"My lord, you must believe your maid, I truly did not poison anyone. Even if I disregarded your kindness, I would still consider the child in my belly! My lord, I am carrying your child!" Yu Shu scrambled up, clutching Master Jin's leg, weeping.
"Nonsense!" Master Jin immediately swore. He could behave however he pleased at home, but he absolutely could not let outsiders know, lest the Jin family lose face. "You are Jin Yu's concubine, how could you be carrying my child? Not only are you unchaste, but you also slander others! Come, tie her up, gag her, and lock her away."
"My lord, how can you do this? You promised to officially take me as your wife!" Yu Shu said urgently. "While I cannot be sure whose child it is, it is still of the Jin family!"
"Gag her!" Seeing Master Jin's ashen face, the maids and wet nurses quickly stepped forward, restrained Yu Shu, stuffed a cloth into her mouth, and dragged her away.
Ling Xuan was momentarily taken aback. Hearing Yu Shu's words, she had been involved with both father and son, and was even unsure of whose child she carried. The Jin family's relationships were truly chaotic. He finally understood why Xiao Man had asked her questions; she had likely heard about the Jin family's situation beforehand.
Ling Xuan and his entourage were driven out of the Jin residence.
The constables looked at the tightly shut Jin family gate, then at their dejected young master. One of them spat, "Bah! What kind of family is this? The father coveting his son's concubine! They'll be laughed at if this gets out!"
"Gilded on the outside, rotten on the inside!" Ling Xuan turned, "Let's go. We don't need to concern ourselves with the Jin family's affairs anymore."
Ling Xuan had only taken a few steps when he stopped. That wasn't right. If Yu Shu was the one who poisoned them, wouldn't Master Jin also be poisoned? Judging by Master Jin's urgency, he seemed quite unwell!
"My lord, why have we stopped?"
"The Jin family is likely in for a big change!" Ling Xuan frowned, saying. These Jin father and son are truly absurd. The father craved beauty, and the son was no different. Both men fell for the same woman. Indeed, lust is a double-edged sword!
Ling Xuan was about to leave with his men when the Jin family's gate suddenly opened. A young gentleman in brocade robes emerged and cupped his hands in a bow, "Constable Ling."
"It's Young Master Jin. Do you need something, Young Master Jin?"
"There are many trivial matters in the mansion, causing trouble for everyone. My father has always doted on my elder brother, and now that he's dead, he's overcome with grief, and his actions may have been a bit extreme. Please forgive us." A servant beside Jin Rong handed a bag of silver to the constables with Ling Xuan, "The mansion is in mourning, and we haven't been able to entertain you properly. Please accept this for some tea."
"You are too kind, Young Master Jin," the constables said in unison.
"My lords, the matters that occurred in the mansion..."
"Young Master Jin, rest assured, we heard nothing," Ling Xuan said immediately. "However, I suggest you quickly find a doctor for Master Jin."
"Thank you for your suggestion, Constable Ling. I will have someone fetch a doctor for my father later."
"Farewell."
Ling Xuan led his men away. Jin Rong watched their retreating figures, a hint of doubt in his eyes. The events in Jin Yu's courtyard had already reached his ears. He knew his father and brother had a penchant for indulging their whims, but he hadn't expected Yu Shu to poison them both.
"Young Master, should we go find a doctor?"
"Go and invite Doctor Yang from Huichun Hall. He is a retired imperial physician with excellent medical skills. Have him examine my father."
"Yes, Young Master."
Jin Rong went inside and instructed people to properly tend to Jin Yu's mourning hall. He opened a side door to facilitate the arrival of friends and relatives who came to pay their respects. Since Jin Yu had not married and only had one concubine, Yu Shu, who was being held by Master Jin, there was no one to wail for him.
Jin Rong had to attend to the mourners to avoid any impropriety.
Lady Jin, worried about her son being tired, went to help him midway, persuading Jin Rong to rest. She then kept vigil at the mourning hall, her face filled with sorrow, but her eyes betraying no pain. If one looked closely, they could even catch a hint of a smile in her eyes.
Doctor Yang from Huichun Hall arrived and examined Master Jin. He merely stated that Master Jin was a bit weak and would recover with proper rest, showing no signs of poisoning. Master Jin was finally relieved, but he no longer dared to touch Yu Shu.
"My lord, about Yu Niangzi's belly..."
"There's nothing in her belly!" Master Jin said coldly. "She is Jin Yu's only concubine. Let her accompany Jin Yu, as a gesture of her devotion."
"Yes, my lord."
Those around Master Jin acted swiftly. News soon spread from the inner courtyard that Concubine Yu had poisoned herself. Master Jin, touched by her devotion to his son, granted them permission to be buried together.
Lady Jin had initially remained in the mourning hall to see if the Empress Dowager would come to pay her respects. However, by the day of the funeral, the Empress Dowager had still not appeared. She couldn't help but feel puzzled. Her own son had died, yet that old hag could remain so calm. Truly heartless!
While the Jin family mourned their dead, other families were busy with New Year preparations. Xiao Man and Xiao Ling, the two sisters, were occupied with decorating the mansion. He Qingyi watched their busy figures and then looked at Xiao Zhen.
"General, look how well the two sisters get along."
Xiao Zhen nodded and smiled. Yes, previously these two would exchange barbs, but after their trip, Xiao Ling had matured and no longer argued with Xiao Man. Xiao Man, too, was magnanimous and didn't hold grudges for her younger sister's youthful indiscretions.
"The mansion is not as lively as it used to be this year," Xiao Zhen said softly.
He Qingyi understood immediately. The second young lady was missing, the old madam had taken the fourth young lady to their ancestral home in Cangzhou, and the young general and his wife were far away in Yunzhong City. Only a few of them remained in the mansion, so it was naturally not as lively as in previous years.
"Next year, the mansion will welcome a new addition, and it will surely be lively then," He Qingyi said with a smile. "I have prepared a New Year's gift for the young general. After the new year, I will ask General Dugu to take it to Yunzhong City. During this time, I have also taken time with the third young lady to make a few outfits and shoes for the unborn child."
"Next year?" A hint of worry flickered in Xiao Zhen's eyes. Would they still be able to celebrate the New Year together next year?
"Father, whose paper-cut window decoration is prettier, my sister's or mine?" Xiao Man held up her newly cut paper decoration for Xiao Zhen to see, asking for his opinion.
"Both are beautiful."
"Third sister, see? Father always gives us such perfunctory answers."
Xiao Ling covered her mouth and giggled, "Father, both of those were made by me."
Xiao Zhen chuckled, exasperated, "You're asking for it, badmouthing your father."
Xiao Man laughed until her shoulders shook, "Who told you to be so perfunctory, Father? I sentence you to hang the lanterns."
Xiao Zhen looked at the lanterns he was being handed and smiled, "Alright, I'll hang the lanterns, all of them."
"And change all the peach charms at the doorway to new ones," Xiao Ling added.
"Okay, I'll change them!"