"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
"I was too nervous, I didn't think of it then." With so many people staring at him and asking questions, he was so scared that these esteemed guests might suspect him too.
"Never mind, you can go back now."
"I'm sorry..."
Shen Qingqing waved her hand, and the attendant left. She immediately got up and went to the study.
Fu Jingshu followed closely behind.
However, when they reached the study, the trash can was spotlessly clean, with no fragments. She quickly went to ask the cleaning aunt downstairs.
The cleaning aunt said, "I saw fragments on the floor and was afraid someone would get hurt, so I threw them into the trash can. They should have been collected by now..."
Shen Qingqing immediately ordered someone to chase after it!
The garbage truck had come to collect the trash an hour ago. Tracking it would take time.
While waiting, Pei Lie arrived. "Have you found any clues?"
"There was a goddess ornament in your father's study that was broken. The cleaning aunt collected it. I suspect it might have been poisoned."
Rage flashed in Pei Lie's eyes. "If the ornament was indeed poisoned, it means this person has been lurking in the palace all along!"
However, it also proved one thing: the Earl and Pei Xing on that day could not have been the ones who administered the poison.
But before that, they couldn't be sure.
"How often does the cleaning staff clean?" Shen Qingqing asked.
Pei Lie thought for a moment and said, "Once every 24 hours, meaning once a day and a night. She will wipe down everything in the study."
The last time the room was cleaned was when the King's death was discovered, so the previous time was three o'clock the day before yesterday.
"That's right." Pei Lie frowned. "Did you think of something?"
"Let's see if we can retrieve the goddess statue first."
If they couldn't retrieve it, then everything would be in vain.
Pei Lie gritted his teeth. "If I find out who poisoned him, I will tear him to pieces! I swear to God!"
Shen Qingqing could understand his feelings. "Don't worry, we will find out."
Whoever commits a crime will be caught.
The waiting time was always long. Pei Xing later appeared in the hall and asked when he saw the three of them sitting solemnly.
"What are you waiting for?"
Shen Qingqing said calmly, "We found a piece of evidence and are waiting for it now."
"What evidence?" Pei Xing strode over, his eyes also filled with urgency. "Can we find the murderer?"
"Don't rush, just wait for the news."
Pei Lie pulled Pei Xing to sit down and patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, we have evidence this time, and we will definitely find the murderer. I will never let him go then!"
Pei Xing nodded heavily, a fierce look appearing on his face. "That's right, me neither!"
So he also joined the wait. After about half an hour, hurried footsteps were heard outside, and a guard entered with a package.
"We found it!"
He had caught up with the garbage truck and, after twenty minutes of searching with his colleagues, had found the fragments of the goddess statue that had been thrown out from here.
Shen Qingqing was naturally responsible for the inspection.
Pei Xing and Pei Lie watched eagerly from the side. Although anxious, they dared not urge her, waiting for her to give the results.
Although it was only a minute, the two brothers felt it was incredibly long.
Soon, Shen Qingqing stood up. "It's been tested."
"How is it?"
The two brothers were more nervous than the other.
Shen Qingqing, wearing gloves, held up a fragment. "There is indeed a toxin on this, the 'One Day Drunk' that the old man mentioned."
Pei Lie gritted his teeth. "I knew it!"
If someone could so easily poison his father, it must be someone in the palace!
Shen Qingqing looked at the fragment, her eyes obscure. "And this person was very familiar with the cleaning aunt's working hours."
This way, it seemed like everyone in the palace was a suspect.
Pei Xing frowned. "How can we investigate like this?"
Fu Jingshu said calmly, "There is still a way."
As soon as he said this, Shen Qingqing immediately looked at him. The two exchanged a look, and a tacit understanding suddenly arose. They spoke in unison:
"Elimination."
The ability to poison indicated a murderous intent towards the King for a long time, so there must have been some entanglement.
Ordinary attendants had no reason to do this. Although the King was a bit muddled on the throne, he was kind and generous to his subordinates.
"This person must have had some financial entanglement with the King. This is the most likely motive," Shen Qingqing said, putting down the porcelain piece and folding her gloves into her pocket. "Let the high-ranking officials investigate first."
Pei Lie nodded. "Alright, we'll do as you say."
He fully cooperated with Shen Qingqing's orders and questioned everyone who had contact with the King before his death, but there was no progress.
Pei Lie gradually began to get annoyed. "Could our investigation direction be wrong?"
Shen Qingqing comforted him, "Don't be discouraged. As long as we keep investigating, we will find out."
"I'm just worried..."
"Worried about what?"
Pei Lie looked at her and said in a low voice, "The longer this drags on, the more disadvantageous it is for us. You can't stay here forever, and you will have to leave."
"If I leave, there's still the old man."
"I don't think he will help us," Pei Lie said with self-awareness. "The poison doctor is a very willful person. I'm not criticizing him, it's just..."
It's just that without Shen Qingqing, the poison doctor would absolutely not concern himself with their troubles.
Even now, it was Shen Qingqing who sought him out that he appeared. Otherwise, he would stay in his room every day and not come out. In the poison doctor's view, the poisons he possessed were far more important than them.
Shen Qingqing wanted to comfort him, but she remembered the old man's temperament...
"In short, even if I leave, I will make arrangements with the old man, and he will not abandon you. You don't have to worry too much."
Pei Lie forced a smile. "Thank you."
He wasn't a timid person, nor did he fear trouble, but he knew absolutely nothing about poisons. He had finally dealt with Pei Xi before, and now another person who seemed to know a lot about poisons had appeared.
He had no confidence at all.
"I'm not afraid of death, I'm just worried..."
Shen Qingqing understood his unspoken words. "I know you're worried about your family, but I want to tell you, you don't need to worry. I promised the Queen that I would help you find the truth, and I will. Even if I have to leave, I won't let this matter go."
With these words, Pei Lie felt relieved. "Shen, thank you."
"Why are you being so polite with me? But I'll be upfront, I'm not doing this for you." Shen Qingqing smiled, thinking of the Queen. "I'm doing it for your mother."
"Why are you so good to her?" Pei Lie asked curiously.
"Because we are both mothers."
Pei Lie suddenly had a strong sense of curiosity. "I really want to see what your child looks like. They must resemble you very much."
"You will."
Shen Qingqing glanced at the time. "I need to go out for a bit. We'll talk when I get back."
"Where are you going?"
"To see our Earl."
If she didn't go now, he would be released soon. There were some things she had to clarify before he was set free.