“Mother-Child Heart-Connection Gu?” Li Guangshu’s expression changed slightly, a flash of anger passing through his eyes.

Qiao Zhao observed this and had a thought.

Looking at Second Uncle’s reaction, he didn’t seem particularly shocked. Was he very good at maintaining composure, or were there some hidden circumstances?

“Grandmother, this Mother-Child Heart-Connection Gu has the mother gu in the mother’s body and the child gu in the child’s body. This way, the mother’s emotional changes can affect the child’s physical condition.”

Old Madam Deng’s face was covered with frost as she said word by word: “You mean Hao Ge’er fell ill as soon as he came to Qingsong Hall because of the Mother-Child Heart-Connection Gu?”

Qiao Zhao nodded.

Old Madam Deng slammed the table: “No wonder Hao Ge’er improved as soon as Bing Niang came, and his condition worsened when she left. So that’s how it is, so that’s how it is!”

“Hong Song, wake up Bing Niang for me!”

The head maids who served Old Madam Deng were all sharp-minded people. Hong Song immediately understood the emphasis in Old Madam Deng’s word “wake” and walked over to deliver a slap, causing Bing Niang to suddenly open her eyes.

Hong Song bowed slightly: “Concubine Bing, this servant has offended you.”

This evil concubine had thoroughly angered Old Madam. It was a pity her strength was too small – the slap was too light.

Li Guangshu wanted to speak but held back.

Old Madam Deng’s eyes fell on Bing Niang like knives.

Bing Niang silently knelt, her face still showing confusion.

“Bing Niang, we all witnessed with our own eyes the Mother-Child Heart-Connection Gu crawling out from your fingertip. What do you have to say now?”

“Mother-Child Heart-Connection Gu?” Bing Niang repeated these words in a daze.

Old Madam Deng sneered: “What, are you still going to deny it? What a vicious heart you have! To prevent me from raising Hao Ge’er, you could even use gu on your child!”

“It’s not like that, you’ve misunderstood—”

“Misunderstood? So many people saw it with their own eyes, and it’s still a misunderstanding?” Old Madam Deng was too lazy to say more to Bing Niang and looked at Li Guangshu. “Second son, everyone in our residence is honest and decent. We dare not keep such a demon woman. I’ve decided to send her away. Do you have any objections?”

“I—”

Bing Niang suddenly kowtowed: “Master, you know that this concubine is not such a heartless person. This Mother-Child Heart-Connection Gu was placed when Hao Ge’er was born. Such things are common practice in Lingnan…”

Li Guangshu hurriedly explained: “Mother, living conditions in Lingnan are harsh, and children are difficult to raise. It’s indeed common practice to place such gu on newborns.”

“What kind of reasoning is this?” Old Madam Deng found it utterly absurd.

“Because once the Mother-Child Heart-Connection Gu is placed, the mother becomes very sensitive to the child’s emotional and physical changes. This way, even if the child can’t speak, the mother can detect in time whether the child is uncomfortable. This Mother-Child Heart-Connection Gu automatically dies when the child reaches five years old and won’t cause the child any harm.”

“You certainly know this well.”

Li Guangshu lowered his eyes: “Your son did stay in Lingnan for many years.”

“So you’re saying Bing Niang not only did nothing wrong but was doing this for Hao Ge’er’s benefit?”

Li Guangshu didn’t respond, but this was tantamount to agreeing with Old Madam Deng’s words.

Old Madam Deng raised her walking stick and struck Li Guangshu, sneering: “If that’s the case, why didn’t Bing Niang speak up earlier? If Third Miss hadn’t discovered that Hao Ge’er wasn’t sick but had been afflicted with gu, was she planning to slap my face and take Hao Ge’er back, or was she planning to stay in my Qingsong Hall permanently?”

Li Guangshu endured the pain without dodging: “Mother, Bing Niang was just worried you wouldn’t be able to accept it, afraid of frightening you—”

Old Madam Deng coldly interrupted Li Guangshu: “Thank you for being so considerate on my behalf. Unfortunately, this old woman wasn’t raised to be easily frightened. However, you got one thing right – regardless of whether Bing Niang acted with good or ill intentions, I cannot accept having someone who plays with gu insects staying in the Li family, disrupting the household peace.”

“Old Madam, you’ve misunderstood. This servant doesn’t understand gu. The Mother-Child Heart-Connection Gu was placed by paying someone else to do it—”

Old Madam Deng impatiently raised her eyelids: “Am I supposed to believe you just because you say you don’t understand it?”

Seeing the old lady insist on driving Bing Niang away, Li Guangshu’s head ached: “Mother, Bing Niang is still Hao Ge’er’s birth mother, and she traveled thousands of miles from Lingnan following your son. If you drive her away, aren’t you forcing her to death?”

“Forcing her to death? I think you just can’t bear to part with her!” Old Madam Deng was furious and raised her walking stick to strike her younger son again. “Isn’t she some county magistrate’s daughter? It’s not like she’s homeless. I’m not so heartless as to sell her to some unspeakable place. I’ll use my own private money as travel expenses to send her back to Lingnan!”

Li Guangshu fell to his knees with a thud and pleaded, “Mother, please let Bing Niang stay. From now on, let her remain in the west side courtyard of Jinrong Courtyard and not be allowed to leave. Wouldn’t that be acceptable?”

Looking at her stubbornly infatuated son, Old Madam Deng’s heart grew half cold as she said coldly: “Either you agree to send her away, or I’ll go have tea at the Censorate today and ask those censors whether they still care about doting on concubines while neglecting wives and being unfilial to one’s mother!”

“Mother!” Li Guangshu was stunned.

Was this his birth mother? To ruin her son’s future over such a small matter?

Looking across the entire capital, men who favored their concubines were as numerous as stars. He’d never heard of any birth mother reporting her son over this.

Just then, a woman’s gentle voice spoke: “Master, please send this concubine away. Just for Hao Ge’er’s sake, don’t abandon this concubine in the capital. Please send a few people to escort this concubine back to Lingnan. This concubine has always said that place is my true home…”

“Bing Niang—”

Bing Niang kowtowed heavily and didn’t rise for a long time: “Master, say no more. Because of this concubine, you’ve become an unfilial person. This concubine deserves death for that. Please agree.”

Li Guangshu was silent for a long time before sighing: “Fine, I agree.”

Old Madam Deng breathed a sigh of relief.

Unless necessary, she certainly didn’t want to ruin her son’s future. It’s just that this woman, Bing Niang, regardless of whatever flowery excuses she might have, was determined on one thing: she could not stay!

“Mother, please don’t be angry anymore. Your son is willing to send Bing Niang away. It’s just that the New Year is approaching and the weather is cold. Once spring begins, your son will send her away immediately. Is that acceptable?”

Old Madam Deng was silent, seeing both pleading and determination in Li Guangshu’s eyes.

“Mother, just let Bing Niang and Hao Ge’er spend their last New Year in the same residence. I guarantee Bing Niang won’t step one foot outside the gates of Jinrong Courtyard.”

Old Madam Deng sighed deeply: “Fine. Remember your words – send her away immediately once spring begins.”

“Thank you, Mother.” Li Guangshu breathed a sigh of relief.

Old Madam Deng kept a stern face and glanced at Bing Niang: “Also, no items brought from Lingnan are allowed in Bing Niang’s room. Who knows what other strange things she might have brought?”

After giving these instructions, Old Madam Deng waved her hand to dismiss everyone, holding her hand warmer and feeling utterly exhausted in body and spirit.

Walking out of Qingsong Hall’s gates, Liu Shi called out to Qiao Zhao and said earnestly: “Third Miss, Second Aunt thanks you.”