Chapter 66: The Aunt (5)

  "Fourth Aunt's stomach hurts, it hurts so much that her face is deathly pale and she's sweating profusely, rolling around on the bed, no one knows what's wrong!" Hongyu exclaimed in fright.

  "Does your stomach hurt?" Madam Ma was startled and gave Hongyu an unpleasant stare, thinking to herself that as a mere concubine, why should she be bothered with her stomachache? But since Hongyu was the one she had assigned to keep an eye on Fourth Concubine, if the situation wasn't really bad, Hongyu wouldn't have come looking for her.

  "What did you eat this morning? Did you get a stomachache from eating something bad?" Ma frowned, somewhat impatient.

  Hong Yu nervously twisted her fingers and hastily replied, "This morning, this morning we used the kitchen-made millet porridge and spring rolls, yam silk cake and two small dishes, just like usual, nothing else was used..."

  "Mother Qiao, have someone invite a doctor to come and take a look. If she needs medicine, give her two doses. Alright, you can go back and attend to her now. Let her endure for the time being, the doctor will arrive soon!" Madam Ma instructed with a suppressed tone of displeasure, secretly scolding in her heart: In the past year, she didn't fall ill even once, but now that she's just become a concubine, she's acting arrogant and getting sick already, and to make matters worse, it's stomach pain!

  "Sister-in-law is really virtuous, no wonder Eldest Brother treats her so well! But this Fourth Aunt's body has always been fine, how could she suddenly get a stomachache? What if it's really because of eating something wrong and an accident happens, Sister-in-law's reputation will be ruined!" Mrs. Mao said with a smile.

  Qiao's mother hastened her steps to go and call for the doctor, originally she still wanted to drag it out for a couple more moments, best if that cheap person from Liusha Mountain House would die from pain, thinking of Old Master's heart turning cold, she hurriedly went.

  "It's true that she ate the wrong thing, but it was her own greed, who knows what she ate?! All the dishes were prepared by the kitchen, how come others are fine but she's making a fuss!" Madam Ma immediately pulled a long face and spoke discontentedly to Madam Mao.

  "Hehe, I just said that!" Mrs. Mao smiled slightly, and the playful glint in her eyes suddenly intensified. Mingxia was always a clever one.

  After the doctor's diagnosis, a pot exploded in the Liuhuashan house. In the afternoon, Old Master Yao returned to the mansion, and the atmosphere suddenly became even more tense.

  Yao Cunhui's sisters were unmarried girls, so they didn't get involved in the affairs between their parents and aunt. In the Liuhua Mountain House, Mingxia lay motionless on the bed with a pale face and closed eyes, while Hong Xiu carefully guarded her by her side.

  Outside, Hong Yu was trembling and kneeling on the ground. Old Master Yao and Madam Ma were seated in the middle of the main hall, while Qiao Mama, Cai Xia, and others had all retreated to wait silently in the courtyard.

  Yao Lao Ye's face was gloomy and frightening, he stared at Hong Yu for half a moment before humming a low tone. His gaze shifted, and he turned his head to glare at Ma Shi in a cold voice: "You actually had someone give her an abortion potion? My descendants are scarce, I only have one son under my knee, and you still gave her an abortion potion?"

  Madam Ma's lips moved slightly as she said softly, "The old master never instructed to keep the bone and blood behind, I... this is also following the rules."

  However, after the concubine serves the master in bed, as long as the master does not specifically instruct otherwise, it is only natural for the wife to reward her with a bowl of abortion medicine. After all, not just any woman has the qualification to give birth to the master's child.

  Mr. Yao was so angry that he couldn't speak for a long time, and then said: "Since that's the case, why did you settle her in the pomegranate flower house? Why say something about opening branches and leaves for me soon? You're saying one thing and doing another, Mrs. Ma, do you dare to play tricks on me?!

  "I'm innocent!" Madam Ma hastily got up, sobbing: "How dare I tease the master? Fourth Concubine is someone who came out from my side, her character and appearance are impeccable, the master likes her, and I am also very satisfied with her. I was thinking of the master's sparse offspring, so I placed her in the Pomegranate Flower House, and told her those words! However, that was just my personal thought, I didn't dare to guess the master's mind, I don't know what the master is thinking, can only follow the rules! Now that I understand, starting tomorrow, I will stop giving her the child-avoiding medicine! And let her recover well, she is young, and must be able to get pregnant soon!"

  Mr. Yao's anger gradually dissipated, and it was indeed his own negligence. Although Mrs. Ma had her own private thoughts, she also showed that she prioritized her own opinions and didn't dare to make decisions on her own behalf. A few bowls of Abstinent Child Soup were stopped, and nothing would happen. As she said, Mingxia was still young, and with good care, she would naturally become pregnant!

  But ——

  Old Master Yao glared coldly at the red jade on the ground: "Who gave you such a big nerve, daring to increase the dosage of the medicine? You're clearly trying to take Fourth Madam's life! Fortunately, we discovered it early today. Otherwise, beating you to death wouldn't be enough to make up for it!"

  "I didn't, I'm innocent!" Hongyu trembled and begged: "Madam, please save me!"

  What's going on here? This is a useless and self-righteous dead girl, is she trying to drag herself down? Ma was annoyed in her heart, raised an eyebrow and said lightly: "I've packaged the ingredients for the Avoid Child Soup one by one for you, I told you once before that it's one serving at a time, how did you end up brewing the medicine? Now you're calling out for injustice!"

  "The slave is indeed brewing the medicine according to what the lady gave! There was no private increase in the dosage!" Hongyu was so anxious that her face turned red and she shook with tears all over her face.

  "How dare you!" Madam Ma was furious, and turned to Old Master Yao: "Master, I gave Hongyu ten days' worth of medicine last time. Take out the remaining medicine for comparison and you'll know that I'm not so foolish as to do something that won't end well and bring trouble on myself!"

  Mr. Yao glanced at Madam Ma lightly, and he believed what she said. The Avoiding Child Soup was not the Falling Child Soup, increasing the dosage would have no effect. It must be that this maid did not understand pharmacology and wanted to curry favor with her mistress, fearing that the dosage was insufficient to avoid thoroughly, so she privately increased it, and over time, a little became a lot, which led to Mingxia's outbreak.

  "This girl can't stay any longer!" Leaving such an unscrupulous and troublesome person in the mansion would eventually lead to trouble. Mr. Yao coldly said, "Take her away, tomorrow find a matchmaker to sell her off! Also, have the matchmaker carefully select several clever and virtuous ones, let Fourth Madam choose one that suits her taste!"

  "Yes, sir!" Ma's heart sank, feeling both indignant and resentful towards Hongyu. He immediately ordered the servant to take away Hongyu, who was still crying out loudly.

  If it weren't for her being so clever, things wouldn't have turned out this way.

  Ma deliberately placed Mingxia in the pomegranate flower house and said those words, precisely to create a preconceived notion for Old Master Yao, so that he would no longer ask about the Avoiding Son Soup.

  Every day, Mingxia was made to drink the abortion medicine, and she could only obediently drink it, but she didn't dare raise any objections in front of Old Master Yao. Otherwise, he would surely become suspicious and think that she was being dishonest, had ulterior motives, or wanted to use her pregnancy to stir up trouble.

  He made Mingxia pregnant and gave birth to a child, that's what he meant. Mingxia came to ask for herself, but it was another meaning. The result is the same, but the meaning is very different. Mingxia is a clever person and will not mention it in front of him.

  Ma thought to herself that she would just get through this period of time, and once Mingxia lost favor, she could just give her a bowl of infertility medicine and then there would be nothing to worry about.

  Unfortunately, Hongyu this little villain, when decocting the medicine actually secretly increased the dosage, causing the whole thing to be completely exposed in front of Old Master Yao. If not for having left a way out for herself earlier, she really wouldn't know what to say when faced with Old Master Yao's interrogation!

  Old Master Yao has spoken, and it's clear that this Avoiding Child Medicine can't be given to Mingxia. We'll have to think of another way. It's unlikely that this little wretch would have such good fortune as to get pregnant so quickly anyway.

  The two people who were arranged to be by her side also lost one, and Old Master Yao said to let her choose someone from the slave market herself - fortunately, there was still a Hong Chou, it seemed that she had to find an opportunity to call Hong Chou over and give her a good scolding, or else something unexpected might happen again!

  In the blink of an eye, Madam Ma had turned over countless thoughts in her mind, readjusted her strategy, and smiled to Old Master Yao: "Don't worry, sir, this is my fault, I will definitely make up for it. The Fourth Lady cannot be left unattended, so why don't I leave Cai Xia here temporarily? They were also very close friends before, it's just right to let Cai Xia accompany her and chat with her! When the matchmaker brings someone over, we can have the Fourth Lady choose a suitable one!"

  "It's fine this way," Old Master Yao nodded: "Let Cai Xia stay and let her properly advise Fourth Aunt!"

  Hong came out quietly from inside and knelt down to report: "Master, Madam, Fourth Aunt has woken up!"

  "It's good that you're awake, Master. Let's take a look!" Mrs. Ma said hastily, and Old Master Yao also stood up and nodded, the two of them entering together.

  Fourth Aunt's small face was pale, with a faint worry between her eyebrows, adding to her pitiful charm. Seeing Old Master Yao and Madam Ma, she weakly called out "Old Master, Mistress!" and struggled to get up to pay her respects.

  "Be still and don't move." Mr. Yao stepped forward with big strides, pressing her down, his eyes filled with even more tenderness.

  Fourth Aunt finally struggled to bow her head and curtsy, forcing a smile: "Master and Mistress have come in person, how can I be worthy of it."

  "Take good care of yourself and don't think too much." Mr. Yao personally helped her lie down, comforted and reminded her of many things, and said that he would leave Cai Xia to take care of her, and after a few days, he would re-select a suitable maid to replace Hong Yu and so on. Ming Xia nodded and responded softly, occasionally revealing gratitude and smiling slightly at Mr. Yao. Madam Ma's eyes were slightly sunken as she stood aside, without any opportunity to interrupt, and the handkerchief in her hand was crumpled into a ball again.

  "Master and mistress, please go back! For a servant like me to have delayed you for so long over such a small matter, I am uneasy at heart!" Fourth Auntie said voluntarily, filled with gratitude and remorse.

  "You rest assured and take care of yourself. I'll come visit you again tomorrow." Mr. Yao was pleased to see that she understood the situation and knew when to advance or retreat, so he smiled and patted her hand.

  "Yes, if there's anything you'd like to eat, just call someone to the kitchen to instruct them, or go to my place and say something! Take good care of your body and serve Master well!" Madam Ma also had a smiling face.

  Fourth Auntie meekly assented and watched as Old Master Yao and Madam Ma left the room before lying back down.

  Hong Chou hastily stepped forward to help her, tucking in the corner of the quilt for her. Unintentionally meeting her faintly shining eyes, Hong Chou's heart suddenly skipped a beat, and she felt an inexplicable chill run down her body, feeling somewhat guilty and fearful as she lowered her head.