Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Seize power.
His brother was furious, and Zhao Huailiang hurried out to appease him. "Brother, please don't be angry. Feng is just an idiot. She always believes everything she hears. Don't bother with her."
But this time, Zhao Huaiyi was completely resolute. "Needless to say, I'm also responsible for the mess at home. Blame it on my years away from the capital, blame it on my lack of interest in family matters, and blame it on me for trusting you, my second brother! From now on, your second branch has nothing to do with me. Let's take this opportunity to separate and save your second branch from constantly interfering with our first branch!"
His words were quite rude. Zhao Huailiang felt extremely ashamed, and Feng's face turned green.
The second wife is worried about the first wife... Are you blaming the second wife for taking control of the household finances without the permission of the first wife?
But before, the eldest wife's family was far away in Shanxi, so it was reasonable for her to be handed over to the household affairs of the mansion. Why is she now considered to be meddling in other people's business?
Just as they were about to quarrel over the division of the property, the maid who discovered the voodoo puppet was brought up.
The topic returned to the puppet, and the maid trembled as she recited the place where the puppet was found.
Zhao Qingyi almost laughed when she heard it. This was probably what Aunt Fang asked her to memorize in the morning.
"Tell me everything from the moment you woke up to the moment you started your shift. Who did you meet, what did you say, what did you eat? Tell me everything in detail so I can confront you one by one."
The maid had seen the methods of this young lady, and when she met Zhao Qingyi's gaze, she was so scared that she trembled all over.
"Speak!" Zhao Qingyi suddenly shouted.
The maidservant's soul was gone and she hurriedly recalled everything that had happened that day and all the people she had met. But lies are lies after all. Once you tell a lie, you have to use countless lies to cover it up.
Zhao Qingyi called all the people she mentioned over and compared them one by one. She found that her words were full of loopholes. The maid argued that she was old and might have mixed up her memory.
Zhao Qingyi asked her to repeat the process of how she discovered the puppet, still using the same fluent rhetoric.
"You said you're old and your memory of what you ate, who you met, and what you said today is muddled. But how come you can describe the discovery of the puppet so clearly?"
The maid broke out in a cold sweat, "This... this is different. This witchcraft puppet is horrifying. It's no surprise that I remember it so clearly."
If he's stubborn, then I'll just follow his lead and ask, "Then how can you be so sure that I made this puppet? Did you see me burying it?"
Aunt Fang never said this.
The maid was unsure, but she made up her mind and nodded, "Yes, I saw it with my own eyes."
"Then tell me, when did I go to bury him? Who was with him?"
The maid couldn't answer for a moment, so she made up a story for a while.
Zhao Wenyi was stunned and blurted out, "Big Sister was in my room at that time, how could it be... You really framed me on purpose!"
Zhao Huaiyi was furious, "Drag this wicked slave away and beat him to death!"
Even after the lie was exposed, Aunt Fang still refused to give up. "No matter who set this puppet, the old lady really fell ill. She fell ill right after the county lady came back!"
Zhao Qingyi interrupted, "You're right. The most urgent thing is to find out the cause of grandma's illness."
Even if the things you touch and the food you eat are non-toxic and harmless when taken individually, it is still unknown whether they will conflict when put together. The court physician cannot tell, so you have to ask the most experienced imperial physician in the palace.
"Before you came back, your father sent someone to deliver a letter to the palace." Judging from the time, the imperial physician should be here by now.
“Here it comes!”
The maid outside the door shouted, and Chu Yuanhe, wearing a purple round-necked brocade robe, strode in carrying Liao Yuanpan.
"The old man's legs are slow, this is faster." Chu Yuanhe smiled with his peach blossom eyes. After explaining, he secretly winked at Zhao Qingyi, as if asking, did I arrive in time?
Most of the anger that Zhao Qingyi had been holding in her chest was dissipated by his disturbance. She glared at him and then looked away to avoid anyone noticing anything.
Fortunately, after Judge Liao arrived, everyone's attention shifted to him. They watched him check the old lady's personal belongings and food one by one, and no poison was found.
The hearts of everyone in the first house sank to the bottom in an instant. If they couldn't find a breakthrough from the old lady's daily life, they would not be able to wash away the stigma of Zhao Qingyi as a monster and disaster.
Judge Liao was calm and composed. "Don't panic. The ice is three feet thick, and it didn't freeze overnight. Just looking at the diet of the past few days is bound to have some omissions. Do you have any records of Madam Zhao's diet in the past?"
"Yes, yes." After returning to Beijing, Meng often stayed by the old lady's side to take care of her. She was a cautious person, and she asked the maid to record everything the old lady had eaten and used in a book every day so that she could consult a doctor later and regulate the old lady's body.
The maid brought a booklet and handed it to Liao Yuanpan. Liao Yuanpan flipped through a few pages and his expression changed. "Kaiyuan meat, blanched water chestnuts, shredded chicken and cucumber... How come these are all incompatible things?"
There was an uproar in the room. Zhao Huaiyi was puzzled. "Conflict and restraint... Where did this come from?"
To him, it sounded like a very ordinary meal.
Liao Yuanpan said, "It's understandable that you can't see it. This recipe may seem ordinary, but it actually contains a secret. For example, the Kaiyuan meat and the blanched water chestnuts are actually a collision of yin and yang, like water flooding and wood floating, which mainly damages the liver. And the shredded chicken and cucumber and..."
Judge Liao easily found clues by analyzing the old lady's daily diet. These foods were rotated almost every seven days, which damaged her internal organs in turn. If she continued to eat them, she would surely die within two months.
"Three meals a day are normal. After eating, there's no noticeable abnormality in the short term. At most, the person eating them might experience heartburn and abdominal distension, or fatigue and drowsiness. Furthermore, the old lady is old, so even if we diagnose her with a weak pulse, we wouldn't think she's been poisoned."
Judge Liao gave a speech in which he revealed all the secrets of the old lady's diet, which frightened everyone present.
Killing someone so cleverly and without anyone noticing shows how cunning the assassin is.
Meng clutched her chest, cold sweat breaking out on her forehead. "No wonder, no wonder mother-in-law always complained about being tired. Every time she told me to just rest, I'm feeling less energetic day by day. It turns out that my five internal organs are running out of energy..."
The others hurriedly asked if there was any way to remedy the situation.
Judge Liao sighed and said, "The old lady has a hidden injury, and she can only recover slowly in the future." As for who is harboring evil intentions, it is not something he can control.
Zhao Huaiyi immediately called the cook in the old lady's courtyard to question him.
The cook argued that he only cooked and didn't know anything about medicine, and that the dishes were all prepared in advance by the old lady and had nothing to do with the kitchen.
The servants who served the old lady also argued, "The old lady has never been picky about food. She eats whatever the kitchen cooks."
The cook had no way of explaining himself, so Aunt Fang suddenly spoke up, "You'd better confess. Otherwise, once the truth is revealed, your whole family will be in big trouble!"
The cook trembled all over, and under the oppressive gaze of the crowd, he cried out that he was wronged and stood up to bang his head against the pillar.
The people closest to the cook were only those from the second house. Zhao Huaiyi and Meng wanted to stop them but it was too far for them to do anything. They could only watch as the cook crashed into the crowd, got a bloody head and died on the spot.
"You..." Zhao Huaiyi was so angry that he was shaking, pointing at Aunt Fang and gritting his teeth. How could he not hear that Aunt Fang was threatening him with her entire family.
But now, the person is gone and there is no evidence.
Faced with Zhao Huaiyi's suspicion, Concubine Fang knelt down and said, "Master, I am worried about him and I didn't know that he would die to prove his innocence..."
Zhao Huaiyi felt that this was a great shame and humiliation. It was ridiculous that their Zhao family was so troubled by a concubine!
"Zhao Huailiang, if you don't give me an explanation today, this matter will not be over!" Zhao Huaiyi looked at his brother, extremely disappointed.
Zhao Huailiang was so ashamed that he felt embarrassed. "Brother, I will definitely get to the bottom of it and give mother an explanation." He suppressed his grief and looked at Aunt Fang.
With just one look, Concubine Fang understood the other party's intention and turned pale with fear. "Master, I am innocent. I have no reason to harm the old lady..."
In a panic, she pointed at Feng and said, "It's the Second Madam! The Second Madam has been in charge of everything in the mansion these past few years. She also arranges the food, clothing, and expenses for the old lady's courtyard!"
As soon as these words were spoken, suspicious eyes fell on Feng again. What Aunt Fang said was not without reason. Feng had been the housekeeper for many years, and she was dissatisfied with the old lady.
Feng was originally just watching the show, but when Fang Yi Niang suddenly accused her of something, she almost jumped up and down, "What does this have to do with me? If you keep spreading rumors, you whore, I'll twist your tongue!"
What a huge injustice! She dare not bear the charge of murdering her mother-in-law!
Feng was genuinely frightened, her whole body radiating panic and uneasiness. She tugged at Zhao Huailiang's sleeve and said, "Master, please don't listen to this whore's nonsense. I may be a little clumsy, but I absolutely have no intention of harming anyone! Look, since I became the housekeeper, I've never even beaten a maid to death. How could I dare to harm my own mother-in-law?"
Zhao Huailiang didn't say anything, and didn't even look at Feng.
Zhao Wenyi stepped forward to defend her mother, saying that Feng had no motive to harm anyone. Moreover, with her brain, how could she come up with such a clever and vicious plan?
Feng: “…” She was dissatisfied with her daughter’s words, but she didn’t dare to refute.
In the end, his anger was directed at Aunt Fang. "Although there is no evidence, my intuition tells me that it was you, a whore, whore, who did it! You are a troublemaker! You are a troublemaker!" He tried to divert everyone's suspicion.
Aunt Fang has always appeared weak, and when Feng suddenly pushed her, she immediately fell to the ground.
The house fell into chaos again. Zhao Qingyi looked at the farce in the second room coldly and felt deeply exhausted. If the family members were in such a mess, why should they still be a family?
“That’s enough!”
Zhao Qingyi shouted angrily, and the room returned to silence. Even Chu Yuanhe, who had been sitting beside her drinking tea after entering the room, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and look at her, curious about what she was going to do.
If she needed him... well, he could also come out and uphold justice.
Although it is not his family affair, it is not wrong for him to use his status to suppress others, but it is a bit unreasonable.
Chu Yuanhe was still struggling, but Zhao Qingyi made up her mind first. She glanced at the family coldly, closed her eyes, and breathed a sigh of relief, "I agree with my father's proposal. Let's split up the family."
She is selfish and does not have the broad mind to tolerate those who hurt her family. She cannot accept that her parents and brother live under the same roof with those who endanger their lives.
Zhao Huailiang said with a bitter face, "Qingyi..."
"Uncle, you don't have to say anything." Zhao Qingyi knew he was trying to play the emotional card. "I'm very grateful for your care over the years, but I can't tolerate outsiders hurting my loved ones. Last year it was Jiao'er, this year it's my grandmother, and then what? Isn't it my father, mother, and my brother's turn?"
When talking about Jiao'er, Zhao Huailiang felt embarrassed. He knew in his heart that it was his concubine who caused Li Jiao to fall into the water that day, but Zhao Qingyi did not expose her at that time. He was grateful in his heart. Now that a similar thing happened again, he no longer had the face to repay the favor.
Zhao Huaiyi also said, "I have been away from the capital for these years. Thank you for your care for Banban, my second brother. However, I believe I have never treated your second wife unfairly. Whether it is the reward from the court or the harvest from my wife's business, I have put it all into the public treasury for the use of both houses. I will not count the money. I will regard it as a repayment for your care for Banban over the years. Today, we are even. From now on, we will separate and live our own lives."
Meng agreed with her husband's approach and called the storekeeper in the mansion to count the goods immediately and divide them equally between the two families.
All in all, the eldest wife suffered the loss.
But if they don't divide the family because of this little money, who knows who will be the next person to be killed inexplicably. Zhao Huaiyi understands the principle of making a decisive decision.
The second wife was completely thrown into disarray. Splitting up the family meant that she could only rely on herself in the future and could not expect to get any benefits from the first wife.
"We can't split up!"
Feng scolded the storeroom manager and forbade them to come in. "The old lady hasn't even woken up yet, and her descendants have already started dividing the family property. When she wakes up, won't she be pissed off by her unfilial descendants?"
Zhao Huailiang glared at Feng fiercely, signaling her to shut up and talk less. However, although what Feng said was harsh, it made sense.
"Brother, it is indeed not appropriate to divide the family now. We should wait until mother wakes up before discussing it." He also asked Court Judge Liao how long it would take for the old lady to wake up.
Judge Liao was concentrating on giving acupuncture to the old lady and did not respond.
Zhao Huailiang had no choice but to continue persuading his brother, "Brother, look at mother. She is old and advanced in years. If you and I suddenly decide to separate, how will she cope? Which branch of the family will she live with in the future?"
"That's right." Feng came in and interrupted again. This was what she wanted to say. The most important thing was that the family was divided. What would outsiders think if this got out?
Are they going to pin the blame for poisoning the old lady on her? Outsiders will definitely wonder why the first wife would split the family property in anger if the second wife hadn't done it.
Zhao Huaiyi didn't buy it and said as a matter of course that the old lady would live with the eldest wife after she woke up.
Several people from the second room disagreed and started arguing again.
While the two families were arguing, the old lady who was unconscious on the bed suddenly started coughing violently. Everyone gathered around her and talked about her condition.
After Judge Liao took back the silver needles one by one, the old lady opened her eyes with difficulty. The first thing she said was that the family could not be divided. She had heard all the quarrels between the two families.
"I'm not even dead yet, and you're already trying to split up the family?"
It was expected. Parents are always like this. They just hope for harmony in the family and that the promising one will help other brothers and sisters. It is understandable that parents would think this way. Zhao Qingyi could not refute the intention of disobeying the elders.
Zhao Huaiyi argued gently, "Mother, you should take good care of yourself first and don't worry about the family matters."
"No..." The old lady even wanted to sit up, and said earnestly, "You can't split up. Only when brothers are in harmony and work together can the Zhao family go further..."
The court implemented new policies, which damaged the interests of many parties. The political situation was turbulent, and countless eyes were staring at the Zhao family. If the Zhao family fell apart due to this incident, it would undoubtedly give outsiders an opportunity to slander them.
If the Zhao family falls, who will support the Prime Minister's new policies? Who will serve His Majesty?
If the new policy is blocked, it will not only affect the Zhao family, but also the homes of millions of ordinary people.
"The new policies...are policies that benefit both the country and the people. There are many obstacles ahead, so you brothers must not become disunited..."
This made many of the words that Zhao Huaiyi had been holding in his heart vanish into thin air. He understood his mother's painstaking efforts, but he also had to take care of his family and children.
"Mother, please don't blame me. As the head of the family, if I can't protect my wife and children, how can I shoulder the responsibility of the people of the world?"
"Second son." The old lady called her second son Zhao Huailiang and let today's matter go. She told him to take good care of the backyard. While speaking, she glanced at Aunt Fang inconspicuously.
Zhao Huailiang's face flushed and he responded with tears in his eyes, promising that no more rumors of disaster would spread in the mansion, and then he apologized to Zhao Qingyi.
Zhao Qingyi dodged to the side, refusing to accept his second uncle's greeting. He said indifferently, "I support my father's division of the family, not just because of today's disaster. Grandmother, do you know that someone in the Zhao family wants to harm my father?"
The old lady's face suddenly changed, "What?"
It was obvious that he was unaware of the troubles Zhao Huaiyi and his family encountered when they returned to Beijing from Shanxi.
Yes, given my father and mother’s filial piety and compassion, they always report good news but never bad news. How could they tell the old lady about such a disaster and make her worry?
But Zhao Qingyi had to say, "On his way back to Beijing, my father encountered bandits while passing through Shunde Prefecture and nearly lost his life! If he hadn't met the eldest princess and her husband, it's unclear whether the Zhao family would still have a first wife."
As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell into silence.
Feng was extremely scared now. She felt that if anything happened to the first wife, others would put the blame on her. She quickly said that she knew nothing and had no idea about the bandits or robbery.
Zhao Qingyi observed everyone's reactions. "...Luckily, one of the bandits who attacked that day escaped. After several months of investigation, I have a clue. He's hiding in a gambling house in Shangjing. Once I find him, I'll be able to find out who's behind the scenes. Then, it will be clear who's real and who's not."
"Then you must find it out and clear our second branch's name!" Feng said impatiently.
"That's natural."
Everyone fell silent again, looking at each other. Aunt Fang unconsciously hid behind Zhao Huailiang, suppressing her anxiety.
Zhao Qingyi doesn't like to be passive. Since the family is not going to be divided, the power to manage the family should be transferred to the eldest wife. As soon as she brought it up, it caused a bloody storm.
Feng's reaction was the strongest. "It's not that I have to argue, but my eldest sister-in-law is not in good health. She is already too busy taking care of her own dowry. If I let her manage the household, I'm afraid she won't be able to manage it. Besides, she has been away from home for so many years, and she is unfamiliar with the whole family. Just coordinating with the outside housekeepers is enough to give her a headache..."
"If my mother can't do it, then why can't I do it too?" Zhao Qingyi's eyes were sharp.
Feng was startled, "You?"
A girl who married out, after divorce, returns to her parents' home and wants to fight for the right to manage the household. How...how can this be allowed?
Zhao Qingyi saw the disdain on her face and asked, "Second Aunt has been the housekeeper for many years, but how come you didn't even know that someone had tampered with Grandmother's food?"
"That was an accident..." Feng was extremely anxious and kept winking at her husband.
Zhao Qingyi sneered, "Incompetence is incompetence, why so many excuses? To be frank, given the current situation at home, I don't feel comfortable handing over the finances to anyone other than my eldest wife."
"Either you split up the family, or return the household expenses to my mother. My mother is frail, so I will take care of her. From now on, the eldest branch of the Zhao family will have the final say."
She has been overstepping her bounds for a long time. In her previous life, she was too obedient and died quickly. Why should she care about those false reputations in this life? She just wants power, and if her mother doesn't want it, she will take it back.
Mrs. Meng glanced at her daughter. While she was relieved, the bitter pain in her heart came back. "I believe Banban."
In one sentence, Feng's remaining excuses were blocked.
Now that her sister-in-law has spoken, what right does she have to continue to monopolize the household expenses?
The old lady was afraid that the eldest son and his wife would be upset and start a family division, so she also advised, "Just follow Qingyi's advice."
She doesn't care who is the housekeeper. As long as they can manage the household well, anyone can do it. The one who is capable will get the job.
Feng was dissatisfied, "This... Qingyi is a daughter who married out..."
"Second sister-in-law, what you said means that a daughter who marries out cannot take care of her mother's family affairs?"
The gentle and serene Zhao Huaishu smiled. "So, now that my mother has been murdered, does that mean I, a married daughter, can't come back to visit her? Can't I ask about her?"
Whoever wants to take care of the Zhao family can do so. She cares about the safety of the family. "Second sister-in-law, it's time for you to reflect on yourself and find out where you went wrong. If you can't figure it out, let Qingyi take care of it for you for a while. At least Qingyi is my mother's granddaughter. She won't harm my mother."
Feng finally understood what was going on. It turned out that she was the only outsider in the family. When something happened to the old lady, everyone blamed her and suspected her.
It’s obviously that bitch Aunt Fang!
Feng took it to heart and reluctantly handed over the butler's key.
After the storm subsided, the old lady fell asleep again.
Zhao Huaishu was going to stay at home for a while so that he could take care of the old lady. Meng took the newly acquired pair of keys and instructed the servants to clean up the yard for her aunt.
Chu Yuanhe quietly walked behind Zhao Qingyi and poked Zhao Qingyi's lower back in a corner where no one could see.
The poke was neither light nor heavy, but rather itchy. Zhao Qingyi restrained his expression and bowed to the elders, "Father, Mother, Aunt, I will send the Prince and Liao Yuanpan out first."
"Go." Meng's tone was the same as usual, and she only paused for a moment when her eyes passed over Chu Yuanhe.
Chu Yuanhe's mind and eyes were filled with Zhao Qingyi, and he didn't notice Meng's scrutinizing and inquiring gaze on him.
Zhao Qingyi escorted the person to the ceremonial gate. Liao Yuanpan bowed and said, "Please stay, my lady. I will walk back slowly."
"Let the mansion's carriage take you there." Liao Yuanpan had been troubled several times before. Every time, Liao Yuanpan had to risk having his bones broken to pieces to be carried here. It was really not easy.
Court Judge Liao subconsciously looked at Chu Yuanhe's expression. Seeing that the other party nodded in agreement, he tremblingly got on the Zhao family's carriage and drove to the Imperial Hospital.
Only Zhao Qingyi and Chu Yuanhe were left at the door.
"Thank you so much today." Zhao Qingyi bowed sincerely. Although he couldn't repay the favor in a short time, he still had to show his attitude.
Chu Yuanhe looked around and made sure that no one was coming before he took two steps towards Zhao Qingyi.
His cool breath enveloped him again, and the scene of that night emerged in his mind. Zhao Qingyi mistakenly thought that the other party was going to do something extraordinary, and hurriedly retreated.
"Prince?" Her voice trembled slightly, and her pretty face rarely showed a look of panic. "Here's the door, there's someone..."
She lowered her eyelashes, and two thin blushes appeared on her fair skin. Afraid that he would bite her neck again, she covered the half of her neck that was exposed with her hands.
But Zhao Qingyi still underestimated Chu Yuanhe's courage. In broad daylight, he actually reached out and put his arm around her waist.
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