The Grand Secretary has no heir? His concubine gives birth to triplets.

Two rough-looking old women stood on either side, gripping Jiang Guo'er's shoulders.

He twisted her arms behind her back, lifted her up like a chick, and then slammed her down.

With a thud, Jiang Guo'er's face contorted in pain, and her vision blurred.

Cuiping held the dark, murky medicine bowl, a sinister and cruel smile playing on her lips.

"I've been merciful and specially ordered that you be given a complete body. Sister Guo'er, rest in peace on your journey."

"Get out of here!!!"

Jiang Guo'er struggled desperately, kicking her legs wildly.

But the old woman kicked him in the back of the knee, causing him to kneel down again.

Cuiping stepped forward, her fingernails digging into the soft flesh of her cheek, forcing her to open her mouth and forcefully pouring the medicine down her throat.

The bitter, foul-smelling liquid flowed down her throat, causing Jiang Guo'er to gag violently.

The medicine took effect very quickly. Jiang Guo'er's vision blurred instantly, her limbs went limp, and she collapsed to the ground like a rag doll.

Black medicine seeped from the corner of his lips, and the rise and fall of his chest grew weaker and weaker.

Cuiping kicked her triumphantly and sneered.

"Chop him up, put him in a sack, and throw him into a mass grave to feed the dogs."

The two old women looked at each other, hesitant to move.

"Miss Cuiping, isn't this inappropriate? Didn't the Prime Minister instruct that the body be left intact?"

"What, you think I can't boss you around anymore??"

Cuiping's face darkened. "Have you forgotten who holds your indentures? Hurry up and do it!"

The two old women, with pained expressions, were about to step forward.

Suddenly, a strong gust of wind swept down from the overhead beam.

Three figures flipped down, each delivering a swift and deadly hand chop.

Before Cuiping and the two old women could even scream, they collapsed to the ground, their eyes rolling back in their heads.

Then, like a dead pig, he was dragged out by his legs.

The woodshed fell silent again.

A series of slow, steady footsteps approached from afar.

He stepped across the threshold in his dark silk boots and stopped half a foot away from Jiang Guo'er.

Pei Yan narrowed his eyes, leisurely examining the woman lying on the ground.

Half of her face was covered in wood ash, her hair was disheveled, and stray hairs clung to her sweaty cheeks.

But her eyelashes were thick, her nose was straight and delicate, and her chin was strikingly fair.

His hands were covered in black ash, covered in chilblains, and his palms were chafed.

These were the same crude hands that repeatedly stroked the puppet's brow bone, lips, and thighs, wantonly kneading and manipulating them?!

Pei Yan's fingers suddenly tightened.

He quickly turned his face away and exhaled a heavy breath.

After a long while, he shifted his gaze back to her slightly disheveled collar.

On the surface, there is nothing unusual, but there is a small undulation near the heart.

What audacity!

He actually hid his doll in... a place like this!

Pei Yan squatted down with a cold expression, his slender fingers hovering in mid-air, as if trying to probe the truth.

Suddenly, a series of chaotic footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

Pei Yan's eyes flickered slightly, and with a flash, he disappeared into the darkness.

"What's going on? There's not even a guard outside!"

When Granny Li and her maids and servants saw Jiang Guo'er lying paralyzed on the ground, they were all so frightened that they took a half step back.

"Steward! Where is the steward of the outer courtyard?"

The steward from the outer courtyard rushed over, covered in sweat.

Pointing at the person on the ground, Granny Li's voice trembled, "What exactly happened?"

The manager was also stunned.

"Just now, Miss Cuiping came over with two old women, saying that the Prime Minister had given a bowl of medicine to the maid in this woodshed."

"Where...where did they go?"

Granny Li knew something was wrong and quickly sent a maid to Songhe Garden to report the news.

Before long, Xue Lingyi helped the old lady hurry over.

Upon entering the woodshed and seeing the lifeless Jiang Guo'er, Xue Lingyi's mind went blank, and her hands and feet instantly turned ice-cold.

She bit her tongue, forcing herself to calm down.

"Perhaps he hasn't died yet!"

Xue Lingyi strode forward and, under the pretext of inspection, rolled up Jiang Guo'er's left sleeve.

On her fair forearm, a tiny, bright red birthmark the size of a grain of rice stung her eyes.

It really is Shunshun!

Xue Lingyi took a deep breath, lifted Jiang Guo'er's head with her left hand, and forcefully pinched open her chin with her right hand.

Two fingers were ruthlessly inserted into her mouth to press down on the back of her tongue.

"vomit--"

Jiang Guo'er's body jerked suddenly, and she vomited violently, spitting out a large mouthful of black medicine.

Xue Lingyi didn't even frown, and hurriedly reached out to Lüyi: "Medicine box!"

She took out an antidote pill and stuffed it into Jiang Guo'er's mouth, then placed three fingers on her wrist.

Although the pulse was somewhat weak and the patient was deficient in qi and blood, there was no sign of poisoning whatsoever.

Xue Lingyi was stunned.

No poisoning?

Did Prime Minister Pei give Cuiping poison?

Despite the doubts, Shun Shun's life was saved.

Her anxiety subsided.

Jiang Guo'er opened her eyes amidst a violent cough, her gaze slowly focusing to reveal Xue Lingyi's face.

"make……"

Xue Lingyi's face turned cold, and she interrupted her sharply.

"What a wicked servant!"

"Su Yue died under mysterious circumstances, and you still dare to play the victim?"

"Speak! What kind of poison did you give Su Yue? Where is the poison hidden?"

Jiang Guo'er was awakened by this scolding.

In a split second, she understood.

He immediately rolled over and lay face down, his voice hoarse and shrill.

"I'm innocent! I've never poisoned Su Yue, nor have I ever hidden any poison!"

"We beg Miss Xue to see the truth, and we beg the Old Madam to investigate thoroughly!"

Xue Lingyi went with the flow and turned to the Old Madam.

"Old Madam, since she refuses to admit it, why not just search her body? If she really is hiding poison, there will always be traces under her fingernails or in her sleeves."

The old lady nodded in approval.

Xue Lingyi examined Jiang Guo'er's hands carefully in front of everyone, and then checked her sleeves and jacket.

It was spotless, with not a trace of poison left.

"It seems she's not on her." Xue Lingyi's gaze remained unchanged. "Grandma, could we send someone to search her residence?"

Granny Li immediately led her people there.

He returned after burning two incense sticks, shaking his head.

Despite finding nothing, the suspicion surrounding Jiang Guo'er remained unresolved.

The arrogant mockery from Cuiping flashed through her mind, and she understood everything.

"It's Cuiping!"

"She's the one who poisoned her! We implore the Old Madam to search Cuiping's residence!"

The old lady was slightly taken aback. After Cuiping came to deliver the medicine, she disappeared without a trace, which was indeed suspicious.

"Granny Li, you go and search the place yourself!"

Not long after, Granny Li returned with a strange expression.

"Old Madam, Cuiping's room is very clean; we didn't find anything there."

Jiang Guo'er's heart skipped a beat. How could this be?

"However, next to Cuiping, under a basket in the room of two maids, we found a small package."

Granny Li handed a small paper package to Xue Lingyi.

Xue Lingyi opened the paper package, brought it close to her nose to smell it, and then used a silver needle to examine a small amount, her expression grave.

"Grandma, this is pure aconitine. Just a tiny bit, the size of a fingertip, can make someone have difficulty breathing and die on the spot."

"The symptoms are exactly the same as when Su Yue had an attack."

The old lady's expression changed completely, and she ordered the steward to immediately inform the prime minister of the matter.

Jiang Guo'er knelt on the ground, completely exhausted, breathing heavily with lingering fear.

She glanced up discreetly, her eyes meeting Xue Lingyi's briefly before looking away.

Xue Lingyi's eyes still had lingering redness, and she subtly squeezed the back of her hand under her sleeve.

Before half a cup of tea could be brewed, heavy, cold footsteps echoed from outside the courtyard.

Pei Yan wore a dark-colored robe with subtle patterns, over which he wore a crane-feather cloak, exuding a chilling aura.

He glanced indifferently at Jiang Guo'er, then stepped forward and offered a helping hand to the old lady.

"Grandmother was frightened; Xiao San has already investigated this matter."

The old lady asked anxiously, "What exactly happened? Where is Cuiping?"

Pei Yan's gaze was deep and his tone was calm and even.

"Those two rough-looking old women have been captured. Su Yue borrowed money but didn't repay it, so Su Yue harbored resentment and poisoned her."

"Thinking that there was no one to testify after Jiang Guo'er's death, he was so smug that Cuiping overheard him and tried to push her into the waterside pavilion to drown her, but the secret guards happened to catch them."

"I have taken care of the person."

"As for Cuiping, although she was a victim, her lax management of her subordinates implicated innocent people, so she was demoted to the third class and will be responsible for cleaning and sweeping the outer courtyard at night from now on."

Jiang Guo'er lowered her head, her mind in turmoil.

How could two rough-working old women possibly obtain aconitine of extremely high purity if they had no one behind them?

He is lying.

These two old women replaced her and became the new scapegoats!

Jiang Guo'er felt a chill run through her body and shivered.

Immediately, a tall, heavy shadow slowly enveloped her.

Pei Yan turned slightly to the side, his deep gaze, almost tangible, landing on her violently heaving chest.

As Jiang Guo'er breathed rapidly, Pei Yan's hands and feet gradually became numb and uncontrollably weak.

His breath hitched, and the veins on the back of his hand bulged beneath his sleeve, yet his face remained as cold as ice.

His gaze was deep and unsettling.

It was as if through her clothes, one could clearly see the soft, undulating cleavage of her breasts.