"My lord, what do you mean?"
Lin Qingge did not answer Li Xiaolian's question directly but instead took out a handkerchief from her embrace, which contained a broken fingernail.
"Does Miss Li recognize this object?"
"This is...?"
Everyone exchanged glances, not understanding Lin Qingge's intention.
Only Li Xiaolian's expression changed, her previously stubborn bright eyes showing a hint of despair.
"This object was found by this official beneath the bookshelf in the adjacent study after the incident. Because there were still dried bloodstains on it, if you do not believe me, you are welcome to go and check beneath the bookshelf in the adjacent study; there should be some traces left. Miss Li, if it is convenient, could you please extend your hands for everyone to see?"
Surprisingly, Li Xiaolian generously raised her fingers, as white and slender as scallions, and without any reservation, allowed everyone to look. She spoke with a clear voice, defending herself:
"Replying to my lord, this humble girl did indeed break a fingernail a few days ago. Perhaps it was picked up by someone with ill intentions and deliberately framed to implicate me. I implore your lordship to investigate thoroughly."
Upon hearing this, Lin Qingge could not help but chuckle softly:
"I believe everyone in the Li mansion knows that Steward Li has always been extremely strict about hygiene. Let alone paper scraps, even a speck of dust would send him into a rage, and that included the nooks and crannies beneath the cabinets. According to the maid, Xiao Cui, who was responsible for cleaning the study that day, she finished cleaning the study before the hour of Shen (9-11 AM). However, before she could leave, Steward Li returned home, dismissed the servants, and locked himself in the study until the steward, Wen Bo, discovered him dead on the couch. The yamen then arrived and sealed the scene, ruling out the possibility of later framing. In other words, from the time maid Xiao Cui finished cleaning the study until Steward Li's body was discovered, no one other than the deceased Steward Li, Wen Bo, and the true culprit had set foot in the adjacent room. May I ask: why would Miss Li's broken fingernail, which was continuously in her chamber during this period, appear at the scene of the crime out of thin air?"
"This—"
Li Xiaolian subtly retreated a step, unsure how to respond.
"Apart from this, this official has another piece of evidence."
Lin Qingge's smile was gentle, but her words became increasingly aggressive:
"Although this official does not know where you found the poison, to ensure that the extracted poison could achieve the desired effect, it must have been prepared within a few days of the incident, if not on the same day. If this official's guess is correct, you had been cultivating that originally ornamental poisonous plant as a potted specimen in your courtyard. Of course, with Miss Li's intelligence, you likely destroyed the evidence once the poison was ready. However— this official has a coroner by her side who is intimately familiar with this poison, named Murong Bai. Although he is not present, this official can dispatch someone to ride swiftly back to the capital and have Coroner Murong draw the appearance of the poisonous plant. I believe that by showing the portrait to Miss Li's maid, you should gain some useful information."
After a brief silence, Li Xiaolian finally ceased her resistance and spoke calmly:
"My lord need not go to such trouble; the poisonous plant is currently buried beneath the rear window of my chamber."
"Xiaolian, was it really you? Master treated you as his own, and you could bring yourself to do this?"
Madam Xing, who had just quieted down, began to wail again, but Li Xiaolian scoffed:
"Mother, why put on such a hypocritical act? You have long known the secret of the hidden chamber and used it to threaten Father, forcing him to compromise. Not only did you allow your nephew to gain a foothold in the Li mansion, but you also spent money to advance his career, and even greedily desired to secure a position for him."
Upon hearing this, Madam Xing leaped up as if her tail had been stepped on, exclaiming:
"You wicked girl, what nonsense are you spouting?"
Ignoring Madam Xing's clamoring, Li Xiaolian looked directly at Lin Qingge, eager to get to the bottom of it:
"This humble girl believes she was without flaw. May I ask, my lord, how did you discover this?"
"Your acting skills are indeed excellent, almost impeccable. However, some things cannot be covered up by acting alone." Lin Qingge sighed and explained:
"Perhaps because you were in close proximity to the poisonous plant for an extended period while extracting the venom, you were more or less tainted with the unique fragrance of that plant. Although you perfumed your clothes, one can still discern it with a careful sniff."
"As expected of my lord, even dogs would despair of their inferiority~"
Hua Jinrong praised with a fan, but immediately a projectile flew towards him at high speed. Upon closer inspection, it was a thick tome? Startled, he quickly leaped from his chair and dodged to the side. However, after evading one, there was a second and a third...
"Madam, this student knows his mistake~ This student meant to say that my lord is far more capable than a dog~"
With that, Hua Jinrong, who had spoken impulsively, scurried out of the room.
Given the precedent of being attacked after solving a case, Leng Ningyue did not pursue him but remained by Lin Qingge's side as she spoke eloquently.
"Miss Li, the reason I initially suspected you was that fallen fingernail. That small piece of fingernail was smooth and even, clearly indicating that it had not done any rough work. And the female members of the Li family were only Madam Xing and you, Miss Li. Madam Xing was flamboyant, and her fingernails were clearly visible and intact. Therefore, this official deduced that the fingernail must have belonged to you, Miss Li."
After hearing Lin Qingge's words, Li Xiaolian suddenly smiled:
"Did my lord not mention there was also a witness?"
"The first witness is Wen Bo. On that day, an old woman came to cause a disturbance, insisting on seeing Steward Li. When Wen Bo went to handle the matter, he overheard the old woman mentioning imperial petitions and officials, which made him uneasy. He thus intended to report to Steward Li in the study. You, who were committing the murder in the study, heard the sudden footsteps and were forced to leave prematurely. In your haste, you scraped your fingernail on a hard object like a table corner, breaking off half of it. And Wen Bo recognized you from just a glimpse of your back. It was precisely because he recognized you as the culprit that after noticing something amiss with Steward Li, Wen Bo immediately moved the body to help you conceal your crime. I imagine Wen Bo also separately instructed you afterwards not to speak, no matter what happened, and that all blame would fall solely on him."
Wen Bo, who seemed surprised that even his whispered words were revealed without omission, exclaimed:
"My lord, how, how did you know?"
"I guessed," Lin Qingge replied dismissively, turning her gaze back to Li Xiaolian nearby.
"Miss Li, do you know why Wen Bo helped you?"
Li Xiaolian shook her head.
"That is because..."
Lin Qingge's words were cut short by Wen Bo, who forcefully interrupted:
"My lord, I watched the young lady grow up. Although I have failed Master, my conscience cannot bear it, so I wished to use my half-buried life to take all the blame for the young lady!"
"No, it is precisely the opposite. Wen Bo, you have not failed Steward Li. According to this official, you were taken in by Steward Li ten years ago. And it was to repay Steward Li's life-saving kindness that you voluntarily took all the blame for Miss Li!"