Chapter 31: Food was tampered with
The Xuanping Marquis Mansion is particularly lively today.
New couplets were posted throughout the mansion and red lanterns were hung, extending from the main gate and the ceremonial gate all the way to the inner hanging flower gate. The corridors on both sides were covered with big red wedding characters, and the atmosphere was festive everywhere.
While Lu Zhiran was still leisurely getting ready, Jiang sent someone to invite her, as if she was afraid that she would not show up.
If she didn't show up, the guests would inevitably make comments and suggestions about the Marquis's Mansion. If she showed up, all these problems would be solved.
He ignored Jiang's urging and continued to tidy himself up slowly.
Danyan also prepared breakfast for today.
There were red jujube paste cakes, purple yam cakes, and a basket of fragrant steamed dumplings. Besides that, there was a bowl of soft glutinous rice porridge, and next to it were several plates of various pickled vegetables, all made by Danyan herself.
Lu Zhiran didn’t eat much breakfast in the past, but today she had a feeling that things would not go well, so she had to fill her stomach well.
As soon as she took a mouthful of porridge, her brows furrowed.
Dan Yan saw it and immediately asked, "Miss, what's wrong? Is it not to your liking?"
Lu Zhiran put down the spoon, picked up other food, broke it open, put it close to her nose and sniffed it carefully, and a layer of frost slowly covered her face.
"Someone has tampered with the food."
In her previous life, she had been given this kind of drug, and she was very familiar with the smell.
The only person who could drug her was Zhao Shuning!
But Lu Zhiran was a little confused. In her previous life, the medicine had been administered later...
Dan Yan knelt down with a plop and said in a fearful tone, "Miss, I didn't do that. I don't know what's going on. I really didn't do that..."
Lu Zhiran leaned over and helped her up.
"I don't doubt you. You are one of the people I trust the most. Even if I doubt anyone else, I won't doubt you."
Dan Yan felt both guilty and moved after hearing this.
"It's all my fault for being careless and letting someone take advantage of me."
Lu Zhiran comforted her, "It's impossible to be a thief all the time. You can't be on guard against others all the time. Think carefully about which link has been tampered with, and who is the most suspicious?"
Dan Yan thought about it for a long time but couldn't figure it out, and her expression suddenly became even more annoyed.
Lu Zhiran pondered for a moment, "Did you get these foods from other people?"
Dan Yan immediately shook her head, "No, there was no one else in the small kitchen when I was making breakfast."
"Then the problem lies with the ingredients. Are there any left? Bring them over quietly so I can see."
Dan Yan went there immediately and came back soon. Lu Zhiran checked the things she brought back one by one, but did not smell any familiar smell.
Dan Yan slapped her forehead and said, "I know, the problem is probably with the water!"
There was no well in their yard, and their daily water was drawn from the well in the mansion.
If someone wants to tamper with something, it is most likely to be done in the water!
Danyan ran over in a hurry again and quickly scooped up a large basin of water.
Lu Zhiran leaned in closer to smell it, and indeed found the reason. There was indeed something tampered with in the water.
Dan Yan said angrily, "I'm going to go find Mrs. Chen and ask her if she did it!"
Mrs. Chen was the woman in charge of fetching water.
Lu Zhiran stopped her and said, "Don't make this public for now. I have my own way."
Lu Zhiran had taken this medicine in her previous life, and she knew what the consequences would be.
Zhao Shuning wanted her to be ruined at the banquet. They had hatred for each other for two lifetimes, and this time, she would definitely repay her well!
Lu Zhiran called his confidants and made some arrangements before appearing in public.
Today she wore a purple jacket woven with gold brocade, a pair of cloud-shaped brocade shoes with precious flower patterns, and a half-winged butterfly hairpin inlaid with gold jewels on her head.
Her outfit was not eye-catching, but it had the beauty of a blooming spring flower, and even in her silence she exuded an elegant and noble temperament.
What's more, she is Chu Yian's legal wife, and this identity makes her even more attractive.
In the past three years, Lu Zhiran has had few opportunities to socialize and not many people have met her.
According to rumors, she was the daughter of a merchant, with vulgar behavior, not presentable, and not a good match. But now, when people see her for the first time, many people are amazed by her.
How could this appearance and demeanor have anything to do with being vulgar?
Everyone who has seen Zhao Shuning feels that she is no less beautiful than today's bride.
Chu Yunqing also dressed up carefully today. She wore the gold-threaded eight-treasure beaded headpiece on her head and the latest Four Seasons Ruyi Shu embroidered silk shirt on her body. Even though the temperature dropped suddenly and the dress was a little thin, she still gritted her teeth and wore it, just to become the biggest focus of the audience.
But when Lu Zhiran arrived, everyone's attention was focused on her.
A gloom suddenly covered Chu Yunqing's face, but when she thought about the many distinguished guests coming to the Marquis' Mansion today, she could only suppress the depression in her heart.
But someone jumped out and took the initiative to find fault.
A malicious voice came from behind him, "How dare you come out to see people on such a nice day like today?"
Lu Zhiran was very familiar with this voice, and a darkness filled her eyes.
Turn around and look at the person in front of you.
The other person was wearing a lotus root pink dress, had a melon-shaped face, and phoenix eyes. She looked at him with raised eyebrows, and there was contempt in her eyes.
She is Jiang's niece and Chu Yunqing's cousin Jiang Jinnian.
The Jiang family is just a small family in the capital.
In her previous life, Lu Zhiran had always been polite to Jiang Jinnian, but she relied on her relationship with the Jiang family and often acted arrogantly in front of her without any respect at all.
Lu Zhiran looked at her coldly, "Why should I be embarrassed to come out and see people? Have I done anything shameful?"
Jiang Jinnian didn't expect her to ask so directly. Her expression and attitude were completely different from her usual timid and weak self.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, there was a burst of anger.
"Everyone knows you're petty and jealous. You even tried every possible way to obstruct this wedding banquet before, and now you're acting like nothing's happened. I think you're just plotting something else to disrupt things!"
The argument between the two quickly attracted the attention of the surrounding guests. Everyone pricked up their ears to listen, fearing that they would miss some important private secrets.
Lu Zhiran looked at him with a half-smile, "Tell me how I could have tried to prevent this wedding banquet."
"You deliberately made things difficult for the Marquis's purchasing department, causing them to almost fail to prepare all the wine and food before the banquet began. Do you admit this?"
When everyone heard this, they were shocked. How could this really be true?
It seems that she is not as calm and indifferent as she appears on the surface.
Lu Zhiran frowned, "Miss Jiang, you may have misunderstood something. Ever since my husband returned home, I have handed over the management of the Marquis's residence to my mother, and have never interfered in any of the affairs of the Marquis's residence."
Jiang Jinnian snorted heavily, "You're talking nonsense! Qing'er told me this herself, how could it be false? Qing'er, tell me, is this true?"
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