CHAPTER 284: CHAPTER 284: THE SITUATION (5)

That Madam Zhang was not invited by the First Master, and besides, she truly isn’t sure if it was Madam Zhang.

Xiqiu smiled and nodded, saying, "Don’t worry for now. What did the physician say?" Tong Xiyan glanced at Nanny Fang and replied, "He said it’s liver qi stagnation, excessive heart fire, phlegm-heat... Plus, after the recent incident of being haunted by the evil ghost, Mother’s health has been weak, and now with this illness..." Hearing this, Xiqiu raised an eyebrow and replied, "You don’t need to worry, such ailments are common. As long as she is nursed carefully, there shouldn’t be any major problems."

Tong Xiyan nodded and said, "The Imperial Physician said the same; she needs careful nursing, a light diet, no excessive tonics, no further provocation, and should avoid big emotional swings... It would take about three to five months to recover." Xiqiu nodded in relief, "That’s good, that’s good!"

She walked over to Lady, lowered her head to look at her, and softly called out, "Mother!" Lady didn’t respond, but suddenly Nanny Fang stood up, blocking Xiqiu, and said with a forced smile, "Sixth Miss, Lady just fell asleep and perhaps can’t talk to you right now." She raised an eyebrow, looking at Xiqiu with undisguised caution.

Xiqiu’s expression changed, awkwardly saying, "I... I just wanted to speak with Mother, have someone by her side to chat with her. Even in her dreams, she would know someone is there, isn’t it so?" Her demeanor made Tong Xiyan feel a pang of guilt. Lady is her mother, it’s natural for her to want to protect her, and Sixth Sister is her best sister and friend, she doesn’t wish to harm anyone. She deeply knows that ever since Sixth Sister went to the temple and Madam Xia left the mansion for Yongzhou, this family has irreversibly changed.

"Nanny Fang!" Tong Xiyan knitted her brows, "Please make some tea for Sixth Sister." Nanny Fang, full of reluctance, squinted at Xiqiu, then said, "Fourth Miss, Sixth Miss, please sit for a moment, I’ll be right back!" After speaking, she slowly exited the room. Tong Xiyan turned back to Xiqiu and said, "Sixth Sister, don’t mind it. Nanny Fang is jumpy right now, even with me, she’s afraid of hearing provoking words."

Xiqiu nodded in understanding, "Seeing Mother like this pains me, and I’ve tried to persuade Father, but..." She trailed off with a look of difficulty, which Tong Xiyan understood. Although Madam Xia and Lady haven’t openly torn into each other, the servants in the mansion had silently divided into two factions long ago. If Xiqiu sides with Lady, it is natural she would face difficulties with Madam Xia’s side.

She sighed, her eyes reddening, "I don’t even know how things turned out this way!" Xiqiu, full of worry, raised a hand to embrace her; the two sat in silence.

Just then, Chunyan peeked in from the door, looking at Tong Xiyan, and said, "Fourth Miss, I just saw Nanny Lai, she seemed to be looking for you but couldn’t get in!" Tong Xiyan raised an eyebrow, "Nanny Lai? What does she want with me?"

Chunyan shook her head, unsure, and Tong Xiyan glanced at Lady with difficulty, "Tell her to come back later." Xiqiu took her hand and said, "Nanny Lai is handling all affairs outside, and Father tasked the mansion’s matters to you and me. Maybe it’s something important. You should see, I’ll be here with Mother... besides, Nanny Fang will return soon."

Tong Xiyan thought for a moment, then nodded, "I’ll go take a look." Xiqiu nodded, and Tong Xiyan lifted the curtain and exited the room.

As Xiqiu watched her leave, she turned her attention back to Lady’s face. Lady still had her eyes tightly shut, but her lashes were fluttering slightly. Tong Xiyan had mentioned that Lady had been drifting in and out of consciousness lately. She walked to the bedside and sat on the stool, her gaze falling on Lady’s hand lying outside the quilt. Her hand... had just twitched twice.

She focused intently, and indeed, the index and middle fingers twitched twice, seemingly uncontrollably, moving in an irregular pattern, only slightly and infrequently. Only with careful observation could one notice.

This kind of sign...

Xiqiu raised an eyebrow and held Lady’s hand in her palm, gently rubbing it as she spoke, "Mother, I know you’re upset, but I have no way... I don’t blame you for the temple incident, but on Father’s side, I have no authority. I am truly powerless in this situation!" She paused, moving closer to Lady, "In fact, I once blamed you, Mother. You knew about Eldest Sister leading the Third Prince to the garden in the Marquis Mansion, didn’t you? Yet you didn’t stop it. If it weren’t for my quick thinking that day, perhaps I’d already be in some nameless courtyard at the Prince Mansion..." As she spoke, she slowly leaned toward Lady...

Nanny Fang rushed in with tea, hearing a hoarse cry from afar that startled her into the room, only to see Lady throwing the pillow behind her onto the ground, furiously pointing and shouting at Sixth Miss. Sixth Miss stood terrified by the cabinet, her face full of unease and panic. Seeing Nanny Fang enter, she asked, "Mama, what’s happened to Mother, why does she look like... like..." Like she’s lost her mind.

Nanny Fang’s face darkened, placing the tea on the table, she rushed to Lady’s side. Lady glared at Xiqiu with piercing eyes, her chest heaving, mouth trembling open as saliva dribbled down, but she couldn’t utter a word.

Nanny Fang’s expression changed drastically, turning to glare fiercely at Xiqiu, "Sixth Miss, what did you do to Lady?!" Xiqiu was startled, shaking her head, "I did nothing, simply stood here talking to Mother." Nanny Fang didn’t believe a word, cradling Lady, trying to soothe her, "If you did nothing, why is Lady suddenly so agitated?"

"Fourth Sister just left, what could I have done? I don’t understand what you’re insinuating!" After speaking, she looked at Lady and called, "Mother!" Upon hearing the call, Lady convulsed violently in Nanny Fang’s arms. Xiqiu didn’t dare to look, raising her head to ask Nanny Fang, "Mama, I just called out like this." Carefully, she added, "Mama, should I fetch a doctor?"

Nanny Fang didn’t believe it but Lady’s reaction spoke for itself. Could it be Lady’s deep grudge against Sixth Miss stirred her emotions upon waking?

"Sixth Miss, if that’s the case, I boldly request you to leave first." She looked at Lady’s trembling hands and added, "And ask for Fourth Miss to return!" Xiqiu nodded fearfully and lifted the curtain to stand at the door, hesitating to call Tong Xiyan. Daihe, standing guard outside, saw Xiqiu come out and curiously asked, "Sixth Miss, what happened inside with Lady?" Without a summons, even Nanny Fang wouldn’t let them in.