Chapter 60

Chapter 61: Entrusting the Orphan

The elder madam hurriedly patted her back to help her catch her breath.

After a while, Eldest Miss finally stopped coughing.

She opened her palm and saw a dark red clot of blood.

The matriarch looked shocked but did not show it on her face. She quickly called the maids to clean Eldest Miss and comforted her, "It's alright, it's alright. You were overwhelmed with pent-up emotions, and now that it's out, you'll soon be fine."

Eldest Miss looked at the blood in her palm, and a tear rolled down from the corner of her eye.

"It's alright, it's alright," the elder madam reassured her, though her voice lacked confidence. "You were overwhelmed with pent-up emotions, and now that it's out, you'll be fine."

The quick-witted maids had already fetched water, some kneeling with a copper basin, others bending over to help her remove her bracelets, gently washing her hands.

Eldest Miss's personal maid, Lü'e, approached with tears in her eyes, offering her tea: "Madam, please rinse your mouth with this!"

Eldest Miss let herself be helped up to drink the tea, then lay back down with a blank expression.

Seeing her daughter-in-law so lifeless, the elder madam felt a pang of sadness, remembering when she had first married into the family.

Her face had been as delicate and smooth as jade, her gaze clear and bright. When Lord Xu looked at her, her eyes would sparkle with joy... When had that sparkle disappeared? When she had a miscarriage, she was heartbroken but still comforted Lord Xu; when Wen was taken as a concubine, though unhappy, she would sometimes tease Lord Xu with a playful look; when she was told she might never bear children again, though devastated, she remained resilient like a reed... When had it all changed?

It seemed to have started after Yizhen moved to Shaohua Courtyard... After An'er's death, Yizhen had stayed in the main house, and several times she had proposed moving to Shaohua Courtyard in the back garden, but Lord Xu had always stopped her. Later, someone introduced a feng shui master to Eldest Miss, who said that the place where she lived was incompatible with her birth chart, making it difficult for her to have children. He advised her to move to the Kun position, which would be beneficial for her fertility... The Kun position in the Xu family's residence was the main room. Yizhen, upon hearing this, insisted on moving out... After that, the two of them gradually spent less time together, and later, when Lord Xu went to war, they almost stopped speaking altogether!

The elder madam's eyes grew slightly moist as she watched Lü'e finish attending to Eldest Miss and retreat. Suddenly, Eldest Miss sat up abruptly. She tightly grasped the elder madam's arm, as if clutching a lifeline: "Mother, mother, I can't leave Chun Ge, I can't leave Chun Ge... Please save my Chun Ge... Do you remember, when the doctor said I couldn't have children, I didn't believe it, and neither did you. You sought out every possible remedy for me. You treated every doctor with respect, and I tried every remedy, from scorpions to toads... Finally, when I became pregnant with Chun Ge, you took me to the temple to give thanks to the Bodhisattva. It was cold at night in the temple, and you were afraid I would catch a chill, so you held my feet in your arms..."

The elder madam could no longer hold back her tears, which fell like rolling pearls.

She remembered her eldest son who had died young, and her second son who had left nothing behind... Chun Ge was Eldest Miss's own child, and her most cherished grandson!

"Don't worry, don't worry, I'll help raise him. He'll stay by my side!" The elder madam covered her face and wept.

But Eldest Miss suddenly exclaimed, "Mother, why has it suddenly turned dark?" She waved her hands in the air, "Mother, mother, where are you?"

The elder madam hurriedly reached for her daughter-in-law's hand, but someone else had already grasped it: "It's alright, it's alright. Just lie down and rest, and you'll be fine."

The gentle, steady voice, filled with calm and reassuring strength, suddenly quieted Eldest Miss.

"Lord Xu, Lord Xu..." She tightly grasped the warm hand, unaware of how weak her grip was.

"It's me," Lord Xu's voice was as calm as ever, no different from usual.

The elder madam quickly stood up, making room for her son to sit, and directed the maids to bring the calming soup.

Lord Xu personally took the bowl and said softly, "The medicine is ready. Drink it and have a good sleep. You'll feel better when you wake up."

Eldest Miss said nothing, allowing Lord Xu to help her drink the medicine.

Lord Xu settled her back down, tucked her in, and was about to get up when Eldest Miss suddenly reached out and grabbed the hem of his robe: "Lord Xu, am I going to die?"

Lord Xu was silent for a moment, then said, "Just focus on recovering. Don't worry about such things."

"I know I don't have long to live," her eyes were empty, her voice calm with a hint of serenity. "We've been married for so long, I want to ask you for one thing..."

"Go on," Lord Xu lowered his eyelids.

"When I die, please choose one of my sisters to be your next wife."

Everyone was stunned, and the young maids dared not even breathe; the room was as still as stagnant water.

Lord Xu glanced around at the silent maids, wives, and older women in the room, his gaze slightly darkening: "Alright!"

Eldest Miss turned her head, her vacant eyes wandering aimlessly.

"I promise you," Lord Xu said softly, "Rest well."

The elder madam observed Eldest Miss's serene expression, and for some reason, the tranquil face of Eleven Miss suddenly appeared in her mind.

Eldest Miss opened her big eyes, trying hard to find Lord Xu.

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

Eldest Miss listened, then slowly closed her eyes.

Lord Xu understood clearly and sighed softly, instructing Madam Tao: "Send someone to Bowstring Alley to fetch the matriarch of the Luo family."

Madam Tao responded and left.

Eldest Miss's lips curved into a smile, and she tilted her head, falling into a deep sleep.

Lord Xu watched his wife for a while, then stood up to support the elder madam: "Mother, let me help you back."

The elder madam nodded and handed Eldest Miss over to Madam Tao.

The two walked back to the elder madam's residence in silence, the weight of the situation hanging in the air. The maids helped the elder madam change and wash, and the mother and son sat on the large kang by the window in the west room. The maids served tea, and Madam Du dismissed all the servants in the room.

"Is it appropriate to invite the in-law now?" The elder madam's voice carried a hint of hesitation.

Lord Xu looked out at the already lush apricot tree through the glass window and said indifferently, "Since she has spoken these words, she must have weighed them for a long time and thought deeply. If I guess correctly, she and her mother must have already decided on a candidate, just waiting for the opportunity to propose it to me."

The elder madam was not overly surprised. She raised the corner of her eye and said calmly, "Then what do you plan to do?"

"Mother, discuss it with the matriarch," Lord Xu turned to look at his mother, his gaze deep and unreadable, "She is worried that Chun Ge won't grow up, and I am also uneasy. Let's follow her wishes. Whoever she thinks is good, let it be!"

"You!" The elder madam shook her head at her son, "What about sisters? When they turn against each other, it's the same. Even if she chooses her sister, can she guarantee Chun Ge's safety? I think, if she really can't make it through this, Chun Ge should still be brought here to be raised. He can keep Zhenjie company."

Lord Xu hesitated: "You are so old..."

"It's not like I have to feed him and give him water myself. There are still wet nurses, maids, and older women," the elder madam smiled, "Besides, having him here will make it livelier. I like it!"

Seeing her son agree, the elder madam nodded and pondered, "What do you think of Luo family's Eleven Miss?"

Lord Xu was slightly stunned: "The one who stopped Lady Wen at the door?"

The elder madam nodded: "I find her quite steady."

Lord Xu suddenly understood his mother's intention and was speechless: "She is about the same age as Zhenjie!"

The elder madam couldn't help but smile bitterly: "This is also a last resort. The fifth in line is of the right age, but I find her a bit frivolous. The tenth is quite beautiful, but I see her as still childlike."

"Mother," Lord Xu frowned, about to say something, when a young maid reported: "Elder madam, Imperial Physician Liu from the Imperial Hospital is here."

The elder madam glanced at her son and smiled: "Invite Physician Liu in."

The young maid responded and soon led in an old man with white hair and beard.

"Greetings to the elder madam," he bowed to the elder madam as soon as he entered, and upon seeing Lord Xu, he also bowed to him, "Is the Marquis also here?"

The elder madam slightly raised her hand, "No need for such formalities, Dr. Liu." Lord Xu nodded to Dr. Liu.

A young maid brought a stool for him to sit on. Dr. Liu sat down and presented the prescription he had just written.

A young maid beside took it and handed it to the elder madam.

The elder madam put on her glasses, leaned back against the large pillow, and studied it for a while, then handed the prescription to Lord Xu.

"These are all herbs to nourish the blood and boost energy," the elder madam's expression was somewhat grave.

Dr. Liu glanced at Lord Xu and whispered, "Now, we can only trust in fate and do our best."

The white paper with the prescription was pinched by Lord Xu, causing it to curl up.

"Thank you, Dr. Liu!" His voice was soft as he instructed the maid to escort the guest out.

Dr. Liu stood up, thought for a moment, and said, "The Fourth Lady needs to rest quietly and must not be upset," before bowing to the elder madam and Lord Xu and leaving.

Lord Xu then said to his mother, "Do you think we could find another doctor for Eldest Miss?"

The elder madam sighed and smiled bitterly, "Dr. Liu has been in charge of the Imperial Hospital for two decades. What kind of doctor do you want me to find for her?"

Lord Xu was momentarily speechless.

The sound of children and young girls laughing drifted in from outside.

"Give it to me, give it to me." Chun Ge's voice, filled with childish joy.

Lord Xu couldn't help but look outside.

A crowd of maids and women, dressed in bright reds and greens, surrounded Zhenjie and Chun Ge. Zhenjie's hand was raised high above her head, holding something, teasing Chun Ge, who was tiptoeing, unable to reach, and anxiously circling around Zhenjie.

A nanny walked over and said a few words, and Zhenjie and Chun Ge stopped smiling. Then Zhenjie straightened Chun Ge's clothes, and the two of them, holding hands, came over.

The elder madam also saw, "Zhenjie is such a good child."

"That's also because you taught her well," Lord Xu responded indifferently, then turned and sat upright.

The matriarch sighed and also turned to sit properly.

From outside came the maids' announcement, "Elder madam, Marquis, the eldest daughter and the Fourth Young Master have come to pay their respects."

"Come in!" The elder madam's voice was kind, but Lord Xu's expression was somewhat solemn.

Zhenjie and Chun Ge came in and respectfully bowed to their grandmother and father.

The elder madam beckoned to Chun Ge, "Come, sit here with grandmother!"

Chun Ge glanced at his father before timidly stepping towards the elder madam.

Lord Xu frowned as he watched.

Chun Ge's steps became even smaller.

Zhenjie also stood there somewhat awkwardly.

The elder madam shook her head slightly and smiled, "If the Marquis has other matters to attend to, you may leave first!"

Lord Xu seemed about to speak but stopped himself, thought for a moment, then respectfully bowed to the elder madam, acknowledged with a "Yes," and walked out.

With Lord Xu gone, young Chun'ge immediately brightened up. He smiled and asked the elder madam, "Is mother still sleeping? Is she awake yet? Has she asked about me?"

Zhenjie, who had become more perceptive, gazed at Chun'ge with sympathy.

The elder madam chuckled, "Yes, your mother is still sleeping. When she wakes up, she will definitely ask about Chun'ge. Then, Madam Tao will come to fetch you!"

Chun'ge smiled, pursing his lips.

Just then, a young maid announced, "Elder Madam, the lady from your mother's family is here to see you."