Fourth Master Xiao glanced at the Grand Dowager, his eyes deep.
With nothing left to say, he fell into silence. The First Madam stood up and said, "Mother, since Fourth Sister-in-law is fine, let’s go back." After speaking, she looked at Fourth Master Xiao again: "Lyuzhu has been vomiting and having diarrhea for days, without getting any better."
Fourth Master Xiao raised an eyebrow and simply said, "I’ll see you out." After saying this, he accompanied the Grand Dowager and the First Madam out the door. The three of them left the passageway, and just before the Grand Dowager was about to get on the sedan chair, they saw Xiao Yanyi walking over from afar. The Grand Dowager’s gaze paused, while Xiao Yanyi quickly approached, "Mother, Sister-in-law!" Upon finishing, he noticed the aningful look in the Grand Dowager’s eyes and explained, "I have sothing to discuss with Fourth Brother."
"Hmm, finish your business and return early." The Grand Dowager replied, and she and the First Madam got into the sedan chair one after the other and headed toward the second gate.
Xiao Yanyi awkwardly averted his eyes, quickly glancing at the Rong’en Courtyard, then asked Fourth Master Xiao, "...Is Fourth Sister-in-law alright?"
Fourth Master Xiao nodded, and Xiao Yanyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The two brothers stopped at the courtyard gate, and Xiao Yanyi continued, "I have sothing to discuss with you." Fourth Master Xiao nodded and walked side by side with Xiao Yanyi to the nearest study. Tianjing served tea, closed the door, and exited. Xiao Yanyi then said, "What do you think of the Empress Dowager’s actions?" Pausing, he added, "I’m afraid that at the start of the year, the court won’t be stable."
With the Empress Dowager’s actions, it’s equivalent to tearing diplomatic ties with the Xuanning Marquis Mansion, and it seems that Prince Rong is already impatient on that front.
Fourth Master Xiao sipped his tea and replied, "You’re right. You should assign more people to guard around Mother and Xing, and also give Fifth Brother a warning." Moreover, do not fraternize unnecessarily with others.
Xiao Yanyi understood Fourth Master Xiao’s aning, and couldn’t help but stare at Fourth Master Xiao while asking, "Don’t act recklessly. I know you’re surely angry, but such a significant matter cannot be swayed by your efforts alone. In my opinion, you should incite the Shen Family and let them act. By then, all you’d need to do is fan the flas. Also..." he paused, "So preparation from the Emperor’s side is also needed."
Without much thought, Fourth Master Xiao replied, "I know what I’m doing." Pausing, he looked at Xiao Yanyi: "Don’t interfere with matters at Miaojiang; recall your n."
"Fourth Brother!" Xiao Yanyi was taken aback: "What exactly are you trying to do?"
Fourth Master Xiao stood up, looked at Xiao Yanyi, and spoke sternly, "This question should be directed to Second Brother!" With that, he strolled to the door with hands clasped behind, opened it, and turned back to Xiao Yanyi: "There’s no need to discuss this further. Just take care of Mother and Xing; don’t worry about anything else." With that, he walked out the door.
Xiao Yanyi looked at Fourth Master Xiao helplessly, pausing in the study before riding on horseback back to the Marquis Mansion. Outside the side gate, he encountered Xiao Yancheng and asked, "Where has Third Brother been? You haven’t been around for the past two days."
"I went to Shandong." Xiao Yancheng laughed and said, "Visited a friend and didn’t feel at ease about Lyuzhu, so I ca back after a short visit. From where are you returning, Second Brother?"
Xiao Yanyi’s gaze swept over his body and the horse being led away by a servant, noting the splashes of mud and the slightly loose horseshoes on the hind legs... indicators of a long journey.
Yet the reason for Xiao Yancheng’s discreet departure, without even taking Third Madam and Lyuzhu, seed hurried.
"Back from the governnt office." Xiao Yanyi didn’t ntion his visit to Fourth Master Xiao’s residence and entered the house side by side with Xiao Yancheng. As they walked, they talked, then went to the Grand Dowager’s room to pay their respects. Covered in mud, Xiao Yancheng said a few words before returning to his room, where Third Madam greeted him with a scowl, "You’ve been gone for three days, and Lyuzhu has fallen so ill, yet you have the mind to go out."
"What happened to Lyuzhu?" Xiao Yancheng walked quickly to the bedside, noticing that Lyuzhu’s face had thinned considerably. He turned back and asked Third Madam, "How did she fall ill? Did you call the Imperial Physician?"
Third Madam pouted and replied, "The doctors in the Central Plains are all quacks. Mother wanted to call one, but I refused, giving Lyuzhu so dicine instead. But it’s still not working!"
"Nonsense!" Xiao Yancheng gave Third Madam a cold stare, "It’s not a miracle drug; you think it cures all ailnts?" Then he instructed the maid outside the door, "Go fetch the token to invite the Imperial Physician."
In just over half an hour, the Imperial Physician hurried over. After taking her pulse and prescribing the dication, he told Xiao Yancheng, "Miss consud sothing unclean, leading to vomiting and diarrhea, causing a weak and cold stomach. I’ve prescribed dication to stop the vomiting and diarrhea first, then nourish with warm tonics. She’ll be well within half a month."
Third Master personally escorted the Imperial Physician out. Third Madam looked at the prescription with disdain, her face crumpled in disbelief.
Third Master entered without looking at her, instructed soone to fetch and brew the dicine, and personally fed it to Lyuzhu. After taking a dose, the vomiting and diarrhea stopped by evening. Third Madam fell silent, and Third Master looked at her displeased, saying, "Danlan, don’t act so self-righteous. Miao dicine is good but not miraculous. Everything in moderation!" He then swept out the door.
Third Madam looked embarrassed, stomped her foot, and chased after him to the door.
She embraced Xiao Yancheng inside the room, speaking coyly, "Without you, I lost my sense of direction, worried about you and thinking of Lyuzhu. And when you return, you bla ." Her voice choked with emotion.
Xiao Yancheng tightened his brow, but his expression soon relaxed into a smile. He turned to embrace Third Madam, sighed, and said, "You are just like that; there’s really nothing I can do with you!"
Third Madam attached herself coquettishly, softly saying, "You’re covered in dust; let attend to your wash."
Xiao Yancheng paused, nodded, and the two entered the washroom one after the other. The maids filed in with water to prepare, and Third Madam went to help Xiao Yancheng undress and assisted him into the bath. She then began removing her own clothes standing outside. Xiao Yancheng looked at her, saying, "Lyuzhu is still ill, so there’s no need for you to attend to here."
"I refuse." Third Madam hastily removed her clothing and slipped into the bath, sitting on Xiao Yancheng’s lap. She pouted and said, "Lyuzhu is already fine. This is now when my husband should comfort ." As she spoke, she trailed kisses down his chest.
Xiao Yancheng pressed her head down, his face showing a dreamy expression. Third Madam subrged her face into the water... the atmosphere in the bathroom imdiately turned amorous...
Afterwards, Third Madam lay contentedly against Xiao Yancheng’s shoulder, tracing circles on his bare chest with her finger, saying, "The Grand Dowager visited Fourth Brother’s house today. I’ve heard Fourth Sister-in-law hasn’t been feeling well since leaving the palace and was carried back by Fourth Brother."
Xiao Yancheng didn’t seem surprised at all from what he heard. So, Third Madam added, "...Fourth Brother was prepared in advance, so Fourth Sister-in-law didn’t drink the tea... The move was useless; nothing happened at all. It would’ve been better to follow my suggestion and just poison directly."
"Unacceptable!" A hint of coldness flashed in Xiao Yancheng’s eyes, "I had anticipated that Fourth Brother would be on guard." He paused and said, "This is rely the beginning." With that, he raised his right hand, gripping Third Madam’s left breast firmly, eyes fixed on her: "Without my order, you’re not to act rashly."
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