The red spots vanished, revealing skin as white as snow to the First Madam's gaze.
"So it was merely an illusion," the First Madam exclaimed in surprise. "No wonder you haven't been well for days. Daughter, it's good that you're alright."
Seeing that Gu Qianying was truly unharmed, the First Madam felt considerably more at ease.
Beside them, Gu Yefeng watched in bewilderment as Gu Qianying made the red spots on her body disappear as if by magic. He wondered, "Where did little sister learn such unorthodox methods?"
"From books."
Gu Qianying did not wish to reveal the extent of her knowledge of poisons.
Last time at the banquet, she had also claimed that what she knew came from books.
Before her wings were fully grown, it was not wise to reveal too much of her talent.
In the severe allergic reaction incident where the eldest daughter of the Gu family was harmed, Gu Kun, the master of the Gu household, had, under the guise of an investigation, rounded up all the maids and several older women in the Garden Pavilion and interrogated them at will.
He had initially intended to let the matter drop, to casually gloss over it before Old General Gu.
After all, in his eyes, although Gu Qianying might become his support in the future, she was, in the end, just a woman and unlikely to achieve much.
It was just an allergy causing red spots on her face; though she was weaker, she hadn't lost any limbs, so it was naturally not a major concern.
Furthermore, with the Second Concubine constantly whispering in his ear these past few days, Gu Kun was even more inclined to resolve the matter with minimal fuss.
However, just as Gu Kun was about to go to the Garden Pavilion to persuade Gu Qianying not to pursue the trivial matter of accidentally consuming osmanthus-infused plum blossom pastries, an interesting event occurred in the Garden Pavilion.
The cook, who had been confined to the woodshed, escaped overnight.
While escaping, the cook stole the money pouches of the two maids she was closest to in the Garden Pavilion.
The two maids, harboring resentment, decided to go all out and revealed the cook's past interactions with the maids attending the masters in the front hall.
Among them were Emerald, who had already died by Gu Mingyue's side, and a maid from Fourth Miss Gu Yumei's retinue.
In addition, Amber, a maid working in the Gong room, was poisoned to death within half a day of each other.
With Amber's death, Gu Kun had no choice but to take the matter seriously, as someone had died in the mansion.
This investigation revealed the true reason why Gu Yumei had sent away the maids by her side to the Gong room.
The maids who were dealt with by Gu Yumei, fearing a beating, confessed before they could even be interrogated, stating that they were the Second Concubine's people.
Furthermore, she revealed that the Second Concubine had instructed her to create more conflict between the Fourth Miss and the Eldest Miss, to let them fight each other, like a mantis stalking a cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
Meanwhile.
News came from the Garden Pavilion that the Eldest Miss Gu, upon learning that the true mastermind behind the plot to harm her was the Second Concubine she had tried so hard to please daily, fainted on her bed. Her illness worsened due to pent-up emotions.
On that day, the First Madam had also invited several esteemed ladies to attend to the Gu family's eldest daughter.
Coincidentally, on this particular day, Old General Gu had been drilling soldiers at the military camp all day and had not yet returned, unaware of the events unfolding at home.
In the front hall, the main courtyard.
"Slap!"
"You ignorant fool, look at the mess you've made!"
Gu Kun grabbed the Second Concubine by her hair and slapped her.
The Second Concubine fell to the ground, stars flashing before her eyes, half her face immediately swelling.
"Master, your concubine, your concubine did not do such a thing. Master, your concubine is wronged."
The Second Concubine trembled, clutching a handkerchief, and cried pitifully.
As for her daughter, Gu Mingyue, who was involved, she had already been confined to the ancestral hall by Gu Kun yesterday to reflect on her actions.
"Hah? Wronged? You foolish woman, the matter has come to this, and you still dare to cry foul?"
A thick stack of confessions was thrown by Gu Kun onto the Second Concubine. He roared, "Can the confessions of these maids be fake?"
"Master, I... I..." The Second Concubine was speechless.
Gu Kun knew very well that the Second Concubine harbored intentions to deal with the First Madam and her daughter, Gu Qianying.
Over the years, he had grown tired of the First Madam's rigid and uninspiring demeanor, and he also disliked the strong-willed Gu Qianying.
In the past, no matter how the Second Concubine dealt with Gu Qianying and her mother, he would turn a blind eye and ignore it.
But things were different now.
Her father, Old General Gu, had returned, and his most beloved was Gu Qianying. From this perspective, he could not ignore Gu Qianying's affairs, even if it was just for show.
Moreover, with someone dead in the mansion, he, as the master of the Gu household, could not possibly remain indifferent.
"From today onwards, the management of the back courtyard will be returned to the First Madam. You will go back to Yangchun Pavilion and be confined with Mingyue. You are not to come out without my permission!"
"Master, please don't! Your concubine was wrong, your concubine..."
The Second Concubine's body went limp, and she fainted.
Gu Kun was startled and quickly picked up the Second Concubine, even sending for a doctor.
After the doctor took the Second Concubine's pulse, he congratulated Gu Kun, "Congratulations, my lord, congratulations. The Second Concubine is with child."
Gu Kun was overjoyed and exclaimed, "Good, good, good, excellent!"
As the doctor left, Gu Kun instructed the steward to reward him with some silver.
After the doctor departed, the Second Concubine leaned softly into Gu Kun's embrace, her voice gentle, "Master, Gu Wen will be back soon, and Gu Yi and sister Peijun will also be back soon. If you strip me of my authority, won't it make them a laughingstock?
"Moreover, our Gu Wen is about to take the imperial examinations. If you are so heartless to me now, aren't you afraid that Gu Wen will be distracted by his mother's affairs?"
The Second Concubine placed Gu Kun's hand on her belly, her voice soft, "Master, our child is about to arrive. Aren't you afraid that this child will resent you for being so cruel to your concubine?"
The Second Concubine's words swayed Gu Kun.
"Very well, very well. I will handle this matter. However, for the next few days, you will stay in your room to recuperate and not go out casually."
"Yes, Master."
As Gu Kun turned to leave, the Second Concubine tugged at his sleeve, gently requesting, "Master, your concubine wishes to have a heart-to-heart talk with Mingyue."
"As you wish."
The Second Concubine's face lit up with a smile, "Thank you, Master."
With a single sentence from the Second Concubine, Gu Mingyue's confinement was lifted.
After Gu Kun left.
Gu Mingyue entered with her maid.
"Mother, that little slut in the Garden Pavilion is simply detestable!"
The Second Concubine glanced at her, dismissed the maids serving them, and then said, "I didn't expect that little slut Gu Qianying to have some skills. However, fortunately, your mother has a way to protect herself."
From the cook's escape and the betrayal of her maids, the Second Concubine knew that all of this was Gu Qianying's doing.
They had intended to harm Gu Qianying, but Gu Qianying had turned the tables and bitten them back.
If she hadn't kept a contingency plan, she might have had to relinquish her managerial power.
Years ago, she had painstakingly taken this managerial power from the First Madam, and now, she was reluctant to give it back!
Gu Mingyue sat by the bed, her dissatisfaction evident, "Mother, I lost a maid this time and was almost punished by Father. All of this is thanks to that little slut Gu Qianying. Mother, I don't care, I want revenge. I not only want Gu Qianying disfigured, but I also want her dead!"
The Second Concubine stroked her belly, a glint in her eyes, "Daughter, don't be impatient. Some things must be done slowly, not rushed."
In the Garden Pavilion.
The First Madam was personally feeding Gu Qianying a bowl of porridge.
Gu Qianying had initially refused; she wasn't truly injured, and she felt guilty having her mother serve her.
However, the First Madam insisted, saying that if they were to put on a show, they had to do it thoroughly.
After feeding Gu Qianying the porridge, the First Madam went to the kitchen to personally make some of Gu Qianying's favorite pastries.
Bringing the food box along with Madam Wang, she placed it on the table and then asked, "Now that the Second Concubine is pregnant, and considering your father's way of handling things, this incident will likely be dismissed. Qianying, why didn't you let your grandfather intervene in this matter?"