"You call yourself her mother but do you see yourself acting as her mother?" The Duke glared at his wife.
He had heard the screaming and came over to take a look just to find his wife trying to attack Qingli. He immediately acted upon his instinct and kicked her away. Ever since that night where Qingli was schemed against, his wife has been acting very violently towards Qingli and he could guess the reason why. She had wanted her daughter to shine but because Qingle was lacking, she had always been hiding behind the shadow of her elder sister.
Now that Qingli is at a disadvantage due to her disfigured face, his wife had thought it was finally her daughter's turn to shine but the crown prince had no change of heart even after seeing his fiancee's face and Qingle fell ill before the upcoming banquet. This has thrown all of the Duchess's plans into the drain and caused her much anger. However, that does not mean Duke Qian would watch his wife vent her anger on his eldest daughter!
"Husband, you have to stand up for Qingle. Qingle is your daughter as well!" The Duchess pulled the hiding Qingle behind her and showed her husband what has become of her daughter.
Seeing Qingle's appearance, Duke Qian frowned before he pulled his token and called for a servant.
"Head into the Imperial Palace and get the Head Imperial Physician," Duke Qian handed the token over and the servant nodded before scurrying off. Seeing that Duke Qian's anger seemed to have subsided, the maidservants in the courtyard hurried to bring their second young mistress to her bed to wait for the Imperial Physician to attend to her. Duchess Qian wiped away her tears and accompanied her daughter but not without shooting a few glares towards Qingli. Qingli was indifferent to all of those glares.
Instead, she pulled her Father's arms. "Lord Father, Mother kept saying that I have poisoned Qingle. She said I have given younger sister poisonous soup and that the reason why younger sister has become ill was that I put poison into the soup." Qingli explained quietly under her breath as she eyed the retreating Duchess.
"Outrageous," Duke Qian rolled his eyes. If Qingle did not poison Qingli, he would already have to thank the gods. For Qingli to poison Qingle, what's there for her to gain?
"Have someone collect the soup sample and send it for investigation immediately. I shall prove my daughter's innocence against that vile woman's claim." Duke Qian ordered and the servants immediately went to collect the spilled soup.
Yu Ling was released the moment Duke Qian arrived but she stayed frozen, kneeling at her spot. She dares not to move as the master came to her young mistress's rescue as her mind tried to wrap around the fact that the soup might be the cause of the second young miss's illness. If that were the case, would her young miss be implicated? No, if Qingli was to be found guilty, she will protect her young miss. Yu Ling made up her mind. If QIngli was really the person behind her younger sister's poisoning, Yu Ling will tell her masters that she was the one who did it and Qingli knew nothing of it. This way, Yu Ling can finally pay back the personal debt she owed Qingli from when they were young.
After waiting for an hour, the Imperial Physician arrived and went to attend to Qingle. He placed his fingers on her frail wrist and tried to diagnose her but as he continued pressing, his frown began to deepen.
"Imperial Physician, how is my daughter?" The Duchess probe him with a worried expression on her face.
The Imperial Physician shook his head and continued to feel Qingle's wrist before he retracted his fingers. He glanced at Qingle's pale yellowish complexion and he let out a sigh.
"Imperial Physician?" The Duke saw the expression on the physician was not looking good and prepared himself mentally to hear the worse.
"Duke Qian, this humble servant is incapable." The old physician bowed down but was held up by Duke Qian.
"Physician Su, it is this Lord who has troubled you." Duke Qian shook his head before asking about his second daughter's condition again.
"I am afraid the second young miss Qian has been poisoned," Physician Su finally revealed his diagnosis.
"I knew it! It's that bitch who poisoned my precious daughter!" The Duchess immediately reach out to grab Qingli, wanting to tear her into pieces but Duke Qian shoved her back roughly. Duchess Qian fell onto the floor and glared at her husband who was protecting that wretch who caused her daughter's demise.
"Duchess Qian, what do you mean by that? How could the eldest young miss poison her younger sister? Everyone knows how much she dotes on her sister, please be careful with your choice of words." Imperial Physician Su held his hands behind his back and gave out an imposing aura as he faced the Duchess.