Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Mengyu didn’t mention a word about the arsenic. Instead, she made up a casual excuse. “I heard you’re looking to buy a carriage?”
Xinyu supported her lower back, maintaining her composure as she replied, “My Lady is truly well-informed… I’m buying a carriage because I want to leave Liang Baishan.”
Mengyu arched an eyebrow. “Oh? Why is that?”
“There are things you don’t know, My Lady. He… he beats me often. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with a man like that.”
As she spoke, Xinyu pulled back her sleeve, revealing a horrifying patch of black and blue bruises.
Mengyu let out a long sigh. “You’re carrying his child, and it won’t be easy to make a living on your own out there. If you truly have no other choice, my family has some properties in Jiangnan. I could send you there.”
Xinyu nodded through her tears, showering Mengyu with a thousand thanks.
Once Xinyu had stepped out of Mengyu’s room, Xiaowu asked, “Wasn’t she buying arsenic? How did it turn into buying a carriage?”
Qianfan poked her in the forehead. “You silly girl, who tells the truth when they’re being tested?”
Mengyu gave a soft “shush” and smiled. “Just wait and watch the show.”
They didn’t have to wait long. On the day of the Spring Equinox, Xinyu had a sudden whim to cook and personally prepared some chicken soup.
She served a bowl to Mengyu first. When Liang Baishan tried to take a sip, she even swatted his hand away.
Mengyu picked up the bowl. Under Xinyu’s eager, expectant gaze, she brought it to her lips but didn’t drink.
“It’s a bit hot.”
Xinyu immediately stood up. “Let me serve you, Madam.”
She took a spoon, blew on the soup to cool it, and held it to Mengyu’s lips.
Mengyu watched her for a moment before finally lowering her head and swallowing the mouthful of soup.
A moment later, Mengyu spat out a mouthful of blood.
Qianfan supported Mengyu’s collapsing body while Xiaowu rushed out the door to find a physician.
Liang Baishan’s legs went weak with fright. He looked at Xinyu in disbelief. “What are you doing?”
Whether from excitement or fear, Xinyu was trembling all over. She said, “Liang Baishan, I am carrying your child. You have to protect me.”
Liang Baishan supported Xinyu, looking toward Madam Liang, at a complete loss for what to do.
Liang Wenxiu felt as if the sky was falling. This Xinyu had only just arrived and already dared to commit poisoning! Though the Liang Family liked to take small advantages, they had never done anything as extreme as murdering for money.
Liang Wenxiu said, “I’m going to report this to the authorities!”
Madam Liang grabbed her firmly. “You will do no such thing!”
Madam Liang looked at Xinyu’s belly, then at the dying Mengyu, feeling only a sense of gratification.
She said, “A living daughter of the Gu Family is not as good as a dead one. Gu Mengyu is too clever; we couldn’t gain much from the Gu Family while she was in charge.
“But if she dies, no one will stop me from going to the Gu Family to demand things. To protect their reputation, the Gu Family will be even more willing to give.
“Besides, Baishan has just passed the provincial examinations. If word gets out that a concubine killed his wife in this house, wouldn’t that ruin his future?”
Having said that, she glared viciously at Qianfan and ordered Xinyu, “Force a bowl down her throat as well.”
Liang Wenxiu pleaded through her tears, “Mother, stop this! Xiaowu has already gone for a physician. This can’t be hidden!”
But Madam Liang replied, “It doesn’t matter. That little brat won’t make it out of Luquan Village. Your brother is a successful candidate now; there will be no shortage of people wanting to curry favor with the Liang Family.”
Xinyu brought the soup over, but her pregnancy made it awkward to move. Liang Baishan steeled his heart, took the bowl himself, pinched Qianfan’s chin, and forced the liquid down.
A moment later, Qianfan also spat out a mouthful of blood.
Seeing this, Liang Baishan and Madam Liang actually looked at each other and smiled.
Liang Wenxiu took a step back, feeling as though her mother and brother had both gone mad.