Aunt Lin watched as the Fourth Miss grew weaker day by day, her heart filled with an anxious dread. Yet, she couldn't find who was poisoning her. If this continued, the Fourth Miss would lose her life.
Suddenly, the candlelight in the room extinguished. Aunt Lin's heart leaped in alarm, followed by the sound of a heavy object hitting the floor. The serving maid lay on the ground.
"Who?"
In the darkened room, another candle flickered to life. When Aunt Lin saw the person sitting by the table, she gasped, "Eldest Miss!"
Xiao Man poured herself a cup of tea, inhaling its aroma. "Top-grade Biluochun. The Cen family is truly generous. They've spent a lot of money on you, haven't they?"
Aunt Lin's face turned ashen. She understood. It seemed the Old Madam had already given the antidote to the Eldest Miss. She just didn't know if the Eldest Miss knew it was she who had administered the poison.
"It's so late, why has the Eldest Miss come?"
Xiao Man rested her chin on one hand, her gaze fixed on Xiao Ting lying on the bed. "Aunt Lin is so clever, how could you not guess?"
"It's you, you poisoned Ting'er!" Aunt Lin preempted.
"Look at what you're saying. It was Aunt herself who administered the poison, why are you accusing me?" Xiao Man said nonchalantly. "After all, I've kept the 'gift' Aunt sent to Shuiyue Xiaozhu quite well."
Aunt Lin's eyes darted around, filled with panic and helplessness. "You... how did you know?"
"I can only say that the person who concocted the poison is terrible. 'Drunken Immortal Powder' actually has a smell. A defective product." Xiao Man clapped her hands. Ying Xue brought up two bowls of medicine. "Of these two bowls, only one is the antidote. I'll give Aunt a chance to choose. If you choose correctly, Fourth Miss can live. If you choose incorrectly, then you can only blame Fourth Miss for her bad luck."
"Eldest Miss." Aunt Lin, terrified, quickly knelt and kowtowed incessantly. "Eldest Miss, this servant was wrong. This servant truly knows her mistake. I beg the Eldest Miss to spare Fourth Miss. The one who administered the poison was me. Whether you want to kill me or flay me, I will obey. I only beg the Eldest Miss to let Fourth Miss go."
"Why did Cen Yu want to kill me?"
"This servant knows nothing."
"Then tell me what you do know," Xiao Man's smile remained unchanged, as if she were casually chatting with Aunt Lin.
"This servant knows nothing. I was merely following orders."
Xiao Man's expression turned cold. "If that's the case, Aunt Lin, there's no need to waste any more time. Tell me, which bowl do you choose?"
Aunt Lin trembled, her gaze falling upon the two bowls of medicine as if they were monstrous beasts. Her fingers clenched into fists, unwilling to make a choice.
"If Aunt doesn't make a choice, I'll have someone force both bowls of medicine down Fourth Miss's throat. Then, her half-chance of survival will be completely gone," Xiao Man's voice was soft and pleasant, but to Aunt Lin, it sounded like the decree of death.
"I'll count to three. If Aunt can't choose, then I'll make the choice for you. One, two..."
"That bowl!" Aunt Lin, her hand trembling, pointed to one of the bowls.
Xiao Man looked at Ying Xue, who immediately picked up the medicine Aunt Lin had chosen and roughly forced it down Fourth Miss's throat. Aunt Lin's heart leaped into her throat. After Ying Xue finished, she rushed to the bedside.
"Ting'er, Ting'er, how are you?"
"Congratulations, Aunt. You have good luck." Xiao Man stood up, her posture graceful, and slowly walked towards the exit. "This time, it's just a lesson. If there's a next time, Aunt won't have a choice."
Aunt Lin watched Xiao Man's figure disappear, her entire being filled with terror. She wanted to tell Cen Yu that Xiao Man already knew she was Cen family's spy, but she dared not. Once she was no longer useful, the Cen family would cut off her support, and she would have no advantage left.
Fourth Miss let out a soft moan and weakly opened her eyes. "Aunt."
"Ting'er, you're awake. You're finally awake." Aunt Lin hugged Fourth Miss, ignoring her daughter's surprised gaze, and held her tightly. She had almost lost her daughter. Even now, she still couldn't figure out how Xiao Man had administered the poison.
"Aunt, I'm hungry..."
"Aunt will have someone make you something to eat immediately." Aunt Lin quickly had food brought in.
Meanwhile, at Shuiyue Xiaozhu.
"Miss, why didn't you kill her? If she reveals this to the Old Madam, you'll be in trouble."
"She doesn't dare," Xiao Man stretched her shoulders. "My shoulders are sore, give them a massage."
"Yes, Miss." Ying Xue massaged Xiao Man's shoulders as she spoke, "Why doesn't Aunt Lin dare tell the Old Madam?"
"If she told her, how would she explain to the Old Madam that she poisoned me?" Xiao Man said slowly. "No matter how much the Old Madam dislikes me, she doesn't want me to die at the hands of anyone in the manor. Because my father and brother would then turn their suspicions onto the manor, which would be of no benefit to the General's estate. If she goes to the Old Madam and says she poisoned me, it would be seeking her own death, and Aunt Lin is not someone who is unafraid of death."
"What if Aunt Lin tells Cen Yu?"
"That would be good," Xiao Man smiled faintly. "If she tells Cen Yu, and Cen Yu learns she's been exposed, he'll cut off her support. Then she'll be in dire straits, and I can openly confront Cen Yu. However, are all merchants this cunning?"
"Merchants are driven by profit, perhaps it's related to benefits."
"I don't recall doing anything that would cut off someone's livelihood?"
"Perhaps Miss accidentally interfered with him, which is why he's treating Miss this way. Miss, do you want to teach the Cen family a lesson?" Ying Xue asked cautiously. "With our abilities, it's possible to cause some trouble for the Cen family."
"Then let's cause some trouble for the Cen family and Cen Yu," Xiao Man said softly. In her cold, scorpion-like eyes, a hint of helplessness flickered. Xiao Man, Xiao Man, how much trouble have you stirred up outside? Your self-destructive tendencies are almost on par with Yu Qianmo! Su Dan Novel Network.
"Miss, Madam Xu is here," Qiu Tong knocked on the door from outside.
"Come in."
Madam Xu entered behind Qiu Tong, carrying a food box.
"Greetings to the Eldest Miss. The Old Madam sent this servant to bring you some ginseng soup, brewed with thousand-year-old ginseng. It's especially nourishing."
"Thank Grandmother for her concern." Xiao Man gestured for Qiu Tong to take the food box. However, Madam Xu walked directly to Xiao Man, placed the food box down, and took out the ginseng soup, bringing it to Xiao Man. "Eldest Miss, please have some."
Xiao Man narrowed her eyes. It was strange enough that the Old Madam specifically sent her ginseng soup. Madam Xu's demeanor seemed to be waiting for her to drink it. This ginseng soup was probably laced with something.
"Eldest Miss, the ginseng soup should be drunk hot. It won't taste good when it's cold," Madam Xu said with a smile, her hand holding the soup steady.
She had to watch the Eldest Miss drink the ginseng soup before she could report back.