CHAPTER 530: CHAPTER 530 HELPING

Xingxing has great faith in the old almanac.

But this time, the blow the old almanac dealt her was too much to bear.

In her anger, she tore it up.

Afraid of being seen by other maids or matrons, she hadn’t taken it to burn.

When Xie Jingchen returned to the mansion, Xingxing regretted it.

Although she could buy a new one.

Yet Xingxing had her own persistence; an old almanac could only be used once a year.

Replacing it might not work as well.

It’s just that she tore it to shreds, not sure if it could be pieced back together again.

Xingxing felt anxious.

The maid moved the Emperor’s rewards from the carriage inside.

Su Jin wanted to give a portion of those rewards to the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, but Mrs. Tang refused, so she could only bring them back as they were.

There were also four pieces of Cloud Brocade in the carriage.

Cloud Brocade is expensive, and ordinary people can’t wear it; otherwise, she would have also given it to Li Daniu’s wife.

Thinking of the pile of silk in the storeroom, Su Jin was truly afraid they would rot away.

She didn’t sleep well last night, then took a carriage back to the Capital, entered the palace, and visited the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

Su Jin’s eyes were so exhausted they almost stuck together.

Lying on the Imperial Concubine’s Couch for a rest, she eventually fell asleep.

Xingxing called her name twice but couldn’t wake Su Jin.

She moved the ice basin a bit closer and covered Su Jin with a thin blanket.

Then quietly continued piecing together the old almanac.

But it wasn’t quiet for long before Xingxing grew impatient.

Holding a fragment, she couldn’t figure out where it fit for a long time.

Qingqiu Garden.

Inside the room.

Lady Chi leaned against the large pillow.

Her face was pale, and her expression was haggard.

Lu Qiao entered and said, "Madam, I saw the Young Master and the Heir’s wife. They are all right."

A smile spread across Lady Chi’s bloodless face.

Xique, standing by the bed, said, "Didn’t I tell you that the Young Master and the Heir’s wife have great fortune and will be fine? Madam just wouldn’t listen."

"Now that they’ve returned, Madam has fallen ill, and the Commandery Princess won’t get you a doctor. I’ll go find the Heir’s wife for help."

Upon learning of Xie Jingchen and Su Jin’s disappearance, Lady Chi fainted from the news.

Xique reported to Princess Nanzhang, but her reports were met with silence.

Caiju and Lu Qiao dared not bypass Princess Nanzhang to seek Manager Li.

This disrespect towards Princess Nanzhang—if the Prince were to rebuke her, Princess Nanzhang would surely hold it against them.

Furthermore, Manager Li went out with the search party for Xie Jingchen and wasn’t at the mansion, delaying Lady Chi’s treatment until now.

Now that Su Jin and Xie Jingchen have safely returned with the generous rewards of the Emperor, she thought of seeking the Heir’s wife’s help, who surely wouldn’t refuse.

Xique held Lady Chi in high regard, but Lady Chi wouldn’t let her go.

"Madam!" Xique was anxiously pacing.

Lady Chi just shook her head.

She didn’t think her illness was severe.

It was just the shock that made her dizzy for a moment.

Resting for a couple of days without a doctor should suffice.

The heir and the Heir’s wife narrowly escaped death, and they must have been terribly frightened, needing proper care.

She didn’t want to trouble them over something trivial.

Lady Chi disagreed, and Xique dared not make decisions on her own.

Lady Chi leaned against the large pillow, while the maids didn’t dare to leave.

Who knows how much time passed before a call came from outside the courtyard.

"Xique?"

"Caiju? Lu Qiao?"

Xique’s heart leapt with joy, "It’s Xingxing!"

She quickly ran out, opened the door, and saw Xingxing.

"What brings you here?" Xique’s eyes sparkled.

She was worried, not knowing how to find Xingxing.

Xingxing carried a small bundle, saying, "I’m here to ask for your help."

Caiju was stunned for a moment, "Ask us for help?"

"What could we possibly help you with?"

Xingxing is the head maid beside the Heir’s wife; if she can’t handle it, neither can they.

Xingxing opened the bundle, showing them the shredded old almanac, "I tore the old almanac to pieces and couldn’t put it together after trying for so long."

Xingxing, being hasty, almost couldn’t resist tearing it again.

She was reluctant to ask the maids of the Agarwood Pavilion for help, so she thought of Xique and Caiju.

Xingxing trusted them not to worry about secrets getting out.

Even though Xique was puzzled, thinking Xingxing could just buy a new copy, it wasn’t a big deal.

However, Xingxing asked for help, and they certainly wouldn’t refuse.

Xingxing glanced around, "Where is Lady Chi?"

"My lady is ill," Xique quickly replied.

She was worried Xingxing wouldn’t ask.

"Ill?" Xingxing was shocked.

"How could she have fallen ill?"

Xique related the events leading to Lady Chi’s illness to Xingxing.

Xingxing expressed her indignation for Lady Chi.

Just because she’s a concubine, despite having money, she couldn’t call a doctor without Princess Nanzhang’s consent.

Being sick requires treatment and medicine.

It’s an utter disregard for someone’s life!

Xingxing despised such people the most.

She said, "My lady is asleep; after she wakes, I will talk to her."

"You must help me piece together the old almanac," Xingxing instructed.

Xique nodded repeatedly.

"Then I’ll be going back," Xingxing took her leave.

Xique escorted her out of Qingqiu Garden.

Xingxing returned to Agarwood Pavilion, where Su Jin was still asleep.

However, she had moved from the Imperial Concubine’s Couch to the bed, with someone beside her.

Seeing Xie Jingchen holding Su Jin in his sleep, Xingxing dared not disturb them and quietly left, her face reddening.

She slept for an hour and a half.

When Su Jin woke, the evening sunset was magnificent outside.

Xie Jingchen had risen half an hour earlier, leaving only Su Jin on the bed when she awoke.

She stretched herself lazily.

Xingxing peeked in through the beaded curtain and caught sight of her, "Miss, you’re finally awake."

Su Jin rubbed her neck, "Did something happen?"

"Lady Chi is ill, but Princess Nanzhang refuses to call a doctor," Xingxing reported.

"She seems really quite sick to me."

Although Lady Chi didn’t look like her portrait.

But Xingxing still thought Lady Chi had something to do with Zhao Xu.

Young Master Zhao was not bad, and his family should certainly be cared for.

Su Jin’s eyebrows knotted tightly.

She got out of bed, and Xingxing rushed to help her dress.

Su Jin washed her face to clear her mind, re-tidied her hair, and then walked out.

Xingxing eagerly followed behind her.

Inside the study.

Xie Jingchen was reading.

With a slender hand, he casually flipped a page of the book.

The Hidden Guard entered and said, "Young Master, Lady Chi is ill, and the Heir’s wife has gone to Qingqiu Garden."

Xie Jingchen’s brows furrowed.

Why is Lady Chi ill?

Wasn’t her health quite good?

For so many years, there hadn’t been any talk of illness.

Their return from disappearance to Qingqiu Garden would draw too much attention, not beneficial for Lady Chi.

"It’s inconvenient for me to go; you go and keep watch," Xie Jingchen instructed.

The Hidden Guard leapt out of the study.

Outside Qingqiu Garden, Su Jin approached with Xingxing.

Xique happened to come out, and upon seeing Su Jin, her eyes brightened.

Xingxing gazed at her, "Where are you headed?"

Xique handed the bundle to Xingxing, "The old almanac is pieced together, I was just about to bring it to you."

Su Jin gave Xingxing a sidelong glance.

She hadn’t realized.

The little maid was quite adept at shirking duties.