Chapter Five: The Fragrance of Dreams

Madam Hou only came to her senses upon hearing this, finally understanding the meaning behind the words.

She picked up Zhao Xianzhi’s thread and teased Meng Zhenyue playfully, "Child, are you afraid we’ll send Zhizhi back?"

As she spoke, she affectionately patted Meng Zhenyue’s hand. "Rest assured, Zhizhi has said that after returning to acknowledge her relatives, she will still come back to the Hou residence."

"Wasn’t it all agreed upon on the way? To outsiders, we say that Mother gave birth to three children; you are the second, who, due to frail health, had to take a hidden identity and was raised in the countryside. Could it be you’re too nervous and have forgotten your little sister?"

This jest breathed life back into the room, where dark currents of suspicion had briefly stirred.

In an instant, the nascent doubts among everyone vanished, replaced by a sense of relief and admiration for the harmonious relationship between the biological daughter and the adopted one.

Of course, some suspected this was merely a facade, that beneath the surface they might already be plotting numerous schemes.

Meanwhile, Zhao Zhizhi, surprised and touching her own face, felt the spark of joy in her heart extinguish.

Yet, she found herself growing ever fonder of this sister, never imagining that she would be so fond of her.

Even if her sister sought to grow closer to their parents through this method, she would help her.

Many others, including Marquis Chengwu, let out a heavy sigh of relief.

As the crowd’s thoughts diverged, Meng Zhenyue shook her head.

She glanced at Madam Hou beside her, then looked upward toward Marquis Chengwu and said seriously, "If I look carefully, the younger sister resembles Mother more, while I take after Father."

As she spoke, it seemed as though she had just recalled something, her expression hesitant. "How could this be… Am I mistaken?"

Appearing to speak for the sake of the Hou family, she raised a question: "Has everything been thoroughly investigated? This concerns the bloodline of the Hou family, so I’m only asking out of curiosity."

Meng Zhenyue had seen Zhao Xianzhi’s reaction and knew the matter would not end simply because he had abandoned the servant.

Upon hearing this, the others realized Meng Zhenyue was not joking and that there might indeed be truth to her words. Their expressions immediately became complicated.

However, Marquis Chengwu’s face relaxed upon hearing this, even breaking into a smile he hadn’t shown since entering the room, preparing to speak.

Zhao Xianzhi, noticing this, understood that his father’s suspicion had been aroused and that he intended to settle the matter immediately while investigating discreetly later.

Zhao Xianzhi quickly raised his voice, "Sister, you worry too much. This matter has been investigated by Father’s trusted aides and Mother."

Rather than letting doubt linger, he chose to openly refute it in front of everyone.

He then glanced at Aunt Xu, standing beside Madam Hou, and gave her a signal.

"No need to worry, Miss," Aunt Xu, tall and slender with a smiling face, looked at Meng Zhenyue and teased, "That day was the day Lady Meng gave birth. Does Lady Meng not know whether she had a son or a daughter?"

Meng Zhenyue was unaware of the twists beneath this statement.

In her previous life, just before her death, she had overheard a palace medic shouting outside:

"The son of the Meng family?! You poisoned Master! If not for Master, how could you have become the heir of Marquis Chengwu? How could you have had the chance to rebel?"

That was when she learned Zhao Xianzhi’s true background.

Though she hadn’t yet unraveled the events of that year, it did not hinder her curiosity.

"Then I must ask you, Aunt Xu," Meng Zhenyue stretched the words deliberately, looking meaningfully at Aunt Xu.

Upon hearing this, the smile on Aunt Xu’s face stiffened instantly.

In her previous life, Aunt Xu’s gambler son had lost all his money and even attempted to steal her popular manuscript to pawn it.

When she investigated, she found a fortune had been made the year she was born.

Now it seemed connected to the child exchange.

Though speculative, a little probing would reveal the truth.

Her reaction clearly showed there was something amiss.

The atmosphere in the room became subtly tense.

Yet Aunt Xu, seasoned by years in the household, quickly composed herself.

She intended to speak in defense, but Meng Zhenyue continued.

"You must have been with Mother during the birth. How could you not have noticed anything unusual in the delivery room?"

Hearing this, Aunt Xu breathed a sigh of relief.

But that relief was short-lived as the young lady’s friendly smile suddenly froze; she frowned deeply, staring at Aunt Xu as if she had discovered something grave.

What was going on now?

Aunt Xu, feeling the piercing gaze, grew anxious and flushed.

After a moment, Meng Zhenyue’s voice carried a hint of doubt: "Are you ill? Your complexion looks off."

Before Aunt Xu could respond, Meng Zhenyue turned to Madam Hou. "Mother, I’ve seen many things in the countryside and can read the changes in a person’s complexion when their body undergoes great change. Please have the doctor examine Aunt Xu."

In her previous life, Aunt Xu had fallen ill and died within days of Meng Zhenyue’s return to the residence.

Since Zhao Xianzhi was willing to poison the midwife, how could Aunt Xu have been spared?

Madam Hou, seeing the topic shift, relaxed and hastened to summon the doctor who had not yet left.

Zhao Xianzhi was taken aback, suddenly looking toward Meng Zhenyue, noticing she seemed to be deliberately blocking his view of the doctor.

Marquis Chengwu, seeing that the bloodline issue would no longer be discussed publicly, felt much relieved. Lost in thought, he glanced at Zhao Xianzhi before walking upstairs.

"Dream Fragrance!"

Moments later, the doctor’s exclamation echoed through the room.

That cry drew everyone’s gaze and snapped the barely relaxed hearts back to alertness.

The doctor then solemnly explained:

"This is Dream Fragrance Poison! Once poisoned, the victim’s sleep lengthens each hour. Within ten days, they will die of heart cramps in their dreams. The coroner will only record it as angina."

Before anyone could react, Meng Zhenyue strode to Aunt Xu and demanded:

"Aunt Xu! What have you done that should not have been done? Whom have you provoked to the point they want to silence you?"

The shock within Aunt Xu was brought back to focus by this accusation.

She lowered her eyes, her pupils darting nervously. "I… I…"

Then, as if having made a decision, her gaze grew resolute. "That day, Lady Meng was giving birth…"

Everyone held their breath, fully attentive to Aunt Xu.

At this moment, Zhao Xianzhi, with a suspicious expression, asked, "Doctor, is there an antidote for this poison? Who usually uses it?"

Yet Aunt Xu’s voice abruptly cut off.

"Speak quickly! If you lie, be prepared to lose your head!" Marquis Chengwu, glaring at Aunt Xu, vented all his emotions on her.

She was the Hou family’s most promising descendant—the bloodline could not be questioned!

Madam Hou withdrew her thoughtful gaze from Zhao Xianzhi and added, "Aunt Xu, you have watched me grow since childhood. What are you hiding from me?"

Xianzhi was her pride; she would live her future relying on him.

"Could it be that my big brother isn’t really my brother?" Zhao Zhizhi, having listened for some time, weakly spoke.

But now, she no longer felt quite so joyful and glanced surreptitiously at Meng Zhenyue.

Seeing the tension, Aunt Xu’s knees weakened and she collapsed, choosing her words carefully:

"That day, the midwife did find reasons to send me and several close maids away for a brief time. I don’t know if something happened then."

She could have said nothing happened that day, but with the eldest son trying to silence her, even his mention made her think of her son and the antidote.

Though the worst was behind, what about the future?

So why not stir up trouble for the eldest son?

To let him know that even a cornered dog will leap over the wall.