"Has Mother Liu been in the kitchen the whole time?" Dongfang Mo asked Mu Ru in a sharp and menacing tone.
"I wasn't there the whole time," Mother Liu said. She looked at Mu Ru before answering truthfully. "I've only been in the small kitchen cooking rice and making soup. From time to time, I went to the big kitchen to wash the vegetables or do some other thing."
When Mother Liu finished speaking, she looked at Mu Ru, which seemed to say, "I'm sorry, First Young Madam. Although I know you need a witness, I can't lie, right? Besides, the chef over there knows that I went to the big kitchen to wash the vegetables." Mother Liu could not make up stories just to protect Mu Ru.
Mu Ru knew that Mother Liu was telling the truth, but she was determined to convince them that she did not add anything to the concoction Xi Muxue drank. The heavens could attest to it, but Mu Ru felt helpless that no one on earth could attest to her innocence.
"Liu Hao, what was in that medicine?" Aunt Gu asked the family doctor, Liu Hao, who who was giving Xi Muxue an IV drip, when Mu Ru did not say anything.
"There's job's tears, hawthorn, and ginseng," Liu Hao said, reading through his findings taken from the residue. He frowned, then added, "The rest are from the monk's concoction."
"Anyone with a little common sense knows that hawthorn, ginseng, and coix seed can induce contractions. Pregnant women are forbidden to eat or drink anything with those," said Dongfang Yingwu, who was standing in a corner of the living room. He frowned and looked at Mu Ru with a puzzled gaze. "First Young Madam, what were you planning by adding those to the concoction for the second young madam?"
"I didn't add anything," Mu Ru answered sharply. She was determined to tell the truth. She looked at Dongfang Mo and firmly said, "Why would I do something like that?"
"If you didn't do it, does that mean that Mother Liu did it?" Dongfang Mei retorted. She was very unhappy with the way Mu Ru was answering their questions. "There were only the two of you in the kitchen. Could those herbs and seeds have flown into the pot by themselves?"
"You can say whatever you want and believe whatever you think. I didn't add anything," Mu Ru answered sharply. She was furious. She suddenly appeared rebellious. She raised her voice and said, "All of you are just guessing. What evidence do you have to prove that I added those things to what she drank? To convict someone, you must first have sufficient evidence. Do you have any evidence then? Who saw me messing with what she drank?"
Everyone was stunned. They turned to look at Mother Liu since she was the only one who had entered the kitchen when Mu Ru was preparing the concoction for Mu Xue.
Mother Liu shook her head and quickly said, "Even though I wasn't in the kitchen the whole time, I can tell from the way the First Young Madam handled the concoction that she didn't add anything. I can guarantee that."
"Just because no one saw it doesn't mean you didn't do it!" Dongfang Mei said to Mu Ru. Her voice was not loud, but it was very forceful. "Mu Ru, you've been taking care of Mu Xue all this time, and you've read a lot of books about taking care of pregnant women. I'm sure you know very well what herbs and plants pregnant women are not allowed to eat. I am sure you know which ones can induce pre-term contractions."
"The bleeding can't be stopped. I think we should send her to the hospital immediately," said the family doctor, Liu Hao. He sounded frantic.
"Then send Second Young Madam to the hospital as soon as possible," Dongfang Mo said. He glanced at Xi Muxue, who was lying on the sofa. He then glared at Xi Muru. He turned to the security guard outside the door and said, "Lock First Young Madam up in the basement and let her reflect on her vicious behavior. When she admits and confesses to what she did, she will be released!"