Chapter 136

Chapter 136: Suffering from Heatstroke

The cicadas chirped incessantly outside, yet the Orchid Bamboo Courtyard felt like a secluded haven, refreshingly cool and utterly silent.

At this hour, the Old Madam had just risen from her nap and was in the side room’s small Buddhist shrine, performing her devotions.

Though Si Min had been brought back and not assigned to personal attendance, she was allowed to remain in the room. The cleaning and upkeep of the small Buddhist shrine were entirely her responsibility.

Si Min, however, didn't lose heart. She focused on managing the shrine and, thanks to her easygoing and adaptable nature, quickly befriended the servants of the Orchid Bamboo Courtyard.

When the Old Madam prayed, the servants in the room followed suit, kneeling on soft cushions to spare their knees. Yet, Si Min wasn't particularly devout. Listening to the soft chanting of the Old Madam, Wang Mama, and Yuan Xiang, she was almost lulled to sleep.

Si Min’s head drooped suddenly, jolting her awake. Perhaps the lush greenery of the Orchid Bamboo Courtyard made it cooler than the other courtyards. The Old Madam’s courtyard also had fewer servants, so there was less commotion. At times like this, Si Min often felt drowsy.

She glanced at Yuan Xiang, who remained perfectly still in her devout kneeling posture. Since the Old Madam had not risen, no one else dared to move. Si Min closed her eyes again, clasped her hands in prayer at her chest, and joined in the chanting.

She had never seriously studied the scriptures, but after hearing them recited so often these days, she had picked up a line or two.

Midway through the chanting, Si Min heard a stir outside. It turned out the Second Madam and her maid had arrived.

The Old Madam did not stir, but Si Min and the other maids could not ignore the visitors. They quickly rose to greet them.

The Second Madam nodded perfunctorily and walked straight past them. Si Min cleverly fetched a cushion embroidered with auspicious flowers from a nearby cabinet. The Second Madam knelt silently beside the Old Madam and joined the prayer session.

Unlike Si Min, who was illiterate, the Second Madam had once seriously studied Buddhist scriptures, though she hadn't persisted. Still, she knew enough to bluff her way through.

"Refrain from all evil, cultivate all good, purify the mind—this is the teaching of the Buddhas..."

Ceng Huiyan had arrived at just the right time. She accompanied the Old Madam in prayer for the duration of an incense stick before the Old Madam concluded the day’s devotions.

With the Second Madam present, Wang Mama and Yuan Xiang stepped aside, allowing her to attend to the Old Madam.

"What brings you here at this hour?" the Old Madam asked with a smile, holding onto the Second Madam’s wrist as she slowly walked to a chair. "I remember you can't stand the heat."

A maid brought over seasonal fruits, delicate pastries, and tea.

The Second Madam sat down beside her and sighed. "Ah, it’s about Yiniang Han. She’s seriously ill, lying in bed, pale-faced, and keeps calling for Hu Geer, begging me to let her see him."

The Old Madam frowned, displeased. "Nonsense! If she’s sick, she should focus on recovering. Why does she want to see Hu Geer? Isn’t she afraid of passing her illness to him?"

Ceng Huiyan replied, "Yiniang Han is just anxious out of love for her son, and being ill has clouded her judgment. I’ve already advised her against it. Please don’t be angry, Mother."

"You did the right thing," the Old Madam said, her expression softening. "What illness has she come down with, all of a sudden?"

"The doctor said it’s heatstroke. Since giving birth to Hu Geer, her health has never fully recovered. With the household not buying ice at this time, Yiniang Han unfortunately fell ill," Ceng Huiyan explained. "The Eldest Madam said we should practice frugality, but this is the result. If word gets out, people might think the Li family mistreats its concubines. We’re not some minor family—how can we allow such a thing..."

She rambled on, carefully watching the Old Madam’s expression.

Everyone in the room was shrewd enough to read between the lines. They lowered their heads, feigning indifference, but their ears were perked up, all ears.

"Si Min, go check on Yiniang Han. If she lacks any medicinal ingredients, fetch them from the storehouse. Yuan Xiang, bring the Eldest Madam here. I have something to discuss with her," the Old Madam said calmly.

Ceng Huiyan secretly rejoiced. Had the Old Madam not been present, she would have laughed aloud.

Si Min and Yuan Xiang acknowledged the orders and left without delay.

***

The outer study was located in the Chongli Courtyard. When Dong Yuting entered, Li Lingchuan was seated at his desk.

The maid laid out the pastries and Biluochun tea she had brought, then quietly withdrew.

Li Lingchuan looked up. "What brings you here, Madam?"

Dong Yuting replied, "Nothing in particular. It's just that today, Xue Yi spoke with me for a while. She mentioned there are some rumors outside that the Emperor intends to betroth either Grand Tutor Song's granddaughter or the daughter of Xue Zhongling to Prince Qihui as his official consort. Whichever one becomes the official consort would be a major advantage to Prince Qihui. People outside are on edge now, unable to discern the Emperor's intentions."

Li Lingchuan showed no surprise upon hearing this, and Dong Yuting realized he already knew. She just wasn’t sure if Prince Yongming’s faction had a hand in the matter behind the scenes.

Dong Yuting's interest waned, and she pursed her lips. "So you already knew."

She was aware of the outcome from the book but not the process. Fearing that her actions might cause any mishap, she had simply passed on what she heard to Li Lingchuan.

After all, Prince Yongming was destined to take the throne, and with Li Lingchuan under his command, what use were her reminders?

Though he was in mourning at home and never went out, he was well-connected throughout the capital.

But that was just as well. With him around, the Li family’s prosperity and standing were secure.

Li Lingchuan smiled. "Thank you for the reminder, Madam. This matter doesn’t concern us much, so there’s no need to worry."

Dong Yuting nodded.

Just then, Xia Qing, who had been keeping an eye on Yingfeng Courtyard with Dong Zhi, came over.

"What is it?" Dong Yuting asked.

Xia Qing respectfully presented an invitation. "It’s an invitation from Princess Yongtai."

Dong Yuting cut open the envelope and took out the letter inside. The neat, delicate script was impeccably written, and she skimmed through it quickly before looking up hesitantly at Li Lingchuan. "The princess has invited me to view the lotus blossoms."

Before he could respond, Dong Yuting continued on her own, "I think I’ll decline. After all, you’re in mourning. The princess might not know, but others certainly would. If I go now, it would only give people something to gossip about."

Seeing that she had resolved the issue herself, Li Lingchuan praised her, "With the situation outside being so unstable, the princess hosting a lotus-viewing banquet at this time likely has ulterior motives. It’s better not to go and avoid getting caught up in any trouble."

Dong Yuting blinked. "A Hongmen Banquet?"

"Something like that," Li Lingchuan analyzed. "We can have someone look into who the princess has invited. That should give us a clue about her intentions."

Although Dong Yuting couldn’t attend, she was eager to know the gossip while staying at home. Without hesitation, she handed the task over to Li Lingchuan.

"Then, sir, please have someone look into it. Let me know what happens."

Li Lingchuan paused for a moment, then chuckled and agreed, "Alright."

Dong Yuting borrowed Li Lingchuan’s writing brush and wrote a reply, then handed it to Chun Yue to take to the household correspondence office, from where it would be delivered to the princess’s residence.

Although she didn’t know Princess Yongtai’s true intentions for hosting the lotus-viewing banquet, she doubted it had anything to do with her. Otherwise, the princess wouldn’t have extended the invitation.

If she were an important figure in this matter, the princess would surely have investigated and learned that Li Lingchuan was in mourning.

So, most likely, this had nothing to do with her.

Xia Qing took the invitation and left. Meanwhile, Chun Yue brought Zhu Er to the outer study to apologize. Seeing the master sitting nearby, Zhu Er hesitated and didn’t move.

If she apologized now, wouldn’t the master also learn of the matter? Biting her lip, Zhu Er was still hesitating when Chun Yue sneered, "Sister Zhu Er, didn’t you come to kowtow and apologize to the mistress? Why are you standing still now?"

Left with no choice, Zhu Er knelt down and bowed her head, admitting her faults.

She was just a scapegoat, so Dong Yuting naturally didn't make things difficult for her and waved her off, letting her leave.

Then, Qiuhe and Yuanxiang came by.

The outer study had effectively become Dong Yuting's office, which made her feel a bit embarrassed.

Li Lingchuan, on the other hand, was watching her with keen interest, thinking to himself: *My wife is also quite busy.*

Dong Yuting didn't know why, but everything was piling up all at once. However, since they came to find her, it must be something important.

She had four regular maids, and before going out, she always made sure to leave one in the courtyard. Today, it was Dongzhi who stayed behind. Chunyue and Xiaqing had both come out, while Qiuhe had escorted Xue Yi out and had just returned to the courtyard when Yuanxiang came looking for her just then.

Qiuhe approached Dong Yuting and said in a low voice, "Madam, the Old Madam has asked for you to come over."

She glanced at Yuanxiang, who was standing quietly outside the courtyard with her gaze elsewhere, and added in an even softer voice, "Sister Yuanxiang said that Concubine Han has come down with heatstroke."

Dong Yuting thought for a moment. So-called heatstroke was just heatstroke, but why would she need to do anything since Concubine Han was from the Qingfeng Courtyard?

The Old Madam wouldn’t have sent someone to keep an eye on Concubine Han, so it must have been Zeng Huiyan who told her about Concubine Han’s heatstroke.

Dong Yuting had a sneaking suspicion. She stood up and said, "Sir, Mother has asked for me to go over."

Li Lingchuan nodded and said, "Give my regards to Mother."

Dong Yuting murmured in acknowledgment and added, "There’s a Hongmen Feast outside, and now there’s a setup in our own mansion too."

Li Lingchuan didn’t understand and looked completely lost.

Dong Yuting had no intention of explaining it to him. She gave a light laugh and left the study.

The Lanzhu Courtyard was waiting for its main character to arrive.

Dong Yuting bowed and asked, feigning ignorance, "Mother, what did you need me for?"

The Old Madam’s expression was calm, betraying no emotion. She politely invited Dong Yuting to sit down and then inquired, "I heard from Huiyan that you’ve reduced the household expenses?"

Dong Yuting obediently sat down opposite Zeng Huiyan, seeing the unease on Zeng Huiyan’s face when the Old Madam mentioned her name.

The Old Madam was indeed a smiling tiger—she had sold Zeng Huiyan out completely.

"Yes, if we don’t cut expenses, I’m afraid we won’t be able to last until the old estate sends money," Dong Yuting replied.

Although Li Lingchuan held a high official position, the salaries of officials in this dynasty were low. Most of his money was spent on networking with colleagues, leaving little to subsidize the household.

The household expenses relied entirely on the funds sent from the main branch in Danzhou.

Apart from the regular silver sent from the old estate, they had never proactively asked the main branch for money. Since there was no precedent for this, Dong Yuting wasn’t going to be the one to stick her neck out, so she reduced the household expenses instead.