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

In the flower hall of the Grand Tutor's mansion, there were several gilded lacquered wooden boxes. Madam Xiao sat behind a long table, flipping through the registers sent by the estate this autumn.

She was observant; she would ask the waiting manager about any place where the rent was two bushels short or any tenant who was late.

Grandpa Qin leaned back in his armchair by the window, slowly sipping his hot tea, as if these trivial matters had nothing to do with him.

Footsteps came from outside the door, and Lin Zuo'an entered carrying two boxes of pastries.

Qin Miaoyun followed behind him, her face still somewhat pale.

She clutched the handkerchief the whole way, only letting it go when she entered the room, her fingertips leaving faint red marks.

When Grandpa Qin saw his daughter return, a smile spread across his face: "Second Young Master, you've worked hard today, even going out to buy pastries with Miaoyun."

Lin Zuo'an handed the pastries to the maid, cupped his hands and smiled, "Uncle, you're too kind. Taking care of Miaoyun is simply what a junior should do."

Xiao only lifted her eyelids to glance at him, then lowered her head to flip through the register, without even exchanging a word of greeting.

Qin Miaoyun bowed to her parents, her voice tinged with fatigue: "Father, Mother, I'm a little tired today and would like to go back to my room to rest for a while."

The smile on Grandpa Qin's face immediately faded.

He placed the teacup heavily on the table.

"The second young master is still in the hall. You're just leaving like that? What kind of etiquette is that?"

Madam Xiao turned to look at Grandpa Qin: "She's been out running around all day, what's wrong with her going back to rest when she's tired? Girls are naturally delicate, how can they compare to you men?"

"She's being immature, and you're being immature too." Old Master Qin's face darkened. "The two children are getting engaged on the sixth day of the new year, so it's never a bad thing for them to spend more time together. If you're not happy about it, you can go and ask the old man for his opinion, don't make a scene in front of the younger generation."

Xiao suddenly stood up and walked out.

Seeing that her parents were about to argue again, Qin Miaoyun quickly stepped forward and took Xiao's arm, forcing a smile as she said, "Mother, please don't be angry. I suddenly feel stuffy in the house and would like to go for a walk in the garden."

She turned her head to look at Lin Zuo'an, about to extend an invitation, but Lin Zuo'an took a half step back first.

"Miss Qin, please rest assured." He said very sincerely, "The autumn imperial examination is approaching, and I have a few essays that I am not sure about. I would like to visit the Grand Tutor and ask him for some guidance."

He knew that he had not yet fully gained Qin Miaoyun's forgiveness, and at this moment he had to retreat in order to advance.

Grandpa Qin's face regained its satisfaction: "That's true. If you pass the imperial examination in the autumn and have your father's guidance, you'll definitely be on the list in the spring next year."

Lin Zuo'an humbly accepted, bowed to Xiao Shi and Qin Miaoyun, and took his leave.

Qin Miaoyun stood there, watching his back as he left the flower hall, but the anger in her heart did not dissipate in the slightest.

After Lin Zuo'an left, Grandpa Qin said he had made an appointment with a friend for tea and wouldn't be back for dinner.

After he walked away, Madam Xiao held Qin Miaoyun's cold hand, her eyes filled with heartache.

"My dear daughter, what are you thinking? You and the second young master are not yet engaged, so there is still room for negotiation. If you really don't like him anymore, your mother will swallow her pride and refuse this marriage for you."

Mentioning this, Qin Miaoyun sighed, her face showing a sense of melancholy.

"Mother, he said he was so drunk that day that he had no idea what he did. He also said he would never touch a drop of alcohol again and would never do it again."

She paused, her fingertips slowly tightening the corner of the handkerchief: "Logically, I should believe him. But for some reason, I just feel uncomfortable. And with Father pressuring me like this, I'm really distressed."

Madam Xiao pulled her down to sit, and said earnestly, "Daughter, although what you see with your own eyes may not be true, we can't gamble your whole life on that one possibility. A woman's marriage is like being reborn. What will you do if he truly harbors ulterior motives?"

Qin Miaoyun's eyes instantly reddened.

She threw herself into Xiao's arms: "But I love him. Mother, I fell in love with him the moment I saw him. He's so brave and so affectionate. He's always been so considerate of me. I just can't bear to part with him..."

Ms. Xiao held her daughter, her eyes reddening with heartache.

"Alright, alright, if you really like him, then marry him! If he ever dares to have any ulterior motives, I'll stand up for you!"

Qin Miaoyun cried for a long time before finally raising her head, sobbing.

"Mother, Father forced me to go out just now, and I happened to run into General Chu and Xu Qianhui on the way. I felt wronged and sad at that moment, so I secretly waved my handkerchief at them..."

Madam Xiao wiped away her tears and said, "She comes from a humble family, so it's quite an achievement that she managed to get on the good side of General Chu. Now that she has a place to belong and is favored by the princess, it's fine for her to be on good terms with her. But don't be like Lin Zhiwei, who always kicks everyone she meets."

......

In the side courtyard of Ci'an Hall, Xu Qianhui had just picked up her teacup when she suddenly sneezed twice in a row.

She rubbed the tip of her nose and muttered softly, "I wonder who's been talking about me behind my back."

Before the tea was even tasted, a young maid rushed in in a panic.

"Miss, the old lady requests your immediate presence."

Xu Qianhui was stunned.

In the few days since I entered the manor, the old lady has never taken the initiative to look for me. What's wrong with her today?

She put down her teacup and asked, "Is the old lady feeling unwell?"

The young maid, unaware of the deeper meaning, stammered, "No, no, it's Granny Fang! Granny Fang is dead!"

Xu Qianhui's eyes darkened, and without saying anything more, she quickly went to Ci'an Hall.

Inside Ci'an Hall.

The old lady leaned against the soft pillows, her expression sorrowful.

Lin Zuoqing sat at the lower end without saying a word.

Upon seeing Xu Qianhui enter, the old lady tremblingly reached out her hand to her: "Hui'er, Xiao Fang... she's gone."

These words seemed to have exhausted all her strength; as soon as she finished speaking, she collapsed onto the soft pillow.

Xu Qianhui quickly stepped forward to support her and patted her chest.

"Madam, please calm down and don't hurt yourself for the sake of others." She asked softly, "You were perfectly fine yesterday, how could something suddenly happen to you?"

Lin Zuoqing stood up, leaning on the edge of the table, as if unwilling to listen any longer: "Since Grandmother has someone to keep her company, I will take my leave now."

"Don't leave." The old lady suddenly looked up at him. "Xiao Fang has been with me for forty years. Do you think you can just say 'accident' and that's it?"

Lin Zuoqing frowned slightly: "I've already said that no one tortured Granny Fang. Like Fang Changgui, she died from a sudden heart attack. The Jingzhao Prefecture examined the body and found no poisoning or hidden injuries."

He paused, then continued, "She's old; no one could have predicted something like this would happen."

Xu Qianhui understood the whole story, but dared not agree.

Although Granny Fang was old, she was always in good health.

She was so terrified at the polo match and she was fine, how could she have scared herself to death?

Moreover, judging from Granny Fang's expression yesterday, she knew nothing about the details of Lin Zuoqing's fall from his horse, and there was no indication that she committed suicide out of fear of punishment.

That death was too coincidental, and too swift.

Xu Qianhui suppressed her doubts and gently advised, "Madam's health is of utmost importance; please don't be too distressed. If you want to get to the bottom of this, why not have a coroner examine Fang Mama's body again?"

"Alright! Hui'er, go and fetch them for me." The old lady gripped her hand, her knuckles trembling violently. "I want to see who dares to touch my people!"

Lin Zuoqing said calmly, "She just returned to the capital not long ago, how could she know any coroners?"

Coroner...?

Xu Qianhui smiled and said, "Madam, I happen to know someone like that."

Moreover, they are very experienced.