She had originally thought that when she came of age, her Legal Mother would likely marry her off to a lesser-born son from a family of lower status. But whether that family was wealthy or poor, she would be willing as long as she could be a legitimate wife.
However, if she were to be stuffed into her elder sister’s dowry entourage, then she feared there would be no hope left for her in this lifetime.
The first time Xie Linlang fell ill, she lay in bed for several days with a high fever, drifting in and out of consciousness. During that time, Madam Xie sent one of her personal attendants to check on her. That person didn’t even enter her room; they merely stood outside and asked Xiao Qiu a few questions, then spoke a few words as if no one else were present, saying things like “ill-fated” and “unlucky.”
After that incident, Xie Linlang seemed to have developed a chronic illness. In spring, when the weather fluctuated between warm and cold, she would catch a chill. In the sweltering heat of summer, she would suffer heatstroke and faint. When autumn arrived with its dry air, she would cough incessantly. And once winter came, she would simply take to her bed, hardly ever getting up, spending almost every day in the company of bitter medicinal decoctions.
But Xie Linlang didn’t find it bitter. Isolated and helpless within this deep mansion compound, her very life held in the palm of her Legal Mother’s hand, she racked her brains but couldn’t think of any good way to carve out a path for herself.
A few days earlier, while in Xie Yurou’s courtyard, she overheard several maids chatting idly together and learned that the Marquis of Qing’an’s household intended to form a marriage alliance with the Xie family.
That night, Xie Linlang slept without a blanket, and a severe chill swept over her, leaving her ill until today.
Fortunately, it was all worth it. Xie Linlang understood what it meant when her Legal Mother summoned her second sister, Xie Yujing. From now on, the sister most likely to accompany the eldest sister as part of her dowry would be Xie Yujing.
Xie Linlang felt she had no right to pity Xie Yujing. After all, she herself had added fuel to the fire in this matter. Besides, Xie Yujing had her own birth mother, so there would always be someone to plan and scheme on her behalf.
On the night the matter was settled, Xie Linlang slept exceptionally soundly bundled in her quilt. Not only did she have no nightmares that night, she didn’t even dream at all.
Early the next morning, right after finishing breakfast, it was time for the physician to come and take her pulse, but he was long overdue. Xiao Qiu grew impatient and said she would go out to meet him.
After a while, she returned with a pout. “Miss, the physician was intercepted on his way here by Concubine Hu’s people. They said Concubine Hu isn’t feeling well.”
Xie Linlang… This was getting ahead of themselves before the ink was even dry. Did Concubine Hu even understand why the Legal Mother valued Second Sister so highly?
If she knew, wouldn’t she realize that going to the eldest sister’s husband’s household would likely not even earn her the title of a concubine?
Xie Linlang hung her head, clearly deep in thought, but it made Xiao Qiu’s heart ache to see her. She hurriedly said, “Miss, this servant will go to Concubine Hu’s place right away and wait. I’ll definitely bring the physician back.”
Xie Linlang came back to her senses and waved her hand. “Forget it. He’s here to examine me. He’ll come on his own after leaving Concubine Hu’s place.”
Anyway, her health had mostly recovered. The reason she was still lying in bed was merely to put on a show for her Legal Mother.
With this time, she might as well get up, move around a bit, and tidy up the things in her room.
She had a feeling that once the eldest sister’s marriage negotiations formally began and the Legal Mother gave up on the idea of sending her along, then even if the Legal Mother didn’t mention it, the servants from the main courtyard wouldn’t allow a sickly person like her to stay here for long. It would simply bring bad luck to the eldest sister’s marriage for no reason.
Xie Linlang’s monthly allowance was three taels of silver—not a lot, but to her, it wasn’t a small sum either.
In earlier years, to make her life a bit easier, Xie Linlang had used her meager monthly allowance to bribe the servants. Later, she discovered that even the servants in the Xie household were well-off and looked down on her paltry silver.
Each time they accepted her money and tucked it into their sleeves, they would turn around and mock her for being poor and shabby. Of course, they would also handle matters carelessly.
As she grew older and could think of more things, Xie Linlang lost interest in bribing the servants. With this expense eliminated, she was delighted to find that her life hadn’t worsened much, and her private savings had actually accumulated to over eighty taels of silver.
After counting the silver, Xie Linlang decided to keep it all under her personal care to prevent any servant from sneaking it away during the chaos of moving.
After checking the silver, she turned to her jewelry. Having been a young lady of the Xie family for fifteen years, although her Legal Mother deliberately neglected her, she still received her allotted share of gifts during festivals and holidays.
Additionally, whenever Xie Yurou caught her making a mistake and punished her, she would always send one or two pieces of jewelry she no longer liked as a consolation.
Even if the styles of Xie Yurou’s jewelry were outdated, they were still fine pieces. Especially that solid gold hairpin, which Xie Linlang found exceptionally beautiful.
These items might not catch the eyes of the Xie family’s masters, but they were valuable treasures outside. Even if her future husband’s family fell into hardship, she could rely on pawning them to ensure a comfortable life for herself.
Moreover, when her birth mother passed away, all her jewelry was left to Xie Linlang, who had carefully preserved it ever since.
If she were to marry into a poor family in the future, Xie Linlang planned to convert some of these items into silver and purchase farmland or shops outside, providing a steady income for the family.
Looking at these possessions and thinking about her future life outside the Xie residence, Xie Linlang felt a surge of excitement but kept her expression neutral. After all, she was still a patient and couldn’t afford to reveal any clues.
Just as Xie Linlang had anticipated, after examining Concubine Hu, the physician hurriedly made his way to her.
Perhaps having been slighted at Concubine Hu’s place, the physician was somewhat perfunctory when examining Xie Linlang. He merely placed his fingers briefly on her pulse before withdrawing them. “Wind-evil has invaded the body. Just continue taking the medicine I prescribed, Third Miss.”
With that, he left, leaving behind several pre-packaged doses of medicine.
Xiao Qiu stood nearby, her eyes wide with indignation, wanting to say something, but Xie Linlang stopped her with a glance. “Thank you, Doctor. You’ve gone to great trouble.”
The physician paused while packing his medical kit, seemingly realizing it was wrong to take his anger out on a young girl. Yet, in the end, he said nothing and strode away with his kit on his back.
Xiao Qiu put the medicine aside and said angrily, “Miss, should I go to the Madam and complain? Concubine Hu is too much of a bully. Let’s ask the Madam to assign you another physician.”
Knowing that Xiao Qiu genuinely felt wronged on her behalf, Xie Linlang could only feel regret in her heart. Xiao Qiu’s parents were both in the household, and it was unlikely she would follow Xie Linlang after she married. That would leave her truly alone.
“It’s fine. It’s just a common cold. Even if we change physicians, the medicine would be the same. The Madam is very busy every day—don’t disturb her.”
Even if she weren’t busy, if you made a fuss over such a trivial matter in front of the Madam, you’d likely be asking for trouble.
Xiao Qiu then stomped off angrily to find a place to brew the medicine.
While waiting for someone from her Legal Mother’s side to arrive, Xie Linlang focused on recuperating peacefully. Her illness was partly self-inflicted and partly due to the relapse of an old ailment.
But Xie Linlang knew her own body well—as long as she ate properly and took her medicine, the chill would soon pass.
Five or six days of such peaceful and stable life went by in a row. At the start of the twelfth lunar month, Meixiang, the chief maid serving Madam Xie, arrived with her attendants.
As soon as she entered, she greeted Xie Linlang with a smile, but her movements were so swift that Xie Linlang barely caught a glimpse.
Covering her lips with a handkerchief, Xie Linlang coughed twice and said, “What brings Sister Meixiang here today?”