Chapter 84: Must Investigate Thoroughly
The sky had completely darkened.
Lamps were lit inside the room.
Madam Song slowly woke up. Before she could fully open her eyes, she heard many concerned voices.
She knew Gong Xu had returned and was by her bedside, so she reached out her hand and weakly called out, “Master…”
“Don’t be afraid, I’m here,” Gong Xu said, holding her hand with affection.
“My child… my child is gone… isn’t it?” Tears slid down Madam Song’s cheeks, her expression one of utter despair.
“As long as you are alright, rest and recuperate. You can have children in the future,” Gong Xu said, his heart aching. But he knew his pain couldn’t compare to Madam Song’s.
“Master… why did this happen? I was so careful and mindful…” Madam Song said self-reproachfully, “It’s all my fault for being so incompetent…”
“I will definitely investigate this matter and ensure you don’t suffer in vain,” Gong Xu promised her.
While Madam Song was unconscious, he had already asked Wen Mingqian and the others to leave.
“Master, the Little Madam has been fine these past few days, with no discomfort,” Granny Yang said, her eyes red. “Suddenly, she started having abdominal pain before dinner, and then began bleeding. It was so frightening. The Little Madam didn’t bump into anything or get hurt; she was just sitting there perfectly fine…”
“What did she eat today?” Gong Xu interrupted her.
“She ate…” Granny Yang thought for a moment. “Breakfast and lunch were as usual. She didn’t eat any dim sum. It was just that the Old Madam sent over a bowl of nourishing soup this evening…”
“Breakfast and lunch were so far apart; it’s impossible for symptoms to appear only at dinner,” Gong Xu shook his head. “Could it be that bowl of nourishing soup?”
“The Old Madam kindly sent it over herself,” Madam Song said. “How could the Old Madam harm me?”
“The doctor said you accidentally ingested an abortion drug, which caused this,” Gong Xu said. “So, it must be a problem with your food.”
“I did feel something was wrong after drinking half a bowl of the nourishing soup, and didn’t finish the rest…” Madam Song said with a puzzled expression. “But it was really someone from the Old Madam’s chambers who brought it!”
Her implication was that she would guard against Wen Mingqian, but not against the Old Madam.
“Where is the rest of the nourishing soup?” Gong Xu asked, turning around.
“It’s… it’s on the table!” Granny Yang replied. “It was too chaotic at the time, and I didn’t get a chance to tidy up.”
“The doctor hasn’t left yet; I’ll have him come and identify it,” Gong Xu stood up, blocking the lamplight and casting a shadow over Madam Song.
Granny Yang carried the bowl out with Gong Xu. The doctor had already been invited to a side room and was drinking tea.
“Doctor Liu, can you examine this bowl of soup and see if there’s anything wrong with it?” Gong Xu gestured for Granny Yang to hand the bowl to the doctor.
Doctor Liu took it, smelled it, and then dipped a finger in to taste it. His expression turned very grim. “Second Master, this soup contains a very potent abortion drug! It looks like only half a bowl was consumed. If the whole bowl had been drunk, not only the fetus but the adult’s life would have been in danger.”
“As expected…” Gong Xu’s anger reached its peak, making him appear unusually calm.
“Doctor Liu, thank you for your help today,” Gong Xu bowed to Doctor Liu.
“Oh, please don’t mention it, don’t mention it. It’s a doctor’s duty, as it should be,” Doctor Liu quickly avoided Gong Xu’s bow.
“Granny Yang, go to the accounting office and withdraw five hundred taels of silver for Doctor Liu,” Gong Xu instructed.
“No, no, Second Master… I cannot accept this money.” Doctor Liu was terrified. He knew very well that today’s matter was no small thing, but accepting such a large sum made him feel uneasy.
“Doctor Liu, thank you for your timely treatment today,” Gong Xu’s tone was somewhat stiff, but it wasn’t directed at Doctor Liu. Rather, his mood had soured to the extreme. “Please do not speak of today’s events, and you must accept the money.”
“Uh…” Doctor Liu understood Gong Xu’s meaning. These five hundred taels of silver were hush money, and he was not to mention a word of what happened today. “Rest assured, I absolutely will not say a single word.”
“If that’s the case, then accept the money so I can be at ease,” Gong Xu said with a cold face. “I would also trouble you to stay here for the night. If anything were to go wrong, you could deal with it promptly.”
“Rest assured, I will do my best,” Doctor Liu agreed readily.
“Then I’ll take my leave,” Gong Xu said, turning to leave. She did not linger but headed straight for Old Madam Gong’s courtyard.
Old Madam Gong was also still awake, worried about Madam Song’s condition.
“The Second Master has arrived,” a maid lifted the curtain.
“You’re here. How is Concubine Song now? I heard her child didn’t make it?” Old Madam Gong’s expression was also grim.
She had originally thought the household could finally be at peace, but now such a thing had happened.
“Mother!” Gong Xu knelt directly before Old Madam Gong.
“Get up quickly, what are you doing?”
“Mother, the doctor said that the nourishing soup you sent to Xiulian today was mixed with a potent abortion drug,” Gong Xu said, lowering his head. “She drank half a bowl, and then began to have abdominal pain.”
“What? That soup had an abortion drug in it?!” Old Madam Gong was truly shocked.
She had considered that Madam Song might have been harmed, but she never imagined it would be related to the nourishing soup she sent.
“It is absolutely true,” Gong Xu said. “The doctor also said it was fortunate she only drank half a bowl. If she had drunk the whole bowl, it would have been a double death…”
“Heh… it’s so… so dangerous,” Old Madam Gong’s emotions churned. “Who has such audacity? To dare to poison someone using my hand?!”
“Son wants to find out the truth. Xiulian cannot be poisoned and suffer unjustly,” Gong Xu felt immense self-blame, believing he had failed to protect Song Xiulian, allowing her to endure such inhumane torment once again.
“Alright, I’ll have someone find the person who made the soup and the one who delivered it to question them,” Old Madam Gong said. “Wait, the soup was made in one pot, and both I and your wife drank it, and nothing happened. This suggests it’s unlikely to be an issue with the soup’s preparation.
Call Mei Zhi. She delivered it, so let’s question her first. Although this matter needs to be investigated, we cannot cause a huge uproar. It’s best if fewer people know about it.”
Someone causing Concubine Song to miscarry was, of course, a family disgrace, and the Gong Family had always adhered to the principle of not airing dirty laundry.
“Old Madam, Second Master,” Mei Zhi walked over, looking somewhat timid.
She was aware of Madam Song’s miscarriage. Although she didn’t know the specific reasons, being called in for questioning at this time was likely not a good sign.
“Today, I sent you to deliver nourishing soup to Concubine Song. Did anything happen on the way?” Old Madam Gong asked. “Think carefully, and do not hide anything.”
“Your servant dares not. Your servant *poured* the soup in the outer room. The soup in that pot was divided into four bowls by Granny Xu. She let your servant take one bowl. I took one bowl and put it into the food box,” Mei Zhi said as she thought. “As your servant carried the food box towards the West Courtyard, I did encounter a few people on the way, but we just greeted each other. It was only when I reached the West Courtyard that I met Sang Er, who is by the Second Madam’s side…”
It’s the end of the month. Can those with tickets support me? Thank you very much.
