Chapter 123: Confrontation at the Door

The subordinates swiftly dragged the cook and the maid away, leaving them no opportunity for further plea or defense. Bai Shengyun turned to glance at Xie Yingying and Bo Meng, who stood to the side, ultimately deciding not to depart immediately. He stepped forward to inquire about Bo Meng’s condition, and only after confirming that the poison would not pose an immediate threat to her did he turn to leave.

Xie Yingying felt a sense of unease, hesitant to ask outright why Bai Shengyun had come in the first place. The interruption by the cook and the maid had caused her to lose the thread of the conversation, and now, with Bai Shengyun clearly intent on interrogation, she found it inappropriate to intervene.

Bai Shengyun strode out of the house, following his subordinates toward the dungeons. He knew that the cook and the maid were unlikely to be the masterminds; someone else was undoubtedly pulling the strings. The matter had to be resolved quickly to prevent further complications.

Inside the dungeon, after interrogating the pair separately and locking them away, Bai Shengyun sat at the guard station near the entrance, rubbing his temples. He was pondering his next move when he heard footsteps at the gate. Elder Bahu entered, accompanied by Xie Yingying. The Elder wore a faint, amiable smile and greeted Bai Shengyun upon arrival.

Bai Shengyun responded perfunctorily, asking what brought them there.

"I was thinking that since the two of you are to be wed so soon, dealing with these two in such a bloody manner might be quite an ill omen for such a joyous occasion," Elder Bahu said with a chuckle, his intent clearly to mediate.

Bai Shengyun raised an eyebrow, a flicker of suspicion crossing his mind. He found the Elder’s presence—and his insistence on bringing Xie Yingying along—to be a form of subtle pressure, which left him deeply unsettled.

Xie Yingying, meanwhile, had been curious to see the prisoners herself. She didn’t believe the cook or the maid were truly responsible; after all, Bo Meng had discovered the poison before she had even consumed it. Taking advantage of the conversation between Bai Shengyun and the Elder, she stepped toward the cell. The sight of the cook and the maid, bloodied and battered from the interrogation, was deeply distressing. Having seen them trembling and speaking moments earlier, she found the sudden brutality chilling. She glanced back at Bai Shengyun, who remained composed while speaking with the Elder, and felt a sudden, inexplicable fear. While she knew violence was common in this world, witnessing the aftermath of such torture was difficult to stomach.

She walked up to Bai Shengyun and asked, "Why must you use such brutal methods already? We haven't even confirmed who is guilty." Driven by a sense of urgency, her tone was bolder than usual. "Wait until the true culprit is found. Doing this now might only prove counterproductive."

At that moment, Bai Shengyun’s subordinates arrived with a report: they had discovered the footprints of Shen Ruru nearby. Shen Ruru was elusive, and her presence suggested deeper involvement. The subordinates sought instructions, wary of engaging her directly due to her formidable reputation.

Hearing this, both Bai Shengyun and Xie Yingying felt a flare of anger. They realized that if Shen Ruru were behind this, it would be effortless for her to frame the cook and the maid. Xie Yingying hoped for a swift resolution so that her staff could be spared further suffering.

The two soon arrived at Shen Ruru’s quarters.

"To what do I owe the pleasure? My health is failing me today, so I shall remain seated," Shen Ruru said, picking up her teacup with a cold, detached air. She watched them with unsettling calm.

Neither of them could reconcile this composed woman with the image of a culprit. They demanded to know if she was behind the day's events.

"I did intend to," she replied lightly, sipping her tea, "but I did not follow through. I will not lie to you—the pain in my body was too great, so I turned back halfway."

Bai Shengyun frowned. Even if she hadn't acted today, her history of ruthlessness remained, and he was certain she was involved. He realized he could use this incident to his advantage. He had long wanted her gone, and this was the perfect pretext. If he expelled her now, it might cause the true mastermind to lower their guard. He decided to seize the opportunity, using her admitted intent to harm Xie Yingying as the justification for her immediate banishment.