Zhenhua Pavilion.
Dou Xueci’s face was utterly bloodless, lying on the bed like a paper doll. The Old Madam sat at her bedside, so furious her head spun.
“Useless barefoot quack! He cannot even identify the poison. Send him away—quickly summon the imperial physicians!”
The doctor who had examined her earlier was driven out.
“Old Madam, perhaps we should invite another skilled physician instead. Why alarm the palace? If word spreads, it will be troublesome.” Second Madam tried to persuade her. If the palace learned the young lady’s life hung in the balance, it would cause an uproar. Better she die quietly.
But the usually gentle Old Madam suddenly raised her head and glared fiercely at Second Madam.
“Zhi Ying, strike her mouth!”
Second Madam froze, hastily kneeling. “Old Madam, your daughter-in-law was wrong.”
“Strike! Shameless woman! Such a young girl, and you would harm her? In the past, I let things pass, but now, before my very eyes, you dare plot against her? Never again!”
Zhi Ying knew the Old Madam was truly enraged. She stepped forward, murmured an apology, and slapped Second Madam hard. Blood spilled from the corner of her mouth, her ears rang, and she nearly collapsed.
But the Old Madam did not stop her. Zhi Ying continued until ten blows had been struck.
When Dou Mingxi arrived, she saw her mother’s face swollen and bruised, half purple-red, a terrifying sight.
Inside were only the womenfolk. Even Lou Yuanduo, reckless as he was, dared not enter—he waited outside for news.
When the imperial physician arrived, he was accompanied by a female official from the Empress’s household.
From the moment he began taking Dou Xueci’s pulse, the physician’s brows furrowed and never relaxed, making the Old Madam’s heart clench tighter.
“It is indeed poisoning. No wonder others could not detect it—it is not a single toxin. I find seven or eight different poisons within the young lady’s body. Thus, it is unclear which one caused her coma, or whether it is the mixture itself. I must examine her recent diet before making a judgment.”
The Old Madam clutched her chest, pain stabbing through her. *These people are truly vicious!*
“Bring everything the young lady has eaten recently!”
As the imperial physician examined the food, the Old Madam’s gaze swept over everyone—those of the second branch, the third branch, the young ladies, the madams, even Zhuang Wanqing herself. None were spared.
Her look made everyone’s scalp prickle, as if she were about to devour them alive. She was truly enraged.
No one dared speak. The earlier example was clear—Second Madam had merely tried to stop the physician being summoned, and her mouth had been beaten bloody.
“There it is—it’s in this tea!”
The Old Madam leaped up in alarm. “What poison is it?”
“Old Madam, this poison is called *Xiangsichan* (‘Entwined Lovesickness’). It is extremely vicious. I had only ever read of it in ancient medical texts—never thought it truly existed!”
“Physician Fang, spare us your bookish airs!” The female official from the Empress’s household, silent until now, frowned slightly. The physician quickly returned to the point.
“This poison, once ingested, causes the victim’s heart meridians to rupture after three months. They will cough blood until death. During this time, the symptoms mimic lovesickness, hence the name *Xiangsichan*. The young lady’s coma is due to her already being poisoned earlier. The potency of *Xiangsichan* is fiercer than other toxins. Combined with several others, her body could not withstand it, and the poison struck early.” He paused, then pointed to several pastries and dishes laid out behind him.
“Xiangsichan was in the tea. But the Snow Mist Soup, Crystal Dragon-Phoenix Cakes, Plum Blossom Dumplings, Jade Dew Balls, Golden Thread Yogurt, Exquisite Peony Sushi, and Amber Cakes—all of these also contained different poisons. These are all slow-acting toxins. Within a year at most, or half a year at least, anyone consuming them would die quietly.”
The more the physician spoke, the more the Old Madam trembled with fury, her fingertips shaking.
The room grew heavy with tension, like storm clouds gathering.
“Can my granddaughter still be saved?” Suppressing her rage, the Old Madam asked the question that mattered most.
“Fortunately, the poison struck early. I will prepare a detoxifying decoction—once taken, the young lady will awaken. But having consumed so many poisons, her body is deeply harmed. She will need careful nursing in the future.”
At last, the Old Madam exhaled in relief, ordering the physician to prepare the medicine.
The physician had just left when the Old Madam turned to the palace official.
“Please trouble yourself to return and inform Her Majesty the Empress. Tell her not to worry—I will take good care of Xueci.”
The official acknowledged and departed for the palace.
Once outsiders were gone, the Old Madam suddenly barked: “Kneel!”
Everyone in the room dropped to their knees without hesitation.
“Investigate thoroughly! Find out how those filthy things entered Xueci’s food! If you cannot, then kneel here for the rest of your lives and never rise!”
Just then, a little maid entered to report: “Old Madam, the Eldest Madam knows the Eldest Miss is unwell. She is weeping bitterly in her courtyard and begs your grace to let her come see her.”
“Bring her! I was looking for her anyway!” Then she glared at the kneeling crowd. “Do not think I am blind. You would only be at ease if my Xueci died, so you could seize this vast household for yourselves!”
“We would never dare—Old Madam, please see our hearts clearly…”
The room dissolved into sobbing.
“Spare me your theatrics. If I discover which of you did this, I will pry open your mouths and force you to taste those vile poisons yourselves!” Her eyes gleamed like hidden blades, stabbing at each of them.
Dou Mingxi, who had kept her head bowed, fingers twisting her handkerchief, hesitated long but dared not speak. Yet the Old Madam, watching closely, caught her unease.
“Mingxi girl, you have something to say.”
Suddenly named, Dou Mingxi bit her lip and spoke: “Grandmother, your granddaughter wishes to ask Liu Yun one question.”
Second Madam, fearing her daughter would cause trouble, tried to pull her back—but the Old Madam silenced her with a warning glance, forcing her to lower her head again.
“Speak!”
“Yes… Sister Liu Yun, when exactly did Eldest Sister drink the poisoned tea?”
At those words, Zhuang Wanqing felt her heart plummet. Could it be…?
Liu Yun replied, “Fourth Miss, about half an hour ago. The young lady was tired today and meant to rest a while in the afternoon. When Miss Zhuang arrived, the Eldest Miss could not refuse her. Forcing herself to stay awake, the two drank tea together. Not long after Zhuang Wanqing left, our young lady suddenly spat blood and collapsed unconscious.”
“Hmph! What great face Miss Zhuang has—our Duke’s Eldest Miss must strain herself just to keep her company for tea.” It was Dou Zhuyin who sneered. During the recent assassination attempt on Dou Xueci, the younger generation had not been present.
When Third Madam returned, Dou Zhuyin learned that they had tried to use Cousin Zou’s injury to scheme over the younger sister’s marriage!
And then Zhuang Wanqing’s outrageous words—she had cursed her bitterly in her own rooms. Now her pent-up anger burst forth, spilling directly into speech.
Terrified, Third Madam tugged at her sleeve, face pale. *At such a moment, how could she dare?*
“Old Madam, Wanqing truly did not know Eldest Sister was weary. Eldest Sister never said so. Had she known, Wanqing would never have disturbed her.”
The Old Madam fixed her with a cold stare, as though piercing through her soul, her eyes gleaming with icy light.
So soon, and already more trouble!
Her face hardened. “Miss Zhuang, mind your words. Who here is your ‘Eldest Sister’?”
Dou Mingxi nearly laughed aloud—how brazen! For the Old Madam to say this meant she did not acknowledge that kinship at all. Let’s see what face Wanqing has left to remain in the Duke’s household!
Zhuang Wanqing flushed with shame, unable to lift her head. She felt everyone mocking her, despising her. She wished she could dig a hole in the ground and escape.
“I have another doubt. Miss Zhuang drank tea together with my granddaughter. If she was poisoned, surely you too are affected. Summon Physician Fang back—let him examine Miss Zhuang as well. If she dies here in our household, how will we explain it?”