Even though Du Wanqiu was not bitten by a snake, the great turmoil at home and the scandalous news of the Wuchang Duke being castrated worried her every day. She sighed nervously, fearing that her own home would follow the same fate as the Wuchang Duke’s!
The Second House had no casualties, but Du Wanyue was terrified by a python that snuck into her bed in the middle of the night. She spent every day cowering in a corner, shrieking whenever anyone got close. Her mouth wouldn’t stop repeating: "Snake, snake, snake..."
The Imperial Physician who examined her said that she had gone mad from fright, and that recovery might be unlikely. Thus, the entire Second House was also enveloped in a shroud of gloom.
Du Yongchun from the Third House had also been bitten by a snake, but his ability to withstand the shock saved him from going mad. Unfortunately, he had been bitten on his face, and for the next few days, he couldn’t show himself to others...
Du Ruohai escaped the calamity because he had spent that night in Aunt Liao’s courtyard. However, he didn’t feel relieved. The tragic deaths of his grandsons weighed heavily on his already depressed heart. Moreover, why were there so many snakes suddenly appearing in their home for no reason?
Who could be responsible? The younger generation of Duke An’s family may be good for nothing, but they are all timid and never offend anyone outside. He himself had never crossed anyone either. Who could be harboring such ill intentions towards the duke’s mansion? And who had the capability to release so many snakes without being noticed?
An atmosphere similar to Duke An’s mansion prevailed at Huo Mansion, the richest family in Jin Nation.
The news of Huo Yuan being summoned by the Ying Tianfu reached Huo Mansion moments after he left.
The shock almost took the color off Old Lady Huo, who promptly ordered the preparation of a sedan chair, intending to appeal to Consort Huo in the palace.
However, the sedan chair was stopped at the palace gate. An eunuch from the Internal Affairs Department mockingly informed her that Consort Huo was under house arrest for having defied Empress Jin, was spending her time in seclusion and copying Scriptures under orders from the Empress, and could not meet outsiders without higher-up’s permission.
The shock caused the old lady to faint on the spot. Her family members had her carried back to her residence, "Ci Shou Hall," in a sedan chair. Doctor Yao from the Imperial Hospital was on his way to Huo Mansion, while Huo Yuan’s numerous concubines all gathered in the courtyard of Ci Shou Hall, preparing to attend to her.
All of Huo’s family members had gathered and were in discussion about rescuing Huo Yuan.
As Huo Yuan was absent and the Old Lady had fallen ill, Huo Qi, the second old master of the house, now held the most authority. Sitting on the main seat, he wore a worried expression as he questioned the major steward, who had been dispatched to Ying Tianfu to see Huo Yuan, about the news.
The steward had not seen Huo Yuan, but he brought back an unsettling piece of news.
Apparently, Young Master Huo had been interrogated in the main hall and was now in jail without much being elicited, leaving his condition unknown.
Huo Mansion was wealthy. The steward had spent a hefty amount of money and eventually learned about Huo Yuan’s arrest from a clerk at Ying Tianfu. He didn’t dare to delay and hurried back to report.
Upon hearing this, Second Old Master Huo Qi was immediately enraged: "It’s all because of the Mu’s family that our Huo family is caught up in this! Such disastrous troublemakers should have been driven out long ago. Why are they still allowed to stay at our Huo Mansion?"
Everyone present fell silent. They all knew that the Mu family was invited by Huo Yuan himself to stay at Bishui Villa. The moment they moved in, Huo Yuan never returned home and continued to live with them at Bishui Villa, showing his favour towards them. If they took action against the Mu family while Huo Yuan was away, wouldn’t they be blamed when he returned?
However, if Second Elder Huo Qi wanted to replace his nephew Huo Yuan and become the head of the family, he would have to do something in opposition to Huo Yuan to establish his authority and show that he was not afraid of him.