Chapter 385 Interrogation

Chapter 385: Interrogation

"My boy, what has happened to you?"

"Er Lang, where does it hurt? What is that you're drinking? Are you feeling any better?"

"Yu'er, my Yu'er, you're worrying your mother to death!"

"Meng Fulang, what exactly is going on here? How could someone poison them out of the blue?" a lady asked, clutching her child, her voice trembling, her eyes full of fear.

Meng Wan gave them a solemn bow. "This is indeed the Song family's fault for dragging the young masters into this. Today is the Song family's happy day, and we meant to invite you all to share in the joy. But unexpectedly, a villain slipped into the banquet. Fortunately, my son is skilled in the healing arts and was able to save the young masters. A few more doses of medicine, and the toxins will be fully flushed from their systems."

A lady in an indigo gown wiped away her tears, her voice choked with sobs: "Meng Fulang makes it sound so easy—this is poison, for heaven's sake! If we'd discovered it any later, our children..." As she spoke, her body went limp, and she nearly collapsed, if the maid beside her hadn't caught her in time.

Hongcao Courtyard was quiet and secluded, with a small gate just outside the courtyard wall. Meng Wan could faintly hear the bailiffs talking with the servants guarding the door. He figured the time was about right, so he composed himself and calmly reassured the ladies: "Ladies, please wait in peace. Whether it's the poisoner or the mastermind behind this, I will find them and give you all an explanation."

The women exchanged glances, all of them feeling helpless. Their sons had been caught in the crossfire through no fault of their own, but since they had to rely on the Song family's eldest son to cure the poison, they didn't make a fuss and stayed to look after their children.

Meanwhile, Chu Ci had already checked everything edible in the room, finally detecting the poison in a pot of silver ear and lotus seed soup.

The children had been given the medicine, and the poison had temporarily subsided. Since these were all women's quarters, Chu Ci didn't think it proper to stay long. Leaving Chi Yu and Zhu Yan with Zhu Sha to keep an eye on A Yan, Meng Wan led Chu Ci out of Hongcao Courtyard.

Gui Qian came out of the side room, holding a piece of paper that he handed to Meng Wan. "Fulang, all the outside servants from Hongcao Courtyard and the old lady's courtyard have been questioned. Their backgrounds and names are all written on this paper. I even dared to ask the Wu family's people a few questions. Luckily, the Wu family is sensible and didn't take offense."

"The Wu family are our own people. Asking a few questions is just to be safe—they won't think twice about it."

Meng Wan took the list and gave it a quick once-over. "The number of servants with each lady in the courtyard all checks out."

Gui Qian replied, "All accounted for, not one missing. They can all vouch for each other—no one was alone at any point."

Everyone on the list had a clear background—all with names and known origins.

As they left Hongcao Courtyard, Chu Ci, who had been examining the soup, suddenly stopped and signed to Meng Wan: "A Yan and the others were poisoned with a brew made from viper venom, monkshood, and veratrum—not all that rare, but not something an ordinary doctor could brew up. If the poison isn't countered quickly, it will work its way through the organs one by one, and even if the poison is later suppressed, it will damage their core health."

The underlying meaning was: if Chu Ci hadn't happened to be in the household, even if the children were saved, they might end up with lifelong health problems. Since this happened at the Song residence, even if the culprit is found, wouldn't the parents, seeing their children sickly for years to come, hold a grudge against the Song family?

Chu Ci had actually sensed the poison's nature while inside the room, but with so many people around, and the chance that a maidservant might understand sign language, he didn't say anything to avoid trouble.

Meng Wan felt a chill run down his spine. Given the situation today, the kitchen would have been hard to get to—the most likely place to tamper with the food was along the delivery route.

The poisoner couldn't know which dish or bowl of rice A Yan would use, so they poisoned an entire table of children—yet without killing them on the spot. This was even more vicious than killing them outright. It showed this wasn't an act of momentary spite but a premeditated scheme, deliberately designed to make the Song family offend everyone.

Meng Wan was not afraid of offending people, but how one offended them was another matter entirely.

The Song residence had three kitchens: the main kitchen in the central courtyard, the rear courtyard kitchen used by Chang Jinhua, and a small new kitchen in the eastern courtyard that had not been used. Today's wedding banquet primarily used the main kitchen for the main dishes, while the rear kitchen prepared soups and desserts.

After leaving Hongcao Courtyard, Meng Wan led Chu Ci and Gui Qian straight to the rear kitchen. Inside, a commotion was underway—the people borrowed from Nie Zhiyao huddled meekly in a corner, while the hired cooks from the restaurant and those borrowed from the Zhongyi Marquis Residence glared angrily at Gui Cheng and his men, who had surrounded the kitchen and refused to let anyone leave.

"We've finished preparing the banquet according to the rules—what right do you fellows have to hold us here?"

"Exactly! We're not servants of the Song family—we were hired to cook! What gives you the right to keep us?"

"Our master is the Marquis Zhongyi! Who does the Song family think they are to block us!"

Meng Wan's footsteps paused outside the kitchen door just as he heard these words. He stopped for a moment, then walked in with an expressionless face. Gui Cheng, who was blocking the entrance, immediately stepped aside with his men.

"Whoever spoke just now, step forward."

Meng Wan's light, casual words instantly silenced the noisy kitchen. The few who had been pushing against Gui Cheng at the front all retreated in unison.

"Did you not hear me? Or is it hard to say?"

Silence fell all around. The firewood beneath the stoves had long since burned out, the last wisps of red glow extinguished. Meng Wan swept his gaze across everyone present, carrying an invisible pressure—those who met his eyes instinctively shrank back.

Finally, someone could bear the pressure no longer and hesitantly stepped forward. It was an old woman in her fifties, the pastry chef from the Zhongyi Marquis Residence's dessert kitchen. "Meng Fulang, this old servant didn't mean it that way. It's just that only a few juniors remain at the residence, and I feared the food wouldn't suit the master's tastes. I was anxious to return, so I... I... spoke without thinking..."

Under Meng Wan's gaze, her voice grew softer and softer.

Meng Wan's eyes were cold. He naturally understood that this old woman was reminding him that they were people of the Zhongyi Marquis Residence.

"There's no need for you to use the Zhongyi Marquis Residence to pressure me. Now that a villain has appeared in our Song residence, we are keeping you here for questioning. As for the Zhongyi Marquis's Lady—I will speak to her myself. All you need to do is tell me everything you know, plainly and completely. If anyone stumbles or hesitates, I will have them bound and delivered to the Shuntian Prefecture immediately. You all know what office my husband holds—if the Prefecture isn't enough, there's always the Ministry of Justice's prison waiting."

Meng Wan barked one final cold command: "Do you understand?"

The kitchen staff was so frightened they scarcely dared to breathe. The old woman who had misspoken earlier, already trembling from Meng Wan's cold interrogation, went weak in the knees and fell to the ground with a thud, her throat quivering. "Yes... this old servant understands."

At her fall, the others followed suit like dumplings being dropped into a pot, kneeling one after another. "This servant/this one understands."

Meng Wan shot a glance at Gui Qian, who placed the silver ear and lotus seed soup brought from Hongcao Courtyard onto the table in the center of the kitchen. "Who made the silver ear and lotus seed soup for today's banquet?"

A short, stout middle-aged man crawled forward a few steps on his knees. "To answer Meng Fulang, this one made it." He was a chef hired from the restaurant. Though his face showed timidity and unease, there was no guilt or fear in his eyes.

Meng Wan studied him quietly for a moment, then asked, "How many pots did you make in total?"

The middle-aged man excelled at soups. Today's banquet had two soup dishes per table, so he had only made the silver ear and lotus seed soup along with another silver-thread fish broth. When Meng Wan asked, he answered without hesitation: "Seven pots in total—three for the front courtyard, four for the rear."

Meng Wan told him to step over to Gui Qian, who would question him in detail about his background. The morning's cooking could be verified separately. He then asked the others, "Who carried this soup dish to Hongcao Courtyard?"

Each banquet table had sixteen dishes. Fortunately, the rear kitchen staff only handled soups, desserts, and wine, so they had a clear picture. After Meng Wan spoke, a maidservant of sixteen or seventeen stepped forward. "Meng Fulang, it was... this servant."

She was a maid from Nie Zhiyao's household, named Doukou, a second-rank maidservant in the Hui'en Earl Residence. She was known for her composure and was not usually tasked with menial work like serving tea and water—Nie Zhiyao had carefully selected her to lend to Meng Wan.

Meng Wan pressed further: "Before you took it from the stove, did anyone else handle it? And did it arrive at the table in Hongcao Courtyard without incident?"

Doukou knelt before Meng Wan, her heart fluttering with anxiety at the question. She thought carefully for a moment before replying: "This servant watched Master Wang in the kitchen as he prepared the soup. The dish was plated and ladled without passing through anyone else's hands. Master Wang divided it into six soup tureens, and this servant and several other maids each carried two. This servant delivered one to the old lady's courtyard, then one to Hongcao Courtyard. It never left my hands along the way."

After Doukou spoke, several other maids and pages came forward to vouch for her. Though they had parted ways after leaving the kitchen, they had walked part of the journey together and indeed had not seen her tureen leave her hands.

Meng Wan's expression remained impassive. Neither Doukou nor Master Wang, who had made the soup, seemed to be lying. Moreover, they were too conspicuous—had they been the culprits, it would have been impossible to hide so easily.

"Think more carefully. On your way to Hongcao Courtyard, did you encounter anyone? Or notice anything seemingly insignificant?"

Doukou had no choice but to think again. She rested her left hand atop her right, absently rubbing it, when she suddenly paused. Hesitantly, she raised her right hand for Meng Wan to see. "This servant did encounter a little maidservant who seemed lost. When I pointed her the way, I was holding the soup tureen with one hand and it wobbled—a few drops of hot soup splashed out and burned the back of my hand."

There were indeed several small red spots on the back of her hand, still unhealed.

Meng Wan's eyes darkened slightly. "Gui Cheng, guard the kitchen here. No one in or out. Gui Qian, have all the names on the roster been accounted for? Let's go."

Gui Qian came over with the register. "Fulang, all accounted for—not one missing, no suspicious persons."

Meng Wan already knew the kitchen staff were likely not the problem, but he still took the list and read it over, then called for Doukou to come with them.

"Meng Fulang, this servant encountered the person right here." Doukou stood not far from the gate of Hongcao Courtyard.

Hongcao Courtyard was at the westernmost edge of Chang Jinhua's compound, not far from the kitchen—just around a corner and a short walk. Being at the very edge of the residence, two beautifully shaped ginkgo trees stood against the wall. The spring sun was just warming up, and the new buds on the ginkgo trees had already grown into small leaves, lush and full.

Meng Wan looked up at the spring greenery, a flicker passing through his eyes. "Isn't Xue Sheng stationed outside the small gate? Call him over—have him climb the tree and take a look."

At the main courtyard's opera stage, the atmosphere had been lively and cheerful, but suddenly several of the comfortably seated ladies rose and departed. Those remaining began to feel uneasy and suspicious, a vague sense of disquiet settling over them. A few were itching to leave, planning to take their leave once Meng Wan returned.

As they watched, Meng Wan approached with twenty-odd servants in tow, his bearing so menacing that the guests found themselves at a loss for words.

It was clear something had gone wrong in the Song household, and judging by Meng Fulang's demeanor, this wouldn't blow over easily.

Everyone's first instinct was to glance at Shen Second Lady, for she had already caused a scene at Prince Qin's residence, behaving like a shameless barbarian. They suspected she had done something at the Song wedding feast to provoke Meng Fulang's wrath.

"Why are you all staring at me?" Shen Second Lady noticed the prying glances and immediately knitted her brows and shot back a glare.

Beside her, Shen Third Miss tugged at her sleeve. "Aunt."

Though still unmarried and of marriageable age, Shen Second Lady, that crude woman, actually heeded her junior's word. She withdrew her gaze, muttered a few complaints, and sat back down obediently to watch the opera.

Gui Qian hurried to the base of the stage and exchanged a few words with the Troupe Head. The strains of the sanxian and flute ceased abruptly, and the haunting, meandering singing gradually faded into silence.

Chang Jinhua had been seated at the very front beside Lady Zhongyi the whole time. Now she asked, bewildered and uncertain, "Wan Geer? What's the matter?"

Meng Wan reassured her, "Mother, A Yan is unwell and is now in Hongcao Courtyard. Please go and see him."

"What!" The teacup in Chang Jinhua's hand clattered to the floor and shattered. Her voice trembled with urgency: "What's wrong with A Yan? He was fine just now—how did he fall ill? Is it serious? I... I'll go see him at once!"

Meng Wan quickly steadied her. "Mother, don't worry. Xiao Ci has already taken A Yan's pulse. He's taken his medicine and is resting now—he'll be fine."

With Meng Wan there, Chang Jinhua calmed somewhat. After taking her leave of Lady Zhongyi and Princess Qin, she hurried off to Hongcao Courtyard.

Lu Chunfang knew only Chang Jinhua among the guests and felt out of place staying behind, so she followed along.

The moment Chang Jinhua left, Meng Wan's demeanor shifted abruptly, his face turning cold and stern. He offered a slight bow to all the female guests present. "Ladies, you heard what I said to my mother-in-law. Today was meant to be the wedding feast for my eldest son, yet some foolhardy villain dared to poison my second son and the Zhao family's young masters. I apologize for the haste and neglect in receiving you all. I beg your understanding and forgiveness."

Everyone knew something had gone wrong in the Song household, but none had imagined it to be something as insidious as poisoning. A chill ran through them, and they couldn't wait to get away.

Lady Zhongyi stepped forward first. "Who could be so audacious as to commit such an act at a wedding feast? Are the young masters safe?"

Meng Wan replied courteously, "Thank you for your concern, Marquise. My eldest son has some knowledge of medicine. Though my son and the young masters were deeply poisoned, their lives were ultimately spared."

So serious? The Song heir had nearly lost his life?

The guests dreaded being entangled in any dark schemes, and their longing to depart intensified. None more so than Princess Qin, for the Qin princely household stood at a precarious juncture—without real power or connections. She forced a smile. "Since such a grave matter has befallen the Song family, we should not impose further. We shall take our leave now. Meng Fulang need not see us out."

Meng Wan sighed. Behind him, Gui Qian promptly dragged over a chair. Meng Wan seated himself steadily, then raised his eyes, his expression inscrutable. "The culprit has yet to be apprehended. If you were to be caught in the crossfire while under the Song family's roof, it would be a grave failing on our part. I ask that you all remain patient and wait a while longer."