The Old Marquis of Yining glanced at First Uncle Su, then swept his gaze over First Madam Yu and his second son’s couple.
Besides these four, only Jiang Si and her siblings were present.
Si’er said the poisoner was among these four…
It couldn’t be his second daughter-in-law – when A’Ke passed away, she hadn’t yet married into the family.
The Old Marquis’s gaze wavered between his eldest son’s couple and his second son, his heart heavy with sorrow.
Perhaps Si’er was just making trouble.
“Grandfather, let’s go in to see Grandmother,” Jiang Si suggested.
“Princess Consort—”
“First Uncle, you should all come in to see Grandmother too.”
First Uncle Su furrowed his brows. “That would disturb the Old Madam…”
Jiang Si suddenly smiled. “But how else will the elders see with their own eyes that Grandmother has been poisoned?”
At these words, everyone’s expressions changed dramatically.
“Princess Consort, what do you mean by that?” First Uncle Su looked shocked.
The Old Marquis clutched his pipe tightly.
He hadn’t expected Jiang Si to be so direct.
While everyone was still stunned, Jiang Si had already stepped toward the inner chamber.
A senior maid was attending to the sleeping Old Madam inside.
“Is the Old Madam sleeping soundly?” Jiang Si asked.
Her face was completely serious, carrying the full dignity of a Princess Consort.
The maid felt immense pressure and didn’t dare speak, only nodding slightly.
The Old Marquis and others entered.
The maid was about to bow but was sent out by the Old Marquis.
“Princess Consort, how did you determine the Old Madam was poisoned? And what kind of poison is it?” First Uncle Su asked in rapid succession.
“Please be patient, First Uncle.” Jiang Si walked to the bedside, examining the Old Madam’s complexion.
The elderly face bore an unusual flush despite being deep in sleep.
This was often how it went with heart failure patients – they might fall asleep and never wake again.
“A small knife,” Jiang Si held out her hand.
Everyone exchanged glances while Jiang Zhan fumbled at his waist.
How small should the knife be – a dagger?
A’Man pulled out a palm-sized knife from her pouch and calmly handed it over.
“A cotton cloth.”
A’Man produced a pristine white cloth.
“A cup of clear water.”
A’Man felt her pouch and turned around, pouting, “Doesn’t your noble house even have a cup of water?”
Did they expect her to pull water from her pouch too?
Everyone inexplicably relaxed.
If this maid pulled anything else strange from her pouch, they’d have to wonder what this mistress and servant got up to normally.
Second Madam Xu handed over a cup of water.
A’Man took it and asked Jiang Si, “Princess Consort, where should I put the water?”
“Just hold it.” Jiang Si gently took the Old Madam’s left hand, twirled the small knife in her palm, and made an incision on the third finger.
Everyone was startled.
“Si’er, what are you doing!” First Uncle Su’s face darkened as he moved to stop her.
The Old Marquis watched as a drop of contaminated blood quickly formed on the Old Madam’s cut fingertip. He lowered his raised pipe and barked, “Eldest son, do not interfere with Si’er!”
First Uncle Su halted his steps.
“A’Man, catch it with the cup.”
A drop of contaminated blood fell into the water cup, diffusing with a faint putrid smell.
“What’s that smell?” Second Uncle Su frowned slightly.
Everyone stared at the cup, their expressions growing grave.
They’d never heard of a sick person’s blood giving off such a stench, but this was known to happen with certain poisons…
Could Jiang Si be telling the truth?
As they pondered this, no one noticed Jiang Si flicking a tiny amount of powder into the cut on the fingertip.
More drops of contaminated blood fell into the cup, slowly dispersing.
Though it was a simple bloodletting, the fact that it was being performed by the dignified Princess Consort – their traditionally aloof and quiet niece – on the highest-ranking lady of the marquis’s mansion, who was possibly poisoned, made the scene particularly eerie.
Thus, everyone’s eyes were fixed on the Old Madam’s bleeding finger.
Suddenly, something squeezed out from the fingertip and dropped into the cup.
The object unfurled in the water – it was a blood-red worm.
Everyone’s faces changed dramatically.
“What is that?” First and Second Uncle Su stepped forward together.
The Old Marquis pushed his two sons aside and leaned in to examine the bloodworm carefully.
The worm seemed to be absorbing water, its abdomen swelling larger and larger until it became spherical.
The water in the cup was visibly decreasing.
The ball-like worm continued to expand, gradually filling the cup’s interior.
First Madam Yu and Second Madam Xu covered their mouths with handkerchiefs, their eyes showing both terror and disgust.
The others wore expressions of amazement.
The room fell silent as everyone stared at the greedy worm.
Surely it would burst if it drank anymore?
Just as this thought arose, there was a soft “pop,” and in the blink of an eye, the worm became just a shell, slowly floating to the surface.
The ripples in the cup quickly stilled.
The water was dead, the worm was dead, and a faint putrid smell assaulted their senses.
“Ugh—” Second Madam Xu couldn’t help but retch.
The Old Marquis pointed at the cup and demanded harshly, “Si’er, is this worm what poisoned your grandmother?”
Jiang Si handed the knife back to A’Man and calmly replied, “This type of worm isn’t poisonous by itself, but once it enters the body, it crawls along the meridians to the heart chamber, where it lives by feeding on heart blood. Over time, people with this worm show symptoms of heart failure…”
“So this worm is the real cause of the Old Madam’s serious illness?” First Uncle Su asked.
Jiang Si looked at First Uncle Su and smiled slightly. “First Uncle is mistaken.”
First Uncle Su frowned. “Is that not the case?”
“Of course not.” Jiang Si wiped her hands with the cloth and said meaningfully, “The real culprit behind Grandmother’s illness is human!”
This statement struck like thunder, sending chills through everyone while simultaneously bringing clarity.
Of course – such a strange worm couldn’t appear from anywhere. The one who harmed the Old Madam had to be human.
“Who would harm your grandmother!” the Old Marquis demanded harshly.
Jiang Si looked at First Uncle Su, then at Second Uncle Su.
Her gaze made both men nervous.
“The person who harmed Grandmother should be among those present.”
First Uncle Su’s face turned ashen. “Princess Consort, you can’t make such reckless accusations!”
Jiang Si ignored First Uncle Su’s attitude and continued steadily, “Before the worm can enter the target’s body, it must be nourished with blood from the tip of the third finger of the left hand. So finding the culprit is simple – we just need to see who has recurring cuts on their left third finger.”
Someone capable of harming Grandmother, and connected to her mother’s death fifteen years ago, wouldn’t likely trust servants to raise these parasitic worms.
The more people who knew, the harder it would be to keep the secret.
“First Uncle, Second Uncle, First Aunt, please show your left hand now.”
“Why doesn’t Second Sister-in-law need to?” First Madam Yu suddenly asked.
Jiang Si looked at her with a meaningful smile. “Because when my mother passed away, Second Aunt hadn’t yet married into the family.”
Yu’s expression changed slightly. “You mean—”
“I can explain later. For now, please show your hand, First Aunt.”