Chapter 96: Poisoned to Death

Chapter 96: Poisoned to Death

Lin Yunwan’s complexion was very poor when she left the hall.

Ge Baor rarely saw her so angry.

When Qingge came to visit, she told her son, “...you help me find out what you can, and whatever you hear, come and tell me.”

The elder lady no longer stopped the mother and son from seeing each other.

Qingge often visited the elder Lady Lu to pay respects, and he could also see Ge Baor.

Qingge was somewhat reluctant to inquire about his stepmother’s matters, pouting, “Mother, can’t we just leave mother’s affairs alone?”

Ge Baor, stroking his head, asked, “Do you want to see your mother driven away again?”

Qingge hugged her legs, saying unwillingly, “Mother, I don’t want that!”

Ge Baor said, “Then you need to listen to me.”

Qingge muttered quietly, “...I listened to you last time too.”

And it didn’t end well.

Ge Baor smiled mysteriously, “Qingge, this time it’s different.”

“How is it different?”

Ge Baor confidently said, “Your maternal grandfather is a very influential man! If I find them, your future will be smooth.”

Qingge looked puzzled, “Who is my maternal grandfather?”

Ge Baor herself didn’t know yet.

The fact that the old madam was willing to take her back, and Lin Yunwan not daring to object, meant that after her return to the mansion, she could freely see Qing Ge'er and live in a better room than before, served by two second-tier maids.

This indicated that the jade pendant she had worn since swaddling clothes symbolized a very formidable status.

She was about to turn her fortunes around!

"Qing'er, while they are still at odds and I can't go out, not knowing anything, let them fight it out for now."

"My child, your mother can never bear to leave you again!"

Ge Baor tightly hugged Qing Ge'er, unable to part with him, determined this time to find a way to stay by her son's side no matter what.

"What's gotten into Grandma?"

Zhu Qing went out for a walk and on her return to Yu Xing Pavilion, she saw Lin Yunwan's retreating figure, seemingly angered.

Tongliu and Xiliu supported her, with Xiliu saying, "Aunt, watch your step, we're approaching the stairs."

Zhu Qing stepped up the stairs.

Back in her room, which was warm, Xiliu said to her, "Aunt, didn't Grandma advise you not to worry unnecessarily? You should focus on taking care of your pregnancy."

Tongliu, having placed the umbrella, changed the charcoal in Zhu Qing's hand warmer, echoing the sentiment, "Exactly, Aunt. This is your first pregnancy, and it's the most important. You must take good care to deliver safely."

Zhu Qing sighed, "I was born to worry."

If Ge Baoer's background was true, she would be the most unfortunate one.

But the aunt had her own way of survival; despite her worries, it wasn't enough to keep her awake at night.

Resting on the couch, she spoke softly, “I always feel that something is off. Have you noticed anything?”

Tongliu and Xiliu exchanged glances, shaking their heads.

They had no idea what Zhuzhing was referring to.

At the Hanging Silk Hall.

Lin Yunwan was indeed upset.

“The elder lady is stalling with me.”

What frustrated her was that she didn’t understand what the elder lady was stalling for.

There was no turning back now in this situation!

Pingye, who was not one to overthink, whispered, “...Could it be that the elder lady simply looks down on Ge Baor, thinking she can't compare to you? In my opinion, when it comes to managing a household and educating the legitimate heir, you are far more capable.”

“If Ge Baor becomes the mistress, who knows how she’ll raise the boys in the household!”

Lin Yunwan shook her head, “It’s not that. The elder lady lacks such foresight.”

The elder lady was short-sighted; otherwise, she wouldn't have allowed Lu Zhengliu to make the foolish decision of favoring a concubine over his wife.

Outside, a blizzard was raging, the world blanketed in white, obscuring almost everything.

Not yet Laba Festival, Zhuzhing brought porridge over, saying she couldn’t sit idle and had made it herself.

“Grandmother, my cooking skills surely can’t compare to yours, but please try some.”

Lin Yunwan responded with a faint smile, “These tasks are for the kitchen staff. Even if you can’t sit still, don’t personally get involved. Once you’ve had the baby, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to work hard.”

Zhuzhing, holding a bowl of porridge, said slowly, “Grandmother, while I was making porridge in the kitchen, I heard some things… I want to discuss them with you!”

“What is it?”

Lin Yunwan raised her eyebrows as Taoye had already gone out to guard the door. Pingye also left the room.

Zhuzhing whispered, “Isn’t it strange? Ever since Ge Baor was in the mansion and then at the villa, she never stopped taking her medication. But after returning and taking a few doses of medicine for a cold, she stopped. She eats with the elder lady’s meals every day and has recovered so quickly.”

“Was it some miraculous remedy that worked after a few doses, or… was she taking the wrong medicine all along!”

Lin Yunwan was slightly stunned, her mind racing with numerous thoughts.

“Zhuzhing, don’t talk about this to anyone. Not a single word, don’t put yourself in danger.”

Zhuzhing was also startled, quickly realizing the gravity of the situation.

She nodded firmly and said, “I understand. I will pretend to know nothing; today, I just came to bring you porridge.”

“Since Grandmother has a plan, I will take my leave.”

She left the porridge and exited the room.

Lin Yunwan, looking at the creamy-yellow porridge, closed her eyes. She always thought that the Marquis of Wuding’s household was oppressive, but that was just using propriety to bully her. She had never dared to think that the Lu family would be so bold!

Poisoning the mistress, holding such a significant criminal case in their hands, weren’t the elder Lady Lu, Lu Zhengliu, and Ge Baor afraid of divine retribution or the imperial law?!

“Taoye, come in.”

Knowing Taoye was meticulous, Lin Yunwan entrusted her with a task: “Find some of the medicine residues that Ge Baor took before going to the villa and what she took in the mansion.”

“Don’t alert anyone, make sure no one knows.”

“...Yes.”

Taoye accepted the instructions, feeling uneasy as she left.

But she was a composed person, her anxiety not apparent on her face.

Her first stop was the kitchen, but she couldn’t find out much; after all, it had been too long since Ge Baor last left the estate.

However, she learned from a kitchen helper's daughter, “The pot used for boiling the aunt’s medicine? Nanny Yan keeps it, it’s not under our charge.”

Peach Leaf didn't ask much and found a way to accompany Madam Yuan to the manor, claiming it was to pick a maid.

She actually found the leftover medicine dregs!

The tenant farmer said, "Medicine dregs? Who bothers with that? Isn't it just buried carelessly?"

She was just a nanny sent over, not under the old lady's direct supervision. Madam Yan simply instructed someone to add something to her medicine without specifying what it was. Who would bother to properly dispose of the medicine dregs?

Peach Leaf, braving the cold wind, dug through the frozen soil and found the medicine dregs Ge Baor had consumed.

She packed them into her pouch and took them back.

By the time she reached Lin Yunwan, her face and hands were already frozen stiff.

"Grandma, it's so strange. The pot used for brewing her medicine was specifically put away by Madam Yan."

"This is the medicine dregs, buried in the soil all this time, and it still has a scent."

Lin Yunwan opened the pouch and smelled it, detecting a faint, familiar scent of almonds. The scent was so subtle that she wouldn't have recognized it if she hadn't been so familiar with it!

It turns out that in her previous life, she didn't die of illness, but was poisoned!

She slaved away for the Wu Ding Marquis House, working her fingers to the bone. For their own romantic escapades, they sent her to her death, cunningly unnoticed. What a pair of joyous lovebirds!

"Grandma, what's wrong with you!"

"I'm fine..."

Lin Yunwan's eyes reddened as she clutched the pouch tightly in her hand.

If the Lu family could poison her, could they also harm her dowry maid and her beloved longbow?

What was left untouched by the Lu family?!