Chapter 971: Chapter 821, Absolute Medicine Chapter 971: Chapter 821, Absolute Medicine Chen Courtyard.

Luo Qiong sat by the window, tenderly stroking her belly with a gentle expression.

For the love she felt towards that man, she thought she had to bury it in her heart forever, but to her surprise, the heavens were merciful and let them meet again.

Thinking of the child she carried, the beloved one’s, hope in Luo Qiong’s eyes grew stronger–she would not have to continue a life devoid of interest any longer.

At that moment, there came a noise from the direction of the Clean Room.

Luo Qiong looked up and saw Xue Ling helping a freshly bathed Xue Qiao walk out.

Seeing Xue Qiao’s pale complexion, Luo Qiong’s gaze lowered slightly before she raised her hand to have her sit down, “Last night, you served the young master. He didn’t notice anything amiss, did he?”

Xue Qiao bowed her head, biting her lips tightly and shook her head.

Upon hearing this, a slight smile appeared on Luo Qiong’s face, “That’s good to hear.” As she said this, she glanced at Xue Qiao and took her hand, “I know what happened last night was somewhat unfair to you, but you and Xue Ling are the only ones I can trust.”

“You have a figure similar to mine, only with you taking my place could the young master remain unsuspecting.”

Xue Qiao shook her head again and after hesitating for a while, finally spoke, “I… I do not feel aggrieved. It is my… fortune to be able to alleviate Mistress’s worries.”

Luo Qiong showed a satisfied look and turned to Xue Ling, “Help Xue Qiao back to her room to rest. She has to come and continue serving the young master tonight.”

Upon hearing this, Xue Qiao’s body stiffened sharply.

Xue Ling noticed Xue Qiao’s unusual reaction and hurriedly helped her out of the room.

Back in her own room, Xue Qiao lay down on the bed like a deflated balloon, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Xue Ling felt heartache for her at the sight, but also relief.

Fortunately, the one who resembled the mistress in figure wasn’t her.

She and Xue Qiao had grown up together in the Duke Residence, witnessing numerous spousal conflicts, never dreaming of becoming a concubine to the young master but hoping to serve the mistress well enough to be matched with a better attendant in the future.

Unfortunately, it seemed that Xue Qiao would not be able to fulfill that wish now.

….

Pingxi Hall.

Xiao Yechen went to rest in Luo Qiong’s chambers, and Ping Ji’s wife informed Daohua at the earliest opportunity.

Knowing that Luo Qiong had actively sought reconciliation with Xiao Yechen, even deigning to perform such humiliating acts, Daohua frowned, feeling that something was amiss.

“Keep watching.”

Afterwards, Daohua’s visits to Pingxi Hall increased, whether to bring food to the Prince or to pay her respects.

As a result, she saw Luo Qiong more frequently.

On the fourth day of April, Daohua arrived just at mealtime, and the Prince invited her to sit and eat together. She immediately agreed.

At the dining table, Daohua noticed that Luo Qiong’s face had become rounder and her appetite had grown considerably, her eyelids involuntarily twitched.

“Second sister-in-law, is there something on my face? Why do you keep looking at me?” Luo Qiong asked, catching Daohua’s gaze with a smile.

Daohua replied casually with a smile, “I was just looking at the unfamiliar maidservant behind sister-in-law, and you caught me.”

Daohua spoke nonchalantly, but Luo Qiong’s hand paused while she was picking up food. Princess Consort Ma also looked over. Luo Qiong smiled and explained, “Xue Qiao has been feeling a bit unwell lately, so I’ve promoted a second-tier maidservant.”

Princess Consort Ma nodded in response, not pressing further.

These days, since her son had been staying continuously in his wife’s chamber, she was happy to give her a bit more face.

Luo Qiong soothed Princess Consort Ma, then looked at Daohua and, after a moment’s thought, still smiled and prodded, “I never thought my second sister-in-law would take such an interest in those beside me?”

Daohua laughed and didn’t deny it at all, “I certainly need to pay more attention to the Senior Maid by my sister-in-law’s side, not just hers, but I also keep an eye on the maids of the other family members. Who lets the Senior Maid manage all the master’s affairs?”

“If I didn’t recognize them, and someone found their way to me tomorrow, I wouldn’t even know who is who. Wouldn’t that be a joke? Doesn’t sister-in-law recognize my maids?”

Luo Qiong smiled and did not respond.

She remained silent, so Daohua no longer paid her attention and continued to discuss with Prince Ping the plan to visit the Four Seasons Manor for flower viewing.

Princess Consort Ma didn’t want Prince Ping to have too much contact with Xiao Yeyang and his wife. She thought for a moment, then suddenly looked towards Luo Qiong, “Didn’t you recently acquire a new tribute flower? Quickly bring it over for your father to see.”

Prince Ping immediately showed interest, “What tribute flower?”

Princess Consort Ma said right away, “Didn’t Hongyi Country send their national flower as tribute to the Emperor a few years ago? That’s the flower, I don’t know how the Duke Residence managed to get it, it’s quite beautiful.”

Prince Ping remembered, “You mean tulips.”

Princess Consort Ma hurriedly nodded, “Yes, yes, tulips.”

Prince Ping then looked towards Luo Qiong.

Although Luo Qiong was extremely reluctant, she had no choice but to send Xue Ling back to fetch the flower.

Chen Courtyard.

Xue Qiao was resting on the bed; hearing Xue Ling’s voice in the courtyard, she supported her aching body to get out of bed, and just as she reached the door, she saw Xue Ling holding the flower that Luo Qiong had brought from the Duke Residence and leaving the yard.

Seeing this, Xue Qiao was startled, quickly ran out of her room, and tried to chase down the flower, but as she reached the courtyard gate, she gradually slowed down.

“It’s been several days since I dumped the dregs into it; there shouldn’t be any problem.”

The flower was Missy’s favorite, and ever since it was brought back, she’d take a long time to admire it each day.

Out of revenge against Missy and dissatisfaction that Missy had sent her to the master’s bed, she poured the dregs of the “absolute medicine” into the flowerpot, hoping the flower would die.

“Absolute medicine”…

Originally, she thought Missy had been cruel enough to her, but she didn’t expect that Missy had been even crueler to the master, directly poisoning him with “absolute medicine”!

Just thinking about it made Xue Qiao shiver uncontrollably.

…

Pingxi Hall.

After Xue Ling brought the flower over, Daohua followed Prince Ping and also took the opportunity to admire it.

Initially, Daohua didn’t pay much attention, but as she leaned closer to the flowerpot, a faint scent of medicine reached her nose.

Daohua was particularly sensitive to the smells of medicine and felt this wasn’t a good sign. She whispered to Mei Ju, who had come with her, as everyone’s attention was on the flower, “Find a way to figure out what kind of medicine has been poured in the flowerpot.”

Mei Ju nodded, and after Prince Ping finished admiring the flower, she followed quickly when Xue Ling carried the flowerpot back to the Chen Courtyard.

Half an hour later, just as Daohua returned to Pingxi Hall, Mei Ju came back.

Daohua immediately looked at her, “How did it go?”

Mei Ju removed a pouch from her waist, which contained soil from the flowerpot, “Young Madam, the medicine poured into the flowerpot seems to be the ‘absolute medicine.'”
Daohua’s eyelids twitched, she took over the pouch and sniffed carefully, then looked at Mei Ju suspiciously, “Just based on a slight medicinal scent, you can tell what it is?”

Mei Ju: “I might not be able to discern other medicines, but as for drugs related to private matters of the inner house, I have specialized training. I remember the scent of ‘absolute medicine.'”
Daohua fell silent.

Wang Manman, who had been listening on the side, couldn’t hold back, “Someone poisoned Madam with ‘absolute medicine’?”

Daohua shook her head, “It’s not that someone poisoned Madam, but Madam poisoned someone else with ‘absolute medicine.'”
Upon hearing this, Wang Manman’s eyes widened in shock, “How could that be?!”

In the Chen Courtyard, the only person who Madam could poison with ‘absolute medicine’ was Grandpa!