What Old Madam Lin never expected was that after being blown on by Nuonuo, her right leg, which had been numb for years, actually felt relieved.
She chuckled to herself, thinking it must be an illusion born of her deep desire for a granddaughter.
Tang Wanqing, who had already experienced how powerful Nuonuo’s blowing could be, kept her eyes fixed on Old Madam Lin and asked eagerly, “Mother, do you feel much better?”
Old Madam Lin looked astonished. “Now that you mention it, after Nuonuo blew on it, my leg isn’t as numb anymore.”
Tang Wanqing lowered her voice and said, “Mother, my chronic illness was also cured this way by Nuonuo.”
Seeing the pretty aunt praise her, Nuonuo puffed out her little chest proudly and said, “Nuonuo is amazing, right?”
“You mean…” Old Madam Lin didn’t finish her sentence, as Tang Wanqing was already nodding repeatedly.
Old Madam Lin understood everything now. This child Nuonuo not only had sharp eyes that could see Evil Spirits invisible to ordinary people but also had the ability to make illnesses vanish into thin air. Her daughter-in-law had truly found a treasure this time.
She felt a warm current flowing from her leg all the way to her limbs and throughout her body. Before long, Old Madam Lin felt invigorated, just like when she charged into battle in her youth.
At that moment, a mosquito buzzed annoyingly a few yards away. Old Madam Lin instinctively moved her feet and, in the blink of an eye, caught the mosquito by its wings.
Nuonuo found it amusing and clapped her hands, saying, “Grandma is so awesome.”
Tang Wanqing, however, was so moved she nearly shed tears. When she first married into the general’s mansion, her mother-in-law had been just as decisive and efficient. The iron lady who once rivaled men on the battlefield had returned. Trembling, she called out, “Mother,” and couldn’t utter another word.
“Wanqing, you’ve truly brought back a treasure,” Old Madam Lin said as she picked up Nuonuo, tears streaming down her face.
Nuonuo nestled against Old Madam Lin’s shoulder, yawning and saying, “Grandma, Nuonuo is so sleepy.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she leaned against Old Madam Lin and began snoring softly.
Old Madam Lin couldn’t help but laugh. “Truly an age without worries, falling asleep just like that.”
“Last time, after Nuonuo blew on me, she was also extremely sleepy. It must take a lot of mental effort to heal us like this.”
Hearing Tang Wanqing say this, Old Madam Lin felt both heartache and guilt. “Look at me, I was so overjoyed I forgot. Nothing good in this world comes for free—there’s always a hidden price. This child is no relation of ours, how can we keep draining her like this?”
Tang Wanqing quickly agreed. “You’re right, Mother. This child is sincere and can’t bear to see others suffer. I’ll talk to her properly when she wakes up.”
That night, Nuonuo slept in Old Madam Lin’s Jinggu Garden, which drove Lin Ruoxuan wild with jealousy.
To please Old Madam Lin, she had specifically learned a set of massage techniques. Knowing Old Madam Lin loved tea, she had painstakingly studied the art of tea.
Even with such careful efforts, Old Madam Lin had never allowed her to rest in her room. Even when she spent entire months in the villa keeping Old Madam Lin company, she had never received such treatment. How could this little beggar, picked up from who knows where, deserve it?
She angrily shouted at Shen Rumei, “Mother, didn’t you say that as long as I did well enough, I would be the one and only young lady of the general’s mansion? Why has everything changed since that little beggar arrived?”
Shen Rumei’s heart was also filled with intense frustration, but in front of her daughter, she could only force herself to muster her spirits and say, “Old Madam is just momentarily taken with something new. Besides, Tang Wanqing and the one in Songtao Garden are both on borrowed time. Old Madam herself is already like an oil lamp burning to its end. It won’t be long before everything in the general’s mansion belongs to us. That wild child—when the time comes, you can torment her however you wish.”
Only then did Lin Ruoxuan’s anger ease slightly. She linked arms with Shen Rumei and said, “Mother, Old Madam must miss Qingyi dearly. Let her go see him tomorrow.”
Her daughter’s thoughts aligned perfectly with Shen Rumei’s own. She praised, “Xuan’er is so clever. Mother was thinking the same thing. We must settle these disturbances before your father returns, so he doesn’t look down on us.”
After comforting her daughter, Shen Rumei swallowed her pride and went to deliver medicine to Tang Wanqing. Today, she had caused Tang Wanqing no small amount of trouble in front of Old Madam, thinking it would deepen the already strained resentment between them. Who would have thought the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law would share a meal together, and Old Madam would even keep that wild child Nuonuo with her.
But Tang Wanqing was so foolish that a few words could easily dispel her suspicions.
Having settled on her approach, Shen Rumei stood outside Tang Wanqing’s room holding the medicine bowl, putting on an innocent and harmless expression. “Sister-in-law, I’ve brought you your medicine.”
Not long after, Qiuyue came out and said, “Second Madam, our mistress has already retired for the night. Please return.”
“Sister-in-law hasn’t been taking her medicine on time these past few days, Miss Qiuyue. Today, because of the matter with Third Young Master, Sister-in-law has some misunderstandings about me. I must trouble you to take this medicine to her. Doctor Xiao said this medicine must not be interrupted.”
Thinking about how Shen Rumei had dared to poison her mistress right under her nose, Qiuyue gritted her teeth in anger and retorted sharply, “Second Madam is so diligent in delivering medicine to the mistress. Those who know might think you’re concerned about her health, but those who don’t might suspect you’ve added something to the medicine.”
Qiuyue had always been straightforward, but such an open accusation of scheming and poisoning Tang Wanqing made Shen Rumei’s heart race with panic.
To cover her embarrassment and prove her innocence, Shen Rumei resorted to a tantrum. “I was only afraid of harming Third Young Master. Since Sister-in-law distrusts me so much, I’ll drink this bowl of medicine myself.”
With that, she lifted the bowl and drained it in one gulp.
Qiuyue inwardly scoffed. After targeting the mistress so blatantly today, of course she wouldn’t dare tamper with the medicine now.
She used to think Shen Rumei was gentle and humble, but now she realized the woman was full of pretense.
Watching Shen Rumei finish the bitter medicine, Qiuyue pretended to step forward and console her. “Second Madam, I’ve always been one to speak without thinking. Please don’t take it to heart. The mistress is in a bad mood today and isn’t feeling well. You should go back first. I’ll have a good talk with the mistress about this.”
With things having reached this point, Shen Rumei withdrew awkwardly, feeling even more uncertain inside.
Nuonuo slept in Jinggu Garden until noon the next day without waking up. Worried, Old Madam Lin insisted on summoning Doctor Xiao.
As a result, Tang Wanqing was also frightened and went to Jinggu Garden to keep watch.
After taking Nuonuo’s pulse, Doctor Xiao said she was simply exhausted and asleep.
Tang Wanqing asked anxiously, “She’s been sleeping since midday until now. Is it really all right?”
“Miss Nuonuo is indeed asleep. I just can’t figure out what could have exhausted a little child so much that she’s sleeping this deeply.”
Old Madam Lin and Tang Wanqing exchanged glances, their hearts aching with concern.
Fortunately, after another hour, Nuonuo finally woke up, the well-rested little girl brimming with energy once more.
She rubbed her eyes. “Auntie, Grandmother, you’re both here. Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?”