cold clothes

"How do you know?" Leng Yi asked without changing her expression, even though she could tell that Nong Yue might know something.

“Because you disappeared so many times before, and it was Sister Yunqiu who covered for you,” Nongyue squatted down, innocently propping up her little face.

This reminded Leng Yi that Yun Qiu had indeed helped her a lot in preventing her from being punished before, but now that Yun Qiu seemed to have disappeared, she naturally lost her protection.

"I haven't been late many times, have I?" Leng Yi tried to change the subject and prevent Nong Yue from probing into her relationship with Yun Qiu.

However, it was no use. Nongyue was neither stupid nor impulsive, and continued, "I also discovered that you often go to the herbal medicine shop, where you often stay for several hours. You stole poison from the herbal medicine shop before, yet Doctor Xie still allows you to come and go from the herbal medicine shop. That seems a bit strange."

Leng Yi's heart skipped a beat, and a sense of panic was about to spread, but when she heard that Nong Yue hadn't mentioned Yin Jiu at all, she felt relieved. But Nong Yue was quite perceptive; she had noticed even this strange detail.

Leng Yi calmly said, "I started going to the herbal medicine hall frequently after I came to Fengxianglou. Over time, I got along well with Doctor Xie. I only made a small mistake, but Doctor Xie forgave me very quickly."

"That sounds reasonable." Not getting the result she wanted, Nongyue's face darkened, her smile became somewhat forced, but she was still unwilling to give up: "You stole poison once, aren't you afraid Doctor Xie will steal it again?"

"I've already hidden all the poisons." Leng Yi made up a story on the spot. Anyway, Xia Hua didn't know what poisons were. Zhuoyu Pavilion taught everything except herbalism.

“You’ve finally gotten it wrong,” Nongyue laughed triumphantly. “Actually, there’s no poison in the Herbal Medicine Hall. The poison is kept in the torture chamber or somewhere else, not in the Herbal Medicine Hall.”

Leng Yi's expression darkened slightly. "Where did you hear that from?"

“As for Sister Liuxia,” Nongyue didn’t hide anything. Her eyes shone, and she had a look on her face that said, “I’ve finally found out.” She said, “Poison is something that is very well hidden. It’s impossible for it to be kept in the herbal medicine hall. There’s only Doctor Xie in the herbal medicine hall. Wouldn’t it be easy to steal it? So—” Nongyue leaned closer and whispered, “Your poison wasn’t taken from the herbal medicine hall. It was given to you by Sister Yunqiu.”

She remained silent, her face cold and expressionless. She hadn't expected that her seemingly logically sound plan would have such a huge flaw. Why hadn't Yun Qiu pointed it out to her? Neither had Hu's mother.

Nongyue stood up, casually straightened her skirt, and said gently and politely, "Thank you, Ningbi, for answering my questions. I finally understand some things, so I won't need your help anymore."

"Have I helped you in any way? You understand now. Take care. I won't see you off since it's inconvenient for me." Leng Yi regained her composure. Even if Nong Yue knew about her deal with Yun Qiu, it wouldn't matter. She had a feeling that Yun Qiu would cause trouble soon. Even if she settled accounts later, she probably wouldn't find any substantial evidence.

Nongyue could hardly contain her excitement. The sense of accomplishment from knowing the secret made her tremble. She couldn't wait to go to the calligraphy and painting room on the second floor to find Liuxia. As soon as she saw her, she excitedly said, "Sister Liuxia, it's just as you thought!"

Rewind to last night. Ever since she sought out Leng Yi at noon, a mystery had been swirling in her mind. To be honest, Leng Yi's words struck her like a bolt from the blue. She actually dared to mention cooperating with Madam Hu? Had she gone mad? And she even asked Sister Yunqiu how they knew what the courtesan was doing?

Just then, a thought flashed through Nongyue's mind: Ningbi and Yunqiu had some unspeakable secret.