The Grand Dowager and Old Madam Lou each sat on one side of the Arhat Bed, with the Second Madam beside the Grand Dowager. Ruan Pingrong was already dozing off in Madam Ruan’s arms. Whether due to drinking or the muggy weather, Old Madam Lou’s face was sowhat flushed as she laughed and said, "We’ve had enough excitent for the day; I really can’t hold up any longer!"
Regardless of status, Old Madam Lou was the eldest present, and others wouldn’t easily take leave until she suggested leaving.
Madam Lou imdiately went to support her mother-in-law, while the Grand Dowager asked Nanny Wu, "Are the palanquins ready?" Nanny Wu smiled and nodded, replying, "They’re resting at the door; Fourth Madam prepared them early."
The Grand Dowager nodded slightly and looked at Old Madam Lou: "Then I won’t keep you any longer, let Nanny Wu see you off."
Old Madam Lou waved her hand and said, "I have so many people with ; there’s no need to send off!" As she spoke, she was about to leave with Old Madam Lou’s support but suddenly trembled, and everything went black as she staggered!
"Mother!" Madam Lou exclaid and caught Old Madam Lou, while Nanny Wu quickly stepped over to support the other side. Madam Qian, First Young Madam Tang, and the others all changed expressions, and the room instantly fell into chaos...
The Grand Dowager’s face also changed dramatically, and she said to Madam Lou, "Perhaps the wine went to her head." After a pause, she added, "Quickly, lay her on the bed!"
Nanny Wu and Madam Lou together helped Old Madam Lou onto the bed to lie down!
Xiqiu also approached to check on Old Madam Lou and saw that her face was flushed, and she was panting heavily with her mouth open, rolling her eyes incessantly.
Madam Lou called out, "Mother, Mother!" Tears streaming down her face, she frantically exclaid, "What should we do, what should we do!" The Grand Dowager sternly ordered, "Quickly go summon the Imperial Physician!"
Ziwei promptly dashed out the door.
The Grand Dowager cast a panicked glance at the Second Madam, then instructed Nanny Wu, "Bring so tea!"
Nanny Wu imdiately went to fetch tea to feed Old Madam Lou, but not a drop went down her throat, all of it flowing down her cheek. At this, everyone beca even more alard. Xiqiu also furrowed her brow, knowing that if sothing happened to Old Madam Lou at the Marquis Mansion, it would be hard to explain, even for allied families.
The Grand Dowager happened to glance at Xiqiu, recalling that she had taken care of Xiao Yanzheng during several of his episodes, and thought, "Go have a look, see if there’s anything you can do before the Imperial Physician arrives."
Xiqiu wasn’t trained in dicine, let alone a traditional doctor, so she was unsure but nodded hesitantly, "I’ll try!" She moved forward and addressed the others, "There are too many people in the room; please go to the hall." She glanced at Madam Qian, who understood imdiately, stood, and nodded, "Very well, having so many crowded around helps nothing and only adds to the anxiety."
The Grand Dowager also instructed the Second Madam, "You should go out too," fearing the illness would spread. The Second Madam nodded.
Everyone nodded, and Madam Ruan said, "Then let’s go out," leaving Madam Lou by the bedside to watch, as the others followed Madam Qian and the Second Madam out the door.
Xiqiu stepped forward to examine Old Madam Lou’s symptoms. From her observation, it didn’t look like a usual illness, but anything conclusive would have to wait until the Imperial Physician made a diagnosis. She loosened Old Madam Lou’s collar and had soone open the windows for ventilation. At this point, Old Madam Lou’s body heaved, and she suddenly retched, which startled Xiqiu and changed her expression.
If it were only facial flush and chest tightness, many illnesses might present such symptoms, but vomiting posed a different scenario.
She turned to the Grand Dowager and said, "Maybe we should call the household doctor to take a look first." The Grand Dowager was startled, having forgotten about this possibility and imdiately instructed a nearby maid, "Go fetch the household doctor."
The mansion had a household doctor, mostly for treating the staff, but he wasn’t often called upon!
The young maid hurried out.
The Grand Dowager looked at Xiqiu, noting her worried expression, and asked, "What’s wrong? Is there an issue?"
Xiqiu thought for a mont before replying, "I can’t be sure, we must wait for the Imperial Physician to confirm!" The Grand Dowager didn’t speak further, knowing Xiqiu wasn’t a doctor, she was simply anxious.
The household doctor rushed in, checked the pulse but remained uncertain, looked at the Grand Dowager with so trepidation, and said, "It seems to like heart disease, perhaps due to age, drinking, and exposure to wind..." but Xiqiu wasn’t convinced, standing aside in silence.
The Grand Dowager, seeing the household doctor’s uncertainty, didn’t dare let him administer any treatnt and waved him away!
After so waiting, Old Madam Lou’s face turned from red to purple, as Madam Lou sat crying beside her, her legs even shaking!
The Grand Dowager was pacing in a hurry, as those outside were also anxiously waiting, sending soone to check the door frequently for the Imperial Physician’s arrival.
Soone reported from outside the courtyard: "Marquis, Lord Lou, and Fourth Master have arrived!"
The Second Madam accompanied several other ladies to the Warm Pavilion opposite, and Xiqiu also withdrew to the Warm Pavilion.
Everyone sat in the room, and due to the unexpected incident, no one spoke for a while, leaving only the sound of sighs. The Second Madam quietly sat there, her gaze landing on Xiqiu, with the faintest hint of a smile on her lips!
You could faintly hear loud male voices crying across the way, and Madam Lou’s voice beca much louder than before, making everyone more uneasy, dampening the interest in conversation. Ruan Pingrong clung to Madam Ruan, looking fearfully at the door, while the two Miss Huangs were pale with fright!
The tense atmosphere was like a taut string...
Suddenly soone outside the curtain called out, "The Imperial Physician has arrived!"
Xiqiu heard several of the ladies behind her, sighing with relief, so long, so short.
She strained to hear the Imperial Physician’s words from across the way, and though the room was quiet, making it easier to catch snippets, she couldn’t make out much, it seed to sound like "Lilu..."
Lilu? Suddenly she recalled the dicinal al Chunliu had brought; Lilu mainly treated apoplexy, phlegm, and epilepsy. Such herbs were generally not used, nor had she heard of Old Madam Lou having such ailnts.
She couldn’t help but listen more closely!
The Imperial Physician asked, "Is there any realgar?" Imdiately following was the sound of footsteps coming and going.
"I don’t know how things are now!" Suddenly, the Second Madam’s voice ca from behind, filled with worry in a low tone. Xiqiu moved slightly to let her pass, frowning with a sigh, "Still unclear..."
Now that soone was speaking, the room’s atmosphere relaxed slightly!
At this mont, Ziwei pulled aside the curtain, glanced at Xiqiu, and said, "Fourth Madam, the Grand Dowager requests your presence." Xiqiu hesitated for a mont, then nodded and signaled to the ladies before following Ziwei across the way.
Lord Lou moved behind the screen at the back of the Arhat Bed.
As soon as Xiqiu entered, she saw Fourth Master Xiao standing there with his arms folded. Upon seeing her, his eyes softened slightly, his gaze never leaving her. Not wanting to make any overt gestures in front of others, Xiqiu entered and greeted Xiao Yanyi...
Xiao Yanyi returned her greeting.
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