Chapter 17: The one who came in was a Yaksha

After confirming that Lin Jiaojiao had been taken away, Liu Shouyi became the most anxious person in the entire Pei Mansion. He had just learned new medical techniques from her, and before he could even digest this knowledge, she had been hauled off.

He still wanted to acquire more novel medical knowledge from her to expand his medical classics!

Moreover, he had promised Lin Jiaojiao that he would help her get out of the Pei Mansion.

No, if she went to the Dali Temple, she would be stripped of a layer of skin even if she didn't die. Her being gone was secondary, but this medical knowledge had to be passed on!

Thinking of this, Liu Shouyi worked with extreme efficiency to organize and store the medicinal herbs sent from the Imperial Hospital, then hurried out of the mansion.

On the other side, in Jinxiu Garden, Su Wanqiu was sitting by the bed teasing the child. When the servant Zhao An came to report that Lin Jiaojiao and the baby had both been taken to the Dali Temple, she felt a bit more cheerful. A smile even appeared on her face, and she stood up, intending to carry the child to visit the Old Madam on her sickbed.

"Mistress, do you think we should find someone to finish her off at the Dali Temple?" Zhao An said, following behind Su Wanqiu, gesturing across his own throat with his hand.

"That won't be necessary." Su Wanqiu was all smiles, ordering the kitchen to prepare high-quality meals as she walked, as she would be dining with the Old Madam tonight.

Zhao An hadn't seen her this happy in a long time and felt very smug. "The Mistress is truly kind-hearted. However, I've heard that those taken into the Dali Temple rarely come out alive."

Su Wanqiu didn't answer, the smile in her eyes reaching the depths. Upon arriving at Anshou Hall and entering the room, she naturally carried the child to the Old Madam to tease. "Mother, I've brought Yang Ge'er to see you."

The Old Madam sat on the bed and glanced at the child. Seeing the child's apricot eyes, which were exactly the same as Lin Jiaojiao's, she couldn't bring herself to like him. She gave a look to Qingyin Nanny, who stepped forward to take the child away. "Young Mistress, the child must be sleepy. I'll take him to find the wet nurse to coax him to sleep."

With the child taken from her arms, Su Wanqiu took the medicinal decoction from Jingyi Nanny and fed it to the Old Madam spoonful by spoonful, even affectionately calling her 'Aunt'.

The Old Madam was very satisfied and praised, "You are a filial one. When you have time, you should still get closer to Pei Aosong, so other women don't find an opportunity to jump out as a second Lin Jiaojiao."

"But, Aunt," Su Wanqiu lowered her head helplessly, "Pei Aosong's heart is no longer with me."

"You, you are just too soft-hearted!" the Old Madam said, feeling frustrated that she wouldn't live up to her potential. "If his heart isn't with you, then find a way to make it so! What men care about is nothing more than a woman's beauty! After you finish your confinement, I will have him share a room with you again to have another child, and the second child will be raised by me personally."

At the mention of having another child, Su Wanqiu's pupils contracted in fear. "Aunt, I don't want to have any more children."

"Wanqiu, what woman doesn't have many children? Only with more children can your status be secure. When the children are successful in the future, your life will be easier in your old age." The Old Madam held her hand and persuaded, "Don't let outside women get another chance, like that vixen, to stir up trouble in the mansion."

"Look at me, just because I had few heirs, only Pei Aosong, I've broken my heart managing the entire Pei Mansion for him now." The Old Madam sighed. "Aunt doesn't want you to follow in my footsteps."

"Yes, Aunt." Su Wanqiu could only lower her head and agree.

The Old Madam said earnestly, "Once you give birth to the second child, I will hand the entire Pei Mansion over to you, and I will go to the side to enjoy my grandchildren."

Hearing the Old Madam say she would hand over the management rights to her, Su Wanqiu's eyes brightened. She finished feeding the medicine to the Old Madam, handed the empty bowl to Jingyi Nanny, then stood up and bowed. "Everything will be as Aunt arranges."

After eating dinner with the Old Madam at Anshou Hall, Su Wanqiu carried the child back.

The Old Madam looked at her back and shook her head. "I originally thought Wanqiu could handle things, but I didn't expect her to be so spoiled by her brother that she has no ability to manage affairs at all."

Qingyin Nanny echoed, "She is a legitimate daughter after all; Prime Minister Su dotes on his daughter and can't bear to see her suffer."

"If I hadn't gone to find my brother for help this time, the Pei Mansion certainly wouldn't be this peaceful. To cut weeds, one must remove the roots. Although that vixen has entered the Dali Temple, she is a troublemaker. We must never let her and that freak come out of the Dali Temple alive." As the Old Madam spoke, a trace of ruthlessness flashed in her eyes as she looked at the candlelight.

She signaled for Jingyi Nanny to come forward. "Jingyi, there is one more thing I need you to do."

Jingyi Nanny responded and came to the Old Madam's side. "Yes, Old Madam."

Night fell, and the candlelight in the Dali Temple prison flickered. Lin Jiaojiao was still undergoing interrogation in the women's prison.

In fact, as soon as she entered the women's prison in the afternoon, Song Shijie had sent two separate meals. Considering they had an infant with them, he even found them the cleanest women's cell to settle in.

The female prisoners had never seen an infant brought into the prison, and for a moment, all eyes were focused on the swaddling clothes, filled with concern and gossip.

Lin Jiaojiao was called out alone for interrogation, so the female prisoners reached through the cell door, wanting to touch the infant. But when they saw Pei Tiezhu's appearance, they all retracted their hands. "The one who came in isn't a child, it's a Yaksha. I'm afraid it's been killing since it was in its mother's womb."

Guo Shi couldn't bear to hear these words. She wasn't afraid of what crimes these female prisoners had committed and directly argued with them.

On the interrogation side, the Dali Temple officers couldn't get anything out from the start. Instead, Lin Jiaojiao kept asking questions, confusing the Jailer in charge of the interrogation.

Lin Jiaojiao sat in front of the table, resting her chin on her hand. "So, the Southern Frontier was conquered 7 years ago and belongs to the imperial court? Then why do they still want to restore their country? There's no chance of winning at all."

The Jailer nodded along. "That's right, their attempt to restore the country is just wishful thinking!"

Just as they were saying this, the prison door suddenly opened. It was Song Shijie who entered, carrying food. It looked like he had come to deliver the meals to them personally.

Song Shijie glanced at the Jailer, who immediately changed from his relaxed manner and reported out of thin air, "Master Song, I can't get anything out of her. Should we use water torture?"

Song Shijie kicked the Jailer. "Is this how you interrogate prisoners?!"

The Jailer didn't dare to make a sound, not knowing if he was being scolded for being too lax or for suggesting water torture.

"Hey! Without evidence, I'm not a prisoner yet!" Lin Jiaojiao was unhappy. "At most, I'm a criminal suspect!"

Song Shijie didn't answer her, just put down the food box. "The Pei Mansion entrusted someone to ask me to deliver this meal to you."

"I'm not eating it." Lin Jiaojiao glanced at the exquisitely arranged food box, resisting with her whole body. "I only eat your prison food."

Song Shijie was almost angered to laughter by this person. He snorted coldly, "Just a moment ago you said you weren't a prisoner, and now you want to eat prison food. Do you still dare to say you aren't a prisoner?"

"Of course I'm not a prisoner! You don't have any evidence to convict me!" Lin Jiaojiao retorted with her hands on her hips. "The Pei Mansion isn't that kind to send me food, unless you test it for poison for me!" ===== CHAPTER 18 =====