Chapter 53: Refusing a Thousand Miles

  After falling into the water in summer, her body had been recuperating for several days and had basically recovered. However, Xiaoyang hadn't come to see her all these days, which made her feel a bit strange and uncomfortable, but she was unable to ask about it. But obviously Fengliu was even more anxious than her, because not even the "packaging" in the General's mansion could gather any news related to the young master, this represented that the situation was very serious.

  "Fourth sister, it's bad!" A figure flashed behind the screen, and Xia Xue rushed in like a frightened little bird. "Fourth sister, it's bad!"

  Feng Lui chased after her, exchanging a glance with Xia Tian, who was also perplexed.

  "Big brother, big brother he..."

  Xia Tian's heart suddenly tightened, and Feng Lian had already pulled Xia Xue back: "What's wrong with the young master?"

  Xia Xue looked at Feng Wei strangely and continued to say to Xia Tian, "Big brother is ill, I just heard about it. It seems that big brother's old illness has relapsed, and it's very serious. Father even invited the imperial physician."

  "Old illness? Are you referring to the dizziness that the young master used to suffer from?"

  "Okay...I guess so. Hey? Fourth sister, where are you going? Wait for me!"

  Before they could finish speaking, Xia Tian had already shot out like an arrow.

  Xia Yang and Jing Fei's courtyard, although also in the General Hu Guo's mansion, was an independent yard. They took care of their own food and daily life, a true "yard within a yard". The yard was filled with golden willow trees, and at this time, autumn was in full swing. When the wind blew, the golden leaves would rustle down.

  Two guards stood outside the gate, and Xia Tian and others were stopped as soon as they approached. "Fourth Miss, Fifth Miss, please stop. The young madam has given orders that no one is allowed to enter without her permission."

  Xia Tian glared at him, not caring whose orders they were. She was going to see her big brother and no one could stop her. Xia Xue didn't dare to be presumptuous and weakly asked while pulling on Xia Tian's arm, "Not even me and Fourth Sister?"

  The guards looked at each other and shook their heads.

  Before summer had a chance to react, Feng Lui had already lost control and crashed into the arms of two blocking guards: "Is the young master really ill?"

  "How dare you!" The guard blocked her way back, "The young master's affairs are also something you can't pry into!"

  Feng Lian stumbled and took a few steps back hastily, fortunately Xia Tian and Xia Xue supported her in time from both sides.

  Xiatian's patience was almost exhausted, and she threw a glance at Xiaxue. The little girl was quite clever, turned her head to the guard and said: "We want to see Da Sao, you go ask her to come out, this should be okay, right?"

  "This... " The guard dared to shout at Feng Lui, but did not dare to treat Xia Xue in the same way. She was after all the fifth young lady of the General's estate, and her mother was also one of the nine favored consorts. A guard thought for a moment, cupped his hands together, "The two ladies please wait, I will go inside to report."

  "It's all right!" The tone was soft, but the voice carried a hint of coldness and detachment. Jing Xi slowly walked closer, her gaze swept across Xia Tian's face before quickly looking away.

  "Sister-in-law! Is big brother really sick?" Xia Xue was not afraid of Jing Fei, her voice was much louder.

  Feng Lian retreated with a humble expression, seemingly intimidated by Jing Fei, and quietly stood behind Xia Tian.

  "Sir is slightly unwell and doesn't like to be disturbed. The two sisters, please return." Jing Fei's tone was light, her eyes cast down, with a demeanor that refused people thousands of miles away.

  Summer frowned, if this was Big Brother's intention, she couldn't force her way in. But did Big Brother really not want to see her? Or was it Big Sister-in-law...

  The two parties stood silently facing each other, and for a moment neither side showed any intention of backing down.

  "What's going on? Tian'er? Xue'er? What is this...?" Xia Jingting walked over with Xia Feng, the imperial physician, and Zhang Deshun, the chief eunuch of the palace, looking puzzled at Jingfei before shifting his gaze to Xia Tian: "What are you people doing?"

  Xia Tian smiled sweetly and naturally reached out to hold his arm.

  Xia Jingting also smiled indulgently and patted her head, no longer forcing her to speak, but instead looked at Xia Xue.

  "I and fourth sister came to see big brother, but big sister-in-law didn't let us go in." Seeing father dote on fourth sister so much, Xia Xue felt a bit jealous, her tone also couldn't help but reveal some sourness.

  Xia Jingting looked at Jingfei with a puzzled expression, while the latter lowered her eyelids and said with a humble face: "The daughter-in-law just didn't want to disturb her husband."

  Zhang Deshun quietly observed the expressions of the people present, and suddenly stepped forward to pay his respects to Xia Tian: "The old slave has seen the Ling Wangfei."

  Summer daze, who is this person? Why is he suddenly bowing to her?

  Seeing his daughter unresponsive, Xia Jingting hastily gave a glance, and Xia Feng immediately stepped in to return the courtesy on behalf of Xia Tian: "Please get up, Zhang Gonggong. Xia Feng is returning the courtesy for Fourth Sister."

  Zhang Deshun was dissatisfied in his heart, but he didn't show a single thread on his face. He still smiled and said: "The identity of the Ling Wangfei is noble, and it's only right for an old slave like me to pay my respects. How dare I trouble the third young master to return the courtesy? It's really an honor for an old slave like me! The emperor attaches great importance to General Xia's family, and as soon as he heard that the young general was ill, he immediately sent an old slave to visit him. This kind of honor is something that even the emperor's son has never had!"

  Xia Jingting's expression turned stern, and he bowed his head in a flustered manner: "Your Majesty's great kindness, Xia Jingting is truly ashamed to receive it. Please ask Grand Secretary Zhang to convey this to the Emperor on my behalf, that once Yang'er recovers from her illness, I will definitely bring her to the palace to thank Your Majesty."

  "The general has spoken. I, the old slave, will certainly report the general's intentions to Your Majesty. Imperial physician!" Turning around, his attitude and tone suddenly became high-handed, "You must treat with all your might, without any mistakes."

  "Yes, I will do my best."

  Xia Jingting's eyebrows furrowed slightly, but her face remained expressionless: "Thank you, Zhang Gonggong and Imperial Physician. Please, both of you." She patted Xia Tian's hand reassuringly before he led the way in.

  Zhang Deshun followed with a faint smile, along with the imperial physician. Jing Fei gave Xia Tian a cold glance and expressionlessly followed behind them into the courtyard.

  Xia Feng took two steps back, thought for a moment and turned around again, coughed unnaturally and said in a low voice: "You all go back first, there is an imperial physician here, Big Brother will be fine."