Chapter 576: Zheng Ji Leaves

Chapter 576: Zheng Ji Leaves

The Lu family had actually been expelled, and in such a pitiful condition.

She lay on the chair, looking sickly, and kept sighing.

"How did things come to this? How did our lives end up like this? The second and third families are truly heartless, even willing to hurt their own kin."

Lady Luo helped her cover up with a blanket and said, "Madam, the doctor said you shouldn't worry anymore."

"Alas! Every day, how can I not worry?"

"But Miss Jinxiu is like that... Do you still plan to help her?"

Madam Zheng rubbed her temples and shook her head, "That ungrateful wolf, I'm done with her, done."

Even though she said she wouldn't care anymore, Lady Luo didn't miss the worry on her face.

Probably because of Third Young Master's departure, she was still angry and could really bring herself to not care anymore.

It was uncertain whether she could control herself once the anger subsided.

After a while, Lady Luo said again, "Master is leaving. The date is set; he will depart the day after tomorrow."

"The day after tomorrow?" Madam Zheng sat up suddenly, "Why so sudden?"

Lady Luo said, "Master has wanted to leave for a long time but kept delaying due to various issues. This time, he's leaving with a merchant caravan heading to Xingyang. The caravan has a fixed schedule that won't change."

Hearing this news, Madam Zheng grew even more anxious.

She didn't want to accept the divorce papers and didn't want a divorce.

For the sake of their children, Zheng Ji no longer insisted on divorcing her.

Yet, she was left alone.

She realized she was powerless to stop Zheng Ji from leaving.

"Twenty-odd years of marriage, and we've come to this."

Lady Luo also sighed and said, "Should Madam try to speak gently to Master to persuade him to stay?"

Madam Zheng shook her head, "Forget it, let it be, it ends like this."

"Then you..." Forget it, she didn't want to persuade anymore.

"Luo, prepare for tomorrow. We'll go to the temple to get a peace talisman for him. Since we've been married, and he's leaving, I don't know what to give him except to wish for his safety."

"Madam, but your health..."

"It's alright."

He would leave the day after tomorrow. She thought about going in a few days, or perhaps visiting Master to talk, but it would be too late.

Lady Luo didn't say anything more and went to prepare the things for the outing.

He would leave the day after tomorrow. She thought Madam would stay in the capital or visit Master to talk, but she chose to go to the temple for the peace talisman.

That night, unfortunately, Madam Zheng's condition worsened, and she developed a high fever.

We called the doctor, and the fever subsided, but she was in a daze all day.

The fever had barely subsided when it came back not long after.

By evening, Lady Luo could no longer bear it and went to the next room.

After a long wait, Zheng Ji finally allowed her to come in.

As soon as Lady Luo entered, she said, “Master, Madam is ill. Please go and see her.”

Zheng Ji sneered, “What game is she playing now?”

Playing a trick?

Lady Luo shook her head, “No, Madam is truly ill.”

“That's enough,” Zheng Ji said coldly, “No matter what trick she’s playing, I will leave tomorrow. Tell her to stop faking it. It’s useless.”

Lady Luo felt a sharp pain in her heart.

Master actually thinks Madam is faking her illness?

She had followed Madam into this marriage and witnessed their relationship throughout.

They used to be so well-matched, how did they end up like this?

Disappointed, Lady Luo departed.

She placed a cloth on Madam Zheng’s forehead and silently wept.

Lady Ye was also attending to her, “Don’t worry, Lady Luo. I’ve asked my husband to talk to Father.”

Lady Luo nodded, “Thank you, Second Young Lady.”

She thought, even if Master doesn’t believe me, he should believe Second Young Master.

Madam is really ill.

Unexpectedly, Zheng Hongqi was also scolded and sent back. He didn’t believe it and refused to come, thinking Cui Qingqing was playing tricks.

Lately, all he heard was that she was sick.

Wasn’t it said she was very ill? But why, the day before Third Young Master left, when she came for dinner, she spoke with such vigor?

She was so energetic, how could she be sick?

It’s just that she didn’t want him to go. Cui Qingqing had actually resorted to schemes.

Zheng Ji ultimately didn’t go to see her and left the next day with Lady He and a few loyal servants.

The carriage moved very slowly, and Zheng Ji kept looking back. He thought Cui Qingqing would come, but she never showed up.

Zheng Hongqi saw him off at the pavilion ten miles outside the city. On the way, he noticed that Father was hoping Mother would come to see him off.

Unfortunately, Mother was really ill, and had another fever that morning.

Sighing, Zheng Hongqi said, “Father, Mother is truly ill. She was sick all day yesterday and had another fever this morning. Before I left, the fever hadn’t subsided. She really didn’t do it on purpose.”

Zheng Ji was stunned, “Really?”

"Yes, recently Jinxiu had an incident, and the third brother has left, and now you are leaving too. Mother has been greatly affected. Originally, she planned to go to the temple yesterday to get a charm for safety for you, but she became seriously ill and wasn't able to go."

Zheng Ji clenched his fists, looking in the direction of the capital.

Lady He said, "Master, should we go back?"

She didn't want to leave.

But Zheng Ji gritted his teeth and shook his head forcefully. "No, I can't stay here any longer."

He had to be resolute.

Zheng Ji looked at Zheng Hongqi and said, "Take good care of your mother. I'm leaving now."

Zheng Hongqi said, "Father, don't you want to go back and check on Mother? She's really sick."

"No, let it be this way, just... let it be."

He still decided to leave, and even knowing she was truly ill, he didn't go to see her.

……

After Zheng Ji left, Madam Zheng never got to see him once, and the protection amulet couldn't be obtained, which was a great blow to Madam Zheng.

Illness struck like a mountain collapsing, and this time it was no exaggeration—she truly became ill.

Lady Luo took care of her without a break.

With Lady Ye now managing the household, she also came to help take care of Madam Zheng when she had time.

Despite taking her medicine and being well cared for, Madam Zheng remained frail and often confused.

The doctors said her physical illness stemmed from a troubled heart, and medicine alone wouldn't suffice.

Later, Zheng Jinyu arranged for an imperial doctor to treat her, who prescribed medication.

Then she told Lady Ye that as it was the height of summer, Madam Zheng needed to rest well at home, neither too hot nor too cold.

Once the weather cooled down, she should be taken out for walks.

Her mind needed to be at ease for her to recover.

Otherwise, if this continued, it would be difficult to survive the winter.

The optimistic view was that if her mind wasn't at ease, her condition might not improve by winter.

After hearing the imperial physician's advice, Lady Ye spoke to Zheng Hongqi about it that night.

"The imperial doctor's meaning was that if Mother's condition doesn't improve by winter, she might not survive. What should we do?"

Zheng Hongqi was also anxious but tried to comfort Lady Ye. "It's only summer now, and winter is still far off. We'll handle it when the time comes."