Chapter 36: Drugging

Upon returning to the mansion, Old Madam Shen was so exhausted that she fell into a deep sleep.

She had fallen ill yesterday in Liu Fuying’s Shuxing Courtyard and was still resting in her room, having not been moved elsewhere.

Liu Fuying sat by the bedside for a long time. The Old Madam had treated her well, and she naturally hoped for her swift recovery. In exchange for the Shen Family’s estate, she was willing to care for the Old Madam and provide for her in her old age.

Perhaps due to the sedative prescribed by the imperial physician, the Old Madam slept until evening before waking.

She rose from bed and stepped outside, only to see Liu Fuying sitting at the dining table, eating. Unable to believe her eyes, she rushed over, knocking the chopsticks from Liu Fuying’s hands onto the floor.

The Old Madam clung to her, weeping uncontrollably. Overwhelmed with emotion, she tried to speak several times but could not utter a single word.

Shen Xiunian, having finished his duties, came to visit his mother and happened to witness this scene.

“Mother-in-law, Mother, please don’t cry. I’m right here with you, safe and sound. If you keep crying, I’ll start crying too.”

“I… I…” The Old Madam held her tightly, tears and mucus streaming down her face, a pitiful sight. “I was truly about to cry myself to death, A Yin. How… how could you just walk away without even glancing back? I called out to you, but you didn’t turn around. How could you just leave like that?”

It was said that during the day, she had been incoherent and confused, but now her mind seemed perfectly clear.

She remembered everything that had happened the day before.

“A Yin, if that scoundrel Shen Xiunian ever mistreats you, I’ll teach him a lesson for you. Don’t leave me in a fit of anger. You must never leave my side again, do you hear me? I forbid you to go.”

“Alright, alright.”

Liu Fuying patted the Old Madam’s back gently, soothing her as if she were a child.

“If Shen Xiunian ever upsets me again, I’ll come to you and complain. You can scold him or even hit him for me. You’ll stand up for me.”

“Yes, I’ll stand up for you. How dare he defy me!”

Just then, a maid entering to serve called out, “General!” The two turned and saw Shen Xiunian standing under the eaves by the doorway.

The Old Madam immediately released Liu Fuying and rushed toward him, tears still flowing.

“You wretched scoundrel! What did you promise me back then? Didn’t you say you would treat A Yin well and never let her suffer? What did you do to drive her away? You good-for-nothing! I’ll teach you a lesson!”

The Old Madam truly meant it, landing blow after blow on Shen Xiunian with her palms and fists.

Liu Fuying watched with a smile, feeling a sense of satisfaction.

Since it was his mother, he dared not resist. Moreover, mindful of her illness, he stood motionless, allowing the Old Madam to hit and scold him.

Though he was being beaten, Shen Xiunian felt relieved in his heart.

At least his mother had returned to normal, no longer delirious or speaking nonsense.

Indeed, to cure his mother, Liu Fuying was the medicine she needed.

Thinking of this, Shen Xiunian glanced at Liu Fuying as if by accident, his eyes carrying an indescribable complexity.

When the Old Madam grew tired from hitting him, Shen Xiunian helped her inside and seated her.

Liu Fuying had already instructed servants to bring an extra set of bowls and chopsticks and now coaxed the Old Madam to have dinner.

Outside the courtyard, Jin Li arrived with bird’s nest porridge from the kitchen and brought news.

It was said that Madam Wang, her maternal family’s wife, had fallen ill.

Madam Wang, Wang Huiyun, was the wife of Liu Fuying’s father and the birth mother of Liu Shiyuan.

“A Yin, although she is not your birth mother, she is the legitimate wife of the Liu Family. By propriety, she is your mother. Shouldn’t you go back to visit her, to avoid gossip?”

“Yes, I really should go back and see.”

Liu Fuying smiled along, but unease rose in her heart.

That Wang Huiyun had always been glowing with health, speaking with a robust voice—how could she suddenly fall ill when she was perfectly fine?

“I’ll go first thing tomorrow morning.”

After the meal, Liu Fuying accompanied the Old Madam back to her courtyard, soothing her for a long while before finally coaxing her into taking her medicine and settling down to sleep.

On the way back, Jin Li told Liu Fuying what she had learned about Liu Shiyuan’s great humiliation.

At the time, the streets were bustling with people. Liu Shiyuan had been thoroughly disgraced by Shen Xiunian, losing both her dignity and reputation. She certainly wouldn’t let it go lightly. Liu Fuying knew all too well what kind of people Liu Shiyuan and her mother were.

However, they probably wouldn’t vent their resentment on Shen Xiunian.

They still hoped to climb the social ladder through him.

Returning to the Liu Family tomorrow surely wouldn’t bring anything good for Liu Fuying. It was entirely possible that Wang Huiyun’s illness was nothing but a pretense.

In the blink of an eye, the next day arrived as expected.

Liu Fuying prepared some tonics and medicinal herbs, then boarded the carriage to the Liu Family with Jin Li.

Once settled, the carriage slowly set off.

From time to time, Liu Fuying reached into her bosom, as if something were hidden there.

“Madam, I thought after you married, you could finally break free from the Liu Family. Especially considering how Wang Huiyun treated us before—forget about me, but she would beat or scold you at the slightest provocation, not to mention leaving you hungry and cold. Now that she’s ill, you still have to put on a show and go back to visit her. It’s infuriating.”

Liu Fuying smiled in comfort, though deep down, she too felt exceptionally uneasy.

Perhaps because she had risen too early that morning, not long after sitting down, Liu Fuying began to feel drowsy.

Jin Li was the same, leaning against the carriage wall and falling into a deeper sleep than Liu Fuying.

As the carriage turned a corner, Jin Li even tumbled from her seat, crashing hard at Liu Fuying’s feet.

It was this accident that startled Liu Fuying awake.

Yet even with her eyes open, she found she seemed to have only enough strength left to keep them that way.

“Jin Li…”

Her voice came out weak and feeble.

With great effort, she lifted the carriage curtain, only to discover they were not heading toward the Liu Family. Instead, they were entering an unfamiliar alleyway, surrounded by silence, with only the sound of the wheels speeding along.

A sudden stop sent Liu Fuying tumbling forward.

Then someone lifted the carriage door curtain—not the original coachman but a burly man. Ignoring Jin Li, he headed straight for Liu Fuying.

“Don’t touch me.”

Unfortunately, Liu Fuying’s resistance at that moment had no effect whatsoever.

A wave of even more intense dizziness washed over her. She was hoisted off the carriage, and a nearby small courtyard was kicked open. It seemed she was about to be dragged inside.

So, this was the Liu Family’s treacherous scheme.

She had used the excuse of visiting her sick mother, but in reality, she was sneaking out to meet a lover, disgracing both her natal family and betraying her marital family. The consequences were obvious—likely, Liu Shiyuan would soon arrive with a crowd to catch her in the act.

How clever.

Truly clever!

She had been worrying about how to find a way to leave Shangjing for a while, so she could spend more time with Pei Zhouwu at the Xiangshan bamboo cottage.

Who would have thought the solution would come knocking on her own door?

Summoning every ounce of strength, she retrieved the dagger she had hidden in her bosom just in case. The unsheathed blade gleamed coldly as she tremblingly pressed it against the neck of the man beneath her.

Then, she pressed down with force.

“Ah—!”

The man carrying her cried out in pain and threw her down. The stab wound was truly deep; he couldn’t stand steady and stumbled backward, falling over the threshold.

To stay conscious, Liu Fuying slashed her own left wrist.

“Help… help me!”

The pain surged through her body, and the effects of the drug indeed lessened considerably.

She struggled to get up from the ground, climbed onto the carriage, grabbed the reins, and drove out of the alley.

The man who had fallen into the courtyard tried to chase after her, but the wound on his neck was too severe. He staggered a few steps before collapsing again.

The carriage burst out of the alley and onto the bustling street.

Still somewhat dazed, Liu Fuying couldn’t steady the carriage, swerving recklessly and causing a great commotion. Moreover, she kept shouting for help, drawing the attention of many onlookers.

Finally, the carriage crashed into a small street stall, and Liu Fuying was thrown from the carriage.

Coincidentally, Liu Shiyuan arrived with her entourage just as the crowd gathered.

Seeing the chaos, Liu Shiyuan was utterly bewildered.

“I… I know you’ve always longed for your brother-in-law. If you wish to enter the General’s Mansion, I’d even step aside for you—not just as a concubine, but as the rightful Madam. We are sisters of the same family; why would you set such a trap to harm me?”

Liu Fuying wept pitifully, pointing with her bloodied hand toward the alley she had just fled.

Some curious onlookers immediately slipped into the alley to see what was happening.

“In this vast Shangjing City, none of you can tolerate me—then I’ll just leave!”