Chapter 14: Conspiracy 1
Mrs. Zhong, whose name is Yao Ruopian, is the sister-in-law of Zhong Suluo.
Because of Zhong Suluo's rebellion, all the property of the Zhong family was confiscated into the national treasury.
Therefore, compared with her previous attire, Yao Ruopian's attire was so plain that there was no trace of her being the wife of Prime Minister Tinghe.
Tinghe Cheng, a second-rank official, is a member of Tinghetai.
Tinghetai was similar to Yinsitai in structure and was jointly managed by Tinghecheng and Tinghexiang. They were responsible for revising laws and regulations, and trying and punishing the crimes and mistakes of civilians.
"Madam Ning, are you all right?"
Yao Ruopian smiled warmly and took the initiative to greet Mu Rong.
Her hairstyle is exquisite and beautiful, which complements her simple outfit.
Her eyes are like autumn water, graceful and soft, adding a touch of elegance.
The hem of her dress fluttered gently, like a willow swaying in the wind, graceful and elegant.
Every time they met, Mu Rong was amazed by her.
"Thank you for your concern, Madam Zhong. It has been more than three months since we last met at the palace banquet, right?"
Yao Ruopian smiled politely, followed her footsteps and sat down with her.
"Mrs. Ning has a really good memory. Now that I've calculated, it's been more than three months since we last met."
After greeting Mu Rong, Yao Ruopian turned to Ning Fengzhe, nodded and smiled.
"Young Master Ning's elegant demeanor is even more outstanding."
Ning Fengzhe bowed respectfully and smiled back politely.
"Mrs. Zhong, you are too kind. Fengzhe is ashamed."
Yao Ruopian looked back and her gaze fell on Mu Rong again.
"I don't quite understand what's going on on the chessboard. I hope Madam Ning won't be offended by bothering me so late at night."
At this point, two maids came forward carrying food boxes.
There are many snacks in the food box.
Various flavors, fragrant aroma.
"I cooked all of this myself. My family is in trouble, so I can't come up with a decent gift. I can only use this to show my sincerity. I'm sorry to bother you, Madam and Master."
Mu Rong politely consoled him, "How could that be true? I heard that Madam Zhong's cooking skills are the best in the capital."
"Fongzhe, let's try it together."
"Yes, please let Mrs. Zhong and mother try it first."
Yao Ruopian gave way and let Mu Rong taste it first.
Mu Rong picked a snack at random and tasted it with a smile.
During this time, Yao Ruopian dismissed his attendants and prepared to get down to business.
Mu Rong only ate two bites of snacks when she suddenly felt abdominal pain!
"hiss……"
Mu Rong endured the pain and didn't scream out.
Yao Ruopian and Ning Fengzhe were startled at the same time and quickly stood up to show concern.
"What happened to Madam Ning?"
"Mother?"
Mu Rong was in so much pain that she almost lost consciousness, and her eyes were wandering. Finally, she looked at Yao Ruopian with difficulty.
"Aren't you... here to cooperate?"
Seeing that she was suspicious, Yao Ruopian was startled.
"Of course I want to cooperate."
"Please don't doubt me, Madam Ning. I definitely didn't tamper with the snacks."
"This may be a plot by someone with ulterior motives to sow discord."
"Mr. Ning, please go and get the doctor."
Ning Fengzhe did not leave, but loudly ordered the servants outside the house: "Come here, go and ask the doctor to come over."
After he finished speaking, Ning Fengzhe noticed the note in the food box.
When I picked it up, I saw the note saying: I'm sorry for the loss of Xiangcao. Please accept it, madam.
At a glance, Mu Rong recognized Liu Yan's handwriting. In the pain, she lost her mind for a moment and shouted angrily: "This is Liu Yan's handwriting!"
"I've let her go, but she still won't give in. What does she want to do?"
"It's just too much!"
"I'll go to Jingzhixuan right now to get rid of this trouble!"
Jingzhixuan is where Ning Hanwang hides Liu Yan.
Ning Fengzhe was safe and sound, and naturally rational and calm. He stopped his mother at the first moment.
"Mother, don't be impulsive."
"The handwriting may have been forged by someone else."
"Liu Yan has never understood anything about medicine. How did she know that Mingxiangcao can cause abdominal pain?"
"Besides, she is in Jingzhixuan, not in Ning Mansion. How can she stir up trouble in the backyard of Ning Mansion?"
"This is obviously Ning Yunxi's plan!"
"Mother is trying to use her to deal with Liu Yan by retreating in order to advance. Naturally, she will not sit idly by and wait for death."
"If mother falls into the trap and becomes hostile to Liu Yan, then father will do that to you..."
Mu Rong's breathing became heavier due to the pain and her forehead was covered with sweat.
"Who knows whether Ning Yunxi did this alone or she and Liu Yan conspired together?"
"She won't sit still and wait for death, and neither will I!"
"I have the evidence in my hand. I just need to file a complaint before the master, and the master will do justice."
Ning Fengzhe caressed his mother's back with heartache and tried to persuade her earnestly.
"Mother's so-called evidence points directly at Liu Yan, not Ning Yunxi."
"Mother thinks that when father asks Liu Yan whether she wrote the note, Liu Yan will say yes or no?"
"It's obvious that Liu Yan will refuse to admit it, and Ning Yunxi will stay out of it. In this case, how can father not misunderstand that mother is deliberately making trouble and wants him to deal with Liu Yan personally?"
Mu Rong was so angry that she almost fainted.
"Then I can only suffer in silence?"
"I am the head of the Ning Mansion's backyard. Why does Ning Yunxi step on my head?"
"I must get rid of Liu Yan. Without her, I wonder how much trouble Ning Yunxi can stir up!"
Yao Ruopian listened for a while, grasped the situation, and then spoke.
"Madam Ning, please calm down. I have learned a lesson today about the cunningness of the third daughter of Ning."
"I've thought about it a lot, but I still can't figure out how she did it."
"It shows that she is indeed difficult to deal with."
"Mrs. Ning, don't worry. The reason I disturbed you so late at night is not just for this person, right?"
"If you and I work together, wouldn't it be easy to deal with a little girl?"
"Anyway, she is not of Ning clan bloodline. She is just an orphan. It is not a pity for her to die."
Ning Fengzhe was secretly shocked, but did not show it.
"An orphan girl?"
Yao Ruopian had it all figured out, and replied directly, "Twenty-two years ago, Duke Ning adopted a baby girl who was not even a month old, and told the public that the baby girl was born to Madam Ning. Coincidentally, I know the person who gave the baby girl up for adoption."
"Madam Ning once sent people to remove all traces of the baby girl being adopted, but before they could do anything, they discovered that someone had gotten there first."
"Back then, it was me who eliminated all the troubles for Madam Ning."
Ning Fengzhe was half-believing and half-doubting: "Really?"
"Thank you so much, Mrs. Zhong, for your help."
As soon as he finished speaking, the doctor came.
The abdominal pain was cured, and as soon as the doctor left, Mu Rong drank a sip of tea and the abdominal pain came back again.
This time, Mu Rong asked the doctor to check all the food in the house.
As expected, they were all poisoned with incense.
Notes imitating Liu Yan's handwriting can be seen everywhere.
Mu Rong felt that she could no longer endure it.
"How should I deal with her if she keeps playing tricks like this?"
"I can't eat, I dare not drink, am I going to be starved to death by her?"
Ning Fengzhe was still rational and soon figured out a clue.
"I see."
"Aunt Noble Concubine requested permission to invite all the doctors in the palace to treat my second brother."
"In order to take care of my second brother more conveniently, my mother let him live in Xianyi Residence."
"The imperial physicians come and go without restriction."
"I'm afraid there are people from King Dijin among them."
Mu Rong frowned.
"When did she communicate with King Dijin?"
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"Go to Xiangzhu Garden in person and call Qiubi over. I want to question her!"