The Black Chamber Dream: Daiyu's Revenge

Daiyu was immediately struck by a deep feeling: there had been a time when Daiyu not only missed home but also felt terrified. Her second aunt's dislike for her was quite obvious—she had gone to visit her second uncle and sat there for half a day before her second aunt finally invited her over to talk. She even specifically told her not to provoke Baoyu.

So, Daiyu didn't understand Xueyan's feelings back then, but now she understands them completely.

"But soon, my worries disappeared, because you continued to take care of me as always, and Sister Zijuan is not the kind of person who would exclude others." Xueyan had been by Daiyu's side since she could remember. Thinking back to the days when she accompanied Daiyu to study in Yangzhou, it felt as if a hundred years had passed.

Daiyu nodded: "Back then, I was just a young girl and couldn't understand your feelings. But now, you just asked if Zijuan would be unhappy that you can leave the palace to get married but Zijuan can't. I think her feelings are somewhat similar to yours when you were a child."

Xueyan didn't quite understand.

“She won’t be unhappy or angry with you. She definitely wants you to be happy.” Daiyu understood her maids. “It’s just that she will also have worries. Whether a woman gets married or not, she will have worries, right?”

Xueyan thought about this for a while: Getting married has its advantages, but it's not necessarily an advantage; it could also have disadvantages. The same goes for not getting married. Nobody knows what the future holds.

Xueyan nodded: "This servant understands."

"Since you've agreed, I'll tell the Crown Prince later." Daiyu pondered, Xueyan was the first person by her side to get married, and she was an orphan, so she wondered what would be the most convenient way to handle the situation.

Not only Zijuan and Xueyan, but also Chunyu and Chunxian had been with her for many years. When they got married, Daiyu naturally had to provide a dowry.

This was quite normal in many wealthy families, but most of them would just give some silver and that would be it. For example, Daiyu remembered that when she lived in the Rongguo Mansion, a maid in Lady Wang's courtyard got married, and she gave her twenty taels of silver.

But Xueyan and the others were different; Daiyu felt they were almost like her own family.

Daiyu got up and took out the account book she had prepared long ago. She had thought about this problem before. The account book contained detailed information such as the amount of silver, the amount of cloth, and the amount of medicine.

After thinking it over for two days, Daiyu summoned Zijuan, Xueyan, Chunyu, and Chunxian.

"You've all been with me for so many years, so I'll be frank. For your wedding, I won't give you those ornaments or books; they probably won't be of much use to you anyway. I'll be practical and give you silver directly, two hundred taels each. In addition, there will be fabric and medicine." After Daiyu spoke, the four maids quickly knelt down.

“We cannot accept so much silver,” Xueyan said first. She was the first of the four to appear to be getting married.

“How could I not want it? Life is not easy, and it’s especially hard for women. When I was little, I heard my mother and father jokingly say that in this world, there are only two things that are most reliable: oneself and money. Thinking about it carefully, this statement is not entirely true, but it does have some truth to it,” Daiyu said with a smile.

"Those who are willing to marry can take their dowry with them. Zijuan doesn't want to marry, but I'll keep all these things for you. When you turn forty, you can leave them if you want. If you want to retire, you won't be empty-handed. It's always good to have some money to rely on." Daiyu's words moved all four maids, and they all kowtowed to Daiyu in gratitude.

"Get up, all of you." Daiyu gestured for them to get up, then said, "But you all need to be more discerning. Take Xueyan for example. Zhong Shiwei is like this now, but it's hard to say whether he will change. So you need to take good care of your dowry. Although it is said that only the most worthless men would touch their wives' dowry, it is not uncommon for men to seize dowries."

"Furthermore, even if you get married and encounter difficulties, don't remain silent, especially if you are bullied, don't keep it to yourself."

"But let me make this clear: you've done very well all these years, but if someone tries to use you to get promoted and make money after you leave, they'd better give up on that idea as soon as possible. Otherwise, don't worry about me turning my back on you later."

The four maids were all intelligent, and they had followed Daiyu from the Rongguo Mansion to the Yijun Prince's Mansion and now to the Delin Palace. They had witnessed the infighting among the maids and servants, the scheming among the masters, and even the interactions between the princes.

Therefore, upon hearing Daiyu's words, Xueyan said first: "Your Highness, please rest assured. If anyone tries to use us to get close to Your Highness or even the Crown Prince, we will be the first to deny it. Not to mention ourselves, if we had such thoughts, we would have no face to see you in the future."

"That's what we think too," the other three said almost in unison.

Daiyu nodded and told them to go and do their respective tasks.

Not long after they left, Zijuan came again: "Her Majesty the Empress sent Xuehua to invite the Crown Princess over, and specifically instructed that Sister Meng be brought along."

Daiyu was puzzled: Why did the Empress Dowager specifically order Meng Shi to be brought along? Could it be that the Empress Dowager has some unspeakable ailment that she doesn't want the imperial physician to diagnose, but instead wants Meng Shi to examine her?

As Daiyu got up, she looked in the mirror. Although she was dressed casually today, she was still very dignified. So she took Chunyu and the physician Meng and went to the Empress's Phoenix Palace.

After entering and paying her respects, the Empress beckoned Daiyu to come forward. On the small rosewood table with a waisted design and ruyi cloud patterns, there were two Longquan kiln beige-glazed lotus petal plates, each containing several pieces of root-like, dried Chinese medicine.

At first glance, the contents of the two plates look very similar, but upon closer inspection, it can be seen that they are not the same type of Chinese medicine.

"Does Yu'er recognize her?" the Empress asked.

"Can the daughter-in-law take it and smell it?" Daiyu wasn't quite sure.

After the Empress nodded, Daiyu first took the plate on the left with her handkerchief, smelled it, and then put it back. She then picked up the plate on the right, but couldn't smell any difference.

"Is this all Panax notoginseng?" Daiyu herself used to take medicine often, so she was quite familiar with some Chinese medicinal herbs. Moreover, as a precious Chinese medicinal herb, Daiyu still had some Panax notoginseng in Delin Palace. It was sent by Zuo Jiangqiu, who said that it was sent from Yunnan by his grandfather's old subordinate.

The Empress did not answer her, but instead called Meng forward.

Chapter 256 The Difference Between Three and Seven Triples Rekindles an Old Case

As expected of a physician, Lady Meng, just like the Crown Princess, first examined it and then smelled it. Then, she asked the Empress, "May I break it and take a look?"

After the Empress nodded, Meng first took the one on the right, broke it open, examined it carefully, then pinched off a little bit and put it in her mouth to taste it. Then she said, "What's in this plate isn't Panax notoginseng, it's wild Panax notoginseng."

Daiyu leaned closer to look and asked Meng Shi, "It looks and smells like Panax notoginseng, doesn't it? Is the one in the other dish also Panax notoginseng?"

Under the watchful eyes of the Empress and the Crown Princess, Lady Meng took a piece from the left plate, broke it open, and presented the broken section to the Empress and the Crown Princess: "At first glance, both plates contain what appear to be dried Panax notoginseng, but upon closer inspection, the broken section shows that the Panax notoginseng has more disordered patterns, less moisture, and is shriveled. I just tasted it carefully, and the flavor is sweet with a hint of bitterness and a sour taste, so I am certain it is Panax notoginseng."

Then he personally tasted a small piece that he had pinched off from the other side, and told the Empress and the Crown Princess: "The taste of Panax notoginseng is quite bitter at first, but after holding it in your mouth for a while, you will feel the sweetness, and there will be no other spicy, sour or numbing taste."

The Empress nodded: "Yes, the one on the left plate is Panax notoginseng, and the one on the right plate is Panax notoginseng var. mongolica. Now, Meng, tell me, what are the differences in the effects of these two herbs?"

Without even thinking, Meng replied directly: "Although the two have similar effects, such as dispersing blood stasis, reducing swelling and relieving pain, and clearing heat and detoxifying, Gynostemma pentaphyllum is poisonous."

What? Daiyu was stunned. It was poisonous?

“According to pharmacology, Panax notoginseng has a liver-protecting effect, but Panax notoginseng var. mongolica is harmful to the liver. If taken for a long time, it may even cause abdominal pain, ascites and jaundice. In severe cases, it may even lead to poisoning and death,” Meng continued.

"No wonder Yu'er praised your medical skills. In my opinion, you are no worse than the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital." After praising her, the Empress had Xuehua give Meng a reward of twenty taels of silver. "I am entrusting Delin Palace to you, especially the little princess and the crown prince. They are young and do not know any better."

Meng quickly expressed her gratitude: "This is my duty, and I will certainly do my best."

The Empress nodded, signaling everyone else to leave, leaving only Daiyu behind.

"Has Yu'er ever heard of the Crown Prince's birth mother?" The Empress pulled Daiyu to sit down next to her and asked.

Daiyu immediately became alert: Just now, they were talking about the difference between Panax notoginseng and Panax notoginseng, and suddenly the Empress Dowager mentioned Xiao Tingjun's birth mother. Could the two things be related?

“Chang Sheng mentioned some things, but he also said that he was very young at the time and didn’t remember many things. His father or mother told him a lot of things. I’ve also heard from Granny Xu and Granny Gu that they mentioned it by chance, and they all praised my mother, saying that she was beautiful and gentle when she was alive.” Daiyu did not hide anything and told them some of the information she had heard about Xiao Tingjun’s birth mother.

"She is indeed gentle and beautiful, and extremely sincere in her dealings with people, without any ill intentions whatsoever." Sometimes the Empress wondered if the Qiao family had never expected their daughter to be chosen to marry into the royal family, otherwise why hadn't they raised her properly?

This kind of training is not about playing musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, or painting, but rather about developing one's cunning and shrewdness.

"A few days ago, when Physician Su from the Imperial Hospital came to take my pulse, he gave me these two kinds of Panax notoginseng." The Empress suddenly changed the subject.

Daiyu became increasingly certain that Sanqi was related to Xiao Tingjun's birth mother.

"Imperial Physician Su is already fifty-eight years old this year. In two more years, he will retire and return to his hometown," the Empress sighed again.

"Physician Su's medical skills are superb. When Yueyue was seriously ill, it was thanks to Physician Su and Physician He that she was able to recover," Daiyu said seemingly casually.

The Empress understood her meaning and nodded upon hearing this.

"Besides presenting me with two different kinds of Panax notoginseng, Physician Su also told me something else." The Empress looked at Daiyu and then told Daiyu everything Physician Su had said, word for word.

Physician Su had a colleague named Lan Shusheng, who had joined the Imperial Medical Academy even earlier than Physician Su. Since they were both from Zhili (present-day Hebei Province), though not from the same county, they were practically fellow townsmen. Therefore, they always got along very well.

Imperial Physician Su specialized in pediatrics, while Lan Shusheng was more adept at gynecology. Due to his excellent medical skills, Lan Shusheng quickly established himself in the Imperial Medical Academy.

The late emperor's concubines and princes relied heavily on Imperial Physician Lan in their harems.

The Empress once trusted Physician Lan very much. Not only Xiao Tingjun, but also Xiao Tingkai and Xiao Tingfeng, their mothers were all examined by Physician Lan and prescribed medicine to prevent miscarriage from pregnancy to delivery.

Seven years ago, this Imperial Physician Lan retired and returned to his hometown, a village in Zhili, to enjoy his later years.

"At the end of last year, Imperial Physician Su went to Zhili. His grandson in his hometown got married." The Empress spoke calmly. She had thought it over carefully before deciding to call Daiyu. Daiyu was the Crown Princess and Xiao Tingjun's wife. It would be better to talk to her about this first.

Daiyu stopped interrupting and listened attentively to the Empress.

"When Physician Su heard from his family that Physician Lan was ill, he thought that everyone was getting on in years and that they might not have another chance to meet, so Physician Su went to visit the Lan family."

"Doctor Lan is already seventy-two years old. He is often in a daze and rarely has a clear mind."

"But as soon as he heard that Physician Su had arrived, Physician Lan not only opened his eyes, but also seemed to be full of energy. He lay on the bed and pulled Physician Su to talk."

"Who knew that Physician Lan wouldn't let anyone listen to them and kicked all the family members out."

Upon hearing this, Daiyu vaguely guessed what was going on, but felt very confused.

"Yu'er is always clever. Can you guess what Imperial Physician Lan and Imperial Physician Su said?"

Unexpectedly, the empress, who had been telling stories, suddenly asked a question.

Meeting the Empress's gaze, Daiyu honestly said, "Mother said those things first, and then specifically mentioned my deceased mother. I dare to guess that the matter is related to my mother?"

The Empress was very satisfied with Daiyu's answer: She had long known of Daiyu's intelligence. Her question just now was not to test whether Daiyu was smart enough, but to test whether she trusted her, the Empress, enough.

The Crown Prince and his wife call her "Mother," but she is indeed not the Crown Prince's biological mother. And this matter concerns the Crown Prince's biological mother.

Apart from the emperor, everyone else would have a motive to kill the crown prince's birth mother, after all, she was the most favored in the past and had given birth to a son.

Daiyu's answer shows that she has complete trust in her empress.

Only then would the Empress speak next.

Chapter 257 Old Cases Are Hard to Investigate, Verbal Testimony Is Unreliable

"Imperial Physician Lan told Imperial Physician Su a secret."

"Back then, it was he who replaced the Panax notoginseng in Sister Qiao's prescription with wild Panax notoginseng."

The Empress chose to reveal the result first. She could not see a trace of shock in Daiyu's expression, so it seemed that this result was within Daiyu's expectations.

"Then Yu'er, why don't you guess again? Is it really Physician Lan?"

Daiyu pondered for a moment: "I'm afraid it might be related to one of the current empresses?"

The Empress sighed and nodded: "Imperial Physician Lan said that he was momentarily blinded by greed and accepted money from Consort Wu."

Consort Wu? Although Daiyu had guessed it would be a certain concubine, she was still somewhat surprised that it was specifically named Consort Wu.

Because Consort Wu's son is older than Xiao Tingjun, she shouldn't have acted so impulsively.

After Daiyu truthfully expressed her doubts, the Empress shook her head.

"That's something you don't know, Yu'er. Back then, the Emperor doted on Sister Qiao." The Empress can now speak of it without any emotion, but back then, she couldn't say she wasn't jealous at all.

For a period of time, the Prince doted on Lady Qiao, practically showering her with affection. He would spend at least twenty out of thirty days a month with her. And that wasn't all; not only the palace's rewards, but also anything not specifically designated for the Princess or Consort Wu, would almost always end up with Lady Qiao.

The Empress remembered very clearly that once, the Prince did a very good job, and the late Emperor casually rewarded him with a carved ivory ball with cloud and dragon patterns.

The exquisite craftsmanship of this ball set is truly astonishing: the surface is decorated with a high-relief carving of flying dragons weaving through auspicious clouds, while the interior is carved with various intricate openwork brocade patterns, totaling twenty-three layers, each of which can rotate flexibly.

The nested balls are placed on an ivory base with a plate, like a hat rack. The base is also carved with cloud and dragon patterns, above which are openwork carvings of the Eight Immortals. In the middle is a nested ball with nine layers of cloud and dragon patterns, and above that are carvings of landscapes and figures. The layers are nested one on top of the other, exquisite and intricately crafted.

After the prince retrieved it, he immediately sent it to Madam Qiao.

Although Lady Qiao declined many rewards, the more she did so, the more favored she became by the prince.

Even the Empress couldn't help but wonder if her position would be in jeopardy in the future.

But the Empress would not harm anyone. After all, everyone has a selfish side, but if a person cannot control their selfishness and malice, they will become a beast.