The Marquis's line has ended? The pregnant maid is pregnant again!

Shen Qinghe's gaze inadvertently fell on Fang Yu in front of her, and she looked at Fang Yu with a smile, saying, "Have you told anyone about the information you found out?"

Fang Yu quickly shook his head: "Your Highness, I rushed all the way back today. Normally I would be able to reply tomorrow, but I rushed to give you an answer first. Even if I wanted to tell others, there is no time for that now."

Shen Qinghe believed this statement. "Alright, since that's the case, then you should explain it properly."

Fang Yu nodded. Although the journey back and forth was long and took a while, it wasn't too strenuous for him.

Firstly, the winnings from Shen Qinghe were more than enough, so Fang Yu didn't need to suffer too much on the road. Secondly, he was smart enough to choose the most direct and convenient method.

"As you expected, the Zhuang family physician is not as simple as he seems. When I first investigated in the Zhuang family physician's hometown, I found out that the Zhuang family physician and Wu Xiaoniang are distant relatives."

But I kept in mind what my mistress said about this matter not being so simple, so I investigated further and found that the Zhuang family doctor was an honest and refined man. People from his hometown said he had a very good temperament and was very easy to get along with. He didn't seem like the kind of person who would harm others, much less the kind of person who would harm others for money.

He had served as a doctor in the Marquis's mansion for thirty or forty years with utmost caution. If the Zhuang family doctor was truly greedy for money, then in this secluded backyard, the Zhuang family doctor would be the easiest person to make money.

There must be something hidden about this matter, so I found out that the Zhuang family doctor had a good-for-nothing son who had been arrogant and domineering for many years, and who kept saying that his father worked in the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion.

A few years ago, the Zhuang family physician's son was arrested and taken to the local government office for harassing a respectable woman in the street. Furthermore, evidence of his previous crimes was uncovered. According to the laws of our dynasty, even if the Zhuang family physician didn't die, he would be crippled. However, when I went there, I found the Zhuang family physician's son alive and well.

Upon hearing this, Shen Qinghe's mind raced, and she quickly pieced together some connecting events: "You mean, someone helped the Zhuang family physician get his son out of trouble?"

"Yes. According to the local villagers, before I could even begin my investigation, I found out at a small restaurant on the street that the county magistrate was indeed a minor official of the seventh rank, but above him was a tutor of the fifth rank. And that gentleman just happened to be..."

Shen Qinghe's eyes flickered, and she tentatively asked, "Surname Cao?"

Fang Yu nodded in amazement, completely surprised that Shen Qinghe could guess the general idea just by mentioning the shadow, which showed how extremely intelligent Shen Qinghe was.

"So it was Taozi." Shen Qinghe sneered repeatedly. "I knew that Wu Xiaoniang wasn't the kind of person who could come up with such a long plan. Not only did she bribe the Zhuang family doctor to cover up my pulse and try to hide the fact that I was useful, but she was also thinking about how to make me lose the baby in my womb all the time."

Concealing her pregnancy and then luring Chu Xingge to my private meeting in public—such a series of schemes was clearly not something Wu Xiaoniang could easily come up with.

If any link in the chain is exposed and discovered, the investigation will only trace it back to Wu Xiaoniang, and won't find anything about Taozi!

Upon hearing this, Fang Yu continued, "Not only that, but the servant who deliberately splashed water on you in the garden that I mentioned before, I can't find him in the manor anymore, as I'm not surprised."

Fortunately, you were cautious and vigilant enough at the time, and drew a portrait. I took the portrait and asked many old people in the mansion, and confirmed that they had indeed seen him.

The servant continued his investigation along this lead, eventually tracing the servant's hometown. He learned that it was the nutrition provided by Taozi that bribed the servant to deliberately splash water when you passed through the garden, ensuring you would bump into the second young master of the Duke of Qin's mansion.

Shen Qinghe was not surprised by this incident. After all, she had felt something was strange after the incident. It was indeed a mess at the time, but Shen Qinghe always felt that something had been overlooked. After thinking about it quietly, she realized that no one had caught the servant who splashed the water. So Shen Qinghe asked Qing'er to secretly inquire about it in the mansion.

Qing'er searched several times but couldn't find the servant in the mansion. Sure enough, he had already left the mansion and fled back to his hometown.

Shen Qinghe's gaze shifted, and she asked one last question: "What about the Qin family and Sang Ning?"

"This is the last thing I want to say. Two days before the old lady took everyone to Xiangguo Temple, Sang Ning suddenly entered the temple. It's nothing like what Sang Ning said about her family being destroyed and her fleeing disaster. The timing was perfect, right when the old lady announced that she was going to Xiangguo Temple."

Fang Yu thought about what he had found out and reported carefully: "The monks in Xiangguo Temple are all good people. I came up with a plan. I said that Sang Ning stole things from my house, so I came here to find such a person. The monks then gave me the things that Sang Ning did not take with him when he left."

Among these things, I found a travel permit and a customs pass.

As Fang Yu spoke, he took out a piece of paper and a travel permit from his sleeve and handed them to Shen Qinghe.

Shen Qinghe took it and frowned, but quickly realized, "This is... the official seal of the Duke of Qin's mansion. Whoever can obtain this seal must be an important figure in the Duke of Qin's mansion."

Having said that, Shen Qinghe and Fang Yu already had their answer in mind—Qin Shi.

Fang Yu nodded and meticulously reported all the efforts he had made, leaving nothing out, otherwise it would seem that the young lady had wasted her money.

"Yes. I think that Sang Ning must not be a local, not a native of Chang'an at all. If it were an ordinary person entering or leaving Chang'an for the first time, they would need a travel permit and a pass to explain where they came from, where they were going, where they lived, who lived in their home, and what they were doing.

However, documents like travel permits and customs clearance certificates are usually stamped with the official seal of the local government. But these two bear the seal of the Duke of Qin's mansion, clearly indicating a connection to the Qin family. It's likely that the Qin family arranged for Sang Ning to be brought to Chang'an.

"Suzhou and Hangzhou... are far from Chang'an. It's truly remarkable that someone with such a heart managed to find Sang Ning from such a distant place."

Shen Qinghe paused, her gaze falling on Fang Yu's face, and stopped Fang Yu from continuing. She smiled and said, "I heard that Madam has been released from confinement these past two days. Today is a fine day, and the weather is nice too. Why don't you bring some snowflake pastries and come with me to pay your respects?"

Fang Yu was a little taken aback when she heard Shen Qinghe say that, until she met Shen Qinghe's gaze.

He understood completely.

Truly intelligent people never hold a knife with their own hands.

"Then why did you go by yourself, young lady?" Fang Yu asked.

Shen Qinghe raised an eyebrow. "Firstly, Qin Shi is not so easy to bring down. Qin Shi is the legitimate wife, and three years ago she was favored by the old lady and the lady of the house. None of the things that have been investigated can bring her down."

Since we lack the confidence and means to completely eliminate her, we might as well treat her as a temporary ally; after all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Let's get rid of the person who most needs to be eliminated first, and then we can deal with the rest of the situation gradually.

-

Fu Hua Tang.

"Madam, Shen Qinghe has arrived."

Hongxing reported the news, her gaze falling on Qin Shi in front of her.

Qin paused in her copying of the scroll, gave a cold snort, but maintained a composed smile: "Please. I really didn't expect her to be the first to visit me."

As she spoke, Madam Qin instructed Hongxing to invite the person in. She then put aside the copy she had made and sat back down on the couch, adopting the demeanor of a proper lady.

Shen Qinghe brought Fang Yu in, her eyes, red from the onion fumes, feigning tears as she looked at Madam Qin: "Madam, only now do I realize it was all my fault! I was tricked by others and offended you several times!"

Looking at Shen Qinghe, apart from her red eyes, there wasn't a trace of grievance or disappointment on her face.

Although Shen Qinghe's outfit was not glamorous, and even the colors were not bright or vibrant, making her appear rather plain, Qin Shi's eyes could see through anything good.

She wore flowing moon gauze and shimmering brocade, and the hairpin in her hair was a famous new style from Jinxiuzhuang, understated yet not bland.

She showed no sign of resentment whatsoever; on the contrary, the details almost made the word "favored" burst out.

At least Shen Qinghe could put on an act. Even if Shen Qinghe pretended to be disappointed and heartbroken, Qin Shi knew how much favored Shen Qinghe was.

Whether Shen Qinghe is genuinely pretending or just acting is obviously unimportant.

The important thing is that one doesn't visit temples without a reason.

When Qin saw the tears in her eyes, she smiled and began to act as well: "What's wrong? What's wrong, Sister Shen? Sister Shen is so favored now, who would dare to make our Sister Shen so sad and angry?"

Shen Qinghe feigned wiping away tears from the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief: "There are some things I need to say..."

Seeing Shen Qinghe's hesitant expression, Qin waved her hand and immediately dismissed all the maids in the hall.

Qin's gaze fell on Shen Qinghe's face, and the smile on her face faded slightly. "Now that it's just the two of us, you can stop with this unnecessary pretense."

Shen Qinghe immediately composed herself and said, "I wonder if Madam remembers that before your birthday, the second young master of the Duke of Qin's mansion came to visit you and keep you company."

"I remember. How could I not remember? If it weren't for that time my brother was in the garden..."

At this point, Madam Qin glanced down at the tea in her hand and asked, "So?"

Shen Qinghe cut to the chase: "To be honest, Madam, the reason I lingered in the garden that day was because a servant splashed water all over me, and it was by chance that I bumped into the Second Young Master. Originally, I would not have run into the Second Young Master. It is clear that someone was plotting behind this."

"Hmph. You think I don't know something so simple? You really think I'm just here at Fu Hua Tang every day to cry?"

Qin said irritably, "But I can't find that servant anywhere in the manor. I don't know his name, appearance, or build at all. It's like he just vanished into thin air."

"But I've found out."

Shen Qinghe took out the piece of paper, with black and white writing on it, and placed it in front of Qin Shi: "This is the servant's confession. If you don't believe it, Madam, you can trace the servant's name all the way to his hometown and bring him here to ask him directly."