A maidservant, if not instigated by someone, how could she have the guts to poison the legitimate daughter of the household?!
Fei Cui was someone close to Gu Ming Yue. Without much thought, people would assume that the one who poisoned Gu Qian Ying was Gu Ming Yue.
However, Old General Gu was busy with military camp affairs and rarely stayed in the manor. He was unaware that the person kneeling at his feet was from Yang Chun Pavilion.
After the steward whispered a reminder, Old General Gu glared at Gu Ming Yue and her mother. Before he could even reprimand them,
Gu Ming Yue was the first to kneel and say, "Grandfather, Fei Cui has been with me for many years. I understand her disposition very well. She would never have the courage to poison Eldest Sister. I implore Grandfather to investigate thoroughly."
Everyone in the manor knew that Fei Cui was her person. As the mistress, she naturally had to speak up for her maidservant first.
As she spoke, she deliberately turned her face to the side, allowing Fei Cui to see the earring she wore, which did not match her.
Fei Cui's body trembled, her face turned ashen. She gritted her teeth and kowtowed heavily to Old General Gu, "Old Master, I am framed. I did not poison Eldest Young Lady. I implore Old Master to investigate thoroughly."
After speaking, Fei Cui turned around and kowtowed to Gu Ming Yue: "Miss, someone is framing me. It must be to harm you, Miss. You have shown me immense kindness, and I cannot stand by and watch you be harmed."
Having said that, Fei Cui kowtowed to Old General Gu again: "Old Master, I did not poison Eldest Young Lady. If Old Master does not believe me, I am willing to atone with my death."
Gulp!
Before anyone could react, Fei Cui violently slammed her head against a nearby pillar.
Blood seeped from her forehead, and her body collapsed softly.
"Fei Cui..."
Gu Ming Yue rushed over, weeping heartbrokenly: "Fei Cui, how could you be so foolish? Grandfather would never wrongly accuse you for something you didn't do. Why did you have to do this, Fei Cui..."
Second Concubine walked over, pulled Gu Ming Yue up, and comforted her: "Ming Yue, don't cry. Fei Cui did this because she was afraid you would be wrongly accused. Fortunately, Old Master is wise and will surely uncover the truth and clear Fei Cui's name."
Gu Ming Yue and her mother's synchronized performance left Old General Gu, who had intended to question them, speechless.
It also immediately made everyone feel that the cook had framed Fei Cui.
Gu Qian Ying, who was leaning softly in Gu Ye Feng's arms, slowly spoke: "Grandfather, Grandfather..."
Her voice was weak, unlike before.
Old General Gu immediately stepped forward, sat by the bed, and said with great concern: "How are you feeling now? Grandfather has asked the doctor to write a prescription. After a while, Little Ying will be fine after drinking the medicine."
"Grandfather, please don't blame Second Sister. Second Sister might be innocent. Her maidservant proving her innocence like this shows that she was likely framed. Grandfather, please don't be so angry because of Qian Ying's incident. Excessive anger harms the body. Grandfather, you must take care of yourself. Qian Ying... Qian Ying... will be fine."
Cough, cough, cough.
Gu Qian Ying coughed a couple of times, her face growing paler.
Seeing Gu Qian Ying like this, Old General Gu was filled with heartache.
"Little Ying, don't be afraid. With Grandfather here, Grandfather will find the person who poisoned you."
"Grandfather..."
Gu Qian Ying's eyes welled up with tears, but she held them back from falling.
This made Old General Gu's heart ache even more for Gu Qian Ying.
Gu Ye Feng, holding Gu Qian Ying in his arms, twitched the corner of his mouth. In the end, he couldn't bear it and said, "Grandfather, you don't need to worry. Qian Ying will be fine."
Although his words had a hidden meaning, Old General Gu couldn't understand it at this moment.
A gust of wind blew past, and Gu Ye Feng received a small punch from Old General Gu.
"You rascal, why are you still holding Little Ying? Hurry up and put her down so she can rest properly. If she doesn't rest well, I'll beat you!"
"..."
Gu Ye Feng obediently placed Gu Qian Ying gently on the bed and stayed by her side.
The First Madam tightly held Gu Qian Ying's hand, as if afraid of losing her. Suddenly, she seemed to feel Gu Qian Ying's delicate fingers gently scratch her palm.
The First Madam's expression froze slightly, and her previously sad and grieving heart eased a little.
Immediately, she adjusted Gu Qian Ying's quilt, got up, turned around, and knelt before Old General Gu, saying, "Old Master, now that the maidservant Fei Cui, who was implicated by the cook, has died by crashing into a pillar, there is no evidence. How can the matter of Qian Ying being poisoned be investigated?"
The First Madam dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief and continued, "Your daughter-in-law believes that whoever could poison Qian Ying's food, and who also knew Qian Ying's preference and her allergy to osmanthus, must be someone familiar with her, and someone who could freely enter and exit various parts of the manor's back courtyard. Otherwise, how could a mere cook have carried out such a secretive act?"
The long-serving maids in the Garden Pavilion all knew that Qian Ying disliked osmanthus. Therefore, they never planted osmanthus in the courtyard, and there was never any osmanthus powder in the courtyard. How could a mere cook, who could not move freely in the manor, have obtained osmanthus powder to mix into the osmanthus cakes?
Furthermore, the maidservant Fei Cui died to prove her innocence, suggesting she might have been framed. If this maidservant was framed, then who was the one who gave the osmanthus powder to the cook?
Ultimately, whether Fei Cui was framed or not, since she is dead, it is unknown whether she died to prove her innocence or to protect others. Old Master, if this is investigated one by one, it will surely involve many people and take some effort. If Old Master, who is busy with state affairs, wastes time on this, it would be my filial impiety.
Therefore, your daughter-in-law believes it would be better to hand over this matter to my husband for investigation. My husband will return from Jizhou today. As soon as he returns, I will explain the whole story to him and let him investigate this matter.
Old General Gu fell into thought after hearing the First Madam's words.
Gu Ming Yue and her mother, who were originally worried about being found out and were using Fei Cui's family to force her to death, immediately felt relieved.
Normally, their master doted on them the most. If their master took charge of the matter, they would surely be safe.
Second Concubine gave Gu Ming Yue a look. Gu Ming Yue understood and came before Old General Gu, gracefully kneeling and saying softly, "Grandfather, your granddaughter believes the First Madam's method is feasible. The cook framed my maidservant, which clearly shows someone is trying to frame me. Although Fei Cui died to prove my innocence and hers, if this matter is not clarified, your granddaughter will have difficulty living in the manor."
"If the murderer who poisoned Eldest Sister is not found soon, your granddaughter will not be able to eat or sleep. Grandfather, your granddaughter earnestly requests Grandfather to hand over this matter entirely to Father, and let Father investigate it thoroughly."
Gu Ming Yue's words were spoken with such sincerity, as if she were an outsider.
Listening to her speak, Gu Qian Ying, who was lying on the bed feigning weakness, curled her lips.
The fish have taken the bait!
"Since that is the case, so be it. The manor should indeed be thoroughly inspected."
Old General Gu agreed to everyone's request.
There were many matters to handle in the military camp, and besides, for many years, Kun'er and his wife had been managing the manor's affairs. Entrusting the matter to them as a couple, he was naturally at ease.
With Old General Gu's permission, Gu Ming Yue and her mother felt completely at ease.
After all, their master was on their side. No matter what the truth was, they would not suffer any consequences in the end.
Although the First Madam acted according to Gu Qian Ying's wishes, she was still somewhat worried.
For many years, Gu Kun had been very indifferent to her, almost to the point of favoring concubines over his wife.
If this matter was handed over to him for investigation, she was unsure if it would be a good thing or a bad thing.
Gu Qian Ying was bedridden due to a severe allergic reaction, and the First Madam stayed with her in the room for many days.
When no one else was around, the First Madam quietly asked, "Qian Ying, are you really alright?"
Looking at the red spots on Gu Qian Ying's face, which had not faded for many days, the First Madam was quite worried.
Gu Qian Ying exposed both of her arms and gently applied something to them. Her arms, covered in red spots, returned to normal at a speed visible to the naked eye.