Blissful Days After Widowhood - Chapter 368

During the daytime, the young stewards of Duke Lu’s mansion were typically occupied with their tasks within the mansion. However, there was one godson who had gained favor in the master’s eyes, allowing him the luxury of spending his time gambling in a small casino.

The owner of the auspicious theater also shared this hobby, and it was in this setting that they had become acquainted. As a result, it didn’t take much effort for the theater owner to track him down.

The young steward, being pulled away from the gambling table, was initially impatient. But when he considered the errand, he asked with patience, “Has the errand been completed?”

“Xiao Feng wasn’t able to speak today. I’ve already trained other members of the same troupe to take his place,” the theater owner replied.

The young steward had grown impatient as he didn’t particularly care about the details of the troupe’s affairs. After hearing the first sentence, he mentally checked it off as completed. He planned to explain everything to Zheng Mama when he returned, knowing that if she relayed that to the old lady, it would bring benefits.

However, seeing that the theater owner continued to talk without leaving, the young steward frowned and waved his hand dismissively, saying, “You can go now. I trust you won’t renege on the money you promised, and you won’t run away.”

The theater owner hurriedly clarified, “No, me and Hua Dan from the same troupe got poisoned.” He looked embarrassed and proceeded to explain the entire situation.

The young steward was a shrewd individual, given that he had earned the favor of Zheng Mama and became her godson. After listening to the explanation, he questioned, “How can such a coincidence occur? Did Food of Heaven’s young master intentionally switch your bowls?”

“Even if someone possessed the audacity to perform such a feat right under everyone’s eyes, would they have the motivation?” The theater owner was unaware that ‘Food of Heaven’ had the backing of Duke Ying’s house, making him reluctant to take such a risk.

The young steward, understanding this, furrowed his brow in contemplation, refraining from making any hasty decisions.

The theater owner was absolutely right. Considering that the young man hailed from a humble background, even if he had achieved significant success, he wouldn’t have the capability or the cunning to orchestrate such a scheme. Moreover, even if he had swapped the bowls, it would be impossible to ensure that both bowls contained the poisoned mutton soup.

Thus, it had to be a mere coincidence, as the theater owner had explained. The young steward no longer harbored any doubts.

Although he had completed the errand, the young steward didn’t particularly care about the theater owner and Hua Dan, regarding them as low-ranking individuals. However, rejecting them outright at that moment could lead to complications and potential rumors. Thus, he decided to stabilize the situation first and told them, “You can go back for now. I’ll consult with the master. Don’t worry too much; this type of medicine requires consistent dosing. You only had a small amount, so it’s not a significant issue.”

The theater owner, while requesting an antidote, still managed a smile and said, “I appreciate your help. I’ll return in two days.”

With that, the two parted ways.

Later, every detail of the conversation between the two reached Gu Yin’s ears.

Although she was aware that the poison had originated from a prominent family, she hadn’t expected Mrs. Qin to be involved. The guard who had been tracking and gathering information was trained by Wu Qingyi.

Gu Yin probed further, and the guard reported, “I observed the young steward entering Duke Lu’s mansion, where the gatekeeper immediately established a connection with him, mentioning something about asking his godmother to speak on his behalf in front of the old lady. Duke Lu also has formidable martial arts masters, so I didn’t dare to continue tracking and returned promptly.”

Gu Yin nodded in acknowledgment and expressed gratitude to the guard, instructing him to take some rest.

When Mrs. Wang learned of this news, she expressed her anger, saying, “Xiao Feng is just a young child, and he has no connection with that old lady. Why would she harm him?”

Gu Yin contemplated the situation and replied, “When I was about to escort sister out of the restaurant last time, Xiao Ye warned me not to approach the restaurant’s entrance, mentioning that Mrs. Qin had stationed her guards nearby. When I inquired further at home, he explained that it was because of his recent drama, where he depicted an evil mother-in-law tormenting her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Qin likely took offense to it.”

Mrs. Wang began to understand, “So, you mean she poisoned Xiao Feng because his performance upset her? But Xiao Feng is completely innocent!”

Gu Yin nodded and elaborated, “Our two families are evenly matched, and even if she had the inclination, she wouldn’t dare to do anything openly. Xiao Feng is just an ordinary individual, and if he were to lose his voice, it could harm our family’s reputation and standing, possibly jeopardizing our business.”

Mrs. Wang snorted, “It’s a shame that his family isn’t aware that we’ve seen through their schemes. Once the young steward is apprehended and interrogated, none of them will escape punishment. Mrs. Qin has been reprimanded by the Empress Dowager and has been hiding in her mansion for nearly a month, refusing to see anyone.”

However, Gu Yin wasn’t as optimistic as Mrs. Wang. She pointed out that if it were just an ordinary prominent family, they could report it to the authorities. However, the Feng family wasn’t merely the residence of a duke; it was also the natal family of Concubine Feng and the prince.

Given such a background, even if Mrs. Qin’s treacherous plan had succeeded and harmed someone, dealing with her wouldn’t be straightforward. After all, the Feng family held considerable influence. Gu Yin explained that they needed to await Wu Qingyi and Gu Ye’s return to convene a family meeting to discuss the matter in depth.