The Fourth Concubine was busy arranging Master Fu's funeral and had someone rush to rescue the Eleventh Concubine on the ground. She already had a whole headful of troubles.
Hearing the continuous wails, the Fourth Concubine had a splitting headache. She scolded, "Shut up all of you! Right now, it's most important to properly plan for Master's post - death affairs. You can cry to your heart's content in front of the clan relatives and friends tomorrow!"
As soon as she said this, everyone in the Third Branch fell silent.
The Third Concubine was resentful. She carefully shot a glare at the Fourth Concubine, but only when the Fourth Concubine turned her head.
"Doctor, please save our concubine quickly! Our concubine has a fiery temper. Without saying a word, she rammed into the pillar..."
Xiao Que led the doctor in. Her words drifted into everyone's ears, including those of several senior uncles of the Fu family who had come upon hearing the news. Everyone heard them.
The Sixth Uncle, who was the most senior and prestigious in the Fu family, checked on Master Fu and then glanced at the unconscious Eleventh Concubine. He couldn't help but sigh, "I didn't expect the Eleventh Concubine to be such a devoted woman. I've heard that Brother Fu loved the Eleventh Concubine very much during his lifetime. Now he can rest in peace."
The Fourth Concubine also sighed, "Sister Eleven has always been bold in love and hate. What she did is worthy of the love Master showed her on weekdays."
The Fourth Concubine's eyes were reddened. She forced a smile and invited them to wait in the front hall. "Please go to the front hall for some tea, uncles. After we finish the small and large encoffining of Master, I need to discuss the funeral arrangements with you all."
The Sixth Uncle and the others comforted the Fourth Concubine and the other concubines a few more words, then left for the front hall.
*
After the doctor's rescue, the Eleventh Concubine woke up.
She was out of danger, but there would be a scar on her forehead that would never fade.
The Eleventh Concubine lay in the side - room, feeling nauseous waves in her stomach.
Xiao Que came in with a medicine bowl. The Eleventh Concubine frowned and drank it all in one gulp.
Xiao Que peeked around inside and outside the room. Seeing that there was no one around, she whispered in the Eleventh Concubine's ear, "Concubine, you really scared me to death. If something had happened to you, all our previous efforts would have been in vain! You should also think more about Young Master Eight."
The Eleventh Concubine wiped the corner of her mouth and sneered, "If I hadn't been tough on myself, I would have been devoured by them long ago."
Xiao Que felt sorry for her and whispered, "The clan elders have all heard of your noble deed. For the sake of the Fu family's reputation, they can't but help us."
The Eleventh Concubine smiled, "Go. Tell them I'm awake."
The Fu family was a large and wealthy family, so there were many servants.
In less than an hour, Master Fu was honorably encoffined.
The mourning hall was all in white. The wails were deafening. All the filial sons and grandsons banged their heads on the ground, wishing they could take Master Fu's place.
Here, the Fourth Concubine was discussing the issue of the Fu family's inheritance and distribution with the clan elders.
The Fourth Concubine said, "The world is unpredictable. Master passed away just like this. Only the Eleventh Concubine was by his side when he was dying, and he didn't leave any last words. It's really troublesome..."
Just then, a young servant came running over to report that the Eleventh Concubine was awake.
The Fourth Concubine's face changed slightly. "In that case, summon the Eleventh Concubine to come and talk."
The Sixth Uncle stroked his beard. "If the Eleventh Concubine is seriously injured, we can wait until tomorrow to question her."
The Fourth Concubine said, "Let's strike while the iron is hot. I hope you, Uncle, can understand my feelings. Master passed away suddenly. I want to know what happened at that time."
The Sixth Uncle nodded. "You're right."
The young servant went back to fetch her.
Not long after, the Eleventh Concubine with a bandaged head came.
After all, she was injured on her head, and she felt dizzy as soon as she got out of bed.
Xiao Que had her carried over on a four - person sedan chair.
The Eleventh Concubine leaned back. Although she was sitting on the sedan chair, her clothes were neatly dressed. She saluted those present. There was nothing wrong with her behavior.
The Fourth Concubine quickly got up and ordered, "Quick, carry the Eleventh Concubine to the couch over there. Hold her steady."
The Eleventh Concubine sat down and caught her breath for a while, then began to answer the rapid - fire questions from everyone.
She endured the headache and answered them one by one, without a single flaw.
As she was talking, the Eleventh Concubine suddenly felt extremely sad. "I'm useless. I couldn't search everywhere for him. I told Master that I would accompany him for all lifetimes."
Seeing the Eleventh Concubine's affected performance, the Fourth Concubine couldn't help feeling nauseous.
She interrupted the Eleventh Concubine, "Sister, did Master leave any last words before he died?"
The Eleventh Concubine shook her head.
The Sixth Uncle then asked, "Did he leave any letters or other things?"
The Eleventh Concubine looked at Xiao Que. "I have a splitting headache. Help me recall. Did Master leave a will?"
Xiao Que looked up and thought. "No."
The Sixth Uncle said, "That's strange. Brother Nine was a cautious man. He couldn't have left without any instructions."
The maid behind the Fourth Concubine couldn't help saying, "What if Master was killed and died suddenly?"
The Fourth Concubine immediately frowned and shouted, "Slap your own mouth! Is this something you can talk nonsense about?"
The maid knelt down silently and slapped herself hard.
This slap made the Sixth Uncle suddenly alert.
Yes, if Brother Nine was killed, it would make sense that there was no will.
The Fourth Concubine's eyes were as sharp as knives, all flying towards the Eleventh Concubine.
The Sixth Uncle also became very suspicious.
After all, only the Eleventh Concubine was by Brother Nine's side when he died.
What if the Eleventh Concubine's act of ramming into the pillar to follow her husband in death was just to clear her suspicion?
Thinking this way, it all made sense.
The atmosphere became tense, but there came the sound of footsteps from outside.
It was De Pei, Master's trusted servant, who had returned.
Since Master Fu had fallen seriously ill, the Eleventh Concubine had slandered the servants around Master in front of him, and Master had sent them away one by one.
De Pei had gone to a manor in another county.
Why did he come back at this time?
Even if he had received the news immediately, it was impossible for him to come back so quickly!
The moment the Eleventh Concubine saw De Pei, her heart skipped a beat.
Sure enough, De Pei and Doctor Zhou who accompanied him revealed a huge scandal.
"Master was killed by the Eleventh Concubine. She bought a large amount of mercury from the pharmacy, and she had been buying it continuously for three months."
How could she admit to something she hadn't done?
The Eleventh Concubine pressed her forehead with one hand and sneered, "I bought the mercury to make lead powder. What, is it a crime for me to put on makeup?"
Doctor Zhou nodded. "Whether Master Fu's death is related to the Eleventh Concubine or not, I can tell by examining the dregs of the medicine."
There was plenty of medicine dregs.
Master Fu had been ill for a year and seriously ill for three months.
There was a special medicine storehouse in the Fu mansion. What precious and rare medicinal materials didn't they have?
It was quite common to eat ginseng like rice.
The servant quickly fetched the dregs of Master Fu's medicine, which happened to be from tonight and was still fresh.
Doctor Zhou grabbed a handful, examined it, and then tasted it in his mouth.
He came to a conclusion. "There is indeed mercury in this medicine. If taken for a long time, it can cause epilepsy, fainting, and even take a person's life."
One moment, the Eleventh Concubine was a chaste woman, and the next moment, she became a murderer.
The Sixth Uncle's face was as gloomy as water. "Eleventh Concubine, do you have anything else to say?"
The Eleventh Concubine said in a panic, "I didn't. I didn't kill Master! Master was so kind to me. I had no reason to kill him!"
The Fourth Concubine smiled. "You have a son. Isn't that a reason?"
The Eleventh Concubine looked at the Fourth Concubine and suddenly understood.
With red - rimmed eyes, she cursed, "You venomous woman! It must be you who killed Master! As soon as Master had an accident, you wanted to frame me? It's true that I took away Master's favor from you, but after all these years as sisters, do you hate me so much?"
If it had been someone else, they would surely have been trapped by the Eleventh Concubine's words.
People would also have thought that the Eleventh Concubine was wronged.
But she was up against the Fourth Concubine.
The Fourth Concubine had managed the household for fifteen years without making a single mistake. She was kind - hearted and charitable outside, and fair - minded inside. Her reputation was excellent.
She was beautiful and extremely sophisticated.
If it weren't for the Fourth Concubine's humble birth, she would surely have been the first candidate for Master Fu to promote to the main wife.
Most importantly, the Fourth Concubine had no son.
Her only daughter was married.
Without the Fourth Concubine having to prove her innocence, it was basically certain that the Eleventh Concubine had poisoned and murdered Master Fu.
Just before the Sixth Uncle was about to speak, there came a few sobs.
Xiao Que suddenly stood up, kowtowed to the Sixth Uncle, and said, "This servant doesn't know if I should say something."
Hearing this, the Sixth Uncle's head ached. He said coldly, "Just say it."
Xiao Que timidly glanced at the Fourth Concubine and stammered, "This servant accompanied my concubine to take care of Master. Once, my concubine fell asleep beside Master's bed. I secretly saw that Master stroked her hair and then touched the third shelf of the multi - treasure cabinet..."
Xiao Que quickly added after she finished speaking, "It was already midnight at that time. Maybe I saw it wrong."
The Eleventh Concubine looked skeptical. "What do you mean?"
The Sixth Uncle said, "No need to say more. I already know."
He looked deeply at Xiao Que. "I hope what you said is true."
Xiao Que shrank back behind the Eleventh Concubine in fear.
The Sixth Uncle said to the Fourth Concubine, "Since this maid has said so, there may be Master's relics in the multi - treasure cabinet beside Brother Nine's bed."
The Fourth Concubine said, "Then please go over and take a look with me, uncles."
Sure enough, there was something hidden on the third shelf.
There were two pieces of high - quality yellow jade stones inside. There was a thick stack of land deeds in a lacquered box, and there was a light piece of paper lying in a jade case.
The Sixth Uncle picked up the paper and was shocked. The look in his eyes when he looked at the Eleventh Concubine became hesitant.
The Fourth Concubine also read the will. It was indeed written in Master's own handwriting.
But she always felt that there was something fishy about it.
She had been painstakingly planning for half a lifetime. How could she let others reap the benefits?