Chapter 35: Convalescence

Leaving aside how the Fang family fared after returning home, ever since Xiao Yao fell ill, the Xiao household had summoned their house physician. Meanwhile, someone had been dispatched to fetch an imperial physician. Before the latter arrived, the house physician had already begun diagnosing Lady Qin.

Dr. Liang, a man in his forties, conducted a thorough examination of Lady Qin and inquired in detail about the cause of her illness. He concluded that her condition stemmed from acute emotional distress. He prescribed medicine and performed acupuncture.

By the time Lady Qin’s complexion appeared slightly improved, the imperial physician arrived. After another meticulous examination, his diagnosis matched Dr. Liang’s.

Madam Tong ordered the maidservants to prepare the medicine quickly, and most people in the room were sent to the side hall to wait for updates.

Unexpectedly, it took an entire day and night before Lady Qin finally regained consciousness.

General Xiao sat on a round chair, resting his head on one hand, dozing off lightly. After all, he was sixty years old, and enduring such a long vigil was no small feat.

Xiao Jingmin and his wife sat further away, both looking deeply troubled.

At the foot of the bed, Xiao Jingyan leaned against a bedpost, seemingly lost in thought.

When Lady Qin struggled to open her eyes, the first thing she saw was her youngest son sitting at the foot of the bed.

“Yan’er, Yan’er,” she called hoarsely, her voice raspy.

“Mother, you’re awake! I’ll go fetch Dr. Liang immediately,” Xiao Jingyan said, standing abruptly and heading for the door.

“What’s the rush? Chunlan, go invite Dr. Liang over,” General Xiao instructed calmly.

“Yes, Master.” The sound of hurried footsteps faded into the distance.

“How do you feel? Are you thirsty or hungry?” General Xiao asked with concern. He had long been absent from home, and his guilt toward his wife weighed heavily. Watching her fall ill and lying helplessly in bed, he felt powerless and unsure of how to help.

“I’m fine. I’ll be okay after some rest. Don’t worry about me.” Lady Qin couldn’t remember the last time she heard her husband speak so gently.

The once bold and boisterous general now softened his tone and lowered his voice, displaying his most tender demeanor toward her. How could Lady Qin not be moved?

But alongside her gratitude came a deep sense of guilt. The trouble with the Fang family had started because of her, disrupting the entire household. She sighed, wondering how it would all end.

“The Fang family…” she began, only to be interrupted by her husband’s raised hand.

“It’s resolved. Don’t worry. Your precious son is safe,” General Xiao said, half-teasingly.

“I’ve caused trouble for the family. I never expected them to be such people,” Lady Qin said apologetically.

Their greed had led them to covet multiple members of their household. Bringing such a family’s granddaughter into their home would have made life unbearable.

“They promised not to bring up the marriage proposal again, and they’ve even put it in writing. Now, just focus on your recovery and leave the rest behind.”

Hearing her husband’s reassurance, Lady Qin finally felt at ease and devoted herself to recuperating. Her condition, which stemmed from emotional distress, would naturally improve as long as she rested.

After drinking medicinal soups for two days, her health recovered significantly, but her family insisted she stay in bed for a few more days.

As Lady Qin improved, the men in the family resumed their busy routines, but Xiao Jingyan was required to report to Ninghe Hall daily. If Lady Qin didn’t see him for long, she would send someone to fetch him repeatedly.

Her daughters-in-law took turns tending to her bedside, and her elder grandchildren visited daily. However, the four younger ones were kept away to avoid disturbing her rest.

Madam Tong visited on the third day of Lady Qin’s illness. Seeing that Lady Qin’s spirits and complexion had improved, she relaxed and sat down to chat.

“We’re at an age where we must take extra care of our health and avoid emotional extremes,” Madam Tong said, patting Lady Qin’s hand.

“I’ll remember that. How’s your second daughter-in-law? Does the baby resemble anyone?” Lady Qin inquired, still concerned about her family.

“Thank you for asking. Both mother and child are doing well. The baby, though… we can’t say who he resembles. He’s all wrinkly! My husband says all the Tong family’s good traits went to Ping’an, and Heaven tossed us this little oddball. He’s planning to visit you soon to express his grievances.”

“These two old men will never stop bickering in this lifetime. Let them have their fun.” Thinking of the incident during her husband’s birthday celebration when they fought over their granddaughter, the two women chuckled again.

After chatting for a while, Madam Tong left Ninghe Hall, mindful not to disturb the patient for too long. When she arrived at Ya Garden, she didn’t ask for her daughter but inquired about her grandchildren immediately.

Tong Mingyu felt her position in her parents’ hearts had dropped since the birth of her twins.

“Can’t you show some concern for me first before asking about the twins? That would make me feel a little better,” she said, feigning distress.

“I’m not one for pretense. Why should I say what I don’t mean?”

“Even my own mother disregards me! I truly am a pitiful soul,” Tong Mingyu said, pretending to be upset, only to be interrupted by her children running over.

Young Xiao Yao sped up her little steps to console her mother, planting kisses and offering comfort, busily winning her over. This made Madam Tong so envious that she wished she could feign sadness too. Meanwhile, Xiao Jun imitated his sister, soothing his grandmother.

Mother and daughter each held a child in their arms as they chatted about family matters.

“If it gets overwhelming for you, I can take the twins to my place for a while,” Madam Tong offered.

“Second Sister-in-law is still in confinement. It wouldn’t be appropriate. Don’t worry, I can manage. The twins seem to sense their grandmother’s condition and have been exceptionally well-behaved lately. They’re not much trouble to look after.

During the day, the wet nurses and maids watch them, and at night, when I’m not around, Ah Yi and Ah Yang keep them entertained.”

“I’d love to see how Ah Yang handles children,” Madam Tong said, trying to imagine it.

“Ah Yang’s temperament may be a bit peculiar, but he has no temper around Ping’an. In the past, he never touched books like travelogues, but now he reads them fluently to Ping’an.”

“Does Ping’an understand what he’s reading?”

“Not really, but she gets especially spirited when he reads travelogues. If he reads The Analects, she dozes off.”

“Haha! No wonder your father keeps complaining that all the Xiao and Tong family’s vitality went to Ping’an. That child is practically a genius!”

“Sometimes I feel uneasy. They say brilliance often leads to tragedy, and I worry about her future.”

“Don’t overthink it. With so many of us protecting her, she’ll be fine. If you’re still uneasy, we can betroth Ping’an to your second brother’s son, Xiaojia Bao. That way, she’ll marry back into the Tong family, and you’ll be at peace.”

Xiao Yao, nestled in her mother’s arms, was keen to hear how her mother would respond. After all, this concerned her future!

“If Ping’an could marry into the Tong family, I’d be thrilled. But she’s older than Xiaojia Bao, and I don’t know what Second Sister-in-law thinks about this. Besides, it’s not entirely up to me. Let’s not rush things. The children will see each other often, and if they get along and neither family objects, then it’ll happen. If they don’t have the affinity for marriage, they’ll remain cousins. There’s nothing wrong with that, don’t you think?”

“I see your point. Let’s leave it to the children to decide. It’s just a pity Ping’an is too young. Otherwise, she’d be perfect for your elder sister’s son, Wenyan.”

Xiao Yao silently counted the male cousins in her family. Fortunately, there weren’t too many. Otherwise, her grandmother wouldn’t know whom to pair her with!

As she nestled closer to her mother, Xiao Yao heard her soft murmur, “I don’t wish for this child to be rich and powerful; I only hope she can live a peaceful and happy life.”

Rubbing her mother’s embrace, Xiao Yao silently promised herself: Mother, for your words, I will work hard to build a life of peace and happiness.