Qin Guan stared at Yao Xinlan in shock—someone was trying to harm her?!
"Ninth Sister, someone is trying to poison me! My medicine—something was added to my medicine!" As she spoke, two tears rolled down Yao Xinlan's cheeks. She turned to Mo Shu and said, "Go, fetch the leftover medicine dregs we saved!"
Mo Shu's eyes were also slightly red. She nodded and hurried to a tall cabinet nearby, pulling out a small silk handkerchief from a drawer. She swiftly returned to Qin Guan and unfolded the handkerchief. "Ninth Miss, look—"
A faint medicinal scent wafted through the silk. When the handkerchief was fully opened, Qin Guan immediately frowned.
She had prescribed the medicine herself and knew its ingredients well. She pushed aside the clumped dregs on the handkerchief and said quietly, "This isn't right. There's extra musk and angelica root here."
Mo Shu nodded vigorously, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes. Seeing Qin Guan spot the discrepancy at a glance, Yao Xinlan began to sob.
Qin Guan's frown deepened.
Yao Xinlan had already shown signs of a threatened miscarriage with continuous bleeding. Musk could induce uterine contractions in pregnant women, and angelica root promoted blood circulation and dispelled stasis. With these two ingredients added, wouldn't Yao Xinlan risk losing the baby—or even her own life?
"Who fetched this medicine? Does Eldest Brother and Old Madam know about this?"
At these words, Yao Xinlan turned away, weeping sorrowfully. Mo Shu answered beside her, "Ninth Miss, the person trying to harm our mistress is someone within Qin Manor. Our mistress is terrified right now and doesn't dare tell the young master or Old Madam. First, the medicine was fetched by a maid from our quarters, and it passed through countless hands at the pharmacy and the kitchen where it was brewed—there's no way to trace it. Second, we don't know if the young master and Eldest Brother's Wife would even believe our mistress."
Qin Guan's brows knitted tightly. "Eldest Brother's Wife is carrying the firstborn grandson of the third branch. With this medicine dreg as evidence, how could Old Madam and Eldest Brother not believe her?"
Yao Xinlan's sobs grew more erratic. She turned and grasped Qin Guan's hand. "Dear sister, you're steady and reliable—that's why I dared to confide in you. I only hope you'll watch over my child from now on. As for the culprit, I'll have Mo Shu keep an eye out, but Qin Manor is so large—catching them in the act will be difficult."
Qin Guan pressed her lips together, suspicion swirling in her heart as she took in Yao Xinlan's aggrieved and sorrowful expression.
Why hadn't Yao Xinlan told Qin Chen or Jiang Shi about such a heinous act? Why confide only in her?
Was it truly just to ask her to care for the child?
Seeing Qin Guan deep in thought, Yao Xinlan squeezed her hand again. "Sister, please perform the needle therapy now. You can prescribe the medicine as usual, but I don't dare drink it anymore. Let's see if anything is added this time."
Qin Guan snapped back to attention and retrieved her needle kit from her sleeve. Meanwhile, Mo Shu returned the silk handkerchief to the drawer and helped Yao Xinlan remove her outer garments to assist Qin Guan with the needles. Focusing intently, Qin Guan completed the procedure, a thin layer of sweat forming on her back.
After the needle therapy, Yao Xinlan's complexion had improved slightly. Qin Guan finally said, "This treatment shouldn't be done daily. Since you're uneasy about the medicine, I'll personally prepare some medicinal pills for you to take daily instead."
Yao Xinlan's eyes brightened. "Dear sister, that would be perfect."
Qin Guan nodded. "Then I'll return to Orchid Isle Courtyard to make them now. I'll have Fuling deliver them to you later."Yao Xinlan nodded, her face showing signs of exhaustion and drowsiness. Qin Guan then took her leave and stepped out of the inner chamber. Jiang Shi and the others were waiting outside. Qin Guan curtsied slightly and said, "The needle therapy is complete. She should be able to rest peacefully now. The prescription remains the same as before. Eldest Brother's Wife is currently quite tired and needs quiet rest. Please refrain from speaking too much when you visit her."
Lin Shi stepped forward and grasped Qin Guan's hand. "Good child, you've worked hard. You must be tired too—go back and rest quickly."
Qin Chen approached. "Ninth Sister, let me escort you back."
Qin Guan nodded and led the way out the door, where Fuling was waiting. Seeing her emerge, Fuling hurried forward to meet her.
Qin Chen followed closely, walking side by side with Qin Guan as they left Windward Courtyard.
"Ninth Sister, how is Xinlan's condition?"
Qin Guan's gaze shifted slightly. "Eldest Brother's Wife was frightened by the previous bleeding incident and has been overly anxious."
Qin Chen let out a sigh. "That's good, that's good. These past few nights, she's been dreaming frequently, saying she keeps seeing people trying to harm her."
Qin Guan turned to look at Qin Chen. She almost wanted to tell him everything Yao Xinlan had confided—that things had escalated to the point of poisoning, and as the master of the household, he ought to know and investigate the malicious culprit. But after a moment's hesitation, she ultimately held back. Since Yao Xinlan had chosen not to speak of it herself, Qin Guan had no right to make decisions on her behalf.
Perhaps noticing Qin Guan's unusually grave expression, Qin Chen suddenly asked, "Ninth Sister, what are you thinking about? Did Xinlan say something to you?"
Qin Guan's heart tightened, but her expression remained composed. "No, Eldest Brother. Why do you ask?"
Qin Chen gave a bitter smile. "Ninth Sister, you may not know this, but your Eldest Brother's Wife has indeed been frightened. These past two days, she's been saying strange things." He paused, lowering his voice with a hint of pain. "Moreover, several people in her family... have suffered from madness. Her maternal grandmother and elder sister both died from it. Before our wedding, a physician once said that your Eldest Brother's Wife might also... Now I fear she may succumb to it..."
A trace of disbelief flickered in Qin Guan's eyes. Madness? There was actually a history of madness in Yao Xinlan's family?
Qin Chen wasn't lying. If Yao Xinlan's grandmother and sister had both suffered from madness, it was indeed highly possible she might develop it too. Qin Guan studied Qin Chen. If he had known about this before the wedding, why had he still married Yao Xinlan?
As if reading the incredulity in Qin Guan's eyes, Qin Chen smiled bitterly. "By then, I had already met Xinlan and felt she was exactly the kind of wife I wanted. Besides, she was beautiful, spirited, and had an excellent temperament. The madness wasn't a certainty, so I took the gamble. It's only recently that I've begun to worry..."
Qin Guan's mind felt somewhat muddled. Yao Xinlan certainly wasn't showing signs of madness now, but if she had the tendency, her words might not be entirely credible. Yet the medicinal residue she had found earlier was undeniably real.
"Eldest Brother, don't worry. Madness doesn't affect everyone. At her age, Eldest Brother's Wife likely won't develop it now." Even as she said this, Qin Guan knew that if Yao Xinlan truly had madness, even she wouldn't be able to cure it. Moreover, this illness could strike at any age—no one could predict when it might manifest.
Qin Chen gave another bitter smile. "Let's hope so. That would be for the best."As they spoke, the two of them were nearing Orchid Isle Courtyard. Qin Chen was about to escort Qin Guan inside when a commotion broke out from the western direction. The noise snapped Qin Guan out of her distracted thoughts, and she looked up to see a group of people heading toward the west gate. Though she only caught glimpses of their backs, she recognized the leader as Liu Chun, the steward of Qin Manor.
"What's happening? What are they carrying?"
The group seemed to be coming from the direction of the eastern concubine quarters. Behind Liu Chun, two male servants were carrying an object wrapped in a quilt. It was too far for Qin Guan to make out what it was.
After asking, Qin Guan received no immediate answer. She turned to look and saw Qin Chen staring darkly at the group, his usually warm eyes now icy cold, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.
"Elder brother?" Qin Guan called out in confusion.
Qin Chen snapped out of his thoughts, forcing a smile as the coldness in his eyes vanished instantly.
"Probably just moving something. Don't worry about it—go inside and rest."
Qin Guan glanced once more in the direction Liu Chun had gone before heading into Orchid Isle Courtyard. Qin Chen escorted them to the gate before turning to leave. Once he was gone, Fuling let out a sigh of relief. "Miss, I never imagined the young mistress's family had so many cases of madness! Even I know that if one person in a family has this illness, others are likely to get it too."
Her voice then softened with emotion. "The young master must truly love the young mistress dearly, or else he would surely be troubled by it."
As she stepped inside, Qin Guan frowned deeply. On the surface, Qin Chen and Yao Xinlan appeared deeply devoted, but after observing their words and actions, Qin Guan couldn't shake the feeling that something was profoundly strange beneath this display of affection.
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