Chapter 43

Chapter 43: Catching the Mole “Father, what I mean is that the Third Prince refuses to let the Ling and Luo families off the hook. Ziqi was already hostile toward my little sister, and now that the two of them have joined forces, I’m afraid they’ll pose an even greater threat to both our families,” Ling Jiaxuan analyzed. “You’re right, Xuan’er. But for now, we must first catch the person who poisoned someone in the Prime Minister’s Residence. Since they were able to put poison in the food, they’re probably active within the inner compound. Once we catch such a person, we absolutely cannot show them any mercy!” Ling Taian thought of how someone had repeatedly reached into his own household, and he could not suppress his fury. “In that case, I’ll instruct the steward matron to investigate the people in the kitchen. We can’t let a single suspicious person slip through the net.” As Madam Liu spoke, she rose and ordered the steward matron to investigate. “Father, we’ll take our leave for now as well. Please get some rest.” Ling Jiayue and Ling Jiaxuan withdrew after saying this. Ling Taian sat quietly on the bed, thinking that ever since Ling Jiayue had returned, one calamity after another had followed. The Third Prince and Ling Jiayue had both once been obedient children—how had they ended up like this? The siblings walked side by side along the path. Ling Jiaxuan said, “Little sister, I truly wish you could live in peace and safety. Unfortunately, ever since you returned, trouble has followed you without end. If only we’d known, we should have refused no matter what when His Majesty arranged your marriage. Then the Ling Residence wouldn’t have had to suffer repeated plots and attacks from others.” “It’s all right, Older Brother. Once we find the mole, everything will be fine,” Ling Jiayue comforted him. The siblings continued walking in silence, their minds filled with countless thoughts. “Older Brother, I’m going to Mother’s place to see how the steward matron’s investigation is going. You should return to your courtyard first,” Ling Jiayue said. “That’s fine. I’m not in a convenient position to interfere in matters of the inner compound. Go ahead. I’ll investigate whether any of the young male servants in our inner compound have been behaving dishonestly,” Ling Jiaxuan said. The siblings went off to attend to their respective tasks. When Ling Jiayue arrived at Madam Liu’s courtyard, the steward matron was reporting the results of her investigation into the kitchen staff. “Madam, this is the list of everyone in the kitchen. Please look it over.” The steward matron respectfully handed the list to Madam Liu. Just as Madam Liu took the list, Ling Jiayue happened to enter. Madam Liu immediately said, “Yue’er, come help me look this over. I’ve just examined the list and found nothing unusual. You take a look as well.” Ling Jiayue accepted the list from Madam Liu and began examining it carefully. Before long, she noticed something unusual. “Mother, there’s a maid in the kitchen who looks terribly familiar to me,” Ling Jiayue said. “Which maid?” Madam Liu asked. “Lingxin,” Ling Jiayue replied. “Lingxin?” “Yes, Lingxin. She’s one of the maids whose name begins with ‘Ling,’ which clearly means she was once a personal senior maid serving one of the young ladies of the residence, like Lingxue and Lingzhu at my side. But if her name is Lingxin, why is she working in the kitchen?” Ling Jiayue asked, puzzled. “Replying to Miss Ling, Lingxin was originally one of Ling Ziqi’s maids. Now that Ling Ziqi has become Madam Ru to the Third Prince, Lingxin was sent to work in the kitchen,” the steward matron explained. “I see. Has Lingxin been behaving herself in the kitchen lately? Has she been in contact with anyone?” Ling Jiayue asked. “Yue’er, do you suspect Lingxin?” Madam Liu asked. “Yes, Mother. Lingxin was Ling Ziqi’s personal senior maid. She’s just like Lingxue and Lingzhu at my side, so their bond is naturally different from ordinary master-and-servant ties. There’s no guarantee that Lingxin won’t take Ling Ziqi’s side.” Ling Jiayue clenched the list in her hand. “That makes sense, Yue’er. Your suspicions are reasonable,” Madam Liu said. “Steward matron, from this moment on, keep a close watch on Lingxin. I suspect she’s connected to the poison in Father’s body. But remember—don’t alert her,” Ling Jiayue ordered. “Yes, Miss.” The steward matron accepted the order. “Mother, I still need to go to Older Brother’s place and discuss the inner compound’s defenses with him.” Ling Jiayue said this and prepared to take her leave. “Go, good child. Don’t tire yourself out.” After leaving Madam Liu’s courtyard, Ling Jiayue walked along with Lingxue and Lingzhu. The three of them proceeded quietly down the path. “Miss, is Lingxin really connected to Master’s poisoning?” Lingzhu had a lively personality and could not help asking. “Lingzhu, Lingzhu, if I asked you to do something for me, would you go and do it?” Ling Jiayue answered with a question. “Of course. We would gladly go through fire and water for you, Miss,” Lingxue and Lingzhu replied in unison. “Exactly. Lingxin and Ling Ziqi spent even more time together than we did as master and servants, so Lingxin must favor Ling Ziqi. Still, this is good in its own way. At least now we know whom to suspect. That’s better than knowing nothing at all.” Ling Jiayue spoke as they walked. As they talked, the three of them arrived at Ling Jiaxuan’s courtyard. Bamboo grew everywhere in the courtyard, giving it an elegant, unrestrained air. Ling Jiayue suddenly remembered Ling Jiaxuan once declaring with great conviction, “A man can eat without meat, but he cannot live without bamboo. Eating no meat makes a man thin; living without bamboo makes him vulgar.” Ling Jiayue shook her head, finding it amusing. Once inside the courtyard, she called out loudly, “Older Brother, are you there?” When Ling Jiaxuan heard that his little sister had arrived, he hurriedly rose to greet her. He had just changed into his usual white home clothes. His handsome, refined appearance was already striking, and with the bright smile he wore as he came out to welcome his sister, he looked even more dashing. Lingzhu and Lingxue were both young women, and upon seeing Ling Jiaxuan dressed like that, they blushed. Ling Jiayue teased him, “Older Brother, you’re probably the most outstanding-looking man in our residence. When you go out in the future, will you come home carrying embroidered purses from all the young ladies? Then Mother won’t have to worry about arranging your marriage anymore.” When Lingxue and Lingzhu heard Ling Jiaxuan being teased, they covered their mouths and laughed. Ling Jiaxuan, however, pretended to be angry and said, “How heartless of you, little girl, to make fun of me like that.” “All right, Older Brother, let’s stop fooling around. I came to see you because of Father. Let’s go inside and talk.” Ling Jiayue rarely put on such a serious expression. “Fine, let’s go inside and talk.” Ling Jiaxuan led Ling Jiayue— Ling Jiayue entered the room and, apparently chilled by the cold outside, shivered when a wave of warmth washed over her. Seeing this, Ling Jiaxuan ordered, “Qingfeng, bring in several more braziers.” As he spoke, Ling Jiaxuan stuffed a hand warmer into Ling Jiayue’s hands and told her to hold it. He continued muttering, “You’re already this grown, so how can you not know when you’re cold or hot? Your health clearly isn’t very good, yet you went out without even carrying a hand warmer. Are you trying to get sick?” Ling Jiayue drew the hand warmer closer and said coquettishly, “I’m not that fragile. I knew your room would be warm, so I deliberately didn’t bring a hand warmer. If I really do get sick, that would be perfect—I could make you worry about me for once.” Ling Jiaxuan shook his head with a smile. Knowing he could never win an argument with Ling Jiayue, he said no more.