"Would Miss like a portion of peach blossom cake? Made from this year's new peach blossoms," the waiter said, looking at the young lady before him. Although not old, she was dressed in fine silks and brocades, and was accompanied by maids and guards, clearly the daughter of a wealthy family, hence his enthusiastic sales pitch.
As the waiter approached, Xue Yan was about to push him away when Xue Zining spoke, "I'll take one."
"Yes, Miss, I'll pack it up for you right away." The waiter packed the peach blossom cake and was about to hand it to Xue Yan.
Just then, two women in opulent attire entered from outside. One of them said to the waiter, "I'll have a portion of peach blossom cake."
The waiter glanced at the already-packaged peach blossom cake and said apologetically, "Miss, I'm truly sorry, but the last portion has already been bought by this lady."
The woman looked up at the person who had bought her peach blossom cake, her gaze pausing, "Is that you..."
Xue Zining also recognized the woman as Sun Yuezhu, whom she had met the previous day.
"Sister Yuezhu, you know her?" the woman beside her asked.
Sun Yuezhu blinked, looking at the peach blossom cake already in Xue Yan's hand. She walked forward and said, "Miss Feng, could you perhaps part with it?"
Due to yesterday's incident, Xue Yan didn't have a good impression of Sun Yuezhu and replied coldly, "Miss Sun, I'm afraid I cannot part with it."
Sun Yuezhu was taken aback. She had not expected this Miss Feng to allow her maid to dismiss her so rudely.
The woman beside Sun Yuezhu was displeased and said with an unfriendly tone, "What are you, a mere maid, interjecting for? Can you represent your lady?"
Just as Xue Yan was about to argue with the lady, Xue Zining stepped forward and said calmly, "She can represent me."
Xue Yan looked up, her chin held high, looking at the lady.
"You..."
"Rong Hua, since Miss Feng is unwilling to part with it, there's no need for us to force her," Sun Yuezhu advised.
"Sister Yuezhu, why are you afraid of her? Isn't your aunt the current Empress? What is she compared to that?"
Sun Yuezhu shook her head and whispered, "Rong Hua, you don't know. She is currently protected by the Crown Prince, her cousin."
"His Highness the Crown Prince..." Li Rong Hua fell silent. Everyone knew that although the current emperor of Xue Kingdom was not the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince was undeniably the ruler of Xue Kingdom.
"What qualifications does she have to be protected by the Crown Prince? Sister Yuezhu, in what way are you inferior to her?" Li Rong Hua asked indignantly.
Sun Yuezhu clenched her fists upon hearing this. She felt the same way.
However, the fact remained that this Miss Feng had indeed won the favor of her cousin, the Crown Prince.
"Sister Yuezhu, I know a restaurant ahead that serves excellent food. Shall we go and try it?"
Sun Yuezhu nodded, "Alright."
Back in the carriage, Xue Yan placed the peach blossom cake before Xue Zining.
Looking at the exquisite peach blossom cake in the box, she inexplicably remembered a time in a carriage when Yan Zhao had ordered Yan Yi to buy her a box of peach blossom cake.
Although the shape of the peach blossom cake was different, for some reason, she was reminded of that day.
She picked up the peach blossom cake and took a bite. The taste was the same, yet it didn't seem as good as that day.
Putting down the half-eaten peach blossom cake, she lowered her gaze. Was it because the person was already dead, and seeing something that reminded her of him made her unable to help but think of him?
"Miss..." Xue Yan couldn't help but ask, seeing Xue Zining lost in thought.
Xue Zining shook her head, "It's nothing, just recalling some past events."
Past events? Xue Yan didn't quite understand. What was the use of thinking about things that were already in the past?
As expected, her mind was different from the Empress's.
Suddenly, the carriage stopped. Xue Yan and Xue Zining exchanged glances. Xue Yan lifted the carriage curtain and asked Xue Li, who was driving, "What's happening?"
Xue Yan saw many soldiers outside and was momentarily stunned.
Xue Zining, who couldn't hear Xue Yan's voice from inside, also came out. She saw soldiers surrounding her carriage, with a young man in official attire standing at the forefront.
"Xue Li, who is this..."
Xue Li turned to look at her and said, "This is the Grand Judge of the Capital."
Upon hearing this, Xue Zining alighted from the carriage and approached the man. She noticed his eyes, which were as deep as a cold abyss. "Grand Judge, do you need me for something?"
The man looked at the young lady before him, slightly surprised. He had expected someone of breathtaking beauty to be able to make the chaste Crown Prince go into a rage for a pretty face, but he hadn't anticipated such a... underdeveloped young girl.
While her appearance was undeniably beautiful, he suddenly saw her clear and bright eyes and raised an eyebrow. He had never seen such pure eyes before.
"Grand Judge." Xue Zining felt that the man in front of her wasn't looking for her for anything specific but rather to see what she looked like.
Perhaps realizing that staring at a woman was impolite, Mo Ran coughed lightly to alleviate his awkwardness.
"Mo Ran, just say what you need to say," Xue Li said.
Upon hearing this, Mo Ran's expression turned serious as he looked at Xue Zining and said, "Miss Feng, you might be implicated in a murder case."
Xue Zining was stunned. "A murder case? Master Mo, could you please explain more clearly."
Mo Ran asked, "Did you meet Miss Sun today?"
Xue Zining narrowed her eyes and asked, "Sun Yuezhu?"
Mo Ran nodded, "Indeed, it was her."
"What happened to her?"
"She's dead," Mo Ran said, looking at her, each word distinct.
Xue Zining froze all over. "How did she die?"
Mo Ran replied, "According to the preliminary examination by the coroner, she died of poisoning."
"What does this have to do with me?" Xue Zining asked.
Mo Ran glanced at the young lady, noting her lack of panic and surprising composure. He was somewhat astonished. Anyone else in her situation would likely have been terrified.
"There was poison powder on her hands. Unwittingly, she picked up some snacks with her hands and ate them, leading to poisoning."
Xue Yan thought of something and held out the peach blossom cake to Mo Ran, saying, "This is the peach blossom cake we bought."
Mo Ran took a look, summoned an elderly man who appeared to be quite aged, and said respectfully, "Uncle Ming, please take a look."
Uncle Ming nodded, took the peach blossom cake, and examined it. Finally, he found the attached poison powder at the bottom of the box.
Uncle Ming carefully scraped it off.
"This is poison powder, and it's highly potent."
"Take it back; this is also evidence," Mo Ran instructed.
Uncle Ming nodded and left with the poison powder.
Mo Ran looked up and said, "Miss Feng, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to accompany me to the Grand Judge's Office."
"Mo Ran..." Xue Li pulled Mo Ran aside and whispered, "The Prince asked me to bring her out. If I can't bring her back, you know the Prince won't let me off."
Mo Ran sneered upon hearing this. "What happens to you if the Prince doesn't let you off has nothing to do with me. Now that she's implicated in a case, as the Grand Judge, I have a responsibility to find the real culprit."
"Mo Ran..." Xue Li said displeasedly, "Do you know who she..."
"I don't want to know what relationship she has with the Prince," Mo Ran coldly refused Xue Li's words.