With a loud thud, Qin Liuyan's forehead struck the stove.
No one had expected her to suddenly commit suicide.
Han Zhan wanted to stop her, but it was too late. In the end, he only managed to grab a piece of her sleeve.
Qin Liuyan fell, collapsing onto the ground, blood gushing from her forehead.
She looked at Chu Huaiyu, her vision gradually blurring.
"Li'er, Mother can only... help you this much. You must... get rid of Long Qianyue's daughter. You must... make a name for yourself..."
The last sentence was so faint it was almost inaudible.
Qin Liuyan's eyes closed.
Everyone was at a loss, not knowing what to do for a moment.
"Get rid of Long Qianyue's daughter..." Was she asking Chu Qianli to get rid of Chu Huaiyu?
But the cause and effect were so strange!
The plan was discussed by Chu Qianli and Steward Han, yet in the end, it seemed Qin Liuyan was taking the blame for Chu Qianli.
How could this be?
Chu Qianli quickly went over, wanting to check on Qin Liuyan's condition.
Chu Huaiyu suddenly went mad, lunging forward and forcefully trying to push her away.
"Don't touch Aunt Qin! You murderer! You killed your own mother! How can you be so wicked?"
"Huaiyu, things are not like this!" Steward Han immediately said.
Chu Qianli, however, remained silent. She pushed back, shoving Chu Huaiyu away.
Her hand landed on Qin Liuyan's neck, her eyes darkening slightly.
Her long fingers slowly traced Qin Liuyan's neck.
"What more do you want?" Chu Huaiyu cried, her gaze fixed on Qin Liuyan's neck.
She also wanted to see if she still had a pulse.
Steward Han finally reacted and quickly asked, "Miss Li'er, how is she?"
"Don't let her see! She'll silence witnesses!" Chu Huaiyu looked at Chu Hongtao, "Father!"
Chu Hongtao, jolted from his shock, quickly came back to his senses. "Doctor, quickly go and check on her!"
Glancing again at Qin Liuyan's bleeding wound, he felt a pang of pain in his heart.
After all, she was a woman who had accompanied him for so many years...
The doctor hurried over, checked her pulse, and immediately shook his head.
There was no pulse.
Chu Huaiyu then got up, looking coldly at Chu Qianli.
"Aunt Qin took her own life to protect you. Do you feel guilty?"
Chu Qianli also stood up, her gaze sweeping coldly over Qin Liuyan, and finally landed on Steward Han.
"Qin Liuyan poisoned grandfather, her crime is heinous. Order someone to throw her body into the mass grave."
Steward Han hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping.
Finally, he just nodded. "Guards."
"Uncle Han!" Chu Huaiyu's face darkened with displeasure. "Didn't you hear Aunt Qin's words just now? She was protecting Chu Qianli. Are you not going to pursue Chu Qianli's crime?"
Chu Hongtao thought about it and felt Chu Huaiyu had a point.
He immediately said, "Although Chu Qianli is my daughter..."
"Excuse me, I really doubt if I am your daughter." Chu Qianli sneered.
Chu Hongtao immediately became furious. "You wretch, what did you say? Try saying that again!"
"What are you all arguing about?" Suddenly, a deep voice came from the doorway of the pharmacy.
Everyone turned to look, and their faces went blank: "Master!"
"Father!"
"Grandfather!"
"Your Lordship!"
Why was he here?
Wasn't he poisoned and confined to bed?
The person being supported by servants, entering from outside, was none other than Duke Chu Buqu.
"Xiao Qi, come and help Grandpa." Chu Buqu called out.
Chu Qianli immediately walked over and supported him.
He called Chu Qianli Xiao Qi!
Chu Huaiyu's face immediately turned very displeased. "Grandfather, I am the one..."
"I'm just used to calling her that and don't want to change. It's just a name anyway. Huaiyu, do you mind?"
Chu Buqu's voice was full of vigor; he did not look like someone who was poisoned and seriously ill at all.
Chu Huaiyu bit her lip. How could she object?
She could only lower her head and say softly, "Yes, Grandfather is right. Even if Fifth Sister is Aunt Qin's daughter, and I am Long Qianyue's daughter, it doesn't matter. It's just a name anyway."
Chu Buqu paid no further attention to her, as if this matter was not important.
He glanced at Qin Liuyan lying on the ground, then at Chu Qianli.
Chu Qianli said indifferently, "She poisoned Grandfather, her crime deserves death. However, if this matter gets out, it will ultimately be bad for our Duke's Mansion."
"Therefore, Xiao Qi wants to order someone to throw her body into the mass grave, and this matter will be considered over."
The others heard this, and their moods became very complicated.
How could this matter be considered over just like that?
Wasn't there still a mastermind behind it?
Even Second Master couldn't help but say, "Father, just before Aunt Qin committed suicide, she implied she was taking the blame for Chu Qianli..."
"Are you stupid, or is she stupid? As a mother, how could she frame her own daughter like this? Unless, she isn't Xiao Qi's mother." Chu Buqu snorted coldly.
Chu Huaiyu and Chu Hongtao's hearts sank upon hearing this.
Chu Hongtao quickly said, "This is the work of this贱人, and has nothing to do with anyone else. She was speaking nonsense just now because she couldn't bear to part with her daughter Qianli."
He stepped forward and said, "Father, your son is unfilial. He married such a..."
Chu Buqu waved his hand, seemingly impatient to listen further.
Chu Qianli looked at Fu Ning behind her. "Throw her body into the mass grave!"
"Yes!" Fu Ning quickly stepped forward and lifted Qin Liuyan's body.
As a young girl, she carried a corpse without any fear.
She even walked with a brisk pace.
In a blink of an eye, she disappeared from sight.
"Your Lordship..."
"Grandfather, I'm a little tired. Shall we go back first?" Chu Qianli interrupted the others.
Chu Buqu nodded. "Alright, Xiao Qi, help Grandpa back."
The two of them left like that, leaving behind a group of people with complicated emotions.
Chu Qianli, whose mother had died, didn't shed a single tear.
This biological daughter was less affectionate than Chu Huaiyu!
At least Chu Huaiyu had cried so sorrowfully.
But were they really going to ignore what Qin Liuyan said before she died?
She had clearly hinted, clearly trying to cover up Chu Qianli's crime!
But now, the Master listened to Chu Qianli completely!
If Chu Qianli truly had malicious intentions, wouldn't the Master be in great danger?
... Chu Qianli escorted Chu Buqu back to his room. After a few words with him, she left.
She didn't return to her own chambers. Instead, she turned and walked towards the back gate of the Duke's Mansion.
That path led directly to the back mountain. At night, the back mountain was desolate and terrifying; most people wouldn't dare to venture into it.
The mass grave was also located in that area.
Chu Qianli left through the back gate. As soon as she entered the dense forest of the back mountain, a sudden cold wind swept behind her.
A ghostly figure appeared behind her in an instant.
A sinister and terrifying aura, carrying a chilling killing intent, directly threatened her back...