"Eldest brother, eldest sister-in-law, I... seeing the two children suffer makes my heart feel like it's being twisted by knives. If I had been more careful, the children wouldn't have suffered."
Ling Wan truly loved the two children. Seeing them suffer made her heart ache terribly, wishing she could transfer all the pain to herself.
"Alright, don't feel guilty. You haven't rested properly all day. It's late, and the children are fine. Your eldest brother and I will stay here. You should go back and rest. Come back tomorrow morning to take over caring for the children."
Knowing Ling Wan's nature, if they told her to go back and rest directly, she absolutely wouldn't agree. But if they asked her to rest and then come back to care for the children in their stead, Ling Wan would definitely agree.
"Then I'll head back. I'll come to relieve you at dawn."
"Good. I'll have Cai Qing bring you something to eat shortly. Rest after you've eaten."
After Ling Wan returned, Feng Jin instructed Cai Qing to add some sleeping medication to the meal sent to Ling Wan, ensuring she got a good night's rest.
Feng Jin stayed with the two children all night. Only when dawn broke and Da Bao and Er Bao's condition stabilized did she manage to catch a brief nap.
By the time Ling Wan woke up, it was already past noon. Remembering her promise to her eldest sister-in-law to relieve them early that morning, Ling Wan quickly got up and ran towards Feng Jin's courtyard.
When she arrived, Feng Jin was already in the courtyard with Da Bao and Er Bao, basking in the sun. The children's condition was much better than the day before. Especially Da Bao, who giggled when he saw Ling Wan. Er Bao, however, still looked at Ling Wan with a blank expression.
Ling Wan reached out and held Da Bao, playing with him for a while. Seeing the two children safe and sound, the knot of worry in her heart finally loosened.
"Eldest sister-in-law, I overslept this morning and didn't come to relieve you. You should go and rest quickly now. I'll watch them."
"It's alright. Your eldest brother watched them for a while last night."
This was why Ling Mo Han was still asleep and hadn't woken up yet.
"This subordinate greets the Young Madam, Second Miss."
"Lord Lu." Ling Wan quickly rose and replied.
"Young Madam, after the interrogation, Cai Yue could not withstand the torture and confessed who instructed her to sprinkle this powder on the Young Master's clothing when the Second Miss wasn't paying attention."
Lu Shi took out a porcelain bottle found in Cai Yue's room from his懷 and handed it to Feng Jin.
"The smell is indeed the same as the one on the clothes."
Feng Jin's sense of smell was very keen. Although the scent on the clothes had faded, she could still distinguish it as exactly the same as the powder in the bottle.
Ling Wan's face turned somewhat pale. This news exploded like dynamite in her mind, leaving her momentarily unable to react.
"Take people to apprehend Ling Yan. Bring Cai Yue to the main hall. I will personally interrogate her."
"This subordinate obeys."
After Lu Shi left, Feng Jin glanced at Ling Wan, naturally noticing her pale complexion, and sighed softly. "Cai Yue has been with you for so many years. You should stay here and look after Da Bao and Er Bao; don't get involved."
"No, eldest sister-in-law, I must go. I want to ask Cai Yue myself why she did this."
Cai Yue had followed her since she was young. When they were bullied and suppressed by the second branch, Cai Yue had always protected her. Now that life had improved, why would she do such things?
Feng Jin did not object. She even felt that it might not be a bad thing for Ling Wan to see certain things clearly for herself.
After she married, she would have to face many such situations. Teaching her to see the wickedness of people's hearts now was better than letting her in-laws teach her after she married.
Feng Jin had already reported the entire matter to Elder Master Ling. After all, Ling Yan was a daughter of the Ling family. Even if she wanted to punish Ling Yan, she had to ask Elder Master Ling's opinion first before she could take action.
However, she waited and waited, and after the time it took for two cups of tea to steep, Feng Jin still hadn't received instructions from Elder Master Ling.
Just as Feng Jin was about to order Cai Yue to be brought in, the housekeeper rushed over.
"Young Madam, the Old Master said that the Young Madam is now the matriarch of the Ling family, and all household matters are to be decided by the Young Madam. There's no need to ask him."
Undoubtedly, Elder Master Ling was handing over all his authority to her.
With the authority in hand, Feng Jin instantly gained confidence and said in a deep voice, "Bring Cai Yue and Ling Yan here."
Feng Jin sat regally in the main seat, with Cai Qing standing calmly by her side. Below them were Ling Mu Zhu and Ling Yan. At a glance, Feng Jin sitting there immediately gave off the aura of a magistrate presiding over a case.
"Let me go! I am Miss Ling, how dare you lowly servants humiliate me like this? Do you wish to die!"
Ling Yan was shoved in, bound with ropes. The wet nurse who followed her used a skillful technique to force Ling Yan to kneel on the ground.
"Feng Jin, you bitch! Why did you arrest me? Let me go immediately, or I will not let you off!"
Ling Yan glared furiously at Feng Jin, her eyes seeming to bore holes through her.
"You're at death's door and still so stubborn. I truly admire your simple, brainless courage!"
Feng Jin said with a cold, mocking tone. She gave a look to Lu Shi, who was guarding the entrance, signaling him to bring Cai Yue back.
Lu Shi understood and withdrew. Moments later, two guards dragged in Cai Yue, who was covered in blood.
Lu Shi and his men had unique methods for interrogating prisoners. They would only inflict extreme physical pain but never to the point of life-threatening injury, ensuring that the prisoner could still write and speak, never missing any useful information.
"Cai Yue..." Ling Wan's eyes widened, and her body trembled slightly upon seeing Cai Yue's慘狀.
Feng Jin naturally saw Ling Wan's reaction. She gave a slight cough and, lowering her voice, said, "Cai Yue, repeat what you said before in front of Ling Yan."
Upon seeing Cai Yue covered in blood, Ling Yan visibly panicked for a moment but still tried her best to maintain her composure.
"You expect to forcefully pin the crime on me based on the one-sided words of a servant? That's impossible!"
Feng Jin snorted coldly, took a sip of her clear tea, and said nonchalantly, "Did I say anything, or are you just guilty and rushing to deny it out of fear that your plan will be exposed?"
"You're talking nonsense! Don't try to trick me into talking!" Ling Yan's eyes darted around, and she quickly tried to change the subject, her vigilance heightened, afraid of falling into Feng Jin's trap with a single misstep.
"Then keep your mouth shut. Cai Yue, you speak. Who instructed you to poison the clothing?"
"It... it was..." Cai Yue stammered, her eyes constantly evading, her gaze occasionally falling on Ling Yan.
"Answer the question!" Feng Jin said in a deep voice, tinged with anger.
Startled, Cai Yue's body trembled slightly. She quickly lowered her head.