During the banquet, several madams chatted and laughed merrily while maids and servants bustled about with trays. Xianglan soon grew tired from standing and her stomach rumbled with hunger. She quietly clenched her fists to rub her legs when she noticed Cao Lihuan secretly tucking a peach into her sleeve before standing up and leaving.
Xianglan quickly followed. Cao Lihuan went to the rear washroom and told Xianglan, "I need to relieve myself. Guard the door for me and don't let anyone in."
Xianglan nodded in agreement but couldn't suppress her curiosity. "Why would she hide a peach just to use the privy?" she wondered, peeking through the door crack. She saw Cao Lihuan take a small slender-necked vial from her pouch, empty out the Thirst-Quenching Snow Dew Pills inside, peel the peach to squeeze its juice into the vial, then toss the remaining pit and peel out the window into the lake before wiping her hands with a handkerchief.
Xianglan hurriedly resumed a demure posture. When Cao Lihuan emerged, she returned directly to the banquet. Puzzled, Xianglan wondered what the cousin was plotting. Cao Lihuan picked up the wine jug before her, gave it a gentle shake to confirm it still contained a small amount, then discreetly unstopped the hidden vial in her sleeve and poured the peach juice inside. While others were chatting or eating, no one noticed—except Xianglan, who stood diagonally behind Cao Lihuan and watched intently, witnessing everything clearly. She then saw Cao Lihuan fill Lin Dongqi's cup to the brim, clink glasses with her, and persistently urge her to drink. Unable to refuse, Lin Dongqi drank one cup. Not to be outdone, Lin Dongling also proposed a toast, and Cao Lihuan refilled Lin Dongqi's cup, forcing her to drink another.
The girls' table served fruit wine, originally brewed from grapes, so adding peach juice wouldn't significantly alter the taste. After coaxing Lin Dongqi to drink several cups, Cao Lihuan curled her lips into a cold smile.
Xianglan shuddered, suddenly recalling that when Cao Lihuan had previously given the Lin family's young ladies Imperial Flowers, Lin Dongqi had mentioned she couldn't tolerate peaches—even touching them would cause her skin to break out in rashes! Instantly, Xianglan understood: so... so Cao Lihuan harbored such malicious intent!
Xianglan's heart raced, though she maintained a calm facade. As she pondered what to do, Cao Lihuan beckoned her over and said, "Go fetch the small pouch from my dressing table."
Xianglan had no choice but to leave. Watching her depart, Cao Lihuan smirked coldly, took a sip of wine, and thought to herself, "Just wait—you'll suffer soon enough. Stay obediently under my control for life!"
Once outside, Xianglan slowed her steps, thinking, "In my past life, I'd break out in rashes and swell from eating wrong seafood or fish—once my throat swelled so much I nearly suffocated. If Second Miss consumes peach juice and something happens, it would be disastrous. I must find a way to inform Madam." Clenching her fists, she glanced around and spotted Qin Shi's chief maid, Hongjian, laughing and eating with several maids under the corridor. Delighted, Xianglan approached and whispered, "Sister Hongjian, I have urgent news."
Hongjian looked up to see a fair, delicate maid with large, sparkling eyes filled with anxiety. She looked familiar, but Hongjian couldn't place her. "You are...?" she asked.Xianglan hurriedly said, "I have something extremely important to tell you, sister." Without caring whether Hongjian was willing, she leaned close to her ear and whispered, "I just saw Miss Cao putting peach juice into the wine and coaxing Second Miss into drinking several cups."
Hongjian's expression changed abruptly, and she exclaimed in shock, "Is that true?"
Xianglan nodded and whispered again, "I saw it with my own eyes. Miss Cao took a peach from the plate, excused herself to the washroom, squeezed the peach into juice, poured it into a porcelain bottle, and then secretly added it to the wine jug, filling several cups for Second Miss. I saw it all clearly from behind her."
Hongjian's face shifted between alarm and suspicion. She stood up, pulled Xianglan to a less crowded spot, and asked, "What's your name? Where do you work?"
Xianglan replied, "My name is Xianglan. I'm a family-raised servant of the Lin family. After entering the mansion, I serve in Luoxue Courtyard."
Hongjian scrutinized Xianglan from head to toe several times, then nodded and said, "I understand." With that, she entered the room.
Xianglan let out a sigh of relief. She thought about waiting for Hongjian there but was afraid of being spotted by Cao Lihuan. While hesitating, she caught sight of Lin Jinlou standing behind a rockery by the lake with a young servant, staring directly at her with eyes as sharp as cold lightning. Xianglan froze for a moment, then quickly turned her back, thinking it would be best to avoid trouble and go back to fetch Cao Lihuan's pouch.
After leaving the garden and heading to the western side of the mansion's rear, the crowd gradually thinned. Just as she reached the courtyard gate, she spotted Si Shunr craning his neck and peering around. A wave of irritation washed over Xianglan, and without so much as a glance at him, she strode straight into the room.
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