Ling Qingwan's breath was weak, and when she spoke it was as if she was only holding on to her last breath, a thin layer that seemed like it would break at any time.
The people standing in front of the bed looked nervous, fearing that something had really happened to Ling Qingwan.
"The clothes in the Marquis' Mansion are all made by the best cloth shop in the city. There is absolutely no possibility of stitches remaining." Ling Xiao frowned and said through gritted teeth.
"Brother, what you mean is..." Ling Chuchu looked at Ling Xiao in surprise.
Ling Xiao pondered for a while, then turned his head and glanced at Ling Shenshi and Ling Chuchu.
"Mother, Chuchu, you guys take care of Wanwan first. I'll go report to grandfather."
After saying that, Ling Xiao strode out of the room.
Ling Qingwan kept coughing, and Qiao'er hurriedly brought some tea and handed it to Ling Chuchu in a panic.
"Madam, Miss, it is my fault that I failed to protect the Second Miss!" Qiao'er had tears in her eyes and fell heavily to her knees with a plop.
She followed Ling Qingwan all the time, and she was able to let the villain poison Ling Qingwan right under her nose. Qiao'er knew that she was negligent, and felt sorry for Ling Qingwan who had just returned home and suffered such an ordeal, so she had to admit her guilt and accept the punishment.
Ling Shen was so worried about Ling Qing being tied up that she had no time to think about anything else. Ling Chuchu waved her hand and motioned Qiao'er to stand up.
"We still don't know who poisoned her, it's too early to convict her now." Ling Chuchu was helpless, looking at Ling Qingwan with pity in her eyes. "Wanwan is kind-hearted and has no grudges against anyone in the mansion. How could someone be so cruel as to kill her?"
Ling Chuchu didn't understand, and Ling Shenshi and Ling Xiao didn't understand even more. In the whole room, only Ling Qingwan had a clear mind.
To be precise, she was the one who poisoned herself.
The second daughter of the Marquis's family had been missing for more than ten years. Less than half a month after she returned to her ancestral home, she was poisoned for no reason. If this matter were to be spread, it would be a loss of face for the Marquis's family. Old Master Ling was extremely fed up with the intrigues and schemes in the backyard, and this time he was afraid that there would be a big scene.
It was late at night, but the hall of the marquis's mansion was brightly lit, as bright as day.
The servants in the mansion gathered in rows on the open space outside the hall. Old Master Ling sat upright, and Ling Feng, who was sitting below him, also had a serious expression on his face.
No one dared to say anything. Even the gossipy ladies held their breath for fear of angering Old Master Ling.
"The second young lady is here!"
Someone in the crowd shouted. Everyone dodged to the sides, and Ling Qingwan was supported by Ling Shenshi and Ling Chuchu on both sides as she walked up the stairs.
Ling Qingwan was wrapped in a thick snow fox fur coat, and when she walked it felt like she was walking on cotton, without any effort at all.
"Wanwan is frail and should be lying down in the house to rest. Why did she follow us here?" Ling Xiao felt distressed.
Seeing Ling Xiao so worried about her, Ling Qingwan felt guilty.
"Since I was poisoned, it would be better for me to be there when identifying the poisoner. This way, the other party will have no excuses and the problem can be solved on the spot." Ling Qingwan raised the corners of her mouth slightly and responded to Ling Xiao softly.
Her words made it clear that she was determined to catch the murderer who had killed her. The family members outside the hall looked at each other, and some whispers gradually emerged among the crowd.
Ren Lingqingwan was already wearing a thick coat, but Ling Xiao was still afraid that she would be cold, so he took off his clothes and covered her with them.
"Have you been out today?" Old Master Ling turned to ask Ling Qingwan seriously.
"In reply to grandfather, I have been staying in the mansion these days. Not only Qiao'er, but my sister can also testify. I strolled with her in the back garden during the day." Ling Qingwan replied in a gentle voice. "And my mother, after dinner in the evening, she summoned me to the Plum Garden to taste the newly made pineapple cheese in the kitchen. I didn't go back until it got dark."
"You said that you found a silver needle on your clothes?" Old Master Ling was very interested in this.
How could he not think of what Ling Xiao could think of? The poison was most likely from this silver needle.
"Yes, after I changed my clothes and planned to rest, I accidentally scratched my wrist and found a silver needle hidden in my cuff. I didn't take it seriously at that time and thought it was the servants' negligence. As a result, I started to get sick at night." The more Ling Qingwan talked, the more mysterious it became, and it was hard for people not to notice the silver needle.
As soon as he finished speaking, Qingfeng walked around the crowd, trotted into the hall, and handed the silver needle he picked up from Ling Qingwan's room to Ling Xiao.
Ling Xiao narrowed his eyes and stared at the needle tip for a few seconds, then turned around and knelt on one knee.
"Grandfather, Dad, this needle is stained with Qian Jue Powder."
This statement shocked everyone present. Everyone was in an uproar and began to discuss the origin of the needle.
Qianjue Powder is extremely poisonous. Using too much of it can be fatal!
"Grandfather, please order a thorough investigation of this matter and give Wanwan justice!" Ling Xiao's voice was firm and loud.
Ling Chuchu stepped forward and knelt down beside Ling Xiao.
"There is someone in the Marquis' Mansion who murdered his brothers and relatives. We must not let the murderer go easily."
Mr. Ling's face was gloomy, and a hint of fierceness appeared on his tough face full of ravines. His eyes were like eagle claws, tightly grasping everyone. He was silent for a while, and everyone's heart was in their throat.
"Who poisoned the second young lady? If you come forward now, I might be able to spare your life. Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude." Finally, Mr. Ling suppressed his anger and reminded everyone present.
Everyone present shook their heads vigorously, no one wanted to get involved in this mess.
"I remembered something." Ling Qingwan frowned slightly, like the sound of flowing water. Her pretty face was stained with a faint blush, which made people feel pity.
Everyone's eyes turned to Ling Qingwan.
"I just thought about whether I have made enemies with anyone after returning home, and suddenly I remembered that I met my fifth sister in a jewelry shop some time ago. Because of the verbal confrontation, I had a few words with her. So it seems that except for her, I have never made enemies with anyone." Ling Qingwan pretended to be innocent and pushed Ling Long out naturally.
"What does it have to do with me?!" Ling Long was extremely anxious and immediately rebuked Ling Qingwan's words. "Ling Qingwan, you slapped me first, but I let you go because you were born in the countryside and acted wildly, and I didn't ask my father and grandfather to make a decision for me. But you are so good, I only knew that you were hot-tempered, but I didn't expect that you are also good at turning the tables and confusing right and wrong."
Ling Long was extremely furious, but she did not yell at Ling Qingwan because she was aware of the hundreds of eyes staring at her.
"Linglong, there is a difference between the superior and the inferior. Wanwan is your second sister. How can you be so bold as to scold Wanwan in front of grandfather and father?" Ling Xiao protected his sister. Before Ling Qingwan could say a word, someone blocked it for her.
"She was wronged in everything. She was right when she slapped me. I think the rules of this mansion were set by you two." Ling Long snorted coldly. "You keep calling her sister Wanwan, and you make arbitrary judgments without knowing right or wrong and join her in wrongly accusing a good person. Ling Qingwan doesn't know the rules, so why do you do that?"
Ling Long was also a sharp-tongued person, and she started arguing with Ling Xiao and Ling Qingwan on the spot.
"What if I have evidence?"