MFURCC -Chapter 27 Poisoned Food

When they heard that the matriarch had returned, the two of them immediately put on smiling expressions.

She instructed the servants, “Go to the study and inform Master.”

Then she herself, accompanied by Ruan Yunzheng, went ahead to the gate to welcome her.

At the gate of the General’s residence, the matriarch had just dismounted from her horse.

Madam Song stepped forward to support her.

“Mother, please go slowly.”

The matriarch nodded and let her gaze sweep over Ruan Yunzheng. Ruan Yunzheng hurriedly bowed and greeted her: “Grandmother.”

The matriarch responded faintly, then glanced into the crowd but did not see Liuzheng’s figure.

She asked, “Where’s Yaoyao?”

She asked about Liuzheng immediately upon her return.

They had only been separated for a short while.

Ruan Liuzheng perhaps should have been nestled in the matriarch’s lap rather than hers—then they would have looked more like mother and daughter.

Thinking this, Madam Song maintained her smiling expression.

“She went to tidy your room, perhaps she hasn’t received the news yet. I’ll send someone to find her.”

Saying that, she then earnestly instructed Ruan Yunzheng, “Yun’er, go find your eldest sister and tell her that the matriarch has arrived.”

“Yes.” Ruan Yunzheng bowed and went off to “find” Liuzheng.

“Mother, shall I help you inside?” Madam Song’s attitude was very respectful. “You’ve had a long journey. Don’t concern yourself with anything—rest first. When you wake, dinner will be ready.”

“All right.”

The matriarch nodded.

She wanted to take a walk around the General’s residence, but her body wouldn’t allow it, so she had to rest in bed first.

As for the third branch of the family, the steward took them to the Tingju Courtyard.

The Tingju Courtyard was very large. Ruan Jiazheng ran around tirelessly, full of energy, utterly delighted.

Back in the Ruan Residence, the third branch’s courtyard had been pitifully small.

Now, with more space, the children were naturally happy.

“Jia-ge’er, slow down, don’t fall,” Madam Shao, the third matron, cautioned her son. Meanwhile, Madam Zhao, the second matron, arrived.

Madam Shao’s expression darkened when she saw Madam Zhao.

“Second sister-in-law, your gracious presence—what brings you here?”

Madam Zhao, used to Madam Shao’s tone, smiled. “I wouldn’t dare give instructions to my younger sisters-in-law. I just wanted to ask, how is the State Duchess… is she any better?”

Madam Zhao sneered internally.

“Second sister-in-law wants to know? Why didn’t you stay to await news? Why did you leave in such a hurry, without even saying a word?”

Madam Zhao felt awkward.

They had been terrified for their lives—how could they spare time to greet anyone?

They barely had time to escape!

But Madam Zhao had already prepared a reason.

This reason would also serve if questioned in front of the matriarch.

“It wasn’t for any other reason than Second Master… he hurt his foot. It was swollen like a steamed bun, unbearably painful. I was worried it might have injured the bone. If we didn’t treat it immediately, the leg might be crippled. That’s why I hurried back to fetch the doctor.”

“Is that so?” Madam Zhao clearly didn’t believe it.

She didn’t pursue the matter further and instead asked, “Was the State Duchess’s pregnancy ultimately preserved? And at that time, didn’t the State Duke… act against Yaoyao?”

Madam Zhao wanted to say that not only was nothing done to her, the State Duke even knelt to thank Liuzheng.

But the words stopped at her lips.

Why bother explaining?

It was better for the second branch to remain in fear!

So she swallowed the words she was about to say and changed course: “Whether the pregnancy was preserved, we do not know. After you left, the State Duke immediately sent her back to the capital. It’s probably not good.”

Madam Zhao’s face went pale.

“And what did the State Duke say?”

“He raged furiously. But at that moment, Prince Su protected Yaoyao, so the State Duke restrained himself from acting.”

“Why was Prince Su protecting Yaoyao?”

“That, I don’t know. Perhaps the matriarch was present, so he spared her face.”

Madam Zhao thought about it and found it plausible.

At the time, the old master had been renowned throughout the court. Although he was later removed from office, and now under a new dynasty, his influence still lingered to some extent.

Prince Su sparing the matriarch’s face was conceivable.

Madam Zhao paused in thought, then asked, “The State Duke won’t come looking for trouble with us again, right?”

“That’s hard to say. If the pregnancy truly failed, he might still come after us. Second sister-in-law, you’d better go back and supervise the servants in Tingfeng Courtyard, don’t let them go out and attract attention.”

“I can manage that…” Madam Zhao left with a pale face.

Ruan Xuezheng couldn’t help but walk over.

“Mother, why didn’t you tell second aunt the truth?”

Madam Shao sneered, “The people of the second branch are selfish cowards. At the slightest hint of trouble, they would abandon us and the matriarch. I can’t swallow that anger, so I had to frighten them a little.”

Madam Shao didn’t know that Liuzheng was locked in the wood storage—she only wanted to scare the second branch.

After Madam Zhao left, she went directly to Madam Song’s room.

She recounted Madam Shao’s words to her word for word.

Madam Song’s face darkened so severely it seemed it could drip water.

“This wretched child! She truly wants to destroy our entire family!”

Madam Zhao said, “Elder sister, rather than waiting for the State Duke to come find trouble, perhaps we should hand over Liuzheng ourselves… maybe that way she could be spared.”

Madam Song closed her eyes.

She truly didn’t want to care about Liuzheng’s life or death.

Yet this matter involved the State Duke’s residence.

It was known throughout the capital that the State Duke and Duchess had a strong relationship.

If the State Duke were enraged, even she herself would be implicated.

After careful thought, Madam Song said, “I’ll go ask Master.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“All right.”

The two of them went together.

Meanwhile, following Madam Song’s instructions, Ruan Yunzheng went to “find” Liuzheng.

She only passed by the firewood room without stopping and went straight to the main kitchen next door.

Xiang He was still tending the fire inside.

The moment she saw Ruan Yunzheng, Xiang He’s face instantly went pale.

She didn’t want to hurt anyone.

Especially when it was the young lady.

The young lady had always treated the servants well.

In the past, it was like that; now, even with her military accomplishments, she had never scolded or struck any of them.

But when Ruan Yunzheng’s cold, sharp gaze swept over her, Xiang He’s body shivered.

“Third Miss, what brings you here?” The steward of the main kitchen also noticed Ruan Yunzheng and hurried over.

Back when Ruan Yunzheng had stayed in the servants’ quarters, he had only delivered cold dishes to her.

Now that she was staying at the Tingzhu Courtyard with the Madame, he felt uneasy and nervous.

Because of that, he treated her with extra courtesy.

Ruan Yunzheng sneered coldly in her heart, but her face remained warm and gentle.

“The old madam has returned. I’m here to inform you—make sure dinner is prepared properly. Especially the wild game she likes; cook it until it’s tender, her teeth aren’t what they used to be.”

“Yes…”

“The master and madam are very filial. If there’s the slightest mistake, don’t blame me for not warning you.”

Ruan Yunzheng deliberately emphasized the word “filial.” Xiang He’s body shivered again, almost burning herself on the coals.

“Y-yes. You can rest assured—we’ll make the dinner properly so the old madam will be satisfied.”

“Mm.”

Ruan Yunzheng nodded, glancing at Xiang He out of the corner of her eye.

Seeing that she didn’t dare meet her gaze made her even more annoyed, and she called Xiang He’s name directly.

“Xiang He, you’ll be responsible for delivering the young lady’s food.”

Xiang He knew she couldn’t avoid it and braced herself to say, “Yes.”

Her eyes were red.

“Don’t just stand there—hurry up and deliver it. The young lady has been traveling all day and must be hungry by now.”

“Yes…”

Xiang He picked up a bowl of hot porridge and several small dishes and headed toward the firewood room.

Her steps felt unsteady the entire way.

Over such a short distance, she nearly tripped several times.

She almost wished she would fall.

Just as she hesitated over whether to let herself fall hard, Nanny Qi, who oversaw Liuzheng, saw her.

“Xiang He? What are you doing here?”

Xiang He had no choice but to walk over with a stiff expression.

“Reporting to Granny, I’m here to deliver food to the young lady.”

Nanny Qi glanced at the door panel, thinking: Although the madam had asked her to keep watch over Liuzheng and not let anyone near, she didn’t say to let the young lady starve.

“Who sent you?” Nanny Qi asked.

“Third Miss,” Xiang He replied.

Nanny Qi’s expression relaxed slightly.

Third Miss meant the madam. She waved her hand: “Open the door.”

A young servant stepped forward and quickly unlocked it.

“Bring it in. Once she’s done eating, bring it out—I won’t open the door twice,” Nanny Qi said.

The young lady had some martial skills. If she ran out during the commotion, it would be dangerous.

So after Xiang He entered, Nanny Qi locked the door again.

If she couldn’t properly watch over someone, the madam might not favor her as much.

Having finally gotten rid of the previous Granny Liu, she cared greatly about her current position as head of Tingzhu Courtyard.

Just as Xiang He stepped inside, she heard the sound of the lock snapping shut outside.

Her already anxious heart skipped a beat and grew even more tense.

“Y-You, Young Lady, it’s time to eat.”

She held the tray with both hands, not daring to raise her head.

She had only caught a glimpse of the young lady when she first entered—no need to look closely.

“Thank you.”

A slender yet strong hand took the tray from her.

“You must be Xiang He, right?”

Xiang He lowered her head further.

“Yes…”

“Before I left, my nurse mentioned that your mother was seriously ill and asked her to entrust five taels of silver for your mother’s treatment. Was it enough?”

Xiang He was stunned and looked up at Liuzheng.

Seeing her beautiful face smile gently at her, Xiang He finally regained her composure.

“You… you had someone send silver to me?”

Liuzheng looked slightly surprised. “You didn’t receive it?”

“No…”

Liuzheng’s fine brows knitted.

“It must be that the steward in the main kitchen embezzled it! That scoundrel—I’ll have him thrown out of the house when I go back.”

Then she said to Xiang He: “Go to Tinglan Courtyard and explain the situation to Nanny Jiang; she’ll give you the silver.”

“Yes… Thank you, Young Lady!”

“No need to thank me.”

Liuzheng’s lips curved, and she placed the tray on a wooden stool. She squatted to eat without any disdain.

However, just as she scooped a spoonful of porridge, a faintly bitter smell reached her nose.

Something was wrong.

Her sense of smell was naturally more acute than others, and she immediately realized the porridge was off.

She glanced at the trembling Xiang He and had already guessed the situation, her eyes flashing coldly.

No wonder Xiang He was so nervous today!

It wasn’t because she was nervous at seeing her, but because the porridge was poisoned.

Just as Liuzheng was about to discreetly pour the porridge into her sleeve, Xiang He suddenly called out: “Young Lady!”

Liuzheng turned her eyes sideways and saw Xiang He lunging at her, knocking the bowl from her hands onto the tray.