After dressing and tidying up, Minglan did not go directly to see the Wang family. Instead, she took a slight detour and intercepted Sheng Hong, who had slept alone the previous night, on the path leading to the study. Ignoring her father’s face, which was as dark as the bottom of a pot, she walked alongside him with a cheerful smile and spoke as they went.
"Father, isn’t it strange? Kang Yima didn’t return all night, yet the Kang family isn’t worried—it’s the Wang family who’s anxious."
Sheng Hong kept his head down as he walked, refusing to engage with her. Ever since their argument the other day, the corners of his mouth and eyes had remained fixed in a thirty-degree downturn.
"In my opinion, this is because of Old Madam’s poisoning," Minglan continued without waiting for her father’s reply. "But Father, with your keen insight, you surely understand the reasons behind this without me having to explain."
Sheng Hong snorted. His youngest daughter’s beaming smile made it difficult for him to scold her publicly, but he felt deeply stifled inside. He thought to himself, The other day, when you found out about Old Madam’s poisoning, you nearly devoured Madam Wang on the spot. Yet today, you act as if nothing happened—flipping emotions like turning pages in a book. You’d make a fine official in the bureaucratic world.
Minglan said leisurely, "In my humble opinion, there are only two reasons why Kang Yima didn’t come this time."
Sheng Hong forcefully suppressed his urge to ask and remained silent.
"Either Kang Yima knows about this but is indifferent and unwilling to stand up for his wife, or he simply doesn’t know, and the Wang family doesn’t want him to find out." Given that their marital relationship is already so strained, it’s better not to give the Kang family more reasons to dislike Kang Wangshi.
"When we meet the Wang family, Father, you could ask why Kang Yima didn’t come. But I suspect Cousin Jin will only give two excuses..." Minglan smiled slyly. "Either his father is unwell and unable to come, or the Kang family has matters keeping him occupied."
Sheng Hong almost laughed but quickly straightened his lips and maintained a stern expression. What could my unemployed brother-in-law possibly be busy with? Unless he’s exhausted himself by taking in two more beautiful maidservants.
Minglan also smiled. "As for the Wang family’s visit today, I imagine there are only three scenarios..." Sheng Hong unconsciously slowed his pace.
"First, the Wang family is unaware of Kang Yima’s misdeeds and has come only to inquire about Old Madam’s condition. Second, they know the truth and are here to plead with Father and discuss how to let Aunt off the hook..."
Sheng Hong stroked the short beard on his chin and nodded inwardly, thinking that his youngest daughter indeed had a clear understanding of the situation.
"The third scenario is that someone has ill intentions and wants to shift all the blame onto Madam Wang, placing it squarely within the Sheng family’s walls."
Sheng Hong abruptly stopped walking and stared directly at his daughter, his expression cold and severe.
Minglan said softly, "We’ll know which it is in just a moment, Father."
Without further delay, father and daughter hurried toward the main courtyard. As soon as they stepped into the hall, they saw Madam Wang weeping bitterly on Wang Old Madam’s lap, with Wang Uncle and Wang Aunt sighing as they tried to console her. Kang Jin stood behind Wang Old Madam with a worried expression, and beside him was an elderly woman dressed as a servant, who appeared quite shrewd and capable. Aside from them, only Liu Kun’s wife stood waiting in the corner of the room. All other maids and matrons had been dismissed, and no one was allowed within five meters of the hall’s doors and windows. Guards were posted at the courtyard entrance.
As soon as Wang Old Madam saw Sheng Hong, she smiled with relief. "My worthy son-in-law, you’ve finally arrived."
Father and daughter, one after the other, bowed to their elders before rising. When Sheng Hong saw Kang Jin, he couldn’t help but ask, "Where is your father?"
Kang Jin’s face stiffened, and he stammered, "My father... he... he hasn’t been feeling well lately."Sheng Hong resisted the urge to look at his youngest daughter's expression and instead greeted Wang Old Madam respectfully: "Mother-in-law, at your advanced age, we've still troubled you to make this journey. This is my failing as a junior."
Wang Old Madam sighed mournfully: "With the Wang family producing such an unfilial daughter, how could I have the face to see you!" After speaking, she shot a furious glare at Madam Wang, who immediately knelt down crying: "Mother, your daughter knows she was wrong!"
Wang Old Madam pointed at her daughter and scolded: "Before your marriage, how did I teach you? Filial piety is the foundation of establishing oneself between heaven and earth. Whether managing household affairs or assisting your husband and educating children, all must yield to this principle of filial piety. But you! Committing such beastly acts - you've completely disgraced our Wang family!"
Madam Wang wept bitterly: "Mother, your daughter was indeed terribly wrong! I've shamed father, mother, and my brothers and sisters-in-law. Mother, you can beat or scold me as you wish, I only beg for your forgiveness!"
Wang Old Madam felt heartbroken, embracing her daughter while crying: "My child, how could you be so foolish! It's easy for me to forgive you, but how can your husband's family possibly overlook this?!" She then looked up at Sheng Hong: "Good son-in-law, her harming your mother is truly a grave sin. How do you intend to handle this matter?"
Reminded by his youngest daughter, Sheng Hong had become more cautious. The more he listened, the more confused he grew: "Mother-in-law... from what you're saying, it seems you believe everything was done by Brother Bai's mother..." He hesitated, turning to look at Minglan.
Minglan inwardly cursed this nominal father for avoiding responsibility, and decided to speak directly: "Old Madam, please understand. The day before yesterday, our family's old madam was perfectly fine when she suddenly collapsed unconscious. We originally thought it was just a sudden illness from the heat, but after careful examination by the imperial physician, it was actually poisoning."
She had originally had no conflict with the Wang family, but since their arrival, Wang Old Madam had only focused on how her daughter was involved, without a single word asking about the grandmother's safety. Seeing their purpose clearly, she decided to state things plainly.
Wang Old Madam looked ashamed: "I already know. The Wang family truly has no face to meet our in-laws." As she spoke, she struck Madam Wang's back several times, scolding: "It's all because of your foolishness! How could you be so ignorant!"
This time even Madam Wang sensed something wrong. With tears still streaming, she asked in surprise: "Mother... you...?" In their emotional reunion, with one confessing and the other scolding before embracing and crying together, they hadn't actually clarified the situation.
A faint smile touched Minglan's lips: "It appears the Old Madam believes my grandmother's situation was entirely Madam's doing?"
Wang Old Madam detected something unusual in these words. Seeing the mixed expressions of surprise and anger on her daughter and son-in-law's faces, she grew suspicious and turned to look at the old woman beside Kang Jin - hadn't she said that Madam Wang, resentful toward her mother-in-law, had administered some illness-causing substance?
Seeing this, Sheng Hong and Minglan were already half-convinced. Father and daughter quickly exchanged glances.
The old woman showed no panic at all, gently pushing Kang Jin. The dazed Kang Jin seemed to suddenly awaken and hurriedly bowed to Sheng Hong: "Uncle, please allow me to report. My mother hasn't returned for a full day and night, and our family is extremely anxious. Could we first ask to see my mother?"
Sheng Hong felt angry and said sternly: "Minglan, bring her out first!"
Minglan walked to the door and saw Lüzhi already waiting at the courtyard entrance from afar. She waved from a distance, then returned to the room.Lüzhi approached swiftly, followed by two matrons who flanked Kang Yima. As they entered the room, everyone saw Kang Yima dressed in ginger-yellow thin silk summer clothes, her attire and hair perfectly intact except for the redness on her cheeks—Minglan knew this was from the cloth that had just been removed from her mouth.
Madam Wang stared silently at her sister wearing her own clothes. She recalled Liu Kun's wife reporting how Kang Yima had been bound and seated for a full day and night, soiled with filth and reeking unbearably, having suffered immense humiliation and pain. This deepened her fear of Minglan.
Though Kang Yima had been worn down by her ordeal, the sight of her mother, brother, and son instantly revived her spirits. She struggled free from the two matrons, stumbled forward, and threw herself at Wang Old Madam’s knees, wailing loudly, "Mother, you’ve finally come! Your daughter has been tortured cruelly! The Sheng family... sob... they’ve gone too far! I’d rather be dead!"
Kang Jin knelt beside his mother, and the two wept bitterly together. Minglan curled her lips slightly and waved for the two matrons to withdraw.
Sheng Hong seethed at the sight of her. Originally, his family had been harmonious, with father and children united in striving for the family’s prosperity. That things had escalated to this irreconcilable point was entirely due to this venomous woman—and now she had the audacity to weep before her mother and son. He sneered coldly, "My own mother still struggles on her sickbed. Elder sister-in-law, you must live well!"
Wang Old Madam slowly wiped her tears. This son-in-law had always been humble and filial; his tone today suggested hidden grievances. As she hesitated, the old servant woman beside Kang Jin wept mournfully, "My poor lady! Since childhood, she has never suffered such injustice!"
Prompted by this, Wang Old Madam’s face darkened. "I don’t know what fault my daughter has committed, but for an elder sister to be detained inexplicably in her younger sister’s marital home—this is truly unheard of!"
Just as Sheng Hong was about to retort after being scolded outright, Minglan stepped forward. Smiling at the old servant, she said, "This must be Nanny Qi. Indeed, you are Aunt’s most capable aide. Not only are you capable, Nanny, but your two sons are also highly trusted by Aunt."
Wang Old Madam’s expression turned displeased. Kang Yima, filled with hatred, immediately shouted, "When elders are speaking, what right have you to interrupt? Barging in recklessly—born of a concubine, truly without manners!"
Hearing the phrase "born of a concubine," Sheng Hong’s rage flared. He said coldly, "Even an outsider’s servant can interrupt, yet my daughter cannot speak in her own home? I wonder where such rules come from!"
Wang Old Madam, indirectly rebuked though not harshly, restrained herself and stopped her elder daughter from speaking further.
Nanny Qi was deeply shaken, realizing her sons had indeed been captured by the Sheng family—this spelled serious trouble.
She looked up at Minglan. "It seems this old woman’s two worthless sons are also in your hands, Madam. I truly don’t understand—what family matter couldn’t be discussed properly? Why must you resort to such vile methods, abducting people in the street and imprisoning your own aunt? If word gets out, no one would believe this is the conduct of the scholarly Sheng family."
What sharp words—in a few strokes, she shifted the focus to the methods used, skirting the root cause of the incident.Minglan remained completely unruffled, smiling faintly as she said, "These little tricks are nothing compared to the poisoner's methods. Besides, using extraordinary means is for the sake of preserving the reputations of several families. If we were to lay everything out openly as Mama Qi suggested, I'm afraid the Wang, Kang, and Sheng families would never be able to show their faces in society again... especially the Wang family."
Wang Uncle, who had been frowning all along, asked, "What do you mean by that?"
Minglan gave two cold laughs and drew a thick stack of papers from her sleeve. Taking the first two sheets, she had Liu Kun's wife hand them to Wang Old Madam while explaining calmly, "About two months ago, the Kang residence's Second Steward Qi was introduced by broker You Da to an old Taoist priest in a remote temple in the western part of the city. This old priest specialized in brewing all kinds of despicable pills and potions, normally supplying brothels and pleasure houses."
From aphrodisiacs and hallucinogens to contraceptives, abortifacients, and even pills to fake virginity, his products were comprehensive and varied. With attentive service and high quality, his business was quite prosperous.
Minglan pointed to the papers in Wang Old Madam's hand, saying, "These are the signed confessions of broker You Da and Second Steward Qi."
Though Wang Old Madam was advanced in years, her eyes and ears were still sharp. The confessions were clearly written, and as Wang Uncle and his wife leaned over to read them, Wang Aunt glanced sideways at Mama Qi with undisguised contempt.
Mama Qi's face was extremely unpleasant as she stubbornly retorted, "That useless thing..."
Madam Wang shouted angrily, "Shut up! How dare a servant interrupt when her master is speaking!" No matter how confused she was, she now understood the situation and only hoped Minglan would press harder to firmly pin the crime on Kang Yima; otherwise, she herself would become the scapegoat!
As she scolded, she glared at her elder sister, but Kang Yima turned her face away, refusing to meet her gaze.
Minglan continued, "For the next half month, Second Steward Qi often drank with the old priest to build rapport. Eventually, Chief Steward Qi personally stepped in, asking the old priest to create a poison that couldn't be detected by a silver needle and acted quickly. The old priest initially refused but was persuaded over several days and finally agreed, offering a folk remedy: extracting an extremely concentrated juice from hundreds of jin of sprouted ginkgo nuts. Just a small amount could cause death within moments."
She took the top two or three sheets from the stack and had Liu Kun's wife pass them over. "These are the old priest's signed confession."
Wang Old Madam's fingers began to tremble slightly as she read the confession. Wang Uncle shook his head repeatedly after just a few glances, unable to bear what he saw, while Kang Jin stared at his mother in disbelief.
"After Chief Steward Qi paid a deposit of two hundred taels, the old priest immediately set to work. To acquire a large quantity of sprouted ginkgo nuts, since individual farmers couldn't supply enough, the old priest sought out four remote small herb shops and bought up all their old, discarded stock."
Minglan handed over several colorful sheets of paper. "These are copies of the delivery slips from those four shops, along with testimonies from the managers who handled the transactions. In just seven or eight days, the old priest purchased one hundred and twelve jin of sprouted ginkgo nuts."
"The old priest worked day and night and finally produced three bottles of poison. Chief Steward Qi paid another eight hundred taels, received two bottles, while the old priest secretly kept one for himself." Minglan gestured to Lüzhi, who carefully retrieved a small white porcelain bottle and this time handed it to Sheng Hong. "I've already had a royal physician examine it. The poison in this bottle is the same as what was found in Old Madam's pastries."
Sheng Hong's face turned ashen as he looked at the small bottle."After Kang Yima obtained those two bottles of poison, quite some time passed until the morning before last. On that day, my lady unusually didn't send anyone to buy the pastries Old Madam loves. Instead, a Kang Family servant named Jin Liu went to Jufangzhai to purchase the first batch of freshly baked lotus seed pastries. About an hour later, Chief Steward Qi personally escorted Shanquan's wife to deliver the pastries to Sheng Manor, handing them directly to my lady."
Minglan passed over the last few sheets of paper in her hand. "These are the signed confessions of Chief Steward Qi and that woman." As Wang Old Madam and the others read the confessions, she added, "That Shanquan's wife was originally Yima's personal maid."
By this point, everything was perfectly clear.
Kang Yima's face turned deathly pale, not daring to look at her mother, brother, or sister-in-law. She leaned weakly against her sleeve, softly sobbing. Sheng Hong turned to glare angrily at his wife, while Madam Wang hung her head in shame, weeping continuously and murmuring, "I truly didn't know it was poison..."
Minglan whispered some instructions to Lüzhi, who hurried out. Moments later, two guards dragged in a severely beaten man. At the sight of him, Kang Yima nearly fainted.
The man knelt on the ground, wailing loudly as he cried out to Stewardess Qi, "Mother, mother, please save me! We can't endure this anymore! I don't know if Elder Brother is still alive - save my life!"
Stewardess Qi looked at her younger son, his mouth broken and teeth missing, half his clothes stained with blood. Her heart twisted with pain, but she clenched her teeth and turned away.
As the two guards dragged Second Steward Qi out, Minglan smiled at Stewardess Qi. "Don't worry, Stewardess. Chief Steward Qi is fine - just superficial wounds. He'll recover after resting for half a month." Actually, Tu Hu had indicated that he hadn't even had time to demonstrate his full capabilities before everyone confessed. Chief Steward Qi tended to beg for mercy quietly, so his screams weren't as effective as Second Steward Qi's.
She then addressed Wang Old Madam, "If you still have doubts, you may question these people yourself. The Taoist priest has also been detained."
That religious practitioner with a passion for drug-making had been diligently practicing dual cultivation in his temple when, in the dead of night, a group of masked men descended from the sky. They stuffed him into a hemp sack, terrifying him half to death. Before any blows could land, he cooperated fully, even voluntarily providing witnesses who had seen him drinking and carousing with the Qi stewards, along with several banknotes.
The room fell silent once more. The Wang family members looked at each other, uncertain what to do. Kang Yima panicked, glancing pleadingly first at her mother, then at her brother.
Sheng Hong gradually grew angrier, saying coldly, "May I ask how Mother-in-law and Elder Brother intend to resolve this matter?"
When dealing with his own children, his first instinct was to cover things up. But once the matter spread to in-laws, he had to play the part of the furious, filial son. If facing outsiders, he would need to appear even more indignant and grief-stricken, beating his chest and wailing.
Wang Aunt suddenly spoke up, smiling gently and amiably, "The main parties involved in this matter are originally the Kang and Sheng families. My mother-in-law is advanced in years - how could she withstand this? Brother-in-law, please don't direct your anger at us."
Sheng Hong remembered Wang Old Madam and his brother-in-law's various assistances over the years, and his heart softened.
Hearing this, Minglan gave a light laugh. "Aunt is right. Unfortunately... from the very beginning, Kang Yima was determined to drag the Wang family into this."
Wang Aunt frowned. "What do you mean by that, niece?"Minglan glanced at Kang Yima cowering in the corner pretending to be dead: "Steward Qi the Second began associating with poison-makers precisely when the Wang family announced their return to the capital; Steward Qi paid the deposit to that old alchemist exactly when Old Madam and Aunt Wang returned to the capital; and Kang Yima decided to administer the poison on the very day Uncle Wang returned, when the master baker at Jufangzhai personally fired up the kiln for the first time."
As for when Kang Yima first conceived this idea, it was likely around the time the Kang family's illegitimate daughter became the old prince's favorite concubine.
Wang Old Madam clutched her chest, looking at her eldest daughter with despair and profound heartache.
"Excellent!" Sheng Hong contemplated briefly and immediately understood the significance of Kang Yima's chosen dates for the crime. He slammed the table hard, letting out cold laughs, "The Wang family are noble aristocrats while we Shengs are obscure commoners. Even if my mother were secretly harmed, I'd still have to fear the Wang family and dare not openly pursue justice?!"
Wang Uncle hurriedly responded, "Brother-in-law, please don't say that. We're family who care about each other's dignity and fear damaging harmony. There's no 'fearing' involved! This..." He waved his hands repeatedly, "Now that Mother-in-law lies critically ill, I'm deeply concerned. Today my mother specially brought a century-old ginseng, hoping Mother-in-law may turn danger into safety and recover her health. Otherwise, the Wang family..." His voice actually choked with tears, "Our fault would be truly great!"Speaking to the end, his face full of shame and his tone sincere, he didn't plead for his sister even once." Minglan thought to herself that this one still had some conscience.
Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, Steward Qi's wife quickly stepped forward to help Kang Yima up, arguing, "These confessions may not be reliable. Under severe torture, false confessions can be extracted."
Reminded by this, Kang Yima's spirits lifted. She stood up and declared loudly, "Exactly! Brother, the Sheng family wants to clear my sister completely, so they're framing me! They captured my close associates and tortured them severely - how can such confessions be trusted?" She turned and threw herself at her mother's knees again, pleading mournfully, "Mother, you must stand up for me!"
Madam Wang jumped up immediately, pushing her sister in furious agitation: "What do you mean by that? What's this about clearing me completely? Are you trying to pin everything on me?!"
Wang Old Madam showed a troubled expression.
Minglan had been waiting for this moment. She clapped her hands and smiled, "I knew Aunt would say that. But indeed, who knows if those vile people might falsely accuse Aunt to escape punishment?"
Her words astonished everyone in the room. From beginning to end today, Minglan had been relentlessly pressing Kang Wangshi, nailing down her crimes brick by brick, yet now she changed her tune.
"But..." Minglan's expression turned solemn, "My grandmother being poisoned is real, the pastries being poisoned is real, the pastries being given to grandmother by Mother is real, and the poison refined by that alchemist is the same type. Ultimately, it only comes down to whether Mother harmed grandmother, or whether Aunt harmed grandmother." With each sentence she spoke, the expressions of the Wang family members and Kang mother and son grew darker.
"They're both flesh and blood of the Wang family. No one knows a daughter better than her mother. The confessions lie here on the table, all the perpetrators are detained in the backyard." Minglan slowly scanned their faces, then calmly delivered her final line, "My grandmother's life still hangs in the balance. We must have an explanation. Please let Old Madam make the decision. What do you think, Father?"Sheng Hong said in a deep voice, "Murdering one's elder is intolerable to both heaven and reason! In the Sheng family, how dare anyone lay hands on my mother—this is beyond outrageous! We must get to the bottom of this!" He needed to resolve this matter quickly, keeping the family scandal confined within the Sheng and Wang families—that would be the least disastrous outcome, and he could even shift the blame along the way. He cupped his hands toward Wang Old Madam and said, "I leave the decision to you, Mother-in-law."
Wang Old Madam suddenly became the key figure. Kang Yima and Madam Wang both rushed to tug at their mother's arm—
"Mother! You must save me! You know best how much I've suffered all these years. Who can understand the bitterness in my heart? You absolutely must save me!"
"Sister said it was just medicine to make someone sick—how could I have known it was poison... Mother, I would never have the nerve, nor could I ever think of such a wicked method to harm someone!"
Old Madam Wang found herself torn between two impossible choices. With pleading eyes, she looked toward Sheng Hong, but he turned his face away. She realized that such a grave crime as matricide was something her son-in-law would never forgive. Unable to hold back, she broke down in tears, shaking her head as she wept bitterly.
Wang Uncle was equally heartbroken yet powerless to resolve the situation. He could only kneel at his mother's feet, shedding silent tears.
Wang Aunt slowly retreated a few steps, casting a discreet glance at Minglan. She thought to herself, "This young girl has such a cunning mind. Though she deeply despises Kang Wangshi and resents Madam Wang, even holding a grudge against the Wang family, she takes her time like a slow knife cutting through flesh. No matter who takes the blame, Old Madam Wang will be heartbroken for life after making this choice, and her brother will be utterly devastated. As for the two sisters, the one who bears the punishment will deeply resent her maternal family, while the one who escapes punishment will never again share the same close mother-daughter bond as before."
With one stone, she kills three birds—not only punishing the wrongdoer but also tormenting the family that enabled her.
Kang Yima's face flushed an abnormal red. Suddenly grabbing Old Madam Wang, her eyes staring blankly, she gasped, "Mother! The Sheng family won't be too hard on younger sister. Her son is outstanding, her daughter married into a prominent family—she'll only suffer some hardship, nothing serious! But I'm different. That heartless man has long grown tired of me, and all those vixens in the house are waiting for me to die! If I get divorced, what will happen to my children? This marriage was arranged by Father! Mother, you can't abandon me! You can't let them deal with me as they please!"
Kang Jin threw himself at his mother's skirts, weeping bitterly.
Madam Wang, furious and red-eyed, pointed at her sister: "You—!"
Watching her own flesh and blood turn against each other, Old Madam Wang felt as if her heart were being sliced by knives. Her vision blurred, and a burning pain seared through her lungs, while her eldest daughter kept shaking her, repeatedly begging and pleading, "Save me!"
Gradually focusing her vision, she saw her eldest daughter's face—so similar to her own—then looked at her younger daughter's anxious, angry expression. Finally making her decision, she raised her arm and slapped her eldest daughter with all her strength.
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