Chapter 43: Poisoning

  His heart racing, he took back the half-cut ginseng with added ingredients and returned to his own house, where he became frightened again.

  He was the only person serving beside Master Zhao Kuang, and everything related to food, clothing, shelter, and transportation had to go through his hands. If something happened to Master Zhao, he would be the first one suspected. Although Madame Jiang said that it could be claimed that the ginseng was given by Wang Si Ping, but now Wang Si Ping is already an old lady's person, how could she give him ginseng for no reason? If it was claimed that someone had bribed him to get it, he didn't have any money on him. After the incident, when asked about it, Wang Si Ping said he knew nothing, but his suspicion still couldn't be dispelled.

  Gao Cheng didn't dare take that risk.

  But the temptation given by Grandma Jiang was too great, and upon returning to Beijing, she would be promoted to Second General Manager. Although the mistress of the Hou Mansion in Beijing is still the Eldest Lady, the Old Master has already been stripped of his title, and the Young Master will soon become the new head of the household. Naturally, Grandma Jiang would become the main mistress, and the Eldest Lady could only step down to retire. The position of General Manager that she held would also be replaced by one of Grandma Jiang's trusted followers in no time. Becoming the General Manager of the Hou Mansion was even more prestigious than being a small official in a local government, with plenty of benefits to boot. Don't think he didn't know; Old Wang Si Ping had secretly stashed away a considerable amount of private wealth and could easily become a wealthy landowner after leaving the Hou Mansion, otherwise, he wouldn't have given up his position as General Manager so readily.

  He and his son, both 18 years old, are clever and resourceful, can recognize a few characters, and do arithmetic. However, he can only follow Ze Ge, who is six years older, to go out and work as an apprentice. If he could get a procurement job, dignity would be secondary, and after two years of training, it would be easy to become a manager. Moreover, the eldest lady has promised Hong Yan to him! Who is Hong Yan? The first confidant by the side of the eldest lady, good-looking, dignified, with such a daughter-in-law, wouldn't he worry about his future prospects? Even Gao Cheng himself doesn't fear being abandoned by his mistress. For the sake of Hong Yan's long-standing relationship with the eldest lady, the eldest lady won't harm her husband's family!

  Gao Cheng touched the newly issued marriage certificate and engagement token in his pocket, feeling that Jiang Shi would still protect himself, but to be on the safe side, he had to be more cautious.

  He began to worry about how to explain the origin of the half-section ginseng to Zhao Kuang, and then persuade Zhao Kuang to drink the ginseng soup. He was still worried until he returned to the small courtyard where Zhao Kuang was confined and changed into the dog leg that replaced him.

  Zhao Kuang was extremely dissatisfied with the dog leg he had found: "Where did you find this person? He looks clever, but how can he be so clumsy when serving people?! It's okay if he can't cook, but even making tea is so bad, hurry up and drive him out, don't let me see him again!"

  Gao Cheng hurriedly responded to the voice, exited the house, and saw that dog leg. Before he could say anything, the other party preemptively said: "Gao Guan Shi, this errand is really not something a human can do. Although the old master cannot move, his mouth is really vicious. The words he scolded are so bad that even I don't dare to say them out loud. I'd better stay outside and wait for orders. The errands in front of the old master should still be handled by you, Gao Guan Shi." After finishing speaking, he hastily left.

  Gao Cheng was stunned for a moment, sighed, and had to go back into the house. He felt around in his sleeve pocket and pulled out the half piece of ginseng: "Master, I've gone to great lengths to get this bit of ginseng back, although it can't compare with the precious hundred-year-old ginseng, but it should still be able to help supplement your body."

  Zhao Kuai glanced over with a slanted gaze: "Where did this come from? Although the thing itself is ordinary, but looking at its quality, it's not something that can be easily obtained. Is it a gift from your daughter-in-law?"

  "It wasn't given by the old lady, it's something from the old mansion." Gao Cheng chose an answer that he thought was most credible, "Originally, the people below heard that the old master and mistress were going to escort the coffin back to their hometown for burial, and they were afraid that the masters would be heartbroken and their bodies wouldn't be suitable, so they prepared some warming and nourishing medicinal materials. They didn't expect that they wouldn't be used, until the old mistress returned, and then they were taken out in preparation. But the old mistress never used them. I spent a bit of silver to get them."

  Zhao Kuang was angry with his daughter-in-law's slowness and, upon hearing that it was something prepared for Zhang Shi, felt even more disgusted. But then he thought again and left the comment: "Hmph, since it's her thing, I've gotten it, so don't return it. Where is she worthy of eating such good ginseng?!"

  Gao Cheng's heart sank, and he smiled wryly: "Then I'll go brew a bowl of soup?"

  "What's the rush? Her stuff is here, but I'm not in the mood to eat it." Zhao Jiong said, "The person you found can't even cook, I haven't eaten all day and I'm starving, hurry up and get me some porridge."

  Gao Cheng had no choice but to put the participation medal back into his sleeve pocket and went to cook porridge.

  Zhaokui's view of the half-cut ginseng was simply that he didn't want to benefit his stepmother, Zhangshi. He himself didn't think he needed it. Although Gaocheng repeatedly said that his body was weak and needed nourishment, he felt that his body was fine, except for not being able to move, there was nothing wrong with him. Gaocheng couldn't coax him into drinking the ginseng soup, and was afraid that if he said more, it would arouse suspicion, so he could only anxiously wait every day.

  The Chiang side has been quiet for a long time and has already sent someone to urge him privately. However, this kind of thing can't be rushed!

  Gao Cheng had not found an opportunity, and was so anxious that he couldn't sleep at night. He felt a burning pain in his stomach, which he thought was due to his mood, but as the days went by, he rapidly lost weight and the abdominal pain gradually worsened.

  He started to feel panicked, what's going on? It wasn't just his anxiety and impatience that would cause this! When Old Master Zhao Jiong fell off his horse, he was also worried and couldn't sleep at night, but his stomach had never hurt so much before! Had he eaten something bad? Or contracted some serious illness?

  Jiang's side seemed to have waited no longer, when Gao Cheng endured the abdominal pain to go out of the yard to fetch today's food and medicine, Hong Yun dressed as a rough little servant girl appeared there, calling him in a low voice: "Dad."

  Gao Cheng was stunned for a moment, then revealed a joyful expression: "Ah." Hearing his future daughter-in-law call him dad, it seemed like the pain in his stomach wasn't so bad anymore.

  Hong Yan blushed and lowered her head with a smile, but the words that came out of her mouth were very direct: "Grandma asked, when do you plan to take action? Tonight must let Grandpa drink the ginseng soup, the medicine has an expiration date, after tonight it will be useless. Grandma has arranged for someone to handle the evidence, as long as you make a move here, Grandma will immediately respond from outside. Father, you must remember!"

  Gao Cheng was stunned again, then gritted his teeth: "Alright, I'll go make soup for the old master tonight!"

  Hong Yan was satisfied, handed over the things in her hand to him, and left with a shy smile. Gao Cheng returned to the yard, gritted his teeth, cut off a few slices of ginseng, mixed it with meat porridge, and made a congee. When he got up, he felt that the pain in his abdomen had reached an unbearable level.

  What's wrong with him?

  He endured the pain and brought the porridge to Zhao Jiong's face: "Master, I made some porridge for you, try it?" Then he fed Zhao Jiong a spoonful. As soon as it entered his mouth, Zhao Jiong spat out the porridge: "What flavor is this? Didn't I say not to eat that ginseng? How did you put it in again?!"

  Gao Cheng's face turned pale as he explained: "I was really worried about your health..."

  "I'm fine!" Zhao Jing stubbornly refused to accept reality, "I don't need this, you go and make a fresh one for me, you eat this yourself!"

  Gao Cheng jumped in fright: "No, no, no, this won't do..."

  "What's wrong? Hurry up and give it to me!" Zhao Jiong glared, "My words are no longer effective now, am I? I'm a useless cripple who can't even order you around, a lowly servant like you?"

  Gao Cheng reluctantly gritted his teeth and took a mouthful of the porridge. He thought, "Auntie said that this stuff won't kill you if you eat it, but eating it three to five times will really harm your body. It's probably just for show, so I should be fine if I eat some too."

  The porridge actually tastes good, although it has a ginseng flavor, but it's still very delicious. But as he ate more and more, Gao Cheng started to feel that something was off, why did the porridge have a rusty taste?

  He looked down and was shocked - how could there be so much blood in the bowl?!

  Zhao Jiong's eyes widened in shock: "What's going on? Are you vomiting blood? Have you been poisoned? What's in the porridge?"

  The stuff in the congee might be poisonous but it's not fatal. Gao Cheng suddenly understood something as he recalled the severe stomach pain of the past few days.

  That day, Auntie asked Hong Ying to serve the bride's tea...

  How can he be so stupid? How can he be so stupid?!

  Gao Cheng's body was on the verge of collapse, but his mind was clearer than ever before.

  He was ordered by his aunt, Madame Jiang, to stay by the side of Old Master Zhao Kuang. After Aunt's people sank the boat carrying Old Madam Zhang and Second Master Zhao Zhuo's family, he tried to persuade Zhao Kuang to kill them all. Now that one of the people Aunt wanted dead had survived, but the most important witness was already gone, there were not many people left who could prove Aunt's guilt, and this informant was the most crucial one. If he didn't die, how could Aunt rest easy?

  As for giving the red sash to his son, it was just to comfort him. What about the marriage certificate and the token of betrothal? Aren't they all up to the young mistress's discretion? Once he dies, she'll take everything back and burn them in a fire. Then who would know that there ever was such an engagement? The young mistress is clearly trying to use his remaining half-life to make a move against Master Da. No wonder she sent Hong Xiang to urge him on. He must act before tonight, not because the effect of the half-bottle of medicine will wear off, but because tonight is exactly the night when Gao Cheng's fate is sealed. If he doesn't act now, he'll lose his chance forever!

  He's dead, what about his family? Will Grandma spare even his wife and children?!

  At the moment when death was about to arrive, Gao Cheng's panic in his heart overwhelmed everything. He heard Zhao Jiong shouting loudly and grabbed the latter's arm with all his might, squeezing out a sentence: "It's Big Madam... sending poisonous porridge... framing Old Lady... killing Small Mouth..." As soon as he finished speaking, his abdomen cramped, and he suddenly fainted, bleeding profusely from his seven orifices. By the time the guards rushed in to check on him, he had already stopped breathing.

  Zhao Jiong was frightened out of his wits and broke into a cold sweat. The words spoken by Gao Cheng before he died were utterly unexpected, why would his daughter-in-law want to kill him?!

  He didn't suspect Gao Cheng, if Gao Cheng had known that there was poison in the porridge, he wouldn't have eaten it obediently.

  The imperial envoy hastened to the scene, his face dark and uncertain. The deceased's death was clearly due to poisoning, but why would he be poisoned? He was just a lowly servant, could it be that the poisoner targeted Zhao Jiong, and this servant was simply an accidental victim?

  Jiang didn't know where she got the news from, but she quickly rushed over. When she entered and saw this scene, her heart was first panicked. This was clearly not what she had planned. Zhao Jiong was fine, but Gao Cheng had died prematurely from poisoning. What unexpected event had occurred?

  However, she quickly calmed down and thought that although it didn't go according to plan, it could still be used. Someone's death would be more convincing. She started crying: "Master, are you okay? Thank goodness you weren't poisoned, but unfortunately, the general manager... why would someone kill him? There's no reason for this!"

  There is indeed no reason. The imperial envoy looked at the rice bowl and asked Zhao Jiong, "Was this porridge originally for you to eat? Why did you let the servant eat it?"

  Zhao Kuang silently stared at him, without saying a word. The atmosphere was somewhat awkward.

  Jiang waited in vain for him to continue, and had to go on himself: "All the food and drink that Master Jiang has is handled by Gao Cheng, perhaps Gao Cheng just wanted to taste it for Master Jiang."

  The imperial envoy looked at her gloomily, turned his head and ordered his subordinates: "Investigate clearly for me! Where was this porridge cooked, who passed it through their hands, where did the materials come from, and who purchased and transported them. Make everything clear to me!"

  Her subordinates responded and left, a hint of triumphant joy flashed in Jiang's eyes, she didn't notice that Zhao Jiong on the bed was looking at her with a slanted eye, cold sweat dripping, feeling that he had never seen through this daughter-in-law before.