Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 550 - 553: Interrogation (3)

Xiqiu nodded to Wan’er and said, "Can she manage it alone?" Wan’er nodded back and replied, "No problem, the master has always done things alone!" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Xiqiu nodded without saying anything.

Wan’er added, "I’m afraid we’ll need to trouble Fourth Madam and several sisters to help us boil some water and make sure it’s boiled a bit longer. And get some spirits too!"

Xiqiu was startled, showing a hint of confusion in her eyes, then she composed herself and instructed Biwu, "There might not be anyone in the kitchen at this time, you go!"

Biwu complied, and Wan’er nodded to Xiqiu, put down the curtain, and returned to her room.

Just then, another woman came out of the courtyard quickly. Xiqiu was slightly startled and exchanged glances with First Madam. Neither said a word as they returned to their seats. After a while, Zitan was brought in.

First Madam raised her eyebrows slightly, while Xiqiu sat expressionless, thinking that Nanny Wu hadn’t returned after sending Second Madam off for so long.

In the Warm Pavilion, the sound of Grand Dowager’s coughing could be heard. Ziwei lifted the curtain and went in while First Madam stood up and said, "I’ll go check on mother."

Xiqiu nodded and went in with First Madam to see the Grand Dowager. Because of the medicine and her thoughts on Xing, the Grand Dowager was sleeping restlessly.

"You go ahead and take care of your things, I’ll stay here with mother."

Xiqiu was indeed uneasy with Ruan Jingliu alone in the room, fearing she might need something!

She left the room, closed her eyes, and leaned back on the chair, quietly listening to the movements in the courtyard. Zitan was Second Madam’s personal maid. Fourth Master Xiao had summoned her over, unsure what would happen on Second Madam’s side.

After some time, Fourth Master Xiao strode in. Xiqiu was surprised and opened her eyes to meet him.

"Are you alright? How is Xing?" Fourth Master Xiao held her hand, seeing that her expression was relatively calm, he also sighed with relief. Xiqiu asked, "I’m fine. Sister Jingliu is inside. Xing hasn’t woken up yet. How’s it going? Have you found the source of the Lilu?"

Fourth Master Xiao looked at Xiqiu, his gaze holding an unmistakable compassion. He said, "The Lilu hasn’t been found, but Qiuping..." Xiqiu understood; he was concerned because Qiuping was, after all, a servant from the Tong Mansion.

"Fourth Master, just say it, I’m alright!" Xiqiu, pulling him to sit on the chair, replied.

Fourth Master Xiao then spoke gravely, "Everyone in the kitchen has been interrogated, and at present, no one seems suspicious. However, there were two outsiders who entered the courtyard in the afternoon. One was Qiuping, the other was Zitan." He paused and continued, "Zitan spoke a few words with Nanny Cen, then went to visit Xing, while Qiuping seemed strange. According to Nanny Cen, she was looking around the kitchen furtively and secretly rummaging through cupboards of vegetables and ingredients."

Xiqiu frowned and asked, "So both Zitan and Qiuping are suspects, but Qiuping is more suspicious? What about the search at Shaohua Courtyard that Fourth Master initiated?"

She asked the crucial point. Fourth Master Xiao looked at her with a hint of admiration and replied, "Qiuping indeed appears more suspicious than Zitan. Nothing was found at Shaohua Courtyard, yet someone saw Cuicui from that courtyard sneaking around outside our courtyard, poking her head in." He paused and continued, "Qiuping confessed, saying she feared someone would harm Xing, so she posted a little maid outside the courtyard as a lookout. She followed into the courtyard because she saw Zitan enter and insisted that Zitan must have planted the poison..."

Before he could finish, Xiqiu asked, "What did Zitan say?" Fourth Master Xiao replied, "Zitan said nothing."

In other words, let them investigate freely, presenting an image of righteousness without fear!

The people around Second Madam indeed possess high mental fortitude. Xiqiu thought quietly, looking at Fourth Master Xiao and said, "What does Fourth Master plan to do?"

Fourth Master Xiao immediately and decisively replied, "Detain them both!" Xiqiu was taken aback, "Zitan is Second Brother’s wife’s dowry maid, will Second Brother..."

When speaking of this, Fourth Master Xiao’s voice turned cold as he replied, "If she is suspicious, there is misconduct, and it must not be tolerated!"

That is his style! Always decisive and rigorous!

Since there’s no conclusion, Xiqiu couldn’t say much, but if Zitan was indeed involved, Second Madam should probably have some reaction.

Tiancheng called from outside, "Fourth Master, the Marquis invites you over." Fourth Master Xiao nodded, stood up, and said, "I’ll go take a look. If you’re tired, you can rest for a while."

"Fourth Master, go ahead." Xiqiu escorted Fourth Master Xiao to the door. She stood at the doorway, her gaze falling into the thick night with an indiscernible meaning!

Zitan and Qiuping bit at each other, but besides her subjective suspicion, Qiuping had no evidence, while many in the courtyard had seen her sneakily posting people at the door and going into the kitchen twice...

"Fourth Madam!" Wan’er peeked out, "The medical woman requests you inside!"

Xiqiu nodded and turned to enter the room.

Xing’s outer garment had been removed, revealing several silver needles in his chest, slightly rising and falling, with his eyes still tightly closed and breathing unstable!

"Sister Jingliu!" Xiqiu called as she entered, standing behind Ruan Jingliu, who was intensely focusing as she inserted and withdrew the needles on Xing’s chest again. Hearing Xiqiu’s voice, she didn’t lift her head and said, "He’s temporarily out of danger; next depends on his vitality."

Xiqiu was puzzled, asking, "What are the odds?"

Ruan Jingliu raised an eyebrow, looking at her, and replied, "You know some medicine. In such a case of renal failure in a young child, survival depends partly on luck as well!" After a pause, she added, "I’ve done all I can. If he wakes up within three days, he’ll be fine; otherwise..." She sighed, receiving the handkerchief from Wan’er to wipe her hands and drank some tea, saying, "Preparations for the aftermath might be needed."

This was yet another blow, causing Xiqiu to tremble. She went to sit by Xing and gently touched his face, her heart filled with pity. This frail little child had always been weak. Things other children could do were off-limits by Grand Dowager, and what other children wouldn’t, he couldn’t even think of. Feared of cold in winter, heat in summer, spring winds, and autumn insects, he was kept indoors. Unlike other children, his childhood memories weren’t filled with running and playing, but with sitting quietly, playing quiet games with Min.

Her heart ached, involuntarily holding his tiny hand, feeling as if it were fragile porcelain that could shatter at any moment.

"Don’t be too heavy-hearted." Unexpectedly, Ruan Jingliu grasped her hand with a soft smile and said, "Though it’s luck, sometimes we need to believe in luck."

Xiqiu nodded without speaking. Ruan Jingliu then asked, "I haven’t asked you, how did the Lilu poison end up in the medicinal soup?"

"I don’t know." Xiqiu roughly recounted the incident to her. "Unlike ginseng and other tonic herbs, I trust the medicine sent from the clinic wouldn’t contain it. It must have been added later by someone."