Slender willows sway in the breeze

Chapter 5 Thorough Investigation
Liu's mother looked at the old lady with concern, while waving her hand to dismiss Juxiang.

The old lady picked up her prayer beads, got up, and continued to fiddle with them on the chaise lounge by the window with her eyes closed. Liu Mama sat on a low stool next to her and massaged her legs.

After a while, the old lady suddenly opened her eyes and asked slowly, "Does Third Girl harbor resentment towards me? Otherwise, why didn't she come to pay her respects to her grandmother as soon as she returned?"

Mama Liu said, "Third Miss has been away in the other courtyard for three years, where Aunt Zhu's people live. She must have suffered a lot, so it's only natural that she harbors resentment."

The old lady sat up straighter, her expression distant: "When she returned back then, it was too late. All the evidence pointed to her, and I couldn't just ignore it and bring her back."

This is not for her own good.

"Jun'er returned to the manor on her own initiative today. Could it be that she has found a clue about what happened back then?"

"When you came back back then, you investigated, and all the evidence pointed to the Third Sister," Mother Liu stated. "Now that time has passed, even if there were any misunderstandings, it would be difficult to investigate!"

The maid was beaten to death on the spot, and the poison was destroyed.

Even if it wasn't the Third Sister, this matter has already been settled.

What else can I do?

"If it weren't for the good news from Rumei, I wouldn't have left."

"Grandma, you mustn't think like that. Our eldest daughter finally became pregnant, and with twins no less. You were worried, which is why you went to Zhongzhou to take care of her. No one could have imagined that you would be gone for a whole year!"

The eldest daughter mentioned by Liu's mother is not Liu Siqin, but the eldest daughter of the old lady, Liu Shiyuan's elder sister, Liu Rumei.

Twenty years ago, she married into the Chen family in Zhongzhou and had never conceived. Five years ago, she finally received good news: twins. The old lady was overjoyed.

But a few days later, news came that the eldest daughter's pregnancy was not going well.

Liu Rumei's constitution was not conducive to cultivation, and her health was poor, so she was afraid that the Chen family would look down on her. The old lady decided to go to Zhongzhou to take care of her, intending to return after the child was born, but the child was born before the due date was over and looked like a kitten. She didn't return until the child was three months old.

Who would have thought that upon returning to the mansion, the Liu family's main branch would be in turmoil.

After the death of the matriarch, Madam Chu, the third daughter was punished by the head of the household and sent to a separate courtyard to reflect on her mistakes.

The old lady composed herself.

“She just got back, so she must be missing a lot of things. Go over there yourself later and make sure she gets whatever she needs.”

"Yes."

"Something terrible has happened, Madam..."

At this moment, a slender maid hurried into the inner room: "The Third Miss was poisoned and vomited blood at the banquet. Master Lu is treating her with acupuncture."

"what?"

The old matriarch, who had been resting, suddenly opened her eyes and looked at the maid who rushed in in a panic: "What did you just say?"

"Reporting to the Dowager, the Third Young Lady has fainted from poisoning!"

The old lady stood up: "Where is he now?"

"The outbuilding in the front yard".

With the old lady's cultivation level, she arrived in the blink of an eye.

An old servant of about forty stood outside the door. Inside the room, Lu Danshi was not seen. There was only a handsome young man guarding the bedside. There was not even anyone to serve tea.

What a system.

"Go and call Steward Zhou here."

Liu's mother, who arrived shortly after, immediately sent a telepathic message to Zhou, the housekeeper.

Steward Zhou was inwardly groaning; he only dared to do this because he had received instructions from Aunt Zhu.

Aunt Zhu's unspoken meaning was that the Third Miss had been living comfortably in the other courtyard for a long time and probably didn't like being served by many people; one old servant would be enough for her.

Of course, the latter part is his own interpretation.

Now that the old lady is blaming him, he can't just push the blame onto Aunt Zhu. He can only take the blame himself: "I've been busy with the eldest daughter's banquet these past few days, and I really can't spare any manpower for the time being. I'll definitely make up for it in a couple of days."

"Then let's send a few people from my own courtyard to serve me."

"How can this be done?"

The old lady glanced at Steward Zhou: "Then tell Aunt Zhu to quickly find someone to serve her. Also, tell her that I just don't want to get involved in these trivial matters, and not to go too far in anything!" "Yes, yes, yes, I will certainly convey your words, Old Madam."

Liu Sijun couldn't keep pretending to be asleep, so she slowly opened her eyes and met the old lady's gaze.

She called out, "Grandma."

The old lady responded and pressed down on Liu Sijun, who was about to get up: "You have just been poisoned and are weak. There is no need to be so formal."

"Did you bring him back from the other residence?"

Liu Sijun nodded: "His name is Li Qing. We met by chance, so I took him with me. Qing'er, come and greet the old lady."

"Qing'er, greetings."

“He…” The old lady’s gaze swept over Li Qing, “No wonder you want to keep him by your side.”

He looks thirteen or fourteen years old, but is like a child. Yet his cultivation is so high. If he were to be used by evil people, he would indeed be a menace.

"You've just returned and are still unfamiliar with many things at home. Once you're better, Grandmother will have Aunt Zhu teach you how to manage the household. What do you think, Jun'er?"

Liu Sijun looked at the old lady and said, "I'm afraid Father won't agree."

Zhu Yingrong had just returned to Liushuang Courtyard and hadn't even had a chance to sit down when a maid came to report that the Old Madam had gone to see the Third Miss and had also summoned Steward Zhou. She paced anxiously back and forth in her room.

"mother……"

Liu Siqin felt jealous again: "Grandmother didn't attend the banquet held for me today, but she went to see her as soon as she heard that she was poisoned. She's too biased!"

Zhu Yingrong is not in the mood to comfort her daughter.

All I could think about was whether the old lady was worried about Liu Sijun, or what she was thinking when she heard that Liu Sijun had been poisoned.

Nine-Turtle Venom...

Wasn't everything cleaned up back then?

Why did he appear on the very first day Liu Sijun returned...?

"Go back to your own courtyard and stay there. I'll go check on things in the side room."

"Mother, I want to go too."

Zhu Yingrong swept her gaze over: "You're not listening to what your mother says anymore? Sizhu, keep an eye on your daughter. Don't let her step out of Siyu Pavilion before the master returns."

Eager to know the situation in the side room of the front yard, Zhu Yingrong arrived quickly, her feet barely touching the ground.

As soon as she reached the door, she heard the old lady suggest that Liu Sijun should manage the household with her, and her expression immediately changed.

For so many years, the old lady has never liked her.

She was the one who first met Yuan Lang, and the Zhu and Liu families were considered a good match, but because she was born out of wedlock, the old lady always disagreed with Yuan Lang making her his official wife.

Now that Liu Sijun has just returned, she wants to take away her housekeeping rights.

We must not let them have their way.

"Why did you alarm the old lady?"

Aunt Zhu composed herself and entered the room. She first bowed to the Old Madam, then looked at Liu Sijun with concern: "The Third Miss has just returned and this has happened. It is my dereliction of duty. I left just now to have Steward Zhou thoroughly investigate this matter and find the person who poisoned her, so that the Third Miss can be given an explanation."

Liu Sijun pursed her lips and asked, "Aunt Zhu, if I remember correctly, my eldest sister was also poisoned by the Nine-Turn Turtle Poison back then, wasn't she?"

The old lady stopped turning the prayer beads.

"Nine-Turn Turtle Venom?"

"That's what Master Lu just said."

"Nine-Turn Turtle Venom is no ordinary poison. It is made from nine different medicinal herbs. Although it is a slow-acting poison, it is extremely toxic."

Aunt Zhu quickly replied, "That's right. If Siqin's poison hadn't been discovered in time, she would have been beyond saving!"

Her voice was still choked with emotion as she finished speaking, looking as if she had been terrified.

The old lady's gaze fell on Aunt Zhu, and she questioned, "How could such filth reappear after four years?"

(End of this chapter)