The First Madam had already been so angered that she took to her bed.
When the siblings entered, Lidong was slowly massaging her chest.
“Mother!” Fifth Miss and Ninth Brother rushed to her side, one on each side.
Seventh Miss, however, first stood on tiptoe to carefully examine the First Madam’s complexion.
Good, good—although the First Madam had been severely angered, she was still full of vitality and hadn’t actually fallen ill from her rage.
After scheming so painstakingly to create such a major disturbance, if the First Madam had actually fallen ill from anger in the end, Seventh Miss would truly feel it wasn’t worth the cost.
She inquired in a soft, delicate voice, “Mother, does it feel like something is stuck in your throat? Are you having trouble breathing?”
She had long suspected that the First Madam had asthma. Asthma patients easily become short of breath when their emotions are agitated.
The First Madam weakly nodded her head.
She only glanced at her several children, then closed her eyes again and began wheezing with labored breathing.
“We should still call for a skilled physician!” Ninth Brother was about to rise.
But the First Madam anxiously waved her hand.
“Don’t—don’t make a fuss!” Her voice was faint, accompanied by coughing and wheezing. “Isn’t… isn’t this… humiliating enough already?”
This short sentence was spoken by the First Madam with heart-wrenching sorrow, as if every syllable could wring out blood and tears.
The children all fell silent.
Seventh Miss let out a long, deep breath.
“Mother, please don’t think too much about it.” She came forward to comfort the First Madam in a gentle voice.
Then she lowered her eyes and took over from Lidong, slowly massaging the First Madam’s chest. “In this matter, Father naturally has his own judgment. It’s not something we women of the inner courtyard can casually interfere with. Please just set your mind at ease…”
The First Madam wheezed laboriously several more times before letting out a bitter laugh.
This laughter sounded almost like crying.
“I never imagined it would be your Second Aunt!”
The sadness in her words was quite genuine.
After all, they had been sisters-in-law for so many years, and she was her own cousin. Now that things had reached this point, how could the First Madam not feel emotional?
“Please don’t think too much!” Fifth Miss couldn’t help but scold the First Madam. “Second Aunt did wrong—what does it have to do with you? Instead, you’ve only harmed your own health by getting angry over nothing.”
The siblings then comforted the First Madam one after another with their words.
The First Madam’s spirits gradually improved, and gradually, her breathing became more even.
She struggled to sit up halfway, letting Seventh Miss help her slowly drink the medicinal tea that Lidong brought.
“Thank goodness our Ninth Brother has great fortune and destiny.”
Looking at Ninth Brother, her eyes were full of relief. “Thank goodness our Ninth Brother has great fortune and destiny…”
She then dispatched Ninth Brother: “Your father’s heart must also be troubled. You should go to the outer courtyard to check on him too!”
It seemed that Ninth Brother’s entering the main courtyard to visit the First Madam without any hesitation had brought the old lady some comfort in her heart.
Ninth Brother was greatly hesitant. “But you—”
The First Madam would hear none of it and called for Nanny Wang. “Personally escort Ninth Brother to the outer side courtyard and let him talk with the Master. Alas… I know the Master’s heart won’t feel good either!”
Nanny Wang obediently agreed with lowered brows and submissive eyes, then led Ninth Brother out of the eastern side room.
Though Ninth Brother looked back frequently, he obediently followed behind Nanny Wang.
The First Madam sipped a few more mouthfuls of warm medicinal tea, then indicated for Seventh Miss to take away the white porcelain cup.
“I’m fine.” She smiled with effort, murmuring to comfort her two daughters. “I just got worked up for a moment…”
Fifth Miss couldn’t wait to inquire about the day’s events. “Could it be that Second Aunt really—”
Seventh Miss bit her lip but didn’t stop Fifth Miss.
The First Madam let out another long breath.
“The witness and physical evidence are complete,” she couldn’t help grinding her teeth again. “What else is there to say? Your Second Aunt is truly a vicious woman! I really never imagined she could be cruel to this extent! She actually secretly nurtured little demons… For many years, she’s been privately cursing and suppressing our First Branch’s descendants!”
Fifth Miss and Seventh Miss both drew in sharp breaths.
“Many years?” Seventh Miss was somewhat puzzled. “Didn’t they say Second Aunt only had the intention of asking Master Tongguang to perform rituals?”
There’s naturally a big difference between merely intending to commit a crime and having committed crimes for many years.
The First Madam laughed coldly several times.
Seventh Miss was still young after all and didn’t understand how treacherous human hearts could be.
“Your eldest sister already found it strange long ago.” She mentioned First Miss, who was far away in Yuhang, in a detached tone. “Over these years, the descendants in our household have never had peace! If it’s not one thing, it’s another… And Ninth Brother has had mishaps one after another…”
“Didn’t they say it was Third Concubine—” Fifth Miss asked in surprise.
The First Madam’s brow was covered in gloom. “How many years has Third Concubine been dead? Just after her death, we performed sutra recitations and rites for her year after year. Even if her resentment was great, she wouldn’t linger in the mortal world for so long, would she?”
People are like this—once they accept one explanation, they find all sorts of reasons to repeatedly verify it, becoming more convinced the more they think…