Chapter 310: Chapter 310

Li Yuzhu closed the lid of the rattan box, patted her sleeves, and stood up, "Coming."

She opened the door and went outside.

Chun’er hummed lightly, saying, "It’s someone from the Sang family, Mrs. Sang is ill, and she’s asking for you to see her. Fortunately, you’re not going back until tomorrow. If it were today, Mrs. Sang would have had to suffer through her illness."

After speaking, she chuckled.

Li Yuzhu said, "Oh? Isn’t Mrs. Sang usually in good health? How did she fall ill?"

Apart from a bout of insomnia a few days ago.

However, I hadn’t heard of her buying any more medicine, so she must have recovered?

Chun’er closed the door for her and said with a smile, "Mrs. Sang always prides herself and won’t admit she’s ill. She won’t call a doctor unless absolutely necessary and wouldn’t show weakness in front of our madam. But now that she’s come to you, and even let the madam know she’s ill, it must be because the doctors outside can’t treat her and she’s seriously ill."

Mrs. Sang and the County Magistrate’s Wife are from the same hometown and grew up together.

On the surface, they are cordial, but behind the scenes, they like to compete against each other.

Li Yuzhu, having been in the county town for some time, gathered some clues from the servants of both households.

It makes sense; even sisters have their comparisons, let alone two pretend sisters?

One married a wealthy man, the other married someone with power.

One has many children, the other only has an only son.

Of course they would compare.

"The madam and Mrs. Sang are from the same hometown and have known each other since childhood. She’s concerned for Mrs. Sang, isn’t she?" Li Yuzhu smiled.

"Yes, of course she’s concerned. As soon as the madam heard Mrs. Sang was ill, she immediately sent me to invite you. I ran here, and in this hot weather, I’m drenched in sweat," Chun’er said, fanning herself with a handkerchief.

Li Yuzhu glanced at her, smiled gently, and said no more.

As they talked, they arrived in front of the main room of the County Magistrate’s Wife.

Chun’er announced inside, "Madam, Miss Li is here."

"Please come in," the County Magistrate’s Wife said with a smile.

The two entered the room.

The housekeeper of the Sang family saw Li Yuzhu and immediately smiled, saying, "Sorry to trouble Miss Li with a trip in this heat."

Li Yuzhu nodded to the Sang family’s housekeeper as a greeting.

She said with a smile, "It’s no trouble. Mrs. Sang gave me a gift a few days ago, and I haven’t thanked her yet. Today, I’ll take the opportunity to express my gratitude."

Mentioning the gift from last time, the County Magistrate’s Wife covered her mouth and laughed, "Mrs. Sang is always so courteous. We’re so close, yet she uses my people and still insists on bringing gifts? Truly unnecessary."

Last time Mrs. Sang fainted, Li Yuzhu was invited by the Sang family to treat her, and the return gift was a piece of cloth barely two to three feet square.

The cloth was narrow, unsuitable for making clothes or skirts.

It was also dark in color, not suitable for young ladies.

The County Magistrate’s Wife had a good laugh when she saw the cloth.

The Sang family’s housekeeper didn’t remember the incident, but seeing the County Magistrate’s Wife’s strange smile, she felt uneasy. Had her lady done something inappropriate again?

Did she amuse the County Magistrate’s Wife?

Mrs. Sang likes to show off before the County Magistrate’s Wife: showing off her many children, her good health, her wealth, her good husband. This is no secret in the Sang family.

Of course, the County Magistrate’s Wife is no less competitive.

The two openly and secretly compete for face, with mixed outcomes.

A few days ago, when the County Magistrate’s Wife was ill, her madam took great delight in mocking her. Now that her madam is ill, who knows if she’ll take a similar hit.

The Sang family’s housekeeper sighed inwardly.

The County Magistrate’s Wife looked at Li Yuzhu and said, "Yuzhu, treating an illness is important. Hurry and don’t let the Sang family wait anxiously."

"Understood, madam," Li Yuzhu nodded.

She returned to her room to retrieve the crossbody bag she always carried when going out, which contained her regularly used silver needles and other items.

Mu Yuanxiu approached, seeing her picking up her shoulder bag, realized she was going out again.

"Where are you heading?" he walked briskly toward her.

"Mrs. Sang is ill, and I’m going to treat her," Li Yuzhu said with a smile, "I’ll be back soon."

Mu Yuanxiu was worried about her going alone and said, "Third Brother Li has been invited by the County Magistrate. I’ll accompany you. You shouldn’t go out alone."

Li Yuzhu chuckled, "Alright, let’s go together then."

Since arriving in the county town, she had never gone out alone, either Li Xing’an or Mu Yuanxiu always accompanied her.

And often, it was both of them together.

Her outings were always in the company of others; the Sang family’s housekeeper said nothing, and they took a carriage to the Sang family residence.

Once inside the mansion, the housekeeper led Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu directly to Mrs. Sang’s main house.

Mu Yuanxiu, though young, was still an outside man, so he was invited to rest and have tea in the outer chamber.

Li Yuzhu followed the Housekeeper to Mrs. Sang’s bedroom.

Inside the bedroom stood a few anxious maids and elderly women.

Additionally, there were two rather flamboyantly dressed young women sitting there.

In contrast to the maids’ worried expressions, these two young women, barely twenty years old, wore indifferent expressions on their faces.

One of them held a round fan, fanning herself lazily while occasionally yawning.

The other was holding a nail file and was intently filing her nails.

Her fingers were long and fair, polished with bright red lacquer, and were quite beautiful. Hands that men would love to touch, and women would envy.

"Has Madam woken up yet?" the Housekeeper walked into the room, gave a cold glare at the two young women, and then immediately asked the maids.

"Not yet, Mrs. Chen." A nanny sitting by the bedside stood up and said anxiously.

"The doctor hasn’t been here yet; how could she get better on her own?" the young woman who was filing her nails chuckled softly.

The other young woman lifted her eyelids, looked coquettishly at Li Yuzhu, and said, "Miss Li, you must take good care of our Madam. All the affairs of this household rely on her management."

The one filing her nails also said, "The kids are all crying for their mother too. Oh, it pains my heart listening to them cry."

Li Yuzhu glanced back at them, "Of course."

She slightly frowned, thinking to herself, what kind of mischief-makers are these two?

Though they spoke words of concern, she did not see any worried expressions on their faces.

Could it be that they are like Aunt Hua at the County Magistrate Mansion?

Sure enough, the Housekeeper said, "Ladies, it’s fine for us to watch over here, it’s hot and the room is small, why don’t you return to your rooms to rest?" Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on NoveIꜰire.net

The concubine filing her nails said, "How could I? I’m worried about Madam. If she doesn’t wake up, I’d be too anxious to rest well."

The other one also said, "Later, we have to report to the master too; if we don’t see Madam wake up with our own eyes, how can we report back?"

"Indeed, we must see Madam wake up with our own eyes; we’re concerned for her," reiterated the nail-filing concubine.

Li Yuzhu stifled a laugh and thought to herself, with these two jokers’ tone, even if Mrs. Sang wakes up on her own, she might faint again from anger.

Mrs. Chen took a deep breath and ignored them, instead urging Li Yuzhu, "Miss Li, please."

Li Yuzhu nodded and sat down on a stool by the bed.

After feeling Mrs. Sang’s pulse, she said, "Your Madam doesn’t have any major illness; it’s like last time, a fainting spell from sudden distress."

She took out silver needles to perform acupuncture and then placed a smelling salt vial under Mrs. Sang’s nose.

In no time, Mrs. Sang gradually came around.

Seeing Li Yuzhu sitting in front of the bed made her pause momentarily.

Mrs. Chen stepped forward, "Madam, you’re awake? Thank goodness, everyone’s been so worried. It was the master who asked Miss Li to come. Her medical skills are excellent, waking you up so swiftly."

Mrs. Sang glanced at Li Yuzhu, her expression darkening slightly, "Thank you, Miss Li." Her voice was weak, her tone not very pleasant.

"Ah, Madam, you’re awake?"

"Madam, are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

The two coquettish young women rushed to the bedside, pushing Li Yuzhu aside.

Each spoke more anxiously than the other.

Li Yuzhu looked on dumbfounded, "..."

"When Madam fainted, I was worried sick."

"If Madam didn’t wake up, what would the master do? I couldn’t possibly console him, thank goodness you’re awake now."

Seeing the two of them made Mrs. Sang’s already pale face flush deep red in an instant.

She breathed heavily, glaring at them, "You... you..., leave, I’m tired now."

She wanted to rebuke them but upon seeing Li Yuzhu present, she forced her anger back down.

"If we leave, who will look after Madam? When the master asks us, how should we report back?"

"Indeed, Madam, we need to know what illness you have to feel at ease."

The two refused to leave, stubbornly staying at the bedside.

Mrs. Sang glared at them, took several breaths, then fainted again.

"Madam!" the maids shouted in unison.

"Ah, Madam, you can’t faint, Madam!"

"Madam, what happened to you? Miss Li, can you treat illnesses? Our Madam fainted again!"

The two concubines began to shout in unison too.

One pushed Mrs. Sang, while the other turned around to vent at Li Yuzhu.

Li Yuzhu, "..." How did it turn out to be her fault?