Lai Luofu’s smile was gentle, her eyes soft. Although she looked identical to Madam Tang, she appeared more approachable. With a delicate raise of her hand, she beckoned the officials to rise. Standing beside Lai Luozhi, she spoke in hushed tones, truly embodying the demeanor of an elder sister.
Zhu Yan tugged at Shen Du’s sleeve. Shen Du leaned in to listen: “Do you think it’s her?”
“Let’s find an opportunity to test her,” Shen Du replied, furrowing his brow as he scrutinized Lai Luofu, his expression full of doubt.
Madam Tang was Chen Huoe, and Chen Huoe was backed by Lai Luozhi. Now, this woman who looked exactly like Madam Tang claimed to be Lai Luozhi’s sister. It was nearly impossible for them not to suspect that Madam Tang and Lai Luofu were the same person.
The Lai faction eagerly flattered Lai Luozhi and Lai Luofu, who responded with smiles and pleasant conversation. As the atmosphere returned to harmony and the music resumed, Shen Du’s group stood out like sore thumbs.
Lai Luofu’s gaze casually swept over Zhu Yan’s face. With a gentle smile, she approached with graceful poise: “I find you quite charming, young lady. Might I have a word with you in private?”
It seemed almost too easy. Zhu Yan had been waiting for a chance to verify Lai Luofu’s identity. As she was about to speak, Shen Du grasped her hand: “Just because you like something doesn’t mean you can take it with you.”
Suspecting Lai Luofu’s identity, Shen Du knew the danger of letting Zhu Yan go with her. It could be a trap. He saw no need to be polite to the Lai faction, so his tone turned cold and harsh.
“People say the Grand Coordinator loves his wife dearly and takes her everywhere. It seems the rumors are true,” Lai Luofu chuckled behind her sleeve, her body swaying like a flower in the wind. The strong scent of her perfume was overwhelming.
“I’ll be right back. I wanted to ask Madam Lai about which perfume lasts the longest,” Zhu Yan said, turning her head to give Shen Du a meaningful look as she pulled her hand free.
Shen Du was reluctant, but after a brief struggle, he yielded to Zhu Yan’s pleading.
Passing through the hanging flower gate, Zhu Yan followed Lai Luofu down a long corridor. Away from the other guests, Lai Luofu’s face turned cold, her voice laced with ice: “Do you want to save Zhu Caiwei?”
Zhu Yan’s expression turned serious as she stared at Lai Luofu’s face: “Are you Madam Tang? Do you have the antidote?”
“Yes. If you do as I say, you can have the antidote,” Lai Luofu pulled a yellow paper package from her sleeve, waving it in the air.
The package glinted faintly. Zhu Yan instinctively reached for it but noticed Lai Luofu didn’t try to dodge. She withdrew her hand: “This isn’t the antidote!”
“Of course not,” Lai Luofu smirked. “If you put this in Shen Du’s food and make him eat it, Zhu Caiwei will naturally be saved.”
“What is it?”
“The same poison that’s in Zhu Caiwei’s body. After consuming it, transparent thread-like substances will appear on the body. At first, these threads will shed, but over time they’ll cover the body, layer upon layer, like a silkworm cocoon. Eventually, even the face will be wrapped, and he’ll suffocate silently within.”
Lai Luofu savored Zhu Yan’s increasingly pale face, her mood brighter than the day’s sunshine.
Zhu Yan glared at her hatefully: “What if I refuse?”
“Hehe,” Lai Luofu laughed heartily, enjoying toying with her prey. After wiping away tears of laughter, she continued, “Zhu Caiwei or Shen Du. Choose one. I won’t force you.”
Zhu Yan clenched her fists, lowering her gaze, her heart torn and anguished.
Having enjoyed Zhu Yan’s misery enough, Lai Luofu produced another light yellow paper package. She tossed both packages to Zhu Yan: “The second package contains half of the antidote. After taking it, Zhu Caiwei will improve. If you can poison Shen Du within three days, I’ll give you the rest of the antidote.”
In the front hall, Shen Du waited anxiously, about to head towards the back courtyard.
“Isn’t it rather impolite for Grand Coordinator Shen to intrude into someone else’s private quarters?” Lai Luozhi blocked his path.
He calmly sipped his wine. The Lai faction’s chatter quieted as they subtly positioned themselves behind Lai Luozhi.
“Move aside!” Shen Du’s face darkened. Jing Lin and the other guards tensed, hands on their sword hilts.
Both sides were at an impasse, neither yielding, on the brink of conflict.
“Shen Du.” Zhu Yan emerged to this scene, instinctively tucking the paper packages into her sleeve before running to grab Shen Du’s arm.
“Why were you in there so long? Did anything happen?” Shen Du asked anxiously, examining Zhu Yan closely.
Zhu Yan forced a smile: “I’m fine. Let’s go home.”
“At least Madam Shen knows propriety, unlike Grand Coordinator Shen who comes barging in based on mere rumors. Grand Coordinator Shen should learn from her – consider carefully what should and shouldn’t be done before acting,” Lai Luozhi said with a cold smile.
While seemingly warning Shen Du, he cast a meaningful glance at Zhu Yan. She shuddered, feeling as if her heart was being squeezed, nearly suffocating. Unable to stay any longer, she pulled Shen Du towards the exit.
After leaving, Zhu Yan told Shen Du that Lai Luofu was indeed Madam Tang, then made an excuse to return to the Zhu residence.
Walking along the covered corridor, a gust of wind blew several deutzia flowers onto Zhu Yan’s embroidered shoes.
She crouched down, staring at the yellow petals that seemed poisoned, tormenting her.
After an unknown amount of time, Jin Shi, informed by a maid that Zhu Yan was crouching in the corridor lost in thought, hurried over.
“Did Shen Du bully you again?” Jin Shi asked, both angry and heartbroken at the sight of the small figure on the ground. She extended her slender finger to tap Zhu Yan’s forehead reproachfully.
Zhu Yan winced in pain, looking up in confusion. Jin Shi’s heart ached, more convinced that Shen Du had done something wrong.
“Just wait, Mother will get justice for you!” Jin Shi looked around, spotting an iron shovel left by the gardeners near the deutzia bushes. Furiously, she hoisted the shovel, ready to confront Shen Du.
The maids were alarmed, trying to restrain Jin Shi and take back the shovel. Zhu Yan, startled by the scene, blocked her mother’s path: “Mother, you misunderstand. Shen Du treats me very well. I was just feeling melancholy watching the deutzia flowers fall.”
“Really?” Jin Shi asked, half-believing.
“True.” Zhu Yan took the shovel from her mother’s shoulder and returned it to its place. She then linked arms with Jin Shi, “Come on, let’s go see Third Sister.”
Entering Zhu Caiwei’s room, Zhu Yan immediately lifted the blanket and opened the nightgown to check. As Lai Luozhi had said, the thread-like substances no longer shed from Zhu Caiwei’s body, but white cocoon-like structures had begun to form, and her skin had hardened.
“He will suffocate silently within it.”
Lai Luofu’s words echoed in Zhu Yan’s mind like a hellish refrain, repeating endlessly.
Zhu Yan poured a cup of hot water and emptied the light yellow package of antidote into it. She stirred quickly to dissolve it, her fingers trembling uncontrollably. Water and medicine powder spilled around the cup, creating a messy scene.
Using a small spoon, she fed the medicine water into Zhu Caiwei’s mouth, spoonful by spoonful. As the medicine was consumed, the thin cocoon on Zhu Caiwei’s body disappeared, and her skin returned to its usual smoothness.
Zhu Kuo and the others beamed with joy at this sight, but Zhu Yan couldn’t bring herself to smile.