Chapter 24: The Truth Revealed

  When Pang Luoxue said that San Yiniang was the mastermind, Madame, Grandfather and Old Madame were all stunned.

  Third Aunt was crying with a face full of grievance, tears streaming down her face, sobbing uncontrollably. While Pang Luo Bing had a resentful expression, merely tugging at Third Aunt's hem.

  Xue Er, is there evidence? Pang Guo Gong Dao

  Sister, do you have any evidence to say that my mother harmed fourth aunt? If not, please shut your mouth, lest you embarrass yourself. Pang Luo Bing said fiercely.

  Pang Luo Xue glanced at Pang Luo Bing, originally intending to let her off easy, but this girl was so reckless, then I didn't need to show mercy.

  The imperial physician also said that the musk was accumulated day by day, and the medicine in the bowl today has not been drunk. If I can prove that Fourth Madam has never taken the fetal calming medicine sent by her mother, wouldn't it be enough to prove that her mother had never poisoned her child with musk? Pang Luoxue asked with a serious face, this matter still needs to be clarified.

  This is natural, if you can prove it, then it means this matter has nothing to do with your mother, said the old lady.

  I smiled and thanked the old lady, then shouted outside, "Let Zi Juan have someone bring the things in."

  Zi Juan replied and then started moving in dozens of pots of withered tea flowers.

  Xue Er, what do you mean? Second Aunt asked

  Don't worry, everyone knows that Fourth Aunt loves chrysanthemums. This is a new variety cultivated by the flower house, named "Hansui Xue". The characteristics of this chrysanthemum are its petals as white as snow, with a fresh and clean fragrance, and a hint of coldness. That's why it was given this name. The flower house has cultivated many of them, and because Fourth Aunt likes them, they sent many over.

  What's the point of saying all this? The second aunt doesn't understand.

  Pang Luo Xue glanced at her, this flower is easy to care for, but also difficult to care for. Easy to care for because it doesn't require a lot of rainwater, difficult to care for because you can't use hot water or even warm water to water it, once it comes into contact with hot water the flower will wither and die. It's just like what everyone is seeing now. Imperial Physician, even if the medicine is poured into the soil, you should be able to tell roughly what's going on, right?

  Second Miss, this is natural. I have been practicing medicine for decades, and I still have some confidence in my skills. The imperial physician replied confidently.

  Then please ask Imperial Physician to take a closer look, what's wrong with the soil of these flowers?

  I gave Zi Juan a signal, and she had someone bring these flowers to the imperial physician's side for her to examine one by one.

  The imperial physician did not decline, and with his hands picked up each pot of soil to smell carefully, then asked someone to bring out a shovel, and dug out the soil from each flower pot, looking at Second Miss.

  The imperial physician said it was nothing serious.

  Just as Second Miss said, the soil of these tea flowers has medicinal properties. I had Medicine Boy dig up the soil and found that there was enough medicine here to last for a full month.

  Pang Guo Gong Dao: Imperial Physician, are the medicines inside the same kind?

  The imperial physician shook his head, saying that it was just the best ordinary prenatal medicine, only without musk added to it.

  Pang Guogong also understood and said to the imperial physician: "Today I've troubled you, imperial physician. I hope you can keep today's matter confidential."

  The imperial physician knew the private matters within such a large household, so he said to Duke Pingguo: "Don't worry, Your Excellency. I understand. Just be careful with the health of these four madams."

  It's natural for people to send doctors away when they come, and take more silver from the counter.

  Zi Juan personally escorted the imperial physician out, and when they reached the door, Zi Juan quietly put a silver note into the imperial physician's hand. Thank you very much today, Doctor.

  Nowhere, I am also telling the truth.

  Zi Juan respectfully escorted Ta Yi to the gate.

  Inside the house, the old lady held a rosary and said to Yang: Good child, today is indeed a hardship for you. The old woman is also old, I don't care about your affairs anymore. Later, hand over the key of the warehouse to the big madam. I think Yu'er, although not yet married, is more sensible than any of you. Let her follow Yang to learn how to manage the household from now on. Don't come looking for me again with these matters.

  Mother, I know about this matter now. The sky is already dark, you should rest well, tomorrow I will go and pay respects to you again.

  The old lady held onto Cui's mother's hand and walked out step by step.

  The atmosphere in the house did not ease up after the old lady's departure. The first wife had a sorrowful face, the second wife had an expression of discontent and entanglement, while the third wife was nervously rubbing the handkerchief in her hands.

  Pang Guogong was pounding on the table, pounding on the hearts of the people below.

  Yang's heart was icy cold, seventeen years of harmonious marriage, from childhood sweethearts couldn't withstand the harm caused by others, her husband's distrust towards her. In the end, it was still her own daughter who protected her by her side. She knew that for men, power and position were important, but for women, all they wanted was to find their soulmate, to grow old together in love.

  The sorrow in Yang's eyes was deeply felt by Pang Luoxue. If she couldn't have someone's heart in this life, then she would rather be lonely for a lifetime.

  Old master, Fourth Mistress has woken up and is crying non-stop. The maid is kneeling on the ground with a worried face.

  Pang Guogong led the crowd to the bedside of Fourth Aunt, whose black hair was scattered all over, wearing a large red nightgown. Her pale face made her clothes look crimson like blood. Her eyes stared blankly at the top of the bed, muttering: Child, child, my child.

  Pang Guogong looked at his concubine with a pained expression and comforted her: "Yinger, don't be sad, we'll have another child."

  Old master, who wants to harm my child, you tell me who wants to harm my child. Fourth aunt's eyes were bloodshot and tightly grasped the bed sheet, her icy gaze was like a malevolent spirit from hell, staring tightly at every person present.

  The scenes of the past began to unfold again, and Erniang and San Niang said with a sorrowful expression: "Sister, why are you so confused that you applied musk? The medicinal soup sent by the mistress every day..."

  Third Aunt hadn't finished speaking, when Fourth Aunt suddenly went crazy and shouted at Old Master: "It must be the Mistress! The Mistress is jealous that I'm favored by Old Master, so she's framing me. Mistress, I've always respected you, but you're so cruel as to harm my child, actually putting musk in my medicine to abort my baby!"

  Master, master, you must help me...

  "Bang" still can't stop talking, Madam sends you medicine for a safe pregnancy every day, have you taken it? Now you still want to frame Madam.

  The fourth aunt was stunned by this sudden slap and covered her face in disbelief.

  The second aunt and third aunt are indeed one move ahead in chess, the fourth aunt even if she didn't have a child would still be spoiled to death.

  Fourth Aunt was heartbroken and confused, did you drink a sip of the fetal medicine that Mother sent every day?

  Pang Luoxue looked at the evasive gaze in Fourth Aunt's eyes, sneered, and thought to herself: "After so many years of being in the pleasure quarters, she's still such a fool, deserving to be harmed." "Fourth Aunt, it was because of the musk that you miscarried. The medicine Mother sent over was all poured away by you, and the imperial physician also confirmed there was no musk inside. Except for today, when this bowl was brought in to harm Mother, think carefully if there's been anything unusual recently, don't let someone take advantage of you."

  Fourth Auntie looked up at Old Master's face, Second Miss was right, this medicine she didn't drink a single drop. She had been confined to her quarters, except for the carnelian necklace sent by Third Miss, could there be a problem? Third Madame had always gotten along with her, could it be her? No way, Third Sister was the one in this Duke's Manor who got along best with her.

  I don't understand what the second young lady means, I was still in confinement at that time, how could someone come in?

  Fourth Aunt doesn't understand, and Xue Er understands even less. Now that Father is still around, if you don't want to be clear about it, then please do as you like. Xue Er just wants to tell you one thing: for some things, it's better to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

  Fourth Auntie lowered her head in thought, then raised it and said: I've already lost my child. Besides the mistress who can come and go as she pleases, only Third Miss has come to give me a string of red agate, saying that Third Sister sent it to calm my nerves. Cui'er brought over my jewelry box.

  A girl in a green skirt came in with a jewelry box in her hands, inside which was a string of red agate, exquisitely crafted. Third Aunt's face turned pale as soon as she saw the jewelry box.

  Yang picked up the bead string and looked at it lightly, but her mother behind her quickly took it away. Madam, you'd better stay far away from this. This is not a red agate, but a red musk bead. Women must not smell it.

  The mother looked at the third lady in surprise, and her sister knew that this was a musk pearl necklace.

  The three wives hurriedly knelt on the ground, and suddenly tears rained down: How did I know? I have always been close to Fourth Sister. This is clearly a red agate necklace, it was given by my mother from my previous family, a high-quality agate. How dare I harm Master's child.

  The three madams are not fools and know that admitting it now is no different from being sentenced to death, so they just cry. Pang Luo Bing glares fiercely at Pang Luo Xue.

  After all, this pearl necklace was sent by Bing Er, isn't it you, but rather Bing Er's sister?

  San Niang heard this and suddenly felt a chill in her heart. Pang Luo Bing was her only trump card, she couldn't ruin her future and make the old master disgusted. She bit her lip fiercely and said: "Master, everything is my doing, Ice is so young, she doesn't know anything, Master's concubine was also confused for a moment." As she spoke, she knelt down at the feet of Pang Guo Gong and begged him not to punish Pang Luo Bing.

  Pang Guogong's whole body trembled with anger, and Fourth Aunt even fainted upon hearing this news.

  "Come in, let's talk about family rules."

  The housekeeper came in with a cowhide whip, thinking of his own mother who was beaten bloody at the beginning. Even he, who was deeply loved, was affected. In this life, I will make you pay back in blood.

  Pang Guo Gong personally administered the punishment, each whip leaving a bloody mark. Pang Luo Bing was frightened by the scene before her and ran over to hug Pang Guo Gong's leg, begging for mercy. Pang Guo Gong ordered someone to hold back the third miss, saying to the third madam: "From now on, you are not allowed to see Bing'er again. Bing'er will follow Big Madam from now on. You should reflect on your actions in your courtyard, and if you come up with any more schemes, I will definitely drive you out of the house."

  The third aunt was already lying on the ground, so painful that she couldn't say a word. She stared blankly as Pang Luo Bing was taken away by the guards. She raised her head and looked at Duke Pang with tears in her eyes, but all he responded with was a cold snort.

  That's all for today. Take good care of the Fourth Mistress. And to the mistress, he said: I've troubled you today, later, I'll go to the Brocade Pavilion to apologize to you.

  Yang's gentle smile, the fourth sister suffered a series of blows, Old Master is still here accompanying Fourth Sister, he must have some benefits for her, Bing'er will teach her well.

  Pang Guogong nodded heavily, letting us all retreat. He himself stayed here to accompany the fourth lady. Pang Luoxue held Yang Shi's slightly cold hands, and the small figure let out a soft sigh. How could she not understand that the deepest wound of love was the thinnest human heart?