"Asagao, tell me, why is my sister suddenly so concerned about me and Young Master Cui?"
Asagao hesitated for a moment, then looked at Zhao Zhi's expression and said, "Just now, I saw that when Miss mentioned Young Master Cui, her eyes were full of smiles. Could it be that she has fallen for Young Master Cui?"
Zhao Zhi was not in a good mood and did not speak.
Asagao glanced outside and lowered her voice, saying, "But wasn't the eldest young lady already betrothed to Prince Li Huai'an by the Emperor? Could it be that there's been a change in the arrangement?"
Zhao Zhi's eyelids drooped, and she looked somewhat unwell.
Asagao called out, "Nan Ying, have you brought the pills?"
Nan Ying replied repeatedly, "Here it is!" and handed it to Chao Yan, saying irritably, "Miss is so good to the eldest young lady that she's willing to risk her own life! Knowing she's allergic to almonds, she still eats so many!"
Asagao gave the pill to Zhao Zhi.
She no longer had the strength to stand up.
Asagao quickly helped Zhao Zhi to bed to rest.
She glanced at Nan Ying sideways and explained, "Our young lady is just afraid of hurting her sisterly bond with the eldest young lady."
"What sisterhood?" Nan Ying said, indignant on Zhao Zhi's behalf. "If the eldest young lady really cared about our young lady, how could she not know that the second young lady has been allergic to almonds since childhood?! I think she's only interested in you when she needs something! Humph!"
Nan Ying has always been outspoken. Chao Yan argued with her for a bit, then kindly reminded her, "Nan Ying, whatever we say in our courtyard doesn't concern us. But once we leave this courtyard, be careful, or you might get into trouble for what you say."
Nan Ying turned around and went to lie down in the outer room, not satisfied. Before leaving, she reminded Chao Yan, "Don't forget to remind Miss to attend the evening class."
Asagao replied, "How could I forget something so important? Who's like you, so lazy every day?"
This is why Nan Ying is so spoiled in the Second Miss's courtyard, not behaving like a proper maid at all. If she went to any other courtyard, she would be punished by her master countless times a day!
After Nan Ying left, Chao Yan kept her eyes glued to the hourglass, afraid that her mistress would miss the time for evening lessons. When the time came, she immediately went to call Zhao Zhi, but found that Zhao Zhi was breathing rapidly, which startled her. She hurriedly went to the outer room to call Nan Ying and asked her to inform the madam.
When Zhang Wan rushed over, Zhao Zhi already had a fever. Fortunately, her temperature wasn't very high.
Zhang Wan took her pulse, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.
This girl is actually a month pregnant.
"Tell me everything you know, from what you ate and used to what you used to use, to who you met, down to the smallest detail!" Zhang Wan rarely lost her temper with her servants; she was the type who commanded respect without even trying.
So, in front of her, Nan Ying quickly told her that Zhao Yun had come and brought almond cookies that Zhao Zhi was allergic to.
When it came to her eldest daughter, Zhang Wan sighed and gestured for Nan Ying to prepare some hot soup so that Zhao Zhi could take a medicinal bath.
"Zhizhi, you're such a kind child. Knowing you're allergic to almonds, you still ate them just to save face for your sister. Sigh—"
Zhang Wan had someone summon Zhao Yun so she could see Zhao Zhi's current half-dead state.
Zhao Yun was terrified.
She hurriedly knelt on the ground and said painfully, "Mother, every time I brought almond cookies, she ate them happily, so I thought she liked them. I... I really didn't poison them!"
Zhang Wan helped her up, "Of course I know you wouldn't be so cruel as to poison your own sister."
Zhizhi has been allergic to almonds since she was a child, a fact known to everyone in the household.
If you truly care about Zhizhi, you wouldn't be unaware that her feigned happiness is an attempt to please you, her older sister.
You valued her so much, even more than her life itself.
She looked at Zhao Zhi in the bathtub, patted Zhao Yun's shoulder and said, "After Mother passes away, you and Zhizhi will be the closest people in this world. Yun'er, you are the older sister, you should set an example."
"Mom, I remember. I will remember Zhizhi's preferences from now on."
Zhao Yun choked up as she spoke, but in her heart she resented Zhao Zhi for not telling her beforehand that she was allergic to almonds.
She believed that Zhao Zhi had eaten it so many times without any problems, but the moment she asked about Young Master Cui, Zhao Zhi had such a frightening allergic reaction, which was definitely a warning to her!
"By the way, Mother. Did you know that Zhizhi recently recognized a sworn brother?" Zhao Yun asked cautiously.
"Zhizhi mentioned it to me once. Is it that young master Cui? I heard he even sent packages to the manor. I remember you were the one who delivered them to Zhizhi, right?"
Zhang Wan subtly gave her eldest daughter pointers, keeping her every move under her mother's watchful eye.
Zhao Yun nervously clenched the handkerchief in her hand.
Then I heard my mother say, "Today, someone from the Duke's mansion came and discussed your marriage with Li Huai'an with me. It will be around the time of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Don't bother Zhizhi these days. Just wait for your marriage in peace."
"Mother! I don't want to!" Zhao Yun instinctively refused. Seeing Zhang Wan's face darken instantly, she hurriedly explained, "Mother, why the rush? Yun'er wants to spend more time with you. Besides, my two younger sisters haven't even been engaged yet, I..."
“Those are things I, as a mother, should worry about. You just focus on getting married.” Zhang Wan waved her hand after saying that. “Yu Ming, go back with the young lady.”
After returning to her courtyard, Zhao Yun was about to lose her temper, but when she thought that her every move in the mansion was under her mother's surveillance, she had no choice but to swallow her anger.
Suddenly, she had an idea and whispered a few instructions in Yu Ming's ear.
Before long, Yu Ming led Zhao Rou into the courtyard.
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