The Dark Moonlight returns to the capital, and the mad prince is accused of forcing love.

"No," Madam Fu interrupted, turning to the old lady. "Mother, A-Qing has just returned from his injury and it's really not advisable for him to travel. Besides, if we force him to come now, it might alert our husband..."

The old lady interrupted her: "He is my son, how dare he blame his mother?"

"But Ah Qing's body..."

Xu Qianhui knelt upright, clearly sensing Fu's panic.

More than feeling sorry for Lin Zuoqing's injuries, she was afraid of him.

She was afraid that if he came, he would say something she couldn't cover up.

After all, as the Prefect of Jingzhao, Lin Zuoqing usually acted impartially and was not particularly close to her, his mother.

Rather than letting him decide this matter, it would be better to call the servant to bring the Duke over.

Even a night of marriage can bring a hundred days of kindness; no matter what she does, the Duke will always protect her.

Xu Qianhui also looked at the old lady and said respectfully, "Old Madam, Aunt's concerns are not unfounded. The Duke has been bedridden for many years, and disturbing him would be bad for his health. Perhaps..."

She paused, then, seeing the expectant look on Madam Fu's face, continued, "How about we go to the young master's courtyard? That way, the old lady can visit the young master and find out more about this matter."

The expectation on Fu's face vanished instantly.

She snapped, "My mother is already ill, how can she drag her sick body to see a junior? Xu Qianhui, what are you really thinking, saying all this!"

"Enough!" The old lady slammed her hand on the table. "You're giving me a headache!"

She looked at Madam Fu, her tone icy: "Zuo Qing injured his hand, not his leg. I didn't make him come upside down. Xiao Fang, go and call someone."

As soon as Granny Fang arrived at the entrance of Ci'an Hall, she bumped into Lin Zuoqing and Lin Zhiwei, who had just arrived.

Lin Zuoqing had his left arm in a sling across his chest, and he had changed into a loose, dark blue casual robe. His steps were much more agile than Granny Fang had expected.

The two entered the hall and bowed.

Lin Zuoqing took his seat, but Lin Zhiwei remained standing, not daring to move.

Last time Xu Qianhui fell into the water, the old lady sent someone to the Marquis of Wu'an's residence to ask for help. It was she who leaked the news to Qin Miaoyun.

Although the old lady did not pursue the matter, she was still afraid in her heart.

The old lady didn't have time to pay attention to her at the moment; she was only looking at Lin Zuoqing.

"How's your arm? What did the doctor say?"

"Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. I'm much better now and will be fully recovered in half a month." Lin Zuoqing glanced around the room and asked, "I heard a lot of noise outside just now. Who upset you, Grandmother?"

The old lady scoffed, "Isn't she your good mother! Ask her yourself!"

Lin Zuoqing looked at Madam Fu.

Fu's carefully maintained facade finally crumbled.

She took two steps forward, her eyes red and her voice trembling with tears.

"My son, your grandmother is trying to take away my control of the household affairs. I can't go on living like this..."

Lin Zuoqing didn't respond to that question, but asked, "Mother, what exactly happened?"

Madam Fu wiped away her tears and said, "Your grandmother said your downfall was due to my negligence. And Lin Zuo'an, what's going on with him? One minute he wants to marry Xu Qianhui, the next he wants to marry Miss Qin, and last night he even broke into Chu Yunci's tent... What does their second wife's mess have to do with me?"

Lin Zuoqing frowned, and after a moment, he looked at the old lady.

"Grandmother, the matter of my falling from the horse has been investigated and confirmed."

Several people in the hall looked at him at the same time.

He continued, "Three months ago, Granny Fang arranged a cushy job for her nephew, Fang Changgui, guarding the fodder. Fang Changgui accepted fifty taels of silver from a scoundrel and poisoned his grandson's horse with aconite before the race. The Jingzhao Prefecture has already opened a case, and it is indeed unrelated to my mother."

Madam Fu was taken aback at first, then she suddenly turned her head and glared at Granny Fang.

"You old scoundrel! You brought a scourge into the manor and dare to pin it on me! Tell me, did you conspire with your nephew to harm my son? Who sent you?"

Granny Fang hadn't expected that she would be involved, so she quickly knelt down.

"Madam, you are wise. Changgui has always been an obedient child. How could he... he wouldn't dare!"

When the old lady heard that the matter had also involved Cixi Hall, her face immediately darkened.

"Madam Fu! Little Fang was only thirteen when she married into the Rongguo Duke's mansion with me. Are you implying that I want to harm my own grandson?!"

Fu was no longer afraid or intimidated.

With Fang Mama's secrets in her hands, the old woman naturally had to submit.

She bowed slightly to the old lady and said with a smile, "I wouldn't dare. But since there's been a thief in the house, it's best to find out more details."

This smugness infuriated the old lady, turning her face ashen.

If something goes wrong in your own home, you're not in the right no matter how much you argue.

Moreover, Granny Fang was just listing Fu's crimes, so how could she not take the opportunity to kick her while she was down?

The old lady looked at Granny Fang: "Granny Fang, what exactly happened?"

Granny Fang knelt on the ground, her suffering unspeakable.

How could she possibly know what was going on?

Although my nephew used to drink and gamble frequently, he had never done anything immoral.

Moreover, he usually associates with street thugs, so how could he possibly know someone who would give him fifty taels?

Moreover—fifty taels.

Fifty taels from the district!

How could he dare to do something that would cost him his life?

Fang Ma was furious that the short-sighted fool had earned two hundred taels of silver just by going to the polo match with Xu Qianhui.

If this goes wrong, her entire family might end up in jail!

"Miss, I truly knew nothing about this!" She kowtowed, tears streaming down her face, and said, "I've served you for nearly forty years, and I've watched the young master grow up. Even if it were five thousand or fifty thousand taels, let alone fifty taels, this old servant would never harm the young master!"

She used the title "Miss," clearly intending for the old lady to protect her.

Upon hearing this, the old lady's expression softened slightly, but she did not tell her to get up.

Madam Fu plopped down to the seat below the old lady and sneered, "Granny Fang, your words are baseless and rely solely on your words. How can you gain people's trust without providing some evidence?"

Granny Fang was taken aback.

Evidence? That damn Fang Changgui didn't tell her anything, where would she get evidence?

Xu Qianhui waited a while, and seeing that Granny Fang's lips were moving but she had nothing else to say, she spoke softly.

"Granny, has your nephew told you who he's usually close to?"

Fang Ma suddenly raised her head and looked at Xu Qianhui.

Even Lin Zuoqing's hand, which was about to pick up the teacup, froze in mid-air.

Fang Changgui was useless; he only endured one torture device in the water dungeon before collapsing.

Qingyan initially thought he was faking unconsciousness, so she applied the needle torture again. When she saw that he still didn't move, she checked his breathing and realized that the guy was terrified.

died.

The only way to break through this matter is to focus on the Fang family.

Granny Fang wiped her face; her voice was terribly hoarse.

"That child is my elder brother's only son. He beat his wife to death last year and has no children. If you want to know who he was close to, it was before he entered the manor. He liked to hang out with the idlers in the gambling dens in the west of the city."

Just as Madam Fu was about to reply, Lin Zuoqing spoke first.

"Grandmother, this matter is of great importance. I need to formally interrogate Granny Fang. I hope you will understand."

The old lady frowned slightly.

After a long pause, she said, "You can interrogate Xiao Fang if you want. But what about your mother's argument with her mother-in-law just now?"