Liu Xiangning nodded, "Mm."
Chen Mianmian asked, "Have you ever seen anyone die like this before?"
“No,” Liu Xiangning shook her head, “but there are those who suffer from depression for many years and eventually die. I don’t know about Yanyufang, but our Yaotaifang… is actually… quite tragic…”
Chen Mianmian sighed, "Don't worry, I'm strong. I can think things through no matter how difficult things get. If I really don't want to live anymore, I'll just hang myself. I won't die from depression."
Liu Xiangning then stopped crying and smiled, "That's wonderful, Master."
As the two were talking, they saw Granny Li come out of the room.
Liu Xiangning hurriedly took out her handkerchief to wipe away her tears, and then asked, "Granny Li, are you having breakfast? Breakfast has already been warmed up twice."
Granny Li waved her hand, "No need, I... can't eat..."
Liu Xiangning—Oh, another one who can't finish her food. She's too embarrassed to say it, she just ate four steamed buns.
Chen Mianmian said, "Granny Li, you must eat something, you...you must take care of yourself!"
If Granny Li also falls, she will truly go mad.
Granny Li smiled wryly, "Don't worry, Madam, I'm prepared and won't be too upset."
"???" Shen Mianmian was taken aback. "You were already prepared?"
"Yes, this is the second time that the lady's life has been in danger."
"The second time?" Shen Mianmian was surprised and hurriedly got up to help Li Mama to a chair. "What exactly happened? I knew it. The Marquis was too calm just now. Although he was anxious and concerned, he was clearly much calmer than me."
After sitting down, Granny Li sighed and began to speak, "The story begins with the Marquis's injury. After the injury, the Marquis's temperament changed drastically. He became unpredictable, irritable, and easily angered, both towards the servants and towards his wife."
But the strictest treatment was given to the heir apparent. Knowing he could no longer have any children, the Marquis placed all his hopes on the heir apparent. At the time, the heir apparent was only five years old, and the Marquis trained him like an elite soldier.
The young master was frequently ill, and even when he had a high fever, the Marquis forced him to learn martial arts. The young master became increasingly afraid of learning martial arts and behaved worse than before, so the Marquis beat him every three days and every five days.
The lady saw it all and felt a pang of pain in her heart, yet she dared not offer any advice. On one side was her son, and on the other was the Marquis, whose condition was equally dire. She worried that this would upset the Marquis, causing him to rush over in a fit of rage, especially since he had narrowly escaped death from his injuries.
The imperial physicians all said it was a miracle that the Marquis had survived!
The lady endured and suppressed her pain every day, until she began to vomit blood... She vomited blood secretly, initially keeping it from even the servants, but later, when the vomiting became severe, the servants discovered it. The lady threatened the servants, saying that if they dared to tell anyone, she would be expelled from the Marquis's mansion.
Helpless, the servant could only help conceal the truth, but on the condition that Madam see a doctor and take medicine. Fortunately, Madam obeyed and began taking the medicine, but... this was a mental illness. How could Madam recover while watching the Marquis continue to mistreat the Heir Apparent?
Several years passed, and then the heir apparent participated in the martial arts examination. He performed poorly and became a laughingstock. Upon returning to the Marquis's residence, the Marquis broke his bones, and the lady fainted from the shock. Just like now, they summoned renowned doctors, even the imperial physician, and it took a tremendous amount of effort to save him.
Seeing his wife on the verge of death, the Marquis finally abandoned his admonitions to the heir apparent and even applied to the Emperor for permission to leave the capital to take up a post... essentially out of sight, out of mind, he went to a military camp on the outskirts of the capital. It took many years for his wife to recover her health.
Chenmian understood—no wonder, it's the second time, that's why the Marquis was so calm, as if he had already accepted the reality that his wife might pass away.
Shen Mianmian caught another detail, "Granny Li, the Marquis just repeatedly told me not to tell the princess. Is there a special reason?"
Granny Li sighed and nodded, "Previously, the princess came to argue with the Marquis because of the matter between the lady and the heir. Later, when the lady was critically ill, the princess even rushed to the Marquis with a knife in hand... The Marquis was probably afraid that if His Highness the princess found out about the lady's condition, she would directly take a knife and go to the military camp in the outskirts of the capital."
"I see." Shen Mianmian understood again, but at the same time she wondered—in seven days, the princess had thoroughly investigated the Anning Marquis's residence and the Xuanping Marquis's residence. Would she not have any informants here?
Even without informants, wouldn't Guan Shui report it?
Guan Shui is a member of the Princess's household.
She decided to ask Guan Shui later.
Chen Mianmian rubbed her aching eyes—what a headache! In the novel, the female lead dies of depression, but now that the female lead is fine, the female supporting character is going to die of depression?
Li Mama said, "Madam, you haven't slept all night, go and rest. I'll take care of things here."
Shen Mianmian shook her head. "You're the one who needs to rest. I'm fine. I'm still young and can handle it. Don't be stubborn. You should go and rest now. Come over tonight to relieve me so I can rest in peace."
Li Mama felt a lump in her throat—Aunt Shen's few words had given her a sense of security. Even though Aunt Shen was so young and she was so old, she inexplicably trusted her.
Seeing that Granny Li was dawdling and unwilling to leave, Chen Mianmian had Liu Xiangning escort and escort Granny Li away.
She then called Guan Shui in.
Guan Shui hadn't slept all night either, and there was a faint bluish tinge beneath her starry eyes.
Shen Mianmian asked, "Young Master Guanshui, as you can see, the situation is critical. I want to ask you: Will Her Highness the Princess know that the Madam is ill? You must tell me the truth, otherwise I will not be able to make any further arrangements."
After getting to know her for a while, Guan Shui realized that Aunt Shen was a woman who was gentle on the outside but strong on the inside. In fact, although Aunt Shen did not show any strategy, he believed that she was good at planning.
Guan Shui replied truthfully, "Auntie, Her Highness the Princess certainly knows. As for how she knows, please don't ask, it won't do you any good."
Shen Mianmian recalled that the princess had mentioned the Shadow Guard at the princess's residence yesterday, and she felt that it must be related to that.
She didn't ask, nor was she curious.
"I understand. I'll write a letter now, and you can deliver it to the princess's residence for me. After that, you can rest."
"Yes, Aunt."
Since it was inconvenient for Shen Mianmian to leave, she had a maid bring her paper and pen and wrote a letter right there in the hall. As she wrote, she casually told Guanshui, "The young master comes back every few days. I'm afraid that if he sees that the madam is sick, it will affect his exams, or he might even give up the exams altogether. I don't care about the minor or major three-crown exams, but I can tell that the madam cares, and the marquis cares too."
"The heir apparent's path to the imperial examinations is a ray of hope for the Marquis's family. If he succeeds, the family still has a chance to prosper, and the Marquis and his wife will have something to look forward to. We must ensure the heir apparent's success in the examinations."
"Yes." Guan Shui reaffirmed her previous suspicions about Aunt Shen.
After finishing writing the letter, Chen Mianmian waited for the ink to dry before putting it in the envelope.
He then turned to Guan Shuidao and said, "I explained the situation to the princess and hope that she can send some people to Qingfeng Courtyard to keep the young master under control there. He should not be allowed to return to the Marquis's residence until all the children's examinations are over. Of course, if the lady is truly beyond medical help, then that's another matter, and whether or not she takes the exams is irrelevant."
Guan Shui exclaimed with delight, "Your subordinate agrees!"
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