Li Man'er paid no mind to her cheap fourth uncle's words. The man was a scoundrel to begin with, and hearing praise from him was nauseating. Let him talk!
The next day, when the doctor came for Madam Tian's follow-up, Madam Xue produced a pastry wrapped in a handkerchief and handed it to him. "Yesterday, the Madam only felt unwell after eating this kind of pastry. It was too sweet and rich for her liking, so she only ate one piece. Please examine it and see if there's anything wrong with it."
Madam Tian was a gentle and considerate wife who cared about her husband's face. She didn't particularly like sweets, but she wanted to please her husband, so she only ate one piece and hid the other.
This seemingly unintentional act unexpectedly saved the lives of mother and child.
With such a statement, how could the doctor refuse? He broke open the pastry, crumbled a piece, sniffed it, and then tasted a small piece.
In front of Madam Cui and Li Yi, the doctor solemnly stated, "Old Madam, Fourth Master, this pastry has been mixed with musk and safflower. It's harmless to men but strictly forbidden for pregnant women. Fortunately, Fourth Madam only ate one piece. If she had eaten two, I fear both mother and child would have perished."
Madam Cui's face immediately darkened. She glared at her youngest son, as if wishing she could kick him a few times.
Li En's face turned pale again, a look of utter disbelief on his face. He muttered, "Impossible, impossible. Liniang wouldn't do this."
Madam Wang quickly saw the doctor out, offered him a thick red envelope as a consultation fee, and closed the doors to avoid public scrutiny.
The doctor felt the thickness of the red envelope and tactfully assured them of his discretion before leaving with satisfaction.
The filth of noble families!
As soon as the outsiders were gone, Madam Cui immediately erupted, "Wicked son, why aren't you kneeling?"
Li En knelt down with a dejected air, still unable to comprehend why Liniang would want to harm Madam Tian. Given her background, it was understandable that Madam Tian might not tolerate her. Even if she couldn't be brought into the household, arranging for her redemption and settling her elsewhere wouldn't have been difficult. Why was she so cruel as to wish death upon his wife and unborn child?
"Mother, I was wrong. Your son was foolish."
Only when Li En admitted his mistake did Madam Cui's expression soften slightly.
However, Li En's next words nearly made Madam Cui collapse in anger.
"Liniang must have been confused too. She only loves our son too much and is too afraid of losing me. Mother, can you let her go? Don't hold it against her."
Madam Cui, enraged, smashed a teacup and yelled, "Obstinate fool! You've disgraced the Li family. For a courtesan, you've abandoned all integrity?"
Without waiting for Li En to speak, Madam Cui shouted towards the door, "Someone come! Tie up the Fourth Master and lock him in the ancestral hall. Post guards and do not let him out without my command."
Madam Cui was absolute in this household; even Li Shu had to listen to her. How could the servants dare disobey? They quickly fetched ropes and bound Li En.
Fourth Master Li, who had grown up with a silver spoon in his mouth, had never suffered such indignity. As he was dragged away, he wailed and cried, his voice pitiful.
Madam Tian lay in the inner room, her eyes filled with coldness. This incident had completely revealed Li En's character to her. For a courtesan, he regarded his wife and unborn child as nothing. Could such a man be her support?
Seeing Madam Tian's pale face and vacant eyes, Madam Xue felt a pang of sympathy. However, she couldn't think of any other words of comfort. Weren't all men like this?
"Madam, please don't despair. What is a mere courtesan? For such deeds, her life is forfeit. You must take care of yourself and safely give birth to the young master. That is what truly matters."
Madam Tian said nothing, neither crying nor making a fuss. She simply lay there quietly.
The commotion outside gradually subsided. Madam Cui came in to see Madam Tian.
"Good child, you have been wronged," Madam Cui said softly, stroking Madam Tian's somewhat cool hand. "This matter will not be let go. I have already ordered that scoundrel son to be confined. Leave the rest to me. I will get justice for you."
A single tear trickled down Madam Tian's cheek, and she tremblingly said, "Thank you, Mother." She didn't speak ill of Li En, nor did she complain to Madam Cui or curse anyone. In this regard alone, she was superior to Madam Guo.
After all, her background was different. Madam Tian was the legitimate daughter of a reputable scholarly family.
Madam Cui was very pleased. After saying a few more words of comfort, she ordered her storeroom to be opened and sent over a large number of valuable items, including tonics, medicinal herbs, precious jewelry, and fine fabrics.
Madam Guo's eyes burned with envy, but she couldn't say much. She was happy to see trouble in the fourth branch. The Marquisate's current status was all thanks to her husband, the Marquis. These people were simply living off his merits!
Especially the fourth son, who had only managed to pass the imperial examination for a provincial level official and received no salary, yet spent his days eating and drinking, using public funds. He was truly a parasite.
Now that Madam Cui was opening her private treasury to send so many good things, she naturally felt envious.
Madam Cui emerged from the fourth branch's courtyard and immediately arranged for people to carry out her tasks. Someone saw Madam Song Wan hurrying out of the estate, not returning even by nightfall.
A wealthy patron arrived at the Zui Jin Lou.
The man was in his thirties, of average appearance, dressed in a straight robe. He wore no excessive gold or silver ornaments, yet exuded an air of nobility.
The patron was generous, and though he was not satisfied with many of the courtesans who came to see him, he gifted each one ten taels of silver, saying it was so they wouldn't have come for nothing.
Everyone said the patron was generous and spent lavishly.
The madam of Zui Jin Lou's eyes gleamed, and she pushed out the trembling Liniang. Liniang was the top courtesan at Zui Jin Lou, unmatched in beauty and figure. If even Liniang couldn't satisfy the patron, then business for the night would surely fail.
The patron, with his regional accent, seemed to lose his soul upon seeing Liniang. That night, he paid a large sum to become her guest.
Indeed, Liniang had not entertained such overnight guests for a long time since becoming involved with Li En. However, she knew what she had done. Seeing that Li En had not appeared, Liniang knew she had likely been exposed.
She needed to find a lifeline for herself, and the best option was right in front of her.
The man was from out of town, wealthy, and though not handsome, at least decent-looking – far better than those old men.
If he could redeem her, she would still have a way to survive.
That night, Liniang used all her charm to completely bewitch the patron. The next morning, he paid a thousand taels of silver to redeem her.
"Don't worry, from now on, you will be my secondary wife. My main wife cannot bear children. If you can give me a son or daughter, you will be a great contributor to the family."
Such good fortune!