At this critical juncture, Meng Changqing fell ill. Initially, it was just a common cold. The doctor prescribed some medicine for febrile illness. By the appointed day, he needed to be supported by others.
Seeing his weak state, Wu Caiwei stepped forward and held his hand. Under everyone's astonished gazes, she said with a composed face, "We haven't signed a divorce agreement. He is still my husband. Isn't it normal for a wife to support her husband? Is there any need to make such a fuss?"
The crowd considered this and lowered their heads in silence. Wu Caiwei, while supporting him and walking with difficulty, casually placed her hand on his pulse. She only released it after entering the court.
Before long, the two emerged. As they parted, Wu Caiwei looked at him sincerely and said, "You know, I come from the capital. I've seen too much deception and too many insidious methods in the capital. If I'm not mistaken, you've been poisoned. This poison is very insidious and difficult to detect. It comes from the Western Regions and is called Manlan. The first day presents symptoms of a common cold, and then the condition will worsen. By the ninth day, even a celestial being couldn't save you."
"Is there an antidote for this poison?" Although Meng Changqing didn't fully believe her judgment, he couldn't help but ask, as his illness was indeed peculiar.
"I have a detoxification pill here. When I was young, I helped a reclusive divine physician. He gave me a few pills, but I've used them all, leaving only the last one. Oh, by the way, the person who poisoned you is also easy to find. Think about who has been to the Western Regions and who would benefit the most from your death?" After speaking, Wu Caiwei no longer looked at his expression and boarded the prepared carriage.
Meng Changqing stood rooted to the spot, watching the carriage gradually recede. For a long time, he couldn't regain his senses, feeling that his wife held many secrets he had never discovered.
"Master, can we believe what Madam said?" His personal attendant, unable to hold back any longer, stepped forward and asked in a low voice.
"She has no reason to harm me. After all, our child is still in the mansion. If I die, who can guarantee his safe upbringing?" After a long hesitation, Meng Changqing finally spoke these words.
"Then this medicine?"
"Take it, why wouldn't I?" Saying this, he swallowed the medicine in front of his attendant.
He expected some discomfort after taking the medicine, but instead, he felt a warm current flow through his entire body. The next morning, he woke up feeling refreshed, all the symptoms of the past few days having disappeared. At this point, he understood everything; she had spoken the truth.
Following the clues she provided, he immediately focused his attention on his cousin Jiang Yanli. Only he in the mansion fit the conditions mentioned by Zhou Shaoqiu.
To be honest, at first, he didn't believe it. After all, he and his cousin had grown up together, loving each other like brothers for so many years. His cousin's parents had died when he was young, and he had grown up in their home. His mother treated him like her own son. A few years ago, he declared he wanted to go north to do business, aiming to achieve something significant before getting married and establishing himself.
He hadn't been in Wu Lake for the past few years, only returning recently. It was rumored that his business had failed badly, and he had lost all the money he had taken with him. Seeing him, his mother had tears in her eyes, saying that as long as he was alive, money was just external.
Recently, he had been visiting their mansion often to accompany his mother. Meng Changqing was quite grateful for this, as he had been frequently arguing with his wife and had no mood to accompany his mother. He was relieved that someone could make her laugh.
He learned that his cousin had recently returned from the Western Regions because Jiang Yanli had inadvertently let it slip once while they were drinking.
With a target in mind, it became much easier to investigate. Those following him reported that everything was normal, with nothing out of the ordinary. As the ninth day approached, his cousin grew restless, visiting him daily. Especially after the ninth day, although his illness was severe, there were no signs of him dying, and his eyes often showed a look of confusion.
"Does cousin have many doubts that need me to resolve?" Meng Changqing walked up to him calmly.
Jiang Yanli's eyes widened as he looked at him. Before he could speak, the elderly Madam Meng, who had just entered from outside, cried out in surprise, "My son, you're well? You don't know how worried your mother has been all these days, unable to eat or sleep."
"I have caused you worry, son. This will not happen again." Meng Changqing quickly stepped forward, supporting his mother's hand as they entered the room.
"Yanli is here too? You brothers have such good relations. I only learned you had recovered after arriving. I didn't expect Yanli to come to visit you as soon as he heard the news." Madam Meng looked from one to the other, a smile unconsciously appearing on her face.
Jiang Yanli forced an awkward smile, a feigned cheerfulness on his face. "I've seen him. I have many matters to attend to, so I must take my leave."
"Don't go. Some matters are best clarified in front of our mother, to avoid misunderstandings." Meng Changqing quickly stopped him.
Jiang Yanli stiffened, his heart sinking, sensing that something was amiss.
"What is it? It seems so serious." Suddenly feeling the atmosphere grow heavy, she looked at the two of them, puzzled.
"What illness I contracted, I believe cousin knows better than anyone. Don't be quick to deny it. If I didn't have proof, why would I accuse you? The Meng family has treated you well. I don't know why cousin would want to harm me." Meng Changqing stared at him intently, desperately seeking an answer.
"I don't understand what you mean. Just because I returned recently, you suspect me?" Jiang Yanli knew he couldn't admit it. No matter how kind his aunt was to him, if she knew he had tried to harm her son, she would definitely expel him, and he would then have no claim to the Meng family's fortune.
"It's fine if you don't admit it. I know it's you. Do not step into the Meng family again from now on. Manlan poison is very potent. Don't use it again. Not everyone who discovers it will let it pass as lightly as I have. You'll eventually fall into a ditch." Although Meng Changqing didn't have concrete evidence, trying to bluff him might work.
"Manlan? So you were poisoned with Manlan. I've heard of this poison in the Western Regions. They say it's incurable. What divine physician possessed such incredible skill?" This time, his surprise was not feigned. He had initially thought he had administered the wrong medicine, but he hadn't expected him to actually be poisoned by this specific toxin and even name it. It seemed he had indeed encountered a master.
"You don't need to know who it was. I only know that you poisoned me, and you are an enemy of the Meng family." He then looked at the butler and said, "Take this ungrateful wretch out and never let him set foot in the Meng family's door again."