Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Hard Evidence

"What are you all doing?"

The sudden voice sent a cold sweat down their spines. They all looked up.

The newcomer stood in the doorway, staring at them with a strange expression.

Zhou Yun’s lips twitched. "I didn’t realize you’d taken up work as a forensic doctor."

Liang Wan let out a long breath. ’What a false alarm,’ she thought.

Cao Danqing looked embarrassed, avoiding his gaze with a guilty conscience.

Zhou Yun stepped forward and glanced at her, rather exasperated. "If even your methods could succeed, I don’t know how many times I’d be dead by now."

Cao Danqing lowered her head.

Liang Wan looked at him. "Don’t blame Danqing. I’m the one who told her to keep it from you."

Zhou Yun raised an eyebrow. "You don’t even trust your savior?"

Liang Wan shot a quick glance at the door. "Now that you’re here, cut the chatter. Make yourself useful!"

Zhou Yun pursed his lips. "What did you find? Did you need to call a forensic doctor?"

Liang Wan held up Chancellor Cao’s hand for them to see. "Do you see this burn on his fingertip?"

Hearing this, Cao Danqing hurried over, her eyes wide as she examined it closely. "It’s really there!"

Zhou Yun frowned. "What does that prove?"

Liang Wan placed Chancellor Cao’s hand back down and had Guan Song restore the coffin. "What it proves, we’ll only know once we go take a look."

Liang Wan didn’t waste any time, simply asking Cao Danqing to lead them to Chancellor Cao’s study.

Cao Danqing had already sent the servants away. Now, with Zhou Yun joining them, they had extra cover and convenience.

Liang Wan crouched down, holding a candle as she searched every nook and cranny of the study.

Guan Song didn’t understand. He wanted to help but didn’t know how. "Mistress, what are you looking for?"

Liang Wan didn’t even look up. "Ashes."

Cao Danqing was a little confused. "What do you mean?"

Liang Wan looked at her and answered with a question of her own. "Where is the household doctor?"

Cao Danqing glanced outside. "He should be here soon."

Liang Wan grunted in acknowledgment and lowered her head to continue searching.

Zhou Yun shook his head, wondering what she was up to.

Suddenly, Guan Song asked in surprise, "Mistress, is this what you were looking for?"

Startled, Liang Wan quickly craned her neck to look. On the inner side of a small end table’s leg, there was a tiny patch of paper ash.

"So one slipped through the cracks!" A flicker of joy went through her. She quickly knelt and, carefully preserving its form, used a piece of paper to collect it. Then she held it under her nose and sniffed gently.

Zhou Yun and the others watched in astonishment. "Is that—"

"My Lord. Madam."

The household doctor arrived and bowed respectfully.

Cao Danqing turned to the household doctor and said, "I’ve called you here to ask about the circumstances of my Father’s passing. Please tell the Great General’s Wife everything again."

The household doctor concealed his surprise. Liang Wan was no stranger to him; she had even taken the master’s pulse once. ’But why has her title changed?’

Liang Wan frowned slightly. After the Grandmaster’s death, Gu Yu had taken it upon herself to change how she addressed her. Once she did, everyone else followed suit. To Liang Wan, it was just a title, and she didn’t know how long she’d be called that, so she never bothered to correct them.

’But for Cao Danqing to follow suit...’

She hadn’t even said anything.

The household doctor said deferentially, "Yes. That day, the old master collapsed in his study. By the time this humble one arrived, his breathing and pulse had already stopped. I did my best, but I was unable to save him."

Liang Wan’s gaze was heavy.

He continued, "According to the servants who were attending him, the master was clutching his chest and had difficulty breathing before he collapsed. I also examined him and found nothing else out of the ordinary, which is consistent with their description. The master did indeed suffer from chest pains."

Liang Wan nodded. "The master did have chest pains, it’s true. Although the condition couldn’t be cured, my understanding was that it was under control. He shouldn’t have had an attack for a long time. Why so suddenly?"

The household doctor was faintly displeased. "Mistress, what are you implying? How can an attack of chest pains be controlled by someone? Are you suggesting this humble one—"

Liang Wan cut him off. "I’m not suspecting you. Come here and smell this."

She handed him the paper-wrapped ash.

The household doctor took it, sniffed, and asked in confusion, "Is this cypress pollen?"

Liang Wan nodded. "Did you smell this scent when you entered the room that day?"

The household doctor furrowed his brow, recalling carefully. "The room was in chaos. This humble one truly didn’t notice."

Liang Wan didn’t blame him; it had all happened so suddenly.

He stared at the ash, his face turning pale. "There would absolutely never be cypress pollen in the mansion. The master had a rash-like allergy to this scent. If he smelled it, his chest pains would—"

Liang Wan sighed. "That’s the crux of the matter. Usually, when one receives a sensitive letter, one burns it after reading. This paper was deviously crafted—it was infused with cypress pollen. When burned, it would smell just like incense."

Cao Danqing snatched the ash, tears streaming down her face. "So someone really did murder Father on purpose!"

Liang Wan said, "The master must have accidentally touched a brazier when he collapsed, burning his hand."

The household doctor shook his head. "When this humble one entered, I didn’t see any brazier!"

Liang Wan looked at Zhou Yun. "It seems there’s an insider in the mansion. This matter needs to be investigated quietly. The servants on duty that day must be questioned one by one."

Thinking of the mysterious Lian Yang by his side, Liang Wan couldn’t help but frown.

"Only someone within the household would know about Chancellor Cao’s allergy."

Zhou Yun had long since shed his earlier nonchalance. He was completely serious now. "Don’t worry, I’ll handle this with caution. Otherwise, all your efforts would be for naught!"

A small smile touched Liang Wan’s lips. "What I’m more curious about now is the content of that letter."

She thought for a moment, then looked at him. "Don’t tell the Empress about this for now."

An unnatural expression flickered across Zhou Yun’s face, and he seemed to want to say something but held back.

Liang Wan left it at that. "Until this is cleared up, the fewer people who know, the better. I wasn’t going to tell you about this originally, but since you already know, I’ll leave it in your hands."

’I’m only getting involved for Chancellor Cao’s and Lu Xiu’s sakes,’ she thought.

With that, she looked away from Zhou Yun and said to Guan Song, "We should be heading back. It’ll be bad if we’re discovered."

Then she looked at Cao Danqing. "Remember what I told you."

"Be careful, Mistress."

Liang Wan bid them farewell and turned to leave, but her foot caught on something. She nearly fell, but fortunately, Guan Song’s quick reflexes saved her, and he steadied her.

Everyone jumped in surprise.

She stood firm and smiled. "I’m fine."

Looking down, she saw... an ink stick?

Liang Wan bent down, picked it up, and placed it on the desk. "I must have knocked it over just now while I was searching."

Cao Danqing put down the paper ash and picked up the ink stick. "This is Father’s Cloud Smoke Ink. When I was little, I used to sneak it away to play with it..."

Her eyes reddened as she spoke.

Liang Wan patted Cao Danqing’s back. "Don’t let the master worry."

Seeing this, Zhou Yun comforted Cao Danqing while saying to Liang Wan, "You should go. Be careful on your way."

After leaving the Prime Minister’s Mansion, the streets and alleys were deserted. Liang Wan’s heart was in her throat, terrified of being spotted by the night patrol soldiers.

「In the South Garden」

Gu Yu and Bai Lu were waiting anxiously. Only when they saw Liang Wan return safely did their hearts settle back into place.

After washing up, Liang Wan sat resting on the chaise lounge in her under-robe.

Suddenly, Bai Lu let out a small, surprised gasp.

"Mistress, why is the corner of your robe so dark?"

Liang Wan turned to look. Bai Lu was holding the clothes she had just changed out of, and on the corner of the robe was a dark ink stain that hadn’t been there before.

"I must have accidentally brushed against the fallen ink stone when I was looking for clues in Chancellor Cao’s study. But that’s Cloud Smoke Ink. Just soak it in cold water for a bit, and the ink stain will disappear."

"Alright." Bai Lu smiled and carried the clothes out.

Liang Wan sat there in a daze.

’...The ink stain will disappear?’

She scrambled to find the letter.

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