Chapter 41
Fu'er stared wide-eyed, frozen in place, unable to believe it.
Lu Hua continued, "Miss, I am like this because I used the hot soup."
"My cousin only did this to save me..."
“My cousin doesn’t like sweet things, so I used up most of the summer soup by myself.”
"If you don't believe me, you can take it to a clinic and have a doctor take a look."
Listening to Luhua's words, Fu'er was already half convinced.
To confirm this, she didn't hesitate any longer.
Seeing that there was still a little bit of summer soup left on the table, Fu'er packed it into a food box and went to the clinic on Qingyu Street.
Every day when Fu'er passed by this clinic, she would often greet the doctor's wife.
They also became familiar with each other.
The couple were both over sixty years old.
The old woman also knew a bit about pharmacology and had bought incense from Fu'er's shop several times.
After hearing Fu'er's intention, the old woman readily agreed and poured the hot soup into her cat's bowl.
While waiting, she took Fu'er to the backyard to talk, but the two hadn't exchanged more than a few words.
Her cat kept meowing.
The old woman doctor said with certainty, "Young shopkeeper, someone has put an aphrodisiac in your summer soup."
"My female cat is well past her heat cycle."
"As for what kind of medicine it is, as long as my husband can find out."
"But he's busy right now, we'll find out tonight."
Fu'er witnessed the truth firsthand and broke out in a cold sweat.
If poison were administered today, a life would be lost.
Or what would happen if I drank this hot soup?
If Ning Shiyu isn't around, will she go looking for someone else?
The thought of having such an intimate matter done with someone else made Fu'er feel nauseous.
As for who poisoned her, she already knew.
I guess it was because I angered that person when I returned to the Ning residence last time.
To think that she had such wicked intentions.
Fu'er clenched her fists in anger, her face turned pale, and she lost her balance and sat on the edge of the round stool, almost falling to the ground.
Fortunately, the old woman caught him quickly.
When the doctor and his wife saw Fu'er's reaction, they assumed she had been bullied.
Then, considering that her shop only had one employee, she guessed that the employee had the evil intentions.
Filled with righteous indignation, he said, "Was it your shop assistant who did this to you...?"
Fu'er quickly interrupted, "Auntie, I'm fine."
"It has nothing to do with Brother Chen."
The woman breathed a sigh of relief for Fu'er and reminded her, "It must have been made by your servant."
"Young shopkeeper, you must be more careful and pay more attention to the food you eat in the future."
"Thank you for your concern, Auntie. I understand."
"I also hope that my aunt will keep this a secret for me."
"Don't worry, young shopkeeper, I won't do anything to damage your reputation."
The truth came out, and Lu Hua and Chen Qiao were innocent.
The reeds even bore her a disaster.
After returning to the shop, Fu'er stopped blaming the two of them.
She said frankly, "Sister Luhua, I have misunderstood you in this matter."
"Only the three of us know about this."
"But you're really not suitable for this shop."
Chen Qiao spoke up, wanting to plead for Lu Hua.
But Fu'er interrupted him, "Don't worry, I'll find her a good job."
"It also includes three meals a day."
Only then did the two of them show some joy.
The place Fu'er mentioned was the Ning residence.
Of course, Granny Yu wouldn't refuse the people Fu'er brought.
Hearing that Luhua could read a few words, they decided to let her follow Xiang'er from now on.
It was considered working for Granny Yu, and it was an easy job.
Five taels of silver per month.
After hearing this, Lu Hua took Fu'er's hand and thanked her repeatedly.
After settling the reeds, Fu'er told Granny Yu about what had happened that day.
Granny Yu was furious; ultimately, it was also her responsibility.
Fu'er was Ning Shiyu's woman, and before leaving, he repeatedly told her to take good care of Fu'er.
Fortunately, Fu'er escaped a calamity today, if only that person's wish had come true.
Granny Yu felt a wave of fear wash over her; Ning Shiyu would not forgive her.
As for who that person was, even if Fu'er didn't say, Granny Yu could guess.
“Miss, I cannot touch her now. We will discuss this matter when the young master returns.”
"Even if we find something on that person, we can't do anything to her. After all, she's practically a mistress in this household."
Fu'er didn't want to make things difficult for Granny Yu, so she said, "I'll do whatever Granny Yu says."
After pondering for a moment, Granny Yu said, "This Cuiya is too honest and simple; I'm afraid she can't stay by your side."
In fact, Fu'er had also suspected Cuiya, since it was Cuiya who delivered the meals.
But recalling that she had advised Fu'er not to drink the summer soup if she couldn't eat, Cuiya was unaware of this matter.
Cuiya, speaking with a strong accent, was constantly bullied at the Ning residence.
If, at this point, she were made to do her old job again, people would laugh at her and bully her even more.
Cuiya is naive, and that's what the other party values, which is why they took advantage of her.
"Granny, please keep Cuiya here. She should be innocent in this matter as well."
"Let her learn more by your side."
"From now on, please don't send anyone to bring me food anymore."
The matter was resolved without serious harm, and Granny Yu eventually gave in.
After Fu'er left the Ning residence, Granny Yu thought that if she kept Cuiya by her side in the future, she would have to be absolutely loyal to her master.
Seeing Cuiya rush back to the courtyard, Granny Yu decided to test her further.
"When you delivered the meal to the young lady today, did the food box pass through the hands of anyone else?"
"Or has it left your hands?"
When Cuiya heard that Fu'er had returned to the Ning residence, she put down the clothes she was washing.
He immediately rushed back to their courtyard.
Unexpectedly, she had already left.
Just as she was feeling dejected, she heard Granny Yu's question.
Cuiya honestly replied, "This servant has always kept in mind what Granny said, and has never handed the food box in my hand to anyone else."
"When I left the kitchen, Alan stopped me outside the courtyard."
She squinted and asked me to blow on it for her.
"I then placed the food box on the surrounding stone under the big tree."
Granny Yu's gaze was complicated as she continued to press, "At that moment, did you see anyone appear?"
Cuiya nodded and said, "Yes, Caiwei also came to get food for Aunt Yun."
The small kitchen used to prepare meals only for Ning Shiyu.
Later, after Yunyou was elevated to the status of a concubine, her meals were also prepared in the small kitchen.
So only a few people appeared in the kitchen.
Alan works outside cleaning.
Upon hearing this, Granny Yu became even more certain of her guess.
Seeing Yu Mama's serious expression, Cuiya asked in a panic, "Mama, did I do something wrong?"
Granny Yu sighed, "It's nothing."
"From now on, you should go to Qingyu Street more often to help the girls with some chores. You don't need to send them meals anymore."
Cuiya breathed a sigh of relief and replied crisply, "Yes."
The border of Lingnan.
After half a month of preparation, the plan to raid Wang Kangcheng at night was finally put into action.
Li Huijue led 10,000 reinforcements from the Northwest, plus 20,000 from the South.
They launched a three-pronged attack on Wangkangcheng.
Because Wang Kangcheng was lax in his guard, there were only guards at the city gate.
In less than a day, Li Huijue led his troops to capture Wangkang City.
The soldiers kept in mind the commander's orders: burning, killing, and looting were strictly prohibited, and the people were to be treated kindly.
This was completely different from how the Rong people used to enter the city.
Meanwhile, the Rong people who occupied Lingnan City had adjusted their battle plans.
Just as they were preparing to attack Yuling County again in the next two days, they heard that Wangkang City had been captured.
General Mianzhushan, the commander-in-chief, only realized at this point that they had been tricked, and in his heart he cursed Liu Yi's ancestors for eight generations.
Despite the criticism, Wangkangcheng cannot be abandoned.
The King of Nanrong in the capital city of Nanrong also received this news and urgently ordered Mianzhushan to retake Wangkang City.
Mian Zhushan dared not delay and immediately assembled his troops, vowing to retake Wangkang City.
To wipe away the shame.
Seeing that he was about to take command personally, his deputy general advised him, "General, this is a feint attack by the Western Chu people."
"Don't be fooled."
Mianzhushan was unwilling to accept this, saying, "I knew exactly what was going on."
"It seems that Liu Yi is a different person now that the Northwest reinforcements have arrived."
"We underestimated our enemy."
"General, with such a commotion, why didn't our inside agents in Western Chu report it?"
"In the past, whenever Liu Yi made any move, wouldn't the inside inform us in advance?"
Mian Zhushan drew his sword with a whoosh and said in a gloomy voice, "They've probably already discovered it over there."
"Now is not the time to discuss this matter."
The guards came to report that everything was ready.
Mianzhushan strode out of the military tent, ready to set off.
The lieutenant quickly followed, saying, "General, please reconsider."
Mian Zhushan had already mounted his warhorse and said in a deep voice, "Even if we lose Lingnan as a springboard, we cannot lose Wangkang City."
"You must guard Lingnan City well, if you really can't hold on."
"Burning down this Lingnan city will be a way to vent our anger."
"yes."
Mianzhushan led 50,000 troops and arrived at Wangkang City in just two days, thinking he could win by taking advantage of his numerical superiority.
However, they encountered a trap halfway there, resulting in heavy casualties.
When they arrived at the city gate of Wangkang, the Western Chu forces had not yet launched their attack.
The people, however, took the initiative, throwing stones and rotten tea leaves at the people.
They all shouted for revenge for their chieftain and king.
It turns out that even after all these years, the people of Wangkang City have never forgotten the hatred of their country's destruction.
When the Nanrong destroyed the small kingdom of Luoyue, they not only killed their king, but also exterminated the entire royal family and the prominent families of Wangkang City.
Fearing they would cause trouble, even many respected clan leaders were not spared.
The people had no choice but to submit to their tyranny.
These years, heavy taxes have made life increasingly difficult.
Just then, the Western Chu forces breached Wangkang City.
Their kindness to the people gave hope to the city's inhabitants and the surviving descendants of prominent families.
They decided to submit to Western Chu.
Together with the soldiers of Western Chu, they set a trap on the way for the Rong people.
Mianzhushan led the remaining troops, determined to seize Wangkang City.
Unexpectedly, the people of Wangkang City rebelled first.
The morale of the Rong people was greatly diminished, and they fought against the Western Chu army for ten days.
In addition, they were frequently ambushed.
With its forces severely weakened, there is no hope of retaking Wangkang City.
Then came news of the defeat of the Lingnan army.
Mianzhushan suffered a crushing defeat, and he was unwilling to accept it.
He personally led a group of men to poison water sources throughout Wangkang City.
However, when he arrived, he found the area already guarded by men, and Mian Zhushan was unable to succeed and was captured on the spot.
After being bound hand and foot, they were taken to the former sacrificial square in Wangkang City.
The people threatened to burn him alive.
Mian Zhushan suffered repeated setbacks and lost all his spirit, thinking about how he had come on strong to seize the cities of Western Chu.
However, a few months later, this was the outcome for him.
However, the square was guarded by soldiers, no matter how loudly the people shouted.
The general of Western Chu did not give the order, and the people dared not approach.
This outcome was an unexpected and delightful surprise for Li Huijue and everyone else.
After calming the people down, he claimed he would go back and discuss the matter further the next day.
The people then dispersed and went home.
With Liu Yi not around, Li Huijue was unsure what to do.
He had no choice but to return to his military tent and ask his cousin Ning Shiyu for his opinion.
“Cousin, what should we do? If we don’t kill them, it will be difficult to quell the people’s resentment.”
Ning Shiyu walked around from behind the desk, and instead of answering directly, he said slowly, "Let me tell you about General Mianzhushan's background first, and then you can decide whether to kill him or not."
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