Chapter 171 - 169: So Bloody and Cruel

Chapter 171: Chapter 169: So Bloody and Cruel

The Young Madam Jiang was observant and, seeing Xu Jing’s expression, immediately asked, "Doctor Xu, is there something wrong?"

The three maids beside her also instantly shifted their expressions to grave ones.

Their own Young Madam had been taking medication for several days, yet her condition didn’t improve; in fact, it worsened. It was impossible for them not to have any suspicions.

Zhao Shao Hua couldn’t help but closely watch Xu Jing as well, only to see Xu Jing slowly shake his head and say, "There’s nothing wrong. Wind-cold has different types, and different types require different treatments. Young Madam Jiang’s symptoms are due to a wind-cold attacking the surface, causing the lung qi to be unreleased. This prescription is specifically for her symptoms, and it is a very wise formula that even I couldn’t prescribe a better one."

As one of the most common ailments, wind-cold has long been thoroughly studied by the ancients, and at the level of Great Chu’s medical skills, treating such a mild condition should pose no challenge.

However, precisely because this prescription is too perfect, things seem off!

Logically, if Young Madam Zhao truly followed this prescription, the wind-cold would have been cured long ago. How could her condition continue to deteriorate!

Everyone present was intelligent and immediately understood Xu Jing’s implication. Jing Dan furrowed her brow and said, "I told you, the Young Madam’s issue definitely doesn’t lie in the prescription. Doctor Li was the first to diagnose the Young Madam, and he is the manager of the Western Capital branch of Guangming Hall. His medical skills are second only to Mr. Lin’s. In recent years, he’s been responsible for the health of the Jiang family’s masters; how could he possibly not cure the Young Madam intentionally.

Moreover, the Princely Heir later became furious and sent someone to bring in a few more doctors, even inviting the Imperial Physician from the Imperial Hospital, who also said the prescription was fine."

Hearing her speak like this, they had already suspected the prescription before.

The Young Madam Jiang’s lips pressed into a thin line without saying anything.

Suddenly, Jing Shui remarked, "I told you, it must be that the Young Madam’s mood is affecting her illness. Lately, too many vile people have surrounded her. She needs to find an opportunity to go to Famen Temple outside the city to pray to the Buddha!"

Her face was full of sarcasm, and any discerning person would know that one of these vile people she referred to included Lady Hua.

Another maid named Jingyi sighed lightly and said, "Regardless of whether there are vile people around the Young Madam, she has indeed encountered too many unlucky events recently. Once the Young Madam recovers, she should indeed go to pray to the Buddha.

First, she fell inexplicably ill, then there was a burglary in her room, and a couple of days ago, Fourth Young Lady even drew a painting that seemed intended to upset the Young Madam..."

As they spoke, Xu Jing had been watching Young Madam Jiang, and saw her face suddenly turn pale as she coldly said, "Jingyi!"

Jingyi was startled and quickly bowed after realizing, saying, "Forgive me for speaking out of turn."

Xu Jing couldn’t help but frown slightly.

This Marquis Huaiyin’s residence always gave her an indescribable feeling of strangeness.

What Jingyi mentioned seemed like isolated, unrelated incidents, but all these things appeared to have some impact on Young Madam Jiang.

Having so many incidents simultaneously affecting Young Madam Jiang was a bit too coincidental.

Yet, it wasn’t quite appropriate for her to ask about these issues. Fortunately, Zhao Shao Hua was with her.

Zhao Shao Hua had been racking her brain on how to start a conversation with Young Madam Jiang. Now, her curiosity piqued, she asked, "What does Fourth Young Lady’s painting mean?"

Young Madam Jiang bit her lip lightly, seemingly troubled, but remembering that the person was specially invited by Erlang to chat and ease her mind, she fell silent for a moment before explaining, "It’s merely the immaturity of a young girl. The Fourth Young Lady that Jingyi mentioned is my husband’s younger sister, which makes her my sister-in-law. She is only fourteen. It was my misfortune that when I married three years ago, we got along fairly well. At the time, she had a little cat, snow-white all over, adorable like a little snowball. My sister-in-law had raised it since it was born, cherishing it dearly.

One evening, after accidentally overeating at dinner, I took a walk in the courtyard to aid digestion and somehow wandered behind the kitchen, a rarely visited place. I had walked there because I felt uncomfortable and needed to move more.

Who would have thought that as soon as I got there, I’d see something red and white in the corner. Approaching to look, I found it was...it was Little Snowball, and it was dead, in a horrifying manner. Most of its fur had been plucked, its skin covered in scars from various injuries - cuts, burns, scratches...every possible mark could be seen. Its claws were pulled out, and there were two...two twigs inserted where its eyes were...

The sight alone was enough to make even the listeners shiver, let alone Young Madam Jiang, who witnessed it firsthand.

The more she spoke, the paler she became, her voice trembling. Zhao Shao Hua hadn’t anticipated the story to be so gruesome and cruel and deeply regretted asking the question, wanting to stop her. But Young Madam Jiang continued, "My mind went blank at that moment, completely at a loss for what to do. I was standing there when the maid my sister-in-law sent to look for Little Snowball came over...

I didn’t kill Little Snowball; I told my sister-in-law that it was already dead when I found it, but she obviously didn’t believe me. For years, she’s held it against me in her heart..."

This matter was evident as a burden for the maids as well. Jing Dan couldn’t help but say, "If it weren’t for the old lady stepping in, forcefully closing this Chapter, the Fourth Young Lady would probably still be relentless!"

Jingyi let out a cold laugh and said, "The old lady stepped in only because she didn’t dare offend the Zhao family. If she truly cared for the young madam, she would have thoroughly investigated who actually killed Little Snowball instead of forcing the issue to rest as though it never happened. Because the true culprit was never found, the Fourth Young Lady believes the young madam is the real murderer, and that’s why she’s always so antagonistic whenever she sees the young madam. Many servants in the Marquis Huaiyin’s residence think the same but just don’t dare say it aloud!"

Xu Jing’s eyes flickered slightly.

Such methods of torturing a cat were simply monstrous.

Research shows that most psychopathic killers have abused animals in their childhood, and the proportion is quite high. While not every animal abuser becomes a killer, such behavior is undoubtedly inhumane, and no one would want such a person around them.

To cover up and maintain peace, Lady Huaiyin disregarded the need to identify the culprit, which, in a way, showed her folly.

Her mind started forming conjectures, "Could it be that the Fourth Young Lady’s painting was of..."

"Exactly."

Young Madam Jiang sighed deeply and said, "She painted Little Xue Tuan."

Jing Dan, seeing her Young Madam’s expression, couldn’t help but feel distressed, saying, "The Fourth Young Lady painted Little Xue Tuan frolicking on the path leading to the old lady’s garden; it’s simply stabbing at the young madam’s heart! Little Xue Tuan used to love playing on that path. Ever since witnessing Little Xue Tuan’s tragic death, the young madam has been afraid of walking that road and always takes a detour to the old lady’s garden.

The young madam has been having frequent nightmares these past two days because of the painting. If there’s any factor affecting her mood and hindering her recovery, that painting is definitely one of them!"

Jing Shui also angrily said, "The Fourth Young Lady dared not openly mention Little Xue Tuan in front of the young madam these two years. With Lady Hua’s arrival, not only does she dare, but she even painted about it. Who knows if Lady Hua was the one influencing the Fourth Young Lady to behave this way, especially since they’ve been so close lately!

The young madam was deceived by her fragile and pitiful demeanor and treated her so well, indeed a heartless betrayal!"

Young Madam Jiang’s face was pale, not having the strength to say much more.

This only confirmed that everything the maids said was true.

Zhao Shao Hua frowned deeply, momentarily at a loss for words.

While every family had their own issues, the troubles within the Marquis Huaiyin’s residence were excessively complicated and difficult.

She wasn’t naturally adept at comforting others; she preferred action over words. With Jiang Erlang asking her to help ease Young Madam Jiang, she truly didn’t know what to do!

Xu Jing, however, was lost in thought. Suddenly, she lifted her gaze slightly, looking at Young Madam Jiang, and said, "Young Madam Jiang, your maid mentioned that you always feel someone intends to harm you lately. Forgive my presumptuousness, but from what I’ve heard, I also believe there is someone in your residence with intentions to act against you."