Chapter 52 I Know Who Poisoned Them

How could this be? Qian Mengyun's body began to tremble uncontrollably, her heart consumed by an extreme panic.

Yet, she knew she could not afford to panic like this right now; she had to keep a cool head, or she would plunge into an abyss of eternal damnation.

She bit down hard on her lower lip, her fingernails unconsciously digging into her palms, using the sharp pain to forcibly suppress the turmoil within.

Taking a deep breath, she asked in a trembling voice, "Father, your daughter doesn't understand what you mean." Her voice was like a withered leaf in the wind, lifeless yet feigning composure.

The Marquis of Chu stared wide-eyed, filled with anger and deep disappointment. His face was flushed red with fury, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

He cursed angrily, "Old Madam Mo was poisoned precisely during your visit! While the Mo family may not wield absolute power at court, they hold significant weight. Now that her son is out leading troops in battle, his elderly mother is plotted against and poisoned within the inner quarters—how could this not alert the Emperor? And since you happened to be in her room at that exact moment, you cannot escape suspicion. Fortunately, she was rescued in time and pulled back from the brink of death. The Court of Judicial Review is thoroughly investigating this matter right now!"

Upon hearing this, Qian Mengyun collapsed weakly to the floor. What on earth was she to do?

Seeing her in this state, Lady Liu stepped forward with a heart full of anguish. "Mengyun, tell Mother, did you do it or not?"

Qian Mengyun seized Lady Liu by the arms, shaking her head fiercely as she wept, "Mother, how could your daughter ever commit such a vicious act? Besides, where would I even get poison? Your daughter has been raised within the Marquis's residence since childhood; how would I know anything about these underworld tricks? It must be Chu Xi who resents me for taking her place and usurping Father and Mother's affection. She hates me to the bone, which is why she framed me like this!"

With that, she broke down into miserable sobs, her entire body heaving with grief.

Upon hearing this, the Marquis and Lady Liu exchanged glances, feeling that Qian Mengyun's words made a certain amount of sense.

After all, how could vicious methods like poisoning be known to a proper young lady of a noble house? Chu Xi, however, was different. Having been raised among commoners in the marketplace, she might be familiar with all sorts of underworld affairs, making an act of poisoning well within her repertoire.

Thinking along these lines, the couple was no longer as furious as before. Instead, they felt a pang of guilt and pity for the pitifully weeping Qian Mengyun before them.

With a heavy sigh, the Marquis of Chu said, "Alright, stay properly in your boudoir these next few days and do not step outside." With that, he turned and strode out.

Lady Liu stepped forward to wipe away her tears, soothing her, "Good child, listen to your father and don't go out for the time being. Just kneel here for a moment, wash up, and get a good night's sleep. Leave the rest to your father and me."

Fraught with helpless anxiety, Lady Liu also walked out of Qian Mengyun's boudoir, knowing full well how thorny and difficult this matter was to resolve.

Inside the room, Qian Mengyun felt as though she were sitting on pins and needles. She was terrified that Old Madam Mo would reveal the truth, which would spell her utter destruction.

Yet, no matter how much she pondered, she concluded there was only one path left: to deny everything to the bitter end no matter what. Even if faced with Old Madam Mo's direct accusation, she would never admit to it, for at the time, besides the two of them, there had been no third person in the room.

At this thought, Qian Mengyun's heart felt slightly more at ease.

The Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review personally arrived at Old Madam Mo's bedchamber, with Chu Xi following closely behind him.

The moment they stepped into the room, a faint medicinal fragrance mixed with a stifling atmosphere rushed toward them.

Old Madam Mo was half-reclining on the bed, propped up by soft pillows, looking emaciated and haggard.

Beside her, Mammy Wang was carefully holding a bowl of medicine, gently coaxing the old madam to drink it.

"I am Hu Tiesheng, Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, paying my respects to Old Madam Mo," the minister said with a respectful bow, his voice echoing in the quiet bedchamber.

The old madam slowly lifted her eyelids, her clouded eyes looking toward Minister Hu. Her throat seemed blocked by something, producing a weak and feeble yet still courteous voice: "Thank you for troubling yourself to come to the residence in person, Minister Hu. Please sit."

Her voice carried an indescribable exhaustion, and every word seemed to cost her a great deal of effort.

A servant immediately brought over a chair, and Minister Hu seated himself.

"I have already confirmed with the imperial physician who treated Old Madam Mo that the old madam was indeed poisoned. Therefore, I have come to thoroughly investigate this matter."

Hearing this, Old Madam Mo coughed softly, as if calming the ripples in her heart, and then pushed away the medicine bowl Mammy Wang held before her.

Slowly, she began to speak: "There is no need to investigate. I know who poisoned me." Though slightly weak, her voice carried an unquestionable strength.

With that, her clouded yet sharp gaze seemed to pierce through everything before her, landing directly on the face of Chu Xi, who stood behind in the shadows.

Meeting her gaze, Chu Xi froze. Her face instantly turned ashen, a flicker of panic flashed in her eyes, and her lips trembled slightly, yet she could not utter a single sound.

The surrounding air seemed to freeze instantly, and everyone held their breath, staring nervously at the scene before them, as if some earth-shattering event were about to unfold in the next second.