Granny Zhang ignored the heavy rain and turned to run straight toward the front courtyard.
Hua Ling was in the small kitchen, anxious and uneasy. When she saw Granny Zhang come in, she immediately rushed up to her as if grasping a lifeline.
“What should we do, Granny…”
Granny Zhang grabbed Hua Ling hard, cutting her off, and asked in a low voice: “Did you do it or not?”
Hua Ling nodded.
Granny Zhang’s face instantly turned ashen, as if the sky had fallen.
Then Hua Ling shook her head.
“What do you mean?! Speak!”
Hua Ling whispered, “The first bowl I sent in was smashed by Ping’an. I came to get the second bowl.”
Granny Zhang glanced at the medicine bowl on the table, immediately stepped forward, poured the medicine out the window, then smashed the bowl and threw the pieces into the stove.
“When you go in later, just say the medicine in the clay pot has been overcooked and needs to be remade…”
Hua Ling shook her head. “Granny, it’s still usable. I didn’t poison the decoction.”
She then told Granny Zhang the method she used to poison it.
The old woman immediately let out a sigh of relief. “Come, bring the medicine and follow me in. Don’t talk too much, understand?”
Hua Ling nodded repeatedly.
In the side room, Hu Rui was already dressed and standing by the bed.
The general had taken off his soaked armor and sat by the bedside, looking at the unconscious Xie Jingyan.
Ping’an knelt to one side, likely having just explained everything again.
When the medicine was brought in, the general personally took the bowl, tested the temperature, and then fed Xie Jingyan himself.
His voice was cold. “Go bring Yu Mu’an to me.”
The deputy general outside immediately acknowledged the order with a salute and strode off.
Yu Mu’an learned ahead of time that the general was returning.
Ju Hong rushed back to the ancestral hall, already drenched: “The general was furious when he heard the news. From what I saw, he’s very concerned about the young master’s condition.
If Madam accuses you of being the culprit again, tonight will be extremely dangerous…”
Yu Mu’an’s expression remained calm. “I understand. Go change your clothes quickly don’t catch a chill.”
Ju Hong looked worried. “But, Young Madam…”
Her composed demeanor didn’t seem fake at all: “I have my own way to prove it. The general is not like Madam he’s reasonable.”
Ju Hong tilted her head toward the outside. “Someone’s coming.”
Yu Mu’an immediately knelt onto the prayer mat: “Hide quickly! Once we’re far away, go back right away. Don’t get sick, understand?”
As she turned her head, Ju Hong was already nowhere in sight.
The deputy general came through the rain, naturally without an umbrella.
Yu Mu’an was soaked through, kneeling at the entrance of the side room, her back straight.
Inside, there was dead silence.
The rain poured heavily.
The general sat by the bed, his eyes dark and unreadable as he looked at her.
“Speak for yourself.”
Yu Mu’an placed her hands on the ground and knocked her forehead against the floor with a dull thud.
Her voice was calm and firm: “This daughter-in-law absolutely did not poison her husband.”
Hu Rui glanced at Granny Zhang.
Granny Zhang immediately scolded: “You’re about to die and still spouting nonsense! The young master’s servant has already identified you what else do you have to say?!”
Yu Mu’an straightened up, looked directly at the general, and spoke earnestly: “I have something to say. I beg Father to hear me out before making a judgment!”
Granny Zhang snapped, “With both witnesses and evidence, you ”
“Let her speak.”
The general’s voice was icy.
Granny Zhang trembled in fright and quickly stepped back.
His sharp, cold eyes fixed on Yu Mu’an, full of pressure.
“If you cannot give a proper explanation, I will sentence you to death!”
Yu Mu’an’s expression did not change. She bowed to the general, then looked at him: “Ping’an said the young master showed symptoms only after eating pastries from my quarters.
If he already felt unwell, why didn’t he call for the household physician, and instead went out early in the morning to play?
The young master may not understand, but does Ping’an, as his attendant, also not understand?
Secondly, it is true the pastries came from my quarters but if they were truly poisoned, then the person who did it may have intended to harm me!”
Ping’an’s body trembled, and he suddenly turned to look at Yu Mu’an.
She continued to look straight at the general: “Father! Please seek justice for the young master and for me!
Because of recent stomach issues, I had no appetite for such rich sweets, which is why I escaped harm.
Poor husband suffered this disaster for no reason please thoroughly investigate this matter!”
“Ju Hong and Nanny Yu have been helping in the main kitchen these past few days to improve their cooking skills.
Coincidentally, Madam gifted me four maids, so I arranged for them to work in the kitchen to familiarize themselves with the young master’s tastes and better serve him in the future.”
As Yu Mu’an spoke, her voice began to choke with emotion.
She lay prostrate on the ground, her frail body wrapped in drenched clothing, trembling slightly.
“Father, it is my fault for failing to properly manage my servants, which led to such a grave mistake.
I do not know who intended to harm me, but my husband was implicated my crime deserves death.
Please punish me!”
Hu Rui tightened her grip on her handkerchief.
Seeing the situation turning against her, she couldn’t speak in defense, or it would only make her look guilty.
She looked at the general and chose her words carefully: “General, a few days ago, I noticed there were too few servants attending to Yan’er’s courtyard, and I feared he might be neglected, so I did send four maids.
They were newly purchased, and I swear I investigated their backgrounds they all come from decent families.
Perhaps… we should summon them for questioning first?”
The general remained expressionless, merely giving the deputy general a look.
Armor clinked as the deputy general saluted and left.
Soon, the four maids were brought in, all soaked through.
“This servant Chunling / Hua Ling / Qiuling / Yueling greets the General and Madam!”
Each of the four maids was strikingly pretty.
Without asking, everyone present knew what they had been sent there for.
Hu Rui asked coldly: “I heard from the young madam that in recent days, you’ve been working in the small kitchen of Qingchen Courtyard?”
Chunling immediately replied crisply: “Replying to Madam! It was this servant and Yueling who were in charge!”
Yueling quickly kowtowed: “Replying to Madam, recently Ju Hong and Nanny Yu have been going out early and returning late, so it’s been Chunling and me handling everything in the small kitchen!
Hua Ling and Qiuling only set and washed the dishes.”
They had no idea that the fire had already reached the kitchen and were still eagerly taking credit.
Their words openly belittled the other two.
It was clear this kind of rivalry wasn’t new.
Hu Rui suddenly shouted angrily: “You shameless wretches! It was you who dared poison the young master and the young madam, wasn’t it?!”
The two were completely dumbfounded.
“Men! Drag them out and beat them hard! Make them confess the truth!”
Before they could react, Granny Zhang immediately called over two servants, who quickly dragged Chunling and Yueling out into the rain.