Zi Yan saw her young lady acting carefree and anxiously said, "My good lady, what time is it, and you're still concerned about this? The Marquis's matter is the most important thing right now."
Li Man'er calmly replied, "Why the hurry? The best part is yet to come!"
"The best part?" Lv Yi was bewildered and couldn't help but whisper to Zi Yan, "Did miss not understand?" She still thought of Li Man'er as the one who only caused trouble before.
"Don't be silly." If even a maid understood this, how could her young lady not? Zi Yan just couldn't figure out what her young lady meant by "the best part."
"I'm hungry. Lv Yi, go get me some pastries, and a bowl of milk would be great."
"Oh!" Lv Yi nodded and turned to arrange food.
As soon as Lv Yi left the room, she called a young maid from the courtyard and asked her to fetch pastries and milk from the kitchen. She herself stayed by the door, staring blankly at the potted roses along the corridor.
Inside the room.
"Does miss have something to say to this servant?"
"Father was ambushed, and I fear I will be the one to take the blame for this."
Zi Yan gasped and stammered, "M-miss, what should we do now? Who wants to harm you?"
The crime of parricide was punishable by dismemberment. Unless there was a deep-seated hatred, who would scheme like this?
"What do you think?" Li Man'er closed her eyes to rest, already plotting her escape.
"Is it the eldest..." Zi Yan, afraid of bringing trouble to Li Man'er, quickly swallowed the remaining words. She understood that walls have ears.
Zi Yan took a deep breath, as if she had made a firm decision, "Miss, if... I mean, if. If the Marquis meets with misfortune, and this matter is pinned on you and cannot be shed, then I am willing to take the blame for you."
Li Man'er glanced at her and said faintly, "We didn't administer the poison, so how can there be talk of taking the blame?"
At this moment, a squad of guards in armor, carrying weapons, stood in formation outside the Iron Gallant Marquis's mansion. Their expressions were solemn, their eyes sharp, and their imposing aura made it clear they were elite and not to be underestimated.
Li Shu's two vice-generals led their men, thoroughly surrounding the Iron Gallant Marquis's mansion, as if fearing someone might break in and commit violence.
Just an hour earlier, the Iron Gallant Marquis Li Shu had suddenly been poisoned on his way to the West Mountain Camp, falling stiffly from his horse, nearly trampled to death by the horses behind him.
His subordinates reacted quickly, flying to grab the reins, thus saving his life for the moment.
When they helped Li Shu up, they noticed his eyes were tightly shut, his lips were bluish-purple, and even his pulse had weakened considerably.
Li Shu's personal guards had gone through life and death with him and had seen major events. Seeing Li Shu in such a state, they knew he had been poisoned and immediately sent a trusted subordinate back to send word for the mansion to prepare. They commandeered a carriage, tossed a money bag, placed Li Shu onto it, and rode back at full speed.
The imperial physician was already waiting in the mansion. As soon as Li Shu returned, he was immediately taken to Qingshu Pavilion, the foremost building.
Qingshu Pavilion was Li Shu's study and also a place of military importance, usually off-limits to unauthorized personnel. Madam Cui ordered people to guard the main building and prepared the side rooms, one as a sickroom and the other for rest.
Madam Guo, along with her daughter Li Zhao'er and heir Li Qingyun, were gathered outside the sickroom, anxiously awaiting news. The second branch's eldest madam, Bai Shi, also arrived accompanied by her eldest son, Li Qingzhou.
"Eldest sister-in-law, how is the Marquis?"
Madam Guo's eyes were red. "We don't know yet. The imperial physician and several doctors are inside!"
Bai Shi said earnestly, "Don't worry, eldest sister-in-law. The Marquis is blessed by heaven and will surely be fine."
"I appreciate your kind words, sister-in-law."
Bai Shi tilted her head slightly, not seeing Li Man'er. "Isn't the eldest young lady here?"
A flicker of displeasure quickly crossed Madam Guo's eyes. At a time like this, she still remembered to instigate. Just as she was about to gloss over the matter, she heard someone behind her say with displeasure, "Auntie Two, please don't mention it. Eldest sister is eating right now! I heard the servants say that Qingping Xuan just got pastries and milk from the kitchen. She really has a big appetite."
The speaker was none other than Li Zhao'er.
"Zhao'er," Madam Guo frowned, "Don't talk nonsense." At a time like this, why add to the trouble.
"I'm not talking nonsense!" Although Li Zhao'er was displeased, she didn't argue further.
Bai Shi said sympathetically, "Eldest sister-in-law has a good temper. Zhao'er is just speaking the truth. As for the eldest young lady... we all understand her."
"What is it that you understand about me, Auntie Two?"
The several women looked up and saw that Li Man'er had appeared at the moon gate at some point, having coincidentally overheard their conversation.
Bai Shi felt a little awkward, unsure how much she had heard.
Li Zhao'er rolled her eyes and whispered, "A persistent ghost."
"Second sister, your words are quite meaningless. When I wasn't here, you said I had a big appetite; now that I am here, you call me a persistent ghost. You get to say both the good and the bad words, so should I come or not!" Li Man'er said sternly, her voice low, "Father has not yet passed the crisis, and you still have the heart to slander."
"I didn't," Li Zhao'er's eyes were red. She didn't understand how Li Man'er, after just one trip to the Grand Princess's mansion, had become unrecognizable.
Clear and logical, each sentence struck at the vital point, truly formidable.
Bai Shi was also momentarily stunned. She was always well-informed in the mansion and had naturally heard the rumors of Li Man'er's drastic change in personality. But no matter how thrilling the rumors were, how could they compare to the shock of seeing it firsthand?
"Auntie Two," Li Man'er gave Bai Shi a wry smile, "Did flowers bloom on my face?"
Bai Shi quickly regained her composure. She was extremely cunning, and there was no hint of displeasure on her face. "I was just momentarily dazed. In the blink of an eye, you've grown up... bearing a strong resemblance to Lady Ning."
"Sister-in-law, now is not the time for idle chat," Madam Guo, after all, was the Marquis's wife, and she would not quarrel with Bai Shi at this time. She understood priorities.
Bai Shi also recovered her senses. "Eldest sister-in-law is right. I came precisely to see if there was anything I could help with."
"Imperial Physician Zheng is already inside, along with several renowned doctors from the capital. We shouldn't go in and cause more trouble. However, regarding Mother, I'll have to trouble you to make a trip."
Bai Shi naturally agreed, "Eldest sister-in-law is indeed thoughtful. I will go now."
At the same time, Madam Cui was questioning Li Wenchang in Songhe Hall.
Li Wenchang was Li Shu's confidant, like a son to him. His own life had been saved by Li Shu, and therefore, he was loyal to Li Shu.
"I summoned you here because I want to inquire about the Marquis's poisoning." Madam Cui's expression was grave, but her spirit was still good. "Tell me in detail about the Marquis's movements today, leaving nothing out."
Li Wenchang immediately cupped his fists. "Yes, Old Madam."