Chapter 45: Awakening

Chapter 45: Awakening

Zhucui, previously serving the heir, was personally selected by the Elder Madam, and Nanny Yan was quite familiar with her.

Nanny Yan asked with a smile, "Auntie, are you here to pay respects to the Elder Madam again?"

Accompanied by her maid, Zhucui stood and talked with Nanny Yan, "I haven’t visited for a few days due to illness, but now that I'm better, of course I had to come."

Nanny Yan quickly expressed concern about whether her illness had fully healed.

Zhucui replied, "It was just a minor cold. A few doses of medicine and I was quickly recovered. I even have some leftover medicine."

Nanny Yan immediately asked, "Could you possibly give me the leftover medicine?"

"Why do you need medicine?" Zhucui glanced at her face, "You don’t look sick."

Nanny Yan hesitated before answering, "The young lady is ill, suffering from a similar cold."

Realizing the situation, Zhucui said, "It's just a few doses of medicine. I’ll have my maid prepare it in the kitchen and send it over."

Nanny Yan thought it wouldn’t cause any trouble and it would save her a task.

"That would be perfect, thank you for going to the trouble, Auntie."

Zhucui smiled, "We're all family here, no trouble at all."

After paying respects to the Elder Madam, Zhucui had the kitchen prepare the medicine and personally delivered it to Ge Baor with her maid.

The maids let her in, and upon entering the room, Zhucui saw Ge Baor lying in bed, looking weak and ill.

She approached gently, calling out, "Cousin, wake up. Wake up."

Ge Baor opened her eyes and was startled to see Zhucui.

Wu'er, awakened from a doze, called out, "Aunt Zhucui? What brings you here?"

Zhucui replied, "I've come to deliver medicine."

She instructed Wu'er to help Ge Baor take the medicine.

"We need to take the bowl back, so hand it to me after you’ve helped your mistress," she said.

Wu'er agreed.

Zhucui waited outside with her maid, chatting by the window.

"This doctor is really good at treating women's fertility issues. After taking his two prescriptions, I feel a warmth in my lower abdomen. I wonder if it means it's easier to conceive now."

Her maid commented, "Auntie, I’ve also heard that ladies who took his medicine all conceived, and they all gave birth to boys. It would be great if you could also have a boy in one go!"

Ge Baor's scalp tightened as she listened.

"What's going on? Why did Lu Zhengliu stop giving Zhucui the contraceptive potion?"

Zhucui sighed, "The lady truly is magnanimous, promising to plead on my behalf, and she did speak to the heir for me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know how long it would take to have a child of my own."

The maid curiously asked, "But why would the heir listen to the lady? Isn’t it said that… the heir… doesn’t favor the lady?"

Zhucui smiled, "You’re young and don’t understand these things."

She then asked the maid, "What do you think of the lady’s appearance and temperament?"

The maid replied, "As for appearance... there’s no one in the entire mansion who can compare to her. And her temperament is exceptionally good, everyone in the mansion praises her. Even someone as difficult as Qiao Da respects her!"

"Exactly, the lady is so admirable. Do you think the heir can't appreciate her goodness? His previous indifference was just a misunderstanding between husband and wife. Over time, how could the heir not grow fond of her?"

The maid giggled, "That’s true, even servants like us adore the lady."

Zhucui said with a smile, "Exactly. Since the heir likes the lady, why wouldn’t he listen to her? From now on, whatever the lady says, the heir will heed."

She continued wistfully, "If I do bear a son for the heir in the future, I’ll entrust him to the lady for upbringing and register him under her name."

"Someone like the lady would surely raise my child as well as Master Changgong."

The maid calculated excitedly, "Then your son would be the heir's first legitimate biological son!"

Zhucui smiled, "Yes. If I do have a son, it would mean great fortune for my child."

Ge Baor couldn’t even bring herself to drink the medicine.

Wu'er urged, "Miss, please take your medicine quickly, don’t let it get cold."

Ge Baor looked utterly distraught.

Holding a bowl, Wu'er frowned, "Miss, what’s wrong with you?"

Zhucui also came in to hurry them, "Miss Wu'er, haven’t you finished with the bowl yet?"

Wu'er replied, "Right away, right away," and urged Ge Baor to drink the medicine.

Regaining her senses, Ge Baor's eyes suddenly took on a different look.

She snatched the bowl and downed the medicine in one gulp.

Wu'er returned the bowl to Zhucui, thanking her, "Thank you, Auntie."

Zhucui smiled, instructing Wu'er to take good care of her cousin.

When Wu'er re-entered, she found Ge Baor had fallen asleep.

The next day, feeling revitalized, Ge Baor told Wu'er, "Go tell Nanny Yan that I want to see her. Make sure she comes here."

Normally, Wu'er would not relay such messages.

But today, Ge Baor’s expression was so bizarre, as if she was prepared for a do-or-die confrontation.

Even more frightening than the other day!

Timid Wu'er had no choice but to go.

"The young lady seemed like she lost her mind, I couldn’t even recognize her in those eyes," Wu'er conveyed.

Nanny Yan, impatiently responded, "Don't bother with her. For such trivial matters, don’t come to me again."

Wu'er humbly responded with a "Yes."

Upon her return, as soon as she opened the door, Ge Baor immediately asked, "When is Nanny Yan coming?"

Wu'er said, "…She, Nanny Yan, she's busy."

Ge Baor bit her lip, "She won’t come, will she?"

Sitting down, Wu'er suggested, "Miss, what do you want to tell Nanny Yan? Tell me, and I'll relay it for you."

Ge Baor was extremely upset but still refused to confide in Wu'er.

Because she was to become a concubine.

No wonder Lu Zhengliu had been neglecting her lately. Not only did he have a new concubine, but his affections were also divided with Lin Yunwan.

And she could only wait in this secluded courtyard.

How long would it take for Lin Yunwan to die?

"Thirty years? Fifty years?"

Ge Baor said, "I can't wait that long..."

If she waited indefinitely without status, she might die here first!

And what about her Qing Ge'er, nominally an adopted child of the Marquis's residence. Would Lu Zhengliu still cherish their son in the future?

Did Lu Zhengliu still... still... have her in his heart?

She dared not think deeper.

Wu'er asked anxiously, "Cousin, who are you talking to? What are you saying?"

Suddenly, Ge Baor regained her composure and, taking Wu'er's hand, said, "Good Wu'er, I need your help."

Wu'er pursed her lips, "What... what kind of help..."

Ge Baor whispered something in her ear, and Wu'er's eyes widened.

Weeping Willow Hall.

Zhu Qing went to Lin Yunwan and confessed, "Madam, I have met with the cousin and told her some things."

"What did you say?"

Zhu Qing recounted everything in detail.

Lin Yunwan listened with a startled heart.

This time, Zhu Qing really hit Ge Baor's sore spot.

Zhu Qing inquired, "Madam, did I say something wrong?" She confidently added, "If the cousin has no guilt in her heart, my words should have no effect. But if she does, scaring her serves her right."

Lin Yunwan gave no definite response but cautioned Zhu Qing, "Don't provoke her again."

If Ge Baor started causing trouble, anyone involved would be unlucky.

"Madam, the heir has brought back the elder aunt and her family," reported a servant.

Amidst the undercurrents, the Xia family arrived.

With a face full of joy, Ping Ye announced, "The elder lady invites you to meet the guests, madam."

Lin Yunwan changed into a new outfit to meet the familiar faces.