Capture the Jade (Attacking the Jade) - Chapter 23-Part 7
Chapter 23-Part 7
The old madam of the Duan family smiled broadly, unable to stop grinning: “You’re making yourself sound so pitiful, but in the end, you can’t avoid a good beating. Madam Du and Yu’er are over there; haven’t you seen them? Why are you still kneeling? Go over there and greet them quickly.”
“That’s right,” Madam Duan feigned anger and said, “Yu’er came joyfully to wish Grandmother a happy birthday, and yet you left her standing there, ignored. If you don’t apologize to Yu’er properly today, I’ll be the first to not forgive you.”
Only then did Duan Ningyuan turn to the three ladies of the Teng family, deeply bowing and saying, “I apologize to the madam. I arrived late due to other matters, and I hope madam will not hold it against me.”
Madam Du forced a smile and said, “No need for so much formality; please rise quickly.”
Duan Ningyuan turned again to Teng Yuyi, lowering his brow and cupping his hands, saying, “Forgive my neglect… my lady.”
Teng Yuyi sidestepped to avoid the bow and replied, “General Duan, you’re exaggerating.”
The old madam and Madam Duan exchanged looks, smiling as they watched the interaction between the two.
Duan Ningyuan straightened his posture, but unexpectedly, his shoulder twitched again.
The movement was so slight it was barely perceptible, yet it did not escape Teng Yuyi’s watchful eye.
She smiled faintly and lowered her eyes without a word.
Duan Ningyuan had overestimated himself.
Even though he had the itch from the itchy insect, he still dared to appear before them.
Teng Yuyi guessed that Duan Ningyuan had probably been struggling with it for a while and had only gathered the courage to come out and face them when he could no longer hold it in.
If he didn’t come, it would be seen as unfilial and arrogant, but if he did, it was impossible to hide the signs of his discomfort.
But if he could endure it all along, wouldn’t Lin Chengyou’s bragging be for nothing? Since it’s said that this insect can “make you itch unbearably, to the point of wishing for death,” then it should indeed make one wish for death.
She wasn’t in a hurry—she was curious to see just how long Duan Ningyuan could endure.
After Duan Ningyuan finished with the formalities, he took a step toward the old madam, but just as he moved, his body suddenly jerked again.
This time the movement was more pronounced, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.
Duan Ningyuan clenched his teeth, his face pale.
He instructed the servant, “Give the gift to Grandmother first.”
The room fell silent, and as the guests began to turn their gaze away, Duan Ningyuan involuntarily twitched again.
This time even Madam Du and Du Tinglan noticed it.
Madam Du exclaimed, “Young Master Duan, what’s wrong with you?”
Duan Ningyuan stood tall like jade, his back ramrod straight.
Even in such a situation, his demeanor, as composed as a pine tree, remained impeccable.
Forcing a smile, he said, “It’s nothing.”
Yet, as he spoke, his brow twitched again, as if itching unbearably.
Before he could adjust his expression, his neck jerked to the side, seemingly in an attempt to relieve the itch.
Gritting his teeth, he rubbed against his collar.
This action was utterly improper, resembling the behavior of an unrefined country bumpkin.
Everyone present found the scene increasingly peculiar.
Duan Ningyuan, seeming unable to exchange further pleasantries, hastily headed for the door.
Madam Duan and Old Madam Duan, clueless about what was happening, watched his odd behavior and felt deeply humiliated.
In unison, they shouted sternly, “Eldest Son!”
Duan Ningyuan took two steps before abruptly stopping.
Suddenly, he raised his arm and frantically scratched his back, a gesture already verging on complete loss of composure.
Many of the women present gasped in shock.
What… what was happening?
Duan Ningyuan trembled all over, trying to regain control of himself, but his face was covered in cold sweat, his expression twisted and spasming.
The crowd was too stunned to react.
Several madams who had been to Ziyun Pavillion recalled a scene they had witnessed there and exclaimed in horror, “Isn’t this the itching poison that plagued Dong Erniang the other day?”
“Dong Erniang?”
Madam Du froze.
“I thought she seemed familiar. I wouldn’t have remembered if you hadn’t mentioned it. This is strange. How could the poison from Dong Erniang end up on Young Master Duan?”
The main hall erupted into a clamor.
“Itching poison? What is itching poison?” someone asked.
“It’s caused by a type of insect that makes people itch uncontrollably.”
“And who is Dong Erniang?” asked another group.
“Miss Dong is the second daughter of Magistrate Dong of Wannian County. On the day of the Shangsi Festival, she feigned illness to swindle Shizi of Prince Cheng’s Liu Yuan pill, but Shizi saw through her trick on the spot. She’s been imprisoned in the Jingzhao Prefecture dungeon ever since. They planted itching insects on her body as punishment.”
“What? If Dong Erniang is in the Jingzhao dungeon, how did Young Master Duan get poisoned?”
Amid the chorus of speculations, Duan Ningyuan’s body alternated between bouts of heat and cold.
Every pore tingled painfully.
The itching was unbearable, seeping into his very bones.
Sweat poured down in large drops as his limbs twitched uncontrollably.
He wanted to leave the main hall, but every muscle in his legs trembled and refused to obey him.
Panic gripped him.
Dong Erniang had been tortured in prison these past few days.
To avoid exposing himself to scandal, he had refrained from seeking help from Lin Chengyou.
However, out of pity for Dong Erniang’s suffering, he had discreetly arranged for several court physicians to examine her.
The physicians tried many remedies but ultimately declared that Dong Erniang’s poison had no cure and was highly contagious.
Extreme caution was advised when approaching her.
