Qu Cheng hurried toward Yun Song Hall while asking, “How could Old Madam start vomiting blood?”
Her health had been fine.
Even her recent wellness check showed no issues.
Qu Ling followed closely behind, listening as the steward said, “I don’t know, young master. I’ve already sent the manor physician over. Marquis, should we request an Imperial Physician?”
It was already late, and requesting an Imperial Physician would require the Marquis to personally go plead.
“How serious is Old Madam’s condition?” Qu Cheng’s eyes showed internal struggle.
He didn’t want to waste this opportunity to gain favor with the Crown Prince.
“Father, I’ll go ask the Princess for help.” Qu Ling suddenly spoke up.
After Zhao Yuanrong nearly suffered poisoning years ago, the Princess had kept Imperial Physicians residing in her manor year-round.
Qu Cheng felt relieved and nodded repeatedly, “Good child, then we can only do this.”
He suddenly felt that Qu Ling’s closeness with the Princess wasn’t entirely a bad thing.
“I’ll send someone with you.” Qu Cheng felt somewhat guilty, his voice becoming noticeably softer.
Qu Ling’s lips curved slightly upward, “Father should hurry to see Grandmother. I have the carriage bestowed by the Princess, along with servants from the Princess Manor. I know the way well and can save time.”
“Good.”
Qu Cheng felt gratified.
This daughter was still quite sensible and obedient.
The moment Qu Ling turned around, a cold smile played on her lips.
She left Hou Manor smoothly. When she boarded the carriage, Tingqin couldn’t help asking, “Aren’t we just putting on an act? Could Old Madam really be poisoned?”
“Song Shi must be feeling quite pleased with herself. Her scheme kills two birds with one stone.” Qu Ling narrowed her eyes.
Tingqin’s heart sank to the bottom, “Then what will you do, Miss?”
“Don’t worry, I have a plan.” Qu Ling signaled for her to relax.
When she suggested this plan to Old Madam, she had anticipated that Mother Qi would tell Song Shi, and that Song Shi wouldn’t miss this opportunity to both harm Old Madam and frame her for it.
The carriage stopped at Princess Manor.
After the gatekeeper went in to report, Qu Ling was quickly welcomed inside.
The Princess was still handling official matters when she saw her and teased, “Didn’t you just return home? Why are you back here again?”
She asked, “Has someone in Hou Manor been bullying you?”
Warmth spread through Qu Ling’s heart as she concisely explained the situation about Old Madam being poisoned.
“She seems more like the Empress Dowager’s daughter than I am.” The Princess said expressionlessly.
Empress Dowager Song also enjoyed poisoning people and administering harmful drugs.
“Aunt, where did she get these poisons?” This was something Qu Ling had never been able to figure out.
Just the Furong Xiao alone was extremely rare.
It wasn’t available on the market at all.
The Princess’s expression changed slightly, and she clenched her fist, “Mu Guanqing, the head of the Imperial Medical Institute, was promoted entirely by the Empress Dowager. The world only knows that the Mu family possesses peerless medical skills, but they don’t know the Mu family actually has two branches.”
The Princess motioned for Qu Ling to sit down and had sweet soup served, as if forgetting that the Dingxiang Marquis’s mother was fighting for her life.
“One branch possesses peerless medical skills, while the other dominates the world of poisons. Back then, Mu Guanqing gained Mother’s favor by betraying his fellow disciples. All these years, he’s been keeping the medicines left behind by the poison branch, naturally giving them all to the Song Family.”
Those supplies should be running out by now.
Qu Ling immediately thought of Madam Mu in Jiangzhou.
“Aunt, you need to send someone to Jiangzhou.”
The Princess looked puzzled.
Qu Ling then explained how she had discovered the Furong Xiao.
“So there are still descendants of that Mu family branch alive.” The Princess became somewhat excited.
When Empress Dowager Song was alive, although she and her daughter were like fire and water, she never allowed anyone to harm her.
After Empress Dowager Song passed away, she lived with extreme caution.
She was meticulous in every aspect of her daily life—food, clothing, shelter, and travel—fearing she might fall into the Song Family’s traps.
“I will send someone to Jiangzhou now,” the Princess said, holding Qu Ling’s hand. “You have been a great help to your aunt.”
She added, “I will accompany you to the Hou Manor and have Imperial Physician Jiang come along.”
But Qu Ling refused, “If you enter the Hou Manor, Aunt, the Song Family will have another reason to impeach you.”
This had indeed happened in her previous life.
Qu Ling could not let the Princess give the Crown Prince another handle against her.
“In that case, besides Imperial Physician Jiang, I will give you Sushang.”
The Princess had been regretting not giving Qu Ling a maid skilled in martial arts.
Her thoughts aligned perfectly with Qu Ling’s.
In her previous life, the Princess Manor had also sent Sushang over, but the Hou Manor sent her back.
At that time, Empress Song and the Crown Prince had impeached the Princess for meddling in others’ family affairs.
Qu Cheng had humbled himself, saying, “I dare not let the court officials misunderstand that the Princess is truly interfering in my family matters.”
With that beginning, whenever the Princess later tried to summon Qu Ling, Song Shi dared to refuse to let her go.
In this life, Qu Ling did not want the Princess to confront the Dingxiang Marquis Manor directly. She only needed to borrow the Princess’s authority and her people.
Those people—she would kill them herself.
Soon, a handsome young man emerged.
He wore a blue scholar’s robe, calm and composed.
“The Old Madam of the Dingxiang Marquis Manor has been poisoned. Go with Miss Qu to take a look,” the Princess said.
Qu Ling bowed, “Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Physician Jiang.”
This Imperial Physician Jiang was indeed young, but since he had earned the Princess’s trust, he must have some skill.
Jiang Shu’s eyes were as pale as glass. He nodded slightly without saying a word.
By the time Qu Ling left the Princess Manor, Sushang was already waiting by the carriage.
“This servant pays her respects to the young lady.”
Sushang had grown up with Zhao Yuanrong and knew Qu Ling.
“Let’s go to the Hou Manor first,” Qu Ling said, already knowing what awaited her.
As soon as the carriage stopped, the Hou Manor had sent several sturdy maids to wait at the gate. “Eldest Young Lady, the Marquis asks you to hurry to Yun Song Hall.”
Qu Ling remained calm but quickened her pace.
As soon as she stepped into Yun Song Hall, she heard Qu Lianzhi’s voice, “Qu Ling, you are truly vicious! To frame my mother, you poisoned Grandmother!”
“A-Ling, how could you hate me to this extent?” Song Shi covered her chest with a handkerchief, looking heartbroken.
“Father, send her away immediately,” Qu Lianzhi said furiously. “She just returned today, first injuring my mother, then harming Grandmother. All these years in Jiangzhou, she must have hated us deeply.”
In her eyes, Qu Ling daring to suggest having the Old Madam feign poisoning was already audacious.
She recalled Qu Ling saying she would first seize her mother’s authority over the household.
She could not be allowed to stay.
Qu Lianzhi had never felt such a strong urge to kill someone.
“A-Ling, did you poison Grandmother?” Qu Cheng finally spoke, frowning deeply.
Qu Ling replied calmly, “I have brought an imperial physician from the Princess Manor. Father, please let the physician examine Grandmother first.”
In the entire room, no one cared about the Old Madam’s life or death.
Only then did everyone’s gaze fall upon Imperial Physician Jiang.
“Is this really an imperial physician or a kept man of the Princess?” Qu Lianzhi muttered to herself.
Qu Cheng quickly led him into the inner chamber.
“I truly underestimated you,” Song Shi said with a gentle smile on her face, lowering her voice to silently mouth three words: “You little bastard—”
A sharp murderous intent surged in Qu Ling’s eyes as she casually grabbed a teacup from the table and flung it directly at Song Shi’s face.
“Ah—”
From the inner chamber, Qu Cheng heard Song Shi’s piercing scream.