Free Web NovelChapter 995: Chapter 989: A Happy Occasion (Part 1)
"Marquis!" Lianqiao chased after Wan with the child in her arms, out of the outer courtyard. Xiao Yanyi was in front of the study outside, talking with Han Cheng and Fourth Master Xiao, Xing, when he saw Lianqiao approaching, he furrowed his brow slightly and looked toward her.
Han Cheng nodded to the few people: "I’ll wait outside for the Marquis." With that, he turned and left through the mansion gate.
"I’ll see you off!" Fourth Master Xiao nodded slightly and, alongside Xing, escorted Han Cheng out the door.
Xiao Yanyi looked at Lianqiao and asked, "What’s the matter?" His gaze fell on the swaddled infant in her arms, with Wan wrapped tightly, her head and face not visible.
Lianqiao seemed somewhat anxious and said woefully, "The Marquis is going to Liaodong, for how long?" She had only just learned about Xiao Yanyi’s Liaodong trip. "Marquis!" Lianqiao stared intensely at Xiao Yanyi, fearing he might disappear the next moment. "Wan will turn one next year, will the Marquis return by then?"
Xiao Yanyi shifted his gaze away indifferently, and Lianqiao’s heart slowly sank. No matter how she was born, her status was still Xiao Yanyi’s concubine, the only one currently qualified to attend to his daily needs. Yet, she was the last to know about his significant trip to Liaodong.
She had harbored some illusion about Xiao Yanyi, thinking after Wan’s birth, she might not receive Xiao Yanyi’s love, but some responsibility and concern would be good. Now it seemed, not even the minimum concern for the child existed.
Just as Xiao Yanyi was about to speak, Lianqiao pursued, "Marquis... how long will you be gone?" Since Wan was born, he hadn’t held her once.
"It’s uncertain now," Xiao Yanyi remained perpetually calm and gentle when speaking to anyone. "You just stay in the mansion, and if the First Madam needs anything, lend a hand."
Lianqiao nodded, the brief despair momentarily replaced by a flicker of hope due to Xiao Yanyi’s demeanor. If he was entirely indifferent to her and the child, he wouldn’t have instructed her with these words, asking her to aid the First Madam—he must regard her as family in his heart.
"I shall heed the Marquis’s words," she said, stepping closer to present Wan before Xiao Yanyi. "When the Marquis returns, Wan might be walking and talking. Marquis, would you... like to hold her?" She looked at him with anticipation.
Xiao Yanyi’s eyes fell upon Wan, her small face exposed from the blanket, rosy and with slightly rapid breathing, sleeping uneasily. He furrowed his brow slightly, recalling the Grand Dowager’s words, and said, "The child should be sent to mother to be raised." He did not take her.
The smile on Lianqiao’s face faded bit by bit, awkwardly withdrawing the infant. "Marquis?" So it was the Marquis’s decision... she thought it was the Grand Dowager’s...
Xiao Yanyi had no desire for more words, and Lianqiao’s urgency translated into an explanation: "Marquis, Wan is all my hope, I will certainly take good care of her. I beg the Marquis to allow Wan to stay with me, it’s my only demand, please grant it!" She said, about to kneel in the snow.
"The decision is made," Xiao Yanyi stated, walking toward the door without looking back. Lianqiao, with tears supported by Xiuhong, called out, "Marquis!"
Xiao Yanyi had exited the gate, never once looking back. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
"Marquis!" Wan is her lifeblood, she cannot send Wan to the Grand Dowager’s room to be raised; even when Wan grows up, she won’t be close to her mother. As she took a step forward, Xiuhong grabbed her: "Concubine, don’t go!"
Lianqiao’s tears fell rapidly, and Xiuhong advised, "Seek the Grand Dowager’s favor." If this continues to escalate, even the Grand Dowager’s side might be unpersuadable.
Lianqiao awoke with a start, reluctant though she was, she swiftly carried Wan toward the inner courtyard, encountering Bilian and several old women coming over. Lianqiao ignored them, rushing past, Xiuhong held Bilian’s hand. "Sister Bilian, the concubine simply came to send off the Marquis, nothing more."
Once sisters from the same room, previously close to Lianqiao, Bilian waved at the old women and followed Lianqiao to the Grand Dowager’s garden.
"Grand Dowager," Lianqiao knelt at the Grand Dowager’s feet with Wan in her arms, "I beg you to let Wan stay with me. I will take good care of her!"
The Grand Dowager frowned slightly but didn’t look at Lianqiao, instead, she wanted to take Wan from her embrace. Lianqiao was startled, instinctively hugging Wan tightly, the Grand Dowager said sternly, "I’m so advanced in age, I have no energy to manage her. Were it not for your foolish decisions, would I need to undertake such a task?" Finished, she didn’t look at Lianqiao.
Lianqiao pleaded many words, Bilian and Ziwei watched with knitted brows, wanting to speak but afraid, they glanced at both Xiqiu and Mrs. Zhou.
Mrs. Zhou and Zhi were talking quietly, as if planning to take Zhi to brew flower tea, Zhi was eager, and neither seemed aware of the room’s disturbances.
Xiqiu handed tea to the Grand Dowager, smiling, "Mother, let her rise, the floor is chilly."
Only then did the Grand Dowager ask Lianqiao to stand and speak. She said, "Don’t cry as if I’m a wicked person; I’ve raised several children in my room, none were like her, falling ill every few days, especially at such a young age!" She gazed sharply at Lianqiao, asking, "I inquire, did Fourth Madam not instruct you to feed the wet nurse lightly? Did you pay no heed?"
Lianqiao was taken aback, glancing at Xiqiu with some guilt before quickly lowering her head. The Grand Dowager said, "Don’t think we’re bullying you; there are only a few children in this house, no matter whose they are, I cherish them all. There won’t be favoritism. Wan is inherently weak, as the saying goes, frail ones can’t bear the supplement; yet you ignore this, fearing I’ll find out, secretly cooking rich dishes for the wet nurse. You’re not pampering her, clearly harming her!"
"Grand Dowager," Lianqiao’s face flushed in embarrassment, clutching Wan tightly, "I... I’ll never dare again." Wan was born from her womb and started at a lower status. Though unable to change or compensate for it, she can’t let the sustenance and treatment be inferior to others.
"Let me see," the Grand Dowager reached out, normally she wouldn’t hesitate to keep Wan by her side to raise. Now, with age, energy waning, she hesitated before handing Wan to the Grand Dowager, who took her and opened the blanket to inspect Wan.
Touching her small face was startling, anger appeared immediately. "She’s feverish!" She exclaimed, looking up at Lianqiao. "She’s burning so, and you’re carrying her through the courtyard!"
Lianqiao panicked, wanting to verify, the Grand Dowager frowned, instructing Ziwei, "Take the Imperial Physician’s prescription for Fourth Madam to see."
Ziwei hurried out to fetch the Imperial Physician’s prescription for Xiqiu, who opened and glanced at it, whispering to the Grand Dowager, "Same as last time, just a heavier dose." Then she added, "Unwrap the blanket for now, let heat escape, it’s not good to keep it wrapped." High fever can lead to convulsions.
