Those years when I was Cannon fodder

Innate deficiency or Poisoning?

As the sun set on another eventful day, Chuyu couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that something was amiss. Yesterday, she had requested the prescription from Third Madam, and today, she noticed Qingyu diligently gathering various ingredients. Was it all just a coincidence, or was there something more sinister at play?

Chuyu had always enjoyed savoring a warm bowl of soup before her meals, but now she couldn't help but wonder if someone was taking advantage of her fondness. After all, Third Madam had never been a fan of soup herself. These doubts made Chuyu grow increasingly cautious.

Qingyu, who was responsible for the small kitchen in Qingnan Garden, occasionally ventured into the main kitchen in the backyard to retrieve food. Chuyu recalled the exquisite and delicate dishes that adorned the table on her first day of school. Third Madam had mentioned that they were prepared in the main kitchen. Unlike Qingyu, she lacked the culinary expertise required for such delectable creations. Chuyu contemplated the possibility that during this process, someone could have easily tampered with the food.

Chuyu's vigilance heightened, and she longed for her heightened sense of taste. If she still possessed that ability, she might have already discerned who had poisoned her or where the poison was concealed. Although she now knew that the Chinese trumpet vine had detoxifying properties, she understood that it provided only a temporary solution. It was imperative to identify and eliminate the source of the poison altogether.

"Aunt Qing, allow me to assist you in selecting the vegetables," Chuyu suggested, dragging a small stool over.

Qingyu's eyes widened in surprise. "How can that be, young miss? You are the mistress of this household."

"Don't worry, Aunt Qing. I won't come into contact with cold water," Chuyu reassured her with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "In the future, I believe I can choose vegetables just as adeptly as my mother selects medicinal herbs. How could I not know how to choose vegetables?"

Qingyu hesitated, about to object, but observing Chuyu enthusiastically picking up a green vegetable, she decided to let it go. Perhaps the young miss was merely indulging in a game of make-believe.

"Aunt Qing, are you similar to Nanny Xu, who accompanied my mother upon her arrival at the City Lord's residence?" Chuyu initiated a casual conversation.

Qingyu didn't dwell on it much and nodded, "At that time, Madam was still here, overseeing the residence. She assigned me and another maid named Hongtao to Third Madam's service."

"I was brought in from outside, unlike Hongtao, who came from a family within the household."

She paused briefly, "We later moved to Qinglan Garden, but Hongtao disliked its dilapidated state. Leveraging her connections, she managed to transfer to another courtyard."

"Many second- and third-class maids in that courtyard refused to accompany Madam to Qinglan Garden. However, I remembered Madam's kindness and thought of the young miss still growing within her, so I chose to remain."

"Originally, Madam wanted to assign more maidservants to Qinglan Garden to take care of Third Madam during her pregnancy, but Third Madam declined."

Although Qingyu's explanation was somewhat vague, Chuyu grasped its essence.

Third Madam harbored concerns that the assigned maidservants could be spies and potentially harm her and her unborn child. Thus, she accepted Qingyu's service alone.

"Aunt Qing, you are truly kind. It's no wonder Mother values

you so highly and even allows me to address you as 'aunt.' Mother treats you like her own sister," Chuyu praised warmly.

Qingyu blushed slightly, feeling somewhat bashful. "It's Madam's kindness that has shown favor to me. She claimed that without my assistance, Miss, you might not have safely come into this world. But honestly, it wasn't as dire as she believed."

"Miss, you are one of Master's precious children, held in high regard by him. He arranged for a midwife to come to our courtyard half a month in advance."

"On the day of your birth, I stepped into our courtyard for the first time. I remained there until your arrival and even had Doctor Xu examine your pulse. He discovered that you were slightly frail, born with inherent deficiencies, and then he departed."

Chuyu's face revealed both curiosity and shock. How could her weakness simply be attributed to being born frail? The truth was far more complex—she had absorbed toxins from her mother while in the womb!

Was it possible that the City Lord wished to keep this family secret hidden and purposely informed Doctor Xu in advance, ensuring that no one would discover the truth?

Chuyu decided not to delve deeper into this matter, as she didn't want to raise suspicions among her enemies. As a powerless child, she lacked the means to resist the actions of adults. Sometimes, it was wiser to keep certain things concealed, especially in her current circumstances.

Chuyu didn't deny the truth, but she yearned to understand the entire story. She needed a clear understanding of those who sought to harm her, enabling her to be prepared for any eventualities.

Continuing their conversation, Chuyu asked, "When I was young, I was indeed weak. My mother mentioned that I would frequently fall ill without reason, experiencing sudden fevers and requiring bitter medicines. Unfortunately, I don't recall any of it."

Qingyu believed her words without hesitation and nodded while skillfully deboning meat. "Yes, during those years, both Third Madam and I took turns staying by your side. Our sleep patterns were adjusted to ensure that one of us was always vigilant, afraid that you might develop a fever unnoticed."

"When you turned one year old, Miss, you were not as lively and perceptive as other children. Madam hastily called upon Nanny Xu, and the doctor prescribed medicine, but its effects were minimal."

"Nanny Xu attributed it to a soul disturbance. She believed that once the lost part of your soul, separated from your mother during your birth, was found, you would recover. At the time, I didn't comprehend its significance, but now, looking back, I realize the wisdom of Nanny Xu's words. Miss, it seems that you have rediscovered that lost soul."

Chuyu nodded, her thoughts aligning with the possibility that her previous life, now lost to her memories, had indeed returned upon her reincarnation.

"Let me tell you, Miss, those years when you were oblivious to everything were actually quite remarkable. Otherwise, considering your aversion to bitterness and Chinese medicine, how much effort would Madam and Nanny Xu have had to invest in convincing you to take your prescribed remedies?"

Throughout the afternoon, Chuyu dedicated herself to assisting Qingyu while extracting valuable information about her childhood. Some memories of the original body were triggered in the process, although they remained fragmented. Nevertheless, they corroborated Qingyu's accounts.

Regrettably, Chuyu couldn't ascertain whether Qingyu was responsible for poisoning her. However, this revelation led her to consider the possibility of an unknown manipulator orchestrating events behind the scenes.

Could it be the cunning Second Madam, currently wielding power and overseeing the

backyard? She seemed to be the one who benefited most from these circumstances, as the First Madam had already passed away, and the Third Madam had fallen out of favor. The Second Madam was the sole survivor.

Initially, Chuyu believed the Second Madam to be the most likely culprit. However, she swiftly discarded this notion. If the Second Madam truly despised her, the most convenient and inconspicuous solution would have been to prevent her from being born. Exploiting the chaos in Qinglan Court during that time, they could have eliminated her mother, making it nearly impossible to trace the cause of her demise.

Giving birth to a child under such circumstances was akin to walking a tightrope.

...

As evening approached and it was time to set the table for dinner, Chuyu approached Qingyu to offer assistance.

"Aunt Qing, today's feast is quite extravagant. Why don't you join us for dinner?" Chuyu unexpectedly suggested.

A flicker of panic flashed across Qingyu's face as she quickly waved her hands. "How could that be? I'm merely a maid."

Chuyu responded sternly, "Aunt Qing, you are not just a maid. Even Mother permits me to address you as Aunt Qing. Ordinarily, that is acceptable, but if you continue to decline joining us at the table tonight, are you intentionally maintaining a distance between us?"

With no other option, Qingyu relented, saying, "In that case, I will have to seek Madam's permission first."

(End of Chapter 12)