Chapter 15: Poisoning

Madam Jiang was afraid of death, afraid that Zhao Wei would blame them, her lips trembling as she explained nervously: “Your Highness, we didn’t know that Su Wan had brought you down from the mountain. When we found you, you were lying in the vegetable shed, and we were worried that there might be wild beasts coming down the mountain to forage, so we brought you back home.”

Song Manfu echoed, “Yes, we bandaged you up, but it was too dark at night, so we didn’t go to call the doctor.”

Zhao Wei’s icy gaze swept across their faces, and he fished out a five taels of silver from his pocket and threw it into Madam Jiang’s arms: “The debt is cleared.”

Madam Jiang’s face turned deathly pale, and her whole body trembling like a sieve.

Song Manfu’s forehead was beaded with cold sweat, his legs shaking, afraid that Zhao Wei would seek justice for Su Wan.

Zhao Wei left the Song family with steady steps.

Madam Jiang and Song Manfu heaved a huge sigh of relief, feeling completely exhausted.

“Mother-in-law, are you alright?” Mrs. Hu hurried over to support her.

“Slap! —”

Madam Jiang raised her hand and slapped Mrs. Hu’s face, her face twisted as she gritted her teeth: “You lowly woman, who told you to give the money to Su Wan? If you don’t make up for those few taels of silver, pack your things and go back to your parents’ house.”

Mrs. Hu covered her face, tears welling up in her eyes, afraid to let them fall.

“Cry, cry, cry, I’m not dead yet, stop mourning!”

Madam Jiang had a belly full of anger with nowhere to vent. She grabbed Mrs. Hu’s shoulder with one hand and pinched her soft flesh hard.

Mrs. Hu trembled in pain, a cry escaping her lips, and Madam Jiang cursed even more fiercely, causing her to bite her lips hard to try to force the tears back.

“I spent money to marry you, a loser, lazy and useless, didn’t give me a grandson, just a money-losing thing, still eating and drinking, I’ll skin you alive!” Madam Jiang said viciously and pushed Mrs. Hu hard.

With a “bang”, Mrs. Hu’s head hit the wall and she collapsed to the ground, holding her head with both hands, and crying silently.

“What? Lying on the ground waiting for me to serve you?” Madam Jiang said, with her hands on her hips, kicking Mrs. Hu in the waist and said angrily, “Go make breakfast quickly!”

Mrs. Hu winced in pain from her waist, her vision blurred from the impact, feeling numb all over. She felt along the wall, gritting her teeth to get up and go to the kitchen.

Madam Jiang was disgusted by her limping appearance, pointing at her back and said angrily, “Wait until Dalang succeeds, he’ll divorce you sooner or later!”

Mrs. Hu’s tears welled up, her heart aching with grievance. She clenched her fists tightly as a surge of hatred rose in her chest.

Su Wan didn’t brush her teeth or wash her face. When she returned to the Gu family house, she immediately went to the kitchen and took out a soaked willow twig to brush her teeth.

Gu Huaizhi came in from outside against the light.

While brushing her teeth, Su Wan stared at him with her round eyes.

Gu Huaizhi was dressed in a blue long robe, elegant and refined, exuding a gentle scholarly aura.

Upon closer inspection, a slight coldness could be seen between his eyebrows, and his temperament leaned slightly towards melancholy.

He picked up a gourd ladle to pour water into the basin, preparing to take it out.

Su Wan grabbed his wrist, calmly took his pulse, and said bluntly, “I’ll use this basin to wash my face first.”

Gu Huaizhi abruptly shook off Su Wan’s hand, his face darkening as he glared at her coldly.

Su Wan waved her hand dismissively and said impatiently, “Forget it, you can use it first.” Then she muttered, “What’s the big deal? Is it necessary to put on a sour face?”

She turned around, and her expression darkening.

Gu Huaizhi wasn’t sick, he was poisoned.