Lin Shutang and the others waited at the residence gates for a moment before the person Madam Yang sent to receive them arrived.
It was a clever maidservant who treated Madam Jiang and Duan Feng with reasonable courtesy.
“Master Duan, Madam, please come in.”
Duan Feng helped Madam Jiang forward.
Lin Shutang and her sister-in-law followed behind.
Duan Yanzhou and the third young lady went together to settle the carriage and replenish the horses’ feed.
Following the maidservant’s lead, the group soon arrived inside the residence.
County Magistrate Yang’s mansion rivaled those of fourth-rank officials in the capital—upon entering, one was greeted by rockeries and green stones, pavilions and waterside verandas.
Even the door curtains of the residence were woven from fine green bamboo.
Lin Shutang helped her sister-in-law slowly walk into the front hall, where a wave of warmth rushed to meet them.
She steadied her gaze and saw that two braziers of fine Hongluotan were burning inside the room.
How ironic—in the freezing cold, the common folk outside the residence walked barefoot in the snow, while the people inside burned two braziers of expensive charcoal.
Just then, a woman’s laughter came from within the room. “Sister, why have you come?”
Lin Shutang looked toward the sound and saw a beautiful noblewoman dressed in a sable fur coat.
So this was her dear aunt, it seemed.
A county magistrate’s wife, yet dressed like a titled lady of the court—one could see the extravagance of the Yangfu.
Madam Jiang did not exchange pleasantries with her and said directly, “Our family is passing through on our way to take up a post in Qinan, so we came to show Madam Yang something.”
Seeing her speak this way, Madam Yang’s face showed a hint of guilt. “Sister, we are sisters after all—why must you be so distant?”
Madam Jiang did not reply but directly produced a bowl of Xueyan.
Madam Yang’s expression changed drastically as she stared at the Xueyan. “Sister, this is…?”
Madam Jiang said slowly, “The thing you gave me back then—do you not remember? Jiang Yan, though we are not blood relatives, we grew up together, and yet you would scheme to harm me like this!”
This was, of course, not the Xueyan Madam Jiang had given her back then—years had passed and it had long been eaten.
It was something Lin Shutang had taken from Kongjian, likely stockpiled from the Duke’s Residence.
Madam Yang’s expression turned flustered, and she hastily signaled to the maidservants behind her to withdraw.
Once no outsiders remained, Madam Yang took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears. “Sister, when I heard you had miscarried back then, I chose the finest bird’s nest—how could I have schemed to harm you?”
“I know you have always blamed me for taking your dowry and your mother’s belongings back then, but there is no need for you to frame me like this.”
She spoke with sobs and tears, putting on the appearance of Madam Jiang bullying her.
Beside her, Duan Feng slammed his hand heavily on the table in fury. “You wicked Madam Yang! How vicious of you—scheming to harm Ping’er from such a distance!”
“If we had not discovered it in time, Ping’er would have already been dead!”
The Second Master rarely lost his temper, but today he truly could not bear it any longer.
Madam Yang continued to cry. She would never admit to it today, no matter what.
While they were confronting each other, Lin Shutang secretly slipped something into Madam Yang’s cup.
After crying, Madam Yang picked up her teacup and took a light sip. “Sister, Brother-in-law, it is fine if you want to frame me, but do not speak of this in front of my husband. With his temper, I do not know what he might do.”
Her words carried a threat.
But soon, she would regret what she had said.
After drinking the hot tea, blood suddenly began to drip from Madam Yang’s nose.
She was greatly alarmed and wiped with a handkerchief, but the blood would not stop.
“This? What is going on here?”
Madam Jiang and Duan Feng both stood up, looking at her in astonishment, just about to ask.
The eldest sister-in-law, Chen Wanrou, pulled them aside and whispered a few words in their ears.
Madam Jiang and Duan Feng suddenly understood and said no more.
Lin Shutang stepped forward and said, “Oh my, Madam Yang, what has happened to you? Could it be that you have fallen seriously ill?”
Madam Yang hastily called out, “Quick, summon a physician at once!”
The maidservant outside immediately responded, “Yes, Madam.”
Madam Yang kept wiping the blood dripping from her nose with her handkerchief, utterly panicked.
Lin Shutang smiled. “Madam Yang, I have some knowledge of medicine. Why not let me take a look at you?”
Madam Yang looked up cautiously.
Lin Shutang glanced at her own mother-in-law and continued smiling. “If you do not trust my medical skills, you may ask my mother. Her health was restored by my treatment.”
Madam Yang’s gaze toward her immediately changed upon hearing this. She knew the poison she had administered herself—at the time, the physician had said there was no antidote for it.
Yet this young girl before her had actually cured the poison.
Lin Shutang knew she would think this way, and withdrew her smile. “Since Madam Yang does not trust me, then so be it.”
With that, she looked at the bird’s nest on the table. “You just said my mother was wrongly accused. In that case, we might as well report this to the authorities.”
“Oh, and by the way, Madam Yang’s husband is the Xiancheng. Why not simply wait for County Magistrate Yang to return and hold a joint inquiry?”
Just moments ago, Madam Yang had repeatedly used her husband to threaten them.
But Lin Shutang could see that she did not want her husband to know about this matter. After all, what man could accept that the one sleeping beside him was a vicious woman?
Otherwise, she would not have sent everyone away when they entered.
Sure enough, Madam Yang’s expression changed, and she hastily said, “We are all one family. There is no need to take this to the authorities.”
As she spoke, she changed to a fresh handkerchief and found that the nosebleed was still flowing. Gradually, fear crept in, and she quickly looked up at Lin Shutang and said again, “Do you truly know medicine?”
Lin Shutang walked over to her sister-in-law’s side, supported her, and said, “Madam Yang, I told you—if you do not trust me, then so be it.”
Madam Yang was now feeling tight in the chest and uncomfortable, clearly wanting to take a gamble. “I trust you. Please, take my pulse.”