Chapter 103: Formidable Use of Poison
Comments:
Chau- Apologiesforthedelayedrelease!I’vebeendownwithanawfulcaseofexamseason:/
Notes:
[1]Old Eldest, in reference to Li Xiao Ran
[2]A sweet syrup made from fermented grains; thick consistency at roomtemperature, fluid when heated up
JiuYiniangdidnotseemtohaveheardanythingLaoFurensaid.Shewasresistingasifshehadgonecrazy,wantingtoescapethecrowd.Shewascompletelydifferentfrombefore!
LiXiaoRanstoodupandcoldlyshouted:“JiuYiniangfeignedinnocenceandignorance,sowhatabouttherestofyou?Ifanyofyoudaretospeakhalfalie,nooneistoescapepunishment!”
TheyatousbyJiuYiniang’ssideweresoterrifiedthattheycontinuouslykowtowed.
LaoFurenblanklysaid:“Theymustknowsomething.Dragthemalloutandbeatthemahundredstrokesuntiltheyarewillingtoconfess,thenweshallsee!”
Theyatousweretremblingfromfear.Theguardsoutsidecameintodragthemout.Criesformercyrangthroughouttheroom!Atthistime,apale-faced,pet.i.teyatousuddenlycriedoutandkowtowed,beggingforforgiveness:“Nubiwishestoconfess!LaoFurenhavemercy,Laoyehavemercy.JiuYiniangorderedNubitodoso.Nubitrulyhadnochoicebuttoobey.IfNubididnotfollowJiuYiniang’sorder,shewillsurelydriveNubiout!”
LiXiaoRanwavedhishand.Theguardsloosenedtheirgrips.Theotheryatouslookedtoherindisbelief.
LaoFurenlookedatherandasked:“Whatdidshehaveyoudo!”
Herfacepaleasasheet,theyatousaid:“JiuYiniang… JiuYiniangfoundanopportunityduringthepilgrimagetotakethegoldcollarouttoagoldshop,meltedthegold,andaddedsomemedicinalherbsinside.Nubidoesnotknowwhichherbswereputinside!NubineverthoughtthatshewantedtoharmSiShaoye!Atthetime,shejustsaidthegoldcollarwasworthsomuchthatshewouldnotbediscoveredifshetookabitofgold.SheevensaidthataslongasNubifollowedtheorder,shewouldmakeNubiasecond-rankedyatou!”
Afterhearingthesewords,Tanshiwastremblingoutofanger.Coldwaveswashedoverherheartasifshehadfallenintoabottomlesspit.ShealwaysthoughtthatothershadprovokedJiuYiniangtodowrongfulthings,butwhowouldhavethoughtsheherselfhadtheintentiontomurderTanshi’sson!
JiangYueLanrevealedanincredulousexpression:“JiuYiniang, youmustknowthatMinZhiwasinmycare.IfsomethinghappenedtoMinZhi,Icannotescapepunishment,sowhywouldyoudosuchathing!Youareclearly—— ” Asshewasspeaking,sheturnedhertear-filledeyestowardsLiXiaoRan.
LiWeiYanglookedatJiuYiniang,whosefacewassolemnandunclear.Whoknowswhatshewasthinking?
JiuYiniangwasstillstrugglingfiercelyandshouted:“Youareframingme!Allofyouhaveframedme!Youallcolludedtoframeme!”
AsidefromJiuYiniang’sscreaming,noonedaredtoutterasound.Theatmosphereintheroomwasalmostsuffocating.LiXiaoRanslightlynarrowedhiseyes.HetrulycouldnothaveimaginedthatJiuYiniangdidthissortofthing!
SiYiniangglancedatLiXiaoRanandsighed:“Laoye, theone-sidedtruthfromthisyatouisnotreliable.Itisnecessarytoinvestigatemuchmorecarefully,sothatJiuYiniangisn’twronglyaccused!”
LaoFurenresentednotbeingabletopubliclyexecuteJiuYiniang.Hearingthis,shesneeredandsaid:“WeiYang, whatdoyousay?!”
LiWeiYangfeltthateverythingkeptdescendingintochaos.Thereweremanythingsshehadtopersonallyinvestigate,soforthetimebeing,sheonlysaid:“EverythingshouldbelefttoLaoFurenandFuqintodecide,WeiYangdoesnotdaretointervene.”
LaoFurennodded:“Withawitnessandatestimony,LaoDa1,whatdoyousayshouldbedonenow!”
WhileLiXiaoRanhadfeelingsforJiuYiniang,harmingaLifamilyheirwasnotsomethinghecouldforgive.HelookedatJiuYiniangandsaid:“Ihavealwaysfavoredyou,butwasthatstillnotenoughforyou.YouwouldnotevenspareachildlikeMinZhi!”Hisvoicegrewcolderandcolder:“Sinceitisthatway,IcannotholdontolingeringfeelingsoritwillgoagainsttherulesoftheLifamily!Startingfromtoday,JiuYiniangistobelockedupandnotallowedtoleave.Asforthisyatou,lockherupinthewoodshedfirst.Oncetheownerofthegoldshopisfound,confrontthemandasktoverify.Ifitistrue,proceedtobeathertodeath!”
Thatyatoubegantoscreamandcryasshewasdraggedout;LiWeiYanglookedatthissceneandfeltthatthismatterwasevenmorestrange.
JiangYueLansighed:“ItrulydidnotexpectsomeoneasweakasJiuYiniangwoulddosuchathing!Fortunately,itwasquicklydiscovered,otherwiseitwouldhavecompromisedMinZhi’slife!”Then,shekneltdownandsaidtoLiXiaoRan,“Laoye, Ididn’ttakegoodcareofSiShaoye.Iwillnotlamentnomatterhowyouwishtopunishme.”
LiXiaoRanglancedoveratLaoFurenandliftedheruptoherfeet.JiangYueLanrefusedtostand,hertearsstillfalling.LaoFurensaid:“Forgetit, thishasnothingtodowithyou.Getup.”
JiangYueLanonlystooduponcesheheardthisandtearfullysaid:“ThenIwillbringMinZhibackandtakegoodcareofhim.”
LaoFurenfrowned,watchingJiangYueLanwalkoverandtakeMinZhiintoherarmsunderTanshi’sreluctanteyes.ShehadjusttakentwostepswhenMinZhisuddenlyopenedhiseyesandbegantoshriekandcry.
“Look,yousee!Whatelsecanyoudo!Youcan’teventakecareofachild!”LaoFurenwasangeredbythis.JiangYueLanfeltgenuinelywronged.Howwouldsheknowthischildwouldbeawokensoeasily!
TanshihurriedlytookMinZhiintoherarms.Hesuddenlystoppedcryingandimmediatelyfellagainsthisbirthmother’schest,bright-eyedasifhistantrumhadneverhappened.Hislittlehandsweregrabbingatair,appearingverylively.
Intheend,itseemedlikehisbirthmotherstillhadaway.LaoFurenfeltrea.s.sured,butthenpainstakinglysaid:“He’sbeenatFuRuiCourtyardforlessthantendays.Lookatthechild,hehasnolifeinhimanymoreandthiscan’tgoonlikethis!”
LiWeiYangglancedoveratherlittlebrother.Asidefromthereddotsonhisarm,hewasstillfair-skinnedandchubbyandtheobnoxiousnessofhiscryingwasunrivaled.Therewasnosignthathislivelinesshadbeenaffectedatall.
JiangYueLandidnotwanttoletgoofMinZhisoeasilyandcontinuedtosay:“Letmegiveitanothertry!Perhapsmyactionsjustnowwereabitrough,butIcanbegentler!”SheextendedherhandstotakeMinZhifromTanshi’sarms,butthemomenthewasinherarms,MinZhi’stearsranlikeafaucet,andhereturnedtoastateofcryinginearthshakingterror.
Everyone’ssuspiciouseyesfellonJiangYueLan.LiXiaoRanfrowned:“Whydoesthechildkeepcryingthemomenthetouchesyou?”
EvenLaoFurenwashelplessaboutittoo,JiangYueLanthoughttoherself.However,shedidnotdaretoutterthesewordsinfrontofeveryone,soshereluctantlysmiled:“Intheend,he’sstillclosertoQiYiniang!”Herpained,heartbreakinglookmadeLiXiaoRanfeelhiswordshadbeenabitharsh.
“QiYiniang,youshouldstillholdhim.”LiXiaoRanslowlysaid.
Itwasratherstrange.OnceTanshitookMinZhi,thechild’sloudcryingimmediatelyquieteddown.Momentslater,hewasnolongercryingatallandhappilyrestingagainstTanshi,sniffingaroundher.TanshicaressedMinZhi’slittleface.MinZhistoppedcrying,laughed,andgrabbedTanshi’sfingerandstuckitinhismouthandstartedsuckingonit.
“Muqin,SiDiisstillyounganddoesnotunderstand.Childrenarelikethat.Theymustcryandthrowatantrumforawhile.They’llforgetitoncetheygetusedtoit!”LiChangLegentlysaidassherubbedherface,whereshehadappliedmedicinalbalm.
LaoFurenfrownedasifthinkingaboutsomething.
JiangYueLanheardLiChangLe’swordsandimmediatelyadded:“Indeed, IwillbringMinZhibackfirst.IfItrulycannotmanageit,IwillletQiYiniangcometomyplacefortwodaysuntilMinZhiisaccustomedtome.”Sheglancedoveratthewetnurseaccompanyingher.ThewetnurseimmediatelyunderstoodandsteppedforwardtotakeMinZhi.
LiWeiYangblanklylookedonasacoldsmileappearedonherlips.
ThewetnursehadnoteventouchedMinZhi,butheloudlyburstintotears,refusingtoleaveTanshi’sarmsasifitwerelifeanddeath.Hewascryingandwrithing,tryingtoescapethewetnurse’shands.Hisdarkeyeswerebrightlikecrystalorbs,reflectingbackthelightandblockingoutthedarkness.Hesmiledalotonadailybasis,butnowhetearfullyleanedagainstTanshi,asightoflongingnessthatleftLaoFurendistressed.
“YueLan,yousee…Thischildonlywantstobewithhisbirthmother.Inanycase,inthefuture,youwillalsohaveyourownchild.IstillthinkyoushouldletQiYiniangtakehimhome.”LaoFurenwashesitant.
LiXiaoRannodded.Hestillfeltdistressedforhisson:“That’sright.YueLan,youarestillyoungandnotusedtotakingcareofchildren.LetMinZhistaywithQiYiniang.”
LiWeiYanglookedatJiangYueLanwithahintofsmugnessinhersmile.
JiangYueLan’ssmilewasalittlestiff,butshequicklyrecollectedherself.HereyesbecameabitdampasshelookedatMinZhi.
LiChangLeclenchedherhandbutkeptthecheerfulsmileonherface:“LaoFurenisalwayskind,dotingonSiDiinsuchaway.Itistrulyablessingoftheheavens.ButMuqinputinsomucheffort,ifsheweretogiveupnow,wouldn’titallgotowaste?HopeFuqinandLaoFurenwillgiveheranotherchance!Childrenalwaysneedtimetoadjustandwillbefineafterafewmoredays!”
LiXiaoRanfrownedandcouldnotbeartoseehisbelovedwifelooksopitifulandsaid,“Whynottryagainandsee?”
JiangYueLaneagerlynoddedandimmediatelywenttoholdMinZhi:“Iwillwholeheartedlydomybest.”
LiWeiYangcoldlylookedonbutdidn’tsayanything.QiYiniangcouldnotbeartheseparation,butrememberingherdaughter’swords,shehadnochoicebuttoletgoofMinZhiandstandofftotheside.
However, JiangYueLan’sfinalattemptresultedinfailure.Twodayslater,shepersonallybroughtthechildbacktoQiYiniang.Shespokeemotionally:“Nothingcanbecomparedtohisbirthmother.Hecriesdayandnightwhenheiswithmethateveryonefeelssorryforhim.”
LiWeiYangblanklyeyedJiangYueLan’sdarkeyecirclesandpalecomplexionandthoughttoherself:Yourheartisn’thurtingforMinZhi.It’sonlybecauseFuqinwouldrathergotoSiYiniangtorestinsteadofFuRuiCourtyardbecauseofMinZhi’scrying,causingyoutolosefavor.OutsidersalsospreadrumorsthatthenewFurendidnotcheckinonSiShaoyeatnightbutrathersecretlyp.r.i.c.kedhisfeetwithneedles,whichiswhyhecriesmorefiercelyeverytimeheseesthenewFuren.Oncethoseviciousrumorsspread,JiangYueLan’seffortsturnedtodust.LiXiaoRanrepeatedlyadvisedthatshemustbemoregenerouswithconcubine-bornchildren.JiangYueLansuffered,unabletosayawordindefense.Afterthinkingitthrough,shewasfinallyforcedtoreturnthechild.LikeLiWeiYangsaid,withintendays,LiMinZhireturnedtohisbirthmother’sside.
WhenJiangYueLanleft,shesawMinZhihappilysmilingandfeltitwasstrangeandsuspicious.Althoughshecouldnotoverturnthingsthathappenedbefore,shetrulyhadnootherway.Whensheleft,everyonebreathedoutinrelief.
MinZhi’sbrighteyeswerefixedonTanshi.Hereachedoutwithhischubby,lotusroot-likehandwithasmileonhislittlemouth.ThereweretearsonTanshi’sface.Shecouldnothelpitanymore.Sherushedoverandtookthechildfromyatou’sarmsandtightlyembracedhim.Sheheldherchildtightlyinherarmsandkissedhislittlefaceandthenfromhistinyhandstonecktohair,cryingandsmilingatthesametime.
LiWeiYangcouldn’tdescribethewarmthemittedfromthesightwithwordsandquietlyasked:“HaspoisoninSiShaoye’sbodybeentreated?”
BaiZhirepliedinlowvoice:“TheImperialphysicianprescribedsomemedicine,andtherashonSiShaoyehasdisappeared.”
LiWeiYangnodded,hereyesreturningtothesmilingMinZhi.
Tanshiwasafraidofinvolvingherdaughter,soshesuppressedherfeelings,butnowthatherpreciouschildhadreturnedtoher,sheputherfaceagainsthislittlefaceandfelthissmallhandandheardhissoftheartbeat.HerhearttrembledwithhappinessandjoyaseachoneofhertearsfellontoMinZhi’sface.Onceshewascalmagain,shesaweveryonelookingatherandrealized.ShereluctantlyplacedMinZhiinthecradleandsmiled:“WeiYang, itwasindeedasyousaid,buthowdidyoudoit?”
LiWeiYangsmiled:“Everyoneelse, gooutside.”
Theyatousheardandquietlywithdrew.
LiWeiYangwalkedovertothecradleandheldoutarattletoMinZhi.MinZhihappilyreachedup,wantingabite.LiWeiYanggentlypulledtherattleawayandslowlysaid:“MinZhihasalwayslikedmaltose2, buthewastooyoungandcouldnoteatit.So,everytime,Ihadyatouputabitonaspoonoronthewetnurse’sbody,soMinZhicouldatleasthaveataste.
Eventually, MinZhiexpectstohavemaltoseevery day,adesirestrongerthanwantingmilk.”Whileshewassayingthis,MinZhilaughedandsmiledwidely.LiWeiYangpinkedhischubbycheekandcontinued:“Later, whenJiangYueLantookhimwithher,thisprivilegenolongerexisted.Thisgreedy,littlekittenwilltrytofindmaltoseinfourhoursalone.Withoutit,hewillkeepcrying.”
Tanshiwasindisbelief:“It’sthatsimple?”
LiWeiYanglaughedaloud:“Howcomplicatedcoulditbe?”Alright,somaybeshedidn’tmentioneverything,butMinZhiwouldcrywithoutmaltose.Nomatterwhoheldhim,herefusedtostopcrying.ThatdayTanshididasLiWeiYangsaidandsmearedmaltoseonherhands,sowhenMinZhirecognizedthesmell,hewasimmediatelyhappyagain.Ofcourse,thatalonewasnotenough.ThischildMinZhiwasabitnaive,happilysmilingateveryone,evenJiangYueLan,sothemomentJiangYueLanwasmarriedintothehousehold,LiWeiYangbegantoprepareforwhenadaylikethiswouldcome.
JiangYueLanlikedusingagarwoodincense,whichhadalong-lastinganddelicatefragrance.EverytimethewetnursebreastfedMinZhi,half-waythrough,LiWeiYangwouldhaveBaiZhibringanincenseburnerwithagarwoodnearMinZhiandorderedthewetnursetostopbreastfeeding.
Eventually, MinZhibegantounderstandthatifanyonewiththatsmellappeared,hewouldnotbeabletodrinkmilkanymore.Manyhabitsaredifficulttochangeoncetheyhavedeveloped.Achildislikeapuppyinregard tofood,ifthatfoodistakenaway,itisonlynaturaltohaveastrongfeelingagainstthosewiththatfragrance.EvenifJiangYueLanlookedafterhimwithgreatcare,shecouldnotchangethehabitLiWeiYanghadstartedawhileback.Thatiswhyontheseconddayafterthewedding,MinZhiwasstillsmilingwhenJiangYueLanheldhimbutlateron,heburstedintotearswhenshetouchedhim.
LiWeiYangwouldnotrevealthissecrettoTanshibecauseasamother,shecertainlywouldbeverydistressed,butLiWeiYangthoughtthatthechildMinZhineededtobedisciplinedabit.Otherwise,hewillseeeveryoneashismotherandbecomingnaivelyobedientwasnotagoodthing.Perhapstherewasnobettermethodthantoallowhimtoreturntohisbirthmother.
MinZhiopenedhiseyeswide,hisdarkeyesfocusedonhiscunningjiejie,completelyunawarethatshehadsoldhimoutlikethatandcontinuedtosmilehappily.
“MinZhiescapedthistime,butwhatarewetodoinfuture?Whenwecan’tusecryingtacticswhenhe’sthreeorfouryearsold?”Tanshiwasworried.
LiWeiYangsmiled:“Inthefuture?JiangYueLanwillsoonhaveachildofherown.Evenifshedoesn’t,shewon’thavethemindtopayattentiontoMinZhi.”
Atthemoment,theyshouldnotworryaboutthefuturebutratherwhathappenedtwodaysago.ThethoughtthatsomeoneusedMinZhitoprovokeherinfuriatedLiWeiYang.Shestaredintentlyathischubbyarm,freeofanymarks,andcontemplatedaboutwhatthenextstepwouldbenow.
Tofindthetruth,itisoftennotfoundbylookingatthesurfacebutratherbyexaminingwhohasthemosttogain.WithJiuYiniang’smisfortune,thepersonwiththemosttogainwasnaturallyJiangYueLan,butJiangYueLanwasnotsuchashort-sightedindividualandwouldnotdoso.ThenextmostsuspiciouspersonwasnotSiYiniangbutLiChangLe.
Afterwards, LiWeiYangarrangedforpeopletoinvestigatetheshopwhereLaoFurenhadthegoldcollarmade.Unfortunately,thestorehadchangedownership.TheowneroftheshopthatmeltedthegoldforJiuYiniangsuddenlydiedofillness.Thismatterbecameevenmoreuncertain.IfonesaiditconcernedaFurenofahousehold,wouldtheownerofaluxuriousgoldshopbeconvinced?Itwasobviouslynotthatsimple.
LiWeiYangturnedaroundandsaid:“Ihavesomethingandmustgobackfirst.”
Tanshilookedtoherdaughterinsurprise.ShedidnotknowwhatLiWeiYangwouldhaveatthistime,butsheknewshecouldnotadviseotherwise,soshesmiledandsaid:“It’scoldoutside,letmeprepareahandwarmerforyou.”
LiWeiYangshookherhead:“Noneed.” Shequicklywalkedout.Assoonasshewasbeyondthedoors,shewasmetwithacoldgustofwind.Sheinvoluntarilyshivered.BaiZhirushedoverfromwhereshewasstandingbythedoorsandquicklyputathickfurcloakoverher:“Xiaojie, arewegoingbacknow?”
LiWeiYangshookherheadandloweredhervoice:“Let’sgoseeJiuYiniangnow.”
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Translator: Chau
Editor: Erica
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