The misunderstanding and estrangement of over a decade would naturally not be easily dispelled overnight.
The mother and daughter chatted politely for a while, but the conversation grew increasingly awkward. Seeing that the main matter had been discussed, Lu Nianfu simply rose to take her leave. Madam Ban seemed reluctant, "Why not stay for dinner before you go?"
"No, I still need to discuss prices with Imperial Physician Ji."
Sitting opposite each other was awkward enough; she feared indigestion if they were to share a meal.
"There's no rush," Madam Ban waved her hands repeatedly, "No need for a high price, just be fair."
Lu Nianfu waved her hand, indicating she understood.
Seeing her insistence on leaving, Madam Ban quickly rose to see her off. Just as they reached the doorway, the butler hurried over, "Madam, something has happened at the medicinal herb shed."
"What is it?"
"Some villagers were cutting firewood on the mountain and passed by the shed, smelling a terrible stench. They boldly went inside and found over a dozen people lying there, dead for several days. They reported it to the authorities."
For the convenience of raising gu worms, Earl Pingning had specially chosen the medicinal herb shed halfway up the mountain, which was why the deaths went unnoticed for days.
Madam Ban swayed.
Lu Nianfu quickly supported her, "Which yamen did they report to?"
"The Jingzhao Prefecture."
She had been having quite a bit of contact with the Jingzhao Prefecture recently. Lu Nianfu beckoned a hidden guard and sent him to the Dali Temple to find Situ Yan. After the fall of Xijiang, the art of gu raising gradually declined. The people of Dayin's impression of it was limited to witchcraft harming people, unaware that the original intention of Xijiang's witchcraft was to save lives.
Ji Jin had encountered related texts in the imperial palace library and became utterly engrossed, unable to extricate himself.
He lamented the lack of practitioners of this art in Dayin, finding no one to discuss it with. Discovering that Earl Pingning used the silken thread gu in medicine and to control others naturally piqued his interest, leading him to offer a high price for the shed.
But now, the shed had become a crime scene. To preserve the gu worms and documents within, there was no time to delay.
With the incident at the medicinal herb shed, Madam Ban, as the mistress, would inevitably be summoned by the Jingzhao Prefecture for questioning. Lu Nianfu said, "You should go back and prepare. The Jingzhao Prefecture might send someone over soon. If I'm not mistaken, their cause of death is the same as Su Xin and Su Yue's."
Madam Ban sighed, "Your father truly has caused much suffering."
Lu Nianfu offered no comment and left the Fragrant Sand Courtyard with Qingya. Outside the courtyard, Zeng Weiyang was waiting with a box. Seeing her, he stepped forward and whispered, "Sister, I made a sachet the other day. Inside is a hundred recitations of the Heart Sutra that I copied by hand. It's for protection. Do you like the pattern?"
Lu Nianfu stopped, surprised, "I never imagined you'd dare to approach this Princess of the Realm so proactively."
Zeng Weiyang bit his lip, "Sister, what are you saying? You are my only sister, so naturally I..."
"Enough. I fell asleep in your room several times. That was you, wasn't it? To make it convenient for Su Xin to take my blood." No wonder she felt dizzy after visiting a few times.
Now that it all connected, Zeng Weiyang's closeness to her likely had ill intentions from the start.
Zeng Weiyang appeared to realize something, "So Sister knows everything. No wonder Father faked his illness until it became real, and Su Xin and Su Yue died so suddenly. Since Sister knows the truth, you should also know that I had no choice but to do what I did. If I hadn't, I might not have survived this long from excessive blood loss."
Lu Nianfu nodded, "When it comes to life and death, sisterly affection is indeed of little consequence. That's why I didn't deal with you for that."
"Sister..."
"Keep that 'Sister' to call someone else. After all, no one wants a sister who could endanger them at any moment." Lu Nianfu said, and paid him no further attention.
Zeng Weiyang lowered his head, watching her apricot-colored skirt flutter past, her embroidered shoes with their lustrous pearls swaying with her steps. Though the colors were warm, they were undeniably noble and unattainable.
He couldn't help but clench his fists and shout at her retreating back, "You have your mother planning for you, and a powerful husband protecting you, so it's easy for you to speak without concern. But what do I have? When you question me, have you ever asked yourself why you are so indifferent to your own sister? If you had only extended a little help, helped me find a high-status husband, or brought me into Prince Rui's mansion as a concubine, I wouldn't have had to scheme against you to survive."
"Wow, where does she get the nerve to say such a thing?" Qingya scoffed, "Miss, just ignore her. She really thinks you owe her."
"Zeng Weixi, you owe me. If your mother hadn't sent you away back then, Father wouldn't have drawn blood from me alone, and my body wouldn't be so frail. Don't think you can erase everything by ignoring me. What you owe me, you will owe me for this lifetime."
Lu Nianfu slowly turned back. The girl less than ten paces away was hysterical, her small face flushed red from shouting.
She showed a malicious smile, "You know that was my mother. What wrong did she do by planning for me? If you're not reconciled, go find your own mother."
Qingya chimed in, "Exactly, do you think the whole world is your mother?"
Zeng Weiyang's face instantly turned pale.
Lu Nianfu paid her no mind, turned, and walked away. Qingya was even more brazen, her steps vigorous and unyielding.