“You say Li Kun’s seventh concubine, Madam Feng, is the murderer?” Zhong Li gazed at Tian Lianxue, her tone laced with uncertainty.
After all, if Madam Feng were the killer, what about the previous two cases? As a mere woman, and the youngest concubine in the Li residence, she wouldn’t even have the right to go to Ling Shan Temple during the Ghost Festival. How could she possibly commit murder?
“Why doesn’t Young Master Zhong believe me?” Tian Lianxue puffed out her chest slightly, looking utterly convinced.
“Then does Miss Tian have any evidence?” Zhong Li asked patiently.
“Evidence…” Tian Lianxue paused, then tossed out two words: “None.”
Zhong Li said no more and prepared to walk on, intending to find Lu Wuxie and hand Tian Lianxue over to him.
“But, my lord, I know she had a motive.”
Zhong Li had only taken a few steps when she heard Tian Lianxue’s words and turned back in surprise.
Seeing Zhong Li’s expression, Tian Lianxue put her hands on her hips and said with a smug air, “Does Young Master Zhong know how Li Kun’s seventh concubine came to be?”
Zhong Li remained silent, waiting for Tian Lianxue to continue.
“Madam Feng was essentially snatched by Li Kun.”
“How so?” Zhong Li asked.
“Madam Feng was previously a renowned beauty in Suqing County. But what’s the use of being a beauty? If your family is poor, you can only be bullied.” Tian Lianxue’s eyes held a hint of sympathy as she spoke.
“Li Kun had long set his sights on Madam Feng and always wanted to take her into his household. But the young lady would never willingly give herself to an old man. Fate intervened when Madam Feng’s mother fell seriously ill and needed money. Li Kun seized this opportunity, exchanging twenty taels of silver for Madam Feng to enter his household.”
Hearing this, Zhong Li felt a degree of sympathy for Madam Feng, but more so a sense of helplessness. No one could choose their birth, especially in ancient times, where the oppression of the feudal class was so stark.
“After receiving those twenty taels, did her mother’s illness get better?” she asked.
Tian Lianxue scoffed at the question, saying, “No, her mother died.”
Zhong Li frowned.
“Do you know why? After Madam Feng married into the Li residence, Li Kun reneged on his promise, arguing that since Madam Feng was now part of the Li family, the money was also the Li family’s. He confiscated the twenty taels. Without the money for treatment, her mother naturally died.” Tian Lianxue shrugged her shoulders.
“How do you know all this?” Zhong Li was very curious about Tian Lianxue’s information.
“On the street,” Tian Lianxue replied. “I left Ling Shan Temple early today, and just now I heard outside rumors that Lord Li was dead. Then I heard someone say this, so I rushed here to deliver the news.”
“Alright,” Zhong Li said after listening to Tian Lianxue. “Assuming Madam Feng killed Li Kun as you say, you must understand that Li Kun’s body was found in the woodshed. Why would Madam Feng choose the woodshed instead of somewhere else? That’s the first point.
Secondly, a cup containing a potent sleeping potion was found in Li Kun’s room. I ask you, how could a woman like Madam Feng have moved the unconscious Li Kun into the woodshed?
Thirdly, even if the first two points are valid, how did Madam Feng learn the method of killing Li Kun? And what is the connection to the murder case at Ling Shan Temple? Mimicry? She, who never leaves the inner quarters, how could she know the details? Furthermore, only I and the Heir apparent knew these details. How will Miss Tian explain this?”
Tian Lianxue was stunned by Zhong Li’s questions.
She blinked her watery eyes, her lips parted for a long time without utterance.
Finally, she bit her lip, stamped her foot, grabbed Zhong Li’s arm, and quickly pulled her towards the back courtyard, muttering as she went, “Since Young Master Zhong doesn’t believe me, then ask her yourself.”
Zhong Li, caught off guard by this sudden move, was pulled a few steps before reacting and shaking her off. “Miss Tian, please conduct yourself with more decorum.”
With that, she lifted the hem of her gown and walked ahead.
Tian Lianxue stood in place, watching Zhong Li who was already several steps away, a hint of cunning in her eyes.
-------------------------------------
“You say I killed the master?” Madam Feng sat at the table, gazing at the woman opposite her, whose beauty was so captivating it was hard to look away.
Tian Lianxue, with an air of righteous indignation, recounted to Madam Feng everything she had told Zhong Li.
It would have been better if she hadn’t spoken, but by doing so, she was rubbing salt into Madam Feng’s wounds.
Madam Feng’s eyes turned red with anger, and she glared at Tian Lianxue. “It is true that I had a disagreement with the master, but that was years ago. Now that my mother is gone, and I have no one to rely on in this world, I can only depend on the master. I can distinguish the current situation.
Furthermore, by saying such things about me, Miss Tian, do you have any proof?”
Tian Lianxue was taken aback, stammering for a long time without being able to say a word.
She turned to glance at Zhong Li, who had been dragged there forcibly, hoping she would speak up to support her. However, she saw Zhong Li’s indifferent expression and felt even more embarrassed.
Sensing she had the upper hand, Madam Feng sneered, about to retort sarcastically to Tian Lianxue. Unexpectedly, Zhong Li spoke first. “Madam Feng, have you truly put aside your past grievances with Lord Li?”
“What do you mean?” Madam Feng was startled, her gaze shifting towards Zhong Li.
At some point, Zhong Li had moved to a potted plant, gently rubbing the soil with her fingertips before bringing them to her nose to sniff. “A regulating decoction. Madam Feng, your body is deficient in both qi and blood? Why would you discard such a good regulating decoction? Is it perhaps because you do not wish to conceive?”
“What are you saying?” A flicker of panic crossed Madam Feng’s eyes, and she immediately stood up, trying to snatch the potted plant from Zhong Li’s grasp.
Zhong Li quickly dodged, and Madam Feng’s fingertips missed. The pot was nudged, and its unstable center of gravity caused it to fall to the ground, instantly releasing a faint medicinal scent that filled the entire room.
Madam Feng looked down at the mess on the floor. The anger that had arisen from Tian Lianxue’s words now erupted fully.
With one hand on her hip, she pointed at Zhong Li. “What are you trying to do? The Prince of Xian’s Estate, Prince Xian, is renowned for his neutrality and politeness in the Southern Yue Kingdom. However, his Heir apparent is said to be extremely overbearing. I didn’t believe it at first, but now it seems the rot starts from the top; it’s indeed not just a rumor!”
“What did you say…”
“Miss Tian.” Tian Lianxue heard someone speak ill of Lu Wuxie and angrily stepped forward to retort, but Zhong Li stopped her with a hand.
Zhong Li stepped forward, stood before Madam Feng, and without a word, took her fair wrist and began to feel her pulse.
“You want to…”
“Madam Feng does not have long to live.” Zhong Li coldly interrupted Madam Feng before she could erupt.
“What?” Madam Feng was stunned, her eyes widening in disbelief. Then, as if she understood something, she yanked her wrist back from Zhong Li’s grasp. “I heard the Heir apparent has a very capable coroner, and that’s you, isn’t it? Such ill fortune. You still wish to frame me, to examine the dead, when will you be able to examine the living…”
“Madam Feng not only discarded the regulating decoction but is also secretly drinking miscarriage-preventing soup, aren’t you?” Zhong Li’s words were again astonishing.
Not only Madam Feng but also Tian Lianxue were stunned.
Zhong Li walked around Madam Feng and sat on a stool. “There are many types of miscarriage-preventing soup, some are mild, and some are poisonous and disease-causing. Among them is one called ‘Carp Powder.’ If taken in excess, the body can become like Madam Feng’s. Not only will you be infertile for life, but you may also die from poisoning.”