CHAPTER 546: CHAPTER 546: FEELING GUILTY

Su Jin and Xie Jingchen stepped back to Agarwood Pavilion.

The two had just left not long ago.

Two soft sedan chairs slowly stopped in front of the Prince Mansion’s gate.

Minister of the Ministry of Justice’s wife, together with her daughter Qu Qingqing, returned to the mansion to visit the Old Madam and Su Jin.

Mother and daughter had just entered the mansion when two more soft sedan chairs arrived.

Nanning Marquis’s wife, along with her daughter Liao Xue, had also returned to the mansion.

The timing was so perfect that the doorkeeper servant’s eyes revealed a hint of amusement.

After all, the Minister’s wife and the Nanning Marquis’s wife were always at odds, clashing whenever they met.

Before getting married, they competed for favor.

After marriage, they competed with their husbands and children, fighting fiercely with no end in sight.

The Old Prince favored the Minister’s wife a bit more, but the Old Madam cherished the Nanning Marquis’s wife dearly.

Thus, when the two fought, the outcome was unpredictable.

Unlike others who dared to fight the Princely Heir’s wife, wherein she always won without a doubt.

Watching the Minister’s wife and Nanning Marquis’s wife fight was about seeing who would win.

Watching the Princely Heir’s wife fight was about seeing how unfortunate her opponents would become.

Qihao Hall.

Inner room.

The Old Madam sat on the Arhat Couch, gazing at the Buddha beads in her hand, lost in thought.

The young maid might not know the origin of those beads, but Mrs. Wang certainly did.

These were given as a birthday gift by the Heir of Uncle Yongcheng during the Old Madam’s fiftieth birthday.

Buddha beads made of agarwood, polished to a smooth sheen with a faint luster.

However, the Old Madam was used to small leaf red sandalwood, so these beads were kept at the bottom of her chest.

After hearing about the poisoning of the Heir of Uncle Yongcheng, the Old Madam dropped the beads from her hand and accidentally kicked them.

The Old Madam hurriedly followed them out, but when Mrs. Wang and the maid thought to retrieve them—

The string of Buddha beads that the Old Madam never let go of had been picked up by someone unknown.

Upon returning to the mansion, the Old Madam retrieved this string of beads.

Mrs. Wang saw how well the Old Madam treated Elder Yongcheng, and though she thought the Old Madam was muddle-headed, she trusted and cherished both Elder Yongcheng and consequently his heir.

Today was the day the Heir of Uncle Yongcheng was to be buried, and the Old Madam was reminded of him.

However, after returning to the mansion, the Old Madam’s temperament had become much harsher, as if she’d changed into a different person, and the inadvertent hints of murderous intent left people quite shaken.

Mrs. Wang was worried something might happen.

Outside the room, a young maid entered and said, "Old Madam, the Minister’s wife and the Nanning Marquis’s wife have returned."

Mrs. Wang’s head began to ache immediately.

Why had they come back together again?

The Old Madam was not in a good mood, and if they started arguing, it would undoubtedly make things worse.

The Old Madam raised her arm, and Mrs. Wang hastily helped her up.

In the main room, as soon as the Old Madam sat down, the Minister’s wife and the Nanning Marquis’s wife entered.

The Old Madam looked a bit pale, and the Nanning Marquis’s wife spoke first, "Mother, why do you look so unwell? Are you not feeling well?"

"I’m fine," the Old Madam replied.

"Why have you returned home on such a hot day?" the Old Madam asked.

The Minister’s wife respectfully saluted and replied, "Mother went to JingAn Temple to pray for Father. I didn’t go to visit, and now you have returned to the mansion, and with Chenchen and the Heir’s wife having fallen off a cliff, your daughter thought it appropriate to come back for a visit."

She presented the selected ginseng as a gift.

The Nanning Marquis’s wife gave swallow’s nest.

Falling to a lower position, the Nanning Marquis’s wife was somewhat dissatisfied.

"Sit down," the Old Madam said coolly.

The Minister’s wife and the Nanning Marquis’s wife sat facing each other.

After a few casual exchanges, the topic turned to the Yongcheng Bo Mansion.

The Nanning Marquis’s wife lamented the unfortunate fate of the Yongcheng Bo Heir and said, "Today is the funeral of the Yongcheng Bo Heir. It’s a pity he was the only son, and now the elderly are sending the young to their graves, which is truly lamentable."

"A few days ago, Lady Yongcheng spoke to me about finding a proper and virtuous wife for the Yongcheng Bo Heir, and her words seemed to suggest she had her eye on Qingqing."

"Who could have predicted that she hadn’t even had the chance to propose, and the Heir was already..."

The face of the Minister’s wife subtly changed, showing faint displeasure.

Yongcheng Bo Mansion had only one son, excessively spoiled, nothing more than a gambler and loafer.

Marrying her daughter to him would be like pushing her into a fire pit.

Moreover, speaking of this matter on the day of the Heir’s burial was inauspicious.

Surreptitiously, the Old Madam glanced at Qu Qingqing and saw that her face was flushed with anger and she dared not speak.

The Old Madam’s eyes twitched lightly, and she quickly twirled the Buddha beads in her hand.

After sipping half a cup of tea, the Old Madam wanted to use the restroom, but when Mrs. Wang offered to help, she refused.

The maid Lanzhi supported the Old Madam as she left.

This maid had been promoted after Lv Xiu was executed by beating.

She was quick-witted, agile, and well-regarded by the Old Madam.

To say that Hongxiu also felt aggrieved—thinking that by aligning with Mrs. Wang, she could secure her position as the head maid in Qihao Hall. Who would have thought that after defeating Lv Xiu, another Lanzhi would come along?

And as for Mrs. Wang, she seemed to have been implicated somehow. Since Hongxiu clung on to her, the Old Madam had started to trust Mrs. Wang less.

If this continued, even before gaining favor, Hongxiu was going to drag Mrs. Wang down in losing favor too.

After a short while, Lanzhi came back supporting the Old Madam.

Qu Qingqing stood up and said, "Grandmother, we are going to visit our cousin and his wife."

"It’s hot outside; have some silver ear and lotus seed soup before you go," the Old Madam said kindly.

"Lanzhi, go fetch the silver ear and lotus seed soup."

Lanzhi withdrew respectfully.

Lanzhi went to the small kitchen to fetch the lotus seed soup and then went directly behind the screen.

Mrs. Wang felt something was off.

Since the lotus seed soup was already brought over, why go behind the screen?

She took a step and walked over, just in time to see Lanzhi take a small packet from her bosom, preparing to pour it into the bowl.

Mrs. Wang cleared her throat lightly, and Lanzhi’s hand trembled.

The packet of medicine she had just opened fell to the ground.

"Mrs... Mrs. Wang," Lanzhi’s face turned pale.

Being caught the first time she attempted something evil—her apprehension was evident.

It only needed Mrs. Wang to say a harsh word, and her life would be over.

The Old Madam surely wouldn’t save her.

She had thought being promoted to head maid was a good thing, not imagining that before she even got her hands on her monthly salary, her life would be in jeopardy.

Mrs. Wang looked deeply disappointed.

She knew the matter had nothing to do with Lanzhi; she was just a maid with no grudges against anyone.

"What are you looking at? Quickly, take the lotus seed soup out," Mrs. Wang frowned and said.

With Mrs. Wang watching over her, Lanzhi took the lotus seed soup out.

Mrs. Wang looked down at the medicine packet on the ground.

A deep worry flickered in her eyes.

The Old Madam couldn’t be possessed, could she?

Why would she poison her own granddaughter to frame someone else?

Even if it wasn’t lethal, it shouldn’t be done.

She picked up the medicine packet and tucked it into her clothes.

After Qu Qingqing and Liao Xue had the silver ear and lotus seed soup, they went to Agarwood Pavilion.

Liao Xue was visibly displeased.

If not forced to come, she would have never wanted to visit Su Jin.

Upon their first meeting, she was bullied by Su Jin and had to be carried out of Agarwood Pavilion.

Later, because Su Jin refused to take responsibility for the scald incident involving the daughter of the Yongcheng Bo Mansion, she got reprimanded and had to compensate with a large amount of silver.

She felt that Su Jin was her nemesis.

After staying in Agarwood Pavilion for just a short while, she wanted to leave, and Qu Qingqing could only depart with her.

When the two returned to Qihao Hall, the Old Madam was frowning deeply.

She glanced sideways at Lanzhi.

Lanzhi looked down in a panic.

Afraid that the Old Madam would blame her for the failed task, Lanzhi quickly knelt to apologize after the Minister’s wife and the Nanning Marquis’s wife left.

"Old Madam, please calm your anger; it’s not that I didn’t want to follow instructions," Lanzhi knelt on the ground and said.

"When I was about to poison, Mrs. Wang saw it and she wouldn’t let me."

The Old Madam quickly twirled the beads in her hand and asked, "Where is the medicine?"

"It was taken by Mrs. Wang," Lanzhi replied.

The Old Madam took a deep breath, suppressing the anger flickering in her eyes, "Go and tell Princess Nanzhang that we will have a family banquet tonight."