Chapter 217: Chapter 217

Miss Chai said bitterly, "Big brother, I know you wouldn’t harm me, and what you’ve done is for my own good, but the consequence of your actions has been such; it’s hurting me."

The Eldest Young Master Chai was suddenly awakened.

How could he forget that his sister’s serious illness had only just improved a little? If she marries so hastily, what if the illness relapses?

For instance, right now, his sister’s body is indeed very weak.

The Eldest Young Master Chai sighed and nodded, "Alright, I won’t rush you. Make sure to take good care of your body before we discuss further."

Miss Chai also felt relieved, "I understand, big brother. Whenever I feel unwell, I go to find Miss Li, and she has prescribed some health tonics for me."

"In that case, I feel at ease," said the Eldest Young Master Chai.

He went on to remind Miss Chai about how to take care of her health and instructed Nanny Jiang to take good care of Miss Chai before he rose to say goodbye.

"Rest assured, Eldest Young Master. I understand," Nanny Jiang nodded repeatedly.

The Third Young Master Chai came to the outer room and expressed his thanks to Li Yuzhu and Li Xing’an.

"This is the consultation fee for the young lady. Please ensure that my third sister’s illness is well-treated," the Eldest Young Master Chai took out a piece of silver and handed it to Li Yuzhu.

Li Yuzhu was astonished.

Miss Chai was here faking illness, what consultation fee should she charge?

This piece of silver was worth more than five taels; the Eldest Young Master Chai was indeed generous.

Li Yuzhu waved her hands repeatedly, "There’s no need to give the consultation fee. When E Ying came, she brought plenty of food, which is enough to offset the consultation fee."

But the Eldest Young Master Chai still insisted on giving it.

"Firstly for the consultation fee, and secondly, thank the young lady for allowing my sister to recuperate here. She might disturb you for some days, causing trouble for your household, and I insist you accept this money," the Eldest Young Master Chai insisted.

If she refused, the Eldest Young Master Chai would definitely become suspicious, so Li Yuzhu reluctantly accepted it.

The Eldest Young Master Chai said a few more words of gratitude before taking his leave.

Li Xing’an escorted him out, while Li Yuzhu hurried back into the room to check on Miss Chai.

Miss Chai was already out of bed, leisurely sitting at the table sipping tea.

Li Yuzhu smiled and said, "Why did you get up? If you’re acting, you should perform fully. Aren’t you afraid your brother will come back again?" This content belongs to novelꞁire.net

Miss Chai smiled faintly, "I know his temperament; he won’t come back."

Li Yuzhu laughed, "That’s good then."

After returning, the Eldest Young Master Chai sent some food and supplies.

He knew that his sister moving into the Li Family was simply because there were many young girls and children there, and his sister enjoyed the lively atmosphere.

A stay of a day or two wouldn’t cause much talk, but staying seven or eight days would annoy even relatives.

But his sister’s illness might take more than seven or eight days to recover, and the Eldest Young Master Chai didn’t want the Li Family to belittle his sister, so after returning, he sent plenty of goods over.

He was generous, and the delivered goods filled an entire cart.

Li Xing’an, who was at home, was stunned.

"Third Young Master Li, this is one hundred catties of rice, twenty catties of flour, ten catties of beef jerky, ten catties of salted lamb, ten catties of beans, this is ten catties of dried fish, ten catties of clear oil, ten catties of lamp oil, and ten catties of salt," a servant told Li Xing’an item by item.

Li Xing’an’s eyes widened, "Are you moving houses?"

The servant laughed and said, "Third Young Master Li, our third young lady is living in your household and disturbing you greatly; how can she eat and live without paying? The young master said these are to supplement your household; once used up, just inform Miss Chai’s driver, and he will report to the Eldest Young Master, and we’ll send more."

Money brings generosity indeed.

Li Xing’an liked generous people.

He accepted it with a smile.

Prince Luling and his wife learned of this matter and began to show even more concern for Miss Chai.

Only Li Yuzhu in the Li Family knew about Miss Chai’s act of feigning illness.

She hadn’t told outsiders, mainly because there was a little one in the family who couldn’t keep secrets, and she worried that if he found out, he would parrot and spill the beans.

This referred to Li Jing.

The little one was quite saddened upon hearing that Miss Chai was sick.

He had a mournful look on his face all day, frequently sighing deeply.

At noon, when the Princely Heir returned from the fields, he saw him sitting on the doorsteps, staring in a daze with his little brows furrowed.

The Princely Heir curiously asked, "What’s wrong, Jingjing?"

Li Jing sighed, "Dad, Aunt Chai is sick and can’t play with me."

The Princely Heir was taken aback, weren’t things fine yesterday?

"Don’t worry. The little aunt is a doctor and will heal her."

"But little aunt told Aunt Chai’s big brother that Aunt Chai is seriously ill and can’t marry."

The Princely Heir raised an eyebrow, "The little aunt said that?"

"Hmm," Jingjing sighed again, "Isn’t being unable to marry a serious illness?"

The Princely Heir rubbed his little head, "More or less, but she will get better, you don’t have to worry."

"Oh." Jingjing’s brows were still furrowed, "Dad, can she still be my mother?"

The Princely Heir, "..." Why is this topic still continuing? He darkened his face, "Li Jing, I solemnly warn you, what you’re asking is very rude. If Aunt Chai hears it, she’ll be angry, so you are not allowed to mention it again."

"We’re far from her room, she can’t hear us, Dad." Li Jing said seriously.

The Princely Heir put his hands on his hips, looked around, there was no third person here, no one should stop him from spanking his son.

He picked up his son with one hand, his face shadowed and angry, "Do not bring this up again, otherwise..."

"Help! Dad is going to hit me—" Li Jing shouted loudly.

"Shut up, I haven’t hit you yet!" the Princely Heir whispered angrily.

"What, disappointed you haven’t hit him?" The voice of the Princess Consort Luling came from outside the room.

"Grandma, help, Grandma!" Li Jing yelled again.

The Princely Heir had to put Li Jing down.

As soon as Princess Consort Luling entered the room, Li Jing darted over like a monkey and hid behind her.

"His own mother is not here, he’s already quite pitiful, and you keep bullying him? You spanked him yesterday, and now you want to hit him again today? Are you addicted to beating?" Princess Consort Luling’s face darkened with anger.

The Princely Heir stepped forward, paying his respects, "Mother, do you know what he just said? If I don’t warn him, with him spouting out like that, what will others think of that girl? And outsiders, how will they criticize our family?"

Princess Consort Luling said, "I heard Jingjing’s words, Miss Chai wasn’t even angry, what are you angry about?"

The Princely Heir shook his head, "Mother, how can you be so unclear? Miss Chai is a young lady; how could she possibly express herself? If she didn’t need our help, she would surely be angry."

Princess Consort Luling glanced at the Princely Heir, knelt down to Li Jing, and said, "Jingjing, what you just said about having Aunt Chai as your mother must not be mentioned again."

Li Jing blinked, "Why? Why can’t Aunt Chai be my mother?"

Princess Consort Luling said, "Because Aunt Chai is a girl, asking a girl face-to-face if she is willing to be a mother, or to marry, is very impolite, it shows a lack of upbringing. If you keep asking and Aunt Chai gets angry, she won’t come to our house anymore, and she may not like you or want to see you again."

This issue was quite serious.

Li Jing didn’t quite understand matters of etiquette, but he didn’t want Miss Chai to leave, so with a little pout, he reluctantly nodded, "I don’t want Aunt Chai to leave."

"Then don’t speak of it again." Princess Consort Luling patted his little head.

"Okay, Jingjing won’t say it anymore." Li Jing nodded earnestly.

"What a good child, go play." Princess Consort Luling smiled.

The little fellow ran off happily.

Only then did Princess Consort Luling look at her son, "See, wasn’t that easy to pacify him? Is there a need to make such a fuss and hit Jingjing?"

The Princely Heir thought of something and said, "Mother, after all, Miss Chai is young, staying at our house for so long, isn’t it inappropriate?"

Princess Consort Luling glanced at him, "What’s inappropriate? She’s friends with your sisters, she only interacts with Yu Zhu and them! She doesn’t even associate with you brothers, what are you worried about?"

Indeed, the Princely Heir had nothing to say.

The matter of Li Jing’s indiscreet words was resolved after Princess Consort Luling warned him, and Li Jing never brought it up again.

However, this issue stayed in Princess Consort Luling’s mind.

It is time to find a mother for the two children.

When Miss Chai lived with the Li Family, she not only let Nanny Jiang handle kitchen chores, but also had the driver help with tasks for the Princely Heir and his brothers.

When they were digging the marshland, with the help of Miss Chai’s driver and Mu Yuanxiu, they managed to dig up two acres of rice paddies within ten days.

Li Yuzhu sowed the sprouted rice seeds that had been prepared in advance into the fields.

They couldn’t make it for the summer harvest, so she sowed for the autumn harvest.

If the yield from the two acres of land was good, it could feed a family for more than half a year.

Miss Chai continued to live with the Li Family.

When Eldest Young Master Chai visited, she pretended to be sick; when he didn’t visit, she either played with the two children or went to the market with the Li Family Sisters.

She had a mule-drawn cart, making it very convenient for everyone to travel.

In just half a month, Miss Chai had integrated into life with the Li Family.

Counting the days, the Dragon Boat Festival was approaching.

Certain herbs for dispelling toxins and warding off evil were becoming sought after.

Over a month ago, Li Yuzhu had already collected a large amount of mugwort and other herbs, ground them into powder, and made sachets for the Great Princess to sell.

The Great Princess and Miss Chai worked together, and the two of them made nearly a hundred various sachets, placing them in the Second Princess’ shop to sell together.

As soon as the sachets were displayed, those buying pastries would casually ask about the price.

The sachet, roughly palm-sized, embroidered with exquisite patterns and decorated with colorful tassels, was sold at the fair price of ten coins each.

By mid-morning, they had already sold over thirty sachets.

"What’s that smell? It’s really unpleasant." Someone stood in front of the sachets, waving their hand and making retching gestures.

Li Yuzhu looked up, wasn’t that Miss Chai’s second sister?