Chapter 14: A Counterplan within a Counterplan (Part 2)

Doctor Kong Chaowen, who was exclusively employed by the Yu Mansion, hurriedly arrived with a medicine box. After a brief diagnosis, he said that the patient was poisoned by the oleander flower. Fortunately, the poison was not severe. It could be cured by decoctions of licorice, honeysuckle, and mung beans to detoxify the body.

Lily and lotus seed stewed with crucian carp, is definitely not going to be tainted with oleander leaves, therefore this poison, must have been deliberately caused by someone.

Lady Yu immediately ordered for both Wang Mama and the people in the Jade Dawn Court to be detained. It was not until the next day, when Yu Li had recovered without any major issues, that she brought them out for interrogation.

This matter has become widely known, and even Madam Yu, the old lady, couldn't keep it a secret. Madam Qin, the first wife and the matriarch of the household, should naturally have been aware of it. As for Madam Qiu, the second wife, and the two concubines, they all got wind of the news and came to watch the commotion. With the addition of Yu Han and Yu Qian, it seemed like a trial in three halls.

Madam Yu initially did not want Yuli to come over, but Yuli insisted on coming, so she weakly sat on the side and listened to the trial.

Mrs. Wang was dragged in, with her disheveled hair and a pitiful expression. As soon as she saw Madame Yu, she began begging for mercy, crying out, "Madame, I have been wronged. I haven't done anything!"

Lady Yu furrowed her brows and coldly asked, "Then, explain to me, why did dirty things appear in the soup you made?! And why did it cause Leyi to be poisoned with severe stomach pains?"

Qin Shi, who was standing by, said, "You made this soup, so if something goes wrong, naturally, you will be held accountable!"

Mrs. Wang, as if reminded of something, hurriedly said, "I didn't make this soup!"

"Humbug! If it wasn't you who did it, then who did?" demanded Madam Yu with a cold and stern gaze.

"This soup was personally made by Third Young Master!" Wang Mama looked at Yu Li, who was sitting beside her, and said with a resentful tone, "Third Young Master, it was you who said that you wanted to honor the Old Madam and win her favor, so you planned to make the soup yourself. But now that something has happened, why do you unjustly accuse me!"

"Oh? Is that really the case?" Qin Shi looked at Yu Li with a puzzled expression. "Li'er, Wang Mama said that you made it yourself. What do you have to say about that?"

Yu Li's face turned pale, even his lips lacked any trace of color. He innocently turned to Qin Shi and said, "Mother, although I didn't grow up in the Jade Mansion, I am still the young master of the mansion. How could I possibly do something as menial as cooking soup? Besides, I don't know how to do it!"

Zhi Xue hurriedly knelt down beside Madam Yu and explained, "Madam, please understand. Young Master San would never cook, let alone make such a delicate soup!"

As soon as the words fell, Zhao Yiniang, who was sitting beside them, spoke in a sarcastic tone, saying, "That's not necessarily true. Third Young Master grew up in a small temple in the countryside since he was a child. He may not be as talented as the young masters in our mansion, but he is quite capable. He can do laundry and cook for himself, you know."

Yu Li sneered and didn't bother looking at Aunt Zhao. Instead, she looked straight at Mama Wang and said, "If that's truly the case, I will personally make the soup to prove that it was my own body that accused you, Mama Wang, a mere servant. You seem to hold yourself in too high regard!"

Qiu Shi, who had been watching the commotion from the sidelines, also mocked, "Exactly! You, a low-ranking servant, have lived a life of ease for so many generations. Now a young master has to risk his life to falsely accuse you!"

Zhi Xue quickly replied, "You yourself cooked the soup and obtained the ingredients from the main kitchen. Just call one of the chefs or kitchen staff in the main kitchen, and you will find out!"

Hongzhu looked on and, hearing this, recalled the complaints Zhixue had made to her earlier today. She quickly said, "Madam, I do remember Zhixue mentioning that Wang Mama seems to have a particularly strong dislike for Third Young Master, always showing a strange and suspicious expression behind his back."

In this way, the truth becomes clear. Lady Yu sternly shouted at Wang Mama, who was kneeling on the ground, "You wretched slave, what else is there to say? Tell me, why did you poison your master?!"

Mrs. Wang quickly realized that the situation was not favorable for her and anxiously glanced at the Qin family.

Qin Shi was startled. She thought to herself, "This old fool, why is he so foolish? If he can't handle things properly, he should just leave it at that. Now he's dragging me into it. He's truly despicable!" Just as she was about to speak and condemn him, Yuzan gently and softly said by her side,

"Wang Mama, you must make it clear. You were chosen as a mother to serve Third Young Master, yet you have committed such a vile act..."

Upon hearing this, Mama Wang immediately thought of something and looked at Yu Li with a malicious face. She firmly stated, "I didn't do it. I am innocent. It was clearly the Third Young Master who made the soup himself. I only collected the ingredients for him! He framed me using his own body because he knew I was sent by the Madam. He wanted to falsely accuse her!"

Upon hearing this, Yuli did not get angry but instead laughed. She calmly said, "Madam Wang, your words are quite amusing. My mother and I have never had any grudges in the past nor any conflicts recently. Moreover, I rely on my mother's love to live in this mansion. Why would I want to frame my mother? It's truly absurd to suspect others based on one's own sinister thoughts!" With that, she looked towards Qinshi, her face innocent, "Mother, you are the most benevolent and virtuous. Your son bears no grudge and surely would not stoop to the level of this servant, who wrongly accuses me, right?"

Yuli easily slung Wang Mama's criticism over to the Qin family, implying that if the Qin family remained silent, they would be tacitly admitting to harboring resentment towards Yuli. Therefore, the Qin family, viewing Yuli with a malicious mindset, dared not remain silent, especially considering that Yuli had labeled her with the lofty title of "kind and virtuous."

Sure, here's the translation of the paragraph:

Sure enough, Qin Shi seemed a bit stunned for a moment, but then she forced a smile and said, "Naturally, although Li Er and I are not biologically mother and son, our bond is no different from a biological one. Such dirty things will never happen!"

The implied meaning is that the two of them have a very good relationship. Yuli would not harm her by poisoning herself, and she would not use Wang Mama to poison Yuli either, which would implicate herself as well.

She knew that Wang Mama is beyond saving today. It's better to bring the matter to a close sooner rather than later since saying more would only lead to more mistakes. Therefore, she said to Madam Yu, "Mother, I think this Wang Mama is truly detestable. She has not only deceived and harmed her mistress, but it would be best to immediately take her out and give her a hundred lashes as a lesson to others!"

Madam Yu glanced at her, her gaze filled with a hint of meaning. However, she then said, "Since the truth has been clarified and you are now in charge of the household, I will follow your lead!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang immediately let out a cry that resembled the slaughtering of a pig and exclaimed in a sorrowful tone, "Madam, you can't burn your bridges! Madam..." Before she could finish her sentence, she was silenced by a glance from Madam Qin and someone quickly covered her mouth with a cloth, dragging her away.

Yu Li knew that if these one hundred lashes were carried out, there was no hope of saving Madam Wang's life.

"Why are there so many dirty things happening in this inner courtyard!" Lady Yvonne exclaimed, letting out a deep sigh as her eyes unintentionally glanced at the Qin family.

In fact, she also knew that this matter was not unrelated to the Qin family. In the past, some concubines and maids who had concubine status unexpectedly had miscarriages. It's afraid that it was also her doing.

But the natal family of Lady Qin is the Duke of Qin, and Lady Qin is also considered capable. Moreover, she is the mother of Yu Xuan, Yu Tong, and Yu Wan, while her concubine gave birth to the illegitimate son Yu Li. How could she be compared to her? Even if Yu Li were really poisoned to death today, she would probably still not have the son divorce Lady Qin!

Therefore, she could only use these words to remind the Qin family to stop committing evil deeds.

Yuli naturally understood Madam Yulo's thoughts upon hearing this, so he had no intention of using this matter to shake the position of the Qin family. He just wanted to create a loophole for Madam Qin, so that she would hesitate before taking further action in the future. Moreover, he also wanted to use this opportunity to replace everyone in the courtyard. Therefore, speaking weakly, he said to Madam Yulo:

"Grandmother, I have noticed that my third son, whom I usually get along well with Wang Mama, so I cannot trust him anymore when I return. Please allow me to replace him as well."

Madam Yu nodded slightly, "As for the people in your own courtyard, you have the final say."

Yuli smiled at the Qin family in a clever manner and said, "Mother, this time I would like to choose my own servants. I don't want the servants to make mistakes and then blame them on you, or even on me, trying to sabotage our mother-child relationship. That wouldn't be good."

This remark obviously struck a nerve in Qin Shi, the instigator of all this.

However, although she was angry in her heart, she couldn't say a word to refute. She could only force herself to smile and said with a hidden meaning, "That's fine. But this time, you must choose carefully and not make a mistake."

Yuli also smiled and replied, "Thank you for the reminder, Mother. This time, your son will certainly choose someone loyal."