Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 693 - 694: Fire Breaks Out (Part 3)

"Great Governor." Ruan Jingliu recounted to Fourth Master Xiao what Xiqiu had said about the Third Madam: "You see, does the Third Madam know where that person is?" He paused and further explained, "This poison can only be cured using the blood of the person who administered it. Since the Third Madam mentioned this, she must know the whereabouts of that person."

Fourth Master Xiao stood with his hands behind his back, a sharp smile curling at his lips as his gaze settled into the dark night. He replied, "I understand. I have a grasp of the situation." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Ruan Jingliu nodded trustfully and said, "Then I’ll take my leave first."

"Take care!" Fourth Master Xiao watched as Ruan Jingliu turned into the corridor, only then did he return to Rong’en Courtyard with his hands behind his back. Xiqiu was waiting at the door for him, and he embraced her in a few strides, asking softly, "Why didn’t you wait inside?"

Xiqiu smiled and entered with him, replying, "I’ve been indoors all day, so I came out for some fresh air." As they entered the Warm Pavilion, Xiqiu asked, "Has Fourth Master eaten?"

"I ate in the palace. The Emperor keeps me and Shen Ji there every day, so naturally, we are provided with meals." He spoke with a hint of jest, and Xiqiu laughed, placing the tea beside him and asking, "I heard that Prince Rong was summoned to the palace?"

Fourth Master Xiao picked up the tea cup, gently blew the foam off the top, and responded, "Yes." As he spoke, he noticed Xiqiu’s thoughtful look. Not wanting her to burden herself with thoughts, he went on directly, "Prince Rong and the little prince have passed away!"

"What?" Xiqiu was utterly shocked, "Passed away? When did it happen?" Fourth Master Xiao took a sip of tea, looked at her, and replied, "At noon, they died from poisoning." He then recounted Chief Chang’s description to her. Hearing this, Xiqiu was extremely surprised, "Even the Imperial Physician couldn’t identify the poison?"

Fourth Master Xiao’s lips curled slightly with indifference as he put down the tea, "What the Imperial Physician knows is only the poisons recorded in books, but the world is vast and there are countless unknowns. How could he possibly know them all?"

Xiqiu nodded in agreement, recalling when the Fifth Madam and Teng Qiuniang were poisoned. Even the Imperial Physician couldn’t find the cause, and it was a wandering doctor from the Jianghu who recognized it as Miao Poison. Thinking of this, she suddenly paused, looked at Fourth Master Xiao, and asked, "Could it be that Princess Rong and the little prince were also victims of Miao Poison?"

Fourth Master Xiao remained silent, but Xiqiu was taken aback. Miao Poison? This was already the second time today she encountered something related to Miao Poison. Xu Tianqing might be involved, and Princess Rong might be...

She couldn’t help but think of the Third Master and Third Madam. Could they be related to this?

But Princess Rong was in the palace, and it wouldn’t be easy for them to make a move. Having thought this far, she recounted the Third Madam’s visit to Fourth Master Xiao, "...I refused. I didn’t want to take this risk." She paused and said, "Fourth Master, do you think these things might be related to the Third Master and Third Sister-in-law?"

Fourth Master Xiao paused his hand holding the tea but did not immediately deny it. Seeing this, Xiqiu became more certain and moved closer to confirm with Fourth Master Xiao, "Why would Third Brother do this?"

If Xu Tianqing’s and Princess Rong’s deaths were related to Xiao Yancheng, then he must have a purpose. What could be his goal? If it were to seek revenge against Fourth Master Xiao and the Xuanning Marquis Mansion, there was no need to cause such a large commotion and go through so many twists and turns...

A person’s actions cannot be separated from motives of love, hatred, or gain. Therefore, the Third Master won’t act out of affection, and while hatred is possible, as mentioned before, if he sought revenge, it should be against the Xuanning Marquis Mansion, not involve Prince Rong. Therefore, only gain remains. If he helped Prince Rong for personal gain...

Xiqiu couldn’t rule out this possibility. Xiao Yancheng hadn’t introduced the Third Madam’s background officially, but from Lyuzhu’s behavior, the Third Madam’s origin must be noble...

A word popped into her mind—spy! A very modern term.

For years, Miaojiang has been oppressed by Great Zhou, and Miao culture has been constantly infiltrated and eroded by Central Plain’s Han culture. They have resisted but were repeatedly suppressed, suffering numerous casualties...

Xiao Yancheng had been in Miaojiang for years, married a Miaojiang woman, and settled down with children. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to believe he returned to Great Zhou to stir up civil strife in Miaojiang.

"What are you thinking about?" Fourth Master Xiao spoke, placing his hand gently on her belly with a soft expression.

Xiqiu’s thoughts halted. Tilting her head, she said, "I was thinking, what exactly is Third Brother’s feeling towards you?" She looked at Fourth Master Xiao, "Is it hate, or has he truly forgiven?"

That is very important!

Fourth Master Xiao showed a mocking smile, "Revenge for a severed arm, naturally irreconcilable!"

"And for you, Fourth Master?" Xiqiu pondered and then asked, "Do you also harbor deep resentment against Third Brother? I find it strange—two tense individuals, one is indifferent towards the other’s actions, while the other stays well-behaved in the Marquis Mansion, and everything seems calm and undisturbed..."

Fourth Master Xiao paused his hands, raised it to gently stroke her hair, and said, "Little girl, don’t let your imagination run wild." He paused again and said, "Things will soon pass!"

Xiqiu’s gaze halted, and she refrained from asking further, having already grasped the general thread in her mind.

The next day, the news of Prince Rong and the little prince’s deaths was somehow leaked. The court was in an uproar, everyone with their own theories. It’s strange how people are. When Princess Rong was alive, the courtiers deemed the Min Family disloyal and sinful, launching unsparing attacks and even daring to criticize the former Crown Prince.

But once Princess Rong passed away, people’s stance subtly shifted, showing sympathy for the weak, and the dead naturally fell under this category. This expanded the tolerance towards the Min Family and Princess Rong invisibly. Meanwhile, the Min Family responded timely, announcing that Min Family Head, former Yangzhou Intendant Lord Min, was already en route to the Capital. This cast the Min Family’s rebellious charges as a farce, garnering sympathy and compassion for Princess Rong’s death.

Then an Imperial Censor named Gong wrote a memorial absolving the Min Family and demanding a thorough investigation into the Princess’s death. But how to investigate a death occurring in the palace, ruled by the Empress? This naturally linked the culprit, in people’s minds, more or less with the Empress...

At this time, someone from the Jiangnan Min Faction submitted a memorial accusing Shen Ji, and Wuying Palace Scholar, Lord Feng, fanned the flames with another memorial. The court’s winds seemed subtly shifting...

The Emperor was furious and summoned Fourth Master Xiao and several key officials to the palace.

However, the court’s momentum remained unabated, with Wei Hui Prefecture’s rumors reaching the Capital. There were countless versions of rumors about the Empress. Some said the Shen Family woman had natural allure that beguiled the Emperor, others claimed Princess Changting sought to avenge her brother and usurp the throne... The most scandalous involved saying the Emperor favored men, with Shen Ji frequently staying in the palace alongside his sister.

Madam Shen wept as she spoke to Xiqiu, "...There are even more shameful things, which I’m too embarrassed to tell you."