"If the young ladies can find the real murderer, our Bai family will definitely be very grateful," Lady Bai said. "Now, you are the only ones who have had contact with the murderer besides the murderer himself. We have already sent someone to report to the authorities. Young ladies, you just need to assist the authorities in finding the murderer."
"Does Lady Bai believe us?"
"Although your backgrounds are unknown, both I and Han trust that you did not kill the old master. Also, this young lady is more capable than the coroner. She was actually able to detect that the old master was poisoned. Now that I think about it, the old master's health before this was indeed somewhat suspicious."
"My lady, who was in charge of the old master's meals before this?" Xia Miaomiao suddenly asked.
"Previously it was me. In the last two years, the old master had the second aunt take over." Lady Bai suddenly paused. "Are you saying that the second aunt poisoned him? But she has no reason to do so! The old master dying does not benefit her!"
"This... needs to be verified. My lady, even if it's not the second aunt, she may still be indirectly involved in this matter."
After leaving the study, the four seemed to have a lead.
Only after the four left did Lady Bai solemnly say to Bai Yunhan: "Han, now that your father has died tragically, but the Bai family business cannot be left unattended. From now on, you must stay home and work with Steward Wang to manage the Bai family business."
Bai Yunhan lowered his eyes. "Mother, I understand."
"You are also of marriageable age. After your father's funeral, find a good husband as soon as possible to expand the Bai family."
Bai Yunhan remained silent without replying.
Lady Bai sighed and walked out the door.
She had always known that Bai Yunhan had no interest in business and liked to read. Previously, she did not interfere much, but now that Elder Master Bai had passed away, as the eldest son he had to take on this responsibility.
After the four returned to the guest room, they held another small meeting.
"This Lady Bai is neither greedy nor competitive. She makes a clear distinction between right and wrong. Her speech and behavior are very ladylike," Xia Miaomiao said. "I feel that those gossip about her must have been maliciously fabricated by someone."
"We need to start with this Second Aunt. I noticed her expression was a bit off at the memorial hall today. We should have someone keep an eye on her."
Su Mo had been sitting to the side with her chin propped up, not even listening to their conversation.
When the others looked towards her, they said, "Mo Mo, we'll leave the task of monitoring the Second Aunt to you."
"What?" Su Mo snapped back to attention. "Alright..."
"You can go find Yi for help."
"I know..." Su Mo seemed somewhat distracted.
"What's wrong with you? You seem absent-minded."
"I was thinking... who exactly is Wu Ying? Could he be related to Elder Master Bai's death?"
Sang Li laughed. "You can still think so meticulously at a time like this?"
"Hehe, it's mainly because my thoughts are all on him, yet he doesn't care about me at all! Su Mo has never been so rejected before!"
"It can't be him. His physique is much too different from that assassin!"
"But I feel he's very mysterious."
"He is indeed very mysterious, so you don't need to ponder it. He will reveal his motives sooner or later. His purpose for entering the Bai family definitely wasn't just to heal his injuries."
Sang Li had long harbored suspicions about Wu Ying. He had deliberately come to the Bai residence, though she did not know his motives.
In any case, he was not the killer who murdered Elder Master Bai.
"Hmph, I don't believe I can't get through to him!" Su Mo suddenly stood up and walked out again.
Seeing Su Mo's figure, Xiao Han couldn't help but say, "Mo Mo is bound to fall for a man sooner or later!"
Xia Miaomiao and Sang Li couldn't help laughing out loud.
"Alright, back to the main topic. Little Han, do you know what poison the old master was given?"
"I'm not very certain. I would need to perform an autopsy to confirm. But I suspect the old master was chronically poisoned."
"So it's very likely someone tampered with the old master's food and drink?" Xia Miaomiao said.
"Doesn't that make it obvious that it was the Second Aunt?" Xiao Han said.
Sang Li shook her head. "What Lady Bai said makes sense. The Second Aunt has no reason to do this. She has a daughter by the Bai family and relied on Elder Master Bai's favor to have standing in the Bai household. With the old master dead, it does not benefit her. I suspect she may have been taken advantage of by someone. Let's monitor her first and see what actions she takes."
...
Night, midnight.
Just as Su Mo and Sang Li were about to change and go to bed, someone suddenly knocked on the door of their guest room.
Su Mo opened the door and peeked out, seeing it was Yi.
"Little brother, what's the matter so late?"
"Miss Su, didn't you ask me to have someone keep watch on the Second Aunt? Her personal maid Xia He secretly slipped out of the residence. Big Brother Fang is already secretly following her."
"Is that so?" Su Mo immediately became alert. "Take me there."
"Mo Mo," Sang Li walked over. "Be careful, it's so late!"
Su Mo patted her chest. "Don't worry! I've got a good grasp on the people here now. Not many can beat me!"
Su Mo and Yi left the Bai residence. Fang Qing had left marks along the way. The two quickly caught up.
They saw Fang Qing standing at a street corner, peeking at the pharmacy across the way.
"Hey!" Su Mo slapped Fang Qing on the shoulder, startling him. When he turned and saw it was Su Mo, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Miss Su, Xia He went into that pharmacy."
Su Mo peeked over. "What are you waiting for? Go catch her red-handed!"
After she spoke, Su Mo walked right over.
"...Weren't we supposed to not startle the snake?"
Xia He had just finished speaking with the boss and was about to leave when she saw Su Mo leaning against the doorway with her arms crossed, smiling at her.
Behind her were Fang Qing and Yi.
Xia He was so frightened she staggered back two steps. "You all..."
"Miss Xia He, what are you doing at the pharmacy so late?" Su Mo said with an insincere smile.
Xia He quickly regained her composure.
"Second Aunt wasn't feeling well, so I came out to buy some medicine."
"Oh~" Su Mo let out a murmur. "I don't like all these convoluted schemes. If you don't tell the truth, you'll suffer for it~"
Su Mo stepped forward, wanting to take the ledger book from the counter. The boss immediately snatched the ledger and hid it behind himself.
"Hehe, young miss, a pharmacy's ledger records are confidential and cannot be casually shown to outsiders!" The boss said with an awkward laugh.
"Troublesome!" Su Mo grabbed the boss's arm and twisted it behind his back.
"Ah!" The boss cried out in pain. "You... you robbers! I'll... I'll report this to the authorities!"
Su Mo grabbed the ledger book. "Go ahead and report then! It'd be great if the authorities came to check whether you've been selling medicines you shouldn't!"
"You..."
These sorts of pharmacies did indeed sell some prohibited medicines, so he didn't dare report this.
Su Mo took the ledger book and escorted Xia He out the door.
"What are you doing! Let me go! I'm the Second Aunt's personal maid!"
"Oh, the Second Aunt's maid is supposed to be impressive? Trying to play tricks on me? Take her to that alley!"
"Miss Su, this is..." After all, she was the Second Aunt's maid. If something were to happen to her, they wouldn't be able to explain themselves!
Su Mo whispered into Yi's ear, "Don't worry, just trying to scare her a bit!"
Yi suddenly felt an itch on his ear and uncomfortably tilted his head away.
The two still escorted Xia He to the other side of the alley.
"Still not talking? Then I'll carve four words on your face! I - am - a - clown!"
As Su Mo spoke, she placed the dagger against Xia He's face and pantomimed carving. Xia He was instantly frightened into trembling uncontrollably.
"No, don't ruin my face... I'll talk, I'll talk!"
Su Mo grinned slyly. She patted Xia He's face. "That's more obedient!"
Then she took out her phone and opened up the voice recorder. "Speak."
Xia He looked at the object in Su Mo's hand, also not knowing what she was holding, and stammeringly said, "It was the Second Aunt who had me come here to buy medicine before. She instructed me to tell the boss not to mention it if someone came asking."
"What medicine did the Second Aunt have you buy before?"
"This is..." Xia He's eyes darted around evasively. "I... I'm not too clear either. It's recorded in this ledger book. You can look for yourself."
Su Mo opened up the ledger book and used her phone to take pictures. She flipped through for a while before finding the record of Xia He buying medicine.
"Deer antler glue, herbs to restrain essence, Cuscuta chinensis, yellow essence..." Su Mo read off a few, then realized she had no idea what any of these were. "Just some things? Forget it, take it back for Little Han to look at."
Yi's face turned red when he heard these medicine names.
He had read books with Bai Yunhan, so he naturally knew a little.
Seeing Yi's odd expression, Fang Qing couldn't help but ask in puzzlement: "Yi, what's wrong? Why is your face so red?"
As a martial artist, Fang Qing naturally didn't understand these medicine names.
"Yi, do you know what these medicines are?" Su Mo asked.
"I..." Yi looked at Su Mo, stammering: "These medicines are specifically for... men who have gotten married."
"For men?" Su Mo, as an insightful woman, thought she understood immediately. "Aphrodisiacs?"
"Cough, cough..." Fang Qing was shocked by Su Mo's words. Yi's face grew even redder, and he didn't speak.
Xia He lowered her head with an expression like she wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
"Heh!" Su Mo laughed and didn't care at all. She closed her phone. "I see. First take her back to the Bai house."
Su Mo took Xia He's hand, preparing to leave the alley.
Just as she turned around, she saw two figures standing at the mouth of the alley. It was too dark to clearly see who they were.
Su Mo didn't pay them much attention either. She glanced at them and continued on her way out.
But the figures in black suddenly attacked, rushing at Su Mo. It seemed Su Mo was prepared, pushing Xia He aside and kicking out to block the attack.
"Ah!" Xia He was scared half to death and immediately shrank into the corner.
Seeing this, Fang Qing drew his sword and stood by Su Mo's side.
"Yi, take Xia He back to the Bai house first!" Su Mo threw the account book to Yi and coldly eyed the two figures in black as she took the whip from her waist.
Yi caught the account book, hesitated a few seconds, then realized his mediocre martial arts skills would be of no help here. He had to hurry back and find reinforcements.
He immediately pulled Xia He and ran out of the alley.
The targets of the figures in black were Su Mo, so they ignored Yi and drew their swords, attacking Su Mo directly.
Fang Qing and Su Mo stepped up, each facing one opponent.
After exchanging several moves, it seemed Su Mo already knew who they were. "It's you again?"