Red Mansion Huacai

Chapter 385 Poison

Ping'er was kindhearted, and although she had heard that Bihen was plotted by Xiren, she did not really believe it. Now she heard that Xiren had plotted Meiren to marry someone else, and she was horrified and could not help but distance herself from Xiren.

Musk Moon continued to talk in a low voice for a long time, and Ping'er sighed, but no one knew what she was saying.

What can I say? It would have been fine if Master Bao was a popular guy before, but now he is just an ordinary child of the second branch of the Jia family. In order to become Master Bao's concubine, she could be so cruel... I don't know what Xiren is thinking.

After bidding farewell to Musk Moon, Ping Er returned to Yihong Courtyard with a heavy heart. Seeing that Ping Er looked a little strange, Sister Feng asked about it.

Ping'er couldn't hold it in any longer, so she told him about Xiren's scheme to seduce the other woman.

Feng Jieer sneered at this and said, "Do you think Xiren is a good person? She was the most thoughtful one in the past. She was originally serving Xiangyun. When she saw that Xiangyun was going back to the Marquis's Mansion, she thought that Xiangyun would never be favored if she lived in her second uncle's house, so she used some tricks to go back to the old lady. Later, she saw that Baoyu was doing well, so she planned to go to Baoyu and then go to the lady. The old lady was very angry for a long time."

After a pause, he continued, "It was also Qingwen who got lucky. At first, the old lady was thinking that Qingwen was good-looking and wanted to send her to Baoyu. But Qingwen had a quarrel with Meiren. Seeing that she was too stubborn, the old lady sent Meiren away, and Qingwen was sent to the inconspicuous brother Jian instead."

Ping Er heaved a sigh of relief and smiled, "Thinking back, Qingwen was still feeling depressed at that time, and Lai Ma was unwilling to give in. She kept looking for Qingwen every few days, and it seemed that she wanted Qingwen to go to Baoyu's place."

Sister Feng waved her round fan and said with a smile: "This is what they call a flower that blooms with great intention but does not bloom, while a willow that grows without intention grows into a shade." She glanced at Ping'er and scolded her: "You should also change your temper. Don't think that we are always good to each other. People's hearts are hidden in their stomachs. If it weren't for Musk Moon pointing it out, I'm afraid you would still treat Xiren as your good sister."

Ping Erh said in distress, "It is easy to change the situation, but it is hard to change one's nature. Jian... He also said that I am always kind to others, which is not good."

Suddenly, a cool breeze blew. Wang Xifeng put down her fan, knowing that Ping'er's temper was hard to change, and said nothing more. She thought to herself that if it weren't for Ping'er's temper, she would have been sent away by him that day.

After a brief thought, Feng Jieer put Xiren's matter aside and said, "The third day of next month is the day when the old lady will have a birthday party. We must make good arrangements for it."

Ping Erh said, "Madam is right. Today there are the Zhang family's affairs, and tomorrow there are the Li family's affairs. In the government, there is only outflow but no income. Now that it is the old lady's birthday, I can finally see some return income."

Sister Feng laughed and said, "The palace is not empty, why are you worrying about it? Those things are just transferred from left hand to right hand."

Ping Erh said, "Madam, what you said is very true. The last time we received the Horse Stepping on Flying Swallow, the old lady said it looked familiar, as if it was sent to Prince Beijing's Palace when the old Duke was still alive."

Feng Jieer said, "There's no need to be anxious. In the past two years, Baoyu, the third lady, the fourth lady, and Lang'er have all been looking for marriage proposals one after another. It's not like they can only get in but not out."

Ping Er laughed and said, "Madam, why did you forget about the second young lady?"

"She?" Feng Jieer snorted, "Do you think she can escape Brother Jian's Five Finger Mountain? Amitabha, I don't know when this matter will be made clear... If someone dies, it will be terrible!"

Ping'er thought about it and realized that the Second Miss was a coward. If the Fourth Master Jian really forced her, the Second Miss might just give in reluctantly. Then she thought again that the Fourth Master Jian had always been sensible. He would not do such a thing, would he?

Having said this, Sister Feng said, "Send someone to Sister Zhen to inquire about this."

Ping'er came closer and asked, "Grandma, is Grandma Zhen okay?"

Sister Feng frowned and said, "Recently I heard that she often shuts the door and windows during the day, and I don't know what she is doing. A maid told me that the last time I went to look for her, I smelled a strange smell in the yard."

Ping Er agreed. She was extremely disgusted with You Shi's behavior, so she wanted to be on the same page with Feng Jie at this moment.

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In the Jade Emperor Temple.

She was wearing a white cross-collared gauze dress, a scarlet flowered satin belt, and a pea green long skirt. The scarlet flowered satin belt was scattered, just like the second girl's hair that fell like a waterfall in spring. The pea green long skirt only covered her feet, revealing most of her plump and beautiful feet. Her nails were painted with nail polish, which added a bit of playfulness.

Yingchun gave Li Weijian a reproachful look and then called him softly. Xiuju, with a red face, brought water to serve him.

After exchanging a glance with Li Weijian, Xiu Ju's face became even more flushed. Last month, she met Si Qi while she was shopping. After a careful look, she learned that Si Qi was now living a better life than the young mistresses of ordinary wealthy families. She had maids and old women to take care of her daily life, and she had a carriage when she traveled. She had five silver dollars a month just for cosmetics.

As the saying goes, health changes the spirit, and living changes the body. Now Siqi's hands are white and tender, her body is plump, and she is dressed in silk and satin. How can she still look like a maid in the past? She looks like a sleeping mistress!

After this chance encounter, Xiu Ju couldn't help but be tempted. She thought to herself that she was as pretty as Si Qi, but not as tall and strong as Si Qi. Fourth Master Jian even took someone like Si Qi as his concubine, so maybe she could have a chance too?
But some things were hard to say, so they looked at each other hurriedly, and Xiuju's eyes could not help but show some flirting. But at this moment, Li Weijian was in his sage time, still thinking about how to speak, so how could he have time to guess Xiuju's thoughts?
He thought Xiu Ju was just thinking about the previous entrustment, so he said gently: "Your brother is learning locksmithing now. I asked Master Sun, and he said that your brother has great talent. Maybe he will be able to become an apprentice in two years. By then, you can earn at least five silver dollars a month."

Xiu Ju hurriedly thanked him: "Thank you, Fourth Master Jian, for your support. Now my brother has a future."

Li Weijian smiled and said, "We are one family, so you have to take care of your family affairs."

Xiu Ju's heart trembled when she heard the word "one of our own". At this time, the second girl had already washed herself, so Xiu Ju lowered her head and took the basin of water.

Turning around, Li Weijian saw that Yingchun's eyes were full of resentment. After staying for a long time, Li Weijian knew what the second lady was thinking. He sat down beside her and reached out to grab her hand, but Yingchun pulled away, so he held the plump toes with one hand.

The second girl Yingchun, perhaps because of her plump body, had itchy spots all over her body, especially her feet, which she would not let anyone touch. She quickly shrank back because of the itchiness, but was unexpectedly pinched by Li Weijian.

Yingchun looked at him angrily, and Li Weijian said, "I know what Second Sister is thinking. But we have to wait until Xiangyun is married before we can discuss this matter. Then we will certainly welcome Second Sister into the mansion with great fanfare."

Yingchun said dejectedly, "The Bo's mansion only has two courtyards, the east and west. I can't live in the middle courtyard after I marry into the family, right?"

Li Weijian said with a smile: "Huifang Garden is vast, how about I build a bronze sparrow tower for my second sister?"

Yingchun was not relieved after hearing this. Instead, she said worriedly, "I saw the old lady today. She didn't look well. After all, she is old. She will be fine for her birthday in August. I'm afraid that after the birthday..."

If Jia's mother passed away around the time Xiangyun got married, the second young lady would have to wait for quite some time. At her age, how could she delay any longer?

Yingchun was disheartened and said, "Maybe we are just not meant to be together. If it were up to me, I would rather become a nun."

"Alright,"

Hearing Li Weijian's words, Yingchun looked over and saw Li Weijian said seriously: "When the time comes, I will buy the nunnery, you can recruit some disciples to be masters, and I will be the master's uncle."

The second girl Yingchun spat, "You are becoming even more dishonest!"

Li Weijian took her into his arms and comforted her, "Good things are never too late. To put it bluntly, maybe now that the old lady is gone, there will be no obstacles between us, right?"

The second girl knew she shouldn't think like that, but she followed Li Weijian's words and it was true. Now the family was all dependent on the old lady to support the family, and everything in the family was about appearance and pomp. If the old lady was really gone, the first and second houses would be separated, and no matter whether it was Madam Xing, Jia Lian, or Sister Feng, they would not dare to offend Li Weijian. Who knows, the good things between the two of them would come naturally?
Thinking about this, the second girl secretly cursed herself for being unfilial, but she no longer wanted to think about the future. Suddenly she remembered that Xiuju had been acting strangely recently, so she said to Li Weijian, "You... you almost couldn't help yourself just now. If, if you really can't help yourself, why not go find Xiuju."

Li Weijian blinked in surprise, but he didn't have any thoughts about Xiu Ju in his heart. He just said, "I only thought about my second sister, and didn't think about anything else. Yes, Xiu Ju is not young anymore, I will find a suitable marriage for her in the future."

Seeing that she really had no intention, Yingchun did not mention the matter and turned to gossip. When she was talking about her family, she suddenly mentioned Youshi and frowned and said, "Today, I bumped into Sister Zhen head-on. We exchanged a few words and I smelled a strange smell in her mouth.

At first I thought Sister-in-law Zhen was a little mad, but when I came back I thought more and more that something was not right."

Li Weijian was surprised and asked, "What's wrong?"

Yingchun got up and found a copy on the table. It was written by a Taoist priest in the previous dynasty. It recorded the way of alchemy. One page recorded the situation of being poisoned by the elixir. Yingchun pointed out one by one, saying that the situation was exactly the same as Youshi's. Li Weijian now had an extraordinary friendship with Fengjieer. Of course, he had heard Fengjieer complain about Youshi and Jia Lian's affair. After a little thought, he thought that Jia Lian was poisoned, and it might be passed on to Youshi.

This erysipelas, judging from the symptoms, is it probably lead and mercury poisoning?

Yes, I seem to have heard about it in my previous life, that heavy metals were used to treat syphilis in the past, but the side effects were extremely severe. It would be fine if it damaged the body, but the most fatal thing was that it was difficult to have children.

Thinking of this, Li Weijian couldn't help but say, "It seems that Second Brother Lian may not have an heir."

"Ah?" Yingchun was very surprised and asked, "Why did you bring up Brother Lian when you were talking about Sister Zhen?"

Li Weijian said quietly, "Taking lead and mercury is not good for offspring, doesn't that mean you will end up with no offspring?"

"Brother Lian is taking lead and mercury? Why?"

"It is the cure for the unspeakable disease."

Yingchun was anxious: "How strange, this is related to Sister-in-law Zhen... uh——" Yingchun was shocked and looked at Li Weijian in astonishment.

Seeing Li Weijian nodded, Yingchun couldn't help but spit: "She, how can she be so shameless!"

Jia Zhen was exiled, not dead. When the old concubine died last time, Jia Zhen's sentence was reduced by half. Maybe he can come back in time for the amnesty. I don't know what the eldest sister-in-law Zhen was thinking, but she got together with the second brother Lian.

Yingchun was timid outside, but because she was too familiar with Li Weijian, she took the courage to criticize Youshi. Li Weijian agreed with her while thinking randomly.

Jia Lian had made himself childless, and now Feng Jieer only has two daughters. I am afraid that this matter will cause trouble in the future. If Jia Lian was obsessed with women, perhaps they could live in peace, but he took lead and mercury to treat his illness and damaged his essence. With Jia Lian's temperament, who knows what kind of trouble he will cause.

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After a few days, there was indeed a commotion in the Rong Mansion.

It was because Jia Lian had used fumigation medicine for seven consecutive days that the symptoms in his crotch were alleviated, but he still had bad breath, headaches, and loose teeth.

He had already lost a canine tooth, and now even his back molars were loose. Jia Lian no longer dared to hide his illness and avoid seeing a doctor, so he immediately went to see the imperial physician Wang in the palace.

Doctor Wang examined Jia Lian's pulse and asked about his daily expenses. He frowned and said, "It shouldn't be like this. Please forgive me for being blunt. Second Master is clearly suffering from erysipelas."

"This..." Jia Lian was too embarrassed to speak, but he still told the truth: "To be honest, I have used fumigation medicine to treat unspeakable diseases."

Doctor Wang hurriedly asked, "Do you still have the fumigation medicine?"

"There is one portion left." He immediately stood up and went to find the Imperial Doctor Wang to have a look.

Doctor Wang took it in his hand and saw that it looked like a steamed bread. He bent down and sniffed it, and immediately felt relieved. He said, "It can't be wrong. To answer your question, there must be lead and mercury hidden in this thing."

Jia Lian thought that Jia Jing had been taking elixirs for more than ten years before he died of fever and swelling, and he had only been fumigating himself with elixirs for seven days, so he thought it should be fine.

Unexpectedly, Doctor Wang shook his head and said, "Second Master, these two things are not the same. Judging from your condition, I'm afraid you have a very deep case of poisoning."

Jia Lian asked, "Is there any solution?"

Doctor Wang shook his head and said, "I don't know how to cure erysipelas. You may go and seek out a Taoist master who can give you a solution." He paused and continued, "You are only suffering from a headache, loose teeth, and bad breath. The consequences of erysipelas are more than that... I'm afraid it will not be good for your offspring."

Jia Lian was stunned, thinking to himself that this was indeed the case. Ever since he had used the fumigation, he did not know why, but he had lost interest in sex. Not only that, he had spent a lot of money to find Miss Duo from Bao's family a few days ago. Although Bao's family had used all kinds of tricks, Jia Lian was powerless and it took him a long time to get the job done.

Jia Lian was in despair at this moment. Not only would he have no offspring in the future, but he was afraid that he would not even be able to enjoy love with a man.
Doctor Wang stood up to say goodbye, and Jia Lian came to his senses and hurriedly handed over the book and gift. When he returned to his study, Jia Lian was very upset, but he knew that this matter should not be spread.

Now that he has inherited the title, the Rongguo Mansion will fall to him in the future. If the old lady finds out that she can't have children in the future, I'm afraid that the title... may fall to the second wife.

He also remembered that You Erjie had a miscarriage that day and it was a boy. Jia Lian felt extremely regretful. If that pregnancy had been preserved, there wouldn't have been this disaster today.
The more he thought about it, the more upset he became. Jia Lian could no longer stay there, so he simply took two servants out for a stroll. Before he knew it, he had arrived at the residence of the third sister.

After Third Sister You returned to the capital, Jia Lian came to visit a few times, but because of Second Sister You's incident, Third Sister You was so angry with him that she always treated him badly. After a while, Jia Lian stopped coming.

Thinking of the kindness of the second sister today, Jia Lian wanted to find the third sister to talk. Coincidentally, the third sister's place was always crowded with people in the past, but today it was closed to visitors.

Jia Lian went forward and knocked on the door. The little maid asked the third sister and then led Jia Lian in.

It was already autumn, and when Jia Lian entered the room he saw Third Sister You, dressed in a light gauze, lying on the couch. Not only were her legs bare, but her jacket was open in front of her, revealing her bodice.

In his hand he held a copper and yellow bamboo pipe, puffing smoke freely. Seeing Jia Lian coming in, Third Sister You smiled and said, "Why did my dear brother-in-law come to see me today? Are you here to discuss visiting my poor sister on July 15?"

Jia Lian blinked his eyes and suddenly realized that it would be the 15th day of the seventh lunar month in a few days. So he hurriedly said, "That's right. I don't know why, but when I think about your sister today, I feel even more miserable."

Third Sister You couldn't help but curse, "If you, a bitch, had any sincerity in your heart, how could my sister have been treated so harshly and died?"

"This..." Jia Lian didn't know how to explain. He had only considered You Erjie a plaything before, and had never had any real feelings for her, so he didn't care at all that You Erjie was so close to Jia Zhen and Jia Qiang.

As the saying goes, 'You only know regret when you lose something', which is exactly what Jia Lian is like now.

Just at this moment, Jia Lian started to have a headache, and in a moment he felt dizzy from the pain.

Seeing him fall on the couch, Third Sister You thought he was up to something bad again, so she kicked him down. She stood up and was about to curse him, but she saw that Jia Lian was sweating profusely, so she asked in surprise, "What's wrong with you?"

"It hurts, my head hurts!"

Third Sister You quickly ordered the maid to help him up. Seeing that Jia Lian was groaning with headache, it didn't seem like he was faking it, so she suddenly came up with a plan. She immediately called the maid and ordered, "Go to my box and get the box of opium cream that Master Liu sent.

"

The maid came back in a flash and brought an octagonal box.

Third Sister You cleaned the pipe, refilled it with opium paste, lit it, took two puffs, and then passed it to Jia Lian: "Take two puffs, and the pain will go away."

Jia Lian was desperate and tried any possible means to cure his illness. He did not suspect that there was any trickery behind it. He took out the pipe and took two puffs. At first he coughed a lot, but after he got used to it, the pain in his head really stopped. Not only that, he even felt a little bit like he was floating in the air.

Jia Lian puffed out smoke and asked, "What is this? It can actually relieve my headache."

Third Sister You laughed and said, "This thing is very valuable. This small box probably costs twenty silver dollars. It is said that it came from Guangzhou. I don't know who is so ungrateful that he insists that this thing is poisonous. Now this opium is only circulated in small quantities. I usually don't want to use it to entertain guests."

(End of this chapter)