A string of small beaded curtains hung in front of the main door of Furong Garden. When the wind blew, they tinkled like the innocent laughter of a baby. Yan Ning had them made to comfort Xiang'er's lovesickness.
The autumn wind blew, and the jingling of the beaded bells made the already silent and austere hall even more still. Silence is not the absence of sound, but rather a quiet stillness that receives no response.
Yan Ning sat beside Fukang'an, watching him play with the jade pendant on his body, his expression showing no affection for Mei Xiang whatsoever. A pang of pity struck her; as his woman as well, Yan Ning naturally thought of herself.
Zhao Xing led four maids to bring paper, inkstone, and writing brush. Upon seeing the maids bring the writing materials, Mei Xiang immediately rushed over, picked up the brush, and only wrote "Xi Ying" before pausing and not writing anymore.
Although the maids in the Fucha household were taught to read, their literacy also depended on their own talent and diligence. Meixiang, despite her excellent talent, did not know many characters.
After writing "Xi Ying," "Ginseng Slices," and "hemoptysis" intermittently, he could write nothing more and could only look helplessly at Yan Ning. Tears fell in drops.
From the moment Yan Ning entered Furong Garden, she noticed something was wrong with Mei Xiang, and now she truly believed that Mei Xiang was mute. With the doctor still there, Yan Ning quickly asked Rong Xi, "Did Mei Xiang drink or eat anything in Furong Garden?" She was somewhat worried; if something happened to Mei Xiang in Furong Garden, Xiang'er would also be implicated.
Rongxi brought out the blue-and-white porcelain gaiwan still on the rosewood table. A cup of tea, now only half full. The red plum blossoms, unable to float on the pale surface of the tea, clung to the white inner wall of the gaiwan. The pale green tea base, the red plum petals, the pristine white walls—beautiful and intoxicating. Yet, it was a bowl of poisoned tea.
The doctor smelled the tea, then took a little and tasted it. He shook his head and respectfully reported to Fukang'an, "General, this tea contains an excessive amount of Pinellia ternata, and another 'medicine' that I, in my limited knowledge, cannot identify as belonging to our Central Plains."
Fukang'an gripped the jade pendant at his waist, his eyes lowered, not looking at the doctor. "I remember that Pinellia ternata has the effects of relieving cough and stopping vomiting, how could it cause muteness?"
The doctor was startled by Fukang'an's cold tone and replied tremblingly, "Although Pinellia ternata is a herb that can be used as medicine, too much of anything is bad. Too much Pinellia ternata can be harmful to the body!"
Zhao Xing had been ordered to expel Mei Xiang from the mansion. After the doctor left, the hall of Furong Garden became even more desolate.
Meixiang's hairpins were scattered, her hair bun was half-undone, and the sharp end of the hairpin occasionally pricked her neck. This unspeakable suffering made her almost numb.
The strong scent of perfume filled her nostrils, and Meixiang raised her head to look at Xiying walking towards her.
Without a word, Xi Ying became angry and slapped Mei Xiang's pale cheek, leaving five bright red finger marks like rosy clouds.
"I treated you like my own sister, and you are so cruel and vicious! You didn't even spare an infant!"
Mei Xiang's anger was stunned by Xi Ying's slap, and she just stared blankly at the beautiful Xi Ying. Her round and jade-like face now seemed so full of deep schemes.
Zhao Xing stopped Xi Ying from raising her hand a second time, saying, "The general ordered me to escort Aunt Mei back to her mother's home. Please, Aunt Ying, do not be angry again!"
Xi Ying stopped what she was doing, nodded to Zhao Xing, and then walked towards Furong Garden.
Yan Ning was carefully examining the words written by Mei Xiang when the departing doctor said that although Wulingzhi (五灵脂) treats metrorrhagia, it should not be used with large amounts of ginseng. Although ginseng replenishes qi and blood, excessive amounts will inhibit the efficacy of Wulingzhi. The ginseng slices from the Fucha Mansion are even more concentrated with the essence of ginseng.
She vaguely remembered the scene of Qiu'er touching the medicine bowl that day, but it wasn't clear.
Looking back at Fukang'an, he was still sitting upright in the same posture, even the way he played with the jade pendant was the same.
Yan Ning took the writing to Fu Kang'an to see, but he didn't look at it carefully. He remained lost in thought, his brows furrowed.
She didn't understand why Fukang'an was letting her leave after Meixiang had already written such words. Wouldn't keeping her in the manor allow them to find the real culprit who harmed Xiang'er? Or perhaps...
"Fukang'an, you don't suspect that Xiang'er poisoned Meixiang, do you?"
Fukang'an put down the writing in his hand and tossed it aside casually. He slightly raised his face, "Xiang'er isn't that kind of person. How could she possibly have the mind to harm anyone right now!"
Yan Ning felt relieved, nodded, and followed Fu Kang'an outside.
Xi Ying stopped in her tracks when she saw Fukang'an and Yan Ning coming out together from under the eaves.
Under a backdrop of autumnal yellow, Fukang'an held Yan Ning's hand and walked slowly forward. With each step they took, Xi Ying's heart sank.
Xiang'er lost her child, and Meixiang was also expelled from the mansion.
But as long as Yan Ning is by Fukang'an's side, she is like a half-withered yellow leaf on a tree, teetering on the verge of death, just waiting for the autumn wind to blow her down and turn her into the soil beneath her roots.
Xi Ying's slender nails, painted a pale purple, scratched the vermilion eaves pillars, leaving white marks. Her crimson lips were tightly closed, her eyes fixed on Fukang'an brushing fallen leaves from Yan Ning's moon-white Shu brocade cheongsam.
Wu Chun, dressed in light Hanfu, appeared beside the vermilion eaves pillars, her petite face also fixed on the departing couple. "Aunt Ying is so meticulous and ruthless; she truly makes Wu Chun feel intimidated!" She turned to look at Xi Ying, a smile curving her lips.
"Since ancient times, only wise people can coexist for a long time. You and I make choices for each other, unlike Meixiang and me! If it weren't for Sister Wuchun's good 'medicine,' how could we endure such bitterness?"
A pale blue handkerchief concealed her beautiful face, her smiling eyes narrowed like deep autumn waters, their depths unfathomable.
Xiang'er remained in a daze for several days, her mind becoming increasingly unclear, yet she refused to let Yan Ning and all those who came to visit her out. Rong Xi brought her the same amount of food each day, but she brought it back exactly as it was. Yan Ning had no choice but to increase the number of servants in Furong Garden to prevent Xi Ying from causing any more trouble.
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