After Granny Sun left, the smile on Feng Jin's lips gradually faded. She was truly a cunning person.
She spoke with such conviction, as if every step she took was planned with traps waiting for her to fall into. She was truly difficult to deal with.
"Young Madam, this Granny Sun is truly frightening. I can see the calculation in her eyes."
Just a glance at Granny Sun made Cai Qing feel uneasy, as if a gaze was scrutinizing her entirely, leaving no room for concealment.
This feeling of complete exposure was extremely uncomfortable, making her want to avoid Granny Sun's gaze.
"Could someone who has spent decades in the imperial palace be an ordinary person? From now on, be careful with your words and actions. If you really can't handle Granny Sun, try to avoid her and interact with her less."
With Cai Qing's inexperience, how could she be Granny Sun's match? It was better to keep her distance.
"This servant has noted it down."
Cai Qing nodded solemnly. She also didn't want to interact much with someone like Granny Sun, or she might not even know how she died. It was better to stay away in the future.
"Your subordinate greets the Young Madam."
As the two stopped their conversation, Lu Shi strode in.
"Have you found anything?" Feng Jin asked impatiently.
"Your subordinate investigated and found that those palace maids did indeed pawn items at a pawnshop in the west of the city. Your subordinate has bought back all the items they pawned."
Lu Shi placed a bundle on the table. Upon opening it, it was filled with hairpins and jade ornaments.
Feng Jin picked one up and examined it closely. The craftsmanship was not of superior quality and it wasn't worth much, but the quantity was substantial, around dozens of pieces.
There were also several identical items, suggesting they belonged to different people, as if several individuals had pooled their belongings.
These palace maids from Xiliang often quarreled and fought over possessions. What happened this time to have them gather their jewelry to pawn? It was truly peculiar.
"This servant has seen this on many palace maids."
Cai Qing picked up a silver hairpin carved with plum blossoms and said, she had seen this hairpin on more than one palace maid's hair, which was why it looked so familiar and she could identify it at a glance.
"Indeed."
After Cai Qing's remark, Feng Jin remembered that she had also seen this hairpin on many palace maids, as if it were an item everyone possessed.
"Xiliang is located in a severely cold region, with brief spring and summer seasons and long, harsh winters. Therefore, plum blossoms are abundant throughout Xiliang, and Xiliang people adore and revere plum blossoms, eventually treating them as their national flower. Xiliang women also prefer to pick plum blossoms and wear them in their hair. The color of the plum blossoms on the hair of Xiliang palace maids is used to distinguish their rank."
Lu Shi stood by and spoke calmly, taking the plum blossom hairpin from Cai Qing's hand. "Silver plum blossom hairpins like this are worn by second-rank maids in Xiliang. They usually perform cleaning duties within the palaces."
"Guard Lu knows quite a lot."
Cai Qing said nonchalantly, with a hint of sourness in her tone.
"No... I heard this a couple of years ago when we fought against Xiliang, and then I heard... heard..."
Lu Shi stammered for a long time but couldn't explain himself clearly.
"Lu Shi, go and bring one of the palace maids here."
Feng Jin spoke, deciding that an interrogation was necessary before making any judgments.
"Your subordinate obeys."
Lu Shi cupped his hands in acknowledgment and, as he left, his gaze flickered towards Cai Qing before he imperceptibly withdrew his sight and walked away.
"Cai Qing, you can put these things away for now."
"Yes, Young Madam."
Feng Jin glanced at Cai Qing. This little girl was quite spirited. However, knowing she could get angry meant she cared about the matter, which was some progress.
In no time, Lu Shi returned with someone.
The palace maid's slightly timid gaze swept around the room. Upon seeing Feng Jin, she nervously lowered her eyes, her shoulders trembling slightly.
"Cai Qing, show her the items."
Feng Jin spoke faintly. Cai Qing brought the bundle and placed it in front of the palace maid.
The palace maid's face suddenly changed color when she saw the contents of the bundle, and her lips turned pale with fright.
"Do you recognize these items?"
"Your... your servant..."
"These are the items you pawned this morning. After only a few hours, have you forgotten them?"
Feng Jin's voice was very soft, but it weighed heavily on the palace maid's heart.
"Your... your servant recognizes them..."
The palace maid's lips trembled as she replied, and in her panic, she immediately knelt before Feng Jin.
"Madam, please be merciful and spare me. Madam, I beg you."
The palace maid knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly. Soon, her fair forehead was bruised and purple.
"Please get up," Feng Jin was startled by the sudden display and gestured for Cai Qing to help her up.
"What is your name?"
"Your... your servant's name is Cui'er."
"Cui'er, since you know how serious your offense is, how dare you commit it again? If Granny Sun were to find out, what would be your fate?"
Since morning, Feng Jin had noticed that these palace maids feared Granny Sun the most, so she strategically brought Granny Sun's name into the conversation.
Upon hearing Granny Sun's name, Cui'er's face turned even paler.
"If you tell the truth today, I might be able to save your life. But if you remain stubborn and conceal it, then I won't be able to protect you. I will have to hand you all over to Granny Sun for disposal."
"Madam, please, do not hand me over to Granny Sun for disposal..."
Cui'er had personally witnessed how Granny Sun dealt with palace maids who made mistakes; it was worse than death.
If she were to fall into Granny Sun's hands, she might as well dash her head against the wall now to save herself from further torment, only to still face death in the end.
"Since you know, then tell the truth. Why did you pawn your jewelry?"
Cui'er lowered her head, twisting her clothes, her face full of conflict. After a pause, she stammered, "We... we wanted to... to exchange for some money, and then... and then find an opportunity..."
"You wanted to escape?"
Feng Jin directly stated their true intention.
Cui'er's expression changed, and she slowly nodded, admitting to the matter.
"You are all palace maids who accompanied the dowry to Dong Chu. If you attempt to escape without authorization and are caught, it is a capital offense."
"Your servant understands..." Cui'er's tears instantly flowed out. "But... but even if we reached Dong Chu, we would not escape death. It's better... it's better to take a chance now. Perhaps there might be a way to survive."