Chapter Ninety-Five: The Old Madam's Days Are Numbered
There was a moment of silence in the room.
Seeing that Zhao Yu remained silent, Xu Chumian turned and left.
Zhao Yu stared at Xu Chumian's figure, stepped into the snow and wind, and then quickly entered the house diagonally opposite.
Xu Chumian was perceptive and noticed many unusual things as soon as she entered the room.
For example, there are many more pieces of jewelry on the table, and some new tea leaves are placed on the shelf...
Dongjiu: "Miss Wen, you're back."
Xu Chumian paused slightly: "Has anyone been here?"
Dongjiu: "Just now, Steward Chen brought people from Jinyifang with him. They brought several sets of clothes and cloaks, as well as jewelry. Young Master Guanyan heard that you like to drink tea, so he selected some tea from the manor's storeroom and sent it over."
Xu Chumian said calmly, "Put it away separately for now."
Xiao Tao remained standing beside Xu Chumian, saying, "Yes, Miss."
Autumn-brewed wine and winter-brewed wine stared at each other in bewilderment.
Yesterday, Xu Chumian had a hasty farewell to the Li family. Worried about the health of Old Madam Li, she had to go out of the mansion today, with Zhao Nai and Xiao Tao accompanying her.
Unexpectedly, the carriage broke down.
Zhao Nai quickly checked it and said with difficulty, "Miss Xu, it is indeed broken. Why don't you ride in the young master's carriage?"
The servant said with difficulty, "The young master will also be going out later."
Xu Chumian: "What about the other carriages in the manor?"
"Just now, Butler Chen used one of the cars to go out, and the other two were sent for repairs."
Xu Chumian: "Then we'll go out after it's fixed."
Just then, Zhao Yu's figure appeared not far away.
Where are we going?
Xu Chumian did not respond.
Zhao Nai had no choice but to nod: "Miss Xu needs to go out of the city."
Zhao Yu: "Take my carriage, we'll go to the city gate along the way."
Xu Chumian frowned deeply: "No need."
Zhao Yu knew what Xu Chumian wanted to do, and he said calmly, "Time is running out, so let's see each other as much as we can."
Xu Chumian finally got into Zhao Yu's carriage.
The scene inside the carriage the day before yesterday is still vivid in my mind.
She was far from Zhao Yu, her hands resting on her knees, her expression slightly serious.
Zhao Yu's cold gaze was fixed on her cheek, and he himself did not realize the tenderness in his eyes.
Incense was lit in the carriage.
No one brought up what happened in the carriage that day.
They soon arrived at the city gate. Xu Chumian prepared to get off the carriage, but it did not stop and drove directly out of the city.
Xu Chumian was startled: "Zhao Yu, what are you going to do?"
Zhao Yu, dressed in black with a stern expression, said, "I left in haste that day and didn't have a proper chance to pay my respects to the old lady."
Xu Chumian frowned, feeling a sense of frustration rising in her heart again; she had once again fallen victim to Zhao Yu's scheme.
Xu Chumian: "Didn't you say you had something to do this afternoon?"
Zhao Yu raised an eyebrow slightly. "The old lady has always been kind to us younger generation. Now that Xiao Qingyan has passed away, it is only right that I go to visit her."
Xu Chumian looked away, not wanting to talk to Zhao Yu anymore.
They soon arrived outside the Li residence.
Yesterday's festivities are over, and the area outside the Li residence is now deserted. Layers of snow have fallen under the eaves of the gate, but no one is clearing them away.
Xu Chumian had a bad feeling. As soon as the carriage stopped, she hurried into the mansion.
The gatekeeper was startled: "Miss Xu, what brings you here?"
Xu Chumian: "How is Grandma?"
"I slept in a long time today..."
Xu Chumian didn't have time to ask any more questions and rushed inside immediately.
Zhao Yu grabbed her in a few steps, "The road is slippery from the heavy snow, don't rush."
There weren't many people in the courtyard at the time.
Zhao Yu used his light-footed technique to carry Xu Chumian inside, almost half-embracing and half-carrying her.
Almost all the red silk ribbons with the character for "happiness" in the mansion have been taken down.
In just one day, everything changed.
They only let go of Xu Chumian when they were almost at the gate of Madam Li's courtyard.
Xu Chumian whispered, "Thank you."
Several maids and servants were sitting at the old lady's door; they all knew Xu Chumian.
"It's Miss Xu."
"Eh? Miss Xu?"
Xu Chumian: "How is Grandma?"
An old woman wiped away her tears, "Last night I kept calling the young master's name in my dream, but I fell asleep at noon."
Xu Chumian stood at the door, her delicate brows furrowed slightly, looking very worried.
Zhao Yu waited under the corridor in the courtyard, occasionally glancing at Xu Chumian, but mostly gazing into the distance.
At that moment, the door opened.
Another old woman came out and said, "The old lady heard that Miss Xu had arrived as soon as she woke up. She's inviting you in."
Xu Chumian quickly wiped away her tears.
The room was filled with the smell of medicine.
In just one night, Madam Li lost even more weight, her eyes became sunken, her complexion turned yellow, and she was barely breathing.
Upon seeing Xu Chumian arrive, her eyes flickered, and she said in a trembling voice, "It's Chumian."
Xu Chumian sat on the edge of the bed, holding the old lady's hand, her eyes stinging with tears.
"Grandmother..."
"Where's Qingyan? Why didn't Qingyan come with you?"
Xu Chumian desperately held back her tears. She looked at the old woman beside her, who shook her head at her with sadness in her eyes.
The old lady has been somewhat confused since last night.
"Qingyan went to handle a case and has been quite busy these past few days, so he couldn't come to visit you together."
Madam Li murmured, "Go on with your work."
“I’ve been sleeping a lot these past few days. When Qingyan came, I couldn’t even see him.”
The old lady's voice grew softer and softer until she slowly closed her eyes.
Xu Chumian had no time to react before she placed her finger under the old lady's nose.
When she felt that faint breath, she breathed a sigh of relief and sat on the edge of the bed, silently shedding tears.
Zhao Yu stood outside the bedroom, peering through the crack at Xu Chumian's weeping figure, and pursed his lips.
He recalled that after Mu Mu's accident in his previous life, the Zhao family searched for a long time before finding the remaining body parts. Xu Chu Mian couldn't accept it, and she stayed in Mu Mu's room every day.
Xu Chumian's suppressed sobs could often be heard from inside the room.
Sorrow and grief.
Zhao Yu could only stay outside, feeling his wife's pain and sorrow, but there was nothing he could do.
Later, after hearing a sound of something falling inside the house, Zhao Yu rushed in and brought Xu Chumian, who had lost a lot of weight, back to their courtyard.
When Xu Chumian questioned Zhao Yu about the truth of that day after she woke up, he remained silent.
Zhao Yu's silence and helplessness churned in Xu Chumian's heart like a knife; she hated Zhang's hypocrisy and ruthlessness.
"She's so young, how could your mother take her away and leave her all alone!"
"If she doesn't like Mu Mu, she should take it out on me. Why hurt Mu Mu?"
At that time, Zhang's reply was that she thought Mu Mu was asleep in the carriage in the back.
But Mu Mu's personal maid cried and said, "It was the old woman from Madam's side who told us that Miss Mu Mu was in Madam's carriage, and we all thought it was true..."
After returning to her residence, Madam Zhang's silence further confirmed that she had something to hide.
At that time, Zhao Yu could only hold Xu Chumian and keep saying sorry.
Later, Zhang moved away from the Zhao family and never returned. Even before her death, she never revealed the truth to Zhao Yu.
Zhao Yu clenched his fists, his temples throbbing slightly.
Today, the mistake of that day will not be repeated.
Xu Chumian stayed with her until dark.
The old lady woke up once during the journey. She was lucid and recognized Xu Chumian, and gave her many instructions.
"Chumian, you are still young and have a long road ahead of you. You and Qingyan are ultimately not meant to be."
"People are often harsh on women; you must not let these things weigh you down."
...
Xu Chumian left the house, and Zhao Yu then went inside.
The old lady talked to Zhao Yu at length.
Xu Chumian was under the eaves, rubbing her eyes incessantly.
After an unknown amount of time, Zhao Yu emerged. He glanced at Xu Chumian's eyes and said softly, "Let's go back."
On the way back, Xu Chumian's tears never stopped.
Zhao Yu's voice echoed in the carriage.
"In her life, the old lady has seen off the Princess Consort of Ding, the old imperial physician, and then Xiao Qingyan."
"For her, wasn't this a relief?"
Xu Chumian turned her head, looked at him, and suddenly asked, "How did you get reborn later?"
Zhao Yu said calmly, "An old illness has relapsed."
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