Chapter 21: Irritation
Zhao Xianzhi wavered slightly, casting a suspicious glance toward Meng Zhenyue. Could it really be that the eldest young master Xiao had poisoned him? Was it a coincidence that it aligned with his own plans? He needed to investigate this matter further, but for now...
“I always said I didn’t believe my sister would harm me,” Zhao Xianzhi said with a relieved smile, speaking to himself. Then, as if recalling something, he looked at Meng Zhenyue with great effort and concern. “Bei Lie mentioned that today you ran into Xiao, the third young master—did he say or do anything? Are you all right?”
At these words, everyone turned their gaze to Meng Zhenyue.
“The third young master Xiao?” Meng Zhenyue pondered for a moment before replying, “It’s your memory that’s sharper, big brother. I can’t even recall all the people I met today.”
It was clear they were desperately trying to implicate her with the Xiao family, to sully her name. She then scanned the crowd to find the mother who had accompanied her earlier. “Is this the Xiao third young master you mentioned?”
The mother paused her search, marched boldly into the crowd, and without even looking at Meng Zhenyue, complained to Zhao Xianzhi, “Young master, there’s no need to worry about the eldest miss. She is perfectly fine!”
“Not only did the eldest miss encounter the third young master Xiao first, but she also walked away coldly. The third young master only teased her once, and the eldest miss wanted us to step forward and teach him a lesson. But we, the maids, followed the rules and didn’t act. In short, the eldest miss was not wronged in the slightest!”
Zhao Xianzhi clenched his teeth in secret. Was this what he wanted to hear? Yet, he forced a weak smile and said, “Good to know my sister is unharmed.”
Everyone understood then—if they weren’t enemies, how could they secretly be colluding?
The mother, puzzled, wondered why the eldest young master didn’t understand her words. A slight reprimand would have sufficed—how could she tolerate the eldest miss’s unruly behavior?
Just then, Marquis Chengwu, as if answering the mother’s wish, frowned and looked at Meng Zhenyue. “You must not be disrespectful in the future. After all... the two families will still have dealings.”
He favored the third young master Xiao as a prospective son-in-law but had only privately discussed it with the young tutor Xiao; nothing was set in stone, so it was inappropriate to speak openly. Now with this incident... fortunately, the third young master Xiao was also at odds with his half-brother, so it was not a major problem.
“Understood,” Meng Zhenyue bowed slightly.
She naturally grasped the meaning behind Marquis Chengwu’s words and glanced at Zhao Zhizhi, who lowered her head and pressed her lips together, clearly unwilling.
By now, the servants had completed their search, and one reported, “Lord Marquis, everything has been thoroughly searched with no abnormalities found.”
---
Marquis Chengwu breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.
Though he had been displeased yesterday when Zhao Xianzhi used the Marquis estate’s interests for his own schemes, now that a stranger had harmed Xianzhi, it was a damage to the estate’s interests, which he could not ignore.
Moreover, Xianzhi was a son he had raised for many years; occasional mistakes were to be corrected.
With this in mind, Marquis Chengwu’s tone softened considerably as he instructed Zhao Xianzhi, “Take good care of yourself. This poison is easy to cure; after some days, you’ll be fine. You can still participate in the military examination.”
The military examination was not only a chance for the Marquis estate to regain honor and petition for the title of heir to the lordship, but if he could achieve first place, he might even serve as a guard before the emperor, ensuring Marquis Chengwu would never be forgotten by the throne.
There was no room for error.
As Marquis Chengwu prepared to leave, the marquise gently suggested, “This place isn’t suitable for Xianzhi’s recovery. Why not move back to the courtyard?”
Marquis Chengwu was about to agree when the physician cast a subtle glance at Meng Zhenyue and then clasped his hands respectfully. “Lady Marquis, the young master’s condition is not suitable for moving at this time.”
The marquis and marquise had no choice but to relent.
Zhao Xianzhi bit his lip bitterly again.
After seeing Marquis Chengwu off, the marquise turned to Meng Zhenyue and her sister. “You two should return as well. Mother will stay here with your big brother for now.”
She patted Meng Zhenyue’s hand with affection. “Mother wrongly accused you.”
Meng Zhenyue did not respond but bowed with Zhao Zhizhi and excused themselves, “We take our leave.”
The marquise’s gentle smile stiffened as she watched her two daughters, both as beautiful as blooming flowers, walk toward the door.
The younger daughter, beaming, linked arms with her elder sister. “Thank you, sister, for trusting me. You’ve never doubted me.”
The elder daughter’s gaze softened slightly as she replied, “Let’s talk in your room.”
The marquise’s heart ached deeply as she reflected on Meng Zhenyue’s words.
The Moonlight Courtyard was her domain; why did she not call it hers? Why did she coldly address her as ‘Lady Marquis’?
Was it because she did not regard the Marquis estate as home, nor her as mother?
Had she truly hurt her daughter’s heart?
After the sisters had walked several steps away, the marquise composed herself, turned with authority, and approached Zhao Xianzhi.
At this moment, Zhao Xianzhi’s mind was troubled by the uneasy relationship between the two sisters—not sorrow, but resentment and anger.
---
He clenched the hem of his garment with all his might, his eyes burning with a venomous glare, suddenly caught by the marquise.
“Everyone except Maid Ming, leave,” she instructed sharply, closing her eyes momentarily to restrain herself.
Once only the three of them remained in the room, the marquise glared at Zhao Xianzhi with fiery anger, her voice harsh: “Maid Ming, bring it out!”
Maid Ming withdrew a white porcelain bottle from her sleeve and handed it to the marquise.
Yet she did not take it, instead fixing Zhao Xianzhi with a judging stare and motioning for Maid Ming to place the bottle before him.
Normally, a servant like Maid Ming would never dare to display such an item in front of a young master who was likely to become the future head of the household.
But Zhao Xianzhi felt as if he were in a courtroom, hearing the heavy thud of a decree being slammed onto the floor, and his heart trembled.
When the Marquis Chengwu’s men had reported no abnormalities, he had briefly relaxed, but the marquise’s displeased gaze quickly rekindled his anxiety.
He had destroyed the poison pill, but during the onset of its effects, he wasn’t sure if he had completely eradicated it.
Therefore, when Marquis Chengwu ordered the search, he had deliberately shown unease when the marquise looked his way.
He knew that before the truth was uncovered, the marquise would undoubtedly side with him.
Indeed, he had forgotten about the porcelain bottle that contained the poison.
Of course, he could have shifted the blame to whoever had given him the oleander poison, but with Meng Zhenyue present—who knew what twists might arise?
He could not risk keeping any incriminating evidence that clearly linked to him.
“Speak! What is the meaning of this?” The marquise’s angry eyes bore into him, tinged with disappointment.
Seeing Zhao Xianzhi lower his eyes and hesitate, her dissatisfaction grew. She pierced through his pretense mercilessly: “No need to waste time with lies. Even without a doctor, Maid Ming, who has been in the back house for years, can recognize some dirty things!”
Zhao Xianzhi coughed violently, reddening his face and softening the marquise’s heart.
Then, with great effort, he reached for the porcelain bottle, glanced at it, and let out a light laugh.
“This is the bottle for my tonic pills. These past days, fasting, chanting, and practicing have exhausted me, leaving me often unwell. Bei Lie asked Dr. Hu to prepare these pills. If Mother doubts me, you can call Dr. Hu to inquire.”