Qu Yue was startled. Her pupils trembled violently, and then she quickly shook her head. "I... I didn't."
"Didn't?" Song Luo gritted her teeth in anger. "Then could you explain what happened just now when you stopped breathing!"
Qu Yue stared with wide eyes and shook her head frantically to explain. "I don't know either..."
Liu Xu couldn't stand it anymore. Qu Yue might not know what had happened just now, but how could she not be clear!
It was obvious that Song Luo was annoyed and enraged because her plan had failed!
She stepped forward and stood in front of Qu Yue, with a solemn look on her face. "Mrs. Song, my lady just woke up. Please don't make things too difficult for her!"
Song Luo glared at her. "It's not your place as a maid to speak here!"
"Please calm down, mother." Qu Yue quickly grabbed Liu Xu. She was afraid that Song Luo would take her anger out on Liu Xu because of her, so she quickly stepped forward to explain. "Liu Xu was just too excited..."
"Humph! Excited?" Song Luo was so angry that she was speechless. She glared at Xiao Yang, who had failed to do her job not far away. "I think she's the only one who's excited!"
Just as she finished speaking, several male voices came from not far away.
"It's not just her."
Mu Wang led the way and walked over here, with Wen Wuyou and Ning Yanzhi following beside him.
The three of them stood in a row. The bright golden sunlight shone on their shoulders, outlining their imposing profiles. Every gust of wind that blew seemed to boost their momentum.
Mu Wang walked up to Qu Yue, with angry veins bulging on his forehead. "Qu Yue, do you really think this is fun?"
Wen Wuyou curled his lips slightly, with a sincere tone mixed with a hint of threat. "Yue'er, having fun?"
The coldness in Ning Yanzhi's eyes faded. "Miss Qu, you shouldn't play around with life and death."
Qu Yue was dazed by the successive interrogations from the three of them. She shook her head and explained. "I didn't..."
Her overly innocent eyes were filled with moisture, which made the three men's hearts soften.
The long - awaited scoldings reached their lips but were eventually swallowed back.
Although she had tricked Mu Yuan, her crime was not worthy of death.
Mu Wang snorted and scolded Qu Yue. "You finally woke up. If you'd been a bit later, you'd have been buried alive!"
But the sparkle in his almond - shaped eyes couldn't be hidden.
Qu Yue was confused. "Buried alive?"
Liu Xu immediately told Qu Yue everything that had happened just now.
Now that she had a reward from the emperor, she didn't need to be afraid of Mrs. Song at all. In fact, if today's incident got out, she could even report Mrs. Song to the emperor.
Song Luo remained calm. She looked Qu Yue up and down acidly. "What? You stopped breathing. Do you think the Marquis Mansion would still carry you back?"
After Qu Yue learned the whole story, her heart sank involuntarily. "So, mother, you're just eager for me to die, aren't you?"
Her hands gradually turned cold, and the tip of her small nose felt extremely sour.
"Don't use your malicious thoughts to judge me." Song Luo felt involuntarily guilty when stared at by her hurt eyes. She frowned slightly and retorted.
Then her gaze shifted to Xiao Yang, who was hiding silently in the crowd.
This stupid woman!
They had clearly discussed the plan last night. They were going to use two kinds of spices that would cause a heart attack when combined to kill Qu Yue. They had even increased the dosage just to be on the safe side. How could it have failed!?
Xiao Yang felt guilty under Song Luo's glare. She didn't know what was going on either!
Last night, she had clearly put an incense made of clove oil in Qu Yue's room, and today she had also put cinnamon in the sachet.
Logically speaking, after the reaction, Qu Yue should have died because of the incompatibility of the two herbs!
And she had shown the symptoms of death just now. How could she...
Cold sweat ran down her back.
She was very clear that if she couldn't solve this incident properly, Song Luo would definitely not spare her when they got back.
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yang rushed out of the crowd. She warmly put her arm around Qu Yue and felt her body up and down. "You've misunderstood the lady!"
"She originally thought that you had passed away because you missed the general too much. So she wanted to bury you with him, which would also fulfill your wish."
She was very good at talking. With just a few words, she turned Song Luo's actions into good intentions.
But Qu Yue wouldn't be easily convinced anymore.
Her beautiful face lost its smile as soon as Xiao Yang came closer. After Xiao Yang finished speaking, she unceremoniously pushed her away. "Don't touch me."
"Just now when I fainted, part of the reason was sadness, but more importantly, I smelled the scent on you."
These words caused quite a stir.
In an instant, all the servants were whispering to each other.
Could it be that this concubine, out of jealousy that the lady had received a reward, deliberately plotted to kill her in order to take her place!?
Xiao Yang's face changed drastically. She shouted that she was wronged. "Lady, you can eat randomly, but you can't talk randomly."
"I think Qu Yue has really gone crazy." Song Luo also narrowed her eyes and spoke up to help Xiao Yang get out of trouble. "Doesn't everyone have a smell?"
"Mother! Don't you believe what I say!?" Qu Yue shouted and asked. "The smell on her really makes people feel uncomfortable if they smell it for too long..."
Song Luo didn't care. "Of course I want to believe you. But just before you went out, you promised to share the reward with her. And then you had this incident. How can I be sure that you're not deliberately framing her?"
The last bit of kindness in Qu Yue's heart was completely gone. She shook her head disappointedly. "Mrs. Song, you're really good at this."
She sighed. In order to maintain a bit of Song Luo's dignity, she didn't want to argue anymore.
She deliberately changed the topic. "I fainted just now and didn't attend my husband's burial. I'll go and take a look at him again."
This concession was seen as a sign of cowardice by Song Luo and Xiao Yang.
Xiao Yang grabbed Qu Yue without hesitation. "Lady, you can't just frame me and then try to get away with it. Please show your evidence. Otherwise, apologize to me!"
"Are you sure you want me to show the evidence?"
Xiao Yang was full of confidence. "Of course."
They had made full preparations. Even if they were discovered and investigated, they wouldn't be afraid.
Because these two herbs, when taken separately, were harmless to people.
Even if they found cinnamon in her sachet, no one would know that Qu Yue had smelled clove oil last night.
They could even turn the tables on Qu Yue and confirm Qu Yue's reputation as a narrow - minded person who couldn't tolerate concubines.
Xiao Yang's cooperation rarely made Song Luo show a hint of a smile.
"Qu Yue, since you're so sure, then show the evidence that Xiao Yang tried to harm you."
Qu Yue went straight for Xiao Yang's sachet. "Sorry for the intrusion."
She opened the light - green sachet and poured out the contents. There were only a few simple fragrant herbs.
Xiao Yang wiped her tears in a coy way. "If the lady still doesn't trust me, you can call the imperial doctor to take a look."
Qu Yue immediately called the imperial doctor.
After the imperial doctor examined it, he replied rationally. "The spices in here are indeed all safe and have the effect of calming the nerves and promoting sleep."
Xiao Yang gained confidence and shouted loudly about her injustice. "Lady, I know you don't like me, but how could you... frame me like this!"
For a moment, everyone's looks at Qu Yue were full of speculation.
But Qu Yue didn't care at all. She straightened her slender back. "But the smell on you is indeed poisonous."
Song Luo sneered. "Since the smell is poisonous, so many of us have been in contact with her. Why did only you have an incident?"
A sharp look appeared in Qu Yue's eyes. "Mrs. Song, are you sure you want me to tell the truth?"