Before the Lady could speak, Madam Luo snorted lightly and chuckled, "Sister, such words frighten me. I’ve been in this household for many years, and the Lady has managed affairs so well, everything in perfect order, everyone living harmoniously. Who would do such a thing?" She covered her mouth with a handkerchief, raising an eyebrow, eager for more drama, "Are you saying the Lady hasn’t managed well, or are you suspecting someone is jealous because you are carrying a son and intentionally drugged you?"
This was openly saying that Madam Wang was suspecting the Lady, Madam Luo, and Madam Mei, all three!
Madam Mei’s face stiffened, her lips turned white, and she spoke rapidly, "I didn’t do anything, Sister, you can’t just falsely accuse me!"
Madam Luo sneered, "Falsely accuse? She’s not making wild accusations now. She has real evidence!"
Madam Wang’s icy gaze suddenly turned towards Madam Luo and Madam Mei. Madam Mei shivered slightly, but Madam Luo nonchalantly smiled provocatively and said, "Sister, take care of your health; a miscarriage is no small matter!"
The Lady’s face turned completely cold, a look of contempt wrinkling her brows, "Everyone shut up!" Her stern gaze fell on Nanny Qiu, who trembled and quickly rose to help Madam Wang, "Madam, please get up. The Lady will surely find out the truth." Madam Wang remained on the ground, and Nanny Qiu struggled to pull her up.
The Lady narrowed her eyes, her voice chilly, "What madness is this! The situation isn’t clear yet. With no evidence, you should keep your mouth shut. You’re still a mistress here; do you want to lose face in front of all these maids and servants?" She then turned to the kneeling maids, "Are you all dead? Go help your mistress."
This was openly disrespecting Madam Wang in front of the servants.
The maids hurriedly went to pull up Madam Wang. Unable to resist, she could only scream, "First Master, I’ve let you down! All I’ve ever wanted was to extend the Tong Family line, but there’s deceit plotting against me! I’ve brought shame to you and the Tong ancestors!"
Madam Wang, using force, suddenly broke free and aimed to hit her head on the table where the Lady sat.
Nanny Fang, quick on her feet, lunged forward to catch Madam Wang just in time.
Tong Xiyang rushed from inside, pretending to be weak, and embraced Madam Wang.
Everyone was terrified into silence, the room engulfed in a deathly stillness, only Madam Wang’s ear-splitting cries echoing.
The Lady’s face turned livid with rage, "Drag her inside now!" Nanny Fang personally went to pull Madam Wang, her voice laced with a bone-chilling coldness, "Madam, what are you doing? The Lady hasn’t even started the investigation, and you’re already seeking death. People might understand if you’re heartbroken for your lost child, but it could also make others think the Lady did something to drive you to this."
Madam Wang lay sprawled on the floor, clutching her abdomen, her icy stare fixed on Nanny Fang, "Why say that, Nanny? Everyone knows it’s better to live in shame than die, but someone wants to end the lives of us mother and son, and the Lady won’t stand up for us. Wouldn’t it be cleaner for us to die together!" She took out a handkerchief and began to cry again, "I only wish to see the First Master one more time, let him know the grievances I’ve endured..."
The Lady slammed the table, cutting off Madam Wang’s cries, her face darkening as she said to the side, "Is the soup still kept?"
Moju, already scared witless, shook her head while sobbing, "I don’t know, after eating, the kitchen people came and took everything away with the dishes."
A clever maid from the kitchen spoke up, "It’s still kept. It rained last night, so I let them leave early to rest, thinking to clean up early in the morning. But hearing the unrest from Madam Wang’s place, I specially instructed to keep it."
The Lady commanded coldly, "Go! Get someone to bring all the food here, and invite Doctor Hu to the mansion again." She intended to examine it in front of everyone!
Madam Luo stood with her head bowed to the side, the corners of her mouth twitching imperceptibly!
Madam Wang jolted slightly but remained kneeling silently, while Tong Xiyang subtly looked up to observe the Lady.
Soon, a maid announced from outside the courtyard that the doctor had arrived.
The Lady maintained a stern face, pointing to the vermilion lacquered partition, not looking at Madam Wang, "Help her inside and wait. When the doctor arrives, let her listen too!"
Madam Wang no longer spoke, compliantly sitting behind the partition, with Tong Xiyang also being helped inside. Madam Luo and Madam Mei also moved behind the partition.
In a small while, Doctor Hu hurried in. After exchanging formalities with the Lady, Zijuan led the maids out and closed the door, leaving only the Lady, Doctor Hu, Nanny Fang, and those behind the partition in the central hall. The Lady pointed to the plates of leftover food on the Fushoulu table, "Please have a look, Doctor."
Doctor Hu had been associated with the Tong Mansion for over a decade and was quite renowned in the Capital, well-versed in the affairs of large households. Without further questions, he took out silver needles and began to examine the food. After some time, he shook his head, "Reporting to the Lady, these dishes are clean, no issues found."
The Lady’s eyes showed some surprise, but before she could speak, Madam Wang’s sharp voice rang from behind the partition, "Impossible! You charlatan, reaching conclusions merely by probing with silver needles." She rushed out, forgetting decorum, "All clean, then why did I have diarrhea?"
Doctor Hu’s face turned unpleasant, disregarding decorum, he spoke harshly, "Madam, I have practiced medicine for over 20 years, encountered countless such cases; if you don’t trust me, please find someone more capable!" He was about to leave, his sleeves flaring as he turned, but Nanny Fang laughed and blocked him, "Please, calm down, Doctor!" She personally offered him tea.
The Lady, however, hardened her voice sternly, "Silence!" She pointed to Nanny Fang, "Gag this unruly woman. If she speaks recklessly again, don’t blame me for being merciless."
Madam Wang cried unabashedly, having nothing left to consider. With her child gone, she no longer had protection, not like Madam Xia, who quietly submitted to the Lady’s whims.
Nanny Fang, not daring to exert too much force, stood in a deadlock with Madam Wang in front of the screen.
The Lady ignored them, turning to Doctor Hu, asking, "According to you, Doctor, what is the root cause of this ailment?"
Having sipped his tea, Doctor Hu’s tone softened, furrowing his brow, "Madam, I examined your condition earlier. If you ask me, the root cause might have a significant connection to the pork rib soup made with Heavenly Fire Grass."
As soon as he said this, a deathly silence engulfed the area behind the partition, Madam Luo slightly frowned with a glint of doubt in her eyes, Madam Mei, startled, dropped her handkerchief...
Madam Wang froze, even forgetting to struggle, staring motionlessly at the Lady.
Both the Lady and Nanny Fang wore unpleasant expressions. Nanny Fang released Madam Wang, smiling at Doctor Hu, "If it’s truly caused by that herb, why was the Lady unaffected after consumption, while the Madam suffered?"