Chapter Seventy-Four: Sudden Illness

“What’s going on? Making a fuss at this hour—she can’t have any good intentions!”

Hongxing also climbed up from her bedding in the corner. For the past few nights, she had been on watch in the room, taking over for Chuncao.

Xu Ruoji’s surprise quickly faded into calm. She raised a hand to soothe Chuncao and Hongxing. “No need to panic. What’s happened?”

“It’s Yangtao—she suddenly fell ill. Her face is pale, her stomach twisting in pain, she’s even bitten her lips so hard they’re bleeding. I went to take a look, and it didn’t seem like she was faking it,” Chuncao reported, looking at Xu Ruoji. “Second Miss, should we call for a doctor?”

Hongxing, still fuming, snapped, “A doctor? She’s making trouble on purpose—if she’s in pain, she deserves it!”

“We should still call a doctor. If she’s truly ill, people will fault us for neglecting her,” Xu Ruoji replied, utterly composed. “Hongxing, go to the main house and inform Madam, call for a doctor. Chuncao, come with me to check on her.”

“What about the room?” Hongxing glanced at the wine jar in the corner. She’d been guarding it for days and was reluctant to give up when the end was so near.

Xu Ruoji considered, then sprinkled a layer of ash from the brazier over the wine jar’s lid. If anyone tampered with it, it would be obvious.

“All right, let’s go,” Xu Ruoji said.

She changed her clothes, threw on a cloak, and led Chuncao outside. Hongxing hurried off to the main house, while Xu Ruoji and Chuncao made their way towards the back quarters.

Even from a distance, they could see a faint candlelight glowing in a small house in the corner, punctuated by shrill cries and the sound of someone offering comfort.

“Yangtao, hold on a little longer. Xiao Ke has gone to fetch help again. Just endure it a bit more!”

“It hurts, it hurts so much…”

“What are we to do?”

Hearing Xiao Ke’s name, Xu Ruoji frowned, but there was no time to dwell on it. She gave Chuncao a quick look.

Chuncao went ahead, pushed open the door, and lifted the curtain for Xu Ruoji to enter.

Baimei turned and, upon seeing the Second Miss, lit up with hope. “Second Miss, please save Yangtao! She’s in so much pain!”

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Chuncao scolded, shooting Baimei a stern glare. Baimei immediately fell silent.

Xu Ruoji approached Yangtao and was, in truth, startled. Though Chuncao had described her condition, Yangtao’s eyes were bloodshot and she looked deathly ill, as if she might expire at any moment.

Yangtao tried to sit up but collapsed back down, gasping, “S-Second Miss…”

“Don’t get up, just lie still,” Xu Ruoji told her, feeling her forehead—it was burning hot.

Her fever was severe.

“How did it get this bad? Did you eat something bad tonight?” Xu Ruoji looked at Baimei.

Baimei was nearly in tears. “We all ate from the main kitchen. After dinner, Yangtao said she felt unwell and lay down. Who could have guessed she’d start vomiting and burning up in the middle of the night?”

“I thought she’d just come down with a fever, so I brought water to wipe her down, but the more I wiped, the worse she got. I was frightened and ran to tell Sister Chuncao.”

“Second Miss, please save her, I beg you…”

Baimei started to kneel and kowtow, but Chuncao quickly stopped her. “Second Miss already sent Hongxing to inform Madam and call a doctor. Don’t keep crying and making a scene. Our mistress is kindhearted—why show such histrionics? Get up and let Second Miss have some quiet.”

Baimei seemed taken aback, not expecting the Second Miss to act so quickly. She wiped her face and stood aside. “I’m sorry, I was just anxious, please don’t be angry.”

Xu Ruoji no longer wished to speak to Baimei. She went to Yangtao’s side, examining her eyes and prying open her mouth for a look.

Such symptoms clearly pointed to ingesting something she shouldn’t have…

But according to Baimei, Yangtao hadn’t eaten anything unusual.

Xu Ruoji dared not make a rash judgment and decided to wait for the doctor to investigate further.

There was a noise outside.

Everyone turned to look, but it wasn’t Hongxing—it was Xiao Ke.

Baimei sighed and fell silent, and Xu Ruoji ignored her as well.

Xiao Ke, upon seeing Xu Ruoji, looked startled and quickly hurried over. “Second Miss, you’re here! I went to your courtyard but saw no one—so you were here all along.”

She’d gone to her courtyard?

Xu Ruoji exchanged a glance with Chuncao. Chuncao had clearly noticed as well.

“I already woke the Second Miss—why did you go there again? Are you not in enough of a panic?” Chuncao, usually gentle, couldn’t help but rebuke her.

“I—I was just worried,” Xiao Ke stammered, addressing Xu Ruoji, but Xu Ruoji simply sat by the bed watching Yangtao, appearing not even to hear.

Baimei waved her off with a glance, signaling her not to stir up more trouble.

Xiao Ke, utterly oblivious, continued to be a nuisance. “Second Miss, what should we do about Yangtao? Why not prepare her a remedy? Aren’t you knowledgeable about medicine?”

“What did you eat tonight?” Xu Ruoji suddenly asked. Xiao Ke and Baimei were both taken aback.

Sensing Xu Ruoji was questioning Xiao Ke, Chuncao kept Baimei from speaking, waiting for Xiao Ke’s answer.

“We had corn porridge, scallion tofu, vinegared cabbage, and…” Xiao Ke paused. “And a small plate of salted dried fish.”

“What dried fish? I don’t recall that,” Baimei challenged.

Xiao Ke shrank back, her voice barely audible. “Just a few pieces. Yangtao and I shared them. I ate the portion meant for you.”

Baimei, furious, could only huff and turn away.

Xu Ruoji glanced at Xiao Ke but asked nothing more.

Madam Yang didn’t come in person but sent Nanny Huang to escort the doctor to see Yangtao.

According to the physician, it was likely caused by cold and dampness, possibly from unclean food, or something Yangtao herself was susceptible to.

A prescription was written. Baimei hurried to fetch the medicine and began brewing it.

Nanny Huang wouldn’t let Xu Ruoji linger. “Second Miss, you’d best return. Dawn is nearly upon us, and in less than an hour you must rise, dress, and prepare for the banquet at the county magistrate’s residence.”

“Thank you for your trouble, Nanny Huang,” Xu Ruoji replied. Nanny Huang accepted the thanks graciously. “It’s no trouble at all.”

Xu Ruoji had no interest in further pleasantries. She was intent on returning to check the wine jar.

She rushed back with Chuncao and Hongxing. As soon as they entered, Hongxing went to the corner and inspected the wine jar; there were fingerprints on the lid and shoe prints on the floor—the jar had clearly been tampered with.

“We must get to the bottom of this. For someone to seize such an opportunity to do harm—their intentions are truly vicious and unforgivable!” Hongxing’s face was flushed with anger. Chuncao thought of Xiao Ke, but now was not the time to pursue the matter; they had to decide what to do about the wine.

“Second Miss?”

Xu Ruoji remained utterly composed, showing not the slightest trace of panic. She called Hongxing and Chuncao to her side, instructing them in a low voice before concluding, “…Tomorrow, we’ll do exactly as planned. For now, there’s only one thing to do: sleep!”