When the prince is reborn, he will only hit me if he doesn't hit the wall!

Xu Xinyue said calmly, "Don't worry, Dean. I know that if something really happens, it can't be blamed on you."

"It's none of my business!"

Xu Xinyue said no more and followed him to the next room.

The two rooms are separated by only a wall.

There are walls on three sides, with no windows or porches, only a small air window on the top of the east wall.

In order to allow more light into the house, all the doors were opened. As a result, the temperature was much lower than that of the house just now.

All the books that Xu Xinyue sold to the academy were stored in camphorwood boxes and piled here.

The things you put your heart and soul into are like your own children.

Seeing all of her "children" piled up in this dark and cold place, Xu Xinyue felt a little uncomfortable.

He casually opened a camphorwood box, took out a book, and checked it over and over again, including the waistband, spine, binding, and the most suspicious paper and ink. Xu Xinyue also sniffed them countless times.

Qi Mobai wanted to stop him several times, but after thinking about it, he withdrew his hand.

Who else knows the materials and flavors used in these books better than Xu Xinyue himself?

"How is it? Do you see something?" The dean put his hands in his sleeves, looked at her reaction, and said sarcastically, "Have you thought of an excuse to deny it?"

Xu Xinyue did not answer but asked: "What do these students who were poisoned have in common?"

"Again, several students have lived here for nearly two years, and this situation has never happened. The only thing they share is your book."

"These few were probably the weaker ones and showed symptoms first. In fact, there were a few others who had similar reactions, but the symptoms were milder. They were still conscious, so I took all the books away in time."

"Will things get better if the books are taken away?"

"I don't know yet. It was just taken away yesterday..."

Xu Xianyue: “…”

The dean looks like a steady person, so why is he so rash and jumps to the conclusion that the problem lies with her books?

Xu Xinyue held her forehead helplessly: "Then can you take me to the house where they used to live and take a look? Maybe the source of the poison is hidden in something else."

The dean said, "Okay, I'll take you there and let you see it clearly!"

Xu Xinyue randomly picked out a few books from each wooden box and held them against her chest.

Following behind the dean, he said as he walked, "Whether the dean believes it or not, I have checked and it is indeed not the ink in my books that has a problem."

"The paper of these books has some Phellodendron, Sichuan pepper, red cinnabar, and other medicinal herbs mixed in it, and the printing ink contains only tung oil, musk and other substances, but they are all for better moisture and insect resistance, and there is absolutely no substance that can harm people."

"Humph, whatever you say is what it is. How do you prove it?"

Xu Xinyue looked at the books in her arms, thought for a while, raised her eyes and said, "If the dean doesn't mind, I will stay here for a few days."

The dean who was leading the way turned around in surprise: "What? You want to live here? What do you want to do!!"

"Dean, don't think too much. If there is no problem with my books, I want to simulate the daily life of the students in the academy recently. Maybe I can find out the root cause of their poisoning. This will clear my suspicion. What do you think?"

The dean frowned, a little hesitant. Although what he said was true, he was not sure what Xu Xinyue was planning. Was she really trying to find out the truth, or was she looking for a loophole to "exonerate" her book?

Xu Xinyue seemed to see his worry and said, "If I can't find the source of the poison, I will admit my guilt. I will pay all the compensation according to the contract. For these books, I--"

Xu Xinyue paused, as if she had made a great decision, and tightened the book in her arms, and then said

"I will destroy them all in front of you."

"So, it should be okay, right?"

The dean stared at her doubtfully for a moment, and finally said with relief: "Okay, let's do it."

"However, I have one more request."

"What request? Are you going back on your word again?"

"I want to live in the room where the poisoned students lived and use their utensils..."

"No!" It was Qi Mobai who interrupted coldly.

"This is inappropriate, you are not suitable!"

To be fair, Qi Mobai felt that Xu Xinyue's idea was too risky.

Not to mention that this matter itself is very dangerous. She is a woman, living in an academy full of men. Even if she disguises herself at the moment, if there is any mistake with her identity, Prince Rong's Mansion will definitely not let it go.

"It's nothing more than a personal test. At worst, I can do it..."

"Master Qi." Xu Xinyue interrupted him and looked at him steadily: "No one can replace me in this matter. No one here wants to clear the suspicion of corruption more urgently than me. I know this personally. This is the most direct way. Besides-"

"It sounds a little dangerous, but I will be careful. If I feel uncomfortable, I will not keep it to myself."

"You just saw it. Actually, I also have some medical skills, so I'm more confident."

"I'm not that stupid. I know clearly what's more important, reputation or life."

Qi Mobai still disagreed: "I don't agree, and I think he won't agree either."

Xu Xinyue took a few breaths before realizing who the "he" Qi Mobai was talking about was.

Xu Xinyue smiled at him and said, "He always listens to me. Besides..."

Xu Xinyue was thinking in her mind that from what Qingfeng said, Qin Yuechuan probably wouldn't return to the palace in the next few days.

I just need to get this sorted out as soon as possible before he comes back.

"Anyway, it's settled."

She stopped arguing with Qi Mobai and turned to the dean and said, "During this period, the food and utensils should be the ones in that room. Everything should be restored as much as possible."

Personal experience, if nothing happened, then she would be cleared of the charge, and the matter had nothing to do with her book.

If something is wrong, it must be strange.

This matter was most likely the work of Ling Qiu. Only by finding out the root cause can we launch a counterattack.

Evil man, if you want to bring her down, it won’t be that easy!

"Dean, let's go take a look at those houses first."

Seeing that he couldn't change her mind, Qi Mobai could only sigh and follow her.

Just as the dean said, the furnishings, layout, and even supplies in those rooms were almost exactly the same. It seemed that except for her books, all the items showed signs of use over the years.

The room is not very big and the furnishings are very simple

A bunk bed that can accommodate two people, with bedding neatly folded.

The antique bookshelf placed against the wall is filled with all kinds of books and scrolls, and there are many scrolls of calligraphy and paintings in the celadon jar below.

There were two long red-lacquered tables. Probably due to their age, the paint had peeled off a little at the corners, revealing the original color of the solid wood. On the tables were placed the most ordinary writing brushes, inkstones, paper, and inkstones.

There was also a yellow wax lamp that was almost burned out.

Xu Xinyue looked around and indeed did not find anything suspicious.

"Well, am I right? There are more than 20 rooms like this. If you want to explore them one by one, I am happy to accompany you. I will take you to see each one and make you convinced."

"If you can't find it, I'd better report it to the police!"

Xu Xinyue said coldly: "Dean, I am not afraid that you will report to the authorities. Even if the authorities come, I will still find out the truth myself. This concerns my reputation and the reputation of my bookstore. I don't want to let others do it."

"Besides, Dean, you don't want the reputation of the academy to be affected by this matter, right?"

"If we can resolve it peacefully in private, why bother making such a fuss? Am I right?"

The dean was speechless for a long while before he said, "It all depends on what you are capable of! If there is no result in three days, don't blame me for being merciless!"

Xu Xinyue put down the book and said to the dean righteously: "If I can find the source of the poison in three days, I want the dean to apologize to me and my Yangchun Bookstore in front of all the students in the academy."

"And we will post a notice throughout Kyoto to clarify the truth and prove the innocence of my bookstore."

The dean saw that she looked serious and spoke seriously, so he said, "If I have really wronged you and you can find the truth, not only will I be willing to sign a five-year contract with your bookstore as you said."

"In the next five years, no matter how the price fluctuates, I will only order books from your Yangchun Bookstore."

"It's a word."

After seeing the dean off, Xu Xinyue returned to the house and found that Qi Mobai had not left yet.

Xu Xinyue asked doubtfully, "Master Qi, do you have anything else to do?"

Qi Mobai frowned slightly: "I still think that your action is too impulsive."

Xu Xinyue smiled and said, "I've said it before, this is the most effective and direct way. Since I'm sure there's nothing wrong with my book, then the problem must be in this room."

She looked around at the displays and said, "It's only this big. If we check them one by one, we'll always find something. Don't worry."

Xiao Chan had been standing by the side the whole time, and only now did she speak in a whisper: "Princess, why don't you just report the name of the Rong Palace? They won't do anything to you... The prince has already said that if you encounter difficulties, just disclose your identity directly."

Xu Xinyue rubbed her head and said, "Xiao Chan, if we use the name of Prince Rong's Mansion, we can indeed suppress them and make them keep silent, but using power to suppress people will not solve the final problem. The truth has not yet been revealed."

"What's the point of being submissive? I want the dean to be convinced from the bottom of his heart!"

"Besides, I really want to know what means the Qiulu Bookstore used to extend its reach so far."

"You want to use Yujin Academy to ruin my reputation. That's a smart move. It's a fatal blow."

Qi Mobai continued, "This place has the largest order volume, is well-known, and has a great influence in Kyoto. If you spread the news that there is a problem with your bookstore through Yujin Academy, then other academies will probably follow suit and cancel their previous orders with you. Then, your previous hard work will probably go down the drain."

Xu Xinyue pretended to be heartbroken and covered her chest: "Then I'm afraid I really won't be able to get my dowry back~"

Xiao Chan pouted and added: "That's true. I don't know how the master will react. All the money I have worked hard to save for several years has been squandered by you."

"Well...Xiaochan, in business, there are gains and losses. Daddy will understand...right?"

Qi Mobai had nothing to say and could not change her mind, so he could only give her a few instructions and leave.

Suddenly, Xu Xinyue thought of something, ran to the door, put her hands on her hips, and said to the sky: "Xuanyi, if you dare to tell Qin Yuechuan when I'm not paying attention, I will deduct one month's salary from you, no, three months! Anyway, I have the final say in the mansion now! Do you hear me!"

“…………Yes, Master.”

"Well, that's pretty much it."

"...Actually, you don't have to threaten me, I will listen..."

Xu Xinyue took off the sachet beside her and handed it to Xiaochan: "Please keep this for me first."

Xiao Chan was a little anxious: "Miss, isn't this your anti-poison sachet? Are you not going to take this with you?"

"It's only three days, there shouldn't be any problem."

"I said I experienced it first-hand. How do you 'experience' it when you fight poison?"

"It's okay. Trust me. I know my limits and I won't be like them."

She thought of something else, walked to the table, wrote a prescription on a piece of paper, and handed it to Xiao Chan after drying it: "Please keep this ready for me at any time. If something happens to me, boil the medicine according to this prescription and give it to me. I've written down the dosage and other things on it."

"Princess!!!" Xiao Chan was completely panicked and almost cried.

"Didn't you say that nothing would happen?"

"Nothing will happen, but we should always be prepared for the worst, don't you think?"