This incident caused an uproar in the capital. Some condemned Yuan Hecong for not coming to the rescue, while others criticized Deng Xiao for being too overbearing in taking away the noble youths for interrogation. However, no one mentioned the assassination attempt on Yi Qing.
After Yi Qing settled down Sang Sang and instructed Ju Shuang on how to take care of her, she and Xiao Jinghan headed to the Duke Di's Mansion. Just as they stepped out of the mansion gate, they saw Duke Di dismounting from his horse. The two of them walked down the steps and bowed.
"Are you two all right?" Duke Di asked with a worried look on his face.
"We're fine. A servant took the sword for Qing'er," Xiao Jinghan said, still feeling a lingering sense of unease.
"Have you found out who was behind it?"
"The attackers were very cautious. Both assassins are dead. The Brocade Guards are still investigating."
Duke Di nodded. "With the current situation at the border, if anything were to happen to you in the capital, it might cause panic."
"I understand, sir," Xiao Jinghan said, clasping his fists.
"Where are you two headed?" Duke Di asked, noticing their intent to leave.
"We need you to cooperate with us on something, Grandpa," Yi Qing said with a smile. She had been worried that bringing it up at the Duke Di's Mansion might arouse suspicion. "Let's talk in the carriage."
Duke Di got into the carriage with them. Regarding the poisoning incident last time, Duke Di had found no clues, and the only new person in the mansion recently was Bai Yutang.
Yi Qing got out of the carriage and rushed straight to Bai Yutang's residence. Bai Yutang had caught a cold after falling into the water yesterday and was now lying in bed recuperating. Although Lady Di was by her side, she seemed a bit absent - minded.
"Bai Yutang!" Yi Qing stormed into the room in a rage.
Bai Yutang was startled, and Lady Di was also taken aback.
"Qing'er!" Lady Di exclaimed with joy.
Ignoring Lady Di, Yi Qing said, "Bai Yutang, I know it was all your doing. The general once told me that the soldiers found you because you were drowning. If you couldn't swim, why would you go to a wild river? There were no ripples in Yongcui Lake. You could have easily swum back to the shore, but you made such a big fuss. What's your real purpose? Were the assassins your accomplices?"
Lady Di was a bit slow to react to Yi Qing's interrogation.
Duke Di and Xiao Jinghan followed them into the room and stood at the door without approaching.
"I'm wronged!" Bai Yutang lay on the bed weakly, sobbing. "Auntie, I didn't know who my father was at that time. They told me General Bai was my father."
"Wronged?" Yi Qing scoffed. "You said you grew up in the border town. The border town is a place with a tough and unruly folk custom, but you are so polite, just like a refined young lady from a noble family."
"I knew I had a humble background and didn't want to disgrace the Duke Di's Mansion, so I practiced etiquette hard. Is that wrong?" Bai Yutang said with a look of grievance.
"If you were so afraid of disgracing the Duke Di's Mansion, why did you go out so often?" Yi Qing questioned.
"Auntie, please judge. I've never left the Duke Di's Mansion alone without you," Bai Yutang said rather pathetically. Even someone who didn't know the situation might have believed her.
"Yes, Yutang is timid and usually doesn't go out by herself," Lady Di thought there might be some misunderstanding.
"What's this?" Yi Qing took out a pink pearl.
Lady Di was stunned when she saw the pink pearl. "This..."
"I picked this up outside Qingyun Tower that day. Weren't you about to bump into Young Master Yuan at that time?" Yi Qing mocked.
She had set a trap for Bai Yutang, and Bai Yutang had fallen into it. Even if she managed to come up with an excuse, there would still be a crack in her story.
Lady Di looked at Bai Yutang's wrist. The pink - pearl bracelet she had given Bai Yutang as a meeting gift was extremely precious, but it was not suitable for her age.
Bai Yutang unconsciously pulled at her sleeve.
"Yutang? What's going on?" Lady Di asked suspiciously.
Bai Yutang sobbed. "Auntie said you wanted to eat the cold cakes from Ma's Shop that day. I went to buy them for you while you were resting. I didn't expect to be seen by Lady Xiao and be suspected like this."
Lady Di remembered. "That's right. Qing'er..."
"Humph!" Yi Qing interrupted her mother and turned to Bai Yutang. "You can do whatever you want, but if anything happens to anyone in the General's Mansion because of you, I won't let you off easily."
"Qing'er, Yutang she..." Lady Di felt sorry for Bai Yutang who was crying so bitterly. "Father?"
Duke Di looked at Bai Yutang. He didn't like such delicate and weak women. "This matter hasn't been investigated clearly yet. Let's wait until Commander Deng finds out the truth."
"You don't believe me. There's nothing left to investigate. All these things started happening after she came. How could she be innocent?" Yi Qing said angrily.
Xiao Jinghan walked to Yi Qing's side and put his arm around her shoulder. "Since Qing'er has doubts, let's investigate her identity again. It's also for the sake of Brother Bai."
"Xiao Han is right. We should be more cautious about this. If there is really a problem and you marry her off, it will be a mistake of our Duke Di's Mansion," Duke Di said seriously.
"You all don't believe me. What's the point of living?" Bai Yutang cried, tears streaming down her face.
"You were living just fine before you came to the Duke Di's Mansion. Don't always threaten to kill yourself," Yi Qing scoffed.
"That's settled then. Before the re - investigation, Yutang will stay in the mansion. Since she's not feeling well, she can recuperate here," Duke Di said, then turned to Xiao Jinghan. "Let's go and discuss that matter."
"Yes, sir," Xiao Jinghan said, leading Yi Qing and following Duke Di out.
Bai Yutang grabbed Lady Di's hand. "Auntie, I've always regarded you as my own mother."
"I know," Lady Di comforted Bai Yutang. "Qing'er has suffered a lot since she was a child, so her temper is a bit bad. Don't take it to heart. Let them investigate. Then we can be completely at ease."
"Yes," Bai Yutang said, looking aggrieved.
"Get some rest first," Lady Di said before leaving after comforting her.
Xiao Jinghan and Yi Qing watched Lady Di leave and exchanged a smile.
"If you already had an idea, why didn't you tell me earlier?" Xiao Jinghan felt that Yi Qing didn't trust him.
"I needed your cooperation. At that time, you were so sure that Bai Yutang was the daughter of my adopted brother. What's the use of telling you?"
"As long as you told me, I would have cooperated with you."
"It's not just for this reason. At first, she must have been very vigilant. Only after things developed according to her plan for a while would she let down her guard," Yi Qing said proudly.
Xiao Jinghan nodded. "Let's go then."
Yi Qing paced around boredly in the pavilion. Lady Di had a headache because of this matter and went back to her room first. Xiao Jinghan and Duke Di were discussing things in the study.
There was an incense burner between them, with pine - cypress incense slowly burning and blue smoke rising.
Suddenly, both of them tightened their eyes at the same time and looked at each other.
"The border defense map is of great importance. Only by keeping it here in the Duke's Mansion can everyone be at ease," Xiao Jinghan said seriously.
"I haven't commanded troops for many years, and the emperor trusts me very much. It's indeed a good place to keep it. But if you don't have the border defense map, what if it delays the war?"
"Don't worry, Duke. For now, only the Iron - Blood Army has encountered problems, and there is no major upheaval. As long as I go to the border, I'm sure I can solve this problem."