<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chapter 103: Formidable Use of Poison</b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Comments:</b>
Chau- Apologiesforthedyedrelease!I’vebeendownwithanawfulcaseofexamseason:/
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Notes:</b>
<sup><sup>[1]</sup></sup>Old Eldest, in reference to Li Xiao Ran
<sup><sup>[2]</sup></sup><sup></sup>A sweet syrup made from fermented grains; thick consistency at roomtemperature, fluid when heated up
JiuYiniangdidnotseemtohaveheardanythingLaoFurensaid.Shewasresistingasifshehadgonecrazy,wantingtoescapethecrowd.Shewapletelydifferentfrombefore!
LiXiaoRanstoodupandcoldlyshouted:“JiuYiniangfeignedinnocenceandignorance,sowhatabouttherestofyou?Ifanyofyoudaretospeakhalfalie,nooneistoescapepunishment!”
TheyatousbyJiuYiniang’ssideweresoterrifiedthattheycontinuouslykowtowed.
LaoFurennklysaid:“Theymustknowsomething.Dragthemalloutandbeatthemahundredstrokesuntiltheyarewillingtoconfess,thenweshallsee!”
Theyatousweretremblingfromfear.Theguardsoutsidecameintodragthemout.Criesformercyrangthroughouttheroom!Atthistime,apale-faced,petiteyatousuddenlycriedoutandkowtowed,beggingforforgiveness:“Nubiwishestoconfess!LaoFurenhavemercy,Laoyehavemercy.JiuYiniangorderedNubitodoso.Nubitrulyhadnochoicebuttoobey.IfNubididnotfollowJiuYiniang’sorder,shewillsurelydriveNubiout!”
LiXiaoRanwavedhishand.Theguardsloosenedtheirgrips.Theotheryatouslookedtoherindisbelief.
LaoFurenlookedatherandasked:“Whatdidshehaveyoudo!”
Herfacepaleasasheet,theyatousaid:“JiuYiniang... JiuYiniangfoundanopportunityduringthepilgrimagetotakethegoldcorouttoagoldshop,meltedthegold,andaddedsomemedicinalherbsinside.Nubidoesnotknowwhichherbswereputinside!NubineverthoughtthatshewantedtoharmSiShaoye!Atthetime,shejustsaidthegoldcorwasworthsomuchthatshewouldnotbediscoveredifshetookabitofgold.SheevensaidthataslongasNubifollowedtheorder,shewouldmakeNubiasecond-rankedyatou!”
Afterhearingthesewords,Tanshiwastremblingoutofanger.Coldwaveswashedoverherheartasifshehadfallenintoabottomlesspit.ShealwaysthoughtthatothershadprovokedJiuYiniangtodowrongfulthings,butwhowouldhavethoughtsheherselfhadtheintentiontomurderTanshi’sson!
JiangYueLanrevealedanincredulousexpression:“JiuYiniang, youmustknowthatMinZhiwasinmycare.IfsomethinghappenedtoMinZhi,Icannotescapepunishment,sowhywouldyoudosuchathing!Youareclearly—— ” Asshewasspeaking,sheturnedhertear-filledeyestowardsLiXiaoRan.
LiWeiYanglookedatJiuYiniang,whosefacewassolemnandunclear.Whoknowswhatshewasthinking?
JiuYiniangwasstillstrugglingfiercelyandshouted:“Youareframingme!Allofyouhaveframedme!Youallcolludedtoframeme!”
AsidefromJiuYiniang’sscreaming,noonedaredtoutterasound.Theatmosphereintheroomwasalmostsuffocating.LiXiaoRanslightlynarrowedhiseyes.HetrulycouldnothaveimaginedthatJiuYiniangdidthissortofthing!
SiYiniangncedatLiXiaoRanandsighed:“Laoye, theone-sidedtruthfromthisyatouisnotreliable.Itisnecessarytoinvestigatemuchmorecarefully,sothatJiuYiniangisn’twronglyused!”
LaoFurenresentednotbeingabletopubliclyexecuteJiuYiniang.Hearingthis,shesneeredandsaid:“WeiYang, whatdoyousay?!”
LiWeiYangfeltthateverythingkeptdescendingintochaos.Thereweremanythingsshehadtopersonallyinvestigate,soforthetimebeing,sheonlysaid:“EverythingshouldbelefttoLaoFurenandFuqintodecide,WeiYangdoesnotdaretointervene.”
LaoFurennodded:“Withawitnessandatestimony,LaoDa<sup>1</sup>,whatdoyousayshouldbedonenow!”
WhileLiXiaoRanhadfeelingsforJiuYiniang,harmingaLifamilyheirwasnotsomethinghecouldforgive.HelookedatJiuYiniangandsaid:“Ihavealwaysfavoredyou,butwasthatstillnotenoughforyou.YouwouldnotevenspareachildlikeMinZhi!”Hisvoicegrewcolderandcolder:“Sinceitisthatway,IcannotholdontolingeringfeelingsoritwillgoagainsttherulesoftheLifamily!Startingfromtoday,JiuYiniangistobelockedupandnotallowedtoleave.Asforthisyatou,lockherupinthewoodshedfirst.Oncetheownerofthegoldshopisfound,confrontthemandasktoverify.Ifitistrue,proceedtobeathertodeath!”
Thatyatoubegantoscreamandcryasshewasdraggedout;LiWeiYanglookedatthissceneandfeltthatthismatterwasevenmorestrange.
JiangYueLansighed:“ItrulydidnotexpectsomeoneasweakasJiuYiniangwoulddosuchathing!Fortunately,itwasquicklydiscovered,otherwiseitwouldhavpromisedMinZhi’slife!”Then,shekneltdownandsaidtoLiXiaoRan,“Laoye, Ididn’ttakegoodcareofSiShaoye.Iwillnomentnomatterhowyouwishtopunishme.”
LiXiaoRanncedoveratLaoFurenandliftedheruptoherfeet.JiangYueLanrefusedtostand,hertearsstillfalling.LaoFurensaid:“Forgetit, thishasnothingtodowithyou.Getup.”
JiangYueLanonlystooduponcesheheardthisandtearfullysaid:“ThenIwillbringMinZhibackandtakegoodcareofhim.”
LaoFurenfrowned,watchingJiangYueLanwalkoverandtakeMinZhiintoherarmsunderTanshi’sreluctanteyes.ShehadjusttakentwostepswhenMinZhisuddenlyopenedhiseyesandbegantoshriekandcry.
“Look,yousee!Whatelsecanyoudo!Youcan’teventakecareofachild!”LaoFurenwasangeredbythis.JiangYueLanfeltgenuinelywronged.Howwouldsheknowthischildwouldbeawokensoeasily!
TanshihurriedlytookMinZhiintoherarms.Hesuddenlystoppedcryingandimmediatelyfegainsthisbirthmother’schest,bright-eyedasifhistantrumhadneverhappened.Hislittlehandsweregrabbingatair,appearingverylively.
Intheend,itseemedlikehisbirthmotherstillhadaway.LaoFurenfeltreassured,butthenpainstakinglysaid:“He’sbeenatFuRuiCourtyardforlessthantendays.Lookatthechild,hehasnolifeinhimanymoreandthiscan’tgoonlikethis!”
LiWeiYangncedoveratherlittlebrother.Asidefromthereddotsonhisarm,hewasstillfair-skinnedandchubbyandtheobnoxiousnessofhiscryingwasunrivaled.Therewasnosignthathislivelinesshadbeenaffectedatall.
JiangYueLandidnotwanttoletgoofMinZhisoeasilyandcontinuedtosay:“Letmegiveitanothertry!Perhapsmyactionsjustnowwereabitrough,butIcanbegentler!”SheextendedherhandstotakeMinZhifromTanshi’sarms,butthemomenthewasinherarms,MinZhi’stearsranlikeafaucet,andhereturnedtoastateofcryinginearthshakingterror.
Everyone’ssuspiciouseyesfellonJiangYueLan.LiXiaoRanfrowned:“Whydoesthechildkeepcryingthemomenthetouchesyou?”
EvenLaoFurenwashelplessaboutittoo,JiangYueLanthoughttoherself.However,shedidnotdaretoutterthesewordsinfrontofeveryone,soshereluctantlysmiled:“Intheend,he’sstillclosertoQiYiniang!”Herpained,heartbreakinglookmadeLiXiaoRanfeelhiswordshadbeenabitharsh.
“QiYiniang,youshouldstillholdhim.”LiXiaoRanslowlysaid.
Itwasratherstrange.OnceTanshitookMinZhi,thechild’sloudcryingimmediatelyquieteddown.Momentter,hewasnolongercryingatandhappilyrestingagainstTanshi,sniffingaroundher.TanshicaressedMinZhi’slittleface.MinZhistoppedcryingughed,andgrabbedTanshi’sfingerandstuckitinhismouthandstartedsuckingonit.
“Muqin,SiDiisstillyounganddoesnotunderstand.Childrenarelikethat.Theymustcryandthrowatantrumforawhile.They’llforgetitoncetheygetusedtoit!”LiChangLegentlysaidassherubbedherface,whereshehadappliedmedicinalbalm.
LaoFurenfrownedasifthinkingaboutsomething.
JiangYueLanheardLiChangLe’swordsandimmediatelyadded:“Indeed, IwillbringMinZhibackfirst.IfItrulycannotmanageit,IwillletQiYiniomycefortwodaysuntilMinZhiisustomedtome.”Shencedoveratthewetnurseapanyingher.ThewetnurseimmediatelyunderstoodandsteppedforwardtotakeMinZhi.
LiWeiYangnklylookedonasacoldsmileappearedonherlips.
ThewetnursehadnoteventouchedMinZhi,butheloudlyburstintotears,refusingtoleaveTanshi’sarmsasifitwerelifeanddeath.Hewascryingandwrithing,tryingtoescapethewetnurse’shands.Hisdarkeyeswerebrightlikecrystalorbs,reflectingbackthelightandblockingoutthedarkness.Hesmiledalotonadailybasis,butnowhetearfullyleanedagainstTanshi,asightoflongingnessthatleftLaoFurendistressed.
“YueLan,yousee...Thischildonlywantstobewithhisbirthmother.Inanycase,inthefuture,youwilsohaveyourownchild.IstillthinkyoushouldletQiYiniangtakehimhome.”LaoFurenwashesitant.
LiXiaoRannodded.Hestillfeltdistressedforhisson:“That’sright.YueLan,youarestillyoungandnotusedtotakingcareofchildren.LetMinZhistaywithQiYiniang.”
LiWeiYanglookedatJiangYueLanwithahintofsmugnessinhersmile.
JiangYueLan’ssmilewasalittlestiff,butshequicklyrecollectedherself.HereyesbecameabitdampasshelookedatMinZhi.
LiChangLeclenchedherhandbutkeptthecheerfulsmileonherface:“LaoFurenisalwayskind,dotingonSiDiinsuchaway.Itistrulyablessingoftheheavens.ButMuqinputinsomucheffort,ifsheweretogiveupnow,wouldn’titallgotowaste?HopeFuqinandLaoFurenwillgiveheranotherchance!Childrenalwaysneedtimetoadjustandwillbefineafterafewmoredays!”
LiXiaoRanfrownedandcouldnotbeartoseehisbelovedwifelooksopitifndsaid,“Whynottryagainandsee?”
JiangYueLaneagerlynoddedandimmediatelywenttoholdMinZhi:“Iwillwholeheartedlydomybest.”
LiWeiYangcoldlylookedonbutdidn’tsayanything.QiYiniangcouldnotbeartheseparation,butrememberingherdaughter’swords,shehadnochoicebuttoletgoofMinZhiandstandofftotheside.
However, JiangYueLan’sfinttemptresultedinfailure.Twodayter,shepersonallybroughtthechildbacktoQiYiniang.Shespokeemotionally:“Nothingcanbparedtohisbirthmother.Hecriesdayandnightwhenheiswithmethateveryonefeelssorryforhim.”
LiWeiYangnklyeyedJiangYueLan’sdarkeyecirclesandpalplexionandthoughttoherself:Yourheartisn’thurtingforMinZhi.It’sonlybecauseFuqinwouldrathergotoSiYiniangtorestinsteadofFuRuiCourtyardbecauseofMinZhi’scrying,causingyoutolosefavor.OutsidersalsospreadrumorsthatthenewFurendidnotcheckinonSiShaoyeatnightbutrathersecretlyprickedhisfeetwithneedles,whichiswhyhecriesmorefiercelyeverytimeheseesthenewFuren.Oncethoseviciousrumorsspread,JiangYueLan’seffortsturnedtodust.LiXiaoRanrepeatedlyadvisedthatshemustbemoregenerouswithconcubine-bornchildren.JiangYueLansuffered,unabletosayawordindefense.Afterthinkingitthrough,shewasfinallyforcedtoreturnthechild.LikeLiWeiYangsaid,withintendays,LiMinZhireturnedtohisbirthmother’sside.
WhenJiangYueLanleft,shesawMinZhihappilysmilingandfeltitwasstrangeandsuspicious.Althoughshecouldnotoverturnthingsthathappenedbefore,shetrulyhadnootherway.Whensheleft,everyonebreathedoutinrelief.
MinZhi’sbrighteyeswerefixedonTanshi.Hereachedoutwithhischubby,lotusroot-likehandwithasmileonhislittlemouth.ThereweretearsonTanshi’sface.Shecouldnothelpitanymore.Sherushedoverandtookthechildfromyatou’sarmsandtightlyembracedhim.Sheheldherchildtightlyinherarmsandkissedhislittlefaceandthenfromhistinyhandstonecktohair,cryingandsmilingatthesametime.
LiWeiYangcouldn’tdescribethewarmthemittedfromthesightwithwordsandquietlyasked:“HaspoisoninSiShaoye’sbodybeentreated?”
BaiZhirepliedinlowvoice:“TheImperialphysicianprescribedsomemedicine,andtherashonSiShaoyehasdisappeared.”
LiWeiYangnodded,hereyesreturningtothesmilingMinZhi.
Tanshiwasafraidofinvolvingherdaughter,soshesuppressedherfeelings,butnowthatherpreciouschildhadreturnedtoher,sheputherfaceagainsthislittlefaceandfelthissmallhandandheardhissoftheartbeat.HerhearttrembledwithhappinessandjoyaseachoneofhertearsfellontoMinZhi’sface.Onceshewascalmagain,shesaweveryonelookingatherandrealized.ShereluctantlycedMinZhiinthecradleandsmiled:“WeiYang, itwasindeedasyousaid,buthowdidyoudoit?”
LiWeiYangsmiled:“Everyoneelse, gooutside.”
Theyatousheardandquietlywithdrew.
LiWeiYangwalkedovertothecradleandheldoutarattletoMinZhi.MinZhihappilyreachedup,wantingabite.LiWeiYanggentlypulledtherattleawayandslowlysaid:“MinZhihasalwayslikedmaltose<sup>2</sup>, buthewastooyoungandcouldnoteatit.So,everytime,Ihadyatouputabitonaspoonoronthewetnurse’sbody,soMinZhicouldatleasthaveataste.
Eventually, MinZhiexpectstohavemaltoseevery day,adesirestrongerthanwantingmilk.”Whileshewassayingthis,MinZhughedandsmiledwidely.LiWeiYangpinkedhischubbycheekandcontinued:“Later, whenJiangYueLantookhimwithher,thisprivilegenolongerexisted.Thisgreedy,littlekittenwilltrytofindmaltoseinfourhoursalone.Withoutit,hewillkeepcrying.”
Tanshiwasindisbelief:“It’sthatsimple?”
LiWeiYanughedaloud:“Hoplicatedcoulditbe?”Alright,somaybeshedidn’tmentioneverything,butMinZhiwouldcrywithoutmaltose.Nomatterwhoheldhim,herefusedtostopcrying.ThatdayTanshididasLiWeiYangsaidandsmearedmaltoseonherhands,sowhenMinZhirecognizedthesmell,hewasimmediatelyhappyagain.Ofcourse,thatalonewasnotenough.ThischildMinZhiwasabitnaive,happilysmilingateveryone,evenJiangYueLan,sothemomentJiangYueLanwasmarriedintothehousehold,LiWeiYangbegantoprepareforwhenadaylikethiswoule.
JiangYueLanlikedusingagarwoodincense,whichhadalongstinganddelicatefragrance.EverytimethewetnursebreastfedMinZhi,half-waythrough,LiWeiYangwouldhaveBaiZhibringanincenseburnerwithagarwoodnearMinZhiandorderedthewetnursetostopbreastfeeding.
Eventually, MinZhibegantounderstandthatifanyonewiththatsmeppeared,hewouldnotbeabletodrinkmilkanymore.Manyhabitsaredifficulttochangeoncetheyhavedeveloped.Achildislikeapuppyinregard tofood,ifthatfoodistakenaway,itisonlynaturaltohaveastrongfeelingagainstthosewiththatfragrance.EvenifJiangYueLanlookedafterhimwithgreatcare,shecouldnotchangethehabitLiWeiYanghadstartedawhileback.Thatiswhyontheseconddayafterthewedding,MinZhiwasstillsmilingwhenJiangYueLanheldhimbuteron,heburstedintotearswhenshetouchedhim.
LiWeiYangwouldnotrevealthissecrettoTanshibecauseasamother,shecertainlywouldbeverydistressed,butLiWeiYangthoughtthatthechildMinZhineededtobedisciplinedabit.Otherwise,hewillseeeveryoneashismotherandbingnaivelyobedientwasnotagoodthing.Perhapstherewasnobettermethodthantoallowhimtoreturntohisbirthmother.
MinZhiopenedhiseyeswide,hisdarkeyesfocusedonhiscunningjiejiepletelyunawarethatshehadsoldhimoutlikethatandcontinuedtosmilehappily.
“MinZhiescapedthistime,butwhatarewetodoinfuture?Whenwecan’tusecryingtacticswhenhe’sthreeorfouryearsold?”Tanshiwasworried.
LiWeiYangsmiled:“Inthefuture?JiangYueLanwillsoonhaveachildofherown.Evenifshedoesn’t,shewon’thavethemindtopayattentiontoMinZhi.”
Atthemoment,theyshouldnotworryaboutthefuturebutratherwhathappenedtwodaysago.ThethoughtthatsomeoneusedMinZhitoprovokeherinfuriatedLiWeiYang.Shestaredintentlyathischubbyarm,freeofanymarks,andcontemtedaboutwhatthenextstepwouldbenow.
Tofindthetruth,itisoftennotfoundbylookingatthesurfacebutratherbyexaminingwhohasthemosttogain.WithJiuYiniang’smisfortune,thepersonwiththemosttogainwasnaturallyJiangYueLan,butJiangYueLanwasnotsuchashort-sightedindividundwouldnotdoso.ThenextmostsuspiciouspersonwasnotSiYiniangbutLiChangLe.
Afterwards, LiWeiYangarrangedforpeopletoinvestigatetheshopwhereLaoFurenhadthegoldcormade.Unfortunately,thestorehadchangedownership.TheowneroftheshopthatmeltedthegoldforJiuYiniangsuddenlydiedofillness.Thismatterbecameevenmoreuncertain.IfonesaiditconcernedaFurenofahousehold,wouldtheownerofaluxuriousgoldshopbeconvinced?Itwasobviouslynotthatsimple.
LiWeiYangturnedaroundandsaid:“Ihavesomethingandmustgobackfirst.”
Tanshilookedtoherdaughterinsurprise.ShedidnotknowwhatLiWeiYangwouldhaveatthistime,butsheknewshecouldnotadviseotherwise,soshesmiledandsaid:“It’scoldoutside,letmeprepareahandwarmerforyou.”
LiWeiYangshookherhead:“Noneed.” Shequicklywalkedout.Assoonasshewasbeyondthedoors,shewasmetwithacoldgustofwind.Sheinvoluntarilyshivered.BaiZhirushedoverfromwhereshewasstandingbythedoorsandquicklyputathickfurcloakoverher:“Xiaojie, arewegoingbacknow?”
LiWeiYangshookherheadandloweredhervoice:“Let’sgoseeJiuYiniangnow.”
-----------------------*****------------------------
Trantor: Chau
Editor: Erica
Previous:
Next:
-----------------------*****------------------------