Chapter 676: Chapter 678: Twisted Logic

He Xiaoyu, standing to the side, was frantic. ’Her aunt should quit while she’s ahead. If she keeps making a scene like this, it won’t end well for her.’

Liang Shi said, "You are the mistress of this house. It’s your responsibility to handle this. As for who made the mistake, we can settle that score properly later, behind closed doors."

Mrs.Liang He retorted, "I’ve heard that same line countless times in the years since I married into this family."

"Every single time, the issue is brushed aside without any real consequences. Isn’t it just the household management authority they’re after?"

"Why don’t you hurry and write a letter? Have that ’good’ son and daughter-in-law of yours come over. Then Feiling and I can just live at their mercy."

"We’ll just have to beg them to spare our lives, for the sake of sharing a father with Feiling."

Liang Shi’s expression soured. "...Nonsense! I’m still alive and kicking! It’s not their turn to run this house. You can set your mind at ease."

Mrs.Liang He dabbed the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. "My lord is still here, and they already dare to act this way. What will happen in the future? Feiling and I will be left with no way to survive."

Liang Shi sighed. "...Then what is it you want?"

This was a prime opportunity to bargain, and Mrs.Liang He had no intention of letting it slip by. Her voice softened. "My lord, your humble wife isn’t greedy..."

...

***

Ancient Wen Heng’s expression turned frigid when he heard the report from his subordinates.

’To think that a squabble in the Liang Mansion’s inner court could end up harming outsiders.’

’Should I be grateful they only wanted to trip up Lady Liang and didn’t use a truly deadly poison?’

The thought of an irreversible poison was terrifying.

When Xu Dawang reported that the Liang Mansion had sent extravagant gifts, Ancient Wen Heng’s immediate impulse was to wave them away, ordering both the people and their presents to be thrown out.

But Jin Qianqian, who was chugging water nearby, reached out and stopped him. She said to Xu Dawang, "Go ahead and accept the gifts, then show them out."

Seeing his master’s expression, Xu Dawang stood frozen, not daring to move.

Jin Qianqian set the water jug aside and, cradling her pregnant belly, sat down across from him. "What good would throwing them out do? I’m the one who’s already suffered. It’s only right that I accept a little something to calm my nerves."

"But they almost killed you." Wenheng knew, of course, that the other party had already made their apologetic stance clear. If they pushed it further, they would seem ungracious and unforgiving.

But he couldn’t let it go that easily; he just couldn’t swallow his anger.

Jin Qianqian’s temper flared again. "Then what do you want to do? Go pick a fight with them?"

Seeing her mood swing, Wenheng immediately dropped the subject. He turned to Lichun beside them and urged, "Hurry to the kitchen and check on the medicine! Why isn’t it done brewing yet?"

’She’s usually so competent, how can she not grasp the urgency of the situation?’ Perhaps influenced by Jin Qianqian’s mood, he felt his own temper starting to fray.

"Stop hovering. Brewing medicine isn’t that fast," Jin Qianqian snapped, trying to control herself but failing. Her voice rose despite her efforts.

Wenheng immediately went to her side, patting her back soothingly. "Alright, alright, whatever you say. How about I take you for a walk in the garden?"

Jin Qianqian shook her head, afraid she would scare their two children if she went out in this state. "Just bring me more water. I need to drink more."

Wenheng looked with concern at the empty pitcher on the table. ’She’s already finished a second large one. If she keeps this up, her stomach won’t be able to take it.’

Just then, the kitchen delivered a large basin of mung bean soup. Jin Qianqian rubbed her belly, picked up the bowl, and began to force it down.

She was sick and tired of her emotions being out of her control and just wanted to flush the toxins from her system as quickly as possible.

Wenheng waved Xu Dawang away. "Do as the Madam says. Accept the gifts and then send them packing."

As for whether this would offend Governor Liang, Wenheng wasn’t concerned. The disaster had originated from the governor’s own residence; if he dared to act tough now, he would surely provoke public outrage.

***

The night was an ordeal for the officials’ wives. After taking the doctor’s medicine, they all suffered from vomiting and diarrhea, tormented for the entire night.

Wenheng, too, had stayed up with her all night in worry. He arrived at the government office the next day with a haggard face.

Cen Gaosong’s and Wu Haicong’s households had also been in an uproar all night. However, being more detached, they had left everything to their subordinates and showed up for work looking refreshed and energetic.

Seeing Wenheng’s exhausted appearance, Cen Gaosong asked with concern, "Mr. Gu, you didn’t sleep well last night?"

Wenheng replied, "I was up all night. How are the madams in your households? Are they feeling any better today?"

Cen Gaosong looked embarrassed; he honestly didn’t know the answer.

’The steward seemed to have mentioned something yesterday, but I spent the night with Aunt Lan and forgot to ask this morning.’

Wu Haicong was slightly better informed, having at least inquired this morning. "Her attendants told me she seems a little better. She had just fallen asleep as I was leaving the house."

"Sigh, it was a truly unexpected disaster. It even frightened the children in my family."

Wenheng said, "I’ve only recently arrived, so I had no idea the local mushrooms could be so toxic. Do the local people get poisoned often?"

Wu Haicong shook his head. "Not at all. I, for one, have been here for many years and have eaten all sorts of mushrooms without any issue."

"People here learn to identify mushrooms practically from the time they learn to walk."

"If someone hadn’t been deliberately malicious yesterday, our wives wouldn’t have had to suffer so much."

"Besides, all our mansions are guarded by layers of maids and servants. It’s impossible for anything truly dangerous to just slip into the kitchens."

Wenheng nodded. "I’ll have to make a point to learn from the local mushroom farmers one of these days. For now, please notify everyone for the meeting."

’I need to finish up here quickly. I can’t rest easy until I get back and check on her.’

The more anxious he was to return, the more work seemed to conspire against him, piling up endlessly.

Just as he finally finished his work, Governor Liang and his wife arrived at his residence.

Fortunately, they were only there to express their apologies and didn’t stay long, allowing him to finally hurry back to the inner courtyard.

Seeing his wife’s sleeping face, Wenheng quietly backed out of the room.

"How is the Madam? Is she any better?"

Lichun replied, "She woke up once to take her medicine and had another rough spell. She only just fell asleep."

"But her mood seems much better than before. The outbursts are much less frequent now."

Lichun had only stolen a quick nap in the early hours; worried about her mistress, she had returned early to keep watch.

Wenheng was still worried. "Go and fetch the doctor again. Have him check if the poison in the Madam’s system has subsided at all."

After three or four days of this ordeal, Jin Qianqian finally returned to normal.

But the weight she had worked so hard to gain was gone.

Wenheng kept putting meat into her bowl. "You need to build your strength back up. You’ve lost almost ten pounds in just a few days."

"That’s enough," Jin Qianqian said, quickly covering her bowl. "I can’t possibly eat all this at once."

"It’s fine being a little thinner. As they say, ’the slenderness of old age is a treasure gold can’t buy.’"

Wenheng gently tapped her hand. "What kind of nonsense is that? You can worry about being slender in old age when you’re actually old."

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