"Fourth Miss must have suffered from food poisoning. I made her vomit everything she ate, and there were indeed toxins. However, all the food was checked, and none of it was poisonous..."
The physician seemed to recall something. He mixed the leftover pastries eaten by the old madam with a dish of kelp and bone soup. Then he tested for poison with a silver needle. The two foods, which were not poisonous individually, became toxic when mixed!
Xiao Man's eyes widened in shock, "What a malicious method, what a meticulous mind! To use the incompatibility of food to harm someone. I believe the person who poisoned this wasn't trying to harm Fourth Sister, but clearly Grandmother!"
The old madam's face turned pale. She couldn't stand the fishy smell of kelp, so she hadn't drunk the kelp and bone soup. If she had, this potent poison might have claimed her life!
She had initially thought this was just petty squabbling within the household, but now it seemed otherwise. Someone clearly couldn't stand this old woman and wanted her dead!
With this thought, the old madam cast a sharp gaze at Yan Shi.
"Yan Shi, what is going on?"
Yan Shi immediately knelt down, "Mother, your daughter-in-law doesn't know what's happening. This soup was not on the menu I arranged. It was you, Madam Zhou, who ordered the kitchen to make this kelp and bone soup."
The old madam then remembered that she had indeed instructed Madam Zhou to order the kelp and bone soup from the kitchen. Since Fourth Miss liked kelp, and they happened to have bone broth simmering, she had asked for a bowl of kelp and bone soup for Fourth Miss.
In that case, was this a coincidence?
"Is that so?" Xiao Man finally breathed a sigh of relief. "If that's the case, then perhaps it was a coincidence. If someone truly intended to poison, they would first need to know that these two foods are incompatible, and also know that granddaughter sent the jujube and chestnut cake to Grandmother. Furthermore, they would need to know in advance that Grandmother would order kelp and bone soup."
The old madam's face was ashen, and she did not reply.
Xiao Man looked with heartache at the unconscious Fourth Miss, "Poor Fourth Sister."
Concubine Lin was also unsure whether her daughter had been poisoned or if it was all a coincidence. She could only wait for the old madam to deliver justice.
"In my opinion, this is purely a coincidence," Second Miss Xiao Xiang finally spoke.
Previously, when Concubine Lin had accused Xiao Man, she had remained silent. When Third Concubine was forced to kneel, she had also remained silent. Now that everything was revealed, she finally spoke.
"Yes, it should be a coincidence," Xiao Man chimed in. "Just like what happened to me last night. The moment I left, thieves broke into the manor. And wouldn't you know it, they went into my courtyard. If I hadn't gone to Gan Ye Temple to pray, and if there weren't entry and exit records for the city gates, and if there weren't eminent monks from Gan Ye Temple to testify for me, I would never be able to clear my name."
The old madam glanced at Xiao Man, understanding the implication of her words.
Xiao Man was saying that if this incident wasn't a coincidence, then her own situation wasn't a coincidence either. It meant that she, the grandmother, had conspired with the ladies, concubines, and young ladies of the household to frame her!
"Enough, enough. This is just a coincidence," the old madam had to say. "It's just a pity Fourth Sister has suffered. Have the physician take good care of her. Use whatever medicine is needed. If anything is missing, ask the Madam. Lin Shi, take Fourth Sister back and look after her well."
"Yes, Old Madam," Concubine Lin gritted her teeth and picked up Fourth Miss, leaving. In her heart, she didn't believe for a moment that this was a coincidence.
Xiao Man's incident was not a coincidence; someone had framed her. Her daughter's poisoning was also a framing. It was detestable that the old madam usually pretended to dote on this granddaughter, but when it mattered, she dismissed it so lightly!
"Grandmother, since Fourth Sister's incident is purely a coincidence, then your granddaughter shall take her leave as well."
After speaking, Xiao Man turned and left.
Seeing this, Second Miss quickly bowed and followed, taking her leave.
The old madam's brows furrowed, deeply displeased with Xiao Man's ill-mannered behavior, "Truly disrespectful!"
The secondary wife, Yan Shi, hearing this, cautiously probed, "Mother, Eldest Miss has come of age and will soon be fifteen. She's of marriageable age. Why don't we find a governess for Miss Man to teach her etiquette? We could also have Second Miss and Fourth Miss learn along with her. What do you think?"
The old madam pondered, "Indeed, we should hire a governess for her. Over the years, Zhen has spoiled her to no end, and she has no manners at all. Just the other day, she openly beat a matchmaker. Such a lack of discipline truly shames our General's Manor. However, with her temperament, she can make even a scholar vomit blood. Which governess can teach her? She might end up entering upright and leaving sideways."
Yan Shi's voice was gentle, "That is a problem. Eldest Miss has been practicing martial arts with the General since childhood and is quite skilled. If she were to fight, I'm afraid no governess would be her match."
"Precisely. If we bring in a governess and she's driven out again, our General's Manor's reputation will be completely ruined by her!"
The old madam felt a headache coming on. Xiao Man's lawlessness truly displeased her, yet she couldn't find any major fault with Xiao Man. These were just minor incidents, and she couldn't punish her!
"Mother, why don't we find a governess whom Eldest Miss would not dare to touch?"
"There is someone she dares not touch?" the old madam sneered. She feared there wasn't a single governess in the entire Shengjing City whom Xiao Man wouldn't dare to lay hands on!
"Speaking of which, there truly is such a person," Yan Shi said, carefully considering her words. "Madam Sheng has a great reputation in Shengjing City and is very strict. She also has a close relationship with Prince Qin. She previously served Consort Xue in the palace. After Consort Xue passed away, she entered Prince Qin's mansion to serve him. If Mother were to invite Madam Sheng, perhaps she could teach Eldest Miss."
The old madam looked at Yan Shi with a knowing gaze. Madam Sheng was notoriously strict in Shengjing City, and very few people could persuade her.
Young ladies who had been tutored by Madam Sheng were all first-class, but while Madam Sheng was good, she might not be good for Xiao Man. However, she was perfectly suited to the old madam's wishes.
"It might be difficult to invite Madam Sheng."
"Madam Sheng is Prince Qin's wet nurse. Prince Qin has bought her a residence in the city, but she is still employed by Prince Qin's mansion. Perhaps your daughter-in-law could try to invite her first. If Madam Sheng refuses, then Mother could personally go to Prince Qin's mansion and ask Prince Qin for his approval."
"Prince Qin and our General's Manor have never been acquainted, so it's likely..."
"Mother, looking across the entire Shengjing City, only Madam Sheng can control Eldest Miss. Anyone else would not succeed. Madam Sheng has Prince Qin's backing. No matter how arrogant Eldest Miss is, she would never dare to lay a hand on Madam Sheng. If we can invite Madam Sheng, it would bring more benefits than drawbacks to our General's Manor. It would be even better if she could teach Eldest Miss to abide by the rules."
"Then it's settled. You will go and invite Madam Sheng tomorrow."