CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 41: INDIFFERENCE

Liufu felt a chill run through her heart from Xiqiu’s glance. Knowing she had lost her composure out of panic, she quieted her tears and followed silently behind Chunyan.

Upon entering Zhiqu Courtyard, Xiqiu turned around at the kang and looked at Liufu: "Has something happened to the Seventh Young Master?"

"Seventh Young Master... the young master has a high fever, and I’m too afraid to tell anyone else. Terrified, I could only come to you." Liufu kneeled, behaving maturely and steadily, but after all, she was just an eight-year-old child; faced with life-threatening matters, how could she not be rattled?

"A fever?" Xiqiu felt a chill rise from her feet: "How did he catch a fever just like that?"

Liufu didn’t get up, kneeling quietly: "He... he fell into the Tongji River. Da Kui carried him back and told me not to report to the inner courtyard. Unable to defy him, I managed to coax him into a hot bath, made a bowl of ginger soup, covered him with a quilt to sweat, thinking it was fine, but shortly after, he started burning up with a high fever."

Fell into the river? He walks that path seven or eight times a day; how could he just fall into the river? But now’s not the time to investigate the cause; since it’s a high fever, we must summon a doctor, reducing the fever is the priority.

Trying to hide it from Lady is impossible; if she hears from someone else, it’ll arouse suspicion, better to directly inform her.

"You came to me, is there anyone else who knows?" Xiqiu frowned, her gaze profoundly cold.

Liufu shivered instinctively, shook her head woodenly: "I came quietly, no one knows, only Da Kui and I are aware of the Seventh Young Master’s illness, Qiuyun and the others don’t know yet."

Xiqiu nodded, pulled her ear, and whispered instructions for a long time, leaving Liufu dumbfounded: "Sixth Miss... will this... work?"

Xiqiu frowned: "Just do as I say, and pretend you don’t know anything else."

Liufu nodded heavily, suddenly feeling relieved, as if Xiqiu’s reassurance guaranteed success, inexplicably comforting: "I’ll go take care of it now."

As she left, Chunyan anxiously looked at her: "Miss, what are we going to do? Although the Seventh Young Master has a good constitution, a child can’t withstand such a setback; what if his brain gets damaged from the fever, what will Sixth Miss and the concubine do?"

Xiqiu gestured for her to calm down: "Panicking now won’t help." Her face was calm, but her fingertips were pale as she held the teacup.

A six-year-old child, chills, and high fever aren’t scary, but the fear of pneumonia makes it incurable.

Suddenly, she remembered the Second Young Master who died young of a high fever, dragged for half a month before passing.

Her heart tightened, recalling nursing knowledge, and she called Chunyan to help her change: "What hour is it now?"

Chunyan found her an ochre overcoat, fastening the button at the chest: "Almost evening."

"Personally go to the concubine; don’t forget the medicine I gave her a few days ago, her chest pain must be taken care of." She headed outside: "Keep an eye on it, don’t come back until the medicine is on the stove."

Chunyan was filled with surprise; what exactly did Miss say to Liufu? Why suddenly continue having the concubine take medicine again?

What about the Seventh Young Master?

Not daring to ask, Chunyan separated from Xiqiu at the main courtyard, taking a turn onto the path leading to the East Cross Courtyard.

When Xiqiu reached Lady’s place, Tong Shen Zhi wasn’t there, but she happened to see his attendant reporting he would be late for supper.

"Maybe something delayed him," Nanny Fang interjected with a smile: "Should a maid be sent to check?"

Lady wasn’t concerned: "Maybe a colleague came."

"Big brother is always meticulous, no need to worry, Mom." Xiqiu smiled at Nanny Fang, chatting nonchalantly with the other misses.

"Sixth Miss makes a good point." Nanny Fang scrutinized Xiqiu, currently talking with Tong Xiyan.

In a moment, First Young Master’s servant Ershan rushed in: "Madam, the First Young Master said the Seventh Young Master is ill and asks you to invite a doctor."

Laughter vanished, the room fell silent, and all eyes turned to Xiqiu.

Lady raised her eyebrows, not surprised as if she already knew, casually glancing at Xiqiu: "Ill? How did he get ill just like that?"

Xiqiu looked shocked, pale, and glanced at Lady, completely clueless and helpless.

Ershan knelt, about eight or nine years old, always sharp: "He was playing with the Third Young Master, who slipped, and the Seventh Young Master couldn’t grab him in time, falling into the river himself."

Xiqiu froze; Liufu hadn’t mentioned the Third Young Master falling. Could it be First Young Master told him to say this?

"Was the Third Young Master hurt?" Lady leaned forward slightly, eyes fixed on the servant.

"The Third Young Master is fine; only the Seventh Young Master fell into the river."

Lady sighed in relief, reclined back into the cushion, told Zizhu: "Take a token to the second gate, bring Doctor Liu for a consultation." Not calling the familiar household doctor.

Zizhu took the token and led Ershan to the outer courtyard.

Xiqiu remained silent, lowering her head, seemingly worried and suppressing her emotions, softening Tong Xiyan’s heart: "Sixth Sister, don’t worry, once the doctor comes and the medicine is taken, it will be alright."

Xiqiu lifted her face, tears welling in her big eyes, nodding slightly, tears trailing down her cheeks, helplessly heart-wrenching: "I wonder how severe the fever is..."

Lady sighed, asked someone to bring water to wash Xiqiu’s face: "No more than a common cold, this child has always been troublesome since young," sipped some tea, then turned to Tong Xiyang: "Is your concubine feeling better?"

Tong Xiyang’s face was a bit unnatural, stood up: "Mother, she’s feeling much better."

Lady looked pained: "Stay with her. She’s getting old; if she craves anything, let someone come tell me, don’t neglect her body!"

Tong Xiyang secretly curled her lips, craving anything? After changing the kitchen staff, even a midnight silver ear soup was impossible, now putting on a show, with First Master not home, who to show? She dared think but appeared grateful: "Thank you, Mother. The concubine doesn’t eat much; the mansion’s meals are just fine."

"Such a shame for her!" Lady smiled at Xiqiu, who came out of the washroom after washing her face: "Once the doctor finishes the examination, you’ll hear the diagnosis." Implying for her to rest assured.

Xiqiu nodded: "Thank you, Mother." Not mentioning going to see Tong Minzhi.