Chapter 17: Someone Does Not Want Him to Die
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Dou Hongyan had four most loyal maidservants by her side; among them, Xiyue was a covert guard hidden in the shadows, highly skilled in martial arts and capable of killing without a trace. Entrusting her with the poison was most fitting.
“Mm, suit yourself. I’m tired,” she murmured.
Her warm, jade-like toes arrogantly stepped on Xiao Zu’s waist. Dou Hongyan, holding Xiao Zu close, spoke with an air of disdain: “Take off those filthy clothes you wore back from the Northern Territories, or you’re not coming up—”
“Mm!”
The rest of her words were cut off. She pushed lightly, but when she found she couldn’t move him, she bit into his shoulder in frustration. Candlelight flickered wildly, soon burning away a pile of red candles on the floor.
Xiao Zu’s mind was fixated on Shen Yishu vanishing quickly. The poison was delivered to Xiyue’s hands the next day, having passed Dou Hongyan’s scrutiny.
“Madam, the Crown Prince has sent a message. He demands news of Shen Yishu’s death within three days.”
She twirled a small white porcelain bottle between her fingers, eyeing this tiny object capable of taking a life with casual interest. Leaning lazily against the Grand Tutor’s chair, she tossed the bottle to Liuyun. “You take care of this.”
After Xiyue left, Dou Hongyan’s delicate, almost boneless hands cradled a tiger-skin hand warmer. Her eyes unfocused, she grew drowsy.
Only then did Liuyun speak softly, worried: “Madam, Young Master Heng is still taking the imperial examination. If Master Shen dies now... won’t he be forced into three years of mourning? That would delay Young Master...?”
The mourning period for parents is three years. Heng is thirteen this year.
At thirteen, achieving the provincial exam honor and personally granted entry into the Imperial Academy by the Emperor, three years later would be the prime time for this young man to shine. If Shen Yishu—this worthless parasite—caused such a delay, it would be a tragic waste.
In Liuyun’s eyes, Shen Yishu was not even worthy of Young Master Shen’s three-year mourning.
Dou Hongyan said nothing, rising after a moment. “Just do as I said.”
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…
Listening to the Rain Garden.
“Daddy, Mommy, I want meat!”
“Don’t fight me for it! Sister isn’t allowed to eat meat.”
At the family dining table of six, Liu Xiner looked contentedly as she served dishes to Shun Ge’er and the other two sons. Second Sister sat timidly in the corner, burying her head to eat greedily.
The two plates of meat and vegetables in front of her were already empty. Brother An pounded the table, urging, “Second Sister can’t eat! I want eggs!”
“What eggs,” Liu Xin’er ladled a bowl of soup for Brother An, silencing him. “Drink this nourishing herbal broth. You’re young and still growing.”
They were all enjoying themselves, while Second Sister silently continued eating in large mouthfuls. Suddenly, something she ate turned her face pale in an instant.
Clutching her stomach, she slumped in her chair, groaning repeatedly, “It hurts, Mommy… Daddy, Second Sister’s stomach hurts!”
Cold sweat quickly broke out on her forehead.
“Poison!”
“Something’s wrong—the food is poisoned!”
The couple exchanged a glance. Shen Yishu’s anger flared uncontrollably as he jumped up, shouting, “It must be that poisonous woman Dou! I’ll go confront her right now and find out what she intends!”
This was also the perfect chance to divorce her!
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Bursting into Dou Hongyan’s courtyard, Shen Yishu, though furious, felt a measure of relief—he finally had the opportunity to completely deal with this troublesome woman!
“You Dou, how dare you poison our food! I am your husband!”
“Divorce is necessary! You must be divorced!”
“Are you suffering from paranoid delusions?” Dou Hongyan rolled her eyes, utterly disdainful of Shen Yishu’s reckless foolishness, then beckoned, “Go fetch the doctor from the estate.”
The doctor arrived swiftly. When he took Second Sister’s wrist, his frown instantly eased. The elderly doctor smiled, “She just ate too quickly and is overfull. Rest a bit and digest—she’ll be fine, very soon…”
Once assured that Second Sister was unharmed, the blackest expression belonged to Shen Yishu.
He was ashamed beyond words. Faced with Dou Hongyan’s faintly scornful gaze, his face turned pale and flushed repeatedly.
Everyone dispersed. Liuyun supported Dou Hongyan back inside, puzzled: “Madam, why wasn’t Master poisoned? I clearly administered the drug.”
“False poison,” Dou Hongyan said calmly, her gaze drifting beyond the chaos toward the misty mountain outline outside the city. “Someone does not want him to die.”