The grief in Xiao Yanyi’s eyes caused the Second Madam to tremble slightly.
Her hands tightly twisted together within her sleeves, her gaze falling on Xing’s small body. A fierce glint flashed in her eyes but was quickly replaced by tears that brimd and spilled over. She choked on her words, her panic rendering her speech incoherent: "Quickly, see if the Imperial Physician has arrived." She then turned to Doctor Liu: "Please hurry and take a look."
Doctor Liu had already stepped swiftly to the Grand Dowager’s side, and as the Second Madam spoke, he had no mind to respond, bending instead to examine Xing’s pulse.
Xiqiu’s heart also tightened!
"The young master has fainted," Doctor Liu breathed a sigh of relief but imdiately displayed a tense deanor again. "But the symptoms are still not optimistic."
Xiqiu could almost feel the Grand Dowager trembling slightly.
"Mother, let do it!" Xiao Yanyi stepped forward to take Xing into his arms, his face lined with weariness, even a shadow of stubble showing on his chin, desolate and forlorn.
This was his legitimate son, a son gained through hardship. No matter what transpired between him and Tong Xihua, no matter how much care and love he showered upon Xing, the undeniable truth was that they were father and son, the pain of kinship was one Xiqiu believed he could not easily bear!
She sighed inwardly as she left the room and instructed Chunliu at the door, "Go to the second gate and see if Sister Jingliu has arrived."
Chunliu appeared equally distraught. Regardless of the circumstances, the incident occurred in the Fourth Household. No matter who was responsible in the end, the Fourth Household could not evade responsibility.
But she was also heartbroken for Xing. After all, he was the First Lady’s child. Despite the past grievances, everyone ca from the Tong Mansion, and in the eyes of outsiders, they were all one family.
"I’ll go now," Chunliu said, lifting her skirt as she ran out in a hurry.
Xiqiu stood at the door, where Lianqiao and Xing’s wet nurse, Caiqin, still knelt outside.
The tall silhouette of Fourth Master Xiao was visible through the left room’s window. The courtyard was filled with kneeling maidservants, each with a pallid face...
She gripped the doorfra tightly.
Just then, the locked courtyard door was suddenly banged upon, and a servant hastily opened it. Imdiately, Maid Qiuping rushed in like one possessed: "Young Master Xin, Young Master Xin!" She headed straight for the main house.
Seeing Xiqiu at the door, her tears stread down her cheeks, and her face was as white as a sheet: "Fourth Madam, Fourth Madam, how is Young Master Xin, how is he?"
Xiqiu looked at her, knowing that Qiuping truly cared for Xing. She furrowed her brow and said, "He’s still unconscious. Keep your voice down."
"Let go in and see." However, Xiqiu stopped her, shaking her head: "Going in won’t help. Just stay outside, and we’ll talk when the doctor arrives!"
Qiuping, unwilling, peeked into the side room. The courtyard was silent, and the room was deathly quiet. Qiuping plopped down on the threshold, ultimately not daring to enter.
Just then, a servant woman who was keeping watch in the courtyard walked over, saluted Xiqiu, and spoke to Qiuping: "Maid Qiuping, Fourth Master requests your presence."
Qiuping shuddered, reflexively replying, "I haven’t done anything!"
Xiqiu frowned. Could it be that she was truly involved?
Looking at Qiuping again, her legs were shaking uncontrollably, and she clung to the doorfra. "Why does Fourth Master want to see ? I haven’t done anything!"
"Fourth Master knows what you’ve done or not done. Co on!" Two maids ca up and grabbed Qiuping’s arm to drag her outside. Qiuping looked to Xiqiu pleadingly: "Sixth Lady, Sixth Lady, I haven’t done anything!"
Fourth Madam was replaced with Sixth Lady!
"Simply tell Fourth Master what you know when asked. If you’ve done nothing, Fourth Master won’t falsely accuse you," she stated, looking at Qiuping: "Go, don’t disturb Xing anymore."
Qiuping paused, no longer protesting, and slowly eased her grip on the doorfra...
She was led into the side room.
As they spoke, four figures hurriedly entered through the main hall. Leading them was Ruan Jingliu, followed by Chunliu, Chunyan, and Wan’er.
"Sister Jingliu!" Xiqiu couldn’t contain her excitent and went to greet her: "Please go and take a look."
Ruan Jingliu was dressed in a sowhat worn everyday overcoat, her hair loosely tied with no adornnts. Clearly, she had co imdiately upon hearing the news. She nodded at Xiqiu with furrowed brows: "Don’t worry, I’ll take a look first!"
Xiqiu nodded in agreent.
Wan’er carried the dicine chest and followed her inside.
Chunyan ca up to support Xiqiu, her face full of tension as she asked, "Madam, I heard it was the dicinal diet that went wrong? How could a dicinal diet cause such a problem? Nurse Zhang’s herbs are always pre-asured accurately. It’s neither too light nor too heavy, and nothing unnecessary appears. How could this happen?"
Walking alongside her, Xiqiu explained: "There was so Lilu mixed into the dicinal diet. Though not much, it was precisely asured. It might not affect others, but those who are frail, like the elderly or children, could have issues." She paused and said again: "Don’t worry about this right now. Go back and check if the pharmacy has Lilu, and if the dicinal diet delivered to the mansion contained such ingredients."
Even though she knew the problem likely didn’t originate from the dical clinic, checking it brought peace of mind. If the clinic was ruled out, then the issue could only be within the mansion!
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Chunyan wasted no ti and replied: "I’ll go back right now and go over all the herbs with Tianyi to see if anything is missing!"
Xiqiu nodded, watching Chunyan leave. She entered the room where Ruan Jingliu was speaking with everyone: "I’ll do my best. If the fever doesn’t return tonight, there’s hope!"
The Second Madam’s eyes sparkled, and before the Grand Dowager could speak, she hurriedly said: "Thank heavens. Thank you, Nurse Zhang!"
Ruan Jingliu nodded slightly, addressing the Grand Dowager, Xiao Yanyi, and the First Madam: "You should all leave now. If I need anything, my maid will inform you."
The Grand Dowager was wiping her tears repeatedly. Xiao Yanyi had already placed Xing down and stood up, speaking to Ruan Jingliu: "Thank you very much!" He then turned to the Grand Dowager: "Mother, you should rest next door for a while!"
"Alright." Reluctantly, the Grand Dowager glanced at Xing once more before nodding and supporting herself on the First Madam’s hand as they walked out.
Ruan Jingliu saw Xiqiu standing at the door and turned to nod at her. Finally, Xiqiu’s heart could co to rest!
The few of them sat in the main hall, where Xiao Yanyi said, "I’ll go check on Fourth Brother." Being a man, reason prevailed over emotion.
The Grand Dowager nodded, watching Xiao Yanyi leave, then turned to the Second Madam: "You should rest too. Don’t neglect yourself, and think of the child!" The Second Madam hesitated but then nodded after a mont’s thought: "I’ll head back first." She turned again to speak with Xiqiu: "Should Xing wake up, please let know, Fourth Sister-in-law."
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