Chapter 260: Chapter 242, Falling Ill_1

“Have you heard that the eldest son, third son, and fourth son are trapped in Xingyun Prefecture and can’t get out? They might die there?”

“No way?”

“Why not? The epidemic has broken out in Xingyun Prefecture. Can anyone survive after being infected?”

“The eldest son is the legitimate eldest son. If he dies, Madam will surely be heartbroken to death, won’t she?”

“Madam’s illness this time must be because of this.”

“Think about it, if the eldest and fourth son can’t come back, wouldn’t that be the death of Madam?”

In the back courtyard of the Yan Residence, a few maids whispered among themselves, not noticing the old Madam Yan who had come out for a stroll.

When the old Madam Yan heard these words, she felt a sharp pain in her chest, her vision went dark, and then she gasped for air and fell backward.

“Old Madam!”

Madam Sun called out sharply, hurrying to support her.

Frightened by the incident with the old Madam, the maids were scared out of their wits.

The main courtyard.

Since Madam Li was ill, Daohua temporarily took over the affairs of the residence, even missing her studies these days.

Having just finished dealing with her tasks, she saw Wang Manman hurriedly running over.

“Miss, it’s terrible, Old Madam has fainted!”

Daohua stood up abruptly and, as she walked out, asked, “What happened? How could Grandmother faint all of a sudden?”

Wang Manman replied, “Old Madam heard about the eldest son, third son, and fourth son being trapped in Xingyun Prefecture.”

Daohua paused, her face growing cold, “Heard? Heard from whom?”

Wang Manman replied, “The maids were gossiping in the yard, and Old Madam accidentally overheard them.”

Daohua’s eyes narrowed, “The matter at Xingyun Prefecture has been strictly forbidden to spread by Father. How could the maids know about it?”

Wang Manman was startled.

Indeed, how could the people in the residence know about the situation of the eldest son and the others when only the main courtyard was aware?

Concerned about Old Madam, Daohua hurriedly instructed Wang Manman, “Go have Madam Fang take those gossiping maids into custody and find out where they heard the news from.” With that, she quickly headed toward Songhe Courtyard.

Meanwhile, the entire Yan Family was aware of the entrapment and infection of Yan Wenxiu and the others in Xingyun Prefecture.

Just like Madam Li and Old Madam, Madam Wu couldn’t bear it and fell ill as well.

Songhe Courtyard.

“How is Grandmother? Has the doctor come?”

Upon entering the room, Daohua saw Old Madam Yan lying weakly on the bed, tears still on the corners of her eyes, clearly having cried hard before.

Madam Sun replied, “The doctor has seen her and said it was rage overwhelming the heart.”

Hearing Daohua’s voice, Old Madam Yan opened her eyes and slowly stretched out her hand.

Daohua immediately leaned over to hold Old Madam’s hand, “Grandmother!”

Old Madam Yan said, “Your brothers…”

Daohua assured, “Grandmother, don’t worry, all three brothers will be fine. The servants are talking nonsense; they don’t know the real situation.”

Old Madam Yan closed her eyes, then opened them again, a look of regret on her face, “It’s all my fault. I should have stopped your father back then. If Wenxiu and the boys hadn’t gone to Jiguang, this would never have happened.”

Daohua tightened her grip on Old Madam’s hand, “Grandmother, don’t think like that, no matter what, the decision to let the elder brother and the others go to Jiguang was made with their best interests in mind. Now we are encountering some setbacks, but as long as we get through them, it will surely be beneficial for their future.”

Madam Yan shook her head, “Now I don’t even hope for them to have any great prospects; I merely wish Wenxiu and the other two to grow up safely, marry, have children, and enjoy a house filled with grandchildren, rather than this…”

Daohua interrupted, “They will, the three brothers will surely marry and have children. Grandmother, Xiao Yeyang is also in Xingyun Prefecture; the situation isn’t as bad as we imagine.”

Madam Yan closed her eyes and said nothing more.

Her granddaughter was still too young, utterly unaware of how terrifying an epidemic could be. When she was young, an epidemic had broken out in a neighboring state of her hometown, devastatingly leaving nine out of ten homes empty, completely wiping out the entire city.

Would her three grandsons ever return?

Seeing this, Daohua didn’t know what to say either, as any attempt at comforting seemed pale and powerless at this moment.

After sitting by Madam Yan’s bed for a while and waiting until she fell asleep, Daohua rose and left the room. As she stepped out, she heard Wang Manman say that the third aunt could not leave her bed either, and Daohua let out a heavy sigh.

“Let’s go, let’s see the third aunt.”

The courtyard of Madam Yan, the third household’s courtyard, the main courtyard, Daohua had been circling these three yards all day long, not retiring to her courtyard until her grandmother, the third aunt, and her mother had all taken their medicine and gone to sleep, utterly exhausted.

By this point, the moon had already risen above the treetops.

“Miss, have something to eat, you haven’t eaten yet!”

Wang Manman brought over the black rice and yam porridge that had been simmering.

Daohua took a couple of spoonfuls then lost her appetite, looking at Guyu and Lixia, “How many masks have you sewn that I asked for?”

Guyu hurriedly replied, “The needlework room brought over five hundred this year, plus the ones made in the past few days, and those given by Miss Zhou; there should be a thousand by now.”

Daohua nodded and then turned to Wang Manman, “How is Zheng Bo’s collection of medicinal herbs coming along?”

Wang Manman: “We’ve already collected more than ten carts, and Zheng Bo said that the Zhou Family butler helped introduce some medicinal merchants; we should be able to gather another batch in the next couple of days.”

Daohua pondered for a moment, “Tell Zheng Bo to keep collecting without stopping. Also, the medicinal herbs on our farm should be ready for harvesting. Send the medicinal farmers to check tomorrow, and if the herbs are mature, have them all collected.”

Wang Manman looked at Daohua and probed, “Miss, you’re gathering so many herbs all of a sudden; are you planning to send them all to the eldest master and the others?”

Daohua stared out the window, tapping her fingers on the table, “I’m thinking of making a trip to Xingyun Prefecture.”

At this remark, Wang Manman and the other two paled.

Daohua turned to them, “You should all think it over. If I do go, I might take you with me. Of course, I won’t force you. If you’re afraid, you don’t have to go.”

Without any hesitation, Wang Manman said, “Wherever you go, Miss, I will follow.”

Guyu and Lixia exchanged looks and quickly replied, “We feel the same.”

Daohua smiled and didn’t say anything further.

Wang Manman: “Miss, when do we leave?”

Daohua pondered for a moment, “In a few days, perhaps. We still need to gather more medicinal herbs and settle the affairs at home before leaving. Alright, we have been busy all day; let’s rest.”

The next morning, Daohua arrived at the main courtyard early to see that Madam Li still lay in deep slumber. She quietly withdrew and asked Ping Tong, “Did mother sleep well last night?”

Ping Tong shook her head, “She woke up in fright several times in the night, each time crying and calling out for eldest master and fourth master.”

Daohua was silent for a while, “This can’t go on, we can’t wait for the older brothers to return only to find mother’s health collapsed. Later, let’s call a doctor to prescribe some calming and sleeping medicine as he sees fit.”

Ping Tong nodded.

Daohua: “I’ll go handle the affairs of the residence now. I’ll come to see grandmother and third aunt later, please keep a close watch over mother here and inform me immediately if anything happens.”

“Yes!”

Watching Daohua’s departing figure, Ping Tong’s expression showed relief.

Thank goodness the eldest Miss was securing the residence, or else who knows how chaotic it might be now.