“Mother…”
Qu Cheng was stunned.
Song Shi looked as if she had seen a ghost, murmuring involuntarily, “How could this be?”
Her voice was very soft, but Old Madam’s hearing was sharp.
“I’m not dead, and you’re very disappointed, aren’t you?” Old Madam threw the jade ruyi in her hand.
Song Shi instinctively dodged but failed to avoid it.
The impact made her dizzy, and she fell to the ground.
“Mother, what exactly is going on?” Qu Cheng was completely bewildered.
Old Madam waved to Qu Ling, “Thanks to my good granddaughter, otherwise I would have died at the hands of this poisonous woman.”
Qu Ling asked Imperial Physician Jiang, “How is my grandmother’s health?”
Imperial Physician Jiang replied, “Old Madam is in excellent health.”
He did not linger, collected his silver needles, and prepared to take his leave.
Qu Cheng repeatedly expressed his gratitude.
“Marquis, there’s no need for courtesy. I was merely following orders.”
“I’ll see you out, sir,” Qu Cheng said politely.
But Imperial Physician Jiang said, “Marquis should focus on taking care of Old Madam.”
He glanced inadvertently at Qu Ling, seeing her standing calmly before Old Madam’s bed.
“Thank you, sir.”
Qu Ling felt his gaze.
“I take my leave.”
Only when there were no outsiders in the room did Qu Ling gently ask, “Grandmother, you didn’t drink that bowl of bird’s nest, did you?”
“Of course not,” Old Madam said with lingering fear, glaring hatefully at Mama Qi, her anger blazing, “This treacherous old wretch actually dared to scheme against me.”
Qu Cheng finally reacted, kicking Mama Qi, “You dared to poison Old Madam?”
Mama Qi was terrified, kowtowing like pounding garlic, “Spare me, Marquis! Spare me, Old Madam! This old servant… was momentarily confused, acting under someone’s orders.”
Qu Cheng couldn’t be bothered to ask further, closing his eyes briefly.
Who gave the orders was obvious.
“Who ordered you?” Qu Ling pressed relentlessly.
It needed to be said aloud.
For everyone to hear.
Old Madam currently doted on Qu Ling. Seeing Mama Qi hesitate, she snapped, “My good granddaughter is asking you a question, are you deaf? Dare to speak even half a lie, do you remember what happened to Concubine Su back then?”
Mama Qi’s face turned deathly pale.
Of course she remembered.
The concubine the old Marquis had doted on excessively was finally chopped into pieces by Old Madam and fed to the dogs.
Even after all these years, Mama Qi still felt the smell of blood lingering at her nostrils.
Just hearing others mention Concubine Su made her stomach churn.
Mama Qi glanced up at Song Shi, then quickly lowered her head.
Song Shi knew what she was about to say, her blood-stained face particularly terrifying in the dim lamplight, “You want to frame me, don’t you?”
Pointing at Mama Qi, her sharp voice echoed in the room, “This is all a setup between you.”
“You want to take away my authority as mistress of the household.”
Song Shi knelt crying at Qu Cheng’s feet, “Marquis, what have I done wrong? It’s one thing for A’Ling to hate me, but even Mother hates me like this.”
She desperately tried to conceal the panic in her eyes.
Why hadn’t Old Madam drunk that bowl of bird’s nest?
And who discovered that Mama Qi had been bribed?
Song Shi couldn’t figure it out.
She didn’t forget to defend herself, “There was never any poison in that bird’s nest. I’ve been wronged.”
Now she could only stubbornly insist there had never been any poison involved.
Qu Cheng looked at her with complicated emotions.
Old Madam noticed her son’s hesitation and called out, “Someone, bring the bird’s nest here.”
A maid with lowered eyes obediently brought the bird’s nest.
Mama Qi’s face turned ashen.
It was exactly the same bowl she had presented to Old Madam.
“Make her drink it,” the Old Madam said.
Mama Qi looked up in terror. “Old Madam… Old Madam… Please spare this servant’s life, considering my lifelong service to you.”
The Old Madam stared coldly at her. “Serving me is your duty as a servant. Since when does performing your basic duties deserve rewards?”
A matron stepped forward, pinned Mama Qi down, forced her mouth open, and poured the bird’s nest soup down her throat.
Mama Qi struggled, but to no avail.
Moments later, her face turned blue, her body convulsed, and finally she lay still.
Watching her die, the Old Madam felt even more hatred toward Song Shi.
Had it been just slightly different, she would have been the dead one.
Blinded by rage, she gasped heavily. “Pour the rest down this wretched woman’s throat!”
Attempting to poison her mother-in-law – even Empress Song herself wouldn’t be able to defend this if she came today!
“You wouldn’t dare!” Song Shi retreated fearfully.
“I want to return to the Song Family! I want to see Her Majesty!”
Every hair on Song Shi’s body stood on end.
“Marquis… Marquis…”
She clutched desperately at Qu Cheng’s sleeve. “Mother wasn’t poisoned! If you kill me, Her Majesty will be furious! A Heng and A Yi cannot lose their mother!”
The steward’s voice came from outside the room. “Old Madam, Marquis, we found a porcelain vial and some gold and silver jewelry in Mama Qi’s quarters.”
“Enter!”
The steward laid out the items one by one.
Qu Cheng stared at Song Shi. “I’ve seen you use these things before. What do you have to say for yourself now?”
Song Shi shook her head frantically.
She had never given these items to Mama Qi as rewards.
This was like being haunted by ghosts!
“These are just old things! Who knows which maid stole them to frame me!”
Song Shi flatly denied everything, though her heart grew cold.
Having dealt with the Old Madam for years, she knew the old woman only employed straightforward methods – she would never devise such meticulous schemes.
Then it must be Qu Ling’s instigation.
Song Shi drew a sharp breath and pointed accusingly at Qu Ling. “You orchestrated all this to frame me!”
Qu Ling didn’t need to respond – the Old Madam slammed the bed frame.
“Even now you won’t let A Ling be! She’s just a junior who recently returned to the capital – how could she possibly design such an elaborate trap!”
“But you, as the second wife, couldn’t tolerate the legitimate daughter born of the first wife, forcing her to leave Hou Manor!”
The Old Madam wept angrily, scolding Qu Cheng along with her. “A Ling’s mother was so filial and respectful back then – even while pregnant with A Ling, she never missed her morning and evening greetings! You heartless man, mistreating her daughter and allowing your second wife to bully her!”
Qu Ling shed tears along with them, though inwardly she sneered.
Six years ago, when she had injured Song Shi and Qu Cheng wanted to beat her to death, the Old Madam had been the one applauding.
See? There’s no such thing as genuine fondness.
It all depends on usefulness.
Xu Zhaoyue, an orphan girl married into Hou Manor, had endured countless scornful looks and hardships from the Old Madam.
Even in death, she still received criticism.
In Qu Ling’s memory, the Old Madam had been quite pleased with Song Shi when she first married into the family.
After Song Shi gave birth to twin sons, the Old Madam frequently disparaged Xu Zhaoyue in her remarks.
Only when Song Shi gained the upper hand over the Old Madam did she finally begin to miss the obedient Xu Zhaoyue of the past.
How laughable.
A flicker of emotion crossed Qu Cheng’s face.
That slight show of feeling wounded Song Shi to her core – she couldn’t allow this man to reminisce about Xu Zhaoyue in her presence.
“So what if Xu Zhaoyue was good! Wasn’t she driven to her death by your own hands!” Song Shi roared.
“You’ve truly gone mad!” Qu Cheng’s expression abruptly changed.
Without further hesitation, he instructed the steward, “The mistress has fallen ill. From today onward, she shall recuperate behind closed doors. All household affairs shall be handed over to Old Madam.”
Song Shi collapsed to the floor, her face contorted.
“Go back by yourself,” Qu Cheng looked down at her from his superior position, a veiled warning in his eyes. “I’m preserving your dignity this way, but if you don’t want this dignity, I can certainly accommodate you!”
Song Shi looked up, staring fixedly at her husband.
Then she stood up, smoothing her disheveled hair with her hand.
Before leaving, she glanced at Qu Ling.
Qu Ling’s heart trembled.
In Song Shi’s eyes, she saw pity directed at her.
Pity for what?
Qu Ling’s breathing became somewhat labored.
Was there more to her mother’s death than met the eye?