Chapter 90

Chapter 90: The Sachet Contains Poison Doctor Lin took the sachet, smelled it, then opened it and carefully rubbed the powder inside between his fingers. His expression grew increasingly grave. Seeing this, Ling Taian said, “Doctor Lin, if there is something wrong, please speak frankly.” With a solemn expression, Doctor Lin said, “May this old man ask—does this sachet have something to do with Miss Ling’s injuries?” Ling Taian asked in surprise, “Doctor Lin, how did you know? My daughter’s fall from her horse was indeed related to this sachet!” Doctor Lin sighed. “I do not know who prepared this sachet, but whoever did so was truly vicious.” Ling Jiayue smiled and asked, “Doctor Lin, what exactly is wrong with the sachet?” “The sachet contains poison!” Doctor Lin said with certainty. When Madam Chen heard this, her expression grew even more panicked. She angrily rebuked him, “Doctor Lin, how can you spout such nonsense? This sachet was clearly obtained by Yuwan to pray for the eldest young lady’s marriage prospects. How could it possibly contain poison?” Doctor Lin, however, calmly continued, “There are two kinds of poison in this sachet. The first is harmless to humans, but when livestock comes into contact with it, it will make them go berserk—just as the horse injured Miss Ling.” He paused, then continued, “The second is a rare and unique poison. Although it is colorless and odorless and difficult for ordinary people to detect, wearing it for a long time will cause it to seep into the lungs and internal organs, eventually leading to death.” When Madam Liu learned that the sachet Ling Yuwan had given Ling Jiayue contained such a poisonous substance, anger surged in her heart. She turned on Madam Chen and shouted, “What were you and Ling Yuwan thinking? How dare you attempt to harm the legitimate daughter!” Madam Chen hurriedly said, “Madam, your concubine and Yuwan are innocent! This sachet was obtained from a temple. Your concubine and Yuwan had no idea what was inside!” Seeing his sister suffer such an injustice, Ling Jiaxuan was furious. He said, “Madam Chen, Doctor Lin just said that the second poison is rare and unique. Where would a temple get such a poison?! The sachet passed through your hands. How could you not know what was placed inside it?!” Although Ling Jiayue still wore a solemn expression, she was laughing inwardly. The second poison had been specially obtained at her request by Feng Yan, precisely so that Ling Yuwan and Madam Chen would be implicated even more deeply. Judging by the current situation, Madam Chen had already lost her composure. All Ling Jiayue needed to do was wait for her to break and confess. Doctor Lin examined the sachet carefully and asked, “May I ask Madam Chen which temple this sachet came from? This old man has visited many temples, so why have I never seen one like this?” Madam Chen could no longer withstand everyone’s relentless questioning. She broke down and shouted, “That’s right! I put the poison in the sachet! I wanted to kill Ling Jiayue. It would have been better if she were gone! I even told the Third Prince that she was going to Cold Mountain Temple. I never expected the Third Prince to be so useless that he couldn’t even kill a little Ling Jiayue!” At that moment, Madam Chen’s eyes were bloodshot, and her expression had turned manic. She no longer resembled the gentle and graceful woman she had been moments earlier. Seeing that Madam Chen had finally confessed, Ling Jiayue began to laugh softly. When Madam Chen heard her laughter, she glared at Ling Jiayue and shouted angrily, “Why? Why are you so lucky? Why can’t I kill you no matter how many times I try?! My Yuwan has ended up like this because of you! I hate you! I hate you!” Only then did Ling Jiayue speak leisurely. “Madam Chen, I am blessed by the stars. I was raised in a Buddhist temple and blessed by a high monk, so I was destined to be blessed with good fortune and a long life. I cannot die so easily. But I am curious—why were you so determined to kill me?” Madam Chen’s gaze grew unfocused, as though she had remembered something, but she stubbornly said, “Things have already come to this. What is there left to ask? The victor becomes king, and the defeated become outlaws. Deal with me however you wish.” Ling Jiayue smiled. “Madam Chen, you have decided to throw everything away, but you should think carefully about Sister Yuwan. Your death may be a release for you, but Sister Yuwan will…” Madam Chen was ultimately an intelligent woman. Hearing this, she still could not help worrying about her daughter. She sighed and said, “Enough, enough. This is all karma.” “Madam Zhang is my biological elder sister. She was sent away when we were children, and we only reunited here at the Prime Minister’s residence. Originally, everything was fine—until you came back.” Madam Chen looked at Ling Jiayue with a resentful expression. Ling Jiayue did not care in the slightest. She leisurely picked up a cup of tea and took a sip. “Until you came back! My sister was killed because of you! Now Yuwan has ended up like this as well. I hate you!” As Madam Chen spoke, she began to weep sorrowfully, as though Ling Jiayue were her mortal enemy. They had clearly been the ones who tried to harm Ling Jiayue, yet now she put on such a grief-stricken expression. It was truly laughable. Seeing that the inner household had become so disorderly, Ling Taian was irritated as well. He scolded Madam Chen, “Madam Chen, my Ling Residence has never treated you unfairly. Why did you, like Madam Zhang, insist on throwing the household into chaos? You brought this upon yourself, and you have even ruined Yuwan. You are nothing but a scourge!” “A scourge? I am a scourge?! Ling Jiayue is the scourge! It was only after she returned that we ended up in this state!” Madam Chen roared viciously. “I wonder whether Sister Yuwan knew about this,” Ling Jiayue asked calmly. “Did she take part in it?” When Madam Chen heard this, she reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Without thinking, she said, “Yuwan knew nothing about this! She is innocent!” Madam Chen then turned to Ling Taian and pleaded, “Master, your concubine has accompanied you for so many years. Even if I am at fault, Yuwan is innocent. For the sake of her being your flesh and blood, please treat her kindly!” Ling Taian drew a breath and said, “Enough. Yuwan has already become like this. Naturally, I will treat her well.” Madam Chen kowtowed to Ling Taian. “Thank you, Master!” Madam Liu gave the steward matron a meaningful glance, and the steward matron took Madam Chen away to be dealt with. Someone who had dared to plot against the legitimate daughter and had also ruined a concubine-born daughter was supposed to be put to death according to the rules. Thus, Madam Chen could not escape death. Seeing that the matter had been more or less settled, Ling Jiayue said to Madam Liu and Ling Taian, “Daughter is tired. I would like to return and rest first.” “Good child, go. Do not dwell on what happened today. Mother will protect you.” Ling Jiayue bowed and withdrew. Ling Jiayue walked along the road with Danyun and Lingxue. Danyun asked, “Miss, shall we bathe first when we return?” “No. We are going to Ling Yuwan’s courtyard.” Ling Jiayue and the others soon arrived at Ling Yuwan’s courtyard. Ling Yuwan had just had medicine applied to her wounds. Hearing the voices, she thought Madam Chen had come and asked, “Mother, is that you?” “Madam Chen has confessed and been punished.” “What?!” “Ling Yuwan, I know you were behind all of this. The fate you have now is the most fitting one for you. You may as well lie in bed for the rest of your life.” “No! No!” Ling Yuwan wailed on the bed, while Ling Jiayue left with Danyun and Lingxue. Close