“Li Zhao couldn’t possibly have detected that the food was drugged, could she?” Li Jiāo murmured.

This question stumped Lady Wu.

Detect that the food was drugged? How could that be possible!

But if she were to believe, like her daughter, that Li Zhao relied on luck, that would be even more ridiculous.

“Oh right, Mother, Li Shu didn’t eat a single bite either!”

Lady Wu narrowed her eyes and instructed those standing outside: “Summon Fifth Miss.”

After a moment, the pearl curtain rustled softly. Li Shu entered, greeted the two of them properly, and stood respectfully.

“During lunch today, did you also have stomach pain like Third Miss?”

“Yes.”

Lady Wu scrutinized the cautious concubine’s daughter, suddenly turning cold: “Fifth girl, tell me the truth – why didn’t you eat the dishes at noon when everything was fine?”

Li Shu’s whole body trembled. She immediately knelt, her head hanging low: “Mother, please see clearly. Your daughter has always had a poor appetite. Today I woke up late and drank some lukewarm soup. By the time I got to the academy, my stomach began to ache.”

Lady Wu pressed her lips together.

It was true that this concubine’s daughter had been physically weak since childhood.

Concubine Liu had given birth to Li Shu prematurely by several days. Li Shu was born with some deficiencies, and Concubine Liu had also injured her body. This was why she could tolerate the mother and daughter until now.

Perhaps it was such a simple coincidence?

“Mother—” Seeing herself humiliated and suffering while her concubine sister was perfectly fine, Li Jiāo couldn’t stand it and tugged at Lady Wu’s sleeve.

Lady Wu came back to her senses, glanced at Li Shu, and said indifferently: “You sisters should advance and retreat together. Today, you didn’t take good care of your Second Sister, who by rights should be punished. But since you were unwell, I’ll let you off this once. Go now, and remember my words in the future.”

Li Shu never raised her head, respectfully saying: “Yes, your daughter will remember.”

Only after she quietly withdrew did she breathe a sigh of relief.

Before her eyes were green trees and red flowers. A trace of sorrow flashed through Li Shu’s eyes, but she quickly became that cautious Fifth Miss again.

If it weren’t for Second Sister’s ruined reputation requiring her to keep a low profile, even if she had known the food was poisoned, she would have had to smile and eat it. Otherwise, escaping unscathed at the time would have meant that the legitimate mother and Second Sister wouldn’t have spared her afterward.

Why was being a concubine’s daughter so difficult?

With only Lady Wu and her daughter left in the room, their conversation became casual again.

Lady Wu once more instructed her daughter: “Jiāojiāo, no matter what, you must never do such things again!”

“Mother, Li Zhao is so smug, always making things difficult for your daughter. Are we just going to let this slide?”

Lady Wu tapped Li Jiāo’s forehead in frustration: “Times change. Li Zhao has Physician Li recognizing her as a granddaughter before, and Master Wumei’s favor after. You’re not even from the same residence – what good comes from antagonizing her? Jiāojiāo, if you don’t listen to Mother, then you won’t need to attend the women’s academy anymore.”

Not attend the women’s academy? That wouldn’t do!

Li Jiāo immediately backed down: “Alright, Mother, I understand. I just won’t pay attention to her anymore.”

Only then did Lady Wu nod with satisfaction.

In Jinrong Courtyard, Fourth Miss Li Yan immediately told Second Madam Liu everything that had happened at the academy upon returning.

Madam Liu listened in utter amazement.

Li Yan sighed deeply: “Mother, you were right. Recently, whoever provokes Third Sister ends up unlucky.”

Madam Liu curved her lips: “How could Mother harm you girls?”

She deliberately glanced at her younger daughter Li Chan: “Chan’er, you must learn from your sister on this point. Don’t act impulsively for momentary satisfaction anymore.”

Li Chan nodded with seeming understanding, then asked curiously: “But your daughter still doesn’t understand – how did Third Sister know not to eat the food?”

“Well—” Madam Liu was stumped by the question.

Such an uncanny thing – she couldn’t figure it out either.

“Cough, in any case, just don’t get into disputes with Third Miss in the future.”

Li Yan and Li Chan both nodded.

As soon as Qiao Zhao stepped into Yahe Courtyard, Lady He came forward to greet her, looking her daughter up and down before pulling her into her arms: “My Zhaozhao, you didn’t suffer any grievances at the academy today, did you?”

“I didn’t.” The concern flowing from Lady He’s eyes warmed Qiao Zhao’s heart as she smiled in response.

“That’s good. Mother was worried about you the whole time. Zhaozhao, if anyone bullies you, don’t wrong yourself – you must tell Mother, and Mother will stand up for you!” Lady He practically beat her chest to promise her daughter.

Binglu, who had followed behind Qiao Zhao, giggled: “Madam, please don’t worry! Our Miss didn’t suffer any grievances at all! It was the Eldest Miss, Second Miss, and the others who made fools of themselves by eating something bad. This servant couldn’t help but laugh at the time, and Hanzhu, who serves Second Miss, almost got into a fight with me.”

Each young lady brought one maid to the academy, and when the misses were in class, the maids rested in the waiting room.

Lady He’s eyes lit up as she listened: “Really?”

“Of course it’s true!” Binglu spoke rapidly, pouring out the whole story like bamboo from a tube.

The little maid’s vivid storytelling was as exciting as a storyteller’s performance. By the end, Lady He was laughing heartily: “Heaven truly has eyes, letting those with rotten mouths and poisonous hearts get their comeuppance!”

“Exactly! Our Miss is kind-hearted, so nothing happened to her at all!” Binglu covered her mouth and giggled.

The more Lady He looked at Binglu, the more pleased she became. She asked: “Binglu, you said Hanzhu, who serves Second Miss, almost fought with you? Did you suffer any losses?”

Upon hearing this, Binglu puffed out her chest: “Madam needn’t worry. How could this servant bring shame to our Miss?”

Hmph! If it weren’t for the two little maids serving Fourth Miss and Sixth Miss holding them back, she would have scratched that little hussy’s face!

“Don’t cause trouble,” Qiao Zhao suddenly spoke up.

The Miss’s words must be obeyed. Binglu immediately lost her momentum and obediently said, “Yes.”

Qiao Zhao nodded, then added: “But if someone bullies you, don’t endure it either.”

“Miss?” The little maid’s spirits instantly soared.

“Just maintain proper judgment.”

“Yes!” Binglu crisply agreed.

The master and servant returned to the West Side Courtyard. Binglu was still excited. Although she had always found A’Zhu disagreeable, she really couldn’t find another suitable confidant to chat with. She still spoke to A’Zhu with animated gestures, finally boasting: “Miss is willing to take me along. Even if you’re unwilling, there’s nothing you can do about it – who told me I’m the trusted aide who has served Miss for many years? But as long as you serve Miss well, I’ll still tell you about any fun things that happen.”

“Thank you very much,” A’Zhu replied with a calm expression.

Binglu was finally satisfied and swished out.

A’Zhu offered the prepared tea to Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao took it and sipped before asking: “Have you heard any interesting news?”

During the time Qiao Zhao wasn’t in the West Side Courtyard, A’Zhu naturally hadn’t stayed in the courtyard but had gone to the main kitchen to chat and gossip with the matrons.

The servants in the kitchen were well-informed, discussing either household gossip or fresh happenings in the city.

A’Zhu had a gentle nature, was good at listening, and was generous with her money, so she had already established good relationships with those people.

Qiao Zhao had asked casually, not expecting A’Zhu to have heard something: Marquis Guanjun had gone to Minister Kou’s residence early in the morning.