Chapter 16

August arrived in the blink of an eye.

During this period, Li took Tian's mother to the mountain to worship Buddha every day. Every time Tian's mother asked her to donate money for incense, she would use the excuse that her son-in-law would not allow it to get away with it. She vaguely guessed that Tian's mother had a connection with the temple.

After finishing their vegetarian lunch at noon, Li went to the meditation room to rest. Tian's mother quietly slipped out and chatted with the monks who had previously divided the spoils.

"Why hasn't your wife donated any money these past few times?"

"And yet, the household has changed managers, and the new young master has taken control of all the money. The lady dares not donate any."

"So that's what happened. Why don't you ask your husband if he worships Buddha and have him go up the mountain to donate some incense money?"

Grandma Tian spat, "I can't persuade him. That young man has his own ideas. The other day he even had our lady bring back a small statue of Guanyin to worship. It'll be difficult for him to get a share of the money later."

Unbeknownst to the two, Li, behind the pillar, was nearly grinding her teeth in frustration, clutching her handkerchief. No wonder Mother Tian always urged her to go up the mountain to worship Buddha; she never imagined that all the money she had donated over the years would benefit these two!

"Aunt Tian, ​​Aunt Tian!"

"Oh dear!" Madam Tian exclaimed in surprise and rushed back. "What's wrong, Madam?"

"I just had a dream that scared me so much that I woke up feeling uneasy."

"What did you dream about, Madam?"

Li stared at her and said, "I dreamt that I raised a dog and fed it good food and drink, but unexpectedly, after the beast had eaten and drunk its fill, it turned around and bit me."

"Oh dear, this is no good dream. Madam, quickly go and donate some incense so the master can dispel it for you."

Li almost laughed in anger; a person who has no shame is truly invincible.

"Then let's donate one string of cash, so people won't say we're eating and drinking for free."

"Isn't one string of cash too little?"

"I didn't bring much money with me this time, let's talk about it next time." Mother Tian took the money and walked out with a livid face.

*

In the backyard, Chen Qingyan was exercising in a wooden wheelchair.

He's really worried now. Ever since he found out that his second uncle was trying to kill him, he's been getting up before dawn every day to exercise. Now he can even push his wheelchair around the yard.

"Take a break, your clothes are soaked," Wang Ying said, picking a tomato from the vegetable garden and eating it as she spoke.

"I'm not tired, I'll exercise a little longer." Chen Qingyan struggled to walk with the help of his wheelchair, sweat streaming down his forehead and into his eyes, making him hiss.

Wang Ying quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe his lips clean. The two were standing a little close, and Chen Qingyan looked down and saw that his lips were moist after eating fruit. Suddenly, she felt her heart beat a little fast and raised her hand to wipe them away, saying, "No need to wipe them."

"You don't need to be in such a hurry. There's always a way out. We've already made preparations, so we're not afraid of him making a move."

"This whole thing started because of me. If I hadn't been sick for so long, my second uncle wouldn't have dared to covet my family business. If I don't get better, I'm afraid I'll attract other people's attention in the future."

Wang Ying gave a thumbs up, "Not bad, you've shown some manly responsibility."

Chen Qingyan blushed and said, "You're being noisy."

"Wait for me a moment." Wang Ying walked to the willow tree, picked a few lush willow branches, and quickly wove them into a ring-shaped hat, which she then placed on Chen Qingyan's head.

"What's this?"

"It's for sun protection. My grandfather used to make this for me when I was little. It's quite effective, isn't it?" Wang Ying also made one for herself and swayed it on her head.

"nondescript."

"Tsk, if you don't like it, then just leave it in the sun."

Chen Qingyan didn't take off the willow hat. He slightly curled the corners of his mouth and continued to stroll around in his wooden wheelchair. This thing was indeed quite effective at blocking the sun.

*

The sky darkened in the afternoon, looking like a heavy rain was about to fall.

Li and Tian's mother hurried down the mountain, but they still got caught in the rain halfway down.

The heavy rain poured down and flowed in through the gaps in the carriage, quickly soaking my clothes.

While cursing the heavens, Tian's mother used her cloak to shield Li's body from the rain. Usually, Li would be considerate of her age and would not let her work so hard, but today she made Tian's mother carry it all the way home. When they got home, she was soaked to the bone and her arms were sore and aching.

Just when she thought she could go home and rest, Li said she had a headache and asked her to stay and keep watch over her that night. Tian's mother was furious but dared not say it, and cursed Li in her heart.

While changing clothes, the arsenic she had been carrying in her bosom suddenly fell out, startling her. She quickly picked it up and put it back in her pocket. Her eyes suddenly changed, as if she had made up her mind, and she turned and walked towards the kitchen.

Because of the rain, dinner was eaten separately. Uncle Chen carried the food box to the kitchen to get the food and took it to the backyard.

Wang Ying tried the silver hairpin one by one as usual. When she tried the nourishing soup that Chen Qingyan often ate, the originally silver hairpin suddenly turned black.

"Boom!"

Thunder rumbled outside, startling the two of them so much that they both shivered; they hadn't expected it to come so quickly.

What should we do now?

Wang Ying managed to calm herself down. "Don't panic, pour this soup out first."

"Uncle Chen!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, this old servant is here!"

"Kill the chicken I bought a few days ago and bring in a bowl of its blood." The chicken was bought secretly and kept in the backyard; no one else knew about it.

A short while later, Uncle Chen came in carrying a bowl of chicken blood. "Young master, the chicken blood is here."

Wang Ying dipped her finger in the blood and smeared it on Chen Qingyan's lips, then poured the rest of the chicken blood onto the ground.

"Go and call the doctor. Tell him that the young master has vomited blood."

"Alright!" Uncle Chen already knew about the plan to play dead, and he ran out quickly.

Wang Ying helped Chen Qingyan lie down on the bed, saying, "I'll have to trouble you for the next few days."

"It's alright, it's just a matter of lying down for a few days. You and your mother will be much more tired from handling the funeral arrangements and dealing with the petitions."

"That's nothing, but once the arrow is released, there's no turning back. There's no room for maneuver once things start. Your second uncle's family might end up in jail."

Chen Qingyan said coldly, "They have already tried to kill me. If I repay evil with kindness, how am I any different from pigs and dogs? I must make their whole family pay the price for this!"

"Okay, let's proceed according to the previous plan!"

News of Chen Qingyan's sudden vomiting of blood quickly spread throughout the Chen family mansion. Li Shi rushed over without even putting on her shoes. Upon seeing the blood all over the floor, her face instantly turned pale. If she hadn't known beforehand that it was an act, she would probably have fainted by now.

When Tian's mother, who had come along, saw this, she was terrified. She clutched her chest and kept chanting Amitabha in her heart, saying, "The grievances have their perpetrators, and the debts have their debtors. It is Chen Biao who wants to harm you, but it has nothing to do with me."

I didn't expect this poison to be so potent; it took effect in less than half an hour.

"Qingyan!" Li squatted by the bedside, tears streaming down her face as she looked at her son's gaunt face. She had dreamt of her son like this many times in the past, which would frighten her so much that she would wake up crying uncontrollably. Even though she knew it was fake now, she still felt terrible.

Wang Ying also wiped away her tears with a handkerchief. The handkerchief was coated with ginger juice beforehand, and it was so spicy that she cried as she said, "I was fine this afternoon, but after I finished eating just now, I don't know why, I suddenly said my stomach hurt, vomited a lot of blood, and then I lost consciousness."

"Where's the doctor? Have you gone to call him yet?"

"He went, Chen Bogang went."

Chen Qingyun and Chen Qingsong also arrived. They were startled to see their eldest brother lying unconscious on the bed, but when they turned around and saw Wang Ying winking at them, the two boys were relieved. It seemed that the plan had already begun to be implemented!

Fifteen minutes later, Uncle Chen returned with the doctor.

Wang Ying cleared everyone else out, leaving only Li Shi and her two children.

The doctor held Chen Qingyan's pulse, and after a long while, looked at everyone with a puzzled expression.

How is his health?

"Although weak, the pulse is strong, not like someone on the verge of death..."

Wang Ying took out two taels of silver from her bosom and handed them to the old doctor. "Thank you for coming so late. If anyone asks you how my husband is doing, you don't need to say anything, just shake your head and sigh!"

There's no reason not to accept free money, so the old doctor pocketed the silver and readily agreed.

Chen Qingyun burst into tears, "Big brother, big brother, wake up! What will we do without you?"

I never expected this kid to have a talent for performing.

Upon hearing the crying, Granny Tian knew that the matter was most likely settled! She made an excuse to go to the outhouse and quietly left, running all the way home.

*

In Dongxia Street Alley, Tian Xiaoliu trudged through the mud and knocked on the Chen family's door.

After a while, Chen Qingling opened the door. "Liu Zi, why are you here so late?"

"I've come to bring good news to the Second Master and the two young masters!"

The lights were on in the room, and Chen Biao asked excitedly, "Is Chen Qingyan really dying?"

“My mother saw it with her own eyes. She vomited blood all over the ground, which was terrifying. She called a doctor, but he only stayed for a short while before being sent away. There was definitely no cure.”

Chen Biao slapped his thigh with joy, "Good, great! He's finally dead! I thought this sickly man would die before the new year, but it's been dragged on for so long. Li even went to the trouble of bringing good luck to her son, but it was all for nothing."

According to the customs of the Wu Dynasty, if there were no adult males in the family, the brothers could help support the family business. In other words, after Chen Qingyan's death, Chen Biao could rightfully take over the family property of the eldest son of the Chen family.

"Alright, you can go back now. I'll go check on things over there tomorrow."

Liu Zi stood up and said, "Second Master, don't forget to ask me for help."

"Don't worry, I definitely won't forget my promise."

"That's good, that's good. I congratulate you in advance on achieving your wish."

After everyone left, Chen Qingfeng said with a disdainful look, "Father, are you really planning to give him half of the land? He's just a lowly servant."

"Just appease them. After this is done, send them to the farm to farm. If they dare to talk nonsense, beat them to death with sticks."

"That's how it should be!"

"Alright, stop wasting time and hurry up and pack your things. We'll go to the main house tomorrow!"

A note from the author:

Chen Qingyan: I'm good at playing dead. I can lie down for a whole day at a time.