The Poison Master - Chapter 2

More than a decade ago, bandits had pursued the marquis’s carriage. To save their own skins, my family had left me inside, still a swaddled infant, using my cries to draw the pursuers away so they could escape.

Afterward, they had supposedly been consumed by guilt, unable to forget me.

So they adopted Wen Tingxue to make up for what they owed me, paying her the debt that should have been paid to me.

For more than ten years, she had lived in silk and luxury, treasured by the entire family like their own eyes.

A thousand gold pieces for a fine robe; ten thousand strings of coins for half a silken skirt.

Her food, clothing, rooms, and carriages rivaled an imperial princess’s.

Even when that extravagance overstepped her station, people merely called it proof of the marquis and marchioness’s devoted hearts, driven half mad by grief for their missing daughter.

It won them endless sympathy and pity.

In the carriage to the capital, I had believed the same.

Now I was right before their eyes, yet their hearts and thoughts held nothing but Wen Tingxue.

I was sitting in a dead tree catching ants when I overheard the servants gossiping by a wall.

“If she didn’t have a face the very image of Her Ladyship’s, and the same birthmark as His Lordship has on his wrist, the Grand Preceptor would never have recognized her.”

“His wife brought it up at a banquet. That forced His Lordship and Her Ladyship to bring her back.”

“She was the legitimate daughter of the house, and now she’s been pushed into second place. Our Second Miss has suffered enough. Then this girl had the nerve to put her in her place. Of course His Lordship and Her Ladyship have to curb that temper.”

“From now on, she only gets one of these sour buns a day. She’s going to marry a sickly prince and be buried with him. No point wasting the family’s money on her.”

“Keep a close watch. Her Ladyship is holding a banquet in the garden today. Second Miss needs to show herself in society and settle her marriage to Prince Ning. We can’t have our ailing First Miss slipping out to steal her limelight and ruin her prospects.”

Chin lifted, the old servant locked the gate to my courtyard.

Only then did I understand. They had never wanted me back.

I hefted the large stone in my hand, my mouth curling coldly.

Then I hurled stones at that puffed-up old hag, one after another.

“Ow! That hurts!”

“What blind, murderous bastard did that?”

The woman who had been chattering away a moment before clutched her bleeding forehead and cursed at the sky.

I had already leaped to the ground.

When I entered the room in my side courtyard, I took out the tinder stick I used for roasting snake meat.

“As a guest who’s come from so far away, I ought to bring a modest gift to today’s banquet.”

I tossed the tinder stick onto the curtains. Flames climbed them and sprang to the rafters.

Within moments, smoke billowed and fire blazed above the courtyard.

The servants panicked and shouted for help.

Everyone rushed over for a look, only to find the courtyard locked.

Wen Tingxue was terrified that I, the true daughter supposedly too sick to get out of bed, might appear perfectly healthy and steal her noble status and attention.

Pressing a handkerchief to her face, she began inventing nonsense.

“A distant relative is staying inside. She’s terribly ill, her whole body covered in festering sores. We feared it might be contagious, so we sealed off the courtyard.”

“Such a filthy, unclean place. We shouldn’t linger.”

The ladies and young misses blanched and backed away.

My so-called mother caught her meaning at once and hastened to agree.

“Exactly. We’d be much better off in the waterside pavilion. Fruit and wine are waiting there. We can discuss poetry and admire paintings. How delightful.”

“Wait!”

Just as everyone prepared to leave, Wen Tingxue’s fiancé, Prince Ning, stopped the guard who was about to unlock the gate.

He stood before the guests, affecting lofty dignity and righteous concern.

“If she’s that ill, she won’t survive anyway. Fire will cleanse it all. To prevent the disease from spreading, I suggest we leave the gate shut.”

Caught between his orders and his duty, the guard looked to the master of the house.

The marquis exchanged a glance with Wen Qingxu.

They both understood Prince Ning’s intention.

I had hurt Wen Tingxue and offended him, so he meant to use this chance to punish me and avenge her.

In that inferno, even if I survived, it would cost me my skin.

And if I did come out alive, how much better off would I be than dead?

I thought that blood must count for something. Even if all they felt was their old guilt, surely they would not stand by and let me burn.

My hand tightened. With an inexplicable spark of hope, I stared straight at my father and brother.

But the marquis lowered his eyes and silently turned his face away.

Understanding him, Wen Qingxu waved the guards back.

“His Highness is right. For the safety of everyone, our family can only sacrifice its own. Let the courtyard burn.”

He and Prince Ning exchanged a glance, both relaxing in tacit agreement.

Madam Wen held Wen Tingxue in her arms. Her face paled a little. Then she pressed her red lips together, took one long look at the blazing courtyard, and offered no opinion.

As though nothing had happened, she began leading her guests toward the waterside pavilion.

A flash of triumph escaped Wen Tingxue’s eyes.

Of course she was pleased. One word from her could cost me my life.

I took it all in. Only when everyone was leaving, satisfied, did I speak with a smile.

“So you brought me all this way just to lock me in a courtyard and burn me to death?”