"Eldest brother, eldest sister-in-law, I... I just can't bear to see the two children suffer. My heart feels like it's being twisted by knives. If I had been more careful, the children wouldn't have suffered."
Ling Wan genuinely loved the two children. Seeing them in pain made her heart ache intensely, wishing she could transfer all the suffering to herself.
"Alright, don't feel guilty. You haven't rested properly all day. It's late, and the children are fine now. Your eldest brother and I will stay here. You should go back and rest. Come back tomorrow morning to take care of the children for us."
Knowing Ling Wan's stubborn nature, if they directly told her to rest, she absolutely wouldn't agree. But if they asked her to rest and then replace them in caring for the children, Ling Wan would definitely agree.
"Then I'll go back first. I'll come to relieve you at dawn."
"Good. I'll have Cai Qing bring you something to eat shortly. Go rest after you've eaten."
After Ling Wan left, Feng Jin instructed Cai Qing to add some sleeping medication to the meal sent to Ling Wan, ensuring she got a good night's rest.
Feng Jin stayed with the two children all night. Only when dawn broke and Da Bao and Er Bao's condition stabilized did she manage to get a little sleep.
When Ling Wan woke up, it was already past noon. Remembering her promise to her eldest sister-in-law to relieve them this morning, Ling Wan hurriedly got up and ran towards Feng Jin's courtyard.
By the time she arrived, Feng Jin was already in the courtyard with Da Bao and Er Bao, basking in the sun. The children's condition was much better than yesterday. Especially Da Bao, who giggled when he saw Ling Wan. Er Bao, however, remained expressionless as he looked at Ling Wan.
Ling Wan reached out and held Da Bao, playing with him for a while. Seeing the two children safe and sound, the anxiety in her heart finally subsided.
"Eldest sister-in-law, I overslept this morning and didn't come to relieve you. Please go and rest quickly. I'll watch them."
"It's fine. Your eldest brother watched them for a while last night."
As if to prove her point, Ling Mo Han was still asleep and hadn't woken up yet.
"This subordinate greets Madam and Second Miss."
"Lord Lu." Ling Wan quickly stood up and replied.
"Madam, after interrogation, Cai Yue could not withstand the torture and confessed who instructed Ling Yan to sprinkle this powder on the young master's clothes when Second Miss was not paying attention."
Lu Shi took out a porcelain bottle found in Cai Yue's room and handed it to Feng Jin.
"This scent is indeed the same as the one on the clothes."
Feng Jin had a very sensitive sense of smell. Although the scent on the clothes had faded, she could still distinctly recognize that it was identical to the powder in the bottle.
Ling Wan's face turned pale. The news exploded in her mind like dynamite, leaving her momentarily unable to react.
"Take people to control Ling Yan and bring Cai Yue to the main hall. I want to interrogate her personally."
"Your subordinate obeys."
After Lu Shi left, Feng Jin glanced at Ling Wan, naturally noticing her pale complexion. She sighed softly, "Cai Yue has been with you for so many years. You should stay here and take care of Da Bao and Er Bao. Don't get involved."
"No, eldest sister-in-law, I must go. I need to ask Cai Yue myself why she did this."
Cai Yue had followed her since she was young. In the past, when the second branch bullied and suppressed her, Cai Yue always protected her. Now that life was better, why would she do such a thing?
Feng Jin did not object. In fact, she felt that it might not be a bad thing for Ling Wan to see through some things herself.
In the future, when she married, she would have to face many such situations. Teaching her to see the sinister nature of people now was better than letting her in-laws teach her after marriage.
Feng Jin had already reported the entire matter to Old Master Ling at the earliest opportunity. After all, Ling Yan was a daughter of the Ling family. Even if she wanted to punish Ling Yan, she had to first ask for Old Master Ling's opinion before she could act.
However, after waiting and waiting, for the time it took to brew two cups of tea, Feng Jin still had not received any instructions from Old Master Ling.
Just as Feng Jin was about to order Cai Yue to be brought up, the housekeeper rushed over.
"Madam, Old Master says that Madam is now the head of the Ling family. All household matters are to be decided and handled by Madam. There is no need to ask him."
Undoubtedly, Old Master Ling was handing over all authority to her.
With the supreme authority in hand, Feng Jin immediately felt more confident. She said in a deep voice, "Bring Cai Yue and Ling Yan up."
Feng Jin sat on the main seat, Cai Qing standing steadily by her side. Below them were Ling Mu Zhu and Ling Yan. At first glance, Feng Jin sitting there instantly gave off the aura of a magistrate presiding over a trial.
"Let me go! I am a young lady of the Ling family! How dare you lowly servants insult me like this? Are you tired of living!"
Ling Yan was roughly pushed in, bound hand and foot. A嬷嬷 behind her used a subtle move to force Ling Yan to her knees.
"Feng Jin, you bitch! Why did you arrest me? Let me go at once, or I will not let you off!"
Ling Yan glared furiously at Feng Jin, her eyes seemingly wanting to pierce holes through her.
"You're facing death, yet you're still so stubborn. I truly admire your naive and brainless courage!"
Feng Jin said coldly, then gave a signal to Lu Shi, who was guarding the entrance, indicating that Cai Yue should be brought back.
Lu Shi, understanding her intentions, withdrew and returned shortly with two guards dragging in Cai Yue, who was covered in blood.
Lu Shi and his men had their own methods for interrogating criminals. They would inflict extreme physical pain on the suspects but would never cause fatal injury. Moreover, they ensured that the suspects could still write and speak, thus never delaying the extraction of any useful information.
"Cai Yue..." Ling Wan's eyes widened and her body trembled slightly when she saw Cai Yue's gruesome state.
Feng Jin, who had taken in Ling Wan's reaction, coughed lightly and suppressed her voice, saying, "Cai Yue, repeat what you said before in front of Ling Yan."
Upon seeing Cai Yue covered in blood, Ling Yan visibly panicked for a moment, but she still tried her best to maintain her composure.
"You want to use the one-sided words of a servant to forcibly pin the blame on me? Impossible!"
Feng Jin snorted and took a sip of clear tea, saying calmly, "Did I say anything? Or are you guilty and anxious that the matter will be exposed, so you're hastily denying it!"
"What nonsense are you spouting? Don't try to trick me!" Ling Yan's eyes darted around as she quickly tried to change the subject, on high alert, fearing she might fall into Feng Jin's trap with just one slip-up.
"Then you should shut your mouth. Cai Yue, you tell me, who instructed you to poison the clothes."
"It... it was..." Cai Yue stammered, her eyes constantly shifting, her gaze occasionally falling on Ling Yan.
"Answer me!" Feng Jin said, her voice deepening with a hint of anger.
Cai Yue trembled slightly in fear and quickly lowered her head.