Chapter 61 Entrusting an Orphan (Pink Ticket 240)

  The old lady was busy patting her back to help her breathe smoothly.

  It took a while before Yuan Niang finally stopped coughing.

  Opening his palm, he saw a dark red bloodstain in the center of it.

  The old lady looked surprised, but her face didn't show any surprise. She quickly called the maids over to help Yuanniang clean up and comforted her by saying: "It's okay, it's okay. You were just overcome with melancholy, now that you've thrown up, you'll be fine soon."

  Yuanniang gazed at the blood in her palm and a tear rolled down from the corner of her eye.

  "It's all right, it's all right." Madame Tai tried to comfort her with a somewhat weak tone, "You're just having an attack of melancholy, once you've vomited, you'll be fine."

  The quick and nimble maids had already fetched water, some kneeling to hold the copper basin, others helping her remove her bracelets, gently washing her hands clean.

  Yuanni's personal maid, Lü'è, stepped forward with tears in her eyes to serve tea: "Madam, rinse your mouth!"

  Yuanniang sat stupidly and let her serve herself tea, with a wooden expression she let her serve herself back to bed.

  Looking at this lifeless daughter-in-law, Madame felt a pang in her heart, thinking back to when she first married into the family.

  Her face was as big as a palm, with a delicate and bright complexion. When she looked at people, her eyes were clear and bright. When Xiao Si looked at her, there would be a flash of joy in her eyes... when did that light disappear? When the child miscarried, she comforted Xiao Si despite being heartbroken; during the Na Wen incident, she occasionally teased Xiao Si with a playful glance despite not being happy; when it was said that she would have difficulty giving birth again, she didn't give up although she was in pain... what time was it?

  It was probably after Yi Zhen moved to Shao Hua Yuan... After An Er's death, Yi Zhen had always lived in the main house. Several times she mentioned wanting to move to Shao Hua Yuan in the backyard, but was stopped by Xiao Si each time. Later, someone introduced a feng shui master to Yuan Niang, who said that Yuan Niang's residence did not match her eight characters, so it was difficult for her to have children. He also pointed out that she lived in the Kun position, which would be beneficial for having children... The Kun position of the Xu family was precisely the location of the main house. Yi Zhen listened and insisted on moving out... Later, when the two went out together, they gradually spoke less and less. After Xiao Si went to war, the two almost never spoke again!

  The old lady's eyes were slightly dim, watching as Green Sprout finished serving and retreated. But Yuanni suddenly sat up with a start. She tightly grasped the old lady's arm, just like she was holding onto a lifeline: "Mother, mother, I won't abandon Rongge, I won't abandon Rongge... Please save my Rongge for me... Do you still remember? The doctor said I couldn't give birth again, but I don't believe it, and neither do you. You've been seeking out doctors and medicine everywhere for me. What kind of quack or charlatan haven't you treated with respect? What kind of disgusting thing haven't I tried... It was so hard to get pregnant with Rongge, and you took me to the temple to thank the Bodhisattva. At night, when it was cool in the temple, you were afraid I wouldn't be able to bear it, and you tucked my feet into your bosom..."

  The old lady could no longer hold back her tears, which fell like rolling pearls.

  Thinking of his eldest son dying young, and his second son leaving without a word... Zongge is Yuan Niang's biological son, and also his most cherished grandson!

  "Don't worry, don't worry, I'll take care of it. Let her stay by my side!" The old lady covered her face and wept.

  Yuanniang suddenly exclaimed: "Mother, why did the sky suddenly turn dark." As she spoke, her two hands waved in the air, "Mother, mother, where are you?"

  Old Lady Tai hurriedly went to hold her daughter-in-law's hand, but someone beat her to it and grasped Yuan Niang's hand instead: "Don't worry, don't worry. Just lie down quietly and you'll be fine."

  A gentle and broad voice with a calm and composed power suddenly calmed down Yuanniang.

  "Master Hou, Master Hou..." She tightly grasped that warm hand, but didn't know her own strength was too weak.

  "It's me." Xu Lingyi's voice was as calm as ever, and it was impossible to tell any difference from usual.

  The old lady hastily stood up, yielding her seat to her son and ordering the maids to bring over a bowl of soothing medicine.

  Xu Lingyi personally received it and said in a low voice: "The medicine is ready, drink it and sleep well. You'll be fine when you wake up!"

  Yuanniang drank the medicine in silence, served by Xu Lingyi.

  Xu Lingyi settled her back down, tucked in the corner of the quilt for her, and was just about to get up when Yuan Niang suddenly reached out and grabbed Xu Lingyi's sleeve: "Prince, am I going to die?"

  Xu Lingyi was stunned for a while, then said: "You take good care of yourself and don't worry about these things."

  "I know I won't live much longer." Her eyes were empty and her voice was calm with a hint of serenity, "We've been husband and wife for so long, I want to ask you one thing..."

  "You said." Xu Lingyi lowered her eyelids.

  "I'm dead, you can choose one from among my sisters to be your concubine!"

  Everyone was stunned, and the maids didn't even dare to breathe, the room was as heavy as if it were underwater.

  Xu Lingyi glanced at the maids, daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law in the room who were all silent and still, her eyes slightly dim: "Good!"

  Yu Nuang tilted her head, her empty eyes wandered aimlessly without focus.

  "I've promised you." Xu Lingyi's voice was very soft, "You rest well!"

  Madam Ta looked at Yuan Niang's calm expression and suddenly thought of the gentle and quiet face of the eleventh daughter.

  Yuanniang opened her big eyes and searched hard for Xu Lingyi.

  Xu Lingyi thought for a moment and said, "Don't worry. I will discuss this with your mother."

  Yuanniang listened and slowly closed her eyes.

  Xu Lingyi understood, let out a soft sigh and instructed Tao Mama: "Send someone to Gongxian Hutong to invite Madame Luo over."

  Mother Tao went at the sound of her name being called.

  Yuanniang's mouth corners rose, and a smile bloomed on her face. She tilted her head and fell into a deep sleep.

  Xu Lingyi looked at his wife for a while, then stood up and supported Empress Dowager: "Mother, I'll take you back."

  Old Lady nodded and handed Yuan Niang over to Tao Mama.

  The two of them returned to the residence of Tai Furen in silence, and the maidservants helped Tai Furen change her clothes and wash up. The mother and son sat down on the large kang by the window in the western wing, and the maidservants brought tea. Then Du Mama dismissed all the servants who were waiting on them in the house.

  "It's not quite right to invite your aunt at this time!" The old lady's voice was tinged with a few parts of hesitation.

  Xu Lingyi gazed out the glass window at the apricot tree with lush green leaves and said lightly, "Since she has spoken these words, she must have weighed them carefully and thought deeply about it. If I'm not mistaken, the mother and daughter should have already chosen someone a long time ago, just waiting for an opportunity to bring it up with me."

  The old lady didn't show much surprise. She slightly raised an eyebrow and calmly said, "Then what are you planning to do?"

  "Let's discuss it with your mother and the madam!" Xu Lingyi turned back to look at her mother, her eyes were deep and it was hard to tell what she was feeling. "She is worried that Jun Ge will not grow up well, I am also worried. Let's just follow her idea then. Whoever she thinks is good, then it will be that person!"

  "Ah!" The old lady looked at her son and shook her head, "What about his sister? When it's time to turn against each other, they'll still turn against each other. She chose her own sister, but that doesn't guarantee anything for Rong Ge. I think, if she really can't make it through this ordeal, Rong Ge can come here and be raised by me instead! He can keep company with Jing Jie."

  Xu Lingyi hesitated for a moment: "You're so old..."

  "It's not like I have to feed him personally. Aren't there still wet nurses, maids and old ladies? Madam smiled and said, "Besides, he's here with me, it's more lively here. I like it!"

  Xu Lingyi saw her mother's smile overflowing from the bottom of her eyes, and couldn't help but smile: "If you feel tired, you can't bear it silently!"

  The old lady saw her son agree and nodded, pondering: "What about Luo's eleventh daughter?"

  Xu Lingyi was taken aback: "Who was it that blocked Wen Niang at the door?"

  The old lady nodded: "I think he looks quite steady."

  Xu Lingyi suddenly understood her mother's intention. She couldn't help but exclaim: "She and Zhen Jie are almost the same age!"

  The old lady couldn't help but smile bitterly: "This is also an unavoidable thing. The fifth in line is of a suitable age, but I think he looks a bit frivolous; the tenth in line has grown up to be quite handsome, but I see him as still being childish."

  "Daughter." Xu Lingyi frowned slightly, just as she was about to say something, a young maid reported: "Madam, Liu Yi from the Imperial Hospital has arrived."

  The old lady looked at her son and smiled: "Please ask Mr. Liu to come in."

  The little maid responded and soon led in an old man with a head of white hair and a white beard.

  "I've paid respects to Madam." As soon as he entered the door, he bowed to Madam and saw Xu Lingyi, also bowing to her: "Is Master Hou at home too?"

  Madam Ta slightly raised her hand: "Lord Liu doesn't have to be so polite." Xu Lingyi nodded in agreement with Dr. Liu.

  There was a young maid who brought over a stool for him to sit on. Dr. Liu sat down and handed over the prescription he had just written.

  A little maid on the side pulled it and handed it to Madame Tai.

  The old lady took out her glasses, put them on the big pillow and looked at it for a long time, then handed the square character to Xu Lingyi.

  "These are all medicinal herbs for nourishing blood and Qi." The madam's expression was somewhat solemn.

  Liu Yi Zheng looked at Xu Ling Yi and said in a low voice: "Now we can only listen to the will of heaven and do our best as humans."

  The white paper with the prescription was pinched up by Xu Lingyi.

  "Thank you, Lord Liu!" His voice was faint, and he instructed the maid to see the guest off.

  Liu Yi stood up, thought for a moment, and said, "The Fourth Mistress needs to rest quietly and should not get angry again." Then he bowed to the Eldest Mistress and Xu Lingyi before retreating.

  Xu Lingyi then said to her mother: "Can you ask a doctor to come and see Yuan Niang again?"

  The old lady sighed and said with a bitter smile: "Liu Yizheng has been in charge of the imperial hospital for twenty years, what kind of doctor do you think I should invite for her?"

  Xu Lingyi was speechless for a moment.

  The sound of children's and girls' laughter came from outside.

  "Give me, give me." Brother Jun's childish voice was filled with delight.

  Xu Lingyi did not go out of the city in the morning.

  A large group of maids and daughters-in-law, dressed in red and green, surrounded Zhen Jie and Yun Ge. Zhen Jie's hand was held high above her head, holding something that she used to tease Yun Ge, who was on tiptoes trying to reach it, but couldn't, and ran around Zhen Jie in circles with anxiety.

  A mother walked over and said a few words, then Zhenji and Yun'ge stopped smiling. Zhenji adjusted Yun'ge's collar, and the two of them walked hand in hand towards this direction.

  The old lady also saw: "Zhen is a good girl."

  "That's also what you taught." Xu Lingyi responded indifferently and turned around to sit up straight.

  The lady sighed and sat back down.

  Outside came the maids' announcement: "Madam, Master Hou, Eldest Miss and Fourth Master have come to pay their respects."

  "Come in!" The old lady's voice was warm and gentle, but Xu Lingyi's expression was serious.

  Zhenji and Junge came in and respectfully paid their respects to their grandmother and father.

  Old Lady Tai beckoned to Nai An: "Come, come sit with Grandma!"

  Fourth Brother looked at his father and then timidly took small steps towards Madame Tai.

  Xu Lingyi frowned as soon as she saw it.

  His brother's steps became even smaller.

  Zhen Jie'er also stood there somewhat at a loss.

  The old lady looked at him and shook her head slightly, smiling: "If the lord has something to attend to, he should go ahead!"

  Xu Lingyi wanted to speak but stopped herself. After thinking for a moment, she still bowed respectfully to the old lady and responded with a "yes" before walking out.

  Without Xu Lingyi, Jun Ge immediately became cheerful. He smiled and asked his grandmother: "Is mother still sleeping? Has she woken up? Did she ask about me?"

  Zhen Jie also understood something and looked at Jun Ge's eyes filled with sympathy.

  Old Lady smiled: "Yes, your mother is still sleeping. When she wakes up, she will definitely ask about Brother Yun. At that time, Mother Tao will come to take you away!"

  Uncle smiled with his mouth closed.

  The little maid reported: "Madam, the lady from your husband's family has arrived!"

  I just found out today that many friends have added me to their space. Let me explain, I almost never use it, so many messages are overdue. Here, I want to say sorry to everyone! Hehe...