Chapter 335: Poisoning
Gu Jinzhao bid farewell to her father and Madam Feng.
Gu Jinrong was somewhat disappointed, as he hadn't had much time to speak with his elder sister. They agreed that after the New Year, Gu Jinzhao would return for another visit. With a smile, Gu Jinzhao nodded in agreement, noticing Xu Jingyi standing quietly beside her father, watching her with a faint smile. She pulled Xu Jingyi aside for a private word.
"Your health... still no signs?"
Xu Jingyi was momentarily stunned, not expecting Gu Jinzhao to ask such a question.
Gu Jinzhao continued softly, "Don’t mind me, and don’t mind my mother either. I know Father will never forget her, but the living are what matter most. When you married him... I knew you truly cared for him."
Xu Jingyi’s eyes reddened as she listened. She tightened her grip on Gu Jinzhao’s hand and smiled. "I know." Then she added, "This is good too—living peacefully, and your father treats me well. Truly."
Life was like drinking water—only the drinker knew if it was warm or cold. Gu Jinzhao felt she had said enough.
After saying her goodbyes to everyone, she boarded the carriage with Changsuo in her arms.
The Chen Family’s guards promptly escorted Gu Jinzhao out of the Gu residence.
Gu Dezhao turned his face away. As he grew older, partings became harder to bear. Especially with his eldest daughter—he had always felt a certain dependence on her.
On the journey, Feng Jun explained the situation to Gu Jinzhao.
Madam Chen had suddenly fallen ill. Last night, Granny Zheng had been supporting her as she walked along the corridor when she suddenly collapsed. Upon waking, she began vomiting, suffering from diarrhea, and experiencing excruciating headaches.
The servants immediately informed Third Master Chen, who rushed over with a physician. The diagnosis, however, was shocking.
Madam Chen wasn’t ill—she had been poisoned.
"Third Master has ordered all of Madam’s daily belongings to be collected for examination. No one knows who administered the poison—it was done so stealthily. Everyone in the Chen Family has been checked, and though only Madam shows symptoms, Third Master insists you return as a precaution..." Feng Jun explained.
Gu Jinzhao thought for a moment. "What kind of poison was Tai Furen given?"
Feng Jun replied, "I’m not well-versed in medicine, so I’m not entirely sure. But Physician Ji mentioned that Madam’s symptoms resemble those of alchemists who overconsume elixirs—pale complexion, loss of appetite, night sweats, insomnia, followed by abdominal cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea... In severe cases, it can be fatal."
Gu Jinzhao had also been suffering from insomnia lately, often feeling drained. She had assumed it was due to poor sleep.
Her face paled as she asked quietly, "Does Third Master suspect...?"
Feng Jun clasped his hands respectfully. "Do not worry, Madam. Third Master is merely being cautious. Only a physician’s examination can confirm anything."
Gu Jinzhao hummed in acknowledgment, holding the sleeping child tighter in her arms.
Once a person began suspecting they were ill, everything seemed abnormal—every itch, every ache magnified by undue sensitivity.
Gu Jinzhao had never feared death before, but now she was terrified. She couldn’t help but laugh at herself—how she had regressed with age.
Yet once the initial hypersensitivity passed, there was nothing left to fear. At worst, it was a slow-acting poison. Even if she had been poisoned, death wouldn’t come immediately. Instead, Madam Chen’s poisoning gave Gu Jinzhao much to ponder.In her memory, she had no recollection of Madam Chen ever being poisoned. If she had remembered, she would surely have reminded Madam Chen to be cautious.
This meant that events were gradually beginning to change.
Who could have poisoned Madam Chen? If it was deliberate, it must have been someone close to her...
The carriage moved swiftly, but even at its fastest, it would take half a day to arrive. Gu Jinzhao, exhausted from her thoughts, leaned against the pillow to rest. She was awakened by Changsuo's cries and realized they had already reached Wanping. She called for the wet nurse to feed the child.
The carriage turned into Rongxiang Alley.
Third Master Chen was waiting for her by the screen wall and immediately approached as she stepped down.
He might not have rested all night, his chin rough with stubble. Gu Jinzhao was pulled into his embrace. The soothing scent of sandalwood from him calmed her heart. Unable to hold back, she asked, "How is Mother?"
"She drank a bowl of milk porridge and hasn’t vomited since," Chen Yanyun replied. Instead of taking her back to Osmanthus Hall, he led her straight to Ninghui Hall.
"Why aren’t we going to Osmanthus Hall?" Gu Jinzhao immediately guessed that Osmanthus Hall might have been sealed off by Chen Yanyun for a thorough investigation.
"Third Master, does that mean I also..." Gu Jinzhao grew anxious.
Chen Yanyun interrupted her, "Everything will be fine." He kissed her hair gently. "Be good and let the physician examine you... Nothing will happen." Yet, the tension in his expression remained.
Gu Jinzhao let him lead her into Ninghui Hall, where Physician Ji was already waiting, along with another fair-skinned man in his forties. The man bowed to Gu Jinzhao, and Chen Yanyun introduced him as Mr. Song, an expert in medicinal matters.
Mr. Song first asked Gu Jinzhao a few questions, which she answered truthfully. He seemed deep in thought.
Third Master Chen stood beside her, noticing the man’s hesitation. His heart sank. "Has my wife also—"
"It’s similar, yet not quite. I can’t be certain," Mr. Song said. "Without proof, I dare not speculate."
Physician Ji placed a silk cloth over Gu Jinzhao’s wrist to take her pulse. After a moment, he sighed in relief. "She’s fine, perfectly fine!"
"Then what’s wrong?" Gu Jinzhao pressed.
Physician Ji smiled. "Your wife is with child—the symptoms merely overlapped!"
With child... She was with child!
Gu Jinzhao was momentarily stunned, unsure whether to rejoice.
Third Master Chen remained cautious and asked Physician Ji to check again. This time, the physician was even more certain. "It’s a pregnancy, already two months along! After decades of practice, I wouldn’t mistake this."
Mr. Song also smiled. "A pregnancy is good news. If that’s the case, Madam should have no risk of poisoning!"
Only then did Third Master Chen relax and dismiss the two men.
Gu Jinzhao noticed the furrow between his brows and couldn’t resist smoothing it with her fingers. Chen Yanyun looked up at her, took her hand, and kissed it. "What’s wrong?"
"Have you been too busy these days?" Gu Jinzhao asked. "You always seem exhausted." She sat down beside him.
Chen Yanyun merely said, "Don’t worry about me. My mentor is wary of me now, and the court imposes many restrictions. It’s only natural that work is more taxing. And now Mother has been poisoned... I was truly afraid something might happen to you, which is why I called you back. Did I interrupt your celebration?"
Instead of answering, Gu Jinzhao embraced him and buried her face in his chest.He wrapped one arm around Gu Jinzhao's waist while gently patting her back with the other, whispering to her, "The husband is the heaven. I must always hold up the sky for you. Isn't that right?"
Gu Jinzhao hummed in agreement. Perhaps because of her pregnancy, she felt her emotions becoming more intense again, her eyes reddening at his words. She said, "Another joyful pulse... Changsuo isn't even a year old yet, and we're already giving him siblings?"
"We'll have this child. The two can grow up playing together," Third Master Chen said tenderly, caressing her still-flat abdomen. "When you visit Mother later, tell her the news. She'll surely be delighted."
Seeing that Gu Jinzhao was fine, he set his worries aside.
Yet in these troubled times, the child had chosen to arrive now. It was troublesome.
But the coming of a child was always a joyous occasion.
Gu Jinzhao went to see Madam Chen, where Madam Qin and Madam Ge were attending to her. Wang Shi hadn't come to care for the old madam these past few days due to her own inconveniences.
Madam Chen had been in poor health for several months, but when physicians were called, they found no serious illness. Old age brought various ailments, so it hadn't been taken seriously—until the deep poisoning was discovered. Now the residual toxins were difficult to eliminate. Fortunately, that Song woman was remarkably skilled, saying gradual recuperation could still bring improvement. It wasn't life-threatening yet.
Seeing the prominent veins on Madam Chen's emaciated hands, Gu Jinzhao felt a pang of alarm but dared not show it. She simply smiled and chatted with her, helping her take medicine.
By evening, Third Master Chen confirmed Osmanthus Hall was safe. She could return.
Yu Wanxue came to pay respects and inquired with concern if she was alright. Gu Jinzhao spoke with her for a while. When Third Master Chen returned late at night, she immediately asked about the investigation's progress.
"...All servants attending to Mother have been questioned. Food and daily items were thoroughly inspected, but nothing amiss was found," Third Master Chen told her. "Since we can't find the source, we'll move Mother temporarily to Half-Bamboo Bank."
Gu Jinzhao pressed, "What about pillows, bedding, scented sachets, and such?" Having once poisoned Song Yiniang through a pillow, the thought came immediately.
Third Master Chen chuckled. "Don't worry. When it comes to poisoning methods, they're more adept than you."
His trained subordinates naturally considered such everyday contact items.
Gu Jinzhao then helped Third Master Chen prepare for bed.
Holding her close, he caressed her abdomen. "With these chaotic times, I fear I won't have energy to care for you and our child."
Gu Jinzhao smiled. "Our child and I will manage just fine without your care."
He sighed by her ear. "Truly don't want my care?"
At the implication of his "care," her cheeks flushed. She turned away, burrowing into the blankets to sleep.
He embraced her, blankets and all, smiling. "Very well! Given your condition, I'll spare you for now. When you want my care, just say the word."
Gu Jinzhao didn't reply, soon hearing his even breathing. He'd fallen asleep—truly exhausted...
She turned back to tuck him in, gazing at his face as she lay opposite him.
...
The next day, Third Master Chen expanded the search to all of Sandalwood Mountain Courtyard. The guards nearly turned the place upside down.
When Jinchao returned to care for Madam Chen, the old lady's complexion had improved somewhat.Since Madam Chen's illness came on suddenly, Third Master Chen took a few days off to accompany her.
Madam Chen, wrapped in blankets, reclined on the warm kang, chatting with the two of them.
Third Master Chen peeled a pear for her and fed her piece by piece. Madam Chen sighed, "After all these years, this is the first time you've fed me anything!"
Third Master Chen smiled and said, "If you like it, I can come more often."
Madam Chen reached out to take the remaining half of the pear he had peeled. "The Grand Secretariat keeps you so busy. It's already not good of me to keep you here for days. You shouldn't come too often..."
But Third Master Chen suddenly grasped his mother's hand, noticing a string of sandalwood Buddhist beads peeking out from her sleeve. They must have been very old, their color darkened to black.
Gu Jinzhao noticed the change in Third Master Chen's expression.
Third Master Chen untied the string of beads and held them in his hand, turning them over thoughtfully.
Madam Chen asked, puzzled, "What's wrong...? Didn't you give these to me?"
"I did give them to you, but back then, they weren't this dark," Third Master Chen said slowly. "Someone else passed these along." He stood up and said, "Jinchao, keep Mother company for now. There's something I need to take care of."
Gu Jinzhao nodded, and he left with the string of beads in hand.
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