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"Water that is too clear will have no fish." This wasn't the main point Lin Zhiqing wanted to ask about.
Her eyes swept past the steward and looked towards the other maids and old women:
"At what time and where did you see that Nanny Zhao?"
Everyone immediately started speaking at once.
"In the courtyard. She often came to the courtyard to clean these past few days."
"Not only that, one time I wanted to relieve myself, and she kindly offered to watch the fire for me. Now that I think about it, could she have been trying to steal something while I was away?"
"Speaking of which, she did come quite frequently these past few days. I saw her several times..."
Lin Zhiqing noted down these key statements and then looked at Lin Congli.
Her meaning was clear: she had asked what needed to be asked. She had no authority to continue with the subsequent matters.
Lin Congli understood her meaning.
However... he looked at Fourth Master, a hint of suspicion and deliberation in his eyes.
Lin Zhiqing knew from his gaze alone that he was weighing his options.
If the mastermind behind this incident was Fourth Master, he would most likely handle this matter with a light touch for the sake of the Lin family.
This situation was certainly not what Lin Zhiqing wanted to see.
After all, she knew the culprit was targeting both her and her older female cousin. Letting the culprit go would only increase the threat to herself.
Thus, she took a step forward and bowed to Lin Congli:
"First Uncle, although Nanny Zhao is already dead, her actions will have left traces. Please allow me to take people to search her room. We might find some clues."
She wanted to take the initiative into her own hands.
But currently, Nanny Zhao was absolutely the key figure, and her room was under Lin Congli's control.
Hearing this, Lin Congli's expression remained unchanged, but Fourth Master let out a cold sneer:
"Zhiqing, I haven't been around for a few days, and I didn't realize you've become so capable, able to call the shots in the Lin family all by yourself."
Lin Zhiqing's actions certainly didn't amount to "calling the shots all by herself"; his words were a bit severe.
A slight smile touched Lin Zhiqing's lips. Such a reaction precisely indicated that Fourth Master was flustered.
However... she couldn't figure it out. Why had Fourth Master been unfriendly towards her since the very first time he saw her?
Pushing these thoughts aside, Lin Zhiqing repeated her intention to search Nanny Zhao's room with her people.
This time, Lin Congli glanced at Fourth Master, closed his eyes briefly, then simply waved his hand, assigning the task to Lin Shian.
Lin Zhiqing, of course, did not agree, but she really had no say at the moment.
Yet Lin Shian, as if his brain had been kicked by a donkey, actually volunteered to have Lin Zhiqing accompany him.
His reason was that he didn't recognize the poisonous rhododendron and was afraid of missing important evidence.
Lin Zhiqing glanced sideways, wondering what scheme he was up to.
Lin Congli and Fourth Master's expressions were not pleasant, but in front of so many people, if they refused again, the scene would become rather unsightly.
In the end, Lin Zhiqing got her wish and went with Lin Shian to Nanny Zhao's room.
On the way, Lin Shian's baby face looked very unnatural. "Don't misunderstand. I'm not trying to help you. I just want to find out who harmed Elder Sister."
After speaking, his ears quietly turned red.
Lin Zhiqing shrugged and said nothing.
She believed Lin Shian's words. Besides his concern for Lin Yangyang, Lin Shian probably felt somewhat guilty towards her because of Nanny Zhao's death.
She accepted Lin Shian's explanation with a clear conscience. After all, he indeed bore some responsibility for Nanny Zhao's death.
The two moved quickly, and in less than half an incense stick's time,⁴ they found some rhododendron petals in Nanny Zhao's room.
Now, they just needed to ask someone to identify them to know if there was a problem with those rhododendrons.
Lin Zhiqing was solely focused on finding the culprit, walking straight towards the main courtyard without looking sideways.
Looking at the few petals collected in his hand, Lin Shian hesitated, wanting to speak.
After a moment, he couldn't help but ask, "Was this really done by Fourth Uncle?"
Lin Zhiqing's steps faltered for a moment.
Fourth Master had rushed back to the Lin residence overnight. At the same time, Fourth Madam had taken her daughter back to her maternal home. Adding to that, this rhododendron tea brought back from Nanzhao...
Every clue pointed to Fourth Master.
On one hand was the elder sister he had grown up with; on the other was the uncle he deeply respected. Lin Zhiqing knew Lin Shian must be very conflicted.
However, she didn't share these emotions. Neither she nor the original owner seemed to have received any preferential treatment from Lin Congli.
Her steps only faltered for a moment before she continued walking forward.
Without receiving an answer, Lin Shian pursed his lips and followed Lin Zhiqing.
Lin Zhiqing had already set the stage; it was basically impossible for the Lin family to muddle through this.
At this time, Lin Congli acted quickly. A doctor whose ancestral home was Nanzhao was soon invited over.
With almost no suspense, the doctor recognized the rhododendron from his hometown at a glance.
"In Nanzhao, flowers are edible." The doctor's small mustache twitched as he picked up a petal of non-toxic rhododendron tea with his fingers, put it in his mouth, and chewed:
"Not bad, very fragrant."
Then, he picked up a rhododendron petal found in Nanny Zhao's room and sniffed it.
"Doctor, how is it?" Lin Congli was the first to ask.
The doctor unhurriedly sniffed a few more petals before speaking, "This rhododendron tea is made from white rhododendrons. Its stamen contains poison. Consuming an excessive amount can lead to death."
His words fell like a heavy stone upon Lin Congli.
When Fourth Master heard this result, his pupils dilated slightly, and his hand gripping the fan tightened before he began to fan it gently.
This indicated he was somewhat nervous at the moment and was composing a suitable explanation.
Lin Zhiqing caught these subtle movements and squeezed the hand hidden in her sleeve.
This person who harbored malice towards her held considerable sway in the Lin family.
At this moment, Lin Congli's attention was not on this. He was asking the Nanzhao doctor how to detoxify the poison.
This was the most important matter at present.
The doctor seemed very confident, agreeing readily before Lin Congli even finished speaking.
However, he was also an eccentric person, actually proposing that he would not charge a fee for the detoxification; he only asked for the two types of rhododendron flowers to be given to him afterward.
Compared to his daughter's life, Lin Congli naturally didn't hesitate in the slightest.
Watching the doctor leave with Xiao Cui, Lin Zhiqing's gaze was burning.
She had already found the true poison that caused her cousin's coma. She was just one step away from reaching the final truth.
Lin Congli quickly noticed Lin Zhiqing.
He first glanced at the Lu siblings and Jiang Liuyun.
Without Lin Zhiqing needing to speak, the few of them understood Lin Congli's meaning and took their leave one after another.
Only Jiang Liuyun kept looking back, seeming very worried about Lin Zhiqing.
After they left, Lin Zhiqing spoke immediately:
"First Uncle, where is Nanny Zhao's suicide note?"