Fear of death by poisoning flashed in Madam Feng's eyes upon hearing this.
Zhong Li cast a glance at her and said, "Madam Feng, if you don't believe me, you can ask Miss Tian. Her reputation precedes her in Jin City, and she must surely know of this substance."
Called upon, Tian Lianxue looked up at Madam Feng and nodded, "Indeed, the girls in the Lipin Building do consume it. Its efficacy is primarily due to its potent medicinal properties and quick results. However, it has a drawback: if the dosage is not controlled properly, consuming too much can indeed lead to death."
As soon as she finished speaking, Madam Feng became restless. She hurried to the cosmetic box behind her, took out a prescription from a small drawer, and handed it to Zhong Li, saying, "Young master, could you please examine it for any issues?"
Zhong Li took it and looked at the herbal formula and dosages. "As expected, this prescription does contain Lipin."
"Then what shall we do?" Madam Feng, having lost all her previous hysteria, looked at Zhong Li pleadingly.
"May I ask, Madam Feng, who wrote this prescription?" Zhong Li inquired.
Madam Feng's lips parted as if to speak, but she seemed to reconsider. Her eyes darted around before she said, "Young master, does it matter who wrote it? Is it possible that knowing the author will help me recover?"
"Not necessarily," Zhong Li replied with a slight smile. "I was merely asking. Please do not be agitated, Madam Feng."
Madam Feng remained silent.
"However, could you temporarily entrust this prescription to my safekeeping?"
Madam Feng raised an eyebrow, a flicker of suspicion in her eyes.
"If Madam Feng wishes to live, I must thoroughly study this prescription and find the corresponding method. I will return it to you in two days, is that acceptable?" Zhong Li explained.
Madam Feng pondered for a moment, finding Zhong Li's words somewhat reasonable. She nodded, "Then I shall temporarily entrust this prescription to your care."
Zhong Li gave Madam Feng a faint smile, folded the prescription, and tucked it into his sleeve.
"However, speaking of which," Madam Feng said, taking a sip of the clear tea on the table and thinking for a while, "why are you helping me?"
Zhong Li paused his movement to turn and met Madam Feng's gaze, which was full of questions.
"A little while ago, I learned of Madam Feng's situation from Miss Tian. I also felt that you were compelled by circumstances, and seeing that you are so young and might fade away prematurely, I felt a pang of pity and decided to offer some assistance."
"So that's how it is," Madam Feng said, her doubts completely dispelled. "I didn't realize Young Master Zhong was also a tender and considerate person."
With that, Madam Feng waved her hand, signaling Zhong Li that he could leave, and turned to head towards her chamber.
By the time Zhong Li and Tian Lianxue emerged from Madam Feng's room, it was past noon.
Having learned from Madam Feng's experience, Tian Lianxue was much more subdued and no longer spoke of Madam Feng as a murderer to everyone she met.
As the two arrived at the entrance of the courtyard belonging to Madam Fu, the first wife of the Li family, Zhong Li gave Tian Lianxue a few instructions and then followed Xiao Qian, Madam Fu's maid, into the courtyard.
"Heh heh, Your Highness, you jest. I am hardly as beautiful as Your Highness claims. If I were, I would not have married into the Li family and would not still be confined to this humble Suqing County."
"Madam, there is no need for false modesty. I speak what I see."
"Heh heh, Your Highness, please do not tease me."
...
As Zhong Li entered the courtyard, he heard the tinkling laughter of women emanating from within. Without a doubt, he knew what Lu Wuxie was up to.
He skirted around the moon-shaped gate and saw Lu Wuxie sitting in the pavilion, gazing into the distance at the red carp in the pond. Facing him was Madam Fu, the principal wife of Li Kun.
Madam Fu covered her mouth, her eyes curving into a smile, and gazed at the man opposite her with a flirtatious air, like a young maiden overcome by infatuation upon seeing her beloved.
Zhong Li finally understood how Lu Wuxie charmed women: he spoke the grandest lies with the most vacant, perfunctory gaze.
However, normally his behavior would be acceptable, but today, with Li Kun's body barely cold, what was he trying to achieve with this?
Unable to bear it any longer, Zhong Li cleared his throat.
As expected, Madam Fu was jolted from her reverie. She quickly withdrew her smile and feigned to cover her face, sobbing softly.
Lu Wuxie seemed to know who had arrived. Without even looking, he placed the cup in his hand on the table.
"Your Highness," Zhong Li walked up to him and cupped his hands. Since he was to act as a servant, he played the part better than anyone.
Lu Wuxie casually raised his hand, and Zhong Li rose. He asked, "Have you investigated everything?"
Zhong Li remained silent, his gaze fixed on Madam Fu, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.
Lu Wuxie followed her gaze to Madam Fu and said, "Madam, this is the servant by my side."
"Oh, so it is Your Highness's person. I thought..."
"He is also from the Judicial Inspection Office... a coroner!" Before Madam Fu could finish, Lu Wuxie continued his introduction of Zhong Li.
"A coroner?" Madam Fu blinked in surprise, her expression becoming incredibly fascinating.
After all, a coroner was an object of taboo in front of someone of Madam Fu's noble upbringing in a prominent family.
Indeed, Madam Fu stood up, her lips pulled into an exceedingly unpleasant smile, and said, "Since Your Highness has your own matters to discuss, I..."
"Madam," just as Madam Fu spoke and had barely moved away from the table where she was conversing with Lu Wuxie, Zhong Li was already a step ahead of her.
Madam Fu's expression turned even more terrifyingly ashen.
"I wish to ask Madam a few questions. After I am finished, Madam may leave," Zhong Li said.
Madam Fu initially intended to refuse, but seeing that Lu Wuxie offered no support and knowing that the Judicial Inspection Office could not be offended, she could only brace herself and say, "Coroner Zhong, please proceed."
Zhong Li glanced at Madam Fu, unconcerned with how she addressed him, and asked, "May I ask, Madam, how many times did Lord Li visit your separate residence in a month?"
Madam Feng had expected Zhong Li to ask if Lord Li had offended anyone, but she never anticipated such a personal question.
Her already unpleasant face was now overlaid with a layer of frost. "What does Coroner Zhong mean by this? Instead of properly investigating my husband's case, you are asking such private matters. I regret to say I cannot disclose this."
With that, Madam Feng flicked her sleeve, preparing to leave.
Zhong Li, having anticipated her move, stood at the pavilion entrance, blocking her path, and cupped his hands, reiterating patiently, "Madam, how many times did Lord Li visit your separate residence in a month? How long did each visit last? Or perhaps, how many times in one night?"
"You..."
Madam Feng was stunned for a good while. She even thought she had misheard, but catching sight of Zhong Li's impassive and stubborn demeanor opposite her, she knew she wouldn't be able to leave without answering. She could only say, "Does this have anything to do with the case?"
"Yes!" Zhong Li replied.
Finally, Madam Feng relented. "Very well, since you wish to know, I shall tell you. However, if the final investigation shows that the outcome has nothing to do with what you asked me, I will involve the Fu family to demand an explanation from your Judicial Inspection Office."
With that, Madam Feng took several deep breaths and said, "Lord Li visited my courtyard no less than five or six times a month. I don't remember how long each visit lasted, only that it was always very late, sometimes even until dawn."
Upon hearing this, even Lu Wuxie, who had been calmly observing with an air of extreme leisure, couldn't help but pause his tea-drinking.
Zhong Li glanced at Lu Wuxie and then continued to look at Madam Feng, asking, "Madam, one last question, does Lord Li distribute his favor equally to all his residences?"