Chapter 45: Short-sighted
The celebration banquet was held festively. Madam Qian was surrounded by everyone, her face full of pride, smiling so wide her mouth almost reached behind her ears. This was the most glorious moment since she married into the Xue Mansion.
“As a woman from a merchant background, how could I understand these matters? This time, it’s all thanks to the Old Madam’s guidance, and our Sixth Young Lady…”
Saying this, she pulled Xue Sui in front of her, smiling until her eyes were mere slits.
“Don’t let the Sixth Young Lady’s young age fool you; she is so intelligent and helped me greatly. Otherwise, I would have embarrassed our Third Master today.”
Everyone chimed in.
“Third Madam has finally seen her day.”
“Third Master Xue has always loved practicing martial arts. Now he has achieved his wish. Having caught the eye of General Yi Wu, his future is limitless.”
“It is also Third Madam’s good fortune.”
“You flatter me, you flatter me.” Third Madam smiled humbly, glancing at First Madam. “At best, it’s just a position, eating from the imperial granary, no longer having to look at others’ faces to eat.”
Everyone laughed again, the atmosphere becoming even more lively.
Fu Shi sat in the waterside pavilion of Wang Yue Tower, surrounded by a few maids and old women, her expressionless.
Nanny Liu curled her lips in disdain, “Such a petty person! Acting like someone who has never seen the world!”
Xiugu said, “First Madam is truly kind-hearted to tolerate their presumptuousness. If you ask me, based on her background, she’s not even fit to carry First Madam’s shoes…”
First Madam raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of weariness in her expression. “Say less, lest someone overhears and thinks I, as the eldest sister-in-law, am unwilling to be magnanimous.”
There were many disputes within the mansion. First Madam had not had an easy time these past few days. The servants, wanting to find an excuse to let her vent, could only give up upon hearing this and quietly watched the Third Branch’s smugness, not daring to cause trouble at such an occasion.
Just then, she suddenly saw Cui Yu, a maid from Lian Shui Pavilion, rushing over.
Her face was as pale as paper, and her hands and clothes were stained with blood.
“Old Madam, First Master, something terrible has happened…”
Everyone looked over in unison.
Xue Qingzhi rose from his seat. “What is it that makes you so flustered?”
The young maid looked at his stern face, then timidly glanced at the guests in the hall. She bit her lower lip, took a breath, and then burst into tears.
“Our Second Young Lady has attempted suicide.”
First Madam had said that Second Young Lady preferred quiet, so only her two personal maids served her in Lian Shui Pavilion. Even the rougher servants had been instructed not to enter the mistress’s room casually.
Therefore, no one outside knew what had happened there.
As the maid’s voice fell, the air seemed to freeze.
The originally festive atmosphere was abruptly interrupted.
Xue Qingzhi’s smile froze on his face.
“On such a joyous day, what kind of karma has she brought upon herself?”
The maid trembled and said, “Just now, Second Master Yao, Second Master Yao had an argument with Second Young Lady… After the son-in-law left, Second Young Lady changed her clothes, redid her hair, and then sent me and Cui Yu to the outer room, saying she wanted some time to herself, to avoid being a laughingstock later.”
“Cui Yu and I waited and waited, but when Second Young Lady didn’t come out, we pushed the door open to check. Second Young Lady… she couldn’t bear it anymore and cut her wrist…”
Cui Yu, who was not old, looked terrified. Her body was extremely tense, and her words were repetitive.
But everyone finally understood.
Yao Wei had hit Second Young Lady, and the couple had quarreled.
“This wretched girl, why couldn’t she think things through?”
The Old Madam’s face turned extremely dark. She glanced at Fu Shi, who was watching with a cold eye.
“Hurry and invite the mansion doctor! As the Mistress, you truly don’t care at all!”
Fu Shi sneered inwardly. She accepted the reprimand without retort, sent someone to fetch the doctor, and then led people to Lian Shui Pavilion.
The female guests also followed to pay their respects.
The door of Lian Shui Pavilion was open. Xue Yue Lou lay on the bed, her eyes tightly closed, her face pale. Half her body seemed to have been soaked in blood. The maid Cui Yu frantically tore a bedsheet, her body trembling like a sieve, and wrapped Xue Yue Lou’s wrist, but she couldn’t stop the bleeding.
The strong smell of blood could be detected even through the curtain.
Xue Yue Ying followed, and as soon as she stepped into the room, the pungent smell hit her directly.
Her stomach churned, and she couldn’t help but cover her mouth and nose, retching, almost vomiting…
Xue Qingzhi frowned. “Why did you follow? Go down and rest.”
Xue Yue Ying’s eyes were red. “Daughter wants to see Second Sister…”
Fu Shi sneered upon hearing this and signaled a maid. “Hurry and help your Fourth Young Lady down! She’s so delicate; don’t let her be disturbed here.”
Xue Yue Ying’s face paled slightly, and Xue Qingzhi’s expression also darkened. The few of them exchanged sharp words, as if they had completely forgotten that the person who should be cared for most at this moment was Xue Yue Lou, lying unconscious on the bed after cutting her wrist.
The maid knelt with a thud, crying breathlessly.
“First Madam, First Master, please save Second Young Lady, save our Second Young Lady.”
Fu Shi said with a stern face, “Why are you kneeling to me? As if I were the one who cut her with a knife.”
Xue Qingzhi saw the scene inside the room and frowned deeply, finally urging.
“Where is the mansion doctor? Why hasn’t the doctor arrived yet…”
Only then did the room become bustling.
Xue Sui watched from afar. The large patches of crimson hurt her eyes. All those compassionate faces, like masks of ghosts, were so detestable.
Looking at her second sister, who was so thin she was unrecognizable, she felt a deep sense of pity.
A concubine’s daughter in the inner court without protection was like duckweed without roots, ultimately a sacrifice for the family’s interests. To merely survive, she had to constantly watch her words and actions, enduring all sorts of bullying.
“Move aside.” Xue Sui abruptly pushed through the crowd and walked over quickly.
Her expression was stern, her eyes resolute. She took the trauma ointment from Xiao Zhao’s hand, and under everyone’s astonished gaze, she skillfully untied the cloth wrapped around Xue Yue Lou’s wrist, carefully sprinkled the trauma ointment onto the wound, and then re-bandaged it to stop the bleeding.
Everyone’s eyes were fixed on her.
Xue Yue E exclaimed, “What is Sixth Sister doing? If you want to steal the spotlight, you shouldn’t joke with Second Sister’s life… Father, Mother, quickly stop her!”
Xue Yue Man also said anxiously, “Second Sister is unconscious, Xue Liu, leave her alone!”
Xue Qingzhi: “Be quiet!”
He had been on the battlefield and could tell that Xue Sui was saving someone.
Xue Sui, as if no one else were there, finished these actions. She then gently pried open Xue Yue Lou’s teeth and placed a pill inside. She then lifted Xue Yue Lou’s chin. It was unclear how she did it, but Xue Yue Lou, who was unconscious, gave a slight gulp, and the pill was swallowed.
Everyone watched in amazement.
Yao Wei arrived late and happened to witness this scene. He shouted,
“Xue Liu, what did you give Second Young Lady?”
Xue Sui looked at him coldly, saying nothing.
Yao Wei paused. Looking at Xue Sui’s icy gaze and recalling what she had said earlier in Wang Yue Tower, he slightly adjusted his expression and, feigning deep marital affection, walked forward and embraced Xue Yue Lou, appearing heartbroken.
“Second Young Lady, why did you do this to yourself? I was just angry and said a few words to you, why did you have to do this? Your husband came specifically to take you home today.”
Xue Sui looked at him and sneered, “Second Sister is alive and well, why do you need to mourn her?”
Yao Wei had bullied her since he was young and couldn’t handle this change.
His eyebrows shot up. “Xue Liu, it’s not your place to speak about matters between Second Young Lady and me?”
Xue Sui’s originally solemn face suddenly showed a hint of a smile. Her dark eyes were so deep they seemed infused with boundless coldness, making Yao Wei’s spine shiver involuntarily.
“The mansion doctor is here!”
The arrival of the mansion doctor interrupted the tense situation.
Everyone held their breath, waiting, not daring to make a sound.
The mansion doctor carefully examined Xue Yue Lou’s injuries and couldn’t help but exclaim.
“Second Madam is truly lucky to be alive; even King Yama wouldn’t take her.”
Having lost so much blood and yet being able to keep her life, with her vital signs stabilizing, was something he, a doctor for half his life, had rarely seen.
He turned to look at Xue Sui and cupped his hands in greeting. “May I ask what precious medicine Sixth Young Lady gave Second Young Lady?”
Xue Sui’s expression was calm. “Just a ginseng pill, to keep her breathing. Fortunately, the doctor arrived in time.”
Seeing that Sixth Young Lady was unwilling to say more, the mansion doctor smiled and did not press further. He cupped his hands and stepped aside, focusing on writing a prescription.
Yao Wei watched the people coming and going in the room.
Finally, his gaze fell coldly on Xue Sui.
This Xue Liu deserved to die even more than ten years ago.
—
Such a good banquet was ruined, and Madam Qian was naturally unhappy. However, she had gotten the attention she wanted, and Second Young Lady was truly pitiful. It was not appropriate to be harsh, so she had some fine medicinal materials brought over, handed them to Bi Zhu, and gave her detailed instructions.
“Take good care of your Second Young Lady. If you need anything, come to the West Courtyard to find me.”
Bi Zhu shed tears and agreed.
Xue Yue Lou woke up an hour later.
As she struggled to open her eyes, she saw Xue Sui sitting by the bed, her eyelashes lowered, her face solemn. The light fell on her slender figure, as if gilded with a faint glow, exuding a reassuring strength.
“Sixth Sister…”
Xue Sui turned her head upon hearing the sound, her gaze softening slightly.
“Second Young Lady, are you feeling any better?”
Xue Yue Lou’s eyes reddened, and tears streamed down again. Her heart was filled with sorrow.
“I’ve made a fool of myself for you to see.”
Xue Sui shook her head slightly and asked with a soft smile, “In those years, haven’t you made a fool of me enough?”
Xue Yue Lou’s expression changed, as if recalling something. She hesitated, “Sixth Sister, Second Sister was incompetent back then…”
“I know all about it.” Xue Sui gently interrupted her, her voice tinged with a hint of loneliness. “The year I left the mansion, Concubine Liu was punished by First Madam to go to Baiyun Nunnery to copy scriptures and pray for blessings. You accompanied her for half a year and were unaware…”
Xue Yue Lou said, “I was aware. It’s just… I couldn’t help you with anything.”
Xue Sui smiled slightly. “Then let me help you.”
“I… what can I do?” Xue Yue Lou smiled bitterly.
“After marrying into the Yao Mansion all these years, my mother-in-law is unkind, my father-in-law dislikes me, my sister-in-law mocks me all day, and my husband despises me to the extreme… My child, Ming Ge’er, was born foolish and silly, not presentable, and it will be difficult for him to inherit the family business in the future…”
Xue Sui bent slightly, meeting Xue Yue Lou’s gaze. “Second Young Lady, have you ever thought about why Ming Ge’er is foolish and silly?”
Xue Yue Lou suddenly choked. Her mind involuntarily recalled Ming Ge’er’s appearance when he was young.
She remembered that when Ming Ge’er was first born, he was also rosy and jade-like, lively and cute. When he was learning to speak, he was intelligent and clever, not like he is now, foolish and timid, not understanding anything said to him, not remembering anything taught to him, needing countless repetitions for even a small matter.
Especially later, when the Yao family felt he was an embarrassment and wouldn’t let him leave the mansion or interact with others, he became even more dull and listless.
Thinking of this, Xue Yue Lou’s tears flowed like rain, and she sobbed, “Ming Ge’er is pitiful. It’s all my fault as a mother for being incompetent. I gave birth to him but didn’t take good care of him. This is what I deserve…”
Xue Sui gently shook her head.
“When facing problems, find fault with others more. Blame yourself less and criticize others more.”
Xue Yue Lou lowered her head, tears flowing uncontrollably.
“Currently, I am still useful to Yao Wei. He is solely focused on his official career and promotion, so he wouldn’t want to gain a reputation for mistreating his principal wife. But if one day I am no longer useful… my Ming Ge’er’s life will surely be even more difficult. Sometimes, I think about taking him with me, and that would be a release…”
Xue Sui held her hand and gently patted her hand. “For Ming Ge’er’s sake, you must live well. Other matters will be arranged by fate…”
Xue Yue Lou was slightly stunned and raised her tear-filled eyes.
“You say, does heaven see?”
Xue Sui smiled at her and nodded.
“There are gods three feet above your head. Good and evil will be rewarded, and karma will cycle. Second Sister, you must stand tall!”
Xue Yue Lou looked at her with teary eyes.
Xue Sui tightened her grip on her hand. “If you stand tall, you can support your child.”
Xiao Zhao: Young Lady, it’s time to write the prescription.
Xue Sui quickly wrote two words: Eastern Palace.
Li Zhao: ??????
