He Qingyi pushed open the door, giving Xiao Man a look. Xiao Man immediately stood up, lowering her head subserviently, feigning the appearance of a well-behaved and clever maid. He Qingyi then sat down by the bed.
A moment later, Granny Xu entered, supporting the Old Madam, followed by three concubines. He Qingyi rose quickly to greet them.
"Greetings to the Old Madam."
The Old Madam sat down nearby. "Did you find anything?"
"The General has been poisoned," He Qingyi replied obediently. "Your daughter-in-law will find a way to detoxify him as soon as possible. Please don't worry, Mother."
The Old Madam frowned displeasuredly, her gaze falling on the maid beside He Qingyi. If it weren't for this maid causing Mei'er to strike Eunuch Hu, Mei'er wouldn't have been sent back to Cangzhou by Eunuch Hu.
"Where did this lowly wench come from? So impolite, not even bowing to me when she saw this old woman."
"Old Madam, please calm your anger. Lian Qiao is a free woman. She merely admires my medical skills and follows me to learn. She is not a servant of this manor," He Qingyi quickly explained. "This is your own granddaughter. You call her a lowly wench, aren't you afraid she'll deal with you?"
"Since she is not a member of the General's manor, then send her away," Madam Xiao said slowly. "Our General's manor is not a place for any riff-raff to enter."
"That may not be acceptable," He Qingyi said calmly. "As the mistress of the General's manor, I believe I have the authority to take someone in."
"Are you deliberately opposing me?"
"Old Madam, you jest," He Qingyi's voice remained gentle. "Now that the General is poisoned and unconscious, we should unite to find the murderer who poisoned him. After all, with such a person remaining in the General's manor, who knows who she will poison next?"
"Madam, you keep mentioning a murderer. Do you already know who poisoned the General?"
"One who can poison the General must be someone within this manor, surely not someone from outside?" He Qingyi glanced at Concubine Lin. "Both Old Madam and I returned only after the General was poisoned, so our suspicions are naturally cleared. Therefore, the suspects are within the manor."
"Are you suspecting me, Madam?" Concubine Lin's expression changed.
"I am merely stating that those within the manor are suspects, I have not named anyone specifically, Sister. Why are you in such a hurry?" He Qingyi's gaze swept over Concubine San and Concubine Si. Concubine San stood tall and unafraid, unconcerned by He Qingyi's words, as she had not poisoned anyone.
Concubine Si appeared calm, as if what He Qingyi was saying had nothing to do with her, exuding an air of detachment from worldly affairs.
Hearing He Qingyi's words, the Old Madam also turned her suspicious gaze towards the concubines in the manor. Since neither she nor He Qingyi were present, the person who poisoned Xiao Zhen must be within the manor.
"Perhaps someone from outside bribed a servant within the manor to poison the General," Concubine Si suggested.
"It's not impossible," He Qingyi agreed. "That is why I said we must find the mastermind. Otherwise, even if we find an antidote, no one can guarantee that the culprit won't strike again!"
"Since you are back, I will leave this matter to you to investigate," the Old Madam said coldly. "I hope you catch the murderer soon and do not disappoint me."
"Your daughter-in-law obeys."
As the Old Madam left, the others also found it inconvenient to remain in the main courtyard. The Fourth Miss's gaze fell on Lian Qiao. For some reason, she found this maid somewhat strange.
"Let's go," Concubine Lin pulled the Fourth Miss away.
The Fourth Miss looked back at Lian Qiao again and saw Lian Qiao give her a smile. A shiver ran down her spine, and she quickly followed Concubine Lin out.
"Concubine, don't you find the maid named Lian Qiao by Madam's side a bit terrifying?" Xiao Ting tugged at Concubine Lin's sleeve.
Concubine Lin glanced back at the main courtyard. "A maid who dares to challenge the Old Madam, could she not be terrifying?"
Xiao Ting followed closely behind Concubine Lin. "I don't know why, but I feel she looks familiar, yet I can't recall where I've seen her before."
"You find her familiar?" Concubine Lin poked her head. "He Qingyi brought this person back from Jiangzhou. How could you possibly find her familiar?"
Xiao Ting thought carefully. She truly hadn't seen that face before, but for some reason, the demeanor that person unconsciously displayed felt very familiar.
"Concubine, now that Madam and Grandmother are both back, what should we do?"
"Sit and watch the tigers fight," Concubine Lin whispered. "Look at Concubine San and Concubine Si. They are watching the show from the sidelines, and we will just watch as well. Let's see who ultimately rules this General's manor!"
Xiao Ting frowned. "Has Eldest Sister not woken up yet?"
"Her?" Concubine Lin sneered. "She's still lying in Gan Ye Temple like a living dead person. As for waking up, who knows when her last breath will be taken."
"Concubine!" Xiao Ting said displeased. "What good would it do us if Eldest Sister were gone?"
"How is it not beneficial?" Concubine Lin said with glee. "Third Miss was killed by her, and she is also dead. Only you and Second Miss are left in the manor. Second Miss is a broken shoe. From now on, you will be the noblest young lady in the General's manor!"
Xiao Ting felt that things were not that simple. Xiao Ling had only disappeared; no one could prove that Xiao Man had killed Xiao Ling. Besides, she felt that Xiao Man would not fall so easily!
"Eldest Sister probably wouldn't die so easily, would she?"
"That time the Old Madam poisoned her, if it weren't for Ye Qing happening to be there, she would have died. She was too arrogant and offended too many people. Her current fate is self-inflicted," Concubine Lin said gloatingly. "Now the General is poisoned and unconscious, Madam has no heirs, and is not favored by the Old Madam. Daughter, you must firmly grasp the Old Madam's heart. As long as you have the Old Madam as your backer, this General's manor will be yours."
Xiao Ting rolled her eyes. "Concubine, have you forgotten that I have an elder brother, Xiao Luo, who is the legitimate eldest son and the only male heir of the Xiao family?"
Concubine Lin's expression changed, and she then sneered, "He is currently in Cloud City, and Cloud City has been at war with Yun Qi. Who knows when he will die on the battlefield!"
"Concubine, if Father and Eldest Brother are both gone, then the General's manor will also be finished." Xiao Ting looked at Concubine Lin as if she were an idiot. The glory the General's manor had today relied on the Xiao father and son. If both the Xiao father and son were gone, then the General's manor would only be left with a bunch of the old, weak, sick, and young. Those who had previously been at odds with the General's manor would not seize the opportunity to step on them?
Concubine Lin's expression wavered slightly. That was right, she had almost forgotten this. "Your father will be fine."
"How can you be so sure that Father will be fine?"
Concubine Lin snorted. "Anyway, I know your father will be fine, so don't worry."