Night.
The pharmacy.
Now that the real culprit who poisoned the Duke, Chu Qianli, had been apprehended, Steward Han seemed to finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Tonight, he, along with Tutor Chu, Second Master, and Third Master, were in the side hall discussing matters.
"I heard they're discussing how to punish Miss Li," the servant reported.
Qin Liuyan nodded upon hearing this.
Then, Qin Liuyan said, "I've been feeling a bit dizzy lately. Could you fetch me some bird's nest soup, the best quality?"
The servant glanced at the medicine being brewed and hesitated, "Steward Han said he needs to watch it personally..."
"Isn't Chu Qianli locked up? What's the problem?"
Qin Liuyan waved her hand impatiently, "You see, the Duke hasn't woken up yet. If something were to happen..."
She paused before continuing, "If something were to happen, it would only be because Chu Qianli's poison was too potent, and this medicine might not even work on him."
The servant felt a bit disheartened. Under her urging, he finally turned and went into the medicine room to fetch the bird's nest soup for her.
Once Qin Liuyan was alone in the pharmacy, she immediately went over, picked up a packet of medicine, and poured it into the cauldron where the medicine was being brewed.
However, she never expected that before she could even discard the paper packet in her hand, the pharmacy door was suddenly kicked open with a bang.
"Ah!" Qin Liuyan was so terrified that she couldn't react. Her hand was grabbed.
Han Zhan seized her wrist, snatched the paper packet from her hand, and then shoved her aside.
Qin Liuyan was immediately pushed to the ground.
Two guards burst in and pinned her down.
Following them in were Steward Han, Tutor Chu, Second Master, Third Master, and Chu Qianli.
Qin Liuyan was utterly dumbfounded. How could these people... how could they be here?
"Quickly see if this paper packet contains poison!" Steward Han commanded.
The household physician immediately stepped forward, took the paper packet handed by Han Zhan, and sniffed it.
Upon smelling it, the physician's expression changed instantly. "Steward Han, Tutor Chu, this... this is potent poison!"
"It was you!"
Tutor Chu strode forward, raised his hand, and slapped her. "Bitch, how dare you harm my father!"
Qin Liuyan was hit so hard that her head spun.
With great difficulty, she managed to get a clear view of the situation.
Seeing it, she immediately burst into tears.
"All along, it was you who poisoned the Duke?" Steward Han was so angry he wanted to rush forward and tear this wicked woman apart!
"You came from a humble background, but the Duke allowed you into the household because you were carrying a child of the Chu family!"
"For so many years, although you were not given the title of First Wife, the Duke never mistreated you and your daughter in terms of daily life!"
"It's bad enough that you're not grateful, but you repay kindness with enmity and try to poison the Duke! You are simply unforgivable!"
"I didn't..." Qin Liuyan glanced at Steward Han, then looked at her husband, Chu Hongtao, tears streaming down her face.
"I... I didn't, I really didn't, Hongtao, believe me!"
"Poisonous woman! You harmed my father like this and put me in a difficult position. I, Chu Hongtao, will henceforth sever all ties with you!"
"Hongtao, I didn't poison Father all along, I really didn't. I just... I, I just..."
Qin Liuyan didn't know how to explain and was so anxious that tears rolled down her face.
She forcefully broke free from the guards' grasp, stumbled to Chu Hongtao's legs, and tried to hug his legs to beg for mercy:
"Hongtao, don't be like this, I beg you! The one who poisoned him before was really not me. I didn't deliberately try to harm Father. I just... I was just momentarily bewitched..."
"So, you poisoned him this time just to frame me?"
Chu Qianli, who had been silent all along, suddenly took two steps forward, stared at Qin Liuyan kneeling on the ground, and sneered.
"Today I was framed for poisoning my grandfather. If my grandfather were to remain in a coma, I would have no hope of ever recovering, would I?"
Qin Liuyan looked at her, her eyes tearful, but she couldn't say a word.
"Didn't you say I was your daughter? If I am truly your daughter, why would you harm me like this?"
"No... no, I didn't harm you."
Qin Liuyan suddenly remembered something. She looked at Chu Qianli and said urgently, "You are my daughter! How could I harm my own biological daughter?"
However, her words now sounded complicated to everyone present.
Especially Second Master, Third Master, and Han Zhan.
Earlier in the side hall, Steward Han had explained to them that framing Chu Qianli today was actually Chu Qianli's own plan.
Chu Qianli had said that the real poisoner would make a move tonight.
As soon as the Duke died, Chu Qianli would be completely convicted and have no hope of recovery.
But they never expected that the person who would "make a move tonight" to push Chu Qianli into a desperate situation would be Chu Qianli's own mother!
What kind of mother harms her own daughter like this?
Could it be that Qin Liuyan was not Chu Qianli's biological mother after all?
Then... what about Chu Huaiyu?
"Aunt Qin, what... what is going on?"
Chu Huaiyu, having heard the news from somewhere, immediately rushed over.
Seeing Qin Liuyan kneeling on the ground, she seemed very surprised and quickly asked Chu Hongtao, "Father, what is happening? Why is Aunt Qin kneeling on the ground?"
"She... she is the real culprit who poisoned your grandfather!" Chu Hongtao said, both angry and helpless.
Qin Liuyan quickly cried, "I really didn't, I didn't. Hongtao, Hongtao, believe me!"
Qin Liuyan tried to hug his leg again, but Chu Hongtao kicked her to the ground.
Chu Huaiyu, being kind-hearted, hurried over and helped Qin Liuyan up.
She stared at Qin Liuyan, and that look made Qin Liuyan's heart flutter.
Chu Huaiyu gave her a fleeting, sharp glance, and then began to cry.
"Aunt Qin, Grandfather... Grandfather treated you well. Why... why would you do this? Was someone forcing you to take the blame?"
Take the blame?
Chu Huaiyu's words made everyone present's hearts skip a beat.
Qin Liuyan read too much from her eyes.
She gritted her teeth, her heart filled with reluctance.
But at this point, she had no way out.
Caught red-handed poisoning someone, regardless of whether she had poisoned him before, she had no chance of survival.
Poisoning the Duke was a capital offense.
Suddenly, Qin Liuyan pushed Chu Huaiyu away and looked at Chu Qianli.
"Yes... it was all me. Everything... has nothing to do with Li'er. The previous poison... was also administered by me. It wasn't Li'er, truly not. Don't wrongly accuse her."
"She didn't poison anyone, she didn't force me to take the blame, she did nothing..."
Chu Qianli's expression darkened, and she said angrily, "Qin Liuyan, do you know what you are saying?"
Qin Liuyan, however, began to laugh while crying.
Wiping away her tears, her gaze fell upon Chu Huaiyu.
"Li'er, you must live well. Never... never feel guilty your whole life..."
Suddenly, she got up and ran madly towards the nearby stove...