“The concubine’s health is somewhat frail, but this is largely because she has rarely been exposed to fresh air or activity over the years. Added to that, she has suffered from constitutional weakness since birth, which makes her prone to illness,” the physician replied.
Lingyun nearly laughed out loud at his words. He had practically said that Peng Xue simply avoided moving about and was suffering from nothing more than the illness of laziness.
“Then how should she be treated?” Cao Jianfeng asked urgently.
The physician stroked his beard with a grave and solemn expression. Lingyun thought to herself that he had every reason to look serious after all, it was no easy task to diagnose and treat someone who was perfectly healthy. And Peng Xue was truly remarkable; she had been pretending to be sick for over twenty years and clearly enjoyed every moment of it.
“She only needs to rest quietly and take good care of herself. Then there will be no cause for concern.”
Peng Xue stood nearby, coughing continuously, her face pale as if she were about to cough up her lungs.
“Thank you, Doctor. We are much obliged.”
After seeing the physician out, Peng Xue immediately tried to stand up. But before she could even step down from the bed, she staggered and nearly fell right into Cao Jianfeng’s arms.
“Master, it is all my fault. I tried so hard to manage the household well, yet I never imagined the accounts would be in such a terrible mess. I beg you to punish me.”
She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly. A few days earlier, when a cat belonging to Madam Li had died, Peng Xue had grieved and cried for a whole night, and Cao Jianfeng had been utterly heartbroken for her.
“Master, whatever faults I may have committed, my daughter Lan’er has nothing to do with them. I beg you to see clearly and do not blame her,” Peng Xue pleaded, holding Cao Linglan and weeping together with her. They looked exactly like a pair of delicate, innocent mother and daughter, suffering endless grievances for the sake of the family.
But did the world really belong to those who could play the victim best?
“In my opinion, Aunt Peng has worked very hard. You have never managed the household yourself, so naturally you do not understand the complexities and difficulties involved. Life is already hard enough for women; it is unwise to be too harsh or demanding,” the Old Madame spoke up.
The moment she began to speak, Lingyun knew things would go badly. These people were all birds of a feather, and not one of them was free from guilt or corruption.
“What is your view on this?” Cao Jianfeng turned and looked directly at Liu Ruoyan.
She was taken aback by the question. Lingyun’s heart sank Cao Jianfeng was deliberately shifting the focus and blame onto her mother. If she suggested a light punishment, it would not be enough to deter wrongdoing in the future. If she suggested a heavy one, she would be accused of being petty and jealous.
It was a no-win situation, with danger whether she advanced or retreated.
“Mother!” Liu Ruoyan stumbled and nearly fell. Lingyun rushed forward quickly to support her.
“Mother, what is wrong?” She helped Madam Liu to sit down and immediately ordered someone to bring the physician back.
In ancient times, Liu Bei visited the thatched cottage three times to seek out Zhuge Liang; today, the physician had to visit the Cao household twice in a single day.
“It must be because the Mistress has been worrying greatly over household matters and has not eaten properly. She felt dizzy first thing this morning, yet she forced herself to come here despite her illness,” said Yingge, Madam Liu’s maid, stepping forward to explain.
“The physician is here!” Lingyun pulled the doctor inside at once. “Doctor, please examine my mother quickly so we do not delay her treatment. Yingge, please escort the physician into the inner chamber to see to her.”
And so, the physician and Liu Ruoyan went into the inner quarters together.
“The Mistress has been suffering from excessive worry and anxiety. She must try to trouble herself less in the future,” the doctor said afterward.
Lingyun smiled and slipped a piece of silver into his hand. “Then I must trouble you to write a prescription for her.”
Feeling the silver in his palm, the physician understood everything perfectly. He smiled knowingly.
“Rest assured, Miss. I understand exactly what you wish. I will ensure the Mistress receives the best care and attention.”
Before long, the physician was seen out, and Lingyun returned to the main hall.
By now, the hall was so silent you could hear a pin drop. The servants stood in neat rows, not daring to make a sound or draw attention to themselves in case they angered the Master.
“How is she?” Cao Jianfeng asked in a half-hearted, perfunctory manner. In truth, he did not care much about Liu Ruoyan’s health, but he knew it would look bad if he did not ask at all.
“Mother’s health has always been delicate, and she worries constantly. The physician has already written a prescription, and she has been taken back to her room to rest,” Lingyun replied.
She sat down to one side. Cao Jianfeng had always been unfair and biased. Even when it came to punishing Aunt Peng, he would surely go easy on her.
“Tell your mother to rest well. All these years, everything she has done for this family, your grandmother and I have seen and appreciated it. Now that you have grown up and can help her, she need not tire herself out so much anymore.”
“Indeed, Father is right. Mother has always worked hard. She has devoted half her life to this family, planning and worrying over every detail. It has been very hard for her,” Lingyun said, following his lead. After all, he was still the head of the Cao household. She could not afford to openly fall out with him.
Once she married and left this home, it would not matter so much for her but her mother would remain here for the rest of her life. Who knew how they would make things difficult for her once she was gone?
“As for Aunt Peng’s matter, your grandmother and I have already discussed it. She was only anxious and worried for the family’s sake. It would be best to confine her to her quarters for a while as a warning and a light punishment. After all, the court has been pursuing policies of benevolence and mercy recently. It is only right that we follow the Emperor’s example and show leniency.”
Cao Jianfeng had cleverly brought the Emperor into the argument, leaving Lingyun with nothing more to say.
She nodded slightly, then stood up to take her leave.
“Father speaks wisely and justly. Our Emperor is known for his kindness, and we, his subjects, hold his example close to our hearts. Since you and Grandmother have already decided on the course of action, I will take my leave now.”
With that, Lingyun stood up and walked straight out of the hall.
“Miss, are you angry?” Bao Yan chattered as soon as they stepped outside.
“Of course I am! If such a mess had happened while Mother was managing the household, they would have flayed her alive! That old woman in the Ming’an Hall has always been biased, but I never imagined she would be so shamelessly unfair! It is truly despicable!”
Even with all her memories from her past life, Lingyun still felt deeply upset and resentful.
But at least the garden was filled with spring beauty and color. The happiness that seeped into her eyes from the blooming flowers was the only true joy left here.
“The Old Madame has always disliked the Mistress because she was born into a merchant’s family. But they forget that long ago, it was the Mistress’s family who provided vast sums of silver to help the Cao family survive a crisis! How quickly they turn ungrateful and forget the past! They are nothing but a burden!” Bao Yan said, her face flushed with indignation.
Madam Liu had always been gentle and unwilling to argue or fight over such things. But the more she tolerated them, the more people tried to climb all over her. It was outrageous!
“Father is biased, and so is Grandmother. Life here is truly hard for Mother. In the future, when I marry and can no longer stay by her side, I fear she won’t even know how to pretend to faint to protect herself,” Lingyun said.
That was the truth. Today, Liu Ruoyan had not really fainted at all. It had been Lingyun’s plan.
Aunt Peng was always acting and performing fainting whenever she wanted, becoming sick whenever it suited her. It was high time her mother learned a few of her tricks and used them to her own advantage.
“Miss, if you really marry the Young Duke one day, they will certainly never dare to mistreat or trouble the Mistress again,” Bao Yan said innocently.
Lingyun looked at her and did not know what to say.
After a long pause, she sighed deeply. “But Mother cannot withstand their slow, grinding tactics. We can defend ourselves against the schemes they plot openly, but what about the things they do behind our backs? To truly remove all future trouble, we must pull up the roots and destroy them completely.”
Lingyun spoke with determination. It was time to plan carefully for her mother’s future. She could not let Aunt Peng seize every advantage forever.