Chapter 372 An Evil and Ruthless Ploy

Strangely, Lin Mengya instinctively went into deep thoughts while looking at these clothes.

All the people had commented that her parents used to be a couple very much in love when her mother was still alive. Not to mention her father having any thoughts of taking in a concubine, there was never any scandalous rumors.

If this were the case, why would her mother have made such preparations for her daughter?

Lin Mengya went through the clothes and saw that the attached gold and jade jewelry and precious stones were delicately made.

Although her father always showered her mother with gifts, these did not appear to be her father’s idea.

“Ms. Tian, are these gifts from my father to my mother?”

At Lin Mengya’s question, Ms. Tian shook her head and smiled as she answered, “How would our master have such ideas? I still remember when I first entered the mansion, the mistress was often upset because of the master’s lack of romantic gestures. These were actually the mistress’s dowry. I had queried the mistress about your maternal grandfather’s family and whereabouts, but she always answered me vaguely. As time went by, I gave up asking.”

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“Were all of these actually Mother’s dowry?”

Lin Mengya gazed at the hem of a light yellow skirt which was decorated with large, round pearls and was greatly amazed.

All of these would have worth a lot now, how much more valuable would they be over a decade ago?

At first, she thought her mother ought to have prepared them for her daughter. However, now it appeared to Lin Mengya that her mother had meant these to be some kind of decoration.

Anyone of them could be treated as a family heirloom. It seemed that her maternal grandfather, whom she had not met, was someone who was extremely wealthy.

Strangely, if Mother had come such a family background, why had she never mentioned this?

Why was it that Lin Mengya’s maternal grandparent’s family members never visited them?

Lin Mengya could not help but be very curious about her maternal grandparent’s family given that they had raised an outstanding daughter.

“So I see, I guess Mother must feel that to get married without permission would tarnish the reputation of maternal grandfather’s family .”

In reality, Lin Mengya felt something that it was such a pity. Although her parents truly loved each other, in those old days of feudalistic society, their union was unfitting and improper.

Even up to now, such a relationship would be frowned upon.

However, she truly admired her mother. Be it the servants in the mansion or the wives from the other families, those who had a sound mind were full of praises and envied her mother.

She spied the beautiful face in the mercury mirror.

Even Ms. Tian had commented that she looked almost exactly like her mother. Immediately, she conjured up a clearer and livelier image of Mother in her mind.

What kind of a person was this mysterious mother who dropped her hints foreshadowing her future?

After the three spent some time tidying up, they finally settled everything.

Although they had only just met, they had endless things to talk about. Nevertheless, it was already midnight and it was time they retire for the day.

Lin Mengya watched to make sure Ms. Tian returned to the guest room and patted her own head.

Oh no, they were so immersed in their chit-chat that she had completely forgotten about making a diagnosis on Tian Ning.

Given that it was late at night, Lin Mengya did not want to alarm too many people. Left with no other choice, she brought Baizhi, who could not stop yawning, and quietly approached Brother Tian Ning’s room.

“Brother Tian Ning, it’s Lin Mengya. Are you asleep?”

Before she heard any answer from within the room, a series of heart-rending coughing sound ensued.

When he was young, Ms. Tian had been worried sick over Tian Ning’s health. However, Lin Mengya wondered how her mother and Ms. Tian, who were in a master-servant relationship, were, in fact, closer than sisters.

How had her mother not managed to cure Tian Ning of his illness?

“It’s Elder Miss Lin. It’s very late, you’d better go back to rest. I’m… alright.”

Lin Mengya was aware that her action was indeed inappropriate to the people of olden days.

It was all her fault that she had forgotten about the serious matter at hand when she started chatting with Ms. Tian.

“Alright, I have some cough syrup made with loquat. It gets rid of phlegm. Take it if your cough worsens. It will moisten your throat.”

It was only after fifteen minutes that the door was opened just a little.

In the dim light, Tian Ning’s pallid face was devoid of color and it was a heartbreaking sight.

Suddenly, the Shen Nung system’s poison detection function was activated in an instant and Lin Mengya immediately received a series of messages from it.

A frown appeared as she knitted her brows. Why did these messages not appear when she saw Brother Tian Ning in the day time?

“What did you eat? What medication have you taken?”

Lin Mengya pushed the door open instantly and caught hold of Tian Ning’s wrist.

Tian Ning looked as if he had been electrocuted. He stood stunned and did not understand why Lin Mengya had asked him those questions.

“I, I had merely ingested some pills. You are aware of the condition of my body. If I stop taking those pills, I won’t be able to fall asleep tonight.”

What pills? Hearing Tian Ning’s response, Lin Mengya let go of her grip on his wrist and went about his room searching.

Finally, she found a small box by his bedside which was filled with pills and powdered medicine.

“Are all the medicine and pills you usually take kept in this box?”

Seeing the frown on Lin Mengya’s face, Tian Ning nodded hesitantly.

As the system in Lin Mengya’s mind continued to work, some familiar names of medicine flashed across Lin Mengya’s mind.

Some of the medicine contained components similar to that which was used to control Qinghu!

Did Qinghu not mention to her that only those trained killers would be fed such poison? Why was Brother Tian Ning in possession of such medicine?

Even though there was not much in its content, it was still a miracle that he could survive until now!

“Who prescribed this medicine for you? Have you taken other medications other than this?”

Lin Mengya’s somber expression was making Tian Ning nervous.

Supporting himself by holding on to the table, he finally managed to sit himself down on a chair, but his attempt to speak was taken over by a series of hard coughs.

“These are old prescriptions of a well-known doctor. When the mistress was still around, there was a time when I stopped taking these medications, but the mistress left soon after and my illness was left untreated.”

While he spoke, Lin Mengya already took his pulse.

His condition was somehow different from Qinghu’s.

In Qinghu’s case, it could be said that he was riddled with gaping wounds. This was why Lin Mengya could not use very aggressive treatment on him to get rid of the poison in Qinghu’s body.

Qinghu might appear to be strong and healthy, but once the poison in his body had been purged, he would lose all the strength to live. That would be the end of him.

As opposed to Qinghu’s condition, Brother Tian Ning’s body might appear to be weak and strengthless, but he had well of strength inside him. The effect of the little poison in him was actually slowly diminishing.

This was the reason the medications he took were gradually taking their effect.

Had this poison, which even she was unable to handle, been overcome by her mother over a decade ago? Had she studied into it and come out with an antidote?

Over a decade ago, Tian Ning would still have been a child. What medicine did her mother use on little Tian Ning which did not cause any harm to him but gently nurtured his health?

“Ya’er? Ya’er?”

Tian Ning called out to the elder Miss Lin but Lin Mengya did not react to his calling.

He called out her nickname so naturally, and she eventually recovered from her daze.

“Stop taking these medications from now on. Tomorrow I will personally give you a new prescription. Brother Tian Ning, do you still remember the person who gave you this prescription? What kind of a person was he?”

This was not a common medicine prescribed by a regular person.

Moreover, no one had yet discovered it because it did not appear to be a poison.

It was not easily recognizable as a poison because it had been through many mixing and adjustments by a skilled person.

Cold sweat started to seep out from Lin Mengya’s back. Why would anyone try to harm a commoner such as Brother Tian Ning.

Finally, Tian Ning managed to suppress his coughs. He pondered for a moment and replied, “I’ve forgotten how that man looked. Nevertheless, I’ve heard my mother mentioned an outbreak of pestilence in our village once. The adults fell victim to the pestilence, but the children managed to survive through it relying on medication.”

“Later on, a miracle-working doctor came to our village and gave the children this particular prescription. He claimed that this prescription was able to sustain the lives of the children for a few more days. At first, the head of the village was ready to sacrifice the children in the village, but because my mother was a servant in his mansion, I escaped the unfortunate fate. The two of us secretly escaped in the night. When the mistress heard about this, she rushed over to our village. Unfortunately, it was too late and all the children in the village died.”

Pestilence? Children? Miracle-working physician? Prescription?

These four terms seemed to weigh down on her shoulders like a heavy burden.

Qinghu once mentioned that they were abandoned children they picked up from the streets or bought with a price.

If what Brother Tian Ning said was true, then what the village had experienced might not be as simple as pestilence after all.

Only those children who had personally witnessed the deaths of their parents would lose all hope of escaping the clutches of the devils.

The so-called children who died in the pestilence, though taken away by the evil forces, were considered dead. Who would risk their lives to investigate the cause of their death?

It was no wonder Qinghu refused to name the mastermind behind the scene.

What a horrible person to have no regard for human life! This was absolutely unforgivable!

Tian Ning and Baizhi cast a worried look on Lin Mengya, who had gone into deep thoughts.

As they observed how the expression on her face changed from anger to deep sorrow and dejection, even Baizhi did not dare to take a deep breath.

After a long time, Lin Mengya finally recovered. However, no one really knew what was on her mind.

“I’m going to take away all this medicine. Brother Tian, I promise I will make you well.”

She had to cure Brother Tian Ning of his illness. She would not admit defeat to that ruthless and evil mastermind!