Chapter 34

Chapter 34: A Daughter-in-Law Like That Could Not Stay

Concubine Ping, who was attending nearby, suddenly spoke up: “Madam, Heir’s Wife did not come even once these days to pay respects. So the medicine Madam drank these days… could it be that it was not brewed by her anymore?”

Madam Cui froze.

Thinking back, the medicine these past days really had been different. The broth looked a little paler, and the taste was slightly more bitter and astringent.

A bad feeling rose in Madam Cui’s chest: “Quick, go ask around. Where did the medicine come from these past few days?”

As soon as Madam Cui spoke, the nanny beside her rushed out. In less than half a cup of tea, the nanny hurried back.

When the nanny reported that the medicine these past days had been brewed in the Main Kitchen and sent over, Madam Cui immediately grabbed Qi Shu Xian’s arm hard. It was the first time Qi Shu Xian realized Mother could have such strength.

Madam Cui’s voice shook with fury: “I knew it! I knew she did it on purpose! Just because I said I wanted to keep Meng Yang, she actually wants to kill me!”

Duke Qi ordered grimly, “Bring the person responsible for brewing the medicine.”

Duke Qi did not usually meddle in the inner household, but a small matter had been dragged this far. It had even drawn the authorities. Now someone was even trying to harm a mother-in-law. Even if Sheng Zhi Wan was a Princess, Sheng Zhi Wan still owed the Duke residence an explanation.

The old servant woman in charge of brewing trembled as she produced a sheet of paper: “Th-this is the brewing method Heir’s Wife left behind.”

Duke Qi signaled for her to hand it to Imperial Physician Li.

Imperial Physician Li read it and nodded. Imperial Physician Li muttered to himself, “That’s right. It should be like this. Yes… I did not notice this before. The roots should be handled during the brew and put straight into the medicine…”

Everyone in the room watched Imperial Physician Li until Imperial Physician Li finished.

Duke Qi asked, “Imperial Physician Li, is there any problem with this method?”

Imperial Physician Li said firmly, “No. Not at all. Not only is it fine, if you strictly follow it, the effect should be gentler and more effective.”

A flicker of surprise moved through Duke Qi’s eyes.

Madam Cui could not accept it: “Impossible! If that is true, why did I get worse and worse? I even vomited blood!”

Imperial Physician Li hesitated, unable to explain.

Imperial Physician Li looked at the old servant woman and noticed a faint purple stain under her nails. Imperial Physician Li paused: “Did you strictly follow the method on the paper when you brewed it?”

The old servant woman shivered: “Y-yes…”

Imperial Physician Li snapped, pointing at her hand: “Lies! If you brewed it the way this says, you would have handled the Purple Moonflower roots during the brewing. Purple Moonflower might be called Purple Moonflower, but it has a special trait. The juice of fresh Purple Moonflower is red. Only after the roots have been handled for more than half an hour does it slowly turn purple. If you handled it during the brew, where did the purple under your nails come from?”

The old servant woman’s hands trembled almost invisibly. Her legs went weak. She suddenly slammed her forehead to the floor and begged, “Please spare me, Duke and Madam! This servant did not know it was only the order that changed, and yet-it would affect the medicine so much!”

She sobbed, “A single dose already took a long time to brew. This servant thought that if I processed all the herbs together first, then brewed them together, it would save a lot of time.”

She cried harder: “And this Purple Moonflower is especially troublesome. The roots are thin, and you have to use a needle to pick at them gently so you do not break the inner skin. You also have to peel away the outer fibers… This servant could not manage it. Trying to control the heat while processing it at the same time-I really could not do it!”

Madam Cui was so furious that Madam Cui hurled a jade pillow at her. The old servant woman cried out, and her arm immediately bruised purple.

This time, Imperial Physician Li actually sympathized: “Well… she is not wrong. Many of the herbs in this prescription can clash if you are not careful. If you want their properties to blend, you must be extremely strict with the heat. The timing of each herb and the level of the fire all matter. Even I would need two people beside me to brew it perfectly.”

Madam Cui did not listen at all: “Useless! How could Sheng Zhi Wan brew it, then? You are the one paid to brew medicine, yet you cannot even match her!”

Madam Cui was scolding the old servant woman, but Imperial Physician Li heard it as a slap in the face. Imperial Physician Li’s expression turned ugly.

Imperial Physician Li finally understood the Duchess did not respect Imperial Physician Li at all. Otherwise, Madam Cui would not have refused even now to let Imperial Physician Li examine her, and her words kept implying Imperial Physician Li was wrong. Imperial Physician Li said nothing more, picked up his medical case, and left.

Seeing this, Duke Qi gave Madam Cui an unhappy look. The Duke residence might have been a Second Rank noble house, but it had long declined, yet Madam Cui still offended people everywhere.

Fortunately, Imperial Physician Li was not especially favored, unlike Imperial Physician Song, who was an important figure before the Emperor. Madam Cui clearly thought the same and did not care at all.

What Madam Cui cared about was who would brew her medicine.

Duke Qi looked at Qi Shu Xian: “Since this medicine used to be brewed by your daughter-in-law, then from now on, have her brew it again.”

Qi Shu Xian wanted to agree, but thinking of Sheng Zhi Wan’s current attitude, Qi Shu Xian paused: “Son will go persuade her.”

Duke Qi nodded: “Tell her that if your mother truly suffers because of her, then even if this marriage was granted by an imperial edict, our Duke Qi Manor cannot keep a daughter-in-law like her.”