Slender willows sway in the breeze

Chapter 3 Poisoning
She didn't want to wait a moment longer; she just wanted to throw that bitch out of the Liu family immediately.

Zhu Yingrong said with a stern face: "How many times have I told you to stay calm when you encounter problems? Losing your composure is tantamount to courting death."

"mother."

Liu Siqin's eyes were red from being scolded.

Seeing this, Zhu Yingrong felt sorry for her and softened her tone: "It's just giving up a courtyard. She won't stay for more than a few days. When your father comes back, he will make her get out of the Liu residence."

Liu Siqin continued to complain, "Father, you're the same. You said you'd be home today, which is why Mother postponed the banquet until today, but then she sent word this morning that it would be delayed for two days. If Father were here, how would that bitch dare to come here? Mother, aren't you surprised by her sudden appearance?"

Zhu Yingrong naturally had her own thoughts.

After Chu died of illness, she devised a scheme to make Liu Shiyuan dislike Liu Sijun, and finally drove this eyesore to another courtyard.

She had people all over the villa; killing a good-for-nothing without anyone noticing would be easy for her.

But she's incredibly lucky.

A year passed, and he still hadn't died, but he lay in bed all day, barely clinging to life.

At the time, I thought it would be okay to live a sickly life.

As long as she doesn't appear at the Liu residence, her role as the zither player is that of the only girl in the eldest branch of the family.

There is no difference between legitimate and illegitimate children.

But now, the person who had one foot in the coffin is standing perfectly fine in front of him.

As for the reason, we will investigate it thoroughly when we have the time.

"Alright, alright, you've made a scene enough. Hurry up and come with your mother to the front yard to greet our distinguished guests. Today is your special day, don't let irrelevant people spoil it."

A smile finally appeared on Liu Siqin's face.

Mother is right, she is the star of the show today.

These people are here to celebrate her; we shouldn't let that bitch ruin our mood.

When they arrived, they saw Liu Sijun already standing there, looking calm and chatting with the ladies.

"Mother, she's not in Qingqiu Courtyard, so why is she here again?"

"Calm down."

The person speaking to Liu Sijun was the second wife of the Qin family. Her daughter, Qin Lanying, had married into the Chu family. Liu Sijun's deceased mother was a member of the Chu family. In terms of seniority, Qin Lanying should call the Chu family aunt.

A look of disdain flashed in Zhu Yingrong's eyes; this guy had only just returned and was already trying to build a relationship.

"I was in a hurry to take care of some things and neglected you all. Please come and take your seats with me."

Madam Qin could only swallow her words before she could finish: "It's good that he's back. Come visit the Qin residence when you have time."

Liu Sijun nodded in agreement.

Turning around, she found everyone else already seated, while she stood there inappropriately.

Zhu Yingrong: "It's all my fault. I thought that the Third Miss would be too tired from her journey to attend the banquet, so I didn't prepare a seat for you."

Liu Sijun: "..."

I thought I had transmigrated into a world of cultivation, but I never expected to find such a fascinating domestic power struggle.

Fortunately, I never ate pig's head meat in my past life, but I did see pigs run.

She is adept at various ways of dealing with the inner workings of the household, such as being subtly manipulative, bullying others, and being sarcastic.

"There's no need to go to such lengths."

Liu Sijun moved gracefully and sat down in the empty seat next to Zhu Yingrong.

The guests who came to offer their congratulations looked at each other in bewilderment.

I never expected that a mere visit to the Liu residence would turn into such a spectacular show.

It's because the Liu family only had a child who had just reached the Foundation Establishment stage, yet they still had to hold such a big, pointless banquet to annoy them.

"Third Miss, this position belongs to your father."

Liu Sijun asked calmly, "Will Father come?"

Zhu Yingrong choked: "It's true that I can't make it back in time, but it's not appropriate for a junior like you to sit here. How about we set up another seat for you at the last table?"

"There's no need for such trouble. Does Aunt Zhu think that I, the eldest daughter of the Liu family, am unworthy to sit in the main seat?" It's true that she is a junior, but no one can deny her status as the eldest daughter.

Madam Qin Er chimed in, "With the proper master of the Liu family absent, you are the eldest daughter of the main branch. Although you are a junior, you are qualified to sit in this position."

The words "proper master" almost made Zhu Yingrong break her patience.

She had worked so hard for so long because she wanted to become a proper mistress of the Liu family. It would sound much better to be a concubine and then be promoted to the position of principal wife than to remain a concubine forever.

When Madam Qin spoke, several people who were on good terms with her chimed in.

What else could she do?

They could only let Liu Sijun sit in the main seat and greet everyone as the host, which not only stole the spotlight from their daughter but also put her in an awkward position.

Even though Liu Shiyuan was notified at the last minute that he wouldn't be returning, she never removed him from that position.

The intention was to let everyone know that Liu Shiyuan's absence was not intentional, but rather due to being unable to attend, so that people would not underestimate his daughter.

Now, Liu Sijun has seized the opportunity to steal the spotlight.

Zhu Yingrong was filled with deep regret at this moment.

Liu Siqin's lips curled up even higher out of jealousy.

You bitch, just you wait!

The banquet was in a pleasant atmosphere for a while, but no one expected that the third young lady, who had just returned to the mansion, would suddenly spit out a mouthful of blood, her face would turn purple at a speed visible to the naked eye, and she would soon lose consciousness.

"My God, is the Third Miss poisoned?"

Zhu Yingrong immediately felt a jolt and instructed Steward Zhou, "Go and invite Master Lu Dan here."

Liu Sijun can die, but not in such a public manner.

And you absolutely cannot have anything to do with her.

Master Lu arrived quickly, dressed in a white Taoist robe. He looked to be in his early thirties, but those who knew him knew that he was actually over eighty.

Liu Sijun has been placed in a nearby side room.

Zhu Yingrong asked, "Master Lu, how is the Third Young Lady?"

"Poisoning. This poison is called Nine-Turn Turtle Poison, which is a slow-acting poison that will erupt when it accumulates to a certain level."

Aunt Zhu's expression changed slightly.

Liu Siqin then said, "So you're saying it wasn't the poison from today's banquet?"

That has nothing to do with the mother, and she can't be blamed.

"This cannot be ruled out for the time being. Judging from the Third Miss's pulse, she has been poisoned for at least four or five years."

Four or five years had passed, meaning he had already been poisoned before even going to the other residence.

Moreover, he visited the villa without interruption for four years...

Every lady present was a shrewd and capable person.

Especially Madam Qin, who made no attempt to hide her gaze when looking at Zhu Yingrong.

Unfortunately, there's no point in arguing at this moment, otherwise it would seem like I'm acting out of guilt.

Zhu Yingrong hadn't felt this frustrated in many years.

"Master Lu, is this poison curable?"

"Of course it can be cured, but the Third Miss has been poisoned for quite some time, so it will take some time. If she wants to recover to her current state, she will need the best spiritual medicine to nourish her."

Zhu Yingrong immediately adopted a motherly demeanor: "Just tell me what kind of pills you need, Alchemist Lu. As long as I can find them, I will definitely find them for you. Getting you well is the most important thing."

Master Lu wrote three pages in a long and detailed manner: "I still need to perform acupuncture on the Third Miss. Everyone, please go out and wait! By the way, Aunt Zhu, these medicinal herbs need to be sent over as soon as possible. I still need them."

Looking at the various rare medicinal herbs on the table, Zhu Yingrong felt her heart was bleeding.

How much money will that cost?

Liu Sijun doesn't deserve her at all!

(End of this chapter)