Yunmeng heard Duoduo calling out for Mung Bean to eat the pastries and immediately grew displeased.
It had always been the custom that servants could only eat what the master left unfinished.
Since when did servants get to eat alongside the master before the master had even had her fill?
Besides, there were only a few pieces of cake left, and Yunmeng wanted another one herself!
When Mung Bean saw that Yunmeng had heard Duoduo’s words, she lowered her head.
Duoduo picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and pressed it into Mung Bean’s hand.
“I am your master. If I say you may eat, then you eat!”
“Besides, I’m not letting you eat for free.”
“You need to taste it and figure out whether you can make it yourself.”
“Later, you’ll be the one to make these to sell.”
Mung Bean suddenly understood Duoduo’s meaning and nodded.
“This servant understands.”
Yunxi noticed what Duoduo had said, and her eyes flickered with thought.
Yunmeng, however, blurted out directly:
“Changle, you’re letting your maidservant go out to sell pastries?”
“Is the Prince of Pingyang’s mansion so poor that you have to earn your own money by selling snacks?”
Yunxi quickly tugged at Yunmeng.
“Your Highness, Yunmeng speaks without thinking. Please don’t take it to heart.”
Duoduo shook her head and looked at the two of them.
“What my father has is his. What I earn myself is mine.”
“I’ve achieved financial freedom. I can do whatever I want.”
“For example, today’s pastries—I wanted to buy them, so I did.”
“Even the pearl flower on Seventh Cousin’s hair—if I wanted it, I could buy it myself!”
Yunmeng muttered in defiance:
“The silver you spend is still the Prince of Pingyang’s money. If I were a princess, I could have whatever I wanted too.”
“Who said that? Our princess doesn’t rely on the prince at all!”
“Our princess treats people’s illnesses, and her fees alone are fifty thousand taels!” Mung Bean defended Duoduo hotly.
Yunmeng’s eyes widened.
“Fifty thousand taels? Don’t brag so shamelessly!”
“You’re just a maidservant. Do you even know what fifty thousand taels looks like? Pfft—so naive!”
Yunmeng couldn’t possibly believe it.
Mung Bean wanted to argue further, but Duoduo stopped her.
Wealth should not be flaunted.
Besides, she didn’t care about such empty fame.
And furthermore, a single conversation with someone who didn’t share her views was already too many words.
“Third Cousin, I still need to pay my respects to Mother. I won’t keep you here.”
“We’ve been outside for a while too. Let’s go together,” Yunxi quickly said, pulling Yunmeng along to follow.
In the study, Xiao Yi was staring at the coachman kneeling on the ground.
“Are you sure you didn’t mistake the information? It was indeed the Fifth Prince’s men?”
The coachman kowtowed once.
“This servant asked repeatedly. Only the Fifth Prince’s coachman came near the mansion’s carriage.”
“Moreover, this servant deliberately listened closely. That coachman’s voice matched the one speaking outside the carriage.”
Xiao Yi pondered for a moment, then waved his hand. The coachman kowtowed again and retreated.
“Yunxiao, hasn’t Ling Yu returned? Have him come see me.”
“Yes.”
Yunxiao left and returned shortly with Ling Yu.
Ling Yu entered the room, beaming with joy, and knelt to kowtow to Xiao Yi.
“Greetings to the Prince.”
“Rise. Have you rested well?” Xiao Yi waved his hand.
Ling Yu stood up cheerfully. “To answer the Prince, yes, I’ve rested well.”
“How are Lingfeng and the others?” Xiao Yi asked, as if casually.
“They’re fine. Lingfeng was so envious when he saw me leave!”
Ling Yu was all smiles.
Xiao Yi’s lips curled slightly.
“What? Living an ordinary life is so hard for you that you’d rather follow me on the edge of a blade?”
“Of course! Following the Prince, even if we went hungry, would still be our blessing.”
“Enough with the flattery.” Xiao Yi cast Ling Yu a sidelong glance.
“Yunxiao can’t handle everything alone. I’m assigning you back to help him.”
Ling Yu grew excited. “Whatever the Prince commands!”
“Good. Now, there’s a task I want you to do…” Xiao Yi lowered his voice and gave specific instructions.
“Be careful. Don’t let anyone discover you,” Xiao Yi added quietly.
“Rest assured, my Prince. I’ll see to it!”
Xiao Yi nodded.
“Tomorrow, take the time to visit all the spots and make a round.”
Ling Yu understood—the Prince wanted him to collect the accounts.
“Understood, my Prince.”
“All right, go about your business.” Having given his orders, Xiao Yi dismissed him.
Ling Yu withdrew, and Xiao Yi turned to Yunxiao.
“How is the investigation into the physician going?”
Yunxiao stepped forward and bowed.
“To answer the Prince, our men have found that the physician indeed had only just arrived at the Tongren Hall apothecary.”
“The apothecary’s manager had not authorized him to hold consultations.”
“On that day, the mansion’s steward was in a hurry to find a physician. The physician wanted to earn some silver, so he volunteered himself.”
“The steward thought Aunt Li’s illness was ordinary and didn’t pay too much attention.”
Xiao Yi fell silent.
Was it truly a coincidence?
Or was someone behind it?
“Assign someone to keep an eye on that physician,” Xiao Yi ordered.
“Yes, I’ve already had him watched,” Yunxiao replied.
“What about the apothecary’s manager and owner? Any irregularities?” Xiao Yi pressed further.
If it had been a simple prescription error, Xiao Yi might have let it slide.
But this prescription was poison—a poison that could wipe out an entire family!
Xiao Yi didn’t believe that this was merely a coincidence.
It reminded him of how someone at the Xianyang estate had ordered the gardener to plant toxic vegetation.
Both were attempts to take his life quietly, without a sound.
A sudden flash of insight struck Xiao Yi’s mind.
“Have someone investigate whether this apothecary has had any contact with anyone in the palace.”
“Whether it’s the physician, the owner, or the manager—investigate them all!”
Xiao Yi had thought of a possibility, and it made his blood almost freeze.
Yunxiao looked up in surprise at Xiao Yi.
He saw that Xiao Yi’s face was ashen.
The hand resting on the table was clenched tightly into a fist.
“Yes, I’ll see to it immediately!”
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Yunxiao hurried off to arrange his men.
Xiao Yi clenched his fist even tighter.
He could feel some vast, invisible net closing in around him.
Now, he seemed to have glimpsed a clue to it.
From the poisoning in the palace long ago, to the toxic plants in the Xianyang mansion, to the poisonous prescription…
Xiao Yi was certain that these were all the work of the same hand.
Who was the puppet master?
Was it a brother competing for the throne, or a palace consort scheming for her son?
Or was it the emperor himself, with his supreme power?
Xiao Yi’s nails dug deeply into his palms.
On the other side, Mung Bean opened a heavy coin purse.
When she saw the copper coins inside, her face showed disbelief.
“Shitou, did you sell all the pastries?”
“Is this all the earnings?”
Shitou shook his head. “The pastries are all sold.”
“But these copper coins are what Lady Li gave you after taking her half.”
Duoduo grabbed Mung Bean’s hand, overjoyed.
“Mung Bean! Congratulations! You’ve earned money again!”
Mung Bean looked at Duoduo, her eyes reddening, and tears began to fall.
