Chapter 325: Qin Shaojing Is Exposed

Chapter 325: Qin Shaojing Is Exposed

"What?" Qin Shaojing, upon hearing what Lady Qin said, got even angrier. "I apologize to him?"

Lady Qin looked at her. "If you apologize, we'll consider today's matter settled."

Qin Shaojing, in a fit of anger, missed the underlying implications. She sneered, "Father's sister, you've spoiled my cousin!"

"Qin Shaojing!"

"I'm not apologizing. If you want to keep investigating, be my guest! What I said earlier was nonsense. Go ahead, investigate all you want!"

Her eyes were fearless, radiating confidence.

They could investigate all they wanted.

They weren't going to find anything anyway.

Lady Qin saw her eyes and felt increasingly disappointed.

At that moment, Cheng Suying walked up to her. "Grandmother, I have a way to figure out if the food made us sick."

"Oh? What idea?" Lady Qin turned her head, looking at her granddaughter with tired eyes.

She had already guessed who was behind the poisoning of her son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter.

But at that moment, she lacked concrete evidence.

After all, the dishes had been tested twice with silver pins, showing no poison. Further tests wouldn't help.

She had actually thought about letting it slide.

It was a tough call, pretending it never happened.

Unfortunately, she ended up disappointed.

But now, was there any way to prove the food had been tampered with?

The perpetrator was probably counting on this exact loophole.

Both Qin Shaojing and Nanny Qin looked defiant.

Cheng Suying then turned around and pointed to the remaining dishes on the table. "We can have someone eat the same food we ate over the past two days. That will tell us if the dishes were the problem."

As soon as she finished speaking, Lady Qin and the others' eyes brightened.

Meanwhile, Qin Shaojing and Nanny Qin's eyes widened in panic.

Oh no! How had they not thought of this approach!

Qin Shaojing had been focused on testing the dishes one by one, thinking it would show no issues. She hadn't considered this approach!

While the silver needle test couldn't detect the poison, having someone eat the same combination would immediately reveal the problem!

Panic set in, and both Qin Shaojing and Nanny Qin were visibly shaken.

"That's a good idea. Let's test it now," Cheng Yunshuo said.

Cheng Suying looked at her father, who was gazing at her with a proud and approving expression.

Cheng Suying felt a warmth in her heart for the first time. But soon, she shook her head. Her father didn’t like her.

Her father only liked Cheng Lanying.

"There’s barely anything left of these dishes. What can an inspection possibly find?" Qin Shaojing was finally panicking.

"Yeah, there’s nothing left from yesterday’s dishes. How can we inspect them?" Nanny Qin quickly added.

Cheng Suying looked at the two of them. "That actually makes things easier. If that's the case, we can have the kitchen prepare fresh versions of all the dishes from the past two days. We'll get fresh ones for people to test. That way, the results will be even clearer."

Upon hearing this, Qin Shaojing and Nanny Qin were at a loss.

Qin Shaojing angrily said, "I think this rude girl is clearly being disrespectful and neglectful. The priority should be helping your parents recover their health! What's the point of all this investigating?"

As she scolded Cheng Suying, a voice came from behind—Cheng Yunshuo’s voice.

"Where is my daughter being disrespectful or neglectful? She’s investigating the culprit for her parents—isn’t that the ultimate act of filial piety! What are you doing here, spouting nonsense! Could it be that you’re the one who poisoned them?"

When Cheng Yunshuo confronted her, Qin Shaojing didn’t dare say another word. She desperately sought help from her aunt, but Lady Qin didn’t spare her a single glance. She looked at everyone present and ordered them to personally test the dishes that were sent from Qin Shaojing's quarters.

Along with the rabbit meat and bok choy delivered the day before, she gave new orders. The kitchen was to find more ingredients and prepare fresh dishes.

While they waited for the new dishes to be brought out, the testers started showing reactions.

Several of them had eaten the snails, beef, and almond-stewed pork.

They all showed the same symptoms as Cheng Yunshuo and Lu Lingyun.

They experienced severe bloating and unbearable cramping.

As soon as the results were revealed, everything became clear.

It’s clear. Everything’s clear.

At that moment, Lady Qin’s gaze darkened as the truth became clear.

The elderly doctor slapped his forehead in realization. "I understand now! It’s due to incompatible foods!"

He looked excitedly at Lady Qin and the others, explaining, "Many foods are incompatible with each other. Eating them separately is fine, but when eaten together, they can become toxic!"

"The young master, young mistress, and Miss must have gotten sick from eating these incompatible foods together!"

The doctor explained to everyone, and after his explanation, everyone in the room seemed to understand. But Qin Shaojing and Nanny Qin were filled with panic.

Qin Shaojing then looked at Lady Qin, hurriedly defending herself, "Aunt, I didn’t know!"

As her voice fell, Cheng Yunshuo spoke. "Was it you?"

"It wasn’t me!" Qin Shaojing shook her head, tears immediately flowing. "I truly didn’t know these foods were incompatible. I often eat these at the Duke’s estate. I just wanted to try something fresh here and have everyone taste it together..."

"Huh! You often eat these at the Duke’s estate? Why hasn’t your whole family been poisoned by now?" Cheng Yunshuo angrily retorted.

Qin Shaojing fell silent.

Lady Qin remained silent at that moment.

There was no credibility whatsoever in Qin Shaojing's words!

If only Cheng Suying had been poisoned yesterday, and they had found out then, Lady Qin might have believed Qin Shaojing.

It was just once.

But today, throughout the entire day, every meal had ingredients that were incompatible.

How could Lady Qin believe it!

Even a blind person would be so angry that they'd see the light!

And when she thought more deeply, that turtle soup she had in the morning, and the dishes on the table, were they also part of Qin Shaojing's scheme to cause a clash...?

She was willing to put herself at risk just to target some people...

"Aunt, do you trust me?"

"Shaojing, come back to my room with me."

When Qin Shaojing heard the tone, her heart sank. She looked at Lady Qin again and saw that she had already stood up and was walking away with a cold face.

Qin Shaojing lowered her head and quickly followed after.

When they reached Lady Qin's Ningxin Courtyard and entered the room.

Qin Shaojing hesitated and looked at Lady Qin, said timidly, "Aunt..."

A resounding slap.

Lady Qin slapped her hard.

"Aunt..." Qin Shaojing looked at Lady Qin incredulously.

"I must have been blind!"

Lady Qin pointed at her, shaking with anger.