Chapter 18: Accused of Poisoning

Linglong and Tan Xiyin arrived together at Songbai Residence. From a distance, Tan Xiyin stepped forward to greet Linglong with a formal bow. “Good day, Madam!”

“Tan, my dear concubine, you are the one who is truly well!” Linglong replied with a bright smile.

Each time Linglong addressed her as “Tan the concubine,” Tan Xiyin’s cheeks would burn, as if she had been slapped several times. Yet, being someone well-versed in endurance, even if she privately wished to tear at Linglong’s lips, she maintained her radiant smile.

“Madam, the moment you returned, you stirred up trouble in Xiaoyao Manor. Aren’t you afraid that Brother Daofei will send you back to prison?” Tan Xiyin sighed. “In life, the most important thing is to cherish our fortune.”

From afar, Linglong spotted Qin Daofei walking toward them. Smiling sweetly, she replied, “You’re right, I’ll remember it.”

With that, Linglong moved ahead to meet him, linking her arm with Qin Daofei’s and asking, “Master Qin, someone claims I poisoned the Matriarch’s food. What do you think of this?”

“And what do you think?” Qin Daofei asked, glancing sidelong at her.

“The method is far too clumsy to even watch.” Linglong’s tone was dismissive.

“I agree!” Qin Daofei nodded.

Ah?

Linglong frowned at Qin Daofei, uncertain of his meaning.

Without a word, Qin Daofei detached Linglong’s hand from his arm. At that movement, a gleam flashed in Tan Xiyin’s eyes. Yet, what followed nearly made her crush her handkerchief in anger. Although Qin Daofei had removed Linglong’s hand, he took it in his own, intertwining their fingers and walking with her toward Songbai Residence.

Linglong’s frown deepened ever so slightly. She could not fathom why Qin Daofei’s attitude had changed so much since her return. What exactly was he planning?

Inside the Matriarch’s chamber in the Fragrant Pavilion, the physician was administering acupuncture to the elderly lady. When she saw Qin Daofei and Linglong enter together, the Matriarch’s hands trembled with rage.

Linglong smiled gently. “Don’t get too agitated, Matriarch. If the poison rises to your heart, there’ll be no cure.”

The Matriarch’s anger was stifled, her face flushing crimson, but she did not dare explode.

Xia He entered, bowed to Qin Daofei, and respectfully announced, “Master, I have brought all the servants who had access to the Matriarch’s soup bowl from the kitchen. Please instruct us.”

Qin Daofei spoke calmly, “Speak up—did any of you handle the soup bowl alone?”

Each person’s explanation was reasonable, and they corroborated each other. No one seemed to have had the opportunity to add poison.

When it was Hua’er’s turn, she said, “Madam wished to eat some dishes I prepared, so I went to the kitchen. I did touch the soup bowl. I initially planned to steam eggplant, but when I lifted the steamer’s lid and saw the soup bowl inside, I covered it again and fried the eggplant instead.”

“Who can vouch for that?” Xia He pressed.

Hua’er bit her lip. “Everyone else was busy chopping vegetables. No one can confirm it.”

“So you’re the only one who touched the soup bowl alone, with no witnesses,” Xia He said coldly.

Linglong strolled over, standing before Xia He, and asked mildly, “Who brought the soup bowl in, and who served the Matriarch her soup?”

“It was I,” Xia He replied.

“And who will testify that you didn’t poison it along the way?” Linglong continued.

Xia He looked toward the Matriarch, who declared, “I trust Xia He. She has served me for years—she would never poison me.”

“But I trust my Hua’er as well. What now?” Linglong spread her hands, as if to say, “You have no proof, I have none either—what can you do about it?”

“But Madam does have motive to harm Second Madam’s family. And just as Hua’er returns, she happens to touch the soup bowl. Do you really think a few words can clear her name?” Xiaocui interjected.

Linglong, toying with the dice at her waist, replied, “You accused me of poisoning Tan the concubine’s family before, without a shred of evidence, and found me guilty. Now you try the same trick. Last time I fainted, so you could have me dragged to the magistrate. This time, if you don’t produce real evidence, I’ll settle accounts with you.”

She produced a small golden abacus, clicking it rapidly. Each sound struck the hearts of the guilty—not ripples, but a tidal wave.

Qin Daofei looked at Linglong with a deep, inscrutable gaze, then swept his eyes over everyone else in the room.

“Madam is only denying it now, I fear—” Xiaocui began.

But before she could finish, Linglong slapped her.

Afterward, Linglong looked calmly at Tan Xiyin, who, true to her reputation as a charming concubine, leaned pitifully against Qin Daofei’s chest and said tearfully, “Brother Daofei, are you not going to stop her?”

“Why did you hit her?” Qin Daofei asked Linglong, following the flow.

Linglong clapped her hands with a cold laugh. “Didn’t you say I’m still the mistress of Xiaoyao Manor? Then how could I let a lowly servant point fingers at me?”

Qin Daofei shrugged, saying nothing, but his eyes held no trace of reproach.

“Search the place. If someone dared to poison, there’s no way they left no trace!” the Matriarch cried furiously.

Linglong glanced coolly at the Matriarch, but her eyes never left the others in the room, missing not a single detail.

Yet, no one betrayed themselves.

Linglong was convinced the poisoner was among them. Since the real culprit showed no sign, it meant they had prepared well in advance.

“I propose we search Madam’s quarters first!” Xia He looked to Qin Daofei for a decision.

Qin Daofei glanced at Linglong, about to speak, but Linglong smiled and said, “Go ahead!”

Everyone proceeded to Linglong’s Pavilion.

Tang Li searched thoroughly. Hua’er grew anxious; having been with Linglong for years and witnessed many intrigues, she feared her return would bring disaster to her mistress.

Linglong patted her hand, signaling her to remain calm.

When Tang Li searched Hua’er’s room, he suddenly paused before her dressing table, turned to look at Qin Daofei, who frowned and said, “Take it out.”

Tang Li reached into a hidden compartment and produced a packet of powder.

Linglong walked over unhurriedly, took the powder from Tang Li, and smiled at Hua’er. “Hua’er, who’d have thought you still kept that packet of pearl powder I gave you?”

“So that’s where it ended up. I remember feeling sorry for losing it that day,” Hua’er replied with a laugh.

Madam Xia He stepped forward, trying to snatch the powder from Linglong’s hand. Linglong lifted her arm, saying, “What, you think this is the infamous Twin-life Ointment?”

“We’ll know once the physician tests it!” Xia He shot her a cold look.

Linglong smiled faintly. “Is there any need to test it?”

With that, she unwrapped the oiled paper, poured the white powder into her mouth, and carefully brushed the last grains from the paper.

“Miss, it’s been two years—who knows if it’s spoiled. How could you eat it?” Hua’er’s face turned pale with worry.

Qin Daofei watched Linglong swallow the powder, his eyes flickering with an unfathomable light.

Linglong pouted. “Who knows if the physician they bring is here to harm us? Better I eat it myself. That way, at least it proves the powder is harmless.”

Xia He hadn’t expected Linglong to swallow the powder outright. Recovering from her shock, she snatched the oiled paper from Linglong, only to find it empty.

“See, you panicked,” Linglong said to Hua’er with a smile.

Xia He threw the paper to the ground, snapping, “Let’s go search elsewhere!”

“Take care!” Linglong waved them off, smiling as she watched Xia He, Tang Li, and the others leave.

They were gone, but Tan Xiyin and Qin Daofei remained. Linglong turned to see the two standing before her like a perfect couple, and she waved. “What, do you two want me to invite you to dine?”

“Let’s go, Xiyin,” Qin Daofei said, leading her away by the hand.

A moment later.

Linglong clutched her chest. “Are they gone?”

Hua’er firmly closed the door and hurried to Linglong’s side. “They’re gone. Miss, what did you swallow just now?”

Linglong couldn’t hold it anymore and spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Miss—” Hua’er began to scream, but Linglong clamped her hand over her mouth and nose, blood at the corner of her lips but still smiling. “Don’t shout. Do you want everyone to come and watch your mistress cough up blood?”

Hua’er’s eyes filled with tears. She pried Linglong’s hand away. “You’re always so reckless. You knew it was poison, but you really ate it like pearl powder? No, I’m getting the physician—”

“Not now!” Linglong grabbed her arm.

Hua’er insisted, “No, I’ll just say I did it. I can’t let anything happen to you, Miss.”

As they argued, the door was suddenly pushed open from outside.

Startled, they turned to see Qin Daofei standing in the doorway, backlit so his face was half-shadowed, his expression unreadable. Yet Linglong could feel the chill radiating from him.

Linglong forced a foolish grin. “Master Qin really does want to dine at my invitation, doesn’t he?”

Qin Daofei ignored her. Striding forward, he scooped Linglong up from the floor and carried her back into her room.

Hua’er tried to follow, but Qin Daofei turned and ordered coldly, “Fetch water.” Hua’er did not dare disobey.

Qin Daofei laid Linglong on the bed, took out an antidote pill from a hidden pouch, and tried to make her take it.

Linglong kept her mouth shut, refusing. Qin Daofei’s lips curled into a frosty smile. “What, do you really mean to prove your innocence by dying?”

“No, I’m just afraid you’ll finish me off!” Linglong replied with a roguish grin.

Qin Daofei shot her a sidelong look. “If I killed you, where would I find my amusement? At most, I’d just torment you till you wished you were dead.”

Linglong flushed crimson at the suggestive remark. She muttered, “If it weren’t for all the fierce women in your household, would I be in this mess?”

“Take the medicine. As for the poisoner, I’ll investigate.” Qin Daofei placed the pill in her mouth, hesitated, and said, “It’s bitter, so I—”

Before he finished, Linglong crunched the pill like peanuts and swallowed it down.