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

Murong Shunshun was slightly taken aback, then immediately grabbed the little doll and stuffed it into the purse at her waist.

She straightened her clothes, draped the cloak over her shoulders, and strode over to open the door.

A cold wind, mixed with dampness, rushed towards us.

Murong Shunshun pulled her cloak tighter, looked at Afu standing at the bottom of the steps, and asked in confusion, "How did they know I was here?"

"That's how it is," Afu replied respectfully. "Manager Zhao went to Songhe Garden to look for you, but you weren't there, so he came to the study."

Murong Shunshun nodded slightly. "Let them come over."

As she stepped out of the study, she saw Steward Zhao standing at the corner of the corridor with Fourth Master Pei Lu.

Afu went over and led them over.

"This servant greets Madam." Steward Zhao quickly stepped forward and bowed.

Pei Lu smiled ingratiatingly, cupped his hands in greeting, and addressed her as "sister-in-law" in a very natural tone.

Murong Shunshun felt a little embarrassed. She had not yet been officially made the principal wife, and Pei Lu was older than her.

Hearing him address me like that made me feel a little uncomfortable.

She nodded slightly and looked at Steward Zhao. "Afu said you made a discovery in the east wing? What exactly did you find?"

Manager Zhao, with a grave expression, reported in a low voice:

"Reporting to Madam, this servant was ordered by the Old Madam to lead several guards to thoroughly inspect the east wing room inside and out."

"As a result, a large amount of charcoal ash from burned firewood and some charred remnants of cloth were found outside the door and under the window."

Manager Zhao paused for a moment and lowered his voice slightly.

"This servant believes that the fire was not caused by an accidental fire in the east wing, but rather by someone deliberately setting fire by piling up firewood and cloth around the perimeter."

Murong Shunshun's expression turned cold after hearing this.

This is consistent with her previous deduction at the fire scene.

"Since it involves arson, we must get to the bottom of it."

Manager Zhao turned to the side and glanced at Pei Lu.

"This servant thought that since Fourth Master works in the Ministry of Justice, he might be able to find more clues, so I took the liberty of asking Fourth Master to come and help."

"Let's see if we can find any clues about the arsonist by looking at the remnants of the fire."

Murong Shunshun then turned her gaze to Pei Lu.

She had a very shallow impression of this Fourth Master.

Whenever something big happens at home and everyone is gathered together, Pei Lu always stands on the sidelines, saying little, like a silent gourd.

All I know is that he is an honest and upright man who has never taken a concubine. He treats his wife and son and daughter very well and is much more stable than the Third Master.

"I had no idea that Fourth Master was working in the Ministry of Justice."

Murong Shunshun's gaze fell on his honest, round face, and she asked politely, "May I ask what official position Fourth Master holds?"

Pei Lu lowered his eyes slightly.

"To my shame, I have no real ability. I was able to obtain the position of Assistant Director in the Huguang Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, thanks to the merits and achievements of my father. It is only a fifth-rank position."

"During my years in office, I have always worked diligently and learned some rules about crime scene investigation and finding clues from the old chief criminal officers of the Ministry of Justice."

"When I heard from Steward Zhao that Qingyi Courtyard was flooded, I was also very anxious and thought I would come to lend a hand and do my part for the Prime Minister."

Murong Shunshun stared at him for two seconds.

"Fourth Master, you're too modest. Steward Zhao said you've made a discovery. Have you found any clues about the arsonist?"

Pei Lu nodded, his expression instantly turning serious.

"Just now, I searched around the outer wall of the east wing to see if the thieves left footprints when they were storing firewood and cloth."

"Unfortunately, even if there were footprints, they were washed away by the water from the firefighting efforts."

"However—I discovered something unusual on the charred branches of those magnolia trees outside the east window."

"What is it?"

Pei Lu raised his head, and a barely perceptible glint of shrewdness flashed in his seemingly honest and unassuming eyes.

"Some butterfly scales."

Murong Shunshun looked surprised. "Scale powder? You were able to detect something so tiny?"

"That's right, it's scale powder." Pei Lu smiled shyly and touched the back of his neck.

"I don't have many other skills, but my eyesight is pretty good. I can see things even in low light at night."

"Moreover, I once saw records of this kind of scale powder when I was compiling local chronicles in the Huguang Qingli Si."

"It's a rare pale pink color, which is quite noticeable when it's on the branches and leaves."

Upon hearing this, Shun Shun frowned, a bad feeling immediately creeping into her heart.

What's the name of that butterfly?

Pei Lu deliberately lowered his voice, "If I'm not mistaken, this powdery substance comes from an extremely rare poisonous butterfly—the Golden Birdwing."

What?!

Murong Shunshun gasped in shock. How could this be?

At the same time, the purse hanging on her waist moved slightly, and the little doll obviously heard the words and kicked the bottom of the purse impatiently.

The big butterfly on Liu Dieyi's sleeve, isn't that a Golden Birdwing Butterfly?!

"Seeing is believing, Fourth Master, take me there to have a look." She made a quick decision.

A moment later, the group arrived at the messy east wing of Qingyi Courtyard, carrying lanterns.

The air still smelled of burning.

Pei Lu led Murong Shunshun to the window of the east wing room, to a magnolia tree whose branches were blackened by smoke.

At this moment, the sun had already risen above the horizon, radiating the first rays of morning sunlight.

The bright, golden light illuminated the entire tree.

Murong Shunshun stood on tiptoe and looked in the direction Pei Lu was pointing.

On the branches that were not affected by the flames, there was a fine layer of pale pink powder with a beautiful pearly sheen.

She stretched out her index finger and gently wiped it on the leaf.

A layer of pink scales immediately covered the fingertips.

Murong Shunshun stared at her fingertips, a cold sweat suddenly breaking out on her back.

The physical evidence is here and cannot be ignored.

But... it couldn't have been Liu Dieyi who set the fire.

Firstly, Liu Dieyi had no motive to abduct Pei Yan's body; if he wanted to do anything, he could have done so on that day in the dungeon.

Secondly, although Liu Dieyi cannot be completely trusted, she trusts Brother Lu's judgment.

"Sister-in-law," Pei Lu said, taking a step forward when he saw her remain silent.

"This Golden Birdwing Butterfly is extremely rare; it's impossible for an ordinary person to possess it."

"I've heard... that Lord Lu once brought a young master from Miao territory to Qingyi Courtyard, and as far as I know, the Golden Birdwing Butterfly only grows in the deep mountains of the Miao region in the southwest..."

"Could it be..." He fell silent at this point.

The sharpness in her words was directed directly at Liu Dieyi. Murong Shunshun's heart was pounding, but her mind was frighteningly clear.

She lowered her thick eyelashes, perfectly concealing the fleeting cunning in her eyes.

When he looked up again, his face was still showing signs of shock.

"Fourth Master is absolutely right..."

Shun Shun's shoulders trembled slightly, revealing the fear that a typical woman confined to her chambers would show.

"This clue is truly alarming! However, this matter is of great importance, as it involves the distinguished guest brought by Brother Lu."

"If we don't handle this well, we might alert the enemy and it could also damage my relationship with Brother Lu."

She looked deeply into Pei Lu's eyes. "What does Fourth Master think should be done?"