Chapter 125 Daughter Poisoned
Mengxi saw Zhiqiu smiling and asked what made him so happy. When Zhiqiu heard Second Madam's question, he immediately laughed and said:
"Second Madam doesn't know that Aunt Cui was punished by Second Master."
"Mrs. Cui was punished. Why? How could the Second Master bear to punish her?"
"It's all because of Aunt Li. Yesterday, the Second Master happened to come back early, and Aunt Cui sent Si'er to look for the Second Master, saying that she was sick and asked the Second Master to come over. The Second Master then left Xiaoxiang Courtyard with Si'er. But when they passed by the Chrysanthemum Garden, Aunt Li happened to come out and started chatting with the Second Master. I don't know what tricks she used, but as a result, the Second Master forgot about visiting the sick and followed Aunt Li into the Chrysanthemum Garden. Si'er went back and told Aunt Cui, and Aunt Cui immediately went to the Chrysanthemum Garden. In front of the Second Master, she scolded Aunt Li as a vixen and even hit her. She didn't look like she was sick at all. It is said that the Second Master was angry and scolded Aunt Cui, and then Aunt Cui was scared and stopped. Finally, the Second Master ordered people to take Aunt Cui back to Haitang Courtyard and copy the female training fifty times. Last night, the Second Master did not stay in the Chrysanthemum Garden. Today, the Second Master did not go out, but stayed in the study. There was a fire in the backyard, but the Second Master did not go to attract attention."
"I knew that Concubine Cui was not a peaceful person. How could the Second Master like such a person? Since she came in, this backyard has never been quiet. Fortunately, the Second Master loved her and gave her a separate courtyard. Otherwise, if she were to come to this courtyard every day, who knows what would happen. We should just pretend that we can't hear these things and try to stay away from them."
"That's right. Grandma is in charge of the backyard affairs. How could the concubine be sick without reporting to the mistress to ask for a doctor, but go straight to the master? It's obvious that they are trying to get the oily man to go over there with the second master. Second grandma is right. It's still the quietest here. But it's not a good thing for you and the second master to be so cold to each other all the time. We have to think of a way."
Zhiqiu sighed as she spoke. Mengxi rolled her eyes at Zhiqiu. A few days ago, she had advised her that men were unreliable and told her not to be fooled by the Second Master. Today, she said the same thing again. It seems that the ancient people's deeply rooted idea of being faithful to one person cannot be changed overnight. Her Zhiqiu's will needs to be tempered more.
Thinking of this, Mengxi secretly sighed that she had a long way to go before leaving the palace. It was true that the revolution had not yet succeeded and comrades still needed to work hard.
As the two were talking, Zhixia ran in hurriedly, panting and saying:
"Second Madam, something bad has happened to the eldest and third young ladies."
Mengxi and Zhiqiu were shocked when they heard this. Zhiqiu jumped up:
"Speak slowly, what's going on?"
"The two girls suddenly fell ill. Now their faces are blue and purple, their stomachs are about to burst, and they are unconscious. We have already called a doctor and informed the old lady, the first wife, the second master, and others. They must have already arrived at the plum garden. For some reason, no one came to inform the second lady. If I hadn't seen everyone running to the plum garden and went to see what was going on, the second lady wouldn't know yet. Second lady, please go there quickly, otherwise the first wife will say that you don't care about your daughters and take the opportunity to punish you."
Mengxi was a little amused and helpless after hearing this. Zhixia was really her die-hard supporter. Someone was almost killed, but Zhixia was not in a hurry. Instead, she was worried that she would be punished if she went too late. She secretly sighed that if she stayed in this mansion for too long, everyone would become cold-blooded and heartless. Who would care about a living life?
"Don't rush to go, Zhixia, think carefully about the situation at that time."
When Mengxi heard about the two people's situation, the first thing that came to her mind was poisoning. At the same time, she remembered the evil hand that harmed the Second Master. Her heart tightened. Who on earth was it that wanted to make the Second Master childless?
"I heard from the eldest daughter's nanny that the two daughters just complained about having bloated stomachs at first, so the nanny massaged them, but the daughters kept complaining louder and louder, and finally fainted."
"What did you have for lunch, miss?"
"There are Gongbao Ding, vinegar-braised yellow croaker, beef and potato, bamboo fungus and lotus egg soup, and fried eggplant, served with rice."
"Are there any issues with the other people who are dining with us?"
"I heard from the eldest grandma's personal maid Yan'er that the eldest aunt also ate it, and gave the rest to her and Hong'er. Everyone is fine. The eldest aunt also said that it was not poisoning, but must be some acute illness. Second grandma, please come over quickly. The second master must be there now. If you don't see the second grandma, he must have another attack. After all, the second grandma is the mother of the two young ladies."
After hearing what Zhixia said, Mengxi concluded that there was nothing wrong with the food, but then what was the reason? Thinking of this, she frowned.
Seeing that Second Madam was still not leaving, Zhixia just stood there frowning and rubbing her hands anxiously. She almost jumped up and took Second Madam away.
"Zhixia, think about it again. Did they tell you what the two ladies ate and drank alone after dinner?"
"Oh, by the way, when Second Madam asked, I just remembered that the two young ladies also ate a few strings of candied haws."
"Candied haws?"
“The kind made with fruit and sugar”
“What fruit, what candy”
"I heard that they peeled the apples, cut them into pieces, coated them with boiled sugar, and strung them together with bamboo sticks. They were boiled with brown sugar. The two girls loved it."
"Brown sugar, are you sure? The candied haws are made of brown sugar?"
"I am sure it is brown sugar. I heard from the nurse that the apples are white and the color is very eye-catching when coated with brown sugar. So I specifically asked why the color of the candied haws is red. Huang Ju said it is made of brown sugar."
"Yellow chrysanthemum? What does this have to do with yellow chrysanthemum? Why not use white cotton sugar?"
"The maids who served the young ladies said that after the two young ladies had their meal, the eldest aunt was afraid that the young ladies would have food stagnation if they rested right away, so she ordered them to take the two young ladies to the yard to digest the food. The two young ladies were playing at the door, and happened to meet Aunt Li's maid Huang Ju, who was carrying freshly made candied haws back to Juyuan. She said that Aunt Li wanted to eat some, so Huang Ju went to the kitchen to make them for her. This is Huang Ju's unique skill, and she often uses different seasonal fruits to make them for Aunt Li. Everyone in the yard knows about it. This time, it was said that Aunt Li had her period these two days, so Huang Ju specially used brown sugar. The two young ladies liked them very much, so Huang Ju gave them a few strings ."
After hearing this, Mengxi remembered the food taboo poem she had recited:
“Beef and brown sugar should not be eaten together - eating them together will cause bloating and death” must be true. The eldest and third daughter ate these two things at the same time and violated the taboo. Is it a coincidence?
Thinking of this, Mengxi looked up and asked Zhiqiu:
"Do you still have those purses you made a few days ago?"
"Yes, Second Madam needs it?"
As Zhiqiu spoke, he began to rummage in the drawer under the cabinet beside the bed.
Mengxi turned and went to the backyard. After a while, she brought back a pill. At this time, Zhiqiu had found a few purses and showed them to the second grandmother.
Mengxi picked out a purse of an older color embroidered with a pair of swallows and asked Zhiqiu to tie it with a red string.
"Second Grandma, this one is used, those ones are new. If you want to use them, it's better to use the new ones."
Mengxi glanced at Zhiqiu and said nothing. She just wrapped the pill, put it in her purse, hung it around her neck, then unbuttoned her collar and put the purse into her clothes.
"Second Grandma, what are you doing?"
"I have my own uses. When we get to the Plum Garden, don't talk nonsense. Follow my instructions. Let's go to the Plum Garden."
After Mengxi finished speaking, she motioned Zhixia to lead the way. Zhiqiu pouted, took two quick steps forward in dissatisfaction, and went forward to support the second grandmother.
When Mengxi arrived at the Plum Garden, the old lady, the first wife, and the second master had already arrived. When the first wife saw her come in, her face immediately darkened:
"Second Grandma still knows that I have a daughter!"
