Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 558 - 561: Reactions (5)

"Go on!" The Grand Dowager nodded. Xiao Yanyi furrowed his brow; it was she who had summoned him, yet now she was leaving without saying anything...

He collected his thoughts and nodded.

Xiqiu courteously saw the Second Madam out: "Second sister-in-law, take care. Tonight, I will accompany Sister Jingliu to your room to inquire about your well-being. These past few days the household has been unsettled, and your health is of utmost importance."

The Second Madam’s gaze flickered, and she shook her head with a smile: "No need, the Imperial Physician will come to the manor tonight, no need to trouble Nurse Zhang." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Xiqiu did not insist and watched as the Second Madam left.

The Grand Dowager pointed to the things on the table and said to Xiqiu, "Take them back. You should temporarily manage the household affairs." Xiqiu shook her head without thinking and said, "This daughter-in-law is incapable of undertaking the task and dares not add to mother’s burdens. I absolutely cannot accept these keys and token again."

Before the Grand Dowager could say anything, she added, "I wish to pay a visit to Old Madam Lou." The Grand Dowager sighed, nodded, and said, "Go ahead!"

Xiqiu then turned and entered the adjoining room.

The Grand Dowager, seeing her leave, turned to Xiao Yanyi and asked, "Is something the matter?"

Xiao Yanyi paused and replied, "Tomorrow, I am going to the government office. The submitted request has not yet been approved, and I do not know the reason."

The Grand Dowager was stunned; establishing Xing as the Princely Heir was a matter of course, and the Ministry of Rites should respond within a day or two. Why has there been no news for several days?

She couldn’t help but wonder aloud, "Could there have been some misunderstanding?"

Xiao Yanyi was also puzzled, responding, "I do not know at the moment; I will find out once I go there." The Grand Dowager nodded but said nothing.

Xiqiu had already emerged from the adjoining room, bidding farewell to the Grand Dowager and Xiao Yanyi. The Grand Dowager instructed Ziwei to see Xiqiu off, and Xiqiu did not refuse, leaving with a few maids.

Ziwei escorted Xiqiu to the door, and Xiqiu nodded to her before leaving with Chunliu, while Bihuai stayed behind.

"Sister Ziwei." Bihuai took Ziwei’s hand and placed a bottle of medicine for external injuries in her hand: "Please pass this medicine to Sister Lianqiao. Our madam said Sister Lianqiao has always been upright, but this time she got involved because of us. Our madam feels uneasy and doesn’t know what else to do. This medicine is specifically used by Fourth Master for external injuries and works very well. Please let her use it. If it’s not enough, I’ll bring more."

Ziwei was taken aback, accepted the medicine, and said, "How can I accept this?" Then added, "I thank the Fourth Madam on behalf of Lianqiao."

Bihuai waved her hand: "Sister, you’re too polite!" She sighed again and said, "Sister Lianqiao is indeed wrongly accused. She has always been reliable, even I, who just entered the manor, know this, and the Grand Dowager also values her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have appointed her beside the young master. If not for bringing the medicinal meal inside, the young master wouldn’t have smelled its fragrance and insisted on eating it... leading to this situation, alas!"

A seemingly unintentional sigh, yet Ziwei was stunned. Yes, Lianqiao has always been cautious. How did she find herself in such an awkward situation, serving medicinal food to Zitan and allowing Young Master Xin to eat what was meant for herself? This was inherently improper...

She needed to go back and inquire carefully.

"She indeed deserves punishment and should learn a lesson from this." She sighed.

Bihuai nodded, looking at Xiqiu’s retreating figure: "I should also return. The Fourth Madam has few maids, and I cannot be away for long."

Ziwei nodded hastily, watching as Bihuai left.

Returning to the room, Xiao Yanyi had already left. The Grand Dowager was sitting by, drinking tea, and when she saw Ziwei, she asked, "What was said?"

Ziwei took out the medicine she held to show the Grand Dowager: "A bottle of wound medicine, given to Lianqiao by Bihuai under the Fourth Madam’s instructions, saying it’s out of guilt..." She paused and added, "I dared to accept it on her behalf."

The Grand Dowager glanced at the bottle; recognizing it was Fourth Master Xiao’s, she nodded: "Go and have a word with that girl. If Young Master Xin turns out fine this time, let her return. If not, she should pack her belongings and leave the manor."

Having been by her side for years, the Grand Dowager was familiar with Lianqiao’s temperament and thus showed some leniency.

Ziwei hurriedly kowtowed for Lianqiao: "Thank you, Grand Dowager." She then rose and went to the back corridor to visit Lianqiao.

Lianqiao was lying on her bed, crying, her body completely battered and bruised, the pain burning fiercely. A young maid was beside her, blowing the medicine and trying to persuade her to drink it, but Lianqiao stubbornly kept her mouth shut.

"You may leave now." Ziwei placed the bottle down and took the medicine bowl. The young maid complied and exited, closing the door behind her.

"Who are you pouting at? Surely you don’t blame the Grand Dowager for wrongly punishing you." With that, she blew on the medicine she scooped: "If you don’t drink the medicine, who will it hurt? Vent your anger if you must, but in the end, it’s you who will suffer!" Finished speaking, she brought the medicine to Lianqiao’s lips.

Lianqiao stubbornly turned her face away: "With such disgraceful actions, what’s the point in living any longer? Better to die."

"What nonsense are you spouting? People say a bad life is better than a good death, yet you’re seeking it." She glared: "You, with your stubborn nature, always trying to find a way. Why not think—if the Grand Dowager truly wanted you dead, wouldn’t she have beaten you to thirty strokes instead of just twenty?"

Lianqiao was taken aback, and Ziwei lowered her voice, adding, "Zitan is a maid of the Second Madam; would Grand Dowager punish her and not you?"

Seeing Lianqiao’s expression soften and her thoughtful look, she naturally fed her a spoonful of medicine, wiping her mouth with a handkerchief: "Just now, the Grand Dowager said if Young Master Xin wakes up safely, you’ll be allowed to return to serve. If not, pack your things and leave. Right now, you should do nothing but pray for Young Master Xin’s safe recovery."

Though Ziwei need not say it, she was earnestly hoping for Young Master Xin’s safe awakening and deliverance from this predicament. She blamed no one in her heart, only berating herself for her momentary lapse in judgment!

Ziwei fed her another spoonful, and Lianqiao grimaced from the bitterness. She quickly offered a piece of candied fruit to her, then placed the bowl aside, picking up the medicine bottle from the bedside: "Here, this was sent by Bihuai on orders from the Fourth Madam, claiming it works well for external injuries. I’ll help you apply it again later!" She tapped Lianqiao’s forehead: "No matter how life turns, it’s still life. You must not speak of death anymore."

Lianqiao clasped Ziwei’s hand, teary-eyed: "Good sister, you’re the best to me." Ziwei spat lightly at her, softly inquiring: "Let me ask you, you are usually meticulous and careful in your work. How did you get muddled yesterday? Even if you brought the medicinal meal inside, it was intended for you all. How did it end up with the young master?"

Lianqiao was startled. She hadn’t considered this before, now thinking carefully. She recalled hesitating at the time, but Zitan said, "The young master’s appetite has been poor; it’s rare for him to want to eat something, so why not let him have some since we haven’t touched it at all. It wouldn’t be considered overstepping our bounds."