Zhong Li had suspected that Steward Liu would conceal information about Qing Yuan Fang, but she never imagined Qing Yuan Fang to be far more complex than she had initially thought.
If Qing Yuan Fang's identity wasn't solely tied to the Beichuan Gang, but also extended to the Emperor of Yingzhou, then Guo Qi's crime of colluding with the enemy and treason would be firmly established.
However, it was precisely because of this that Qing Yuan Fang's suspicion was cleared.
Unless Guo Qi betrayed them, it was impossible for Qing Yuan Fang to have killed him. Based on the information they currently possessed, Guo Qi was unlikely to have done so.
"Since Qing Yuan Fang is not the murderer of Guo Qi, is it possible that Guo Qi committed suicide?" Lu Wuxie asked.
Zhong Li pondered for a moment and shook her head. "I considered this possibility when examining Guo Qi's body, but why would he commit suicide?"
Lu Wuxie frowned, recalling that Lan Heng had brought the Hua family army to suppress the Beichuan Gang. Guo Qi, with his extensive network of informants, must have heard the intentions of the higher authorities. If he feared capture, he had ample time to flee to Yingzhou. If he was worried about his family, his household only had three wives, and it would have been easy to take them with him. Suicide clearly did not make sense.
"Then what is your meaning, Li'er..."
"Someone else is the killer, but there's one aspect of this case I haven't figured out," Zhong Li said.
"What is it?"
"Guo Qi, after all, was a seasoned warrior. If poison were administered to him openly, it would surely be exposed on the spot. Furthermore, judging by the amount of arsenic in Guo Qi's stomach, the killer seemed to have planned meticulously, not intending for Guo Qi to die immediately. According to Qing Yuan Fang, Guo Qi remained in his study before the hour of Hai. Thus, the killer's window of opportunity was only between the hour of Xu and Hai.
However, Steward Liu said that during this period, Guo Qi was alone in his study. How did the killer manage to murder Guo Qi and frame Qing Yuan Fang?"
Zhong Li analyzed as she popped the last piece of meat from the small dish into her mouth.
Hearing this, Lu Wuxie also looked bewildered. He pondered for a moment and said, "To solve this, we can only approach it from two angles.
First, we need to inspect Guo Qi's room for any secret passages that others could use to enter and exit. Second, we need to thoroughly investigate if Qing Yuan Fang had offended anyone in the household."
"I've also considered both these points. Setting aside whether the first direction will yield any clues, the second point has already been answered by Steward Liu today," Zhong Li said.
"What is it?" Lu Wuxie pressed.
"The Second Madam," Zhong Li replied, her gaze drifting towards the courtyard of Madam Guo's Second Wife.
***
"Temple Supervisor Zhong wishes to see my Second Madam?"
The next morning, Steward Liu welcomed Zhong Li and her entourage in the reception hall. Upon hearing the purpose of their visit, he appeared surprised.
"What, can't the Second Madam be seen?" Lu Wuxie asked, holding a tea cup and taking a sip. Hearing Steward Liu's peculiar tone, he put down the lid of his teacup and looked up to inquire.
Steward Liu immediately put on a fawning smile and said, "My dear Young Master, what are you saying? Let alone the Second Madam, even if you wished to see our Master's ancestor, this old servant would have to dig them up from the ground, wouldn't he?"
Lu Wuxie shot him a glance, as if accustomed to such sly stewards, and sternly ordered, "Then hurry and summon the Second Madam of the Guo Mansion!"
Steward Liu's lips twitched as he wanted to say something more, but seeing Lu Wuxie's expression, he could only brace himself and walk towards the Second Branch's courtyard.
Zhong Li glanced at Lu Wuxie beside her and then at the receding figure of Steward Liu. She knew the Guo Mansion was vast, and the round trip would take about the time it takes for one lamp to burn. Moreover, she had heard yesterday that the Second Madam was unsociable. She estimated that Steward Liu might face some difficulty. Turning her attention to a maidservant standing in the corner, pouring tea, she inquired, "Miss."
The young maidservant was startled when suddenly called upon. Glancing around and seeing Zhong Li looking at her, she quickly approached and curtsied, "Does Temple Supervisor Zhong require anything?"
Zhong Li smiled, her expression as gentle as possible, and asked, "How long have you been in the mansion?"
"Replying to the Temple Supervisor, this servant has been in the mansion for the shortest period, about three years."
Three years? That's enough.
Zhong Li nodded upon hearing this and said, "I will ask you something, and you must answer truthfully."
The young maidservant nodded.
"Are your mansion's Second Madam and Third Madam at odds?" Zhong Li asked.
Upon hearing this, the young maidservant quickly shook her head. "This servant does not know. Gossiping about others is detrimental to one's virtue."
"This does not count. This matter involves your Master's case, so you can speak truthfully," Zhong Li reassured.
The young maidservant was initially hesitant. When she inadvertently glanced at Lu Wuxie beside Zhong Li, seeing him casually looking out the window, lost in thought, her cheeks flushed. In an attempt to please, she said, "The Second Madam and Third Madam are at odds; most people in the mansion are aware of this."
"How so?"
The young maidservant said, "Previously, there were only the First Madam and the Second Madam in this courtyard. After the Young Master died, the First Madam entered a convent and devoted herself to Buddhism, rarely interacting with the Master of the house. Before the Third Madam arrived, the Second Madam was the apple of the Master's eye. After the Third Madam arrived, the Master seldom visited the Second Madam, and even many imported goods that the Master had promised to the Second Madam were given to the Third Madam.
I remember once, the Second Madam nearly came to blows with the Third Madam."
"Oh? Was there a reason?" Zhong Li pressed.
The young maidservant bit her lip and thought for a long time. "It seems the Third Madam bullied the Second Madam's courtyard, which lacked any servants to protect it. She went to the Second Madam's courtyard to flaunt her power. The Second Madam was reluctant to engage, but the Third Madam became more and more aggressive, even resorting to physical confrontation with the Second Madam. If the Master had not arrived in time, who knows what would have happened."
"Is that all?" Zhong Li asked.
The young maidservant shook her head. "It's more than that. Over the years, the Third Madam has been completely oppressive towards the Second Madam. From the Master's overnight stays to their expenses, she has bullied her both openly and secretly. I remember once the Third Madam called the Second Madam names like 'madam' and 'cowed female.' This servant is not well-read and doesn't understand these things."
'Cowed female'?
Zhong Li and Lu Wuxie exchanged glances.
Zhong Li waited in the reception hall for a long time, but Steward Liu did not return. Unable to afford further delay, she stood up and walked towards the residence of the Second Madam herself.
Perhaps due to the incident in the Guo Mansion, she didn't encounter many servants along the way. Just as she reached the Second Madam's courtyard, Steward Liu's earnest persuasion reached her ears.
"Second Madam, would you do this old servant a favor? Not only is the Temple Supervisor from Jincheng Dali Temple outside, but the Young Master of the Prince Xian's Mansion is also waiting. You are making it difficult for this old servant!"
"Steward Liu." A slender, high-pitched voice called out. "This concubine did not harm the Master, so why should I go out to be questioned? This concubine has said she is not going anywhere."
"Second Madam, the Master is gone. For the sake of the Master's care for you over the years, please come out with this old servant. It won't take long, just the time for one stick of incense."
"Steward Liu, how can you be so stubborn? This concubine has already said, this concubine has harmed no one. You are merely a servant, making things difficult for this concubine..."
"Since you are unwilling to come to the reception hall, may I come to you?" Before the Second Madam could finish her words, Zhong Li, who had been listening outside and could not bear it any longer, pushed open the door and entered.