Since Nanny Gong learned that Song Ci began to forget things, she automatically kept vigil on the couch outside. Being old, her sleep was light, and she would wake up at the slightest noise. So when murmurs ca from Song Ci’s side, she started up in alarm.
The light outside was not extinguished, rely covered with a lampshade, making it dim yet still visible.
Nanny Gong walked straight into the sleeping chamber, lifted the lampshade at the foot of the bed, and instantly brightened the room. She approached the small leaf red sandalwood bed carved with "Five Blessings Offering Longevity," and looked intently at Song Ci.
She saw Song Ci with tightly closed eyes, flushed cheeks, murmuring sothing like "don’t go."
Nanny Gong was startled, reaching out to feel her forehead; it was scalding hot. She was shocked and picked up the bamboo gong at the bedside, striking it.
"Madam, Madam, wake up," Nanny Gong whispered.
But Song Ci was lost in a fog; she needed to find the old lady to clarify things. What was going on now?
Not waking, she gave Nanny Gong a fright, who urgently instructed Nan Shan and Chun Fen, rushing in, "Quickly, go to Bamboo Grove and fetch Doctor Lin."
Nan Shan said to Chun Fen, "You go."
Chun Fen panicked and hurried out at once.
Nan Shan quickly approached Song Ci, pinched her wrist to check her pulse, noting it was sowhat rapid and disordered, and her temperature was high. He lifted Song Ci’s eyelids, frowning.
"How is it? She won’t wake up," Nanny Gong’s voice trembled.
"It’s probably a nightmare. Let’s wake her first; you look after her, Nanny. I’ll go fetch sothing," Nan Shan released Song Ci’s hand and briskly left.
Chunhui Hall instantly brightened, alerting other family mbers, who quickly dressed and rushed over.
Lin Qing was close by and arrived quickly. Seeing Nan Shan holding a ceramic bottle under Song Ci’s nose, she did not act imdiately.
She knew this inconspicuous maid was skilled with poisons—dicine and poison are closely related. During idle tis, she would consult her, enriching her knowledge of various illnesses.
Whatever was in Nan Shan’s ceramic bottle, it was pungent, making Song Ci cease her chaotic mutterings, her eyelids trembling slightly, which Nanny Gong noticed and quickly called her na a few tis.
Song Ci struggled to open her eyes, seeing a few figures swaying before her. She felt utterly exhausted and unable to move, murmuring, "So tired."
After speaking, she passed out again.
Nanny Gong was greatly alard and quickly looked to Lin Qing.
Lin Qing’s face darkened, taking Song Ci’s hand to feel her pulse, checking her eyelids, and said, "The pulse is rapid, floating and tight; wind-cold has entered the lungs. Bring strong liquor, prepare for acupuncture, and ready a dicinal bath to lower the temperature first."
Elderly high fevers, like infants, cannot be neglected, considering their age and fragile constitution, particularly Song Ci, who had suffered bodily harm in her youth. If the high fever doesn’t subside, it could be serious trouble.
Song Zhiyuan and others arrived, hearing this, felt a chill in their hearts, and quickly approached.
"How is Madam? I’ve sent soone to call Doctor Lu," Song Zhiyuan said, seeing his mother’s flushed face, feeling a pang of fear.
Nanny Gong explained on the side.
Song Zhiyuan looked to Nan Shan, "What caused this high fever? Did she co into contact with sothing impure?"
His inquiry to Nan Shan had another aning—was it poison?
Nan Shan replied, "Based on the pulse, it seems like cold exposure; when Doctor Lin performs acupuncture and soaks her, I will carefully examine Madam’s body."
Song Zhiyuan’s expression turned cold, looking at Madam Song, who nodded with a stern face and withdrew, issuing a series of orders.
The Song Mansion was placed on high alert, allowing no one to enter or leave, especially not allowing Chunhui Hall’s servants to move about freely.
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