As a demonstration, Song Ci personally wiped Song Ruqi’s body with a cloth soaked in strong alcohol, then handed it over to the wet nurse. This action alone attracted everyone’s attention.
The Madam is known for her emphasis on and affection for male heirs, yet she showed such patience towards the second young lady, which was unexpected.
"Just wipe her a few more tis this way to bring down the high fever. Don’t try to sweat it out; it’s hot weather, and wrapping her up could harm her. Just cover her with a thin quilt," Song Ci instructed the wet nurse.
The wet nurse agreed in repeated assent.
Lin Qing asked, "Madam, is there any particular reason for wiping the body with strong alcohol?"
Uh, doesn’t anyone here do it this way?
"There’s no special reason; it’s just to cool down. If there’s no alcohol, using warm water and wiping more frequently will also help," said Song Ci. "Of course, this is just to keep her from having a persistent high fever. A doctor should still see her, and she needs to take dicine. Lin Qing, please check her."
Lin Qing nodded and stepped forward, took Song Ruqi’s hand to check her pulse, which was sowhat erratic, then lifted and checked her eyelids before letting them go.
Just as he was about to get up, Song Ruqi mumbled in her sleep: "No, I won’t marry, I won’t marry into a poor family... no."
Lin Qing: "..."
Song Ci wasn’t so old as to mishear things and looked at her daughter-in-law in astonishnt, expecting an explanation.
Madam’s face turned black, her gaze as sharp as a knife, cutting towards Shuhua.
Shuhua trembled like a leaf.
This was bad.
Lin Qing pretended not to hear Song Ruqi’s sleep talk and led Song Ci and the others to the outer hall, saying only, "Let’s first see if Madam’s thod works. If the fever subsides, that’s best, and the dication can be milder as well. After all, if strong dicine is used, the body might suffer weakness. Continue brewing the decoction I prescribed earlier, and give it to her when she wakes up."
Madam smiled, saying, "Thank you for your hard work, Doctor Lin."
Although there was a house doctor, he was a male, and the daughter is a young lady, so consulting him was awkward. A female doctor was more convenient.
"Then I’ll head back first. If there’s sothing, have soone call ," Lin Qing paused and added, "The second young lady’s fever was also triggered by excessive anger. It’s natural for young girls to be a bit irritable; no need to scold her too much, just a gentle persuasion will do."
The smile on Madam’s face turned slightly stiff, and she said, "I understand. Mother Fang, see Doctor Lin out."
"Yes."
Once Lin Qing left, Madam dismissed the servants, leaving only Shuhua behind, and scolded, "Aren’t you going to speak?"
Shuhua kneeled down with a thud, trembling, and relayed what Song Ruqi had heard and her fears, concluding with, "Madam, I have advised the second young lady, but she still took it to heart; I really..."
Shuhua prostrated on the ground, truly not knowing that Song Ruqi would beco ill from anger.
Madam felt her mind spinning; she knew it would be trouble if the girl found out, and indeed it was.
Song Ci looked at her, "Did your husband talk to you about such matters? Does he an it?"
Madam’s mouth was full of bitterness, saying, "My husband only ntioned it in passing, just ntioned it, not intending to betroth her to anyone yet. My husband also said, if I’m not willing, it’s fine to let it go. Who would have thought that the girl heard it and still took it to heart; such a disappointnt."
Song Ci thought to herself that if she were in the sa situation, she might take it to heart as well. If her own father wasn’t considering a match of equal family status and wanted to marry her off to a poor family, could he still be considered a father?
It’s not like they were doing so sort of gratitude repaynt.
"Mother Fang, send that girl Li Hua from the main courtyard to the laundry room. She talks too much, penalize her with three months’ wages." Madam, unable to suppress her anger, erupted imdiately.
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