lin Yun's eyelashes trembled. She tightly grasped the corner of the quilt and wanted to open her mouth aggrievedly. "Your humble concubine just..."
"You just hate Song Ruotang, so you want to bully her." Pei Zhiyan interrupted her, his tone a bit cold. "Right?"
He walked in front of Lin Yun. His gaze made Lin Yun feel like there were thorns on her back. "You were poisoned and suffered. You've really been wronged. I also followed your wish and let Song Ruotang kneel down and apologize to you. You've beaten her and humiliated her."
Pei Zhiyan shook his head as if he was a little disappointed. "But why don't you even give me a chance to investigate clearly?" Pei Zhiyan looked at Lin Yun with a disappointed look in his eyes. "The eldest daughter of the Lin family doesn't seem to be such an arbitrary person."
These words made Lin Yun instantly bend her back. Her body trembled violently. But Pei Zhiyan didn't intend to let her speak at all. He continued to add fuel to the fire. "This is not in line with the you in my impression."
Although Pei Zhiyan deliberately said these words to make Lin Yun seem unreasonable, what he said was also the truth. He didn't have much impression of Lin Yun, but in the few times they met, at least he didn't think she was as unreasonable as today.
Lin Yun was stunned for a moment. Suddenly, she let out a soft laugh. As she laughed, tears flowed down. "In the end, you still protect Song Ruotang. Even if the evidence was found in her room, you still want to excuse her."
She turned her head and glanced at Song Ruotang, then gave a soft snort. "Fine. You won't seek justice for me. I'll have to do it myself."
Her eyes suddenly turned fierce, and her voice also became a bit harsh. "Come on, arrest this murderer who tried to harm me and beat her out with sticks!"
Pei Zhiyan frowned, and the coldness in his eyes grew stronger. "Lin Yun, you're simply being unreasonable!"
"I'm just stating the facts and seeking justice for myself!" Lin Yun was not willing to show weakness either. She watched as Song Ruotang was dragged for a while. Several servants with sticks stepped forward and were about to strike. Suddenly, a black figure flashed outside and kicked two servants away.
Mo Qing walked over quickly in his black clothes. Lin Yun said with a cold face, "Mo Qing, you're so bold that you even dare to attack my people!"
"My lady, this subordinate just has something important to report. These servants blocked my way." Mo Qing explained coldly.
But Lin Yun thought that Mo Qing was sent by Pei Zhiyan to protect Song Ruotang. She couldn't help but sneer. "Then what's the important thing? If you can't explain it clearly, you can't escape the crime of breaking in today."
Mo Qing glanced at Lin Yun indifferently. He walked in front of Pei Zhiyan, bowed, and said loudly, "My lord, this subordinate has found the maid who had the Qianji Yin."
Pei Zhiyan's eyebrows twitched. "Oh? Who is it?"
"It's Xiaolian from Second Madam's room." Mo Qing said calmly. "When this subordinate found her, she was in Third Madam's room, hiding the Qianji Yin medicine packet under her pillow."
As soon as these words were spoken, Lin Yun's head was buzzing. She looked at Song Ruotang, who was dragged to the door with a disheveled dress, with slap marks and tears on her face. Then she looked at Pei Zhiyan and suddenly met his cold gaze. Lin Yun trembled all over...