Su Yunmo turned and exchanged a glance with Ye Jingyu.
Ye Jingyu waved his hand.
Qianxue then led Chunju away.
"So there were originally two white sashes," Su Yunmo said, crossing her arms.
Ye Jingyu rose and walked towards the inner chamber. "Qianxue and the others didn't find the other white sash, otherwise they would have noticed something was wrong."
The inner chamber contained only a bed and a bedside cabinet, with a chair placed in front of it.
There was half a cup of tea on the cabinet.
Ye Jingyu looked at the cabinet, a glint flashing in his eyes.
Su Yunmo followed him in.
Ye Yuanlin's suicide was a calculated act, or rather, she had been strangled.
There wasn't much time between her father discovering the fake sash and leaving, and the servants rushing in. There must have been someone else in the room at the time.
That person first tricked Ye Yuanlin into a fake hanging and then, after her father left, strangled Ye Yuanlin with the real sash and hung her up.
"There's nothing," Su Yunmo said, looking around and rubbing her temples. "Since the other party wanted to frame the General's Mansion, they would be cautious and leave no trace."
All they knew now was the 'man' Chunju mentioned who asked her to get another white sash.
"What should we do now?" Su Yunmo spread her hands, out of good ideas.
Ye Jingyu stood still.
"What are you looking at?" Su Yunmo leaned on the cabinet, wanting to take a look.
A thoughtful expression crossed Ye Jingyu's eyes. He turned, walked over, and picked her up. "Let's go back to sleep."
Su Yunmo was stunned. "Go back now? We haven't found any evidence yet?"
Everything was just speculation, and the maid's words couldn't be taken as direct testimony.
"The rest is for adults to handle. What you need to do now is go back to sleep," Ye Jingyu said, tightening the cloak around her and walking out.
"Hey? I haven't finished investigating, hey! Mmm..." The little dumpling's words were cut short as Ye Jingyu pressed his large hand against her mouth.
Qianxue returned from outside.
Ye Jingyu looked at her and said in a cold tone, "Restore the room to its original state, especially the inner chamber. Don't let anyone see that someone has been here."
Qianxue's heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained unchanged. She said in a deep voice, "Yes," and walked into the room.
Upon entering, she went straight to the inner chamber. After looking around, her gaze fell on the cabinet.
There were traces of writing with tea water on the cabinet. Upon careful inspection, two characters could be vaguely discerned: Mo Mo.
Qianxue frowned deeply and quickly wiped away the two characters with her sleeve.
Su Yunmo was lifted onto the carriage.
She straddled Ye Jingyu's lap, puffing out her cheeks and glaring at him. "Are you hiding something from me again?"
Ye Jingyu brushed the stray strands of hair from her forehead that were obscuring her vision. "Children who don't sleep late won't grow tall."
Su Yunmo huffed angrily. "You're definitely hiding something from me!"
Ye Jingyu poked her cheek with his index finger. "Do you still want to save your father?"
The little dumpling's eyes widened. The poke made her exhale the air from her mouth. "You have a way?"
"You go back to the mansion with me and sleep obediently, and I'll let you see your father tomorrow morning," Ye Jingyu said, ruffling her hair.
The little dumpling immediately held out her pinky finger. "Pinky promise!"
This person always kept his word; if he said he could do something, he would definitely do it.
Seeing her childishness, a doting look flashed in Ye Jingyu's eyes. He emulated her, hooking his pinky finger with hers.
The little dumpling recited, "Pinky promise, shake hands, no breaking, for a hundred years," and then happily threw herself into his arms.
Ye Jingyu embraced her, reached for a blanket from the soft seat, wrapped her in it, and gently patted her back. "It's very late, go to sleep. You don't need to worry about anything else."
"Mmm," the little dumpling nuzzled into his arms, closed her eyes, and yawned.
She was indeed tired. She had already fallen asleep when Ye Jingyu brought his men into the mansion, and had been woken up from bed.
Now that Ye Jingyu had promised to help her, the weight on her heart was lifted, and sleepiness quickly overcame her.
About fifteen minutes later, Ye Jingyu felt a weight in his arms. He looked down to see the little dumpling fast asleep.
Her rosy little face was pressed against his chest, her small hands tucked into his chest like a kitten's, and her tiny fists clenched tightly.
Ye Jingyu smiled dotingly, reached out and ruffled her hair, then lowered his eyes and closed them. A cold glint flashed in his eyes.
No matter who was targeting her, he would never let them harm a single hair on her head!
"My lord, it has been handled," Qianxue's low voice came from outside.
Ye Jingyu said coldly, "Hand over the maid named Chunju to the Ministry of Justice, and have the coroner carefully examine the marks on Ye Yuanlin's neck. Write a document and deliver it to His Majesty first thing tomorrow morning."
His father was a smart man and would see that this was a plot against the General's Mansion.
Although there was no conclusive evidence to prove Su Qingtian's innocence, his punishment would be measured and not excessive.
Qianxue: "Yes. Should we send the young lady back to the General's Mansion tonight?"
Ye Jingyu glanced at the little dumpling in his arms.
The little dumpling let out a soft murmur, her small hand clutching his clothes, and she snuggled into his embrace.
Ye Jingyu lovingly patted her back. "Return to the Prince's Mansion."
"Your subordinate understands," Qianxue said, driving the carriage towards the Prince's Mansion.
Upon reaching the mansion gates, Ye Jingyu alighted and carried her back to his own chambers.
Su Yunmo was probably truly tired, as she hadn't woken up during the journey.
Fearing that he might wake her, Ye Jingyu did not wash up. He simply took off his shoes, got into bed, and let her rest her head on his arm.
Su Yunmo slept soundly that night.
When Ye Jingyu woke up on time the next morning, she was still asleep.
Qianxue gently knocked on the door from outside. "My lord, Prince Kun has arrived."
Ye Jingyu changed his clothes and covered the little dumpling with the quilt. "Is something wrong?"
Qianxue paused. "He heard about the General's Mansion incident and has come to see the young lady."
Ye Jingyu narrowed his eyes and went to open the door.
Qianxue felt the restrained pressure emanating from him and swallowed. "Yesterday was Prince Kun's day to move into his new mansion."
Ye Jingyu let out a cold "Heh!"
It was one thing for the little one to cook so many dishes for him at his mother's place, but now she was even being sought out at his own mansion!
He glanced back at the little person on the bed, his brow furrowing deeply.
She was clearly just a little glutinous rice dumpling, yet he hadn't realized how attractive she was before.
"Tell him the little one is still asleep and not receiving guests," Ye Jingyu said, raising his hand to close the door.
Qianxue looked at the closed door, a helpless expression on her face.
She sighed, a headache forming, and turned to dismiss Prince Kun.
Ye Jingyu stood by the bedside, looking at the little dumpling sleeping soundly. He raised his hand and lifted her quilt. "Get up."
Such a carefree little girl.
"Mmm~ Don't disturb me, I don't have school today~" The little dumpling turned over, tucking the quilt between her legs, and sleepily added, "And I don't have to see Ye Jingyu... that scoundrel..."
Ye Jingyu's eyelids twitched. He took a deep breath, grabbed her arm, and pulled her off the bed. "Do you dislike seeing me that much?"
The little dumpling's head drooped, still not fully awake. "Don't make me write... Don't, don't hit my hand..."