Chapter 282 Sixth Miss Qiu Falls Seriously Ill

Chapter 282: Sixth Miss Qiu Falls Seriously Ill

Old Madam made her way from Qiansong Hall to Lengxiang Residence without asking Qing Luo a single question. When she saw Qiu Heng lying on the bed with a sickly complexion, she was startled.

"Heng'er is ill?"

Fang Zhou and Xue Han had been sent by Qiu Heng to rest, leaving only her wet nurse, Aunt Wang, by her side.

Qiu Heng gestured for Aunt Wang to leave. Seeing this, Old Madam also instructed Chun Cao to withdraw.

"Grandmother, I don't know if it was something I ate that disagreed with me, or if something I ate was tainted, but for half the day, I've been vomiting and having diarrhea, suffering terribly."

Old Madam was startled: "What do you mean, 'tainted'?"

Qiu Heng gave a bitter smile: "When I entered the palace yesterday, I had a cup of tea at Honored Consort Yu's place. I felt her gaze seemed strange. After returning home, I didn't think much of it, but then this morning I started feeling unwell."

Old Madam's brow furrowed tightly: "Logically, it shouldn't be. Honored Consort Yu summons you to the palace from time to time. Why would she suddenly do this? Could it be that you displeased her?"

Qiu Heng shook her head: "No. But as you know, Grandmother, Honored Consort Yu's thoughts are unfathomable. She doesn't need a reason to take a dislike to someone, just like what happened to Eldest Sister during the autumn hunt two years ago..."

Hearing Qiu Heng mention Beauty Qiu, Old Madam's heart skipped a beat.

"Of course, it could also be that I'm overthinking, and it's just a stomach upset."

Old Madam looked at her granddaughter's pallid face and said in a grave tone: "The first order of business is to find a doctor to examine you."

"That's why I asked you to come, Grandmother."

Old Madam gave her a puzzled look.

"Please bring a trustworthy doctor. Regardless of the diagnosis, to the outside world, say it's an acute case of food poisoning, and that I'm at death's door."

Old Madam was stunned: "Do we have to make it sound that serious?"

Though clearly ill, the young girl on the bed spoke calmly and composedly: "It must be that serious. If Honored Consort Yu has taken a dislike to me and wants to mete out some punishment, a mild illness won't be enough to satisfy her. If it's merely food poisoning, this is a good opportunity to be ill for a while and avoid having to enter the palace frequently. What do you think?"

Old Madam couldn't help but nod.

Serving the emperor is like living with a tiger; Honored Consort Yu is even harder to please than His Majesty. The more meetings there are, the more likely trouble will arise. Using this chance to avoid her for a while might make her lose interest in Sixth Miss.

"Heng'er, since you're ill, don't overthink things. We'll do as you suggest."

"Thank you, Grandmother." Qiu Heng gave Old Madam a sweet smile.

Staying ill and avoiding visitors for months would be hard without Old Madam's help in covering for her.

Qiu Heng dared not tell the truth—that what Honored Consort Yu wanted was not a minor punishment, but her life.

Having known Old Madam for so long, she could see that Old Madam genuinely loved her granddaughter. But if Old Madam knew that Honored Consort Yu would never let her go, what then?

Would Old Madam think that if this attempt failed, Honored Consort Yu would use other means, perhaps even targeting the Count's residence? To avoid endless troubles, having her "die of illness" would be a permanent solution.

Her one life versus the entire Count's residence—which was more important?

She didn't want to test human nature.

Old Madam gently patted Qiu Heng and instructed Chun Cao to summon a doctor.

A trusted doctor made a house call and diagnosed severe food poisoning causing dysentery.

In the side room, Uncle Xu watched through the window as the doctor came and went, followed by a constant stream of visitors—some old, some young—coming to check on the patient. Finally unable to stand it, he poked Xue Han awake.

Xue Han sat up abruptly, his face pale: "Uncle Xu, what's wrong? Is A Heng's condition worse?"

Uncle Xu pointed out the window: "Take a look."

Xue Han looked over in bewildered alarm: "Uncle Xu, A Heng—"

"Don't panic. It's not about A Heng. It's about the two of us."

"The two of us?"

"I saw the doctor come and go. Everyone in this household knows A Heng is ill, but we're both still in this side room."

In other words, they hadn't planned to let anyone in the household know they were here...

Could this really be kept secret? What would happen if they were discovered?

"A Heng has her reasons."

Uncle Xu rolled his eyes in resignation, sighing wearily: "Fine. If the household finds out, you'll handle it."

Only after the visitors had gone did the two of them leave the side room to see Qiu Heng.

Uncle Xu glanced at the prescription left by the doctor and scoffed: "They're treating it as simple food poisoning. But such misdiagnoses are common, especially since you already induced vomiting and took medicine yesterday."

Among the civilian doctors in the capital, few were well-versed in poisons, especially mushroom toxins.

"If there's no worsening by tomorrow, the measures were timely and effective, and the crisis has passed."

Relying on Uncle Xu's assurance, Xue Han didn't propose leaving until the third night.

Uncle Xu was shocked: "You expect me to stay alone while you leave first?"

"I can't stay away from the Imperial City Bureau forever. But without you here, Uncle Xu, I can't rest easy about A Heng. I'm entrusting her to you."

"Get lost." Uncle Xu felt like he had boarded a pirate ship and couldn't get off—utterly drained.

By the time Qiu Heng had truly passed the critical period, rumors of Sixth Miss Qiu's serious illness had already spread beyond the estate.

Ling Yun and County Princess Jiayi came to the Yongqing Count's residence in person, bringing an imperial physician. After Qiu Heng took the medicine Uncle Xu had prepared, the imperial physician reached the same conclusion as the rumors.

County Princess Jiayi went into the inner room to see Qiu Heng. Reminded by Fang Zhou, she didn't get close, but left with red-rimmed eyes to join her brother.

"How is A Heng?" Ling Yun asked hoarsely.

Tears fell from County Princess Jiayi's eyes: "She's been unconscious. She doesn't look well..."

Ling Yun clenched his fists: "Let's go. We shouldn't disturb A Heng's rest."

Leaving the Yongqing Count's residence, Ling Yun didn't take a carriage. He walked step by step, seemingly aimlessly.

County Princess Jiayi, worried, tugged at his sleeve: "Big Brother."

Ling Yun came back to his senses and smiled at his sister: "Big Brother is fine."

Then his voice lowered: "A Heng will be fine too."

"What did you say, Big Brother?"

"I told you, A Heng is blessed by the heavens and will surely be fine."

Having said this, Ling Yun walked back to Prince Kang's mansion, but collapsed before he even entered the gate.

"Brother!"

In a flurry of activity, Princess Kang, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, looked at her son lying on the bed, tears streaming down: "I shouldn't have let your elder brother go. His headaches often flare up; he can't handle stimulation..."

In Yuchen Palace, Honored Consort Yu frowned slightly: "Today I wanted to summon County Princess Suiyun to the palace for a visit, but unexpectedly she fell ill. Word has it that the Heir to Prince Kang visited her and fainted from distress. It seems her illness is quite severe."

Matters of noble ladies falling ill were naturally not something anyone would specifically mention to Emperor Jingping. Hearing it from Honored Consort Yu, the Emperor was startled: "Wasn't she perfectly fine the other day? How did she suddenly become so seriously ill?"

"Even a common cold can be fatal, Your Majesty. Why not send Imperial Physician Wang, who regularly takes my pulse, to have a look? Imperial Physician Wang is highly skilled; perhaps he can work wonders."

Emperor Jingping agreed without much thought: "Then let Imperial Physician Wang make a trip, just so my beloved consort won't worry."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Before long, Imperial Physician Wang, having received the imperial decree, arrived at the Earl of Yongqing's mansion.

Upon hearing Imperial Physician Wang state his purpose, the old madam barely managed to control her expression.