Nanny Gui’s entire family, old and young, all lived in the Ren household—she couldn’t escape quickly.

Old Madam Ren nodded to Shanhu, who went out again.

Third Master Ren Shimin came together with Third Madam Li Shi.

Seeing a roomful of people, Third Master was still somewhat confused. “Fifth Brother, what urgent matter did you need to discuss with me at Mother’s place?”

Ren Shimao usually had a decent relationship with Ren Shimin. If it was true that Concubine Fang was behind switching Ren Yaoyu’s medicine, he certainly wouldn’t let that woman off easily. But Concubine Fang was Ren Shimin’s concubine and had borne him a pair of children, which made Ren Shimao feel conflicted.

Fifth Madam had no such reservations. She immediately repeated the story of Concubine Fang conspiring with Nanny Gui to harm Ren Yaoyu in front of Ren Shimin and Li Shi. Having told this story multiple times, she was getting more fluent with each telling. Thinking that Concubine Fang would not have a good ending this time, Lin Shi felt secretly excited.

After listening, Ren Shimin frowned deeply, glanced at Li Shi, then looked toward Old Madam Ren.

Old Madam Ren was about to say something when Shanhu reported that the physician, Fifth Master had requested had arrived.

Old Madam glanced at Lin Shi, who was still chattering arrogantly at Li Shi, and Lin Shi finally shut her mouth.

The physician was invited in, and Old Madam had him examine the medicine dregs. During the physician’s examination, no one in the room spoke—everyone knew not to air dirty laundry in public. Even if Lin Shi might not care, with Old Madam present, she didn’t dare go too far.

The physician carefully examined the medicine dregs several times, his face showing surprise. He bowed and asked, “May I ask Old Madam, who in the household is using this prescription? What illness is being treated?”

Old Madam said steadily, “It was used by a servant in the household. Perhaps the wrong medicine was used, so we asked you to check.”

The physician didn’t believe Old Madam’s words, but he said nothing. He only pondered and said, “Regardless of who was using it, it’s best to stop immediately! Several medicines mixed here not only cannot cure illness, but can also harm people. Light symptoms would be irritability and violence, severe cases… would develop madness.”

Fifth Madam hadn’t felt much before, but hearing the physician say this personally, she couldn’t help covering her lips and weeping softly. Fifth Master quickly grasped her hand, but his own eyes were also reddening. He hadn’t expected that during that period, due to his negligence, his wife and daughter had suffered such torment.

Old Madam Ren glanced at Fifth Master and his wife, then looked away as if they didn’t exist.

The physician also acted as if he saw nothing, simply opening his medicine box, taking out brush and ink to write a prescription. While writing, he said, “This old man will prescribe the servant in your household who mistakenly consumed this medicine. Taking it according to this prescription can neutralize the drug’s effects. If the symptoms are mild, there should be no problem.”

Fifth Master immediately asked, “What if it was consumed for some time? The symptoms you mentioned did indeed appear at the time, but now it seems to be fine. I just don’t know if this will have future effects.”

The physician was about to finish writing the prescription when he heard this, picked up his brush again to modify the prescription several times, then handed it directly to Ren Shimao, “There should be no major problems, but for safety’s sake, it’s better to take a few doses according to this prescription.”

Ren Shimao received the physician’s prescription and thanked him.

Old Madam Ren had someone escort the physician out.

The physician had barely left the courtyard when Nanny Gui was brought in.

Calling it “brought in” was being polite—Nanny Gui was carried in. Her face was deathly pale, her eyes vacant, leaning against a servant’s shoulder, unable to stand.

Shanhu walked to Old Madam’s side and said softly, “Old Madam, when this servant went to Nanny Gui’s family courtyard to find her, she was already foaming at the mouth and collapsed on the ground. This servant found some rat poison on the floor. This servant had someone pour a bowl of ash water down her throat, and after she vomited for a while, she was somewhat better.” Shanhu carefully took out a packet wrapped in her handkerchief.

Nanny Gui had tried to kill herself? This was tantamount to admitting she had switched Ren Yaoyu’s medicine? Old Madam Ren’s expression darkened as she glared at the half-dead Nanny Gui.

Fifth Madam broke free from Fifth Master’s grasp and was about to rush forward in fury, but Fifth Master pulled her back. He glanced at Old Madam Ren and comforted his wife, “Mother is here. Mother will handle this matter.”

Old Madam Ren’s expression became even worse.

She didn’t have someone call the physician back, but simply looked down at Nanny Gui and asked, “Did you have Sister-in-Law Niu switch Yu’er’s medicine?”

Nanny Gui had recovered some consciousness and heard Old Madam Ren’s words, but she kept her head down without making a sound.

“If you’re not dead, speak!” Old Madam Ren also became angry.

Nanny Gui had served her for over thirty years, always understanding her thoughts well and handling matters efficiently. She had thought Nanny Gui was loyal to her and had given her all the respect she could. She never expected that at the crucial moment, Nanny Gui would pull such a stunt. The more Old Madam Ren thought about it, the angrier she became.

Nanny Gui’s body convulsed—whether from the poison’s effects or fear was unclear—but she still didn’t speak.

Fifth Madam glanced at Sister-in-Law Niu kneeling to the side and used the same tactic, shouting, “If you don’t tell the truth today, I’ll have our master tie up your whole family. All the women will be sold to brothels to be violated, and the men will be fed the same medicine you gave Yu’er! Your grandson is about to be born, right? When he’s born, I’ll make sure he gets his fill!”

Nanny Gui immediately raised her head. Her eyes, which had been clouded with death, became somewhat clearer. She looked at Fifth Madam in disbelief, then tearfully looked at Old Madam Ren with pleading in her face and eyes.

Although Old Madam Ren found Fifth Madam’s words too crude, she now turned a blind eye to Nanny Gui’s pleading look.

Nanny Gui dejectedly closed her eyes, opened her mouth, and spoke in a hoarse voice like a broken bellows, “Yes, it was this servant. But this was all done by this servant alone, unrelated to this servant’s family.”

Fifth Madam immediately demanded, “Who ordered you to do it?”

Nanny Gui was silent for a moment, “No one. This servant did it on her own. Because the Fifth Madam once offended this servant, this servant held a grudge, so…”

“Bullshit!” Lin Shi jumped up but was pressed back down by Ren Shimao.

Ren Shimao glanced at Ren Shimin, then said to Nanny Gui, “Why suffer for someone else? We all know whether you had backing or not. Moreover, unless one does nothing, nothing can remain hidden forever. Don’t your family members know anything about your secret dealings? We’ve heard that your daughter-in-law seems to know something and resents you for disregarding your status to associate with certain people. Should I have your daughter-in-law brought up for questioning?”

Nanny Gui’s daughter-in-law was currently pregnant and had just fainted from shock at her mother-in-law’s sudden suicide attempt. If she were brought here for interrogation, the child would certainly be lost. Nanny Gui felt extreme hatred toward Fifth Master and his wife.

At this moment, Third Master Ren Shimin, who had remained silent, finally spoke. He walked directly to Nanny Gui, frowned as he studied her for a moment, then asked, “Was the person who ordered you from behind Fang Shi?”

Hearing this, Nanny Gui’s eyelashes trembled, but she kept her head down without speaking.

Ren Shimin sighed, “Then it must be her.”

The Third Master walked toward Ren Shimao and bowed to him, “Fifth Brother, this time Third Brother has wronged you. Please be at ease—your foolish brother will certainly give you an explanation.”

Ren Shimao quickly said, “Third Brother, this matter doesn’t blame you. How could a grown man know about inner courtyard affairs?”

Li Shi also came over, curtsied, and said guiltily, “Fifth Brother, Fifth Sister-in-law, it’s my fault for not managing the third branch’s inner courtyard well. I apologize to you.”

Ren Shimao couldn’t direct his anger at Li Shi and exchanged polite words, but Fifth Madam muttered from the side, “Can’t even manage a concubine—truly useless!”

Li Shi felt somewhat embarrassed.

Though Third Master was casual by nature, he had an upright character and spoke fairly, “Concubine Fang doesn’t live in Ziwei Courtyard—even if Li Shi wanted to manage her, she couldn’t. This matter should blame the Ren family for being too lenient with concubines.”

However, Third Master’s casual, unintentional remark offended his mother, since it was Old Madam Ren who had elevated Concubine Fang and given her various privileges.

Fifth Master and his wife, as well as First Madam, who had been playing invisible, all glanced at Old Madam Ren.

Old Madam Ren snorted displeasedly and vented her anger on Li Shi, “If you could bear sons, would I need to elevate a concubine?”

This struck Li Shi’s heart—she bit her lip and lowered her head.

What the Fifth Master most wanted now was for Concubine Fang to come forward, confess, and accept punishment, so he interrupted, “Why hasn’t Concubine Fang arrived yet?”

He didn’t voice his next thought—that she might have killed herself like Nanny Gui.

But Old Madam Ren also thought of this possibility, and her expression changed.

However, they all underestimated Concubine Fang. Someone like her would never voluntarily seek death—the words “admit defeat” didn’t exist in her vocabulary. When she was making a living under her legitimate mother’s hand, what kind of days had she endured? In the end, her half-sisters all met bad ends, while only she had carved out a path for herself in the cracks, even helping her brother achieve success and making him her support in return.

Before Old Madam Ren sent someone to find her, she had already received word. She immediately had a maid call Sixth Young Master Ren Yihong back and instructed Ren Yaoying to stay in her room and not come out.

However, what Concubine Fang didn’t know was that her every move had been watched by people Zhou Nanny had sent on Ren Yaoqi’s orders, even before Xueli intercepted Lin Shi.

So Ren Yihong was intercepted by Wujing halfway back. Wujing used the excuse that the Fifth Master was summoning him to bring Ren Yihong to Ziwei Courtyard, having him wait in the Fifth Master’s study.

When Concubine Fang didn’t see Ren Yihong return, she immediately understood that she might have been schemed against today.

After thinking, Concubine Fang said to her maid, “Quickly have someone request Old Master to return.”