Volume 1 Chapter 9: Spitting Blood
"Madam, Nanny Cao is dead."
The head maid, Xue Qin, leaned close to Madam Zhen's ear and quietly recounted what she had witnessed in Qingyi Courtyard.
Madam Zhen immediately wiped her tears: "I never thought she would pass just like that…"
Xue Qin comforted her: "Madam need not worry. Nanny Cao's grandson is still in your hands. Even if she were alive, she wouldn't dare say anything…"
Madam Zhen sighed with compassion: "That child is pitiful too. He lost his parents at a young age, and now even Nanny Cao is gone. He must be heartbroken. Make sure to look after him more in daily life, but never tell him how Nanny Cao died…"
After a pause, Madam Zhen added: "I heard Brother Xun is in need of a study companion. Since they are around the same age, let that poor child serve Brother Xun."
A flicker passed through Xue Qin's eyes: "Yes."
Madam Zhen turned to the others: "Is Tan'er better now?"
"This…"
The maids and servants dared not speak.
Madam Zhen immediately rose and led the way to Tanxiang Courtyard, where Yan Tan resided.
Before even stepping through the doorway, she heard Yan Tan's furious and humiliated voice from inside: "Get out! All of you, get out! I won't wear it!"
Seeing the mess scattered across the floor, Madam Zhen said coldly: "All of you, leave."
The maids withdrew.
Only Madam Zhen and Yan Tan, mother and daughter, remained in the room.
Yan Tan glared at Madam Zhen with reddened eyes: "Mother, why did you agree to let me become Lu Qiao Nan's concubine?"
Madam Zhen picked up the wedding dress from the floor.
The pink wedding dress symbolized a concubine. Tan'er, spoiled and pampered since childhood, was proud and unwilling to wear this dress.
She placed the wedding dress back on the bed and said calmly: "If you don't become a concubine, your only other option is to become a nun at Qingcheng Mountain."
Yan Tan shook her head: "That won't happen. Father loves me so much, he wouldn't make me shave my head and become a nun!"
"Having been married to your father for over twenty years, no one understands him better than I do. If I hadn't agreed immediately just now, Tan'er, your life would have been ruined…"
Yan Tan trembled, unable to believe her father would truly send her to Qingcheng Mountain.
Madam Zhen sighed, took Yan Tan's hand, and sat with her on the edge of the bed. She spoke earnestly: "Tan'er, being a concubine is nothing. Lu Qiao Nan has no other women now. Once you marry him, you'll be his only woman. As long as you can firmly capture his heart, a concubine can also be elevated to the rightful wife!"
"But I still have to circle the city three times!"
Yan Tan cried, throwing herself into Madam Zhen's arms: "Mother, I don't want to marry in such a humiliating, disgraceful way. I want a grand, glorious wedding. I want to be Brother Qiao's rightful wife…"
Madam Zhen patted her back.
Again and again.
Only after Yan Tan had calmed down did she say quietly: "Lu Qiao Nan was your choice. Since you've already lost your innocence to him, even if this path is cursed by thousands, you must walk it! But remember, Tan'er, never give your heart to any man, not even Lu Qiao Nan… As for the humiliation you suffer today, don't worry. I will make sure Yan Qing endures shame and humiliation a thousand times worse than yours!"
In the end, Yan Tan still put on the concubine's wedding dress. At dusk, carried in a small sedan chair, she circled Yongjing City three times before quietly entering the manor through the side gate of Wu'an Marquis Manor.
All the common folk of Yongjing now knew: the eldest daughter of the Yan family had become a concubine to Heir Lu!
Yan Qing learned this news just as she was about to visit her mother, Ye Xi Ruo.
Hearing it, she curved her lips into a faint smile.
Want to go to Wu'an Marquis Manor? Then go.
She would make that place a nightmare Yan Tan could never escape in this lifetime!
Just like her in her past life…
"Second Miss, please go and persuade Madam. She refuses to see the physician no matter what, so this old servant had no choice but to come find you."
Yan Qing had just stepped out of Qingyi Courtyard when she ran into Nanny Liu from her mother's side, hurrying over in a panic.
Yan Qing frowned. "What's wrong with Mother?"
She was perfectly fine yesterday when Yan Qing married off, so why is a physician needed now?
Nanny Liu said anxiously, "Last night, Madam heard that Second Miss was forced into a divorce and was so angry she vomited blood. She slept fitfully all day and just woke up insisting on going to settle scores with Madam Zhen. But how can Madam's body withstand that!"
"Vomited blood?"
Yan Qing's heart sank.
Her mother had always been healthy. Even in her past life, it was only after her maternal grandfather's family suffered successive blows that she fell ill and never recovered. How could she be vomiting blood now?
Wait!
The Ye Family was a military family, strict with their descendants from childhood. Even if women weren't expected to fight on the battlefield like men, their physiques were stronger than ordinary women's, and their minds were more resilient.
In her past life, the misfortunes of her maternal grandfather's family would certainly have saddened and pained her mother, but they shouldn't have caused her to fall ill and never recover…
Now that she thought about it, her mother's illness and death back then seemed too rapid. Yan Qing hadn't even seen her mother one last time before her father hastily buried her. Could it be…
A terrible suspicion formed in her mind, and Yan Qing's body trembled slightly.
If her mother was…
Then her younger brother A Xun…
"Miss!"
Qing Luan stepped forward to support Yan Qing. Seeing her pale face, she asked worriedly, "Miss, are you unwell?"
Yan Qing shook her head in distress.
She had thought they only harmed her maternal grandfather's family. Could it be they didn't spare her mother and brother either?
A chilling coldness surged through her limbs like a tide, and Yan Qing's lips trembled.
After a moment, she suddenly grabbed Nanny Liu's hand and said shakily, "Nanny, take me to see Mother!"
If it was truly as she suspected, then her mother might…
No!
Yan Qing commanded herself to calm down.
In her past life, her mother fell ill and never recovered only after her maternal grandfather's family suffered. The Ye Family's downfall was still years away. Even if they had done something to her mother now, there must still be a chance to remedy it.
Yes, there was still a chance to fix it.
Just like her rebirth.
Yan Qing hurriedly followed Nanny Liu to her mother's courtyard.
When they reached Xiruo Courtyard, a figure was just coming out. Seeing Yan Qing, the person paused and called out, "Cousin Qing."
The clear, gentle voice was like a spring breeze.
But Yan Qing shuddered all over!
She looked up—
And abruptly met a pair of deep, dark eyes.
"Gu Huaizhou… Cousin!"
Yan Qing's voice betrayed a trace of panic she couldn't control. Why would she encounter Gu Huaizhou here?
Her entire composure was thrown into disarray.
What was Gu Huaizhou doing at her mother's courtyard? Could it be about last night's incident? Last night, he was drugged and shouldn't remember anything. How could he…
"Cousin Young Master, safe travels."
Nanny Zhang saw Gu Huaizhou out. Spotting Yan Qing, she immediately came forward to greet her. "Second Miss, you've finally come. Please go and persuade Madam. Just now, if not for Cousin Young Master, Madam might have already taken a knife to Cuizhen Courtyard…"
Cuizhen Courtyard was Madam Zhen's residence.
Suppressing her panic, Yan Qing tentatively asked, "Cousin, did you come to visit Mother?"
Gu Huaizhou looked at her: "I heard early this morning that Madam was unwell. Since I happened to have some free time, I came to check on her."
Early morning… How early?
Yan Qing’s thoughts stirred again.
But Gu Huaizhou’s expression was gentle and sincere, just as before, as if he knew nothing about what had happened last night.
For a moment, she didn’t know what to think.
Fortunately, Gu Huaizhou thoughtfully reminded her: "Cousin Qing, Madam is waiting for you."
"Thank you… Cousin."
Yan Qing snapped back to her senses at once and followed Nanny Liu into Xiruo Courtyard.
Only, as she stepped through the courtyard gate, she couldn’t help glancing back.
She saw Gu Huaizhou still standing there, watching her.
His figure was lean and strong, like a pine tree enduring the winter cold.
His face was gentle and refined, elegant and handsome.
Yet, for some reason, she felt afraid.