Chapter 389: The Soaked Pair

Chapter 389: The Soaked Pair

Although Xingxing was somewhat puzzled, she complied without question.

The effects of the pill had long worn off, and the pallor on Dowager Marchioness Weibei's face was now meticulously applied by the maid who had been reading the storybook earlier. After Dowager Marchioness Weibei finished speaking with Xingxing, the maid stepped forward to touch up the imperfections on her face.

Xingxing watched curiously as the maid's hands moved swiftly over Dowager Marchioness Weibei's face, quickly transforming her back into the appearance of a frail and pallid patient.

Xingxing was on the verge of applauding: "Sister, you're amazing!"

The simply dressed maid smiled modestly: "Thank you, miss."

Once Dowager Marchioness Weibei's makeup was complete, Nan Yan, who was waiting outside, suddenly announced: "Dowager Marchioness, the Marchioness is here to see how you're feeling."

Dowager Marchioness Weibei snorted.

Fortunately, the slight imperfections on her face had already been touched up, and she now appeared flawless.

Even so, Dowager Marchioness Weibei made the Marchioness wait for a while before allowing her to enter.

Marchioness Pang was a woman dressed lavishly, appearing very respectful as she entered and immediately asked about Dowager Marchioness Weibei's health: "Mother, are you feeling better?"

Dowager Marchioness Weibei coughed twice, her voice hoarse: "Somewhat better. What brings you here?"

Marchioness Pang appeared worried: "I saw that you had invited the Yujia family over and was concerned you might be overexerting yourself, so I came to check on you."

As she spoke, her gaze fell on Xingxing, and she seemed surprised to see her still there. "And this young lady is..."

Dowager Marchioness Weibei was evasive, saying indifferently: "Xingxing and I get along well, so I asked her to stay with me a bit longer. Is that against the rules?"

Dowager Marchioness Weibei was often blunt in her speech, and Marchioness Pang was used to it, her expression unchanged as she replied meekly: "As long as it pleases you, Mother. Your happiness is the most important thing while you're unwell."

Dowager Marchioness Weibei was partially satisfied and said indifferently: "Alright, you go ahead and greet the guests in the warm pavilion. I'll have Nan Yan help me over there to make an appearance later."

Marchioness Pang nodded in agreement and withdrew.

Xingxing didn't pick up on any cues and looked at Dowager Marchioness Weibei in confusion.

Dowager Marchioness Weibei tapped Xingxing's forehead and chuckled: "...Wait and see, the main event is still to come. But, Xingxing, there's something I need your help with later..."

Xingxing continued to chat with Dowager Marchioness Weibei until it was almost time for the banquet, when Marchioness Pang and two other ladies came again, ostensibly to check on Dowager Marchioness Weibei's health.

In reality, Dowager Marchioness Weibei knew full well that they were there to hurry her along to make an appearance at the banquet.

The daughters-in-law competed to assist Dowager Marchioness Weibei up.

Dowager Marchioness Weibei snorted coldly but called for Nan Yan to assist her instead.

She also called for Xingxing to accompany her.

The ladies of the Marquis of Weibei's household were clearly accustomed to Dowager Marchioness Weibei's temper and followed behind her meekly, like dutiful daughters-in-law.

When they reached the warm pavilion, the ladies and young misses who had already received the news stood up to extend their birthday greetings to Dowager Marchioness Weibei.

Dowager Marchioness Weibei smiled weakly.

She coughed twice: "At my age, a cold night can leave me feeling unwell in the morning. I apologize for being late."

Dowager Marchioness Weibei spoke politely, but no one dared to accept her apology, all responding with smiles and saying that she was being too courteous.

The room was buzzing with activity when suddenly a maid rushed in, her face pale, shouting, "It's an emergency!"

Dowager Marchioness Weibei's expression immediately turned cold.

Behind the maid, two more people entered.

At this, the ladies and girls in the warm pavilion gasped in shock.

But the sight of the two newcomers was startling—a young man in soaked brocade robes, his hair dripping wet, was cradling a drenched and shivering figure in purple.

"Mom!"

The young man in brocade was clearly in a panic, "Get a doctor, quick!"

He was shivering, his teeth chattering.

Dowager Marchioness Weibei paled and cried, "Yunyi?! What happened?"

The young man in brocade was Zhou Yunyi, the youngest son of the Marquis of Weibei's first household.

Before Zhou Yunyi could answer, another lady shrieked, "Jia Jia?!"

She rushed forward, recognizing her daughter in Zhou Yunyi's arms, and cried out in panic, "...Jia Jia, weren't you going to see the plum blossoms? What happened?!"

Dowager Marchioness Weibei's expression darkened, but she quickly ordered the maids to take Zhou Yunyi and Jia Jia to a side room with a heated floor and charcoal brazier to dry off.

"Hold on."

This voice came from the Dowager Marchioness Weibei.

The Dowager Marchioness, seated in the main chair, looked even paler and more severe due to her illness.

Dowager Marchioness Weibei hesitated.

Zhou Yunyi's eyes blazed with anger, "Grandmother!"

He snapped, "I know you don't like Jia Jia, but this is life or death. She needs a doctor now!"

"Oh," the Dowager Marchioness Weibei smirked oddly, but before she could speak, her face twisted in anger as she barked, "How dare you!"

Dowager Marchioness Weibei was livid, "Yunyi, no matter how worried you are about Jia Jia, you can't talk to your grandmother like that!"

Zhou Yunyi lowered his head.

Though Dowager Marchioness Weibei had quickly tried to smooth things over by saying Zhou Yunyi was 'just worried and lost his temper,' disrespecting his grandmother.

But... the other ladies in the room were already exchanging knowing looks.

The Dowager Marchioness Weibei, having made her point, said coolly, "Fine, take Jia Jia to change her clothes."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunyi, not caring about anything else, hurriedly carried the girl to the side room.

The lady who had called out "Jia Jia" also hurriedly followed.

The warm pavilion fell into silence.

The Dowager Marchioness Weibei leaned back in her chair without speaking.

Her face flushed with anger, at a loss for words.

It was the Second Lady who remembered something and asked the maid who had just rushed in to explain: "What in the world happened?"

This was likely on the minds of many in the room.

What in the world happened?

How did the young master of the Marquis of Weibei's estate end up carrying a soaking wet girl inside?

The maid fell to her knees with a thud and stammered, "Answering the Second Lady, I, I was just passing by..."