14
Forcing Herself to Slap Her Own Face
“What a clever scheme of feigning injury to win sympathy.”
It seemed that in these three years, Bai Jingshu had learned many tricks of harming others, even mastering the use of poison.
No wonder Bai Chenshi, already overwhelmed by the Lin family affair, still found time to meddle in such trivial matters.
As the “fool,” she could only spout nonsense and act unreasonably, unable to defend herself or answer questions properly, lest she reveal her true nature and arouse suspicion.
Bai Jingchu exaggeratedly gestured with her hands: “I couldn’t breathe, so I hit Sister Jingshu a few times, broke free, and left. I didn’t poison her.”
Bai Chenshi sneered, “If you didn’t poison her, did Jingshu poison herself?”
Bai Jingshu clutched her stomach, tears shimmering in her eyes, looking utterly pitiful.
“I know, Sister Jingchu must resent me because of the trial marriage, which is why she repeatedly tries to ruin my reputation so she can take my place and marry Lord Yan. I won’t fight you for it. I’ll give you this marriage, return our parents to you, and go back to my nunnery, never to trouble you again. Please, just give me the antidote. I really don’t want to die.”
Bai Chenshi, filled with pity, scolded sharply, “Where is the antidote? What poison did you give Jingshu? If you refuse to speak, don’t blame me for being harsh!”
If she produced the antidote now, it would undoubtedly confirm the accusation of poisoning.
If she couldn’t produce it, she would inevitably suffer a beating.
Bai Jingshu’s methods of framing her were endless, leaving her no room to breathe.
In a moment of desperation, an idea flashed in Jingchu’s mind. Feigning panic, she argued:
“I really didn’t poison her, but I know Grandfather has a pill called the All-Dissolving Antidote, which can neutralize any poison. It will surely save Sister.”
Reminded by this, Bai Chenshi suddenly recalled it: “I’ve heard your father mention it too. How could I have forgotten in my panic? But when your grandfather left the capital, he locked the medicine room.”
“I have the key,” Bai Jingchu volunteered.
“Do you recognize the All-Dissolving Antidote?”
“I do.”
Bai Chenshi pondered briefly and instructed Nanny Rong, “Go with her to the medicine room to fetch the medicine. Once Jingshu’s poison is cured, I’ll settle the score with her!”
Bai Jingchu remained calm.
Six years ago, after her grandfather discovered she had secretly mastered the Thirteen Ghost Acupuncture techniques, he privately gave her a key to the medicine room.
When he was away, she could freely enter the medicine room to study all the medical texts and secret formulas inside.
Three years ago, when she left the Bai residence, her adoptive father had already arranged for her grandfather to leave the capital as a diversion, so the key remained in Jingchu’s possession.
Under Nanny Rong’s watchful eye, Jingchu unlocked her grandfather’s medicine room, retrieved a bottle labeled “All-Dissolving Antidote” from the medicine cabinet, and returned to the Chonglou Courtyard.
She uncorked the bottle and handed a black pill to Bai Chenshi: “This is the All-Dissolving Antidote.”
How could Bai Jingshu let it go so easily? Skeptically, she said, “Mother, what if she’s trying to poison me again? Perhaps I should wait for Second Uncle and Eldest Brother to return?”
“The Lin family matter is likely quite troublesome. It’s uncertain whether they’ll return in time,” Bai Chenshi hesitated, then turned to Bai Jingchu. “You take it first.”
Without hesitation, Jingchu picked up the pill and put it in her mouth. She then gave another pill to Bai Jingshu.
Nanny Rong testified from the side, “I watched her closely the entire time. She couldn’t have tampered with it.”
Lady Bai Chen snorted coldly, “She wouldn’t dare even if you gave her eight times the courage!”
Bai Jingshu had no choice but to reluctantly swallow the medicine.
Shortly after it went down, she clutched her stomach and began writhing in pain. Her face turned from green to purple, her lips darkened, and sweat beaded on her forehead.
“It’s poisoned! This medicine is poisoned! It hurts so much I could die!”
Lady Bai Chen immediately panicked. “Bai Jingchu, what on earth did you give Jingshu? Jingshu, how are you? Don’t scare your mother!”
Seeing everything unfold exactly as she had anticipated and Lady Bai Chen turning to blame her, Bai Jingchu decisively closed her eyes and collapsed to the floor, the medicine bottle in her hand rolling away with a clatter.
At this moment, playing dead was the wisest choice—otherwise, she would inevitably face a beating from Lady Bai Chen.
If she fought back or resisted, what if she were truly labeled as mad and sent to the asylum? That would only bring more trouble.
As for Bai Jingshu, she could suffer the consequences of her own actions and endure the excruciating pain.
The real show was yet to come.
Lady Bai Chen was so frantic she lost all composure. “How could I have trusted a fool? Someone, send another messenger to the Lin residence immediately! Tell Second Master to return to the manor at once—say a life is at stake here!”
A servant rushed out in a panic. Just beyond the courtyard gate, she spotted Bai Jing’an striding briskly toward Chonglou Courtyard and felt as if she had seen a savior.
“Young Master, you’ve returned at last!”
In a few hurried words, she explained what had happened in the manor. Bai Jing’an was shocked. He rushed into the room, briefly examined Bai Jingshu’s condition, then picked up the medicine bottle from the floor. After just one glance, his face filled with regret.
“The wrong medicine was given! It’s true this medicine can counteract poison, but it works by fighting poison with poison. Jingchu knows nothing about this, and Jingshu wasn’t severely poisoned to begin with—half a pill would have been the correct dose. Taking too much caused the toxins in her stomach to clash, which is why she’s suffering such unbearable pain.”
“What do we do now?” Lady Bai Chen pressed anxiously.
“It’s not too difficult. Jingshu just needs to take a small amount of the poison she ingested earlier. Once the two toxins balance and neutralize each other, she’ll recover immediately.”
“But Jingchu was the one who administered the poison!” Lady Bai Chen said bitterly. “We don’t even know what kind of poison she used. What should we do?”
Bai Jingchu remained motionless on the floor.
She had been waiting for Bai Jing’an to say exactly that.
Her cousin from the second branch, Bai Jingtai, had left the capital to purchase medicinal herbs and was not in the manor. As for her second uncle, it was unlikely he would abandon treating the Lin family’s young concubine just for one of Bai Jingshu’s pranks.
The only person in the manor with medical knowledge was Bai Jing’an, and he wasn’t particularly skilled in countering poisons.
Bai Jingshu had seized this opportunity precisely because she dared to harm herself.
Today, Jingchu intended to use the situation to force Jingshu to expose her own deceit and suffer the consequences.
Bai Jingshu was genuinely in agony, rolling around on the bed drenched in sweat. Unable to bear it any longer, she gritted her teeth and ordered Qingmo, “Qingmo, hurry! Go to my medicine chest and bring me the remaining pills!”
Qingmo had hesitated several times, but upon hearing Jingshu’s command, she immediately dashed off and returned with the medicine bottle.
Then, flustered, she handed over a cup of tea.
Bai Jingshu took one pill from the bottle and swallowed it. Just as Bai Jing’an had said, the stabbing pain in her abdomen gradually subsided.
Watching Bai Jingshu’s actions, Lady Bai Chen began to vaguely understand the truth behind the matter. She frowned tightly, a hint of disappointment in her eyes.
For a moment, the room fell into complete silence.
Bai Jing’an was the first to break the silence, extending his hand toward Bai Jingshu. “Give me two of your pills.”
Bai Jingshu withdrew her hand. “Brother, surely you don’t intend to save that fool?”
Bai Jing’an nodded. “She also took a dose of the Hundred Poisons Powder.”
Bai Jingshu began to sob softly. “Do you think she’s innocent and undeserving of this? That I shouldn’t have targeted her like this?”
“You’ve truly gone too far today—repeatedly, and at such a critical moment. You’re only adding to the chaos.”
Bai Jing’an’s tone was unmistakably impatient.
“So what?” Bai Jingshu said, aggrieved. “Grandfather told me not to reveal the truth, but do you know that all the suffering I’ve endured over the past decade is because of her?”
Still lying on the ground, Bai Jingchu’s heart stirred, and she immediately pricked up her ears to listen.