"Young Mistress, the Old Madam is ill."
Xiao Man was having breakfast when she heard of the Old Madam's illness. She immediately put down her chopsticks. "Do you know what's happening?"
"They say she caught a chill. Doctor Ye was already driven away by the Old Madam, and there's no doctor in the manor. The third concubine has already sent someone to fetch one."
Qiu Tong brought over water for Xiao Man to rinse her mouth and served her. "Since Grandmother is ill, I, as her granddaughter, should go and see her. Let's go to the main courtyard."
Ying Xue immediately helped Xiao Man. Xiao Man could not see and needed to be supported to walk properly. The group encountered Concubine Lin and the fourth young lady in the garden, on their way to pay their respects to the Old Madam.
When Concubine Lin saw Xiao Man, her footsteps faltered. She wanted to pretend not to see her, but they had already met face to face. If she turned away and ignored her, she might incur the displeasure of this eldest young lady, who might then do something utterly wicked.
"Your servant greets the Eldest Young Mistress."
Xiao Man's expression was calm. "So Concubine Lin and Fourth Sister are also here."
"Eldest Sister, hello."
Xiao Man nodded. "I heard that Fourth Sister's studies have been excellent recently. The tutor praised your diligence. Fourth Sister, do not disappoint Grandmother's expectations."
"Yes, Eldest Sister."
"You are also going to pay your respects to Grandmother, right? Let's go together." Ying Xue supported Xiao Man as she walked ahead, with Concubine Lin and the fourth young lady following behind.
The fourth young lady tugged at Concubine Lin's sleeve and asked in a low voice, "Concubine, can Eldest Sister's eyes not be cured?"
Concubine Lin covered the fourth young lady's mouth. Even if Xiao Man's eyes could not be cured, they could not say it in front of Xiao Man. She feared Xiao Man's retaliation.
Inside the main courtyard, there was a cacophony of voices. As soon as they reached the door, Xiao Man heard the third concubine's voice.
"Why hasn't the doctor arrived yet?"
"Concubine, the doctor has to be fetched from outside the manor. How can he be here so quickly?" Xiao Xiang's voice followed.
Xiao Man entered from outside the door. The wet nurse lifted the bamboo curtain. "Old Madam, Eldest Young Mistress, Fourth Young Lady have arrived."
The Old Madam reclined on the bed, her expression weak. She looked up at Xiao Man briefly before looking away. "Your eyes are not well, why have you come here?"
"Your granddaughter heard that Grandmother is ill and was restless, so I came to visit," Xiao Man said softly. "Have you sent for a doctor?"
"Someone has already been sent to fetch one."
"It's just a heatstroke, making a fuss. This autumn tiger is very hot. I craved coolness and ate two more bowls of ice. Today, I feel weak all over, with a blocked nose. I've already sent someone to brew medicine for heatstroke. One dose will cure it."
"Grandmother, it's best to wait for the doctor to see you first. The manor doctor has left, and there is no one in the manor who understands medicine. How can you take medicine haphazardly?"
Xiao Xiang stepped forward and helped Xiao Man to sit down beside her. "Eldest Sister, please sit and wait. Grandmother will be fine."
"Yes, Eldest Sister. Your eyes are inconvenient, so please sit properly to avoid any accidents," Xiao Ling added. "Grandmother, please rest assured. It's just a minor ailment. Once the doctor has seen you and you've taken the medicine, you'll be fine."
Xiao Man said no more, sitting quietly and waiting. After the time it took for one cup of tea to steep, the steward arrived with a doctor. The doctor was an old physician from the Hui Chun Tang, highly reputed among the populace.
The wet nurse drew the bed curtains and allowed the doctor to examine the Old Madam. After carefully feeling her pulse, the old physician stroked his beard and said, "This is heatstroke. It's nothing serious. Two doses of medicine will suffice. I will write a prescription shortly. Follow the prescription to get the medicine, brew it, and take it twice."
"Thank you, Doctor." Wet Nurse Xu led the doctor out to write the prescription and gave him a piece of silver as a gratuity.
The young ladies then came from the side hall. At Xiao Man's signal, Ying Xue helped Xiao Man to sit by the Old Madam's bedside.
Xiao Man took the Old Madam's hand. "It's good that it's just heatstroke and not serious. Grandmother, you must take your medicine properly, otherwise Father will worry."
The Old Madam coughed a couple of times and glanced at Xiao Man. "Next month, you will be sixteen. Will your eyes ever recover?"
Xiao Man lowered her head. "This... your granddaughter does not know. The imperial physician said they will not recover. However, as the legitimate eldest daughter of the Protector of the Nation's General Manor, even if they don't recover, I believe Father and Grandmother can still support me."
Upon hearing this, a calculating glint flashed in the Old Madam's eyes. As the legitimate eldest daughter, any good fortune naturally fell to Xiao Man. However, she had to make further plans for Xiao Ling.
Now that Yan Shi was dead, Xiao Ling had lost her mother, and her father did not dote on her. If she, her grandmother, did not plan for her, her life would be unbearable.
"I had intended for you to start seeing suitors, as you are no longer young. Who would have thought such a thing would happen? I don't know who was so heartless to harm you like this. But you needn't fear. The Eldest Young Mistress of our Protector of the Nation's General Manor will not allow herself to be bullied."
"With Grandmother's words, your granddaughter is relieved."
"Alright, your eyes are inconvenient, you should go back early." The Old Madam's gaze fell on Ying Xue. "Take good care of your mistress. If she stumbles or falls, you will face severe consequences!"
"Yes, Old Madam. This servant will definitely take good care of the young lady and will not let her stumble or fall."
Ying Xue helped Xiao Man walk out. Seeing Xiao Man rise, the fourth young lady quickly walked up. "Grandmother, you must get well soon. Your granddaughter has been very diligent recently; even the tutor praises me." Su Dan Novel Network.
"Is that so? My Ting'er is becoming more capable, truly Grandmother's good granddaughter."
The second young lady, seeing Xiao Man leave, also took her leave and proactively supported Xiao Man. "Eldest Sister, be careful of the threshold."
The Old Madam's gaze fell on their departing backs. The second young lady had never been close to her, her grandmother. She was aloof and reserved. Ever since she committed that shameful deed, the Old Madam had paid her even less attention. Now, she had allied herself with Xiao Man. A blind person, plus a discarded shoe, they were indeed a perfect match.
"Eldest Sister, why do you bother to come here and make yourself unhappy? Grandmother has always disliked the two of us," Xiao Xiang said in a low voice after they left the main courtyard. "No matter what we do, she will not approve."
Xiao Man smiled. "Grandmother is an elder. Whether she approves or not, the proper etiquette must not be neglected. Starting tomorrow, I will come for the morning and evening greetings."
"Your eyes are inconvenient, what if you stumble or fall..."
"I have maids, it's not a problem." Xiao Man held Xiao Xiang's hand. "You two came first. Do you know who went to brew Grandmother's medicine?"
"It was Nanny Shen," Xiao Xiang thought carefully. "When my concubine and I arrived, we said we were going to fetch a doctor, but Grandmother directly told Nanny Shen to go and brew the medicine."
Xiao Man's gaze flickered. She found it. It seemed that the person in the main courtyard who was skilled in medicine was Nanny Shen. However, this Nanny Shen's medical skills seemed insufficient, as she had not discovered that the Old Madam was poisoned. Although the Old Madam's symptoms were similar to heatstroke, it was definitely not heatstroke.
When she held the Old Madam's hand, she took the opportunity to feel her pulse and found it abnormal. This poison...
Xiao Man chuckled lightly. Ye Qing was truly someone who did not suffer any losses!