Chapter 28: Contaminated Objects

Old Madam Feng trembled imperceptibly.

Her legs gave way, and she fell to the ground, grabbing her grandson’s pant leg. With a loud slap, she hit his bottom. “This is what you get for being naughty, for taking things from others!”

“Don’t you remember how your big brother’s hand got broken?”

The little grandson of the Feng family was initially stunned by the slap, but after a few more hits, he finally reacted and burst into tears.

The other Feng family children looked on in disbelief at Old Madam Feng.

Was Grandma possessed by a ghost today?

How could she bear to hit her favorite little grandson?

All of this was over a trivial matter of taking someone else’s things…

The already chaotic scene by the river became even more tumultuous with Old Madam Feng’s scolding and her grandson’s wailing, which only served to agitate everyone further.

Even the horses of the soldiers stationed by the river began to stomp their hooves in impatience.

Seeing this, Old Madam Bai urged her family to move further away, settling at the farthest point from the Feng and Liang families.

Meanwhile, on the Wei family’s side, Ningshuang, who had been guarding the pot, rushed over after witnessing the commotion.

Just as she bent down to pick up the pot that had fallen on the ground, she was intercepted by a maid from Madam Liang’s side.

“Miss Ningshuang, please wait. May we take this pot back with us?”

The maid from Madam Liang maintained a polite demeanor as she pulled out a silver ingot from her sleeve and handed it over. “This is compensation from Madam Liang to your family. If you’re short on pots at home, you can come with me to choose another one.”

Ningshuang glanced back at Wei Yunlan’s expression and, seeing her nod, accepted the silver ingot from the Liang family maid. “Our household has enough pots for now. Just return the pot to us after you’re done using it.”

“Thank you, Miss Ningshuang, and Miss Wei, for your understanding.”

The maid from Madam Liang bowed slightly toward the Wei family, then bent down to pick up the pot that had originally contained the sheep’s milk porridge.

Although most of the porridge had spilled due to Old Madam Feng’s antics, a thin layer still remained at the bottom of the pot—enough to fill about two small bowls if poured out.

As Old Madam Feng scolded her grandson and got back to her feet, she continued to mumble under her breath, swaying slightly as she moved, completely oblivious to the maid carrying the pot heading back.

At that moment, Madam Liang, who had just settled her son and was asking Xie Guan to send for a doctor, heard the commotion and froze. Her gaze shot toward Old Madam Feng, sharp as a sword, as if she were looking at a dead person.

“Whether there’s a misunderstanding or not will become clear soon enough.”

Ignoring Old Master Feng’s attempts to smooth things over, Madam Liang, her attention fixed on her son’s safety, had no time for the Feng family’s excuses. She turned and left with her servants.

Old Madam Feng tried to speak, but Old Master Feng grabbed her arm tightly, silencing her with a look.

After the Liang family left, Old Master Feng quickly pulled Old Madam Feng aside, his face showing clear signs of anger.

Wei Yunlan discreetly observed the family’s reactions and understood that this vicious and foolish act was probably committed by Old Madam Feng, Madam Feng, and other Feng family women—without Old Master Feng’s knowledge.

Less than an hour after the official left to fetch a physician, he returned on horseback.

The physician, jostled and dizzy from the ride, hadn’t even steadied himself before being brought to the side of the unconscious young master.

Seeing the young master’s flushed face and labored breathing, the physician’s expression tightened. After taking his pulse and examining the rash on his neck, he declared solemnly, “It seems he has ingested something poisonous. Fortunately, the amount consumed wasn’t too large; otherwise, he might not have lasted this long!”

Hearing the physician’s confirmation that her son’s life was in danger, Madam Liang swayed, anxiously asking, “What should we do now?”

Seeing that the group, though under arrest, exuded an unusual aura of power, the physician dared not be negligent. “I will first administer acupuncture to try and induce vomiting, to expel the toxin. If we succeed, the crisis will be mostly over!”

“Please hurry.” Madam Liang hurriedly had her servants erect a screen around them to shield them from onlookers, allowing the physician to concentrate.

This physician was merely a doctor at a local clinic, but he possessed considerable skill.

Moments later, retching sounds were heard from behind the screen.

The young master vomited up everything he had eaten that day, and his labored breathing finally eased slightly. However, the fever and rash remained.

The physician frowned. “We still need to know what poison the young master ingested to administer the correct antidote.”

“List everything Little Jun has eaten today. And if there are any leftovers, bring them to the physician,” Madam Liang instructed.

The two maids who served the young master quickly presented various food items.

Despite being on an exile journey, the young master had consumed quite a bit that day.

First, a bowl of sheep’s milk with sugar, accompanied by pancakes made with eggs and white flour, then some mung bean cakes and refreshing lotus leaf tea. Just over an hour ago, he’d also eaten two bowls of sheep’s milk cheese and a roasted chicken leg.

Aside from the sheep’s milk cheese, which had been fully consumed, the maids presented the remaining food items to the physician, who found nothing amiss.

Recalling the Feng family’s actions earlier, Madam Liang pointed to the remaining bucket of sheep’s milk. “Take a closer look. Could the problem be with the sheep’s milk?”

The physician was about to shake his head when he caught a faint but distinct stench—different from the vomit—a foul odor.

Even the incense burning within the screen couldn’t mask this smell.

The previously clueless physician suddenly had a flash of insight and quickly asked the maids who had brought the food, “Was there anything unusual with the ewe today?”