Chapter 59 Chronic Poisons
Ever since Zhang Xiangling learned that her father and elder brother might be involved in smuggling salt, her heart had been pounding so hard that she had forgotten what she was supposed to do that day.
Lady Jiangling's reminder stirred complex emotions within her. Originally, given the magnitude of the events at the Duke of Chu's mansion, she had intended to seek help from her maternal family. However, she hadn't expected them to cause her even more trouble.
However, as a married daughter, she couldn't interfere too much in her natal family's affairs. Suppressing her inner turmoil, she said, "The Chu State Duke's mansion has been in quite a mess these past few days."
"What's wrong?" Lady Jiangling was always eager to gossip, and her eyes lit up when she heard that something had happened at the Duke of Chu's mansion.
Seeing her expression, Zhang Xiangling felt a pang of sadness. She even began to wonder if she should go back to her parents' home for help. But what else could she do besides rely on her family?
“My father-in-law and Jia Rong have both been imprisoned by the Duke. The people in their two courtyards have all been punished,” Zhang Xiangling said. “I heard it’s because my father-in-law stole my mother-in-law’s dowry.”
"Then why is Jia Rong also imprisoned?" asked the Lady of Jiangling.
Zhang Xiangling: "I heard that Jia Rong instigated my father-in-law to steal my dowry."
"This...doesn't warrant locking them both up?" Lady Jiangling felt that the Duke of Chu was making a mountain out of a molehill.
Zhang Xiangling sighed, "That's not the important thing. Ever since our young lady returned to the manor, the Duke has treated her very differently."
She recounted how the Duke of Chu treated Jiang Yu, and then added, "I'm starting to suspect that the Duke is grooming Jiang Yu to be his successor."
Hearing these words, Lady Jiangling's face gradually became serious. "I think it's best to marry off Jiang Yu as soon as possible. A divorced woman who has returned home is causing so much trouble instead of staying quietly."
Zhang Xiangling agreed with her words, saying, "That's what I thought too, but just yesterday, the Duke met the little brat born to the second son, and the second son and his wife. What do you think the Duke meant by that?"
Lady Jiangling's expression grew even more solemn, and then Zhang Xiangling said again, "Do you think the Duke is going to groom that little brat Jiang Yunkang? After all these years, we haven't produced a single boy in our household."
Lady Jiangling gritted her teeth. "No, you are the legitimate sons of the main wife, the title should belong to you. Even if we adopt that little brat... Jiang Yunkang, he'll be under your name..."
At this point, Lady Jiangling's eyes lit up. "That's right, if we adopt Jiang Yunkang into your family, wouldn't that solve the problem?"
Zhang Xiangling's eyes lit up as well. "Mother's idea is good, but I can't bring it up."
"Have your father speak to the Duke of Chu," said the Lady of Jiangling.
Zhang Xiangling smiled; a solution had finally been found. She added, "Jiarong can't stay locked up forever. Let Father plead with the Duke to release him. Even if he's a good-for-nothing, he's still a man, and I still need him."
Lady Jiangling nodded, "Don't worry, your father knows what to do."
Zhang Xiangling felt a little relieved, but then she became worried about the Marquis of Jiangling's salt smuggling. So she lowered her voice and said to the Marquis's wife, "You should talk to Father and Elder Brother. Smuggling salt is a terrible crime."
"I understand, I understand." Lady Jiangling waved her hand and said, "You don't need to worry about this. It's just that your eldest daughter, Jiang Yu, needs to be found a husband as soon as possible."
At this point, she suddenly clapped her hands and said, "Your uncle's brother's wife passed away last year. He observed a year of mourning and now wants to remarry."
“No,” Zhang Xiangling said, “My uncle’s brother is over 40 years old, and besides, he’s only a fifth-rank official. My mother-in-law and the Duke will not agree to it.”
Lady Jiangling curled her lip. "Jiang Yu's divorce and return home caused such a commotion that the whole capital knew about it. What good reputation does she have left? In my opinion, giving her a fifth-rank official position as a second wife is already a favor."
Zhang Xiangling shook her head again, "You have no idea how much the Duke values Jiang Yu. If we anger the Duke because of this, it will be a loss."
Lady Jiangling seemed thoughtful. "You're right. The adoption still requires the Duke of Chu's approval. We can't let this cause the Duke of Chu to dislike you. I'll think of a better family."
Zhang Xiangling nodded, "I just wanted to find her a good husband in every way, so she could live a good life and wouldn't interfere in our affairs. You don't know, our young lady is quite cunning."
Lady Jiangling pursed her lips again, but said nothing more.
Zhang Xiangling spoke with her for a while longer before getting up to take her leave. Before leaving, she reminded the Lady of Jiangling Marquis to persuade him to stop smuggling salt, but the Lady of Jiangling Marquis just gave a perfunctory reply that she knew.
Zhang Xiangling knew she hadn't listened, but there was nothing she could do, so she left with some worry.
........
Chu State Duke's Mansion
The atmosphere in the Duke of Chu's study was very heavy. Li Zhong, who had gone to investigate Jiang Jiarong and the madam Lan Mudan, and Steward Hu, who had gone to investigate Aunt Zhao, had both returned.
“Changfu, who serves the young master, goes to Rongchuntang to buy medicine every month. The prescriptions are different each time, but every prescription contains aconite,” Li Zhong said.
Upon hearing his words, Steward Hu quickly replied, "Aunt Zhao goes to Lingyan Temple to burn incense every month and also buys medicine from Baicaotang next to Lingyan Temple. The prescriptions are different each time, but they all contain one ingredient: aconite."
“The madam, Lan Mudan, goes to a small pharmacy in the western part of the city every month to buy rhinoceros horn,” Li Zhong added.
After hearing this, the Duke of Chu narrowed his eyes, and Jiang Yu asked, "What are the effects of these three herbs?"
“This old servant has asked Doctor Lü,” Li Zhong said. “These three herbs are not poisonous on their own, but when they are put together, they become a slow-acting poison. The second young master has been poisoned by this kind of poison.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu clenched his fist, and the Duke of Chu coughed violently again. Jiang Yu went over to pat his back, and after a while, he recovered and said, "Continue."
“Lan Mudan used to be a girl at Yingchun Pavilion,” Li Zhong said. “Aunt Zhao used to work at Yingchun Pavilion, but was later redeemed by the young master. After Yingchun Pavilion closed down, Lan Mudan disappeared. Two years ago, Qimeng Pavilion opened, and Lan Mudan became the madam.”
"In other words, Aunt Zhao and Lan Mudan knew each other long ago," said Duke Chu.
Li Zhong nodded, "I suppose so. Perhaps they haven't lost contact all these years."
“Go on,” said the Duke of Chu.
"The young master became a regular at Qimeng Tower not long after it opened," Li Zhong continued. "This old servant asked the pimps at Qimeng Tower, and they said that sometimes when the young master went there, he didn't go to see any girls, but instead went to see Lan Mudan. So, many people at Qimeng Tower say that the young master likes older women."
Duke of Chu: "In other words, Jiang Jiarong and Lan Mudan's relationship is also unusual."
Li Zhong: "Yes."
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