Chapter 61
Chapter 61: Buddhist Scion Left Bleeding from the Head
Zheng Xiu Yun hid in the shadow outside the kitchen, smug satisfaction curling at the corner of her mouth.
She watched as Xiao Man poured tea leaves into the white-porcelain pot—into the very pot Zheng Xiu Yun had spiked—and filled it with boiling water.
The jasmine fragrance rose at once, lush and sweet, smothering any trace of the drug’s faint, cloying scent.
Xiao Man knew nothing. She carried the tray straight toward Lin Qing Xuan’s study—straight onto the path Zheng Xiu Yun had laid out for her.
When the study door closed, Zheng Xiu Yun turned away, pleased, already imagining what would happen next.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a sweeping servant heading this way.
Her heart jerked. She slipped back into the kitchen’s shadow, planning to wait until the servant passed.
But she’d forgotten one thing.
She wasn’t alone.
“Miss Zheng?”
An old, stern voice rang out behind her—like ice water poured down the spine.
Zheng Xiu Yun nearly jumped out of her skin.
She whirled around to find Granny Chen staring at her, her cloudy old eyes sharp as an eagle’s.
“What are you doing skulking outside the Auspicious Cloud Residence’s kitchen?”
Zheng Xiu Yun’s blood went cold. Instinctively, she tried to hide the empty vial behind her back.
Too late.
Granny Chen’s thin arm shot out and snatched the porcelain vial from her hand.
She lifted it to her nose and inhaled sharply.
A faint sweetness hit her—thick, sticky, nauseating.
Granny Chen’s face changed in an instant. Confusion. Shock. Then fury so hot it shook her voice.
“Well, well!”
She jabbed a finger at Zheng Xiu Yun and began to curse.
“So this is what it is! A proper young lady sent by the Zheng family, a well-read, well-mannered young miss—and you carry something this filthy on your person!”
“What did you just put into Buddhist Scion Young Master’s tea?”
Her shout pulled Old Chen Tou and Chen Shi over at once.
Zheng Xiu Yun’s face went deathly white. Panic shattered her poise.
“I didn’t! You’re lying! I didn’t do anything!”
“Still lying?” Granny Chen lifted the vial high, trembling with rage. “This Spring Wind Intoxicant—when I was young in the inner courtyard, I saw enough of this trash to last a lifetime! And you dare use such low tricks on our Buddhist Scion Young Master?”
“You shameless thing! You’ve disgraced the Lin family’s face—and the Zheng family’s face!”
She spat the order like a knife.
“Old Chen! Tie her up! Report to Old Madam and the First Madam—now!”
The moment Old Chen Tou and Chen Shi realized she meant to harm Eldest Grandson Young Master, their eyes went red.
They didn’t waste breath. They grabbed Zheng Xiu Yun and twisted her arms tight, like catching a struggling chick.
“Let go of me!” Zheng Xiu Yun screamed, hair falling loose as she fought wildly. “You dogs! I’m a Miss! How dare you touch me!”
Old Chen Tou and Chen Shi dragged her toward the woodshed while Granny Chen followed behind, cursing loud enough for half the back courtyard to hear.
“Shameless! Trying to stain Buddhist Scion’s good name—you deserve to die! I’m going to tell the First Madam and Old Madam right now. Let them decide how to deal with you!”
She shoved Zheng Xiu Yun into Old Chen Tou’s grip and stormed off to report.
Old Chen Tou was about to throw Zheng Xiu Yun into the woodshed when he froze, sudden horror flashing across his face.
“Wait—”
He shouted, voice cracking.
“That drugged tea… Xiao Man already delivered it to Eldest Grandson Young Master!”
Chen Shi’s expression changed sharply. Father and son exchanged one look.
Old Chen Tou roared, “Tie her tight and lock her in the woodshed!”
Then he turned and sprinted toward the study.
Chen Shi bound Zheng Xiu Yun fast, shoved her inside, and ran after him.
They slammed into the study without knocking.
A heavy thud echoed through the room.
Lin Qing Xuan let out a muffled groan, his tall body jolting as his grip on Xiao Man finally loosened.
Xiao Man shot out from under his arm like a loach and fled without looking back.
She collided with Old Chen Tou and Chen Shi as they rushed in.
“Ow—!”
Old Chen Tou staggered back a step. When he saw it was Xiao Man, then saw Lin Qing Xuan on the floor, blood spilling from a split forehead, he sucked in a sharp breath.
“You maid—how ruthless can you be? Chen Shi! Go get Doctor Wang!”
Xiao Man trembled head to toe, teeth chattering so hard they clicked.
“Uncle Chen… I—I had no choice. Young Master lost his mind. If I didn’t hit him, my innocence would’ve been ruined!”
Old Chen Tou’s face tightened with panic.
“Hurry! Get him up! Old Madam and the First Madam will be here any moment. If they see this, you’re finished!”
They scrambled to straighten the room, hands shaking. Luck—pure luck—put Doctor Wang’s feet at their door before the madams arrived.
“Doctor Wang!” Old Chen Tou blurted. “Quick—stop the bleeding!”
He thrust the small porcelain vial at Doctor Wang.
Doctor Wang sniffed once, brows lifting. Then he pointed at Xiao Man, whose face had gone pale as paper.
“Spring Wind Intoxicant. This maid did it?”
Xiao Man nearly stopped breathing. “Not me! I swear it wasn’t!”
“Treat him first!” Old Chen Tou pleaded. “There’s blood everywhere. The madams are coming—she’ll be in deep trouble!”
Doctor Wang glanced at Lin Qing Xuan, then at Xiao Man, and gave a short, amused snort.
“Oh. The maid hit him.” His tone was almost approving. “Not a bad method. If he’s unconscious, he can’t do anything crazy.”
He snapped into command.
“Little maid, you caused this—you help. Old Chen Tou, bring hot water. Get clean cloths. Chen Shi, pick up the porcelain shards. And keep that teapot of tea as evidence. Don’t let the madams see this mess.”
They moved instantly.
Xiao Man’s hands shook as she wiped the blood from Lin Qing Xuan’s forehead and face.
Doctor Wang glanced at her again, voice edged with surprise.
“Strong arm. That strike was clean and vicious—knocked him out in one go. Saved me work.”
He gestured at the wound. “But if Buddhist Scion Young Master ends up with a scar on his forehead… you won’t have an easy life.”
Chen Shi shuddered.
Old Chen Tou smacked the back of his son’s head. “Get outside and guard the door!”
Xiao Man’s face flushed in mortified embarrassment, but the tight string in her chest loosened a fraction.
If Doctor Wang could joke, Lin Qing Xuan wasn’t dying.
[But this is ancient times… what about tetanus?]
Doctor Wang shoved Chen Shi toward the door.
“Guard it. When the First Madam and Old Madam arrive, tell them Young Master was drugged, feverish, not in his right mind. He tried to pour cold water to sober up, his legs went weak, and he hit the table corner. I’m stitching him up—no interruptions.”
Doctor Wang worked fast.
He parted the hair at Lin Qing Xuan’s temple and wiped away the oozing blood. He opened a gourd of strong liquor, the sharp scent filling the air, and pressed a soaked cloth hard to the wound.
Even unconscious, Lin Qing Xuan let out a pained sound.
Doctor Wang used tweezers to probe the cut again and again, making sure no porcelain fragments remained. Then he threaded a silver needle, heated it over the candle flame, and stitched the skin with brisk precision.
Six stitches.
He packed up his tools and looked at Xiao Man.
“You swung the weapon. From today on, you handle Young Master’s bandage changes and medicine. If you don’t know something, send Stone to ask me.”
Outside, Granny Chen’s loud voice rang down the corridor.
“Old Madam, mind your step! That vile Zheng Xiu Yun has been locked in the woodshed! Next we’ll have the First Madam’s people interrogate her properly!”
Chen Shi repeated Doctor Wang’s story to the arriving Old Madam and First Madam, voice loud and urgent.
“Old Madam, First Madam—Eldest Grandson Young Master was drugged. He was feverish and not clear-headed. He tried to pour cold water to sober up, his legs went weak, and he hit the table corner. Doctor Wang is inside stitching him up!”
The First Madam tried to push in, frantic, but Chen Shi blocked her hard.
“Doctor Wang said no one can disturb him while he’s stitching!”
The First Madam spun in place with helpless anxiety.
Old Madam, by contrast, stayed steadier. She patted the First Madam’s arm, voice calm.
“Do you doubt Doctor Wang’s skill? If he says it’s fine, it’s fine.” She paused, eyes narrowing slightly. “It’s just… stitches on the forehead. He may be left with a scar.”