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Nangong Shuang felt a tightening in her heart, knowing that the moment to test her words had arrived. She answered cautiously, "I was born into a family of medicine and learned from my father since childhood. After his passing, I became a disciple of a Wandering Elder and acquired some medical skills."
"A family of medicine?" Madam Guo showed interest. "Which family is that? I have heard of most renowned medical families in the capital."
Nangong Shuang downplayed it, saying, "It's just a small family from Jiangnan, nothing worth mentioning. After the family fell on hard times, I had to come out to make a living, and fortunately, the Qian Mansion took me in."
Madam Guo seemed to accept this explanation and did not press further. Instead, she turned to discuss Guo Chunyi's condition: "The people from the Imperial Medical Bureau couldn't diagnose this Purple Butterfly Poison. How did you recognize it?"
Nangong Shuang was prepared: "The Purple Butterfly Poison has three distinct characteristics: first, the victim's body turns purple, especially the face and limbs; second, there is a persistent high fever; third, the whites of the eyes turn purple. With these three symptoms combined, it can only be the Purple Butterfly Poison. This poison originates from the Western Regions; it is rare yet extremely lethal. Fortunately, I had read about it in medical texts and was able to identify it in time."
"I see," Madam Guo pondered. "Do you know who could be so malicious as to use such poison? Who sent those pastries?"
She summoned a maid for inquiry, and the maid replied that they were delivered by someone claiming to be a servant of Xiao Mansion, stating that Madam Xiao had specially prepared them for Miss Guo.
"Xiao Mansion?" Madam Guo was taken aback. "Madam Xiao and I have been friends for many years; how could she do such a thing? Someone must be impersonating a servant from Xiao Mansion!"
Nangong Shuang remained silent but felt turmoil within her. She knew very well that the Purple Butterfly Poison came from the Xiao Family. The medical texts of the Nangong Family contained detailed records that this poison was an ancestral toxin of the Xiao Family, with its formula kept secret. If the pastries truly came from Xiao Mansion, then the person who poisoned them was likely connected to the Xiao Family.
However, she could not recklessly expose this; first, there was insufficient evidence, and second, her relationship with Xiao Zhongyan was still unclear. Accusing the Xiao Family without proof could alert them.
"There’s no need for you to worry, Madam," Nangong Shuang reassured her. "Once Miss Guo recovers, we can investigate slowly."
"The most important thing now is to take good care of Miss Guo and ensure that the toxin is completely eliminated," Madam Guo agreed with a nod.
As night deepened, Madam Guo insisted on keeping vigil herself and urged Nangong Shuang to return to her room for rest. After expressing her gratitude, Nangong Shuang returned to her chamber. Once she closed the door, she quickly took out a small porcelain vial from her sleeve containing remnants of toxins extracted from Guo Chunyi's vomit.
"It’s undoubtedly Purple Butterfly Poison," Nangong Shuang murmured as she carefully examined the substance in the vial. "This poison has been specially processed; it is more concealed than ordinary Purple Butterfly Poison and acts faster. The method resembles that used in the massacre of my family."
She recalled the tragic incident years ago when her parents and relatives died from poisoning, their bodies displaying an eerie purplish hue similar to that of Purple Butterfly Poison symptoms. If this poisoning incident were linked to the same perpetrator or organization responsible for her family's demise, she would be closer to uncovering the truth.
While lost in thought, she heard faint footsteps in the corridor outside. Nangong Shuang became alert, quickly extinguishing her candle and hiding behind the door. The footsteps stopped in front of her door before there was a gentle knock.
"Nangong Shuang, are you still awake?" It was a voice belonging to an unfamiliar maid.
Nangong Shuang did not respond immediately but listened carefully until she confirmed there was only one person outside before softly asking, "Who is it?"
"I am Xing Er; Lord Guo sent me to ask you about something," replied the maid.
Nangong Shuang felt puzzled—wasn't Lord Guo in the palace? Why would he send a maid? Nevertheless, she cautiously opened the door and used the corridor's light to see who stood outside. Xing Er appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen years old, dressed in the uniform attire of maids from Guo Residence, holding a tray with a teapot and a small box on it.
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