Upon hearing this, Mrs. Ji immediately covered her mouth, not daring to cry.
Xie Cheng asked, "Does this poison have anything to do with crying?"
Qing Pu gave Qing Hui a reproachful look and said to Xie Cheng, "The poison Lady Xie has can drive a person insane, so itâs best for the afflicted to remain emotionally stable, avoiding extreme sorrow, joy, or anger, otherwise it will worsen the condition and allow the toxin to attack the heart."
She wasnât lying; indeed, those poisoned by such toxins should not have fluctuations in their emotions too great.
"I will certainly look after her and not let her get angry or cry," Xie Cheng promised, then spoke to Zhenniang: "Zhenniang, did you hear? Control your temper, donât get angry, donât cry, and youâll be fine."
"Really, really will it be fine?" Zhenniang asked, turning to Qing Pu... This maid is more agreeable; the other one is too fierce.
But before Qing Pu could answer, Zhenniang turned to Doctor Dai and asked the same question, evidently thinking Qing Puâs medical skills insufficient, preferring to ask someone with a beard whom she found more reliable.
Qing Pu and Qing Hui were speechless.
Doctor Dai said, "This type of poison is not deadly, it only drives people insane, and it takes a potency of three years to be effective, Lady Xie has only been poisoned for two years now, and sheâll be fine once the toxin is neutralized. But this poison needs to be cured gradually and cannot be rushed; it will take at least half a yearâs effort to completely remove the toxins."
Xie Cheng replied, "Slow is alright, as long as the toxins can be completely cleared."
He then inquired, "Will it damage the body?"
Doctor Dai shook his head: "It will not; just ensure no pregnancy until the toxins are entirely cleared."
Company Commander Xie hasnât had a son yet, and now heading to battle, he is likely eager to have one.
More than a son, Xie Cheng is concerned about Zhenniang, and he says, "Thatâs okay, we can wait."
Zhenniang blushed at being spoken of, but she was happy that she wouldnât die, she even looked more kindly at Qing Hui, tugging at Xie Chengâs sleeve saying, "I donât want that old man to treat me... thereâs an impropriety between genders."
Xie Cheng laughed softly, "Since Mrs. Qin sent the medical woman here, it wonât be Doctor Dai who treats your toxins, rest assured."
Sure enough, Doctor Dai only consulted with Qing Pu and Qing Hui, instructing them on how to detoxify Mrs. Ji, without taking matters into his own hands.
They then busied themselves for an hour and finally detoxified Mrs. Ji once, leaving a prescription: "The toxin that affected Lady Xie is quite rare, and our brought medicinal materials canât fully match whatâs needed for this prescription. Stop by Luchang County on our way and fetch the appropriate medicines."
"Many thanks to Doctor Dai." Xie Cheng was infinitely grateful, handing each of them an excellent red envelope before personally seeing them off.
After returning, Xie Cheng said to Zhenniang, "Hong Xiang must die. If she doesnât, then the servants in the future will emulate her."
Poisoning the master is a grave sin, and Hong Xiang has done such a thing, she neednât think of survival.
"Woo woo woo!" Hong Xiang desperately cried, looking tearfully at Zhenniang. She hoped that the lifelong bond they shared would make Zhenniang reluctant to kill her.
Indeed, Zhenniang couldnât bear it.
Xie Cheng said, "Zhenniang, you canât be like this, if you always soften your heart, once youâre in the Northwest, youâll only suffer even more."
"But, but Hong Xiang and I grew up together," Zhenniang was still afraid of causing someoneâs death, and feared Xie Cheng might kill more familiar people around her, thus she refused to comply.
Nanny Xie said, "If Lady cannot bear it, then send Hong Xiang back to the Ji family, tell the Ji family what sheâs done, and let them punish her. When the time comes if the Ji family decides to kill or sell her, it has nothing to do with Lady and Master."
This was considered a compromise for Mrs. Ji, she thought it over and agreed: "Okay."
But she still didnât like the mother and daughter of Nanny Xie, feeling unfamiliar with them, and she heard that Xie Huaihua was ordered by the Xie familyâs in-laws to follow them to the Northwest, intending to give Xie Cheng a son. This made Zhenniang dislike Nanny Xieâs mother and daughter even more.
When Xie Cheng saw she had agreed, he immediately ordered someone to escort Nanny Ji and Hong Xiang away, fearing Mrs. Ji might change her mind.
"Woo woo woo!" Hong Xiang cried out, hoping Zhenniang would save her, knowing full well that even the Ji family couldnât withstand a maid who had poisoned her master.
Xie Cheng made a quick eye signal to his personal soldiers, and the soldiers immediately escorted Hong Xiang, Nanny Ji, and three other servants away.
"We donât have many people, we canât let Hong Xiang and them delay the journey. Once we arrive in Luchang County tomorrow, Iâll find an inn for them and then inform the Ji family to send someone to come fetch them." Xie Cheng said to Zhenniang after entering the carriage.
Zhenniang didnât speak, merely nodded.
Xie Cheng helplessly handed her the confessions from the other three servants: "Take a look."
Zhenniang took them, reading them by the candlelight in the carriage, almost fainting from anger.
These three servants were all male, handpicked by Nanny Ji, saying that they were men, and therefore more convenient for tasks, letting them follow the west and manage the logistics along the way.
But the three were corrupt, neglecting the families of the soldiers, causing four children from soldier families to fall ill in the bitter cold, while they themselves hoarded over a hundred tael of Silver.
One of them even had malicious intentions, targeting the new brides of the soldiers, wanting to exchange supplies for their bodies.
"Beasts!" Zhenniang trembled with rage; she had always felt she lived cleanly, not expecting those around her to be rotten enough to do such things.
Xie Cheng picked up the discarded confession, saying, "Luckily we discovered it in time; if Wang Xiang had succeeded, weâd be done for."
If Ji Family servants harmed the soldiersâ wives, not only would that soldier demand his life, the entire Yujiang County Military Department soldiers would demand retribution!
Mrs. Ji is easy to deceive, but she isnât foolish, having lived with Xie Cheng for years, she instinctively sees Xie Cheng as her true person, just not as close as with Nanny Ji, Hong Xiu, and Hong Xiang they were.
Listening to this, she was tear-eyed, saying, "Iâm sorry~"
For her to offer an apology, Xie Cheng felt his suffering was worth it, laughing: "No worries, all these evildoers are caught, you rest well, and weâll live good days henceforth."
Zhenniang nodded, then hurriedly shook her head, saying with fear, "But, but Iâm still thinking about the matter of you killing people, can we not too quickly..."
Share a room?
Xie Chengâs heart was once again stabbed by her, but he knew she was scared, and he agreed: "Alright, whatever Zhenniang wants, I wonât force you."
Upon hearing this, Zhenniang finally brightened up, pointing at Nanny Xieâs mother and daughter saying, "Make them leave, I donât want them to stay with me."
Nanny Xie and Xie Huaihua were embarrassed, and Xie Cheng was also slightly humiliated, coaxing: "They are the Xie familyâs bonded servants, most loyal, and since Nanny Ji and them can no longer serve you, let Nanny Xie and them stay with you from now on."
Zhenniang cried out: "No, I donât like them, tell the Ji family to send maids and nannies over, or weâll buy new ones from Luchang County, but I wonât have them!"
Xie Cheng wanted to strangle her, but considering she was poisoned, he had to handle her gently, speaking nicely for half an hour, but ultimately failed to convince her, nearly driving Xie Cheng to dismay.
Still, this time he managed to deal with all the Ji familyâs servants, and Zhenniang started trusting him, which made Xie Cheng quite delighted.
...
Ding Family is a noble family in the Central Plains, covertly maintaining some manpower, Ding Ge quickly learned about the events of the Xie family, sneering, "These merchant family girls truly canât be put in high positions, only Xie Cheng indulges a merchant girl."
If it were him, Zhenniang wouldnât even think of throwing a tantrum but would have to kneel down to welcome him home for a meal!