"Aunty Xin, why are you looking at me?" Li Yaoqin felt a flutter of nervousness, unsure if Suo Xin would utter something explosive next.
Suo Xin glanced at her a few times, then withdrew her gaze and said to Li Sinian, "My Lord, this concubine still believes we cannot blindly condemn Consort Liu for this matter."
"Suo Xin, do you have a suspect?" Li Sinian asked, looking at Suo Xin.
Suo Xin shook her head, "This concubine does not. This concubine merely feels that Consort Liu would not be foolish enough to poison the soup. Moreover, after I drank it, My Lord would surely seek justice for me. Would Consort Liu not fear exposure?"
Suo Xin's analysis was coherent. Li Sinian looked at her with admiration and asked, "Then how do you think I should deal with Consort Liu?"
Suo Xin replied, "My Lord need not punish her. This concubine has only lost the child. After recuperating, I may still be able to bear children. Then it will be up to My Lord..."
Suo Xin did not continue.
Li Sinian nodded, "Suo Xin, I owe you a child, and I will surely make it up to you."
Li Yaoqin watched as a few simple words improved her father's attitude towards Suo Xin. She had never realized Suo Xin was so clever before.
Li Sinian approached Consort Liu and said, "Regarding today's events, I will heed Suo Xin's words and not hold you accountable. However, Consort Liu, you had best remain compliant, or I will not hesitate to divorce you and expel you from the estate."
Consort Liu quickly said, "Thank you, My Lord. Thank you, Aunty Xin."
"Are you not going to leave?" Li Sinian said angrily.
Consort Liu dared not delay and, with the help of her maids, left the study.
Li Sinian looked at Li Yaoqin and asked, "Yao'er, what are your thoughts on today's events?"
Li Yaoqin replied, "As Aunty Xin said, Consort Liu may not be the one who administered the poison. It is very likely that seeing My Lord's favor towards Aunty Xin sparked this poisoning attempt."
"In Yao'er's opinion, how should Father proceed?" Li Sinian asked, valuing Li Yaoqin's input.
Li Yaoqin knew that this matter could easily backfire.
"Father, this daughter feels there are too few new faces in the estate. Why not have Father take two more concubines? That way, Aunty Xin will not become the sole target."
Li Sinian was taken aback. Li Yaoqin continued, "Father, you can think about it. There's no need to rush."
Li Sinian nodded, then went to see Suo Xin. Suo Xin smiled, "Eldest Young Miss speaks wisely. My Lord can consider it." Da Feng Novel Network
However, Li Yaoqin knew Suo Xin was merely forcing a smile.
"Father, if there is nothing else, this daughter will take her leave!" Li Yaoqin curtsied and walked out of the study.
Behind her, Lian Xin, seeing no one around, couldn't help but ask, "Eldest Young Miss, why did you advise My Lord to take two more concubines? One Suo Xin already makes you weary; if two more arrive, won't this estate become chaotic?"
"You wouldn't understand. Suo Xin is currently favored by Father. This favor will likely not diminish anytime soon. To effectively share that favor, new people must enter the estate. I cannot control Suo Xin, but I can control newcomers. Lian Xin, hurry and find someone to buy two girls with clear backgrounds, preferably with families."
Lian Xin was startled and asked, "Eldest Young Miss, why ones with families?"
Li Yaoqin smiled, appearing like a ghost in Lian Xin's eyes, "Having families makes them easier to control."
Lian Xin suddenly understood, "This servant understands. This servant will go now."
Li Yaoqin gazed in the direction of the study, her lips curling into a slight smile.
Li Sinian comforted Suo Xin and then went to attend court.
Suo Xin got out of bed and threw the musk hidden under the pillow into the brazier. She did not rest until it had burned to a state where its original appearance was unrecognizable.
"Aunty Xin, your medicinal soup is here." Mo Lian brought the soup in.
Suo Xin quickly used the ashes in the basin to conceal what she had just done. Mo Lian cast a silent glance and then withdrew.
In the evening, Lian Xin returned, accompanied by two charming young girls who looked quite young.
Lian Xin stepped forward and said, "Why don't you come and meet Eldest Young Miss?"
The two girls stepped forward, curtsied, and said, "Greetings, Eldest Young Miss."
"Do you have names?" Li Yaoqin asked.
"Xiang'er, Ku'er."
Li Yaoqin frowned upon hearing this, "From now on, one will be called Qiu Xin, and the other Xia Xin."
Qiu Xin and Xia Xin quickly kowtowed in thanks.
"Lian Xin, take them to rest and teach them the rules over the next few days."
Lian Xin led Qiu Xin and Xia Xin away.
"Eldest Young Miss, Mo Lian from My Lord's side said she has something to report to Eldest Young Miss." Yan Xin entered and whispered next to Li Yaoqin.
Li Yaoqin was taken aback and said, "Let her in."
Soon, Mo Lian entered. Li Yaoqin asked, "Sister, does Father have something to see me about?"
Mo Lian shook her head, "It's not My Lord looking for you, but this servant has something to tell Eldest Young Miss."
"What is it?" Li Yaoqin asked.
Mo Lian stepped forward and whispered, "This servant discovered Aunty Xin using musk."
Li Yaoqin was startled and looked at Mo Lian, "Are you sure you didn't misidentify it?"
Mo Lian replied, "This servant would not mistake it. Eldest Young Miss also knows that this servant's father used to run a medical clinic. This servant knows musk."
Li Yaoqin nodded and asked, "Who else knows about this matter?"
Mo Lian said, "Besides this servant, no one else knows."
"This matter stops with me. You should act as if you know nothing. Leave everything else to me. You must not reveal anything about this until the end."
Mo Lian nodded, "This servant will do as Eldest Young Miss says."
"Go back, and be careful," Li Yaoqin instructed.
After Mo Lian left, Li Yaoqin's expression grew serious. Yan Xin, who overheard, was stunned, "Eldest Young Miss, this... doesn't this mean that Consort Liu didn't administer the poison?"
Li Yaoqin nodded, "Indeed. I underestimated Suo Xin's capabilities."
"Eldest Young Miss, is Suo Xin that formidable?" Yan Xin found it hard to believe. Others might not understand Suo Xin, but she did, as she had been with Suo Xin since she entered the estate. She couldn't fathom such a drastic change in Suo Xin.
"Yan Xin, people change. Previously, she desired nothing and only fulfilled her duties. But now it's different. She has the status of a favored concubine and will even climb to the position of an equal wife."
Yan Xin shook her head; she couldn't believe it.
"Yan Xin, you will understand later," Li Yaoqin said, "If a person does not look out for themselves, heaven and earth will destroy them."
In the evening, Li Yaoqin went to Consort Liu's residence. Consort Liu was surprised by her arrival. Her face had been disfigured by Li Sinian during the day, and she was currently applying medicine.
"Eldest Young Miss, why have you come?" Consort Liu pushed Ping'er, who was applying medicine to her, and rose to greet her.
"Consort Liu should finish applying the medicine. It would be a shame if a scar remained."
Consort Liu let out a low laugh, "Even if I were perfectly healed, what would it matter? My Lord already dislikes me."