Chapter Seventy Old Affairs (Middle)

  Did Shu Hua already know about that matter?

  The lady was too busy to think about these things, and pretended not to understand Shu Hua's meaning. "It's essential to take good care of your body, there are many days ahead, whatever you want to say can wait until you're feeling a bit better."

  After hearing this, Shu Hua let out a long sigh and closed her eyes.

  Mrs. Dai tucked in Shu Hua's quilt, and then came out of the inner room to see Yao Hua standing aside with a pale face, her two eyes red and swollen like peaches, and Chu Xiao beside her had already been taken away by Chen Mama for questioning.

  The lady took Yaohua to the side room to talk, and ordered Miao Tong to stay in the house, while everyone else retreated.

  The lady's expression changed from her usual gentle motherly look, and she asked Yuhua sternly, "What exactly happened? What did you say to your elder sister?"

  Yao Hua knew that her elder sister would become like this, and her mother would inevitably question her. She couldn't help but redden her eyes, and with a low head, she said pitifully: "I didn't say anything, my sister and I were talking in the room, and when she mentioned my illness, it reminded me of what happened to me because of Fifth Sister's body before."

  I comforted my sister with a few words.

  "Sister said that she doesn't want to mention Qiuhe in front of others, it's just too sad in her heart, only when she sees me can she say a few words from the bottom of her heart."

  Here is the translation:

  At this point, Yao Hua's eyes had already become misty. "I was saying that my relationship with Fifth Sister is also like this, so I naturally understand your feelings, sister. You just casually mentioned not to bring up Fifth Sister, she was born with a short-lived appearance and has already been lucky to live for over ten years, how can she be compared to Autumn Lotus? Autumn Lotus ended up in this state all because of her."

  "We were talking when Miao Tong suddenly led Big Brother-in-law in. Big Brother-in-law took one look at Big Sister on the bed and left without saying a word. Big Sister was stunned for a moment, letting Miao Tong go call Big Brother-in-law back, but he refused to come."

  Yao Hua paused and continued: "I saw that Big Sister was tired, so I helped her to bed. After she fell asleep, Chuxiao came over and whispered to me, saying that Fourth Aunt had said that Fifth Miss died because of Eldest Brother-in-law... I was about to scold Chuxiao when suddenly Big Sister sat up in bed and asked if what Chuxiao said was true. Chuxiao took one look at Big Sister's expression and became so frightened that she refused to say anything more. Big Sister, enraged, wanted to go find Fourth Aunt to get a clear answer. I also hastily intervened, fearing that something would happen..."

  "I couldn't stop Eldest Sister no matter what, and afterwards Mother found out everything." Yuhua looked up at the old lady with a hopeful expression, "Xiao Xiao has never said this in front of me before, and hearing it today gave me quite a shock. Mother, is this true? Is Fifth Sister really because..."

  The lady sternly said: "Nonsense, how can you believe such a thing?"

  After being scolded by her mother like that, Yao Hua's tears fell continuously, "Then why would Fourth Aunt say such a thing? Fifth Sister was originally ill and anxious..."

  "Let's not talk about whether that maid is trustworthy or not. Even if it were true that your fourth aunt said so, would you rather believe that lowly person's gossip than your own mother's words? When have your fifth sister and brother-in-law ever met? Even if they had, how could such a thing happen? What would that make them? If this gets out, won't it ruin your sisters' reputations? Those servants are always gathered together, who knows what they're saying, what can be believed, what can't... don't you have any sense of what's going on in your own heart? You don't help to comfort your older sister, but instead you start doubting her yourself..." She continued, "I've long told you to discipline the maids in the house, but you never listen, always indulging them, that's why we have today's disaster. This matter can't be let go like this, we must give them some punishment, so they won't dare speak such idle chatter again."

  Yao Hua was startled and looked up at Madame with wide eyes.

  "Go back inside and think about what I said!"

  Yao Hua reluctantly opened the door and went out.

  Yao Hua left, and Chen Mama came into the house, standing beside the mistress with a bow. "The second young lady is a sensitive one, madam can't blame her too much. I saw her crying just now, don't let it trigger an old illness again. The eldest young lady is already ill, if the second young lady falls ill too, what will we do?"

  The lady still had a gloomy face, "Which mother doesn't love her child? But if I don't tell her, she won't know where to go. You're not unaware of her relationship with the fifth young lady. Besides, I couldn't help but be angry with her. After all, it was because of her that my sister's matter arose." Her eyes became sharp as she thought of this, "What about Chun Xiao? Did you ask clearly? What did that little girl say?"

  Madam Chen replied, "I asked a few times and there was no second word. Qiao Xiao had heard two sentences of gossip from Fourth Auntie and happened to remember them today, telling Second Miss but didn't expect Eldest Miss to overhear." She paused before continuing, "Qiao Xiao is close with Fourth Auntie, who even asked her to speak up for Sixth Miss in front of Second Miss. If you must know what Fourth Auntie said to Qiao Xiao, there was indeed something."

  The lady said with hatred: "Can't let her off. Especially that cheap woman."

  "Fourth Aunt is probably not going to make it for the next two days," said Chen's mother. "The old lady must have used some kind of trick, and Fourth Aunt can't say a word now. The young mistress splashed water on her and pulled her hair, asking her questions, but she didn't utter a single word. When the young mistress recovers, if she asks Eldest Mistress about this matter, all Eldest Mistress has to do is deny it, what can the young mistress do then?"

  The lady was just about to speak when she heard footsteps outside, accompanied by the sound of a cane tapping on the ground. The lady's face changed color as the old lady arrived.

  The old lady came out of the side room and hurried into the inner room to welcome Old Lady Tao, who was sitting on a small stool in front of Shu Hua's bed, looking at Shu Hua with deep wrinkles on her hands, tidying up the brocade quilt on Shu Hua's body, her face both worried and angry.

  The lady went forward to pay her respects. Old Lady Tao raised her sharp eyes and stared at the lady, then lowered her face and stood up, instructing Miao Tong, "Take good care of your master." Only then did she turn around and leave.

  Madam Chen understood, and hastily lifted the curtain of the side room, inviting Old Lady and Madame into it. Then she sent away the rest of the people, standing outside with Rui Qing to prevent idle people from approaching.

  The old lady sat down, and the mistress personally served warm tea. The mistress asked with a serious face, "What did the doctor say?"

  Mrs. Tai said, "The doctor says that Eldest Sister is probably suffering from a lingering illness after childbirth, and her liver energy has been injured, causing irregular periods, which led to the development of various diseases." Yet, Liao's wife, who also had a small child, looked rosy and healthy, while Shu Hua was in this state.

  The old lady asked again, "What treatment is good for Langzhong?"

  The lady said: "As the doctor said, this illness is not something that can be cured in a short time, it needs careful nursing."

  Old Lady Tao thought about the time she saw Shu Hua earlier, Shu Hua's face was pale, but her eyelids, mouth corners, and nose bridge seemed to be slightly yellowish, fearing it might be a bad illness. "Tomorrow, let's invite several doctors to come and take a look."

  The madam nodded, "I was thinking the same thing."

  Old Mrs. Tao asked about today's events again, and Mrs. Big told her the whole story in detail.

  The old lady Tao looked at the big wife coldly and said, "Foolish. Shu Hua wants to come back, are you going to let her make a scene? She's now ill like that, if you go and bring her back once, how will the Hou Mansion think? What if Shu Hua gets even more seriously ill, how can you explain it to the Hou Mansion? After all, she is a married-out daughter, that is the husband's family, how can you let her do as she pleases? How does your behavior put the Hou Mansion in what position? If the Hou Mansion picks out your mistakes, what will you say?"

  The old lady's eyes turned sour, "Xiu Hua has become so ill, how can I bear to be ruthless."

  Old Lady Tao suddenly sneered, "Can't bear to part with her? If you couldn't bear to part with her, you shouldn't have married her off to the Hou Mansion in the first place. Since you've already formed this alliance, what's there to be sad about now? After what happened with Xiao Wu, you're going to marry Shu Hua off again, didn't I say something at that time? Mrs. Cai doesn't know about Xiao Wu's affair, but if the Hou Mansion finds out, how will they treat Eldest Sister? Will we still have any face left as the Tao family?"

  The lady defended herself, "Even if I knew, I couldn't say anything, after all, the whole thing was because of my brother-in-law."

  The old lady glared at the big lady, couldn't help but sneer, from ancient times to now, who isn't putting all the blame on women, what losses can those men bear, "Are you really not afraid of bringing up past events?"

  The lady was silent for a moment, and after a long while, she said: "When Shu Hua spoke, Miao Tong was guarding outside, so no one should have heard it. Although Shu Hua was angry, she didn't reveal this matter either. It's just that Fourth Aunt... I don't know how she knew about it, and in the future..."

  Old Lady Tao said, "I know what's wrong with my son. Sometimes I'm careless and let slip a couple of words. Don't bother about Fourth Aunt anymore, I'll take care of it myself. Several maids in the mansion have reached marriageable age. If something happens, who will still dare to come and propose?"

  The old lady nodded, "That's what mothers teach."

  Old Lady Tao finally stood up, loudly calling Rui Qing to come over and support her as she went out the door. Although Old Lady Tao had a falling-out with her daughter-in-law, she still felt a knot in her heart.

  Rui Qing asked, "Is the old lady returning to Qian Xi Residence or..."

  Old Mrs. Tao said: "Go and see Fourth Aunt."

  Old Lady Tao took Rui Qing and rushed straight to the house of Fourth Aunt, Rui Qing pushed open the door, the room was in a mess, not a single servant girl was in sight.

  Rui Qing couldn't help but furrow her brow.

  Fourth Aunt was also prosperous, especially the year she gave birth to Young Master. Old Master said Fourth Aunt was a blessed person and had her move into the large courtyard, and also gave her two obedient maidservants. In just a few years, her own son died, Fourth Aunt fell seriously ill and never became pregnant again. After losing favor, Fourth Aunt moved back from the large courtyard to the small one, all the maids in the house were reassigned, leaving only a young maid named Liu'er by her side.

  Now it has fallen to this state.

  Fourth Aunt lay quietly, her long hair disheveled and scattered across the bed, not a hint of vitality left in her, looking exceptionally pitiful.

  Rui Qing stepped forward and called out: "Fourth Aunt, Old Lady has come to see you."

  The fourth aunt on the bed slowly opened her eyes. The big eyes no longer had the usual luster, but only a dull grayness.

  When her eyes fell on Old Lady Tao, Fourth Aunt's face broke into a strange smile.

  Old Mrs. Tao glanced at Rui Qing and said, "You go to the door!"

  Rui Qing nodded and moved a small stool for Old Lady Tao to sit on, then walked out the door, gently closing it behind her, and stood guard at the entrance.

  The old lady Tao looked at the fourth aunt and took out a red invitation from her sleeve, opened it and handed it to the fourth aunt. "This is the engagement letter for the Wang family, take a closer look."

  Fourth Aunt's hand trembled as she stretched out from under the quilt, her long fingernails scratching against the wooden bedpost, finally satisfied, she let her hand drop down, "Old lady... merciful, I... have arrived... on the other side will not forget... old lady's kindness."

  Mrs. Tao said: "I'm at this age, what I promised you won't be a lie." After a pause, she continued: "It's just that today...". Mrs. Tao didn't know how to start.

  Fourth Auntie let out a long sigh of relief, "Elder Miss... what you said... I heard it all. Who would have thought... Fifth Miss was so heartless." Thinking about Tao Zheng An's lack of filial piety towards his own daughter, not to mention her.

  The old lady's eyes sparkled, "So you didn't know before?"

  Fourth Aunt said: "I... am a... dying person, not deceiving the old lady. Just now... I originally wanted to die... It's all over and done with, no need to suffer anymore," but only... I'm afraid the old lady will ask me... and blame everything on Yan Hua, so I... dare not die."

  "Now... I clearly told the old lady, that kind of thing I've never said before... They... heard the news and thought... I really couldn't speak, so they relied on me. As long as... the old lady wants to... she'll definitely be able to understand."

  When a man is about to die, his words are good. No matter how you listen to this sentence, it doesn't sound like a lie.

  Fourth Aunt stretched out her hand and took a box from behind her waist, handing it to Old Lady Tao. "And... there's one more thing I'd like to ask of you, Old Lady... the things in this box... when Yanhua gets married, please give them to her as part of her dowry!"

  The box had been placed behind Fourth Aunt's back for who-knows-how-long, and it still held some body heat. Old Lady Tao took the box from her and acknowledged Fourth Aunt, then stood up, sighed, and said: "I remember everything about your situation; you rest well now!"

  The fourth aunt closed her eyes again.

  It's said that those who swallow gold will be wealthy and noble in their next life. After all these years in this mansion, I've finally gained something good. If there is a next life... I don't dare to ask for wealth and nobility, I just want to be an ordinary person with a clear conscience.

  Mrs. Tao opened the door and Rui Qing hurried forward to support her.

  The old lady Tao looked at Rui Qing and thought that Rui Qing would always hear some whispers outside the door, so she lowered her face and instructed, "Don't mention to anyone what we just said."

  Rui Qing knew the severity of the situation and hastily agreed.

  Updated.

  Scattering flowers, did Old Lady Tao guess it?

  Oh my, my waist and back hurt. Recently I've been working really hard.