Mother Jiang was enraged. She pointed a trembling finger at Jiang Xiyun and said sharply, "Once you marry into the Lin family, you will be the mistress of the household! No matter how favored a concubine is, she must hold her tongue in your presence and obediently follow the rules and accept your reprimands! Allowing her to live comfortably would only be your mercy! Now that Chen Xianglan is in such a glamorous position, winning hearts and protection from everyone above and below, if you cannot suppress her, how will you manage the household and take charge of domestic affairs? You spineless, soft-hearted fool! If she ever hears even a whisper that you had a hand in her childless fate, do you think she would continue to play the benevolent Bodhisattva?"
Jiang Xiyun couldn’t help but shiver.
Mother Jiang coughed violently several times, her breath becoming uneven. Jiang Xiyun hurried forward to pat her chest and soothe her, but Mother Jiang pushed her away dismissively. Disappointed, she said, "You’ve been clever since childhood, best at weighing gains and losses, pleasing others, advancing by retreating, and planning each step carefully. Among the girls in our family, your shrewdness is unmatched. But now you hesitate and waver, allowing others to bully you while cowering in fear—where is your courage? This is not the person I raised! You’ve wasted all my efforts!" After speaking, she broke into another fit of violent coughing.
Jiang Xiyun quickly retrieved a small bottle from the bedside, poured out a pill, and placed it in Mother Jiang’s mouth. Mother Jiang held it for a moment, groaned softly, and finally calmed down.
Tears welling in her eyes, Jiang Xiyun knelt on the floor, holding Mother Jiang’s hand. "Grandmother, please calm your anger. Your granddaughter knows she was wrong!" she said. In her heart, she questioned herself—she had done nothing wrong, merely acted in self-defense. Yet this incident had shattered her peace of mind, forcing her into the scheming and calculations of the inner household, a prospect she found utterly distasteful.
Mother Jiang patted Jiang Xiyun’s head and, after a long pause, said, "Good child, rise. You are inherently kind-hearted and clever. Great fortune awaits you in the future."
Blushing and twisting her fingers nervously, Jiang Xiyun asked, "Grandmother, do you truly not blame me for scheming like this?"
Leaning against the embroidered pillow on the kang, Mother Jiang let out a long sigh, half-closing her eyes as she replied indifferently, "Scheming? Can what you did even be called scheming? Far filthier and darker deeds exist. I doubt the Lin household is entirely clean—otherwise, why would Lin Jinlou, at his age, still have no son?"
Exhausted and disheartened, Jiang Xiyun said gloomily, "You’re right. I’m afraid there will never be a permanent solution in this lifetime. Women always suffer… It was happier when I was still an unmarried girl."
A faint smile touched Mother Jiang’s lips. "A permanent solution? Isn’t what you’re doing now exactly that?"
Jiang Xiyun looked up at her grandmother, puzzled. "If Lin Jinlou loves Chen Xianglan, then let him dote on her. After all, she can’t bear him a child. For a married woman, offspring are the foundation of security and status. Once you establish yourself in the Lin household, if you feel unstable, you can always purchase a charming, cultured woman skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—just ensure she doesn’t bear children. That will divert some of Chen Xianglan’s favor. Since Chen Xianglan cannot bear children, she will fear losing favor and having a difficult life, so she will have no choice but to curry your favor. Then you’ll have leverage from both sides."
After a long silence, Jiang Xiyun said, "Following your advice, Grandmother, it’s like driving away a tiger only to invite a wolf. Truly, it feels like cutting my own heart with a knife."Mother Jiang sneered, "What woman doesn’t endure a lifetime of endurance?" Temporary endurance is for the sake of future prominence, a life of peace, wealth, and happiness."
Jiang Xiyun sighed softly. Better others suffer than oneself—sometimes, one must be ruthless toward others.At that moment, footsteps were heard outside. Jiang Xiyun quickly rose from the floor just as Liu Su rushed in, gasping for breath, and said, "Old Madam, chaos has broken out at the Hall of Flourishing Spring. They say Chen Xianglan suddenly experienced abdominal pain and has started bleeding below. The maids are urgently fetching a physician."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Mu sat up, smoothed her hair, and said calmly, "Summon the Fourth Young Miss."
Moments later, Jiang Danyun arrived, her face flushed red from crying. Jiang Mu sternly declared, "You wretched creature! Kneel down!"
Jiang Xiyun trembled, her legs giving way as she knelt. Jiang Mu coldly stated, "I know everything you've done. Now it has come to light—Chen Xianglan is suffering severe abdominal pain and has begun bleeding."
Jiang Danyun felt as if struck by thunder, her face turning pale and her mind reeling. She stammered, "I... I..." then suddenly kowtowed desperately, pleading, "Grandmother, save me! Save me!"
Jiang Mu's clouded eyes suddenly sharpened as she said, "Saving you now is not difficult."
Jiang Danyun looked up intently, watching as Jiang Mu enunciated each word deliberately: "Remember this—you know nothing about the poisoning. It must have been that maid Chunling who turned traitor and deliberately poisoned her mistress. Do you understand?"
Jiang Danyun slumped to the floor in a heap.
A sudden wind rose under the clear skies, and dark clouds gathered swiftly. The Hall of Flourishing Spring descended into chaos. Xianglan had been speaking with De Ge'er when she was seized by sharp abdominal cramps. Just then, Shu Ran arrived with her personal maid Chaolu and was shocked to see Xianglan's face as pale as gold leaf. She immediately sent someone to fetch a physician and wanted to inform Lin Jinlou upfront. But Xianglan grabbed Shu Ran's sleeve, enduring the pain as she said, "The Eldest Master is currently meeting with the Jiang family's Eldest Master—you know what it's about. If we call him back so abruptly, the Jiang family will surely resent it. My life will become even harder afterward, and you'll offend the Jiang family too. Why bring such trouble upon yourself..."
Shu Ran looked at Xianglan's delicate, lovely face, her heart filled with pity. She was naturally shrewd and always avoided trouble—had it been anyone else, she would never have intervened, at most reporting to the Madam. But remembering Xianglan's usual kindness and warmth, and seeing her current state, Shu Ran felt deeply distressed. Clasping Xianglan's hand, she said, "Don't worry, Concubine. The Eldest Master must stand up for you in this matter!" With that, she went to the front corridor and beckoned Gui Yuan over, instructing, "Go bring the Eldest Master back. Tell him I said the Concubine is gravely ill—critically ill!"
Gui Yuan was startled by Shu Ran's severe expression and didn't dare ask questions, scurrying off immediately. She returned shortly and reported, "The Eldest Master and the Jiang family's Eldest Master were getting along well and went out together to visit friends."
Shu Ran stamped her foot in frustration upon hearing this. Returning to check on Xianglan, she found her face deathly pale, with beads of sweat rolling down her forehead. For the first time, Shu Ran felt completely at a loss. De Ge'er leaned over the bedside, his round dark face full of worry, occasionally wiping Xianglan's sweat with a handkerchief.
Gritting her teeth, Shu Ran said to Xianglan, "Concubine, I've always observed your character. There's something important I must tell you—this matter is no trivial affair."Xianglan was puzzled, but when she saw Shu Ran glance at De Ge'er, she understood and forced a smile to coax him, saying, "Go play outside. I'm fine, just a bit tired. I'll be better after resting." She then signaled Xiao Juan with her eyes to take him out. At first, De Ge'er refused, but eventually, he left with lingering glances.
De Ge'er thought to himself, "Earlier, the maids said Uncle Lin wouldn't be back, and now Aunt Lan is sick. I should tell my father and have him call a good doctor." With that in mind, he dashed off to Yuan Shaoren. After hearing De Ge'er's animated explanation, Yuan Shaoren immediately understood that Xianglan had fallen seriously ill. He thought, "If Yingyang went out with Jiang Shangxian, they must have gone to visit Duke Zhenguo. I recall Yingyang mentioning that Duke Zhenguo was his mentor and had a good relationship with the Jiang family, likely to ask him to act as a matchmaker." Thinking this, he instructed the nanny to look after De Ge'er and promptly set off for Duke Zhenguo's residence.
Lin Jinlou rode back in a cloud of dust, dismounting swiftly upon entering the gate. Gui Yuan hurried over to take the horse, while Lin Jinlou casually tossed the whip to Shuangxi, who caught it with both hands and trotted after his master. Lin Jinlou asked anxiously, "She was fine when I left—what happened? Has the doctor been here?"
Shuangxi bent slightly, not daring to breathe heavily, and chose his words carefully: "Reporting to Eldest Master, Doctor Zhang just arrived and hasn't left yet. I heard that Shu Ran personally decocted the medicine and has already served it to the Concubine."
Lin Jinlou cursed under his breath, tugged at his collar, and strode quickly into the inner quarters, entering the Hall of Flourishing Spring. Inside, it was quiet, with a small red-clay stove set by the door and a palm-leaf fan still lying on the ground, clearly used recently for brewing medicine. He went straight into the bedroom, where Hua Shan and Shu Ran were keeping watch by the bed. They quickly stood up and respectfully stepped aside.
Only a layer of soft, light gauze hung over the bed, faintly revealing someone lying within. Lin Jinlou reached out and lifted it, seeing Xianglan's pale complexion and sickly cheeks, her appearance haggard and unlike her usual self. She lay quietly with her eyes closed, as if asleep. Lin Jinlou felt his head spin; he gently stroked Xianglan's cheek with his finger, then let the curtain fall and asked Shu Ran, "What happened?"
Shu Ran whispered, "She was fine earlier, but after taking today's medicinal soup, something went wrong. Doctor Zhang just prescribed a new formula, and the Concubine has taken the medicine and is now asleep."
Lin Jinlou gritted his teeth and asked, "Where is Doctor Zhang?"
Shu Ran replied, "He's in the east chamber reporting to Madam." She hesitated, glanced at Xianglan, and ultimately said nothing more.
Lin Jinlou turned and left, entering the side chamber where Qin Shi was speaking from behind a curtain. Zhang Shiyou quickly stood and bowed upon seeing Lin Jinlou, who said, "Thank you for your trouble, sir. May I ask how my humble concubine is? Is it serious?"Zhang Shiyou smacked his lips and said, "General Lin, this time the Concubine is truly in grave danger. I was just discussing this matter with your mother. Please take a look, General Lin." As he spoke, he unwrapped the cloth bundle before him, revealing nothing but dregs of medicine. Doctor Zhang used silver chopsticks to pick out four or five small, pitch-black pills of varying sizes from the mixture. "I heard the Concubine fell ill after taking medicine. I carefully examined the dregs and discovered these partially dissolved pills. However, soaked in broth, their medicinal properties cannot be determined," he explained. Then he unfolded a handkerchief on the table, revealing another pitch-black pill, slightly larger than those retrieved from the dregs. "Fortunately, the maids in your residence thoroughly searched the tea room earlier and found this pill under a cabinet. This substance is commonly known as 'Child-Cutting Pill' among the people. It has a sweet and sour taste and contains ingredients such as persimmon calyx, musk, and nux vomica. It is often given by brothel madams to prostitutes, causing lifelong infertility after consumption." Having said this, he lowered his head, avoiding Lin Jinlou's gaze. Skilled in treating women's ailments and having served in the households of nobles for years, he had witnessed many sinister and vile schemes. The moment he saw the pill, he understood everything. After revealing all he knew, he feigned ignorance and deafness.
OpenNovel