Chapter 4: Scapegoat

Su Ying smiled unconcernedly, turned to explain to Murong Zhi, "A few days ago, Chen'er fell into the water and contracted a chill. I asked Physician Shen to find some rare herbs to dispel the cold and nourish the body. The herbs were kept in the medicine hut, but with the continuous spring rain these past few days, I lit Black Severing Incense to use its intense heat to preserve the warmth of the medicinal properties." Turning back to Mother Luo, she continued, "Black Severing Incense is colorless and odorless, capable of penetrating anywhere. Its toxicity is hot and violent; once it enters the body, the blood vessels dilate, causing intense heat and sleeplessness. After six or seven days, the blood vessels rupture entirely, and blood flows from the seven orifices."

As soon as Su Ying finished speaking, Mother Song finally could not stand any longer; she collapsed to the ground, her face pale as a sheet. Su Ying glanced sideways at Mother Song and added, "Anyone afflicted by the poison of Black Severing Incense should apply Stem Incense Water to their palms. If a black line appears on the palm, once that black line spreads to the base of the palm, that is the moment of death."

Mother Luo rubbed her palms desperately, hoping the black line could be rubbed off like ordinary dirt, then she neurotically crawled to Su Ying's feet, pulling at Su Ying's hem while kowtowing frantically, "Madam, please spare my life! Madam, please spare my life! I was momentarily possessed by a demon. It was all Mother Song; it was her! Madam, please spare my life!"

Murong Zhi suppressed his fury: "Speak clearly."

Mother Luo let go of Su Ying's hem and crawled back to Murong Zhi's feet: "It was Mother Song. She gave me the poisonous herbs and told me to find an opportunity to put them in the Fifth Madam's medicine hut. Mother Song was worried, so she even followed to watch. She... she was also poisoned; she definitely was. It was also Mother Song who told me to go to the large kitchen to switch Second Young Lady's refreshments."

Murong Zhi followed up with a question: "Why did you do this?"

"Mother Song gave me a hundred taels of silver." Mother Luo suddenly raised her head. "It wasn't that this old servant was greedy, it was just that my only son was ill, and I had spent all my savings. I had no other choice! I beg Fifth Madam to spare my life. If this old servant dies, my son won't survive either!"

The First Madam took two deep breaths, suppressing her churning emotions; the more such a moment was, the more she could not panic. "Since I was young, Mother Song has been by my side. Without any reason, why would Mother Song do such a thing?"

Lying on the ground, Mother Song's mind was racing. Su Ying had known all along that they were hiding poison. She had endured without acting, waiting for this very moment. There was no way to explain away the fact that she had hidden the poison and been poisoned herself. She could only blame herself for insisting on following into the medicine hut; otherwise, she could have maintained a stubborn denial. But how could she speak in a way that cleared the First Madam? "It was Third Concubine who ordered this old servant to do it."

This sentence was nothing less than a heavy bomb. Third Concubine took the brunt of it, being blasted until she was scorched inside and out, standing there in a daze. The First Madam breathed a long sigh of relief in her heart; Mother Song was her confidante after all, and even at this stage, she would not betray her. However, since Mother Song had chosen a scapegoat for her, she could not fail to honor Mother Song's painstaking efforts. Twirling the ring on her thumb, she feigned a loud reprimand toward Mother Song: "Shut up! Could Lvfu possibly harm her own daughter? Quickly, confess honestly, who exactly instructed you?"

Mother Song knelt properly toward the First Madam and gave a formal kowtow: "It was indeed Third Concubine. Back then, when Madam punished Second Young Lady to the ancestral hall to reflect in silence, Third Concubine came to beg Madam to release her. When the First Madam did not respond, Third Concubine immediately sought out this old servant, saying she wanted to poison Second Young Lady to frame Fifth Madam. This old servant initially disagreed, but Third Concubine said that ever since Fifth Madam married into the General's Mansion, the Master... the Master's relationship with the First Madam was no longer as close as before, let alone with us concubines. She said if Fifth Madam could be brought down, the Master would surely be in harmony with the First Madam again, just like before. This old servant was momentarily possessed by a demon and agreed to Third Concubine. This poison was also obtained by this old servant through relatives in the capital; per Third Concubine's request, we found one with non-violent toxicity that would not harm the body. It would allow Second Young Lady to leave the ancestral hall and no longer have to eat vegetarian meals and copy ancestral precepts every day, and it would also remove the great threat to Third Concubine's heart—Fifth Madam—and allow her to vent her anger."

The more Third Concubine listened, the angrier she became. Her fingers gripped the ground tightly, the veins on her forehead throbbing, nearly grinding her silver teeth to dust. She wanted to shout in rebuttal that all of this was the First Madam's idea and she was at most an accomplice. But seeing the First Madam's rotating ring, her breath escaped her all at once. She had a ring like that too; it was a gift from the First Madam when she first married, but it hadn't stayed in her hands long before she gave it to her elder brother as a betrothal gift for his future bride. The First Madam was reminding her not to forget the oaths made before the original Master and Madam during her dowry. Her relatives were all in the hands of the First Madam's maternal family; if something happened to the First Madam, their lives would also be in jeopardy. She could only bow her head and remain silent.

Third Concubine did not speak, but Second Concubine could not restrain herself: "Oh my, so it was the poison Mother Song obtained. But there are so many people in the manor; Third Sister only sought out Mother Song. If Mother Song hadn't spoken, we would have thought it was instructed by Eldest Sister."

"Perhaps because Third Concubine and I both originally served by the First Madam's side, we are naturally closer, so it is normal for her to seek out this old servant," Mother Song replied with neither humility nor arrogance.

Hearing this, Henchen could not help but roll her eyes. The ability of these ancients to fabricate stories was truly impressive—impressive, but a bit blind. Her dark eyes rolled around, and she stood on her tiptoes, peeking her little head out halfway, saying in a milky voice, "Is that so? I thought the First Madam had Mother Song hide the poison, which is why she searched Mother's medicine hut."

The First Madam's heart skipped a beat. *This stinky brat, why didn't she drown when she fell into the water?* Second Concubine, however, immediately caught on: "Indeed, why did the First Madam want to search Fifth Madam's medicine hut from the start? She didn't think of searching other rooms; it truly is strange." After speaking, she did not forget to glance at the First Madam and also check Murong Zhi's expression.

The First Madam gave a fake smile: "Since it involves medicinal herbs, naturally the first thought is the medicine hut. It wouldn't be strange for me to want to check Fifth Sister's medicine hut, would it?"

"I did everything. I only ask the Master and First Madam, for the sake of Second Young Lady and Third Young Lady, to spare this servant's life," she said, kowtowing to Murong Zhi. Hearing Third Concubine say this, the First Madam's last shred of unease vanished completely. No matter how much others suspected, without evidence, it was all in vain. It was just that regarding the Master...

As expected, Murong Zhi was looking at her with profound meaning. He then saw the dense crowd kneeling on the ground and instinctively pressed a hand to his forehead: "Third Concubine has disregarded human ethics and is prone to jealousy. She is confined to the ancestral hall starting today. Without my command, she is not permitted to step one inch out of the hall, and outsiders are not allowed to visit. Someone, drag these two servants away. Everyone else, rise." Turning back to Physician Zhou, he said, "Physician Zhou, today the General's Mansion only requested your presence to treat a common chill."

Physician Zhou was as shrewd as an old fox; he naturally knew that great noble families had many filthy affairs but had to maintain an appearance of family harmony to protect their reputation. Naturally, these matters were not meant to be spread. He cupped his hands toward Murong Zhi: "Please rest assured, Great General. This old man heard nothing and saw nothing today." Murong Zhi gave an "Mm," waved his hand, and the crowd responded and dispersed.

Henchen sighed in her heart. Once they were dragged away, without an antidote, Mother Luo and Mother Song would surely die.

On the way back, the atmosphere between Su Ying and Murong Zhi remained tense. Murong Zhi: "You knew all along that those two old women were hiding medicine in your hut."

Su Ying: "If I hadn't known, were you going to make me eat vegetarian meals and chant Buddhist sutras in the ancestral hall for the rest of my life?"

Murong Zhi reached out to take Henchen from Su Ying's arms: "Since you knew, why bother asking me? Besides, with your intelligence and talent, you wouldn't be framed."

"So, even though you know today's matter is inseparable from Wang Xiuzhen, you have decided not to pursue it further."

Murong Zhi showed a look of difficulty: "Su Su, back then I was only a small garrison commander. Xiuzhen married me regardless of the consequences; I cannot forget that sentiment."

"So, you let the past go, and you will let whatever happens in the future go as well. Simply because I can protect myself." Su Ying's tone remained flat, as if nothing could shake her mind.

Murong Zhi lowered his eyes gloomily: "You set up a medicine hut in the manor and planted medicinal herbs; now you are even playing with poison. Did I not also fail to question or stop you?"

Su Ying sighed: "If there is a next time, I will not be so soft-hearted."

"Su Su," Murong Zhi blocked Su Ying's path, "you... what exactly is your origin?"

Su Ying tilted her head back slightly, carefully observing this man who had changed his name and surname just to marry her; he still harbored doubts about her. "If you do not trust me, why did you marry me?"

Murong Zhi seemed about to say something, but in the end, he said nothing. He set Henchen down and left with a flick of his sleeve. Su Ying only watched him steadily, without stopping him: "Zhi, the day you know my true identity, I fear our bond as husband and wife will come to an end."

Henchen felt a sense of melancholy. Usually, how affectionate were the parents of this world? It turned out they still had secrets, dissatisfactions, and even suspicions toward one another. Recalling her two years of relationship with that person, she had given her all. But what about that person? How much sincerity could they truly have?

Returning to Bailu Jianjia, Su Ying forced herself to perk up: "After all this commotion, it's too late for dinner. Lianqiao, go to the small kitchen and have them prepare some pastries and warm some milk." Lianqiao obeyed and left. Su Ying then dismissed the maids and old women in the room, asking Henchen hesitantly, "Chen'er, shall Mother send you to your Uncle's place?"

"Ah, what? I have an uncle too?" Being immersed in her sorrow, she was startled. Only after the words left her mouth did she realize what she had said; she hurriedly covered her mouth guiltily, then added after thinking: "Mother, what does my maternal family do, and where are they?"

Su Ying managed a smile: "When our Chen'er grows up a bit more, Mother will take you back to your maternal family. You will know naturally then." "Then I'll grow up a bit more before going to Uncle's house." As she spoke, Henchen snuggled into Su Ying's arms, tugging at Su Ying's sleeve to act spoiled.

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