Shi Ting said, “Commander-in-Chief, I only have a theory, but I need to go to the kitchen first to look into it.”

“Very well.” The Commander-in-Chief also very much wanted to get to the bottom of this, so he waved his hand. “Go ahead.”

Watching Shi Ting leave, the unease in Qian Lan’s heart grew stronger and stronger. She could not help directing an imploring look toward Shi Guang.

Shi Guang accordingly rose and said, “I will go along with Seventh Brother.”

After the two of them left, Shi Guang said, “You suspect someone tampered with Grandmother’s soup?”

Shi Ting shook his head. “The Old Madam lives a secluded life in the south courtyard, at odds with no one. I cannot think of anyone who would want to poison her. Besides — even if someone were going to poison her, they would use something that kills immediately, not something that leaves people room to recover… a tonic medicine.”

“Then what is your theory?”

“That still needs to be confirmed. It is only a theory for now.”

Shi Guang made a sound of acknowledgment, and his steps paused slightly. At this point Shi Ting had moved two steps ahead of him. Shi Guang fixed his gaze on Shi Ting’s back, his eyes filled with a cold, bottomless depth.

Just as Shi Ting went to the kitchen, the errand runner who had gone to collect the medicine had already returned. The maidservants hurried to take the medicine to the Old Madam.

The doctor said, “One of these medicines has a pain-relieving effect — it can ease the aching in the Old Madam’s legs. The other ingredients all serve a regulating function. As long as the Old Madam no longer continues drinking this soup, she will recover.”

After the Old Madam took the medicine, knowing she did not have any grave illness — only that she had mistakenly taken a soup she should not have been drinking — her body also seemed to feel less uncomfortable. With a maidservant’s support, she propped herself up against the headboard.

Before long, Shi Ting and Shi Guang returned. In Shi Ting’s hand were two stewing crocks — at first glance, the two were identical.

“What is this?” the Commander-in-Chief asked. “Why have you brought these back?”

“This is perhaps the root of the problem.” Shi Ting said. “These two crocks are identical. One of them is simmering the Old Madam’s medicine. The other is simmering the Commander-in-Chief’s medicine. These two maidservants must have mixed up the crocks through carelessness, resulting in the Commander-in-Chief’s medicine and the Old Madam’s medicine being swapped.”

“Seventh Young Master, we are careful and thorough when simmering medicine — how could we mix up the crocks?” Qing Qing hurried to argue. “We have been simmering medicine for the Commander-in-Chief and the Old Madam for such a long time. Nothing like this has ever happened before.”

“Xingzhi.” Qian Lan also spoke. “The Old Madam is very familiar with the medicine she usually takes. If they had been mixed up, she would certainly have noticed.”

Shi Ting said, “A new medicinal ingredient was added to the soup recently. The addition of this ingredient greatly altered the flavor of the entire crock of soup. The Old Madam should have been able to sense this change, yes?”

The Old Madam heard this and nodded. “That medicine had a very strong flavor. It essentially masked the taste of everything else, so I was unable to detect that the medicinal recipe had been changed.”

“By the same token, the Commander-in-Chief’s medicine also contains this same ingredient, which would make the flavor of both soups identical.”

Qian Lan said, “Even if these two maidservants mixed up the crocks through momentary carelessness, surely they could not have made the same mistake several days in a row?”

“The problem lies precisely in these crocks.” Shi Ting said. “These are newly purchased crocks for the household — all identical in appearance. Set on so many stoves that look alike, if one loses focus for a moment, it is very easy to get confused.”

Shi Ting’s sharp gaze fell on the two maidservants kneeling on the ground. “When you were simmering the medicine these past few days — did you fall asleep?”

Qing Qing seemed about to say something but swallowed the words back. Xiao Yu was so frightened she did not dare make a sound.

“I just had people look into it at the kitchen. These two maidservants have recently become hooked on a tile game — every evening a few of them gather to gamble, playing until well past midnight. And yet a crock of soup like this requires at least three to four hours of simmering. During this time, staying and watching the stove the entire while — even ordinary people would doze off, let alone those severely deprived of sleep.”

The Commander-in-Chief heard this and glared furiously at the two maidservants. “Is all of this true?”

Xiao Yu and Qing Qing were trembling with fright, kowtowing repeatedly. “We will never dare again — never dare again. Please spare us, Commander-in-Chief.”

“How outrageous.” The Commander-in-Chief was so angry his beard bristled, but Xiao Yu and Qing Qing were people Qian Lan had brought along. His first instinct was to protect Qian Lan’s dignity.

As everyone waited to hear the Commander-in-Chief’s ruling, the Commander-in-Chief abruptly shifted his tone. “The Madam has done nothing but instruct and manage you all this time. How could you treat her trust and goodwill so poorly? You have truly disappointed the Madam.”

Qian Lan had not yet said a word, and the Commander-in-Chief had already paved the way for her on all sides. Not just those present in the room — even the Old Madam was somewhat taken aback.

The Commander-in-Chief’s defense of Qian Lan had reached a degree that left people speechless.

Qian Lan said, “These two maidservants have indeed been negligent in their duties. They were brought along from my family. Let them be sent back to the Qian family, and let my mother deal with them there.”

Qian Lan had always had a reputation for benevolence. She would naturally not mete out a harsh punishment to these maidservants. Sending them back to the Qian family meant the Qian family would handle the matter leniently.

Hearing this, the two maidservants immediately kowtowed again and again. “Many thanks for the Madam’s mercy! Many thanks for the Madam’s mercy!”

“Enough — the two of you, get out.” The Commander-in-Chief waved them away, somewhat put out.

After the two maidservants left, Qian Lan immediately knelt before the Old Madam. “Old Madam, this matter falls on me. Please hold me accountable.”

Before the Old Madam could speak, the Commander-in-Chief had already jumped in. “Mother, this matter has nothing to do with Lan’er. She manages the inner household — she cannot possibly be aware of every blade of grass, every person, every object. She gives her full dedication to the Shi family’s affairs, and you can scarcely find a fault in her. She cannot be blamed for this.”

Neither the Commander-in-Chief nor Qian Lan had noticed that from some moments ago, the Old Madam’s expression had been very unpleasant. Now hearing the Commander-in-Chief’s words, she closed her eyes slightly.

“All of you go. Commander-in-Chief, Qian Lan, the Third Concubine, and the Second Concubine remain.”

Yan Qing and Shi Ting exchanged a glance. Shi Ting said, “Let us step out first.”

The Old Madam sent the younger generation out of the room. Supported by a maidservant, she half sat up.

Yin’er brought water for the Old Madam, and helped her drink.

The Old Madam cleared her throat and turned her gaze to the Commander-in-Chief. “Commander-in-Chief, your complexion has been getting worse and worse lately. Have you been feeling any discomfort in your body?”

The Commander-in-Chief said, “I have been somewhat fatigued, but I have not felt anything else out of the ordinary.”

Qian Lan heard the Old Madam bring this up, and her heart gave a sudden lurch.

The Old Madam lived a secluded life in the south courtyard and rarely involved herself in the affairs of the front. Even the Commander-in-Chief could rarely see her a few times. On the rare occasion they met, it was nothing more than idle chat.

“The Old Madam is right.” Luo Huaimeng spoke from one side. “The Commander-in-Chief’s complexion is sallow and his eyes are dull. Why not have a doctor take a look?”

Du Linghua had noticed this long ago, but had simply not spoken up. Now hearing the Old Madam and Luo Huaimeng raise it, she pretended to be surprised. “Commander-in-Chief, the doctor happens to be right here. Why not have him give you an examination?”

“What illness could I have?” The Commander-in-Chief waved his hand. “My health is excellent.”

The Commander-in-Chief thought of his vigor during the nights and was all the more convinced there was nothing wrong with him. In those moments, he felt himself to be a young and robust man.

“The Commander-in-Chief may just not have been resting enough lately.” Qian Lan quickly said. “I will be sure to have him rest more and read fewer official documents.”

The Old Madam, however, raised her eyelids. “Call the doctor in — have him give the Commander-in-Chief a thorough examination.”

Qian Lan heard the Old Madam call for the doctor, and wanted to intervene — but could not open her mouth to do so. At this moment, if she prevented the Commander-in-Chief from seeing the doctor, it would only make her look guilty.

But allowing the Commander-in-Chief to see the doctor… Qian Lan was so alarmed that cold sweat instantly soaked her back.

The doctor came in, bowed to the Commander-in-Chief and the Old Madam, then sat down to take the Commander-in-Chief’s pulse.

“Doctor — my body is completely fine, isn’t it?” The Commander-in-Chief spoke with great confidence.

Yet the doctor’s face showed deep concern. “Commander-in-Chief, you have a severe yang deficiency and kidney insufficiency. If you do not exercise restraint and seek treatment, it will lead to liver function deterioration. Over time, this will become a fatal and intractable condition.”

“How can this be?” Luo Huaimeng exclaimed in surprise. “Yang deficiency and kidney insufficiency — this means…”

She could not help looking at Qian Lan. Qian Lan somewhat deliberately turned her gaze away.

“How could it not be?” The Old Madam at that moment spoke with a darkened expression. “He drinks yang-strengthening medicine every day. Over time, how could he not end up like this?”

The Third Concubine and the Second Concubine were both startled.

“The maidservants mixed up my medicine with the Commander-in-Chief’s medicine. I only drank it for three days and fell ill like this. How long has the Commander-in-Chief been drinking those tonics?” The Old Madam’s gaze shifted to Qian Lan. “Qian Lan, this tonic medicine was arranged by you. I know you are young, with strong needs. But the Commander-in-Chief is already over fifty. His stamina and energy are quite limited. What you are doing — are you trying to kill him?”

The Old Madam, growing heated as she spoke, balled her hand into a fist and beat it against the edge of the bed.

If the maidservants had not mixed up the medicines, she would never have known that the Commander-in-Chief had been taking this kind of tonic. No wonder the Commander-in-Chief’s complexion was sallow and he was listless — apparently he was also sleeping excessively.

A man over fifty, expected to frolic every night — this was not wearing out stamina, but vital essence and blood.

“Old Madam.” Qian Lan fell to her knees before the Old Madam with a thud. Tears streamed down her face. “I was wrong — I was wrong. I love the Commander-in-Chief too much. That is what made me lose my senses like this.”

As Qian Lan spoke, she wept with great distress.

At this moment, she finally understood Yan Qing’s true purpose. She was not trying to make people suspect her of harming the Old Madam. She was making the Old Madam witness for herself the matter of the Commander-in-Chief taking yang-strengthening medicine.

If Yan Qing had rashly gone and told the Old Madam this directly, the Old Madam would not have believed her. But making the Old Madam experience it firsthand, then allowing her to draw a connection to the Commander-in-Chief’s present physical condition — the Old Madam was as sharp as they came, and would naturally piece together the entire sequence of cause and effect.

What preserved fruits, what xylitol — those were nothing but smoke and mirrors Yan Qing had put up, meant to draw her attention to the preserved fruits while giving Yan Qing a free hand to work things in the kitchen.

What had seemed like a simple act of currying favor with the Old Madam was, in reality, a masterful scheme set in motion long ago.