Chapter 393
Madam Su was agitated seeing how the situation was out of her control and felt that these people were being unreasonable and harsh, she could only coldly say. “Ning’er, Jiu’er, since you all dislike me for not taking care of Mother then I will go back to my mother’s house.”
After saying this, Madam Su shook her sleeve angrily and turned around wanting to leave. Qin Sheng and Qin Zezhou beside her were a little lost but were also worried about Old Madam Qin, so they looked at the old madam and then at their mother, and finally followed Madam Su.
“No one leaves!” Qin Zening’s body appeared in front of Madam Su, blocking her way with a scabbard, “No one is allowed to leave until the official from the Capital Magistrates arrives!”
Qin Zening directly threatened and said, “Second Aunt, you should also know the severity of this matter!”
“Impudent!” Qin Sheng couldn’t help but shout on Madam Su’s behalf.
Qin Zezhou followed with an angry rebuke. “Big brother, my mother is your aunt, your elder.”
But Qin Zening replied indifferently, “The one lying unconscious on the bed is still your grandmother!”
Qin Sheng and Qin Zezhou both slightly frowned, feeling that Qin Zening’s words seemed to mean something.
Madam Su’s complexion became even uglier, while her temples were wet with sweat and her feet felt weak that she staggered a step.
“Mother.” Qin Sheng hurriedly helped Madam Su to the side and sat down.
Qin Zening and Qin Jiu also sat down. Time passed exceptionally slowly at this moment.
Bur Qin Zening was not in a hurry, anyway, he had the gates of the entire Marquis’s Mansion watched, so no one could go out at will.
After an unknown amount of time, Cui momo arrived with a bowl of medicinal hot soup, and together with a few maidservants, they helped the old madam drink the soup.
Imperial Physician Xu and the others temporarily went out as Cui momo served Old Madam Qin and helped her vomit, wipe her, change her clothes, and so on. After this, Imperial Physician Xu went back into the inner room to give Old Madam Qin acupuncture and moxibustion. Cui momo and the others came in and out of the inner room and were busy for a while.
“Bang! Bang!”
From afar came the deafening sound of gongs for the second watch resounded, Qin Zeyu, along with Hu Mingke, and seven to eight officials, broke the silence of the night once again.
Qin Zening seriously said, “Lord Hu, my grandmother was poisoned and her life is in danger. Please investigate thoroughly.”
Qin Zening looked at Madam Su pointedly, his gaze was sharp as a knife as he added. “Let’s see if it’s an evil slave harming the master or something else.”
“…..” Madam Su’s eyes wandered as she tightly clutched the handkerchief in her hand.
On the way here, Hu Mingke had already heard from Qin Zeyu about the situation, and without beating around the bush, he first asked Cui momo, “What did the old madam eat tonight?”
Cui momo has long recalled what happened, so she immediately replied about tonight’s dishes. “Pickled cabbage, cold cucumber, red dates, wolfberry ginseng, pigeon soup, and…”
“Lord Hu, recently the old madam’s appetite is not good so she didn’t eat much today’s meal and only had a few bites of each food. The servants divided the remaining food and ate some of them but those servants were all fine while the rest of the food were all poured in the slop bucket…”
Seeing that Cui momo looked like she was eager to carry the slop bucket, Hu Mingke, as if he could smell the sour taste, hurriedly said, “Besides the evening meal, what else did the old madam have? Like fruits, tea, pastry or something.”
“Yes, there is! “Cui momo repeatedly nodded.
Soon, a big maidservant brought over the teapots, fruit bowls, and pastry boxes.
Hu Mingke politely bowed to Imperial Physician Xu and said, “Troubling Imperial Physician Xu.”
Imperial Physician Xu started to inspect the teapot following the other things on the table, finally, he picked up some leftovers from the pastry box and looked at them carefully when suddenly his expression changed.
“It’s this pastry,” Imperial Physician Xu said with certainty and handed the pastry box to Hu Mingke. “Judging from the residue, this pastry contains poisonous toadstools.”
Cui momo’s eyes narrowed sharply and her complexion suddenly turned pale in an instant. “Old Madam ate this pastry…”
Saying that Cui momo looked at Madam Su, Ning momo also did the same and raised her finger pointing at Madam Su and said. “This box of pastry is brought by Madam.”
Madam Su was really too cruel! Cui momo got chills as she added. “Because these days, old madam had a very unpleasant argument with the madam about saving the Marquis, so today, madam send some pastry to the old madam to show her goodwill. Old Madam was very happy receiving the gift, so although she normally doesn’t like hard pastries, she still ate two pieces under the madam’s coaxing.”
At that time, Madam Su also ate a piece so even if later the old madam was found poisoned, Cui momo and Ning momo would never think that the pastry was tampered with. But now that they think about it, clearly, Madam Su chose the pastry that has no poison to eat. Her intention was evil!
Madam Su: “…”
Madam Su turned paler as her nails sank deeper into her tender palms.
She originally wanted to take advantage of the chaos to dispose of the pastry box, but there were servants inside the old madam’s room all the time so she couldn’t find the opportunity, let alone now that Qin Zening and the others were here!
Qin Sheng looked at Madam Su in disbelief as if she didn’t even recognize her and with a trembling voice she said. “Mother…” it isn’t you right?
Qin Zening looked straight at Madam Su again, this time not even calling her aunt, he coldly said. “Madam Su, you plotted to kill your mother-in-law, the evidence is conclusive!”
A daughter-in-law murdering her mother-in-law was a heinous crime that was not forgivable, not only in Daqi but throughout history, the laws of all dynasties have regarded it as an unforgivable felony.
The atmosphere was chilly as if it had suddenly entered the cold winter from early autumn.
“You’re talking nonsense!” Of course, Madam Su wouldn’t admit to the charge and denied it, “How could I plot against my mother-in-law!”
Qin Zezhou on the other hand, was in a state of turmoil, and after a brief moment of shock, he also reacted, “Cousin Brother, don’t try to falsely accuse my mother!” Qin Zezhou understood that regardless of whether her mother had harmed her grandmother or not, this charge must not be admitted!
***
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