Red Chamber 28

Nanny Lai never imagined that Zhao Yiniang would poison her, so she drank the tea without any suspicion.

A few days later, news arrived that Nanny Lai had fallen ill with typhoid fever.

Half a month after that, word came that Nanny Lai had passed away.

Lady Jia Shi was saddened by this for quite some time.

Zhao Yiniang was both happy and terrified, becoming even more guarded against Wang, fearing that Wang might use that same poison on her and Jia Huan.

During those days, Zhao Yiniang was suspicious of everyone and everything; even her food was fetched by herself from the main kitchen.

The hot water she drank was also boiled by her own hand on a small stove.

Her behavior led people to believe that Zhao Yiniang had lost her mind, and Jia Zheng scolded her severely for it.

Only then did Zhao Yiniang restrain herself.

Now...

Zhao Yiniang snuck into Lady Wang's room, pried open the hidden compartment once again, and retrieved the medicinal powder from within.

Three days later, both Lady Wang and Jia Zheng fell ill.

The imperial physician diagnosed them with typhoid fever and prescribed them medicine.

However, instead of recovering after taking the medicine, their conditions only grew worse.

Half a month later, both of them died from their severe illnesses.

Lady Jia Shi could not accept this news; after fainting, she also fell ill and was unable to rise from her bed.

Jia Yuanchun returned to Rongguo Mansion with Liu Zhong and their children to keep vigil for her parents.

Liu Jiaying was completely bewildered: Lady Wang and Jia Zheng are dead? They died so quickly? How could this turn of events be so surreal?

Neither Jia Yuanchun nor Jia Zhu believed that Jia Zheng and Lady Wang could have died so easily.

Both of them had been in excellent health, so how could a mere cold have taken their lives?

The people caring for them had been diligent, and the medicinal herbs used were of the highest quality.

How could they have just died?

Both felt there was a hidden secret, and when Jia Hu heard them mention it, he also sensed something strange.

Jia Hu then requested the chief physician of the Imperial Hospital to help examine the two bodies; naturally, this was done with the consent of Jia Zhu and Jia Yuanchun.

As for Jia Baoyu and Jia Huan, neither of them had ever had much of an opinion of their own.

The chief physician was highly skilled; he determined that the two had been poisoned and explained the effects of the drug.

The chief physician said, "This is a secret palace poison from the previous dynasty, and very few people know of it or possess it anymore."

After seeing the chief physician out, Jia Zhu said in a panic, "A secret palace poison? Could it be that the Emperor sent someone to do this?"

Jia Hu pressed down on Jia Zhu's shoulder and scolded, "Nonsense! How could you slander the Emperor so recklessly?"

Jia Zhu replied, "But, but..."

Jia Hu said, "If the Emperor were to take action against Rongguo Mansion, he would only target the head of the household, the eldest master, or me, the heir. How could he possibly target our second uncle and second aunt?"

Jia Zhu thought about it, and it made sense.

He finally set his mind at ease.

Jia Yuanchun bit her lower lip until beads of blood appeared.

Seeing this, Jia Hu asked, "Eldest sister, do you know something?"

Jia Yuanchun glanced at Jia Hu, then looked at her own brother who was staring at her, and slowly nodded.

Jia Zhu hurriedly asked, "Eldest sister, do you know who poisoned Father and Mother?"

Jia Yuanchun quickly said, "I don't know who administered the poison, I only know who the poison belonged to."

Jia Zhu pressed, "Whose was it?"

Jia Yuanchun was silent for a moment, then spat out two words: "Mother."

Jia Zhu widened his eyes in disbelief and took two steps back: "How is that possible?"

Jia Yuanchun sighed softly and said, "Mother possessed some medicines with special properties, which were obtained when the ancestors of the Wang Family stormed the palace of the previous dynasty. When I married, Mother gave some to me. But I didn't want to use them, so I hid them away. I am very certain that the portion in my possession has not been touched."

"So—" Jia Hu began, "Second Uncle and Second Aunt died by their own medicinal powder? Was it someone close to Second Aunt who did it?"

Jia Yuanchun replied, "I am not sure. Mother was very cautious; even her most trusted confidants were never told about the existence of the medicine."

Jia Hu asked, "Then could it be that Second Aunt was careless, accidentally got the powder into their food, and ended up consuming it with Second Uncle?"

Jia Zhu: "..."

Jia Yuanchun: "..."

Although they were very reluctant to believe it, this possibility was quite high.

After all, the servants in Lady Wang's courtyard didn't even know of the existence of the hidden compartment, let alone the existence or the effects of the medicinal powder.

In the end, the three of them did not pursue the matter any further.

Jia Zhu and Jia Yuanchun were convinced that Wang had accidentally poisoned both herself and Jia Zheng.

Jia Hu felt there was something suspicious about it, so he secretly sent people to investigate while outwardly letting the matter rest, merely disposing of all the medicinal powders and pills.

Zhao Yiniang breathed a sigh of relief, her heart finally at ease.

Little did she know that Jia Hu's men had already traced the investigation to her and found the remaining medicinal powder in her possession.

Jia Hu had his men put all of the powder into Zhao Yiniang's meals.

He would treat her as she had treated others.

Although he understood the psychology behind Zhao Yiniang taking action against Jia Zheng and Wang for the sake of her daughter, he did not condone her actions.

Furthermore, Jia Zheng was, after all, Jia Hu's own second uncle; the fact that he had been killed by Zhao Yiniang and Jia Hu had not sent her to the authorities was entirely out of consideration for Tanchun and Jia Huan.

If others were to find out what Zhao Yiniang had done, the situation for Tanchun and Jia Huan would become extremely difficult, and it would be hard for the two of them to maintain a foothold in the Rongguo Mansion.

It was better to cover this matter up.

He would simply send Zhao Yiniang on her way to accompany Jia Zheng and Lady Wang.

Thus, a month later, Zhao Yiniang also died.

Upon learning of the manner of Zhao Yiniang's death, Jia Zhu and Jia Yuanchun had their own suspicions.

However, the two of them assumed that Zhao Yiniang had committed suicide out of fear of punishment, and out of consideration for Tanchun and Jia Huan, they did not pursue the matter further.

The deaths of Jia Zheng and Lady Wang could only be considered a minor affair in the capital.

The major event was that the Nan'an Prince Mansion had found a suitable young woman, adopted her as a foster daughter, and would soon be sending her to the border.

This woman was none other than Xia Jingui.

The Xia family had originally intended for Xia Jingui to take in a husband to manage their estate, but when Xia Jingui heard that by becoming a foster daughter of the Nan'an Prince Mansion she could become a noble Princess, and that the noble ladies who had previously looked down on her merchant-class background would have to bow to her, she was tempted.

So what if it was a marriage alliance?

She would be marrying the ruler of another country; she would be a Queen or a Consort, and others would have to kneel and bow to her. She could do whatever she wanted!

No one told her what the fate of women sent for marriage alliances truly was.

The social stratum she belonged to was incapable of knowing such things.

Xia Jingui and Mother Xia set off filled with high expectations, both fantasizing about the life of superiority they would lead in the future.

They did not know that although Xia Jingui bore the title of Princess, it was only used by the people of the Nan'an Prince Mansion. In reality, the Emperor had never bestowed the title of Princess upon Xia Jingui; she had been completely deceived by the Nan'an Prince Mansion.

And just as the marriage alliance procession set off, the great army assembled by the Emperor also departed.

Liu Xianglian, Feng Ziying, and even Jia Lian were among the ranks of the great army.