For some reason, though the Old Madam’s tone was not heavy, the single word *death* chilled Zhuang Wanqing to the bone.
Physician Fang was summoned again to examine Zhuang Wanqing’s pulse.
After a while, he stopped and reported: “Old Madam, this young lady is healthy, no serious harm. Only, she has consumed too many tonics, which has caused some internal heat.”
“Eldest Sister has been sending her tonics like running water—no wonder she’s overheated. How ungrateful! Eldest Sister treats her so well, yet she dares harm her!” Dou Yanning muttered softly, but in the silence of the room, everyone heard clearly.
Third Madam nearly fainted. Why was it always her household whose mouths ran unchecked!
Zhuang Wanqing knocked her head hard against the floor, crying in defense: “Old Madam, Wanqing has received Eldest Sister’s… the Eldest Miss’s kindness, and Eldest Madam’s care as well. What reason would I have to harm her? I only hope to repay their grace, not even enough—how could I ever think to harm her?”
“Grandmother, but I know why!” Dou Mingxi lifted her head, glaring at Zhuang Wanqing, and continued: “I once heard her maids gossiping that Eldest Madam intended to have her entered into our family genealogy. They said Eldest Sister might not agree and would need to be persuaded. I think she plotted that if Eldest Sister died, no one could stop her! Wouldn’t that make it easy for her to take her place?”
“You wicked-tongued girl! When did I ever say such a thing? Si Jin, tear her mouth apart!” Madam Zou had just entered and heard Dou Mingxi slandering Zhuang Wanqing. Rage flared in her chest, and she ordered her servant to seize her.
Second Madam stepped forward to shield her daughter, sneering coldly:
“Why so anxious, Eldest Madam? If it truly never happened, how could a little maid invent such things? Even if not, this Miss Zhuang only days ago spoke wildly and was rebuked by Old Madam. Who’s to say she doesn’t bear a grudge?”
Madam Zou tried to argue further, but the Old Madam suddenly snatched up a teacup and hurled it at her.
“You defend that outsider, yet the one lying inside is your own daughter! Heartless creature! If you care for her so much, then get out! My granddaughter has others to love her!”
Madam Zou collapsed to her knees with a thud. “Old Madam, Xueci is the flesh of my flesh—how could I not love her? But Wanqing once saved my life. I know her to be good. How can I allow her to be slandered?”
“You know well what schemes lie in your heart!” The Old Madam’s face was full of fury. She turned to Dou Mingxi: “Mingxi girl, did you see the maid who spoke those words?”
Dou Mingxi quickly replied, “Grandmother, your granddaughter saw her.”
“Point her out!”
Zhuang Wanqing panicked. She had never spoken such words to her maids—but what if they had overheard something by chance?
Sure enough, Dou Mingxi pointed. “It was her!”
The maid was Chun Lan, the one who had earlier carried palace flowers and been seen by Dou Mingxi.
Chun Lan, publicly accused, fell to her knees, crying and knocking her head against the floor. “Old Madam, this servant knows nothing, truly nothing!”
“Don’t be afraid. Just speak the truth. In front of the Old Madam, no one will harm you.” Dou Zhuyin tried to comfort her.
“If you don’t speak, a few strokes of the rod and your life will be forfeit.”
The accuser was her own young mistress. Jin Yudian, prompted by her mother-in-law, also stepped forward, half-coaxing, half-threatening.
Terrified, Chun Lan trembled and sobbed.
“Old Madam, this servant did indeed hear Eldest Madam tell Miss Zhuang she would have her entered into the family genealogy, to make her the Dou family’s true daughter.”
Zhuang Wanqing collapsed weakly to the floor. “Chun Lan, I have never treated you poorly. How can you slander me and my mother so?”
Second Madam Jin Yudian suddenly sneered. “Does Miss Zhuang always speak so improperly? Eldest Madam is your foster mother, not your mother.”
“Hmph! And you say she has no such thoughts? Calling her ‘mother’ at every turn—she must have long desired to be a Dou daughter!” Dou Mingxi added.
Madam Zou’s chest heaved with anger, but she dared not speak rashly. At such a time, too many words would only bring more mistakes. She needed to think of a way to break the impasse.
“Chun Lan, tell me—on what day did you hear me say such a thing? At what hour, and what were you doing then? I recall that though you are Wanqing’s personal maid, she dislikes having too many attendants near her, so I rarely saw you.”
Though sobbing, Chun Lan’s words were clear and orderly.
“Replying to Eldest Madam, it was the second day after Miss returned to the household, not long after breakfast. The next day was my mother’s birthday, so I had intended to ask Miss for leave to go home and celebrate. Unexpectedly, I overheard Eldest Madam speaking with her. This servant did not mean to eavesdrop.”
Madam Zou’s face darkened frighteningly. She knew well that she had indeed spoken such words to Zhuang Wanqing that day—but it was something she could never admit.
Before she could speak, Jin Yudian interjected: “I recall that since Miss Zhuang entered our household, she has taken all three meals with Eldest Madam. So it is not strange that she was in her courtyard at that time.”
The Old Madam grew even more furious, glaring at Madam Zou. “You are close with her indeed! I hardly know who is truly your daughter. Xueci has returned these days, and even I see how she sends you endless gifts. Even this outsider shares in the bounty. Xueci treats you so well—yet how do you treat her? How many times have you eaten with her? If you had, then it should be you lying in that bed now!”
Madam Zou was scolded to her face. For years, she had basked in glory, but lately she had been humiliated again and again before everyone. And all of it was because of that little wretch. If only she had not returned—or better yet, died outside—then she and Wanqing would have lived happily!
But Madam Zou dared not reveal such thoughts, and only tried to defend herself.
“If my love for Xueci is false by even half a measure, may lightning strike me dead! Ancestor, you too are a mother. She is the child I carried for ten months in my womb. If you love her one part, I love her ten. When Xueci caught the plague years ago, I crawled on my knees up to Fahua Temple, my knees torn and bleeding, yet I did not stop. I only prayed the Buddha would protect my daughter. My heart has never changed, not even a little!”
This story was known throughout the capital, and Madam Zou had gained a reputation for maternal devotion, praised by all. Tears streaming, she beat her chest. “If Xueci suffers misfortune, I will follow her, to complete our bond as mother and daughter…”
“Old Madam, the young lady has taken the medicine—she has awakened!” Nanny Wan suddenly emerged from the inner chamber with joyful news.
The Old Madam forgot her anger at Madam Zou, hurrying to see Dou Xueci.
Inside, the warm fragrance was thin, mingled with the bitter scent of herbs, curling around the carved bed where a frail figure lay. Her eyes, once clear as autumn water, now seemed like dust-covered glass.
Dou Xueci reached out, grasping the Old Madam’s hand. Faint blue veins showed on her arm. “Grandmother, Nanny says I was poisoned. Who is it that seeks to harm me?”
The Old Madam’s eyes reddened with genuine pain. She knew well—her granddaughter, once carefree, radiant, and lively, had changed since returning.
But the Old Madam pretended blindness, unwilling to admit it. Xueci’s status destined her to walk every step on the edge of a blade. If she still carried her old temperament, she would not live long.
At times, the Old Madam herself could not tell whether the emperor’s decree was meant to preserve her granddaughter’s life—or hasten her death.
“Grandmother is investigating. Rest assured, this time I will not let you suffer injustice. Whoever is found guilty, I will stand for you.”
Dou Xueci’s lips curved faintly, though bloodless. She believed only a fraction of those words. The last assassination attempt had been brushed aside easily enough.
Zhi Ying entered with Mu He, Xuelu, and Yuxuan.
“Old Madam, we’ve uncovered all the filth. We searched every corner of Zhenhua Pavilion’s maids’ and servants’ quarters—ten or more were hiding poisons.” Zhi Ying reported.
“I never knew—it’s a den of vipers!” The Old Madam’s throat tightened, dizziness and rage overwhelming her.
“Summon Physician Fang to identify the poisons. Then investigate how those maids and servants entered, and through whose hands!”
Zhi Ying added, “Old Madam, it’s been checked. Half are household-born, half were bought from outside. They were trained only half a year before being sent to serve the young lady—their manners not proper at all.”
Dou Xueci’s position was unique: the Duke’s sole bloodline, the legitimate eldest daughter of the main branch. Those allowed into her courtyard should have been either household-born, with clean roots and families under control, or trained for three to five years before serving.
But in recent years, the Old Madam had left affairs to Madam Zou, unaware she had nearly overturned the household.
“And those bought from outside—through whose hands?”
“Replying to Old Madam, such matters were formerly managed by Eldest Madam. It was Nanny Zhou of her courtyard who purchased them.”