Chapter 130: Han Rou Poisoned

The two exchanged a knowing smile, as if a single glance was enough to understand each other's thoughts. Si Moli softly asked, “Did you encounter any trouble at the princess’s residence today?”

Shen Qingyun shook her head. “The Heshuo Princess only showed disdain with her words but didn’t do anything excessive.”

Si Moli nodded. Though he hadn’t made it back in time today, he had sent someone ahead to instruct the princess’s residence. Surely, the Heshuo Princess wouldn’t dare let anything happen to Shen Qingyun there, or he would make her pay tenfold.

“Let’s go. I’ll escort you home.”

“All right.”

Shen Qingyun noticed the weariness in Si Moli’s eyes. She knew he must have had many official matters to attend to, yet he came to see her first thing. She said nothing more and turned to get into the carriage.

Originally, they had planned to go to the Xuan Medical Pavilion together the next day, but early the following morning, Han Qing came to report, “Miss, please hurry to the General’s residence. There’s news—Madam has been poisoned.”

“How could this be?”

The hairpin Shen Qingyun had placed in her bun slipped to the floor. She sprang up and strode out swiftly. “Where’s the carriage?”

“Han Shuang has prepared it; it should be waiting at the gate,” Han Qing replied.

“Good.”

With worry etched on her face, Zhenzhu followed Shen Qingyun outside, while Yicui stayed behind to watch over the Jianjia Courtyard and gather their belongings.

At the gate, the carriage was indeed ready. Once seated, Shen Qingyun asked Han Qing, “What exactly happened? Why was mother suddenly poisoned?”

Han Qing frowned. “We suspect the Duke of the State is involved.”

Disgust gathered in Shen Qingyun’s eyes. “Did he go to the General’s residence again today?”

Han Qing nodded. “But I don’t know the details.”

Shen Qingyun said no more. Closing her eyes, she reviewed recent movements of Shen Zhifeng. If he insisted on courting death, she would not stop him.

For now, the most urgent matter was Han Rou’s condition.

---

Upon arriving at the General’s residence, Shen Qingyun rushed straight into Han Rou’s courtyard. There, she saw Nurse Chen closing the door behind her. Her eyes were red and swollen, clearly from crying.

Shen Qingyun’s heart sank. “How is Mother?”

Nurse Chen, seeing Miss had come, seemed to find a pillar of strength and quickly composed herself before speaking.

“Yesterday afternoon, Madam said she wanted to buy some cloth and clothes. She took a guard with her and went out. Unexpectedly, on the road, the Duke of the State appeared. He glanced at us and left. I thought he was intimidated by the General’s household, so I paid no mind. But when we finished shopping and were about to return, he suddenly reappeared. Taking advantage of our distraction, he rushed over, grabbed Madam, and said he wanted to reconcile.”

Shen Qingyun furrowed her brow. “How much time passed between his first and second appearances?”

Nurse Chen recalled carefully. “About an hour and a half, less than two hours.”

Less than two hours was still quite a long time.

If he had been tailing them constantly seeking an opportunity, the interval wouldn’t have been so long. It’s more likely Shen Zhifeng saw Han Rou along the way, sent someone to watch her, then returned to the Duke’s residence to fetch poison, returning in time to seize the chance to poison her.

The round trip would take over an hour.

Shen Qingyun nodded. “Continue.”

Wiping her tears, Nurse Chen continued, “Madam was terrified and fiercely kicked him. The Duke looked weak and was knocked down by her kick, unable to get up. Yet he kept laughing and said he would make Madam regret it. We saw his mind was disturbed and hurried away. That night, Madam developed a high fever and then fell into a deep sleep, unable to be awakened. Miss, we are truly anxious. The doctor came and said it was poisoning, but couldn’t identify the toxin.”

Zhenzhu said indignantly, “It must be the Duke of the State who harmed Madam. What a coincidence—he appears, and Madam is poisoned!”

Nurse Chen shared her anger, her expression as if she longed to rush out and seize Shen Zhifeng. “Exactly. He looked very strange. He’s definitely behind this mischief. Poor Madam...”

Tears welled again.

Shen Qingyun seized on a crucial detail. “You said he shouted he’d make Mother regret it?”

Nurse Chen nodded, recalling the scene.

When Shen Zhifeng was knocked down, either from pain or humiliation, his face flushed red, twisted with hatred. His eyes glared venomously at Han Rou, but his words tried to coax her back.

“Rou’er, if you come back, I can send Lady Wang away. I’ll spend the rest of my life devoted to you alone. Just trust me one last time, okay?”

Han Rou sneered. “Shameless to the core. Never. Nurse, let’s go.”

---

As Han Rou turned to leave, Shen Zhifeng laughed wildly.

“Han Rou, you’ll regret leaving! This is your last chance. Come back with me to the Duke’s residence. Don’t you want to stay by Qingyun’s side? The three of us can be together happily. Why must you be so stubborn and make such a fuss?”

But Han Rou ignored him, refusing to utter another word.

Shen Zhifeng lay on the ground, mad and shouting he would make Han Rou regret it. Then came the poisoning.

...

After hearing Nurse Chen’s account, Shen Qingyun asked Zhenzhu to soothe her, then gently pushed open the door and entered.

Han Rou lay on the bed, covered with a soft quilt, appearing as if she were merely sleeping peacefully, calm and unremarkable.

Yet if she remained asleep like this, neither eating nor drinking, she would wither like a flower deprived of water, gradually fading away—just as in the past life, dying in her slumber.

Indeed, it was Shen Zhifeng who had caused Han Rou’s death before; now, he sought to repeat the same fate.

Shen Qingyun whispered to Han Rou, “Mother, wait for me. I will fetch the antidote right away.”

She smoothed the quilt around her before turning to leave and closing the door softly.

Nurse Chen, having cried herself calm, was steadier. Shen Qingyun instructed her, “Stay here and watch over her. I’ll have Han Qing and Han Shuang bring the antidote.”

Nurse Chen’s face lit with surprise. “Miss, do you know what poison Madam has been afflicted with?”

A deadly resolve gleamed in Shen Qingyun’s dark eyes. “We will find out soon enough. Meanwhile, no one is allowed to enter Mother’s room.”

Nurse Chen nodded urgently. Shen Qingyun then said to Zhenzhu, “Let’s return home.”