The next morning, Qingying was awakened by the noise outside.
She had already guessed most of it, so she got off the bed, changed her clothes, and after a quick wash, went out.
Wei Dongchen was already waiting at the door. Upon seeing her, he immediately smiled and asked, "How did you sleep?"
"It's alright." Qingying glanced into the courtyard and saw the guards that Wei Huaixu had brought standing neatly in the courtyard. She asked, "What happened? Why is it so noisy?"
"It's nothing, it's just that Ma Yu died."
She looked bewildered. "How did he die?"
"It was Feng Ruilan who killed him."
This is quite unexpected.
In her plan, Zhang Hong should have died by suicide, but this outcome is the best possible result, saving her from having to risk smuggling new evidence again.
Wei Dongchen added, "Your parents and older brother are here."
Qingying nodded to indicate that she understood, and then asked, "Have you had breakfast?"
"without……"
"I want to eat the ghee cakes from Juxian Pavilion," she said, and walked out of the courtyard.
Wei Dongchen was taken aback for a moment, then immediately followed her, walking alongside her, and said with a smile, "Great, I also really like things from Juxian Pavilion."
She left without seeing the Liu family.
However, no one paid any attention to her, because everyone's attention was on Liu Shushu at that moment.
When she learned that Liu Shushu had almost never been able to stand again, Madam Pan was so frightened that her legs went weak. She choked up and asked, "How is she now? Will she become a cripple after she recovers?"
Liu Chenglin said, "Auntie, don't worry. I have already treated Second Sister's injuries. She will recover completely after a few months of careful rest. Besides, with me taking care of her, I will definitely not let anything happen to her."
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Lin'er. Your aunt doesn't know how to thank you enough."
"Auntie, you're too kind. We're all family, it's only right that I do these things."
Pan's gratitude at this moment was genuine. She simply couldn't imagine what it would be like for a young woman to become a cripple. No matter how prestigious the General's Mansion was, no good family would be willing to marry a cripple as their daughter-in-law.
Meanwhile, Liu Yu was dealing with the murder of Zhang Hong with Wei Huaixu. The guard on night watch said that Feng Ruilan took advantage of the low vigilance at night to sneak into the room where Zhang Hong was being held. The two had an argument, and Feng Ruilan accidentally killed Zhang Hong.
"She was beaten thirty times and still has difficulty walking. What could have driven her to crawl over and kill Zhang Hong at all costs?" Liu Yu wondered.
"Perhaps Zhang Hong has some crucial evidence," Wei Huaixu said.
"Zhang Hong is a man, after all. How could he be killed by a seriously injured and weak woman?"
"Because I tortured him yesterday, all five of his fingers have been cut off."
"I see." Liu Yu couldn't help but feel a headache. "Your Highness, the one who was injured this time is my daughter, and the one who made the mistake is my sister-in-law's husband's family. I really can't make a decision. I'd better leave it to Your Highness to handle."
Wei Huaixu had been waiting for these words, and smiled, saying, "I will certainly live up to your expectations."
...
When Qingying returned to the manor, she casually asked, "Did they ask about me?"
Tong Xia sighed, "Right now, Liu Shushu is injured and is very precious. They've probably already forgotten about her."
“That’s not necessarily true…” Qingying scoffed lightly, then asked, “Liu Shushu can’t walk, so who carried her in?”
"Yes, miss, it is the eldest young master."
Hearing that it wasn't Wei Huaixu, she actually felt a sense of relief.
"Yu Yue, quickly go and take the medicine I bought back to decoct it."
Yu Yue hesitated for a moment, "Does Miss really want to take that medicine? I'm afraid it will harm your health."
"Go when I tell you to."
Yu Yue had no choice but to follow the instructions and prepare the medicine.
Qingying knew very well that the current peace and quiet was only temporary. Once Madam Pan recovered, she would definitely come looking for trouble. She needed to make plans as soon as possible.
Soon, Yu Yue brought over the decocted medicine. The bowl was dark and smelled incredibly bitter. Qingying pinched her nose, tilted her head back, and drank it down. Then she took off her clothes and opened all the windows in the room, letting the cold wind rush in.
Tongxia was startled by her actions. "What are you doing, young lady? You'll get sick if you keep doing this!"
Yu Yue pulled her back and said, "Miss, you're acting like this because you want to get sick. That bowl of medicine you just drank was harmful to your lungs."
Why is that?
You'll find out soon enough.
After taking her medicine and being exposed to the cold wind for half an hour, Qingying asked Tongxia to close the window. She had already wrapped herself in the quilt, but she was still shivering from the cold, her face turned pale, and her lips were bloodless.
Yu Yue brought in several charcoal braziers and placed them in various corners of the room, gradually warming the room. However, her complexion grew increasingly haggard, and she began to cough uncontrollably.
Just then, a commotion came from outside. Yu Yue hurriedly ran into the house, stuffed the medicine jar that she hadn't had time to deal with into the cabinet, and whispered, "It came even faster than expected."
Qingying nodded listlessly, her voice slightly hoarse: "With both her daughter and sister-in-law in trouble all at once, how could she not be anxious?"
She had barely finished speaking when she heard Madam Pan's angry voice, "You think you can stop me? Get Liu Qingying out here right now."
Tongxia's pleading voice came through, "Madam, our young lady is indeed ill. Please, have mercy and let her go."
"Who do you think you are? Get out of my way!" Pan shoved Tong Xia aside without any politeness and had someone break down the door.
Upon seeing this, Tong Xia lifted her skirt and ran outside.
She has to seek outside help, the sooner the better!
Qingying's temples throbbed with pain from the deafening noise.
"Liu Qingying, stop pretending to be sick! Explain yourself clearly whether Shushu's matter has anything to do with you!" Madam Pan shouted as she walked inside.
Qingying had just managed to sit up when she was grabbed by the arm and pulled to the ground.
"Madam, Madam, please spare the girl! She doesn't know anything!" Yu Yue cried as she knelt on the ground, crawling over to grab Pan Shi's clothes and pleading.
Qingying was stunned for a moment, then was dragged out by her arm. Her whole body ached as if it were falling apart, and her mind was in a daze. For a moment, she forgot to resist.
However, even if she resisted, her frail body was no match for Pan.
Madam Pan dragged the woman into the hall and sat in the seat of honor. She looked down at the weak and disheveled woman kneeling on the ground and asked in a cold voice, "Does this matter have anything to do with you?"
"If I say no, will Mother believe me?" She kept her head down, not looking at Madam Pan, and coughed violently, clutching her chest, as if she were about to cough up her lungs.
“Feng Ruilan has no reason to harm Shushu.”
"Is that so?" She gave a sad smile. "So Mother suspects me? You think I'm destined to harm Second Sister? No matter what happens to Second Sister, you always suspect me first, just because I took her place? Or are you plotting revenge, Mother?"
Madam Pan frowned. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Whether it's nonsense or not, you know best in your heart."
A hint of resentment flashed in Pan's eyes as she looked at her.
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