Chapter 53: Ah Zhao Was Given the Childless Poison

Seeing this, Chu Mu made a discreet gesture toward those hidden in the shadows, then hurriedly caught up.

"Zhao Zhao... Zhao Zhao..." How could Shen Zhao just stand by as that man named Chu humiliated her mother like this and remain silent? And now she was even walking away with him. Why didn't she show any concern for her own mother?

Lady Shen watched their retreating figures with resentment. Was Zhao Zhao truly so foolish? Chu’s face was full of concern as he carried that lowly maid; it was obvious he harbored improper thoughts for her. Why couldn’t Zhao Zhao see through it? Why would she still defend those wretched people?

Lady Shen turned and headed toward Shen Qianmeng.

Xie Yuheng was utterly shaken by the scene he had just witnessed. There was no wind today, so why did he feel so swept away? That young man in the dark robe was actually Brother Chu’s tigress of a wife. And her family members were each more outrageous than the last. He had never encountered relatives like these before.

Especially when Lady Shen had bitterly lamented about how Shen Qianmeng had sacrificed so much for the sake of her father and brother. It almost made him want to laugh aloud. This muddle-headed lady should wake up—her so-called devoted daughter had, in fact, been the one who caused her own father and brother to be exiled.

Shen Qianmeng shoved her mother away as she rushed over to help her up. "It’s all your fault! Why did you bring Shen Zhao into this world? Why didn’t you strangle her at birth? Wasn’t having one daughter enough?"

Lady Shen felt thoroughly wronged. Had Mengmeng been beaten senseless? Zhao Zhao was the elder sister—how could she have known there would be another daughter? Though her daughter pushed her away, Lady Shen couldn’t bear to blame her. It was all Zhao Zhao’s fault for ignoring the bond between sisters and causing Mengmeng to be humiliated in public. No wonder Mengmeng held her responsible.

Xie Yuheng nearly laughed out loud witnessing this scene. Serves them right! Absolutely deserved!

Glancing at the guards rolling on the ground in pain and the turmoil inside Jin Yu Pavilion, he decided to do a good deed to the end and file a report on Brother Chu’s behalf. Someone had made a purchase and refused to pay, then created such a disturbance in the shop. If word got out, that domineering Lady Yanran would surely be disgraced.

He turned and left Jin Yu Pavilion.

In the carriage, Shen Zhao gently laid the unconscious Zisu on the soft cushions and said to Chu Mu, "Have your people temporarily take over Zisu’s duties at the shop. Shen Qianmeng will not let this go easily."

"Don’t worry, A’Zhao. I’ve already left my men watching over Jin Yu Pavilion in secret."

"Thank you." With that, she instructed the coachman, "Head to the Ten Fates Clinic on Qihuang Street."

She had no intention of bringing Zisu back to the Grand General’s Manor. She didn’t trust the house physicians there.

All the way, Shen Zhao carefully cleaned the blood from Zisu’s body. When they arrived at Ten Fates Clinic, Shen Zhao was just about to carry Zisu out when Chu Mu quickly intervened.

"A’Zhao, this is a busy place. It’s not proper for a woman to carry another in public; it could ruin Zisu’s reputation."

He hadn’t stopped A’Zhao from carrying Zisu on Zhuque Street, as it was a quiet hour and there were no ladies out shopping for cosmetics. Jin Yu Pavilion’s entrance had been deserted. But the Ten Fates Clinic on Qihuang Street was different—people were constantly coming and going for consultations and medicine.

Shen Zhao glanced at Chu Mu and said, "This frail young man—let me carry Zisu into the clinic instead." Without another word, she ignored Chu Mu, who stood frozen in place.

Frail young man, indeed!

Inside the clinic, there weren’t many people at the moment. As soon as Shen Zhao entered, an apprentice greeted her and led her into an inner room where the physician received patients. Shen Zhao gently placed Zisu on the bed. The elderly physician, his beard white as snow, hurried forward and instructed the apprentice, "Fetch two female doctors. This young lady needs her wounds cleaned." He looked at Shen Zhao, "Sir, I must ask you to step outside."

Shen Zhao was still wearing her official robes. The old physician, having lived so long, was no fool; this official and the injured girl were certainly not husband and wife. No respectable family would allow their lady to be injured so badly and then carried to a clinic by her own husband. Wealthy families had their own doctors—especially one whose master wore official robes.

Shen Zhao stepped out and saw Chu Mu having her pulse taken by a physician in the waiting hall. Was Chu Mu injured in the earlier scuffle? Was she feeling unwell now? Shen Zhao immediately hurried over.

Ten Fates Clinic was one of the most reputable in the capital, with dozens of physicians on call. It was said that two had even retired from the Imperial Medical Academy.

The physician currently attending Chu Mu had hair and eyebrows entirely silver, one hand stroking his white beard, the other gently resting on Chu Mu’s slender wrist, his expression calm and measured.

After a moment, a look of concern replaced the calm on the physician’s face.

Shen Zhao’s heart tightened. Was there something wrong with her health? Why did the physician look increasingly grave?

Was it serious? She anxiously blurted out, "Doctor, is my wife’s health alright?"

The old physician withdrew his hand, hesitated, and said, "Your esteemed wife has been given an infertility potion. Fortunately, the dosage was small and hasn’t caused irreparable harm, but in the future, it may be very difficult for her to conceive…"

Chu Mu suddenly looked up at Shen Zhao. Someone had poisoned her beloved Zhao with an infertility drug—who dared do such a thing?

A heavy weight filled Shen Zhao’s heart, her eyes darkening. How much must they hate her, to go so far as to use such a method? Were they so afraid she might give birth to a child and bind Chu Mu to her?

Once she cleared her father and brother’s names, she would divorce Chu Mu.

"Doctor… are you certain I’ve been poisoned? Our household physician checks my pulse every month and has never detected such a thing… Are you sure?"

Chu Mu pressed, unwilling to accept this. The household physician checked the mistress’s pulse every month. If A’Zhao had truly been poisoned, how could the physician not notice? That doctor was a trusted elder of the family, having served as her personal military doctor through many campaigns.

The old physician snorted, "Madam, I have practiced medicine for many years and never once misdiagnosed a pulse. If you don’t believe me, you may seek another expert."

"I… I do not doubt your skill, but our house physician would never conceal such a thing. Can you tell when the drug was administered?"

Chu Mu was desperate to know who had harmed A’Zhao.

Shen Zhao, too, wanted to know when she had been poisoned.

"Madam drank the potion as recently as yesterday. The poisoner has been administering small doses daily, gradually destroying your health. Judging from the accumulation in your body, this has been going on for two years."

Chu Mu’s face turned deathly pale. Two years ago marked the beginning of separate bedrooms for her and A’Zhao. That meant the poisoning had happened in the General’s Manor. But why hadn’t the house physician discovered it? Who could have done this? Could it be Lin Jiaojiao? Or the second sister-in-law? Or… or even his own mother?

No!

It couldn’t be his mother. How could he ever suspect her? It was impossible! A’Zhao was his legitimate wife, married with all proper rites. Why would his mother give her the infertility drug and deprive him of a legitimate heir? It could never be her.

Shen Zhao, meanwhile, had thought of something. To confirm her suspicions, she reached out her hand and said: