Chapter 8: The Unspoken Secret

  The imperial physician arrived soon, and Madame Lu brought the two ladies Feng and Sun to Qi Xiang Yuan. Li Mama and others came out in a hurry to greet them, and Yao Yanyu naturally couldn't hide behind and pretend to be foolish.

  "How is your sister's illness? I heard it has improved a lot in the past few days?" asked Mrs. Lu with a happy expression, asking Yao Yanyu.

  "Madam, these past few days my sister has been able to eat a little congee, but she still can't get out of bed. She says that if you come to visit in person and she can't get up to greet you, it would be unfilial of her. Please don't blame her."

  Mrs. Lu sighed and said, "What's the point of saying such things? Am I someone who only cares about formalities? I just hope she gets better soon and that's all I care about, what does it matter whether we welcome her or not?"

  As they spoke, Mrs. Lu entered the main hall and took a seat, and the imperial physician who had been taking Yao Fengge's pulse from behind the screen came out to pay his respects to Mrs. Lu.

  Madam Lu saw Dr. Liu clearly and asked with great concern: "It was originally Dr. Liu, how is my third daughter-in-law's illness? This back-and-forth is really worrying."

  "Going back to what Mrs. He said, from the pulse condition, it's true that Third Young Master's illness has taken a turn for the better."

  "Oh?" Mrs. Lu looked at Fang with great surprise, "Really?"

  Feng furrowed his brow and asked, "Previously, it was also Doctor Liu who said that my third brother and sister wouldn't make it through the month, but now that only twenty-odd days have passed, you're saying there's a turn for the better? Doctor Liu, this is a matter of life and death, you can't be careless about it. Our family isn't just any ordinary family, don't think you can fool us."

  "Your Ladyship, please forgive me," said Liu Taizhen hastily. "The words I spoke earlier were based on the pulse of Third Young Mistress, and today's words are also due to changes in her pulse. If Your Ladyship does not believe me, you can invite another physician to come and take her pulse."

  "Alright, we trust you." Mrs. Lu waved her hand, "You've gone to a lot of trouble. Not only will I heavily reward you for curing my three daughters-in-law, but the Empress Dowager will also reward you."

  "Yes, thank you, Mrs. Xie." Dr. Liu hastily bowed his head in gratitude.

  Madam Lu looked at Yao Fengge's bedroom and hesitated, Sun immediately advised: "The madam caught a bit of cold last night and coughed a few times, it's better not to go in for now. The madam is worried, why don't I go take a look?"

  "You go." Mrs. Lu looked at Feng and said, "You also go, see if your third sister has any needs, you can take care of it for her. She's been ill for a long time and can't stand the commotion, I'll head back first."

  Feng nodded hastily and replied: "Yes."

  After sending off Mrs. Lu with the two sisters-in-law, Feng turned around and smiled at Yan Yu: "Sister, are you getting used to living in the mansion? You've been here for so many days, but you always stay cooped up in this courtyard, not even going over to our side to take a walk?"

  Yao Yan felt that her status in the Hou Mansion was awkward and not suitable for showing off, so after arriving at the Hou Mansion, she never went to the rooms of the wives of the two uncles, Feng and Sun, but instead let her wet nurse, Old Lady Feng, send some silk fabrics and embroidered items from her hometown to express her goodwill.

  At this moment, Fang was pointed out by the host, although he knew that most of it was a joke, Yao Yan still replied seriously: "Please forgive the young master's wife and the second lady, it's really because Yan's mouth is clumsy and busy with housework. The second lady also needs to serve in front of her mother-in-law, and my sister can't replace you two to share the burden, so I didn't dare to go over and disturb you."

  "Look at this clever little mouth." Sun smiled and held onto Yao Yanyu's wrist, saying to Feng: "She says she's tongue-tied and inarticulate, but isn't that making me a gourd without a mouth?"

  Yao Yan only smiled and lowered her head, while Feng said with a smile: "Sister was already a bit shy since she wasn't familiar with us, now that you've teased her, she doesn't dare to speak anymore."

  The three of them entered Yao Fengge's bedroom, where Yao Fengge was leaning against a stack of quilts with her eyes closed. Amber, who was kneeling at the foot of the bed, quickly stood up and turned around to pay respects: "Young Master's wife, Second Madam."

  Yao Fengge slowly opened her eyes and looked at Fangshi and Sunshi, making a struggling motion to get up, stretching out her hand to grab Huopo's arm, with a pale smile on the corner of her mouth: "Elder sister-in-law, second sister-in-law..."

  "Ah, you still want to get up and greet us? Hurry up and lie down." Sun Shi took a step forward, stopping Yao Fengge from getting out of bed.

  Feng sat down on the chair that had been brought over for her and said, "Don't move, take a good rest. We're also worried about you, so we came to take a look."

  Yao Fengge naturally said polite words and ordered the little maid to serve tea again.

  The three sisters-in-law spoke in a harmonious and gentle manner, saying that Yao Fengge should take good care of herself, not think too much, and that when illness comes, it's like a mountain collapsing, but when it goes away, it's like pulling out silk threads. Worrying is useless, fortunately, Erniang has arrived to take care of you carefully, and your illness will surely be cured.

  Yao Yan watched from the side, these three sisters-in-law seemed to be in perfect harmony with each other, completely without any discord. But she couldn't help but think that the relationship between the three wives of Ding Hou Fu was really this good, or were they just putting on a show?

  Madam Lu left Qi Xiang Yuan and didn't hurry back to her own room, instead she changed direction and went to the backyard garden to clear her mind. Lian Qie followed closely behind her, with several big yahuan carrying cushions, handkerchiefs, dusters and other items following at a moderate distance.

  "What do you think is suspicious about this matter?" Madame Lu sat down in a pavilion by the water, watching the golden carp playing among the lotus leaves.

  Lian's nanny handed over the fish food in her hand and said in a low voice, "I also can't say anything, if I have to say something, it should be on that second lady. But she is just a young lady, how could she have any way to turn back the situation?"

  "Have someone secretly investigate and see if there was anything unusual about her when she was at her natal home."

  "Yes." Lian's nanny replied, and reminded Lu Furen: "But about San Nainai's matter..."

  Madam Lu sneered, "She herself knows the score. The day she was caught by me, she should have known to repent. Besides, it's still hard to say whether she can get through this ordeal or not, but for now, there's just a slight improvement. Tomorrow, call Doctor Zhang to come and take her pulse again."

  The old nun responded with a "yes" and asked: "And... Anshen Xiang?"

  Mrs. Lu waved her hand, somewhat impatiently saying: "No need to use it. If you insist on using it for her, it will definitely arouse her suspicion. After all, I still think this second lady is suspicious, and in just over a month, someone who should have died has come through like this?"

  Lian's mother smiled and said, "Third Master said that she is a lucky star. He said that the young masters had not received good news for half a year, but after Second Miss arrived, they won a great victory in the west..."

  "Shut up!" Madam Lu frowned and coldly shouted: "Is this also something to be spoken of randomly?! The great victory in the west is the blessing of His Majesty and the blood and sweat of the ministers and soldiers, what does it have to do with a small woman like you? Lao San's reckless talk can be forgiven, but you're also so muddled!"

  "Yes." Lian's nanny hastily retracted her smile and bowed her head in response: "This old slave was mistaken."

  Madam Lu fell silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed: "Actually, the alliance with the Yao family is still very beneficial to us. If it weren't for that outrageous thing, I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to the Yao family either. It's just... if this ugly affair gets out, even the Emperor and the Princess will lose face! And what about Third Brother? Where will he be placed?! So, I can no longer care about others!"

  "Master, you've been working so hard for the sake of the Dingguo Mansion and Third Master. This is all Third Madame's fault alone. Even if it ends up like that, it's her own doing. You must take care of your health first."