coobybook Chapter 129 Punishment
Chapter 129 Punishment
Chapter 129 129 Punishment
"My lord, the silver notes and jade hairpin were found under Jasmine's pillow, and this porcelain vase was hidden in a secret compartment on the wall. Since it was hidden so well, I suspected there must be something fishy about it, so I brought it here without permission!"
The silver notes handed over by Guang were from the Song family's money shop. Just half a month ago, Concubine Song, who also came from the Song family, was beaten and expelled from the Marquis's mansion after she was ordered by Marquis Anshi to be severely beaten for secretly bribing assassins and fake Taoist priests in an attempt to frame Gongsun Yuan with the "cat poison".
Upon seeing the silver notes and combining them with the rumors Gongsun Yuan had mentioned about the Marquis's residence, Marquis Anshi immediately understood everything! He pointed to the white porcelain bottle in Kou Guang's hand and said to Ye Pianran with a stern face:
"Ran'er, you're studying medicine, come and see what's in this porcelain bottle?"
Ye Pianran lowered her eyes and replied "Yes," then stepped forward and took the white porcelain bottle into her hand. No one knew that the moment her fingertips touched the white porcelain bottle, 666 had already quietly placed a drop of "Absolute Child" that Ye Pianran had extracted from Ye Yankang's body the night before into the porcelain bottle.
Ye Pianran first held the porcelain bottle to her nose and sniffed it, then took a teacup, poured the thick black liquid from the porcelain bottle into it, and then used a silver needle to probe the liquid.
Her every move affected the emotions of everyone in the room, especially Jasmine, who was now experiencing firsthand what it meant to be in agony worse than death.
Almost instantly, the moment the silver needle was inserted into the liquid, it turned black in Ye Pianran's hand! Retracting the needle, Ye Pianran turned back, her gaze turning incredibly cold:
“Father, if I’m not mistaken, this porcelain bottle contains a poison called ‘Child-Slaying’!”
"What! What kind of poison is this?" Marquis Anshi's expression changed drastically, and he asked in a trembling voice.
"This poison is called 'Child Deprivation' because it is usually administered to pregnant women. The toxin is slowly transferred to the fetus in the womb through the mother's essence and blood, eventually causing the pregnant woman to inexplicably show signs of premature labor. After the child is born, there is an eight or nine chance that the baby will be stillborn!"
What? This poison is far too vicious; it's going to kill him off and leave him childless! Marquis Anshi's face turned deathly pale.
“The person who poisoned us is so cruel. Why would they not even spare an unborn child? If it weren’t for my daughter losing the jade hairpin and Guard Kou accidentally finding this bottle of poison, I’m afraid…” Ye Pianran looked at Gongsun Yuan and said with tears in her eyes, “I’m afraid Mother will be framed again this time.”
Marquis Anshi was furious. He immediately turned around, glared fiercely at Jasmine, and roared, "You lowly servant, this poison was found in your room! Tell me, who exactly instructed you to harm my offspring!"
"I'm innocent, my lord! I've never seen this porcelain vase, let alone heard of any 'childlessness'! Aunt Meng's premature birth has nothing to do with me!" Jasmine was terrified and hurriedly shook her head to defend herself.
"If it wasn't you, then who else could have framed you?" Marquis Anshi sneered. "It's clearly you who colluded with Madam Song to poison Consort Meng, kill the child in her womb, and then tried to frame Madam. Isn't that right?"
"No, no!" Jasmine cried out, "I've been wronged! I don't know Song Shi, and I've never conspired with anyone to harm Consort Meng! I beg Your Excellency to see the truth!"
Upon hearing her words, another maidservant of Gongsun Yuan's lips moved as if she wanted to say something. However, out of consideration for Marquis Anshi, she swallowed her words.
Ye Pianran naturally wouldn't let such an opportunity pass, and immediately said, "Chunli, is there anything you want to say to the Marquis and his wife?"
Seeing that she couldn't avoid it, Chunli stepped forward and said, "This servant has seen Jasmine leave her post without permission many times when she was on duty, and I don't know where she went."
Hearing this, Jasmine was powerless to refute. Although she hadn't colluded with the Song family, she had secretly allied herself with Ye Yanxun, frequently reporting information to him. She could indeed clear herself of the charge of colluding with the Song family, but that would inevitably implicate Ye Yanxun. And she believed that if she did that, she might escape this calamity today, but once the autumn examinations ended and Ye Yanxun returned home, she would definitely face certain death!
Ye Pianran looked at Jasmine, her eyes filled with heartache and indignation: "Jasmine, I thought you were obedient and quick-witted, so I transferred you from the servants' quarters to serve Madam. I never expected you to collude with others in secret, steal my jade hairpin, and then poison Aunt Meng in an attempt to frame Madam. How can you be so treacherous and disloyal? Do you think you deserve my support and Madam's care all these days?"
Jasmine was rendered speechless by his words, and could only tremble as she bowed to Ye Pianran: "This servant has betrayed her mistress, her crime is unforgivable, I beg the Marquis and Madam to punish me..."
She only has herself to blame for choosing the wrong person to serve! The eldest young master does have a say in the Marquis's mansion, but she forgot that she is serving the mistress of the mansion!
Marquis Anshi coldly said, "Guards, drag this lowly maid who plotted to harm the Marquis's heir and frame her master away and beat her to death!"
Hearing the commotion, the guards outside entered the house and were about to drag Jasmine away to be executed when Gongsun Yuan sighed and said, "Wait."
She looked at Marquis Anshi and said, "Since Your Excellency has named Consort Meng's child 'Qi,' it is because you hope that he can grow up smoothly and without any accidents. In that case, let's not commit any more killings. It would be good for him."
Gongsun Yuan's words made sense. Ye Yanqi had just been born, and someone in the manor was about to die; it was indeed not a good omen.
"For the sake of the lady and the young master, I will spare your lowly life today, but although you are spared the death penalty, you will not escape punishment! You will receive fifty strokes of the cane, not a single one less. Not only that, I will also cut out your tongue, chain your hands and feet, and make you work by the latrine, never to leave again!" Marquis Anshi said coldly.
Before Jasmine could react, the guards quickly escorted her away.
Ye Pianran was satisfied with this arrangement. She sighed softly, took Gongsun Yuan's hand, and said, "Mother, it's all my fault. I wanted to find someone else to serve you, but I ended up choosing a heartless wretch."
Gongsun Yuan gently stroked her long hair and shook her head, saying, "It's not your fault. People who can't resist temptation will always change their hearts."
Marquis Anshi inexplicably felt that her words had a hidden meaning. He coughed awkwardly twice and said to Ye Pianran:
"Ran'er, you said that Aunt Meng was poisoned by this 'child-killing poison' and that's why she had a premature birth. How is Fu'er now? Will this poison leave any aftereffects in the future?"
"Father, please rest assured, the poison in Fu'er's body has been cured, and there will be no lingering problems," Ye Pianran said.
Marquis Anshi had just breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Ye Pianran say:
“Father, Mother’s symptoms of premature birth were so similar to Aunt Meng’s. Although Kang’er was lucky enough to survive, he was born mentally challenged. Didn’t you ever think that he might also have been poisoned by this ‘child-killing’ poison?”