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

"Don't panic!"

The old lady slammed her hand on the table, making the teacups rattle.

Her face was deathly pale, but her voice was extremely calm.

The 58 years of trials and tribulations were not in vain.

"Granny Li! Quickly take the young ladies to the east wing to rest. None of them are allowed to leave!"

"Steward! Seal the gate! Report this to the Prime Minister immediately!"

"Cuiping, go and fetch the imperial physician!"

The series of orders were swift and decisive, and only then did everyone come to their senses and start moving about in a flurry of activity.

Jiang Guo'er stood still, without moving.

She stared at Su Yue's corpse on the ground, her gaze deep and somber.

Black blood, bluish-purple lips, and death in an instant.

It's poison.

Jiang Guo'er's mind raced. Su Yue had only been "favored" for a few days.

He just died like that?

Was someone jealous of her, so they took her life?

But today is the old lady's birthday banquet, and the room is full of distinguished guests. To poison someone on such an occasion would be tantamount to having a death wish.

Jiang Guo'er's thoughts were in turmoil, and a chill ran down her spine.

She stopped thinking about it and forced herself to come back to her senses. She turned around to help Granny Li support the noble ladies from various families.

Before a cup of tea could be brewed, a series of hurried footsteps sounded outside the hall.

But among all the footsteps, one stood out from the rest.

Unhurried and unhurried, each step seemed to be on a fixed beat.

Calm, resolute, and carrying an invisible sense of pressure, making people involuntarily hold their breath.

Jiang Guo'er raised her head.

The moment the door was pushed open, a gust of cold wind rushed in, and the candlelight flickered.

Then she saw Pei Yan.

This was the first time she had seen this man in person.

He is tall.

This was the first thought that popped into Jiang Guo'er's mind.

It was much taller than she had imagined; she had to duck slightly to walk in when she stood under the door frame.

With broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a tall, slender figure, his dark round-necked robe was stretched without a single wrinkle.

His face... Jiang Guo'er was stunned for a moment.

His sword-like eyebrows reached his temples, and his brow bones were extremely high, pressing down on a pair of narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes.

His nose was straight and sharp, his lips were thin and pale, and his jawline was so sharp it looked like it had been cut with a knife.

It's really beautiful.

But his face was expressionless, like a frozen lake in the twelfth lunar month.

If you throw a stone in, not even a splash will be made.

His gaze swept across the main hall, without lingering on anyone.

It's a strange feeling. Even though he looked at you, you felt like you were no different from a table or chair in his eyes.

Jiang Guo'er subconsciously shrank her neck.

No wonder the rumors say he has no emotions or desires and is so cold he could freeze people to death; it's no exaggeration.

Pei Yan strode to the old lady's side, bent down slightly, and took her arm with one hand.

"Grandmother was frightened."

The old lady patted the back of his hand and sighed heavily.

"I'm fine, it's just that Su Yue... what a pity."

She lowered her voice: "Yan'er, don't be too sad. There are still a few concubines in the manor; Grandmother will choose one for you later—"

"Grandmother, please go back to your room and rest." Pei Yan interrupted her, his tone calm and composed, showing no emotion.

The old lady opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing more, and was helped by Granny Li to the inner room.

Most of the people in the hall had left, leaving only the steward, the maid, and the stiff corpse on the ground.

Pei Yan squatted down.

His movements were slow, and the hem of his robe spread out on the ground like a rolling dark cloud.

With slender fingers, he pinched Su Yue's chin, turned her face to one side, and examined the black blood remaining at the corner of her mouth.

Jiang Guo'er stood in the corner, quietly scrutinizing his profile.

In the shadows, that cold, hard face remained completely expressionless.

It didn't feel like looking at a dead woman; it felt more like looking at a memorial that needed to be approved.

His brow furrowed slightly, and he gently wiped the black blood on Su Yue's lips with his thumb, then brought it close to his nose and smelled it.

Then he stood up, expressionless, pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve, and wiped the black stains off his fingers.

I wiped it once, then wiped it again, and wiped it a total of ten times.

Jiang Guo'er: "..."

Pei Yan tossed the handkerchief into the charcoal brazier beside him. The flames licked the white silk, and it turned to ashes in an instant.

He didn't speak, but Jiang Guo'er sensed that the man was very unhappy.

It wasn't an overt rage, but a deep and chilling coldness.

The sensation spread inch by inch from his body, causing the temperature in the entire flower hall to drop a few degrees.

Someone made a move on his turf, and even targeted his grandmother's birthday banquet.

This is a slap in the face to him.

Just then—

"Your Excellency!"

Cuiping's voice suddenly rang out, urgent and shrill.

She strode out, her face filled with shock and fear, but her eyes shone with an unnatural brightness.

"Your Majesty, I have just thought it through carefully. Before Suyue collapsed, she drank a cup of tea!"

Pei Yan turned his head and his gaze fell on Cui Ping.

"That cup of tea—" Cuiping suddenly raised her hand, her fingertips pointing directly at Jiang Guo'er in the corner, "She poured it!"

Jiang Guo'er shuddered.

All eyes instantly focused on her, like countless needles piercing her at once.

"Su Yue was perfectly fine before, she only drank that one cup of tea!"

Cuiping's voice grew louder and louder, but when she turned to Pei Yan, it became mournful and heartbroken.

"Your Excellency, I saw it with my own eyes, and I would never dare to utter a single falsehood!"

Jiang Guo'er's mind went blank for a moment, and her fingertips felt icy cold.

Looking at Cuiping's righteous and indignant demeanor, her mind raced.

Why her?

She had no grudge against Suyue, nor did she have any conflict with Cuiping.

But Cuiping couldn't wait to point the finger at her, as if she really wanted the matter to be settled!

Indeed, she was just a concubine who had only been in the manor for a month or two, with no backing or background. If she died, she would be a perfect scapegoat.

Pei Yan's gaze shifted over.

His long, narrow, and deep phoenix eyes were staring at her without any warmth.

Jiang Guo'er felt as if a ferocious beast was staring at her throat.

Her knees went weak, but she clenched her teeth and refused to kneel down.

Don't panic.

Panicking means feeling guilty.

Kneeling down and kowtowing is a way of admitting guilt.

She clenched her hands, which were hidden in her sleeves, her nails digging deep into her palms.

The doll in her arms pressed against her chest, carrying a slight warmth, as if silently comforting her.

Jiang Guo'er stared directly at Pei Yan's chest and slowly spoke.

"Your Excellency is wise. That tea was prepared for the fourth table of guests, and I poured an extra cup and placed it on the corner of the table."

"Sister Suyue picked up the cup and drank it herself; I didn't hand it to her."

Cuiping sneered disdainfully, "Still being stubborn even when you're about to die! You poured that tea, so who else could have tampered with it if not you?"

Jiang Guo'er ignored Cui Ping.

Her gaze remained fixed on Pei Yan's chest, avoiding eye contact but not flinching in the slightest.

"If I wanted to harm someone, why would I use tea that I poured myself in front of all the guests?"

After those words were spoken, the main hall fell silent for a moment.

Pei Yan remained silent.

Those phoenix eyes revealed no emotion, like a bottomless pool of stagnant water.

Jiang Guo'er's back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.