Chapter 5: An Eye for an Eye, A Tooth for a Tooth

Before anyone could react, Shen Ningyuan had already dragged Ji Yunhuan toward the Ji family’s ancestral hall.

Choked by the tight grip on her throat, Ji Yunhuan felt a wave of suffocation. When she realized the direction Shen Ningyuan was dragging her toward was the ancestral hall, her face paled, and panic immediately took hold. Why was Shen Ningyuan taking her there? Had she discovered something? No, she could not be taken into the ancestral hall!

Panic-stricken, Ji Yunhuan flailed her hands and cried out to Madam Chen for help. "Mother, save me! I’m being choked to death! Hurry and stop your sister-in-law!"

Madam Chen rushed forward, gripping Shen Ningyuan’s arm with all her might, and demanded sharply, "Shen Ningyuan, what exactly do you think you’re doing? This is the Ji family ancestral hall, and Chuan’s funeral altar is still outside. How dare you act so recklessly!"

Shen Ningyuan raised her eyes, flung Madam Chen’s hand away with force, and said coldly, "Was it not you who demanded I produce evidence? I am finding that evidence right now."

"You’re looking for evidence? Why go to the ancestral hall for that?" Madam Chen’s heart skipped a beat, a sense of unease creeping in.

Shen Ningyuan did not answer, continuing to drag Ji Yunhuan into the hall. Seeing her so composed, Madam Chen grew anxious and quickly beckoned to the maids and matrons nearby. "You lot, why are you still standing there? Can’t you see the young mistress has lost her mind? Hurry and restrain her!"

As she spoke, several servants rushed forward aggressively to intervene. But before they could get close, Shen Ningyuan flicked her hand and clamped it tightly around Ji Yunhuan’s throat. She shouted coldly, "All of you, back off! If anyone dares to take another step forward, I will strangle Ji Yunhuan right here!"

Seeing Ji Yunhuan’s face contorting in pain, no one dared to move an inch closer.

"Shen Ningyuan! D-don’t do anything rash! She is your sister-in-law, she is Yunchuan’s own sister!" Madam Chen’s face turned ghostly white, seeing that Shen Ningyuan was in earnest. She dared not approach, only pleading for her to stop.

"Rest assured, as long as you don't do anything rash, I won't either." With that, Shen Ningyuan released her grip and dragged Ji Yunhuan inside.

Once inside the hall, Shen Ningyuan let her go, tossing her aside. She looked up, her gaze scanning the room and locking onto the memorial tablets of the Ji ancestors. Madam Chen followed tremblingly, asking cautiously, "Shen Ningyuan, what do you really want?"

"Finding evidence," Shen Ningyuan replied flatly.

Madam Chen frowned. She felt that Shen Ningyuan was just looking for trouble. If she wanted evidence, why come to the ancestral hall? Who would be foolish enough to leave evidence in such a place?

But a second later, Madam Chen was stunned.

Shen Ningyuan walked up to a memorial tablet, reached behind it, and pulled out an object. At the sight of it, Madam Chen’s face went deathly pale! It was the paper packet she had used to hold the poison. Hadn't she told Ji Yunhuan to destroy it after poisoning Shen Ningyuan? How could it still be here?

Shen Ningyuan looked at the item in her hand, raised an eyebrow, and smiled at Madam Chen. "Mother-in-law, if I’m not mistaken, what’s inside this paper packet is the crane-top red that Ji Yunhuan used to poison me."

Madam Chen’s complexion drained further. She stammered, "How can you be sure it’s crane-top red? What if it’s something else?"

Shen Ningyuan smiled again. "I may not have proof yet, but I have a simple way to verify that this is indeed crane-top red!"

"W-what way?" Madam Chen asked nervously.

Shen Ningyuan did not answer. She merely fixed a chilling gaze on Ji Yunhuan, who was sprawled on the floor, rendered speechless by the ordeal. Madam Chen was no fool; seeing this, she immediately guessed what Shen Ningyuan intended to do. She tried to remain steady, pointing at Shen Ningyuan, though her voice trembled with fear. "Shen Ningyuan, let’s talk this through properly. Please calm down and let Huan'er go!"

She was gambling. She was gambling that, with so many people watching, Shen Ningyuan wouldn't dare lay a hand on Ji Yunhuan. After all, the world was ruthless, and life for a woman was already difficult. Even with the General’s Mansion behind her, if Shen Ningyuan’s reputation were ruined, her life would be destroyed.

Shen Ningyuan laughed at this. "Mother-in-law, why are you so nervous? Wasn't it you who told me to produce evidence?"

Just as she finished, a noblewoman watching from the sidelines called out from a distance, "That’s right, Madam Ji, why are you so nervous? If you are certain Miss Ji did not poison anyone, there is nothing to worry about. Besides, having your daughter-in-law produce evidence to prove your daughter's innocence would be a good thing, wouldn't it?"

Madam Chen had no rebuttal for this.

Shen Ningyuan arched an eyebrow at her. "Exactly. If Ji Yunhuan didn't poison me, this will clear her name. Wouldn't that be a joyful outcome for everyone? Mother-in-law, what exactly are you worried about? Are you afraid that I will actually produce the evidence to prove that Ji Yunhuan is the one who poisoned me?"

Shen Ningyuan’s words immediately sparked suspicion among the onlookers. Countless scrutinizing eyes fell upon Madam Chen and Ji Yunhuan. Everyone began to wonder if the mother and daughter of the Ji family had plotted to poison Shen Ningyuan to seize her dowry.

Noticing the suspicious gazes, Madam Chen gritted her teeth, glared at Shen Ningyuan, and whispered a warning: "Shen Ningyuan, with so many people watching, you’d best know your place. Don't go too far. What are you trying to do?"

Shen Ningyuan smiled faintly. "Since you insist that this isn't crane-top red, I shall let my dear sister-in-law consume it. If she is perfectly fine, it will prove that this is not poison. And it will prove that she had no intention of poisoning me—clearing her name entirely!"

"What?" Madam Chen was shocked. But before she could react, Shen Ningyuan had reached Ji Yunhuan, gripped her chin, and forced her mouth open. She then shoved the contents of the paper packet into Ji Yunhuan’s mouth.

"No!" Madam Chen shrieked, rushing forward to stop her, only to be kicked away by Shen Ningyuan.

"Mother-in-law, we have come this far. It would be best if you didn't interfere, because the truth will be revealed very soon..."

With that, Shen Ningyuan continued to push the medicine into Ji Yunhuan's mouth. Whenever Ji Yunhuan tried to spit it out, Shen Ningyuan would clamp her mouth shut, forcing her to swallow.

"Mmmph... Sister... mmmph... no... I don’t want to... I don’t want to die..." Ji Yunhuan struggled violently, but no matter how hard she tried, she could not break free from Shen Ningyuan’s grip.

Seeing the packet about to be swallowed, Madam Chen could no longer restrain herself. She rushed over and shoved Shen Ningyuan aside. "Enough! Shen Ningyuan, even if this really is crane-top red, you cannot make Huan'er eat it! You are trying to kill her!"

Shen Ningyuan stumbled back two steps before finding her footing. She watched quietly as Madam Chen frantically threw herself over Ji Yunhuan, but she remained where she was, making no further move. Her purpose had been served. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Just as Ji Yunhuan had tried to poison her, she would make her swallow the consequences.

"Huan'er, are you alright?" Madam Chen looked at Ji Yunhuan, whose face had turned a deep, liver-like purple, her expression full of dread and terror. The medicine was lodged in Ji Yunhuan’s throat; one small swallow would send it into her stomach. Once that poison entered her system, Ji Yunhuan’s life would be forfeit.