Chapter 10: Zhi Chu's Departure from Guigui (Part 2)

  Madam Gui has always been cautious in her actions, and if she wasn't absolutely sure, she wouldn't have let things get to this point. So, is someone secretly adding "beautiful tears" to frame them? Suspicious eyes locked onto Zi Yun, who was kneeling on the ground, as Zhang Yun slowly spoke: "It's strange, Fourth Miss's medicine has always been fine, but when you came, Madam Gui added an extra ingredient?"

  In other words, it is obvious that they suspect Zi Yun is behind this.

  Zi Yun's expression was calm and composed as she met Zhang Yun's gaze, her voice low and even: "Lady Zhang is mistaken, it's the fourth miss's medicine that has always had a problem, I just happened to discover it!"

  "Is that so?" Zhang Yun narrowed her eyes, her gaze piercing. "How come things are so coincidental? We all didn't know what 'beautiful tears' were, but you knew it clearly; as soon as you entered the door, you knew that Fourth Miss's medicine had 'beautiful tears' added to it; and after the imperial physician identified it, indeed there was an extra dose of this medicinal herb. Can you predict the future, Zi Yun?"

  "I used to study some medicine, and I know that the beauty tear is extremely cold in nature, with a sour taste and a hint of sweetness. Just smelling it would reveal its identity." Zi Yun's words were sharp as needles, "As for Auntie suspecting me of being involved... this can be easily distinguished. According to my knowledge, after taking the beauty tear, the medicinal properties will show up in the pulse within half a month. If we just ask Dr. Chen to take Fourth Miss's pulse, we'll know whether someone tampered with this bowl of medicine or if Fourth Miss has been poisoned by the beauty tear all along."

  Doctor Chen nodded and said, "This young lady is telling the truth."

  "Thank you, Doctor Chen," said Pei Zhucheng immediately.

  The result of the pulse diagnosis was that Pei Yuange indeed had the poison of Mei Ren Lei in his body, but fortunately it wasn't severe and could still be treated.

  "Sour with a hint of sweetness...... That's right, the medicine I drank earlier was indeed sour with a hint of sweetness......" Pei Yuange was stunned, and mist gradually appeared in his eyes. Suddenly, he grabbed Pei Zhoucheng's hand and asked fearfully: "Father, what's going on? The medicine has always been brewed by Guizhuzhu......Guizhuzhu is my nanny......Why would she want to harm me?"

  It sounds like she was frightened out of her wits and spoke incoherently, but inadvertently confirmed the guilt of Gui's wife.

  Madam Gui had often used this trick to frame Pei Yuansong in front of Pei Zhuccheng, how could she not hear the implication? Her heart turned cold, and she immediately knelt down on the ground, wailing loudly: "Master, please be aware, Madam Zhang, please be aware, Fourth Miss, please be aware, I'm innocent! I've served Fourth Miss for thirteen years, always loyal and dedicated, how could I do such a thing to deceive my master?"

  "How do you explain the case of Mei Ren's tears?" Pei Zhucheng's face turned iron-green, and someone actually dared to secretly harm his singer under his nose!

  "Old slave... old slave..." Madame Ren was even more slick, and for a while couldn't think of an excuse, getting anxious to the point of sweating profusely, only able to shout "Unjust! Master, someone is trying to frame me! I am the most trusted person by Miss Fourth's side, perhaps someone wants to harm Miss Fourth, so they want to get rid of me!" This was again throwing dirty water on Shu Xueyu.

  "Right, the dregs of the medicine!" Pei Yuangong suddenly had an idea and suggested, "Father, the dregs from brewing the medicine should still be there. If we go take a look to see if there's any 'Beauty's Tears' inside, it will become clear, won't it? If there isn't any, then it's obvious that 'Beauty's Tears' was added later on. This is someone framing Gu Yigu." She rarely had a clever idea and thought of this crucial point, feeling very pleased with herself.

  Zi Yun was shocked in her heart, and Gui Ya Niang was extremely cunning, holding onto Jing Yu Zhai, Miss probably couldn't make any moves with the medicine dregs.

  She glanced over and saw Pei Yuange still looking worried, holding onto Pei Zhoucheng's arm and crying.

  However, after hearing this, Gui's face turned pale and she almost fainted. Previously, she had added the beauty tear to the medicine, fearing that Pei Zhucheng would discover something unusual when he returned, so she disposed of all the medicinal residue. Later, although she no longer added any medicinal materials, in order to be cautious, she continued to dispose of the medicinal residue. Originally, she could have continued to argue that Shu Xueyu was framing her, but after being spoken to by Third Miss like this, it was a disaster for her, because she couldn't produce the medicinal residue!

  If there is no ghost in one's heart, why bother getting rid of the dregs of medicine?

  Just then, Pei Zhucheng's personal servant, Shigan, returned and whispered a few words in his ear before retreating. Pei Zhucheng's expression turned even more unsightly, and he slapped the table: "You still say it was someone else framing you? Just now, Shigan has been to all the major pharmacies and asked around, your son Guicheng Xiang happened to have bought Mei Ren Lei half a month ago. How do you explain that? Was it your son who framed you?"

  Madam Gui did not expect Pei Zhoucheng to find out about these things so quickly, and now the evidence was overwhelming. She looked around in dismay, but could think of no excuse to offer, and could only turn a pleading gaze towards Zhang Yun.

  Gu Xiangxiang is a chess piece that Zhang Yun painstakingly arranged in Jingxuan's courtyard, her confidante. Naturally, Zhang Yun did not want to see her become useless like this. Just as she was about to plead for Gu Xiangxiang, she suddenly saw Pei Zhoucheng's iron-like face and immediately sobered up. She pretended to use the flesh-cutting treatment on Pei Yuange's illness, but his condition actually improved. The old master had already become suspicious, and if at this moment she spoke up for Gu Xiangxiang, it would be hard to guarantee that the old master wouldn't suspect her as well.

  Guigui, she absolutely cannot be saved!

  Not only can't save, but also have to severely punish, in order to eliminate the old master's suspicion.

  "Gui Niangniang, as the wet nurse of Fourth Miss and the housekeeper of Jing Xiu Zhai, Fourth Miss respects you deeply. Why would you do such a thing to deceive your master?" Zhang Yun rebuked sternly, "Don't you think about your dignity for the rest of your life? You should at least consider your family members, how could you be so muddled?" She intentionally emphasized the four words "your family members".

  The old woman's body trembled all over, knowing that she had become a discarded child. Her heart was filled with sorrow and anger, but for the sake of her family, especially her son, she could only grit her teeth and acknowledge it, repeatedly kowtowing and saying: "It was all this old slave's momentary confusion, secretly taking Miss's head ornaments out to sell, fearing that Fourth Miss would discover it, so I thought... if Fourth Miss were dead, then no one could investigate further. Conveniently, I heard that the beauty tear can make a person die without leaving any marks, so... This matter has nothing to do with my family members, Cheng Xiang doesn't know anything, he just helped me buy medicine. Please, Master, spare Cheng Xiang's life!"

  "This evil slave who dares to harm the master should be beaten to death. As for her son, Gui Chengxiang, according to this evil slave's words, he is not aware of it and is only a follower, so he will be given 50 lashes and expelled from the mansion. What does Master think?" Zhang Yun asked for Pei Zhucheng's opinion.

  "Hmph, spare his life then!"

  Seeing that everyone in the courtyard had no objection, Zhang Yun was about to order someone to take action when Pei Yuange suddenly said: "Father, although Guizhi is confused for a moment, she has been serving me for so many years. She has no merit but has worked hard. Father, you can spare her life and drive her out of the mansion. My illness is not yet cured, and you can accumulate good deeds for me, okay?"

  No one had expected Pei Yuange to plead for Gu Yehui, and everyone was taken aback.

  Gu Xiangxiang was even more bewildered and perplexed. Just now, when her life was hanging by a thread, her mind was surprisingly clear. Thinking about Pei Yuange's words and actions today, she almost confirmed that today's events were not a coincidence, but likely the doing of Pei Yuange and Zi Yun! Moreover, the entire thing had been under her guidance and control, yet in the end, she remained aloof, only appearing as an innocent victim to win people's sympathy.

  Thinking of Pei Yuansong's profound heart, Gu Yehuo was even more frightened in her heart. Since she had been so careful to remove her, why did she want to plead for her when she was about to succeed?