Chapter 7: Lin Mei's Madness

  Kangxi's dragon boat arrived in Yangzhou, and the officials of Yangzhou all went to welcome him. Lin Ruhai was "seriously ill" and bedridden, unable to get up. Kangxi also granted him a favor, allowing him not to go to welcome him. For a time, everything in Yangzhou revolved around the emperor, and the Lin residence suddenly became much quieter.

  "The calm before the storm." Daiyu made a move with one of her chess pieces, blocking Lin Ruhai's retreat.

  "The calmer, the more undercurrents." Lin Ruhai put down a son and placed him in a dead land to be reborn.

  "Ah-ma is still so cunning." Daiyu smiled to herself, she didn't have that much research on Go, even if she inherited the true Daiyu's memories, how could a seven-year-old Daiyu possibly have such deep attainments? Moreover, from a person's chess path, one can see a person's true depth, Lin Ruhai's chess path is closely linked, unknowingly forcing people into a dead end.

  Lin Ruhai smiled and said nothing, now Daiyu's chess moves were sharp and ruthless, but still owed some fire, encountering truly cunning people would inevitably be turned over.

  "Master, miss." Lin Mei came in carrying a tray.

  "How did you get in?" Lin Ruhai was extremely displeased with Lin Mei's uninvited entry, her expression very unpleasant.

  Lin Mei knew that Master was weak, so she stewed a soup for him. Lin Mei placed the soup on the table and lifted the lid, releasing a strong aroma of chicken soup mixed with a faint medicinal smell, which made Dai Yu feel nauseous and start dry heaving. "What's this smell?" Dai Yu frowned and looked at Lin Mei coldly.

  "Miss, this is the medicinal meal prepared for Master. It's good for his health." Lin Mei looked at Daiyu, hiding the disgust in her eyes. That cheap woman's child, she had wanted to get rid of her before, but was stopped by others. There were still many people protecting her. But her mother wasn't so lucky.

  "Is it? You drink some first." Daiyu realized that the medicine had a familiar smell, which was the poison that Lin Ruhai had taken. It seemed that Lin Mei was indeed involved in this matter.

  "Miss, you're joking. What kind of medicine is this that anyone can eat and get sick from?" Lin Mei's face flashed a hint of pallor, but it was gone in an instant. Unbeknownst to her, Daiyu and Lin Ruhai both saw clearly, Lin Ruhai's heart was turbulent, she had once believed in this woman, never expecting that she would actually want to harm herself.

  "Since you made it, eating a bit of it shouldn't be a problem. Or is there something in it that shouldn't be?" Daiyu walked over to the medicine bowl and inserted her silver hairpin into it. Lin Mei's heart was racing, but she immediately thought that this poison couldn't be detected by the silver needle test, and besides, it wasn't as if they hadn't been inspected before, yet nothing had been discovered.

  Daiyu helped Lin Ruhai detoxify, naturally knowing the composition of this poison, a cold smile appeared at the corner of her mouth, and she secretly used the Xunzhuangong to infuse the silver needle. The silver needle turned black at a speed visible to the naked eye, and soon the silver-white needle became completely black.

  "How dare you have such a big nerve to poison Ama!" Daiyu slapped the plate away, holding a black needle and glaring at Lin Mei in anger.

  "You can't possibly find out, how could you have found out? This poison won't... Ah!" Lin Mei was so startled that she blurted out what was on her mind and quickly covered her mouth. Only then did she notice Daiyu's mouth corners gleaming with a bloodthirsty light as she stared at her.

  "Master, I didn't, I didn't poison you." Lin Mei fell to the ground with a thud, looking up at Lin Ruhai with pitiful eyes.

  "You're saying that someone has framed you, but didn't you say that this medicinal stew was cooked by your own hands?" Lin Ruhai's expression seemed to be a mixture of smile and not, while Lin Mei knew that at this moment, Lin Ruhai was the most terrifying.

  "Yes, I don't know what's going on either. Master, you have to believe me! I've been following you for so many years..."

  "That's enough, are you saying that I'm framing you? Almost forgot, you actually listened to Jia Yu's words and set your sights on the white jade cabbage left by my mother, your nerve is really not small." Daiyu coldly interrupted Lin Mei's words, her pretty face seemed to be covered with frost, making Lin Mei tremble all over, she couldn't understand why a seven-year-old girl could give herself so much pressure.

  "My mother treated you well, yet you want to poison her? Your heart has been eaten by wolves?" Daiyu's tone was very unpleasant, and the look in her eyes seemed to be burning with anger towards Lin Mei.

  "My heart? I had given my heart to the old master long ago, but he didn't want it. The only ones in his eyes were that cheap woman and you. That cheap woman was never pregnant all these years, and then she gave birth to you at such an old age. But the old master still treated her so well, and for her sake, he didn't take a concubine. Heaven is just, that cheap woman is dead..."

  "Slap slap." Daiyu's hand heavily slapped Linmei's face, daring to say that her own mother was a cheap woman, this woman deserved to die. Lin Ruhai's face turned iron blue and also stepped forward to give Linmei several slaps, actually saying such things about her Min'er, Min'er had treated her well, hadn't she? This woman simply deserved to die.

  Lin Mei was beaten until her face swelled up instantly, and she fell to the ground spitting out a mouthful of blood. "And you! Your body is so weak, but every time I want to kill you, someone always secretly protects you, I don't know who is protecting you. If you die too, Master will be mine." Lin Mei shouted frantically.

  "Even if I die, Ah-Ma is still not yours. The four of us will reunite in the underworld." Daiyu coldly shattered Lin Mei's fantasy.

  Lin Mei looked at Daiyu with a hint of despair, "It won't work, Master said that as long as I use this poison to kill Old Master and then cremate his body and eat the ashes, Old Master will be mine alone. Master wouldn't deceive me!" Lin Mei was getting hysterical, she stared blankly at Lin Ruhai, "Old Master, Lin Mei truly loves you, if you just say one word, Lin Mei is willing to die for you. Old Master, look at Lin Mei!" Lin Mei shouted loudly and crawled towards Lin Ruhai, but was kicked flying by him and crashed into the door, which swung open.

  "Who is the master?" Looking at Lin Mei who was paralyzed on the ground and couldn't move, Daiyu didn't have any terrified expression. Compared to Zi Juan and Xueyan who were scared outside the door, Daiyu was somewhat calm.

  "The master is the master, the master is in Hanshan Temple. Fox Mei Zi, the master said you are a premature spirit, won't live past eight years old, you will die, haha." Lin Mei's hair was disheveled, her mouth had snow stains, and she looked like a female ghost staring wildly at Dai Yu. At this time, Lin Fu also came in with someone after hearing the commotion. Seeing this scene, he was also stunned.

  "Lin Fu, take Lin Mei to the government office, she poisoned and harmed the salt policy of Jiangnan Road. Also, clean up this place, Xueyan and Ziyu go to make medicine for Ama." Daiyu gave a cold command, then turned around and went into the house, closing the door tightly, as if everything that happened outside had nothing to do with her.

  Lin Fu was stunned outside the door, and then he started to clean up the scene with his men. Lin Mei, who was still vomiting blood, was taken away to the government office. Coincidentally, Kangxi happened to be there at that time. Upon hearing this, he became furious, "Someone actually poisoned Lord Lin?"

  "Returning to Your Majesty, Master found out and ordered me to bring this person here." Lin Fu said calmly.

  "How is Lin Ai Qing now?" Kangxi frowned, it seemed that this person had been staying with Lin Ruhai for a long time, and it seemed that Lin Ruhai was suffering from chronic poisoning.

  "Master is still recovering. Miss is taking care of Master." Lin Fu said with his head down.

  "Go back and tell Lin Ai-qing, I will go see him in a few days."

  "I'll let him know." Lin Fu lowered his head and backed out, he had been following the old master for so many years, knowing that the old master did not want to have too much contact with the emperor.

  Kangxi watched Lin Fu retreat, "Li Taisheng, go and give Lin Aiqing a check-up."

  "The old minister obeys the order." Li Taiyi, as a imperial physician for many years, had exceptional medical skills and had studied various poisons. Li Taiyi retreated and rushed straight to Lin's residence.

  At this time, the Lin Mansion was in a state of confusion. Jia Xian saw Lin Ruhai kick Lin Mei flying and was shocked in his heart. Originally, he had just joined forces with Lin Mei, but he didn't expect that Lin Mei would have such thoughts. It's really terrifying to see how women can be so unpredictable and ruthless.

  "Second Master Lian, what are you doing here?" Lin Fang, the second steward of the Lin manor, walked up to Jia Lian's side, but he didn't react at all, just standing there blankly.

  "Ah……it's nothing……" Jia Yu's voice was trembling, Lin Fang looked at him steadily, "Is Second Master not feeling well? Should we call a doctor?" Lin Fang asked with concern, his face wearing a professional smile. Jia Yu shivered and waved his hand, "I'm fine, I'll go back to my room." Jia Yu pushed Lin Fang aside and ran off, but heard Lin Fang calling out behind him again, "Second Master!"

  "What's wrong?" Jia Lian's face was covered in cold sweat, and he didn't turn his head back.

  "Your room is over there!" Lin Fang said with a smile on his face, pointing in the opposite direction.

  Jia Lian's body stiffened, and he turned back to force a smile. "I understand." Jia Lian hastily ran away, as if there was a ghost chasing him from behind. Lin Fang smiled slightly and turned into Lin Ruhai's room.

  "Old Master!" Lin Fang called out respectfully, the house was very quiet, as if nothing had ever happened.

  "Yu'er, this is Lin Fang!" Lin Ruhai pointed at Lin Fang. Lin Fang didn't often move around in the Lin Manor, and the original Daiyu didn't have much impression of him either.

  Daiyu sized up Lin Fang, and saw that this person was not particularly impressive in appearance, but the sharp glint in his eyes could not be concealed. Her heart suddenly felt clear and bright, thinking that such a person would just make up for Lin Fu's shortcomings.

  "Lin Fang greets the young lady." Lin Fang was also sizing up Daiyu, he had seen her before, soft and weak, looking as if she would fall with just a gentle breeze, he himself thought she didn't seem like Old Master's child. However, after two years, the young lady had changed a lot, the sharp glint in her eyes hadn't been concealed, what kind of life had she led in the Jia household these past two years?

  "Get up, it seems that you should have brought good news today." Daiyu looked at Lin Fang, and had Lin Fu investigate the house, Ama must have secretly supported herself.

  Lin Fang nodded, "I've investigated the so-called master who had contact with Lin Mei. He's already gone into hiding, but he left some clues behind. I'm currently following up on them. If there's any news, I'll report back immediately."

  After hearing Lin Fang's words, Daiyu looked at Lin Ruhai with a thoughtful expression, "Ama, you've long suspected her, but you wanted to go find your mother, so you didn't take action?" Daiyu said very affirmatively, with a tone of resentment in her words, and her eyes had also changed.

  Lin Ruhai was looked at by Daiyu and felt a bit embarrassed, "Cough! Yu'er, let's talk about this later! Lin Fang, you continue." Lin Ruhai changed the subject, and Daiyu didn't pursue it further, her gaze falling back on Lin Fang.

  "The traitors in the Rongguo House have been basically found, and some of the lower servants who defected to Jia Lian have also been investigated." Lin Fang lowered his head, not expecting Miss to have such a side, and he was truly shocked.

  "Are you sure?" Daiyu furrowed her brow, this Lin family seemed to have more than just the traitors of the Jia family. She felt that there were at least three forces watching her.

  "Yu'er, some people can't move." Lin Ruhai shook his head. Nowadays Daiyu is too sensitive and notices many things.

  "I have the right to dispose of my own wet nurse, I don't need disloyal people, once disloyal, a hundred times useless." Daiyu said coldly, don't think that just because she is her own wet nurse, she dares to be so presumptuous.

  Lin Ruhai's eyes dimmed for a moment, and he didn't know what he was thinking. He waved his hand, and Lin Fang tactfully retreated.

  "Jade, when did you find out?" Lin Ruhai looked at Daiyu, so many things had happened in this short period of time.

  "A long time ago, I thought she was very proud and had a different temperament, as if she had been cultivated, and people like that usually come from that place... Ama, am I right?" Daiyu paused for a moment, emphasizing her tone, "Is it really related to the death of my mother and brother? Is it true that Kangxi wants Lin Ruhai to be childless?"

  "Yu'er, you're thinking too much." Lin Ruhai shook his head. "Your younger brother is indeed weak and sickly, but the reason for his illness has nothing to do with that place, he..." Lin Ruhai stopped himself from speaking further.

  "Amah!" Daiyu cried out loudly.

  "In short, he's dead, don't think too much about it." Lin Ruhai flicked his sleeve and stopped paying attention to Daiyu.

  Daiyu stood there, stamped her foot, pushed open the door and walked out. The relationship inside was getting more and more complicated. What's going on? A small salt road in Jiangnan attracted so many powerful forces to pay attention? It always feels like there is a huge dark curtain behind this.

  "Miss, slow down." Xueyan panted as she caught up with Daiyu. She had just gone to deliver medicine to Master and saw Miss rushing out in a huff.

  "What's wrong, Xueyan?" Daiyu looked at her in confusion.

  "The emperor sent an imperial physician to treat Master. Will he be all right?" Xueyan blinked her eyes, looking at Daiyu, who suddenly remembered that Xueyan was the daughter of Wang Nai'er, and wondered if she had also come to spy on her. With two maids by her side, one from the Jia household and the other from the imperial court, she truly felt miserable.

  "I know, I'm tired." Daiyu didn't want to go and take a look, Ama would handle it herself. Ama didn't want to investigate the matter of her mother and brother, she wouldn't investigate if she didn't have to, anyway, at present, she still didn't have enough power, what she needed to do now was find a suitable confidant.

  Xueyan supported Daiyu and sent her back to her room with a heavy heart.

  On the other hand, Jia Lian returned to his room and paced back and forth, thinking about what he should do next. Lin Mei was no longer useful, so who else could he use? He had a feeling that his goal this time would fail. Old Lady Wang had told him to take advantage of the opportunity to get control of the Lin family's property, but it seemed that Uncle Lin's illness would not be fatal after all, and from what he could tell, Cousin Lin wanted to stay behind, which meant that the marriage between the two families would also fall through.