"Qi Bo, please ask Aunt Li and Aunt Ye to come over. I have something to ask them," Leng Ruo Li said to Steward Qi thoughtfully.
"Understood, Eldest Miss!" Steward Qi responded, then hurried out.
"Li'er, what happened to Father's clothes?"
Xie Yichuan's handsome sword-like eyebrows twitched slightly as he asked Leng Ruo Li with curiosity, while Jun Mohan by his side looked at her with equal confusion.
"The wound on Father's body was applied with a medicine that causes the wound to split open and promotes blood circulation," Leng Ruo Li explained to the two.
"No wonder. Father's wounds on his back had been recovering well. It was only after he bathed the night before last and changed into clean clothes that his wounds started to itch and hurt. At first, Father paid it no mind, but when he woke up, I found his entire back covered in blood."
Upon hearing this, Xie Yichuan's heart sank, and a cold glint immediately appeared in his dark eyes.
"Then who prepared the water for Father's bath?" Leng Ruo Li's eyes brightened as she asked.
"It was the steward and Xiao Cheng who heated the water," Xie Yichuan replied.
Leng Ruo Li nodded after hearing this.
Steward Qi and Xiao Cheng were both confidantes and sworn brothers of her father, so naturally, they wouldn't harm her father.
Afterward, all three fell silent.
This silence continued until Steward Qi arrived with Aunt Li and Aunt Ye.
"Aunt Li, Aunt Ye, this is Prince Leng, Princess Consort Leng, and the Eldest Young Master. Please pay your respects to your masters."
Steward Qi pointed and introduced the two aunties to the room.
"Your old servant pays respects to His Highness the Prince, Her Highness the Princess Consort, and the Eldest Young Master!"
Aunt Li and Aunt Ye saw three people of extraordinary bearing standing in the room. Their already trembling legs became even more unsteady.
"You may rise!"
Upon receiving the order, the two aunties lowered their heads and tremblingly stood up.
"Your old servant, your old servant, thank... thank Your Highness the Princess Consort!"
"Aunt Li, Aunt Ye, there is no need to be afraid. This Princess Consort has asked you here simply to ask you one thing."
"Your Highness, please ask. Your old servant will speak truthfully without reservation," Aunt Li and Aunt Ye said respectfully.
"Good. Then this Princess Consort asks you, who has been washing the General's clothes these past few days?" Leng Ruo Li asked with a serious expression.
"Princess Consort, your old servant has been washing the General's clothes this month," Aunt Ye replied, her body trembling.
"Then, when you usually wash the General's clothes, do you always use soap water?"
Leng Ruo Li asked Aunt Ye tentatively.
"Yes, Your Highness!"
With that, Aunt Ye nodded vigorously.
"Then why is there a herbal scent on the General's clothes?" Leng Ruo Li asked again.
Upon hearing this, Aunt Ye's legs went weak, and her whole body trembled violently.
"Your Highness, your old servant doesn't know! Your old servant always washes clothes in the backyard and hasn't paid attention to such things. Your old servant, your old servant truly didn't do it intentionally," Aunt Ye said fearfully.
"Aunt Li, did you notice a herbal scent on the General's clothes?" Leng Ruo Li then looked at Aunt Li and asked.
"Your Highness, this old servant was not responsible for washing the General's clothes this month, so this old servant is not very clear about this matter," Aunt Li replied with a calm expression.
Steward Qi, standing beside them, frowned upon hearing Aunt Li's words.
"Aunt Li, didn't you collect and sort the General's clothes?" Steward Qi suddenly asked.
"It is indeed this old servant who sorted them, but, but this old servant truly doesn't know about the herbal scent on the General's clothes," Aunt Li said, her eyes flickering as she spoke somewhat guiltily.
Leng Ruo Li quickly caught Aunt Li's subtle movement.
"Besides you, who else has come into contact with the General's clothes?" Leng Ruo Li asked sharply again.
"This... oh, this old servant remembers. Steward Qi and Guard Xiao also often come to take the General's clothes."
As Aunt Li spoke, a flash of shrewdness crossed her eyes, and she said calmly.
Upon hearing Aunt Li's words, Steward Qi quickly explained to Leng Ruo Li and Leng Ruo Rui (Xie Yichuan): "Eldest Miss, Eldest Young Master, this old servant and Xiao Cheng have followed the General for many years. The three of us are like family. If this old servant had done anything to harm the General, I would be struck by lightning. As for Xiao Cheng, although he is out today, this old servant believes that if he were here, he would also swear to heaven just like this old servant."
"Qi Bo, I have never doubted you and Xiao Cheng," Leng Ruo Li said, nodding.
"Thank you, Eldest Miss, for your trust in this old servant and Xiao Cheng," Steward Qi replied gratefully.
"Then, then, your old servant also doesn't know what's going on?"
Aunt Li said with a distressed expression. She hadn't expected Leng Ruo Li to trust Steward Qi and Xiao Cheng so much.
At this moment, Aunt Li was already starting to panic. It seemed her plan to frame Steward Qi and Xiao Cheng had failed. Now, the only way was to frame Aunt Ye.
"Your Highness, your old servant also doesn't know about the herbal scent on the General's clothes!"
Aunt Ye cried with snot and tears. Her expression seemed sincere, and everyone present could tell she was truly terrified.
But Aunt Li, although she also put on a scared expression, had a hint of guilt in her eyes.
Leng Ruo Li immediately knew that Aunt Li had a problem.
"Aunt Li, have you been out of the mansion recently?" Leng Ruo Li changed the subject and asked.
"Replying to Your Highness, this old servant's hometown is quite far from the capital. I only return home at the end of the year, so this old servant rarely goes out," Aunt Li replied truthfully.
However, upon hearing this, Steward Qi interjected, "Aunt Li, you haven't gone out, but a relative from your hometown came to the mansion to find you a few days ago."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Li's expression immediately changed.
Leng Ruo Li glanced at Aunt Li calmly. Then, she looked at Aunt Ye again.
"Princess Consort, your old servant returned home last month to see my newborn grandson. But your old servant only went back to see her grandson... and to bring some silver to my daughter-in-law," Aunt Ye replied fearfully.
"Your Highness, Aunt Ye is not lying. Aunt Li's daughter-in-law gave birth to a boy two months ago, and she even borrowed two taels of silver from this old servant to buy things for her newborn grandson."
Steward Qi also testified for Aunt Ye.
"Mm, Aunt Ye, I understand. You may leave now," Leng Ruo Li said to Aunt Ye calmly.
Upon hearing this, Aunt Ye was instantly relieved.
But this made Aunt Li even more flustered.
After listening to the accounts of the two women, Leng Ruo Li immediately knew what was going on.
This Aunt Li had a problem!
"Elder Brother, please personally lead people to search Aunt Li's room and see if there are any medicines there," Leng Ruo Li said after a moment of thought.
"Alright!"
Xie Yichuan readily agreed and left the courtyard with Steward Qi.
Aunt Li watched the retreating figures of Xie Yichuan and Steward Qi, her heart pounding in her chest from fear.
"Your Highness, your old servant has not committed any wrongdoing, why are you having the Eldest Young Master and Steward Qi search this old servant's room?" Aunt Li asked with a guilty expression.
"That is something you should ask yourself. If you have nothing to hide, why would you be afraid of me searching your room? You should confess truthfully, and perhaps I can be lenient with you."
Leng Ruo Li said with a cold tone.