Chapter 39: Everywhere

However, there was nothing Jiaoyue could do for now. Fortunately, since the jade was not being worn, it could not absorb anyone’s life force. Thinking too much was exhausting, and she drifted off to sleep while being gently rocked by her father.

After his wife returned, Meng Wenxuan told her about the jade pendant. Although Lin Yuntang was reluctant to part with her favorite orchid pot, she had no choice but to let her husband take it away.

Laifeng saw Meng Wenxuan carrying the flower pot out and hurried over to take it, but was refused. "Go and invite the eldest master to Father’s study," Meng Wenxuan ordered. Laifeng immediately strode toward the courtyard where Meng Wenxi resided. Upon hearing that his seventh brother had summoned him, Meng Wenxi did not delay for even a moment and hurried over.

The eldest mistress had already heard her husband’s explanation after she returned, detailing how the jade pendant was likely problematic. Recalling how Yueya had twice avoided being poisoned—once when it was intended for her wet nurse, and once in the goat milk she drank (which, while not technically lethal, had still been sensed by the child)—she immediately grew worried about her husband.

At the same time, she felt a wave of guilt. Little Yueya was so young, yet she already knew how to look out for her uncle, while she herself had felt disgruntled over a mere jade pendant. Especially after seeing the stone materials that her seventh sister-in-law had sent over via Qingguo—which were of even higher quality than the jade she had gifted her husband—she felt even more sorry toward Yueya. After all, the child wasn't after a jade pendant; she was only trying to help her uncle. She began to ponder what she could give Yueya to express her regret and gratitude.

Meanwhile, inside the Master of the Meng family’s study, the three men were staring at the orchid pot. "Seventh Son, what is going on?" the Master asked.

Meng Wenxi also chimed in, "Seventh Brother, is there something wrong with my jade pendant?" He was deeply puzzled; even if the pendant were flawed, what did it have to do with this flower? Though, the orchid was blooming beautifully. He had heard his wife mention that his seventh sister-in-law loved orchids and kept many in their room.

Meng Wenxuan did not beat around the bush. "Eldest Brother’s pendant is indeed problematic. Furthermore, that pink jade carved by Master Zhao is also tainted."

The Master and Meng Wenxi exchanged shocked glances. The Master asked, "The pink jade, too? What kind of problem?"

Meng Wenxi sighed. "Yueya is too young to speak and cannot explain things clearly. She had me bury both pendants in this flower pot; she must have been trying to show us that there was something wrong with them. I am accompanying her and her mother to my father-in-law’s estate today, so I am leaving this pot here with you, Father. You and Eldest Brother should keep an eye on it and see what the issue is and how it can be resolved."

The Master of the Meng family asked, "When did Yueya bury the pink jade in the pot?"

Meng Wenxuan slapped his forehead; he had forgotten to tell his father about that. "The very day it was carved. You asked me to take the jade back to Yueya, and while she liked all the others, she pointed at this pink one and then at the flower pot inside the room. At first, I thought she wanted to hang it on the flowers, but when she pointed at the soil, I realized she wanted it buried. It has been seventeen days now."

The Master looked at the orchid; it was still blooming, and nothing seemed amiss. "Have you noticed any changes in the flower?"

"No major changes, but it doesn't seem as vibrant as it used to be," Meng Wenxuan replied.

The Master dug the two pieces of jade out of the pot. He scrutinized the pink jade for a long time, but it looked exactly as it had when Master Zhao handed it over. He then checked his eldest son’s black jade; it was of excellent clarity, and nothing seemed wrong with it either.

Seeing the jade he had worn for so many years being dug out of the dirt, Meng Wenxi’s mouth twitched. When he married, his wife had given it to him, and he had once said he would wear it forever, even into the grave. He certainly hadn't expected a day like this, where the jade would reach the dirt before he did.

The Master buried the pieces again and said to Meng Wenxuan, "Leave the flowers with me. You can accompany them to your in-laws' home without worry; I have arranged for people to protect you in secret. Just be extra careful regarding the food at the Lin household."

Thinking of his granddaughter’s sensitivity to poison, the Master felt the warning was perhaps redundant. He added, "Don't let Yueya go hungry." The implication was to have plenty of food prepared so that if there were any issues, his precious treasure wouldn't have to wait for a fresh meal to be cooked.

Meng Wenxuan nodded; he had already considered this. The Lin family was different from the Meng family—it was large, with both direct and collateral branches living together, and the interpersonal dynamics were complex, making it hard to guard against everything. He was already contemplating how to ensure his daughter’s milk was served on time at every feeding. His brother-in-law had already prepared a dairy goat at the house, and as for safety, he would have to let his daughter see for herself. However, he felt that with the word the Meng family had already put out, the culprit would likely not strike at the food again. It was the safety of the journey that worried him more; even though his father had made arrangements, he needed to make preparations of his own.

Having left the matter to his father and brother, Meng Wenxuan returned to help his wife pack. Although they were returning to her maiden home, they had to bring many items they were accustomed to using, and the luggage for a family of three was quite substantial.

When he returned, Mother Zhang and Qingguo had already packed their belongings, and his wife was packing things for their daughter. Seeing him return, she asked, "Are we ready to go?"

Meng Wenxuan walked to the bed and looked at his daughter, who was still fast asleep. "We are. Father has arranged for people to protect us in secret."

Lin Yuntang nodded. Knowing how much her father-in-law cared for their daughter, she knew it was likely more than just simple protection. She didn't ask further, only saying, "Since Father has arranged it, it must be thorough."

"Eldest Brother said we can set off once we are packed," Meng Wenxuan added.

Lin Yuntang smiled. "I’ve missed my parents so much."

Jiaoyue was jolted awake. Feeling that she wasn't lying securely on a bed, she opened her eyes in a daze and saw she was in her father’s arms. Seeing her wake, Meng Wenxuan smiled and said, "Yueya, we are going to your grandparents' house."

Jiaoyue was instantly alert, her little head turning to see where they were. After a month, she and her father had developed a silent rapport; he immediately picked her up, resting her back against his chest and holding her so she could see ahead.

Jiaoyue realized they were about to exit the Meng family gates. The Meng estate was behind Mount Lanzhi, and even just leaving the grounds took quite a while. As Meng Wenxuan stepped out of the gate, Jiaoyue caught sight of the red decorative sash hanging on the right side of the entrance, which had been placed there when she was born.

As she looked at the sash, her eyes narrowed. She sighed inwardly: the schemes really were everywhere!