CHAPTER 292: CHAPTER 292: IT’S NOT JUST ARSENIC POISONING

Yun Ying poisoned?

Could it be as he thought?

Han Ling acted so impulsively? She targeted Yun Ying?

Han Zhenggang hesitated for a moment and headed straight to the Duke Zhen Country Mansion.

First, check Yun Ying’s condition before making any plans.

"Your Grace, I have already taken your letter to invite the Imperial Physician, and have also sent someone to the Hundred Herbs Hall. The Princely Heir took the Antidote Pill immediately, but now it seems that the pill isn’t very effective," the steward reported succinctly after meeting the Duke.

The Duke glanced at Yun Ying, whose face was pale, eyes closed, and unconscious.

His chest was rising and falling weakly; things didn’t look good.

"How could he be poisoned for no reason?" The Duke frowned, "Who poisoned him?"

"The people around the Princely Heir have already caught someone; it’s Magpie from the lady’s side," the steward said. "However, there is no evidence, so I kept her detained in the wood shed, guarded by people."

"And the lady?" the Duke asked.

"The people around the Princely Heir surrounded the lady’s courtyard right away, but took no further action," the steward replied.

"Go bring the lady here and tell her it’s my order," the Duke instructed. "Bring Magpie as well."

If Han Ling instigated this, she must have the antidote.

Though he had little affection for Han Ling, she was indeed a competent household manager, whether in the mansion or the clan.

If they could have children, they would surely be outstanding.

As for Heng’er, he was a good child, but his health was very poor.

Perhaps it was his heavy sins that led to a lack of offspring.

Now, the only one who could inherit the Duke Mansion was Yun Ying alone.

He hoped nothing would go wrong.

Madam Yun was quickly brought before the Duke, and at the same time, Han Zhenggang arrived too.

"Ah Ling, I don’t care what you’re thinking or what you’ve done before. As long as you let Magpie hand over the antidote, everything before can be written off," the Duke said to Han Ling, emphasizing each word.

Han Zhenggang was shocked.

So it was true that Yun Ying’s poisoning was related to Han Ling?

How could she do such a thing?

Wasn’t this courting death?

What the Duke wanted most now was an excellent heir, wasn’t it?

If the Duke had other outstanding offspring, perhaps he wouldn’t value Yun Ying so much.

But did the Duke have any?

No.

So Yun Ying became important, special, and irreplaceable.

Acting against Yun Ying was equivalent to acting against the Duke with grave severity.

"Ah Ling!" Han Zhenggang said sternly, "Listen to His Grace."

"Elder brother, what do you mean by that? You also think that I directed Magpie? Yes, I admit I am not happy, but you can’t just suspect me of directing someone to act against him because of that," Madam Yun said emotionally. "Your Grace, if I say I didn’t, would you believe me?"

The Duke remained silent.

Madam Yun laughed, "After twenty years of sharing the same bed, I never thought that in your heart, I was such a malicious person. Enough, since you’ve made up your mind, whatever I say is useless. Do as you wish with me."

Magpie was brought over.

The Duke had no qualms about dealing with her.

He crouched down and squeezed Magpie’s throat, "Name the person who instigated you and tell me where the antidote is, and I will give you a quick death. Otherwise, I’ll make you wish for death."

Magpie’s throat was held, unable to breathe. No matter how she struggled, she couldn’t break free.

The fear of suffocation slowly invaded Magpie’s consciousness.

Was she going to die?

She still wanted to see Young Master Heng again; she wanted to know if Yun Ying would die—he probably would, since the dose of poison she administered was heavy.

She also wanted to see Young Master Heng again. If she died, would he remember her forever?

The Duke suddenly released his grip, and Magpie instinctively gasped for air, her throat burning, her mind a jumbled mess.

After a long while, Magpie’s consciousness fully returned.

"Awful feeling when death is near, isn’t it?" the Duke asked. "If you play tough, I’ll make you relive that feeling continuously."

"Yun Ying is going to die, right?" Magpie strained her neck to look at the person lying on the bed.

"He’ll definitely die, with so much arsenic," Magpie mumbled.

The Duke’s face turned extremely grim.

A small amount of arsenic might still be curable.

A large amount of arsenic... then...

But how could Yun Ying have consumed a large amount of arsenic unknowingly?

How could a little servant girl like Magpie manage that?

"Your Grace, Young Master Heng is your son. Although his health is poor, with proper care, he will surely improve!" Magpie struggled to say, "Young Master Heng has never shirked due to his poor health; he always strives hard to make Your Grace happy!"

"You shouldn’t abandon Young Master Heng just because you have a healthy son."

"Now it’s perfect. Yun Ying is about to die, and even if saved, his health will be ruined. Who knows, he might end up worse than Young Master Heng."

"This way, Your Grace wouldn’t abandon Young Master Heng, right?"

"I’ll say it again: confess obediently, and I’ll give you a swift end," the Duke said.

"Nothing to confess; this servant just seeks justice for Young Master Heng," Magpie replied.

"Very well, take her away," the Duke said sternly.

Magpie tried to bite her tongue, but her jaw was dislocated directly.

"Keep a close watch; if she attempts suicide, I’ll hold you accountable," the Duke instructed.

Imperial Physician Li arrived, along with Meng Yao and Lu Luoxing.

Meng Yao wasn’t particularly skilled in detoxification.

She came along because she happened to be at the Hundred Herbs Hall at the time and because she knew Yun Ying.

Imperial Physician Li and Lu Luoxing diagnosed Yun Ying together, both with serious expressions.

Afterward, the two agreed on a prescription.

"Your Grace, the poison of arsenic is severe," Imperial Physician Li said. "We can only do our best and leave the rest to fate."

From the symptoms, it was undoubtedly arsenic poisoning.

But one thing puzzled Imperial Physician Li; from what the people at the Duke’s Mansion stated about the large amount, the Princely Heir wouldn’t have survived until they arrived, yet the pulse, though very weak, seemed as though it could suddenly stop at any moment.

[It’s not arsenic poisoning.]

"What?" Meng Yao was a bit surprised.

[The arsenic effect is just superficial. However, the system doesn’t know what the real poison is. Don’t worry; it seems that the antidote corresponding to the poison has been administered. The current weakness is due to the antidote’s action requiring a process.]

Meng Yao was somewhat bewildered.

"Take the lady down and keep a close watch," the Duke ordered.

"Your Grace, Han Ling—" Han Zhenggang began.

"Elder brother, this is family business," the Duke said.

This implied that Han Zhenggang should stay out of it.

"Then, I will take my leave. If there’s anything I can do to help, Your Grace, just ask," Han Zhenggang said awkwardly. As he left, he glanced at Madam Yun.

Without needing to inquire deliberately, just by observing the expressions and actions of these people, Meng Yao could guess the situation pretty accurately.

She had long known that Madam Yun and Yun Ying were at odds.

But she hadn’t expected Madam Yun to go so far this time, nearly killing him directly.