Li Shiyue didn't rush to agree. She glanced at Zhou Shi before smiling and saying, "Then I have gained a younger sister. We'll all be family from now on. And since she's Zhang Er's own sister, it's naturally wonderful."
"Although I am a girl, there is no rule that says girls cannot be lively and active. I am the youngest in the family, and now that I am married, I have to hear my cousins call me sister-in-law. I would really like to have a younger sister."
Madam Yang stepped forward, raised her hand as if to stop Madam Zhang, and said with a smile, "Don't try to take her from me. My Eleventh Sister keeps talking about Sister Yan Yan and says she must come to play with her Sister Yan Yan someday. Don't you run away with her, or I won't be able to bring her back for Eleventh Sister."
After saying that, she turned to Zhou and said, "Look, a family with a daughter is sought after by a hundred families. The daughters of the Duke's mansion are well-raised, and now even the wife of the heir is highly sought after."
"Eleventh Sister is always thinking about coming to the Duke's Mansion, but my sister-in-law keeps her from leaving, afraid that she might disturb the mansion. If you have some free time, the County Princess can come and visit, otherwise Eleventh Sister will really come looking for you."
With a smile on her face, Li Shiyue chatted with the two ladies for a while before escorting them to the gate of the mansion.
Just as he sat down at Tongxintang and before he had even taken a sip of tea, Xu Yunci rushed back.
"Why did you come back in such a hurry? Have some tea to calm down."
Xu Yunci raised his hand and grasped her wrist: "I'm not thirsty. There's good news. All the refugees have been appeased. Even those who contracted the symptoms now have places to be settled, and doctors are going to treat them and prescribe medicine. We've finally solved a major problem."
“People usually talk about enemies of equal strength when they talk about their greatest threat, but for you, the plague is the biggest enemy.” Li Shiyue let him hold her hand and sat down with him on the wooden couch. Seeing him laughing heartily, she couldn’t help but smile as well.
"The biggest enemy is the plague. So many families have been torn apart, wives and children separated. On their way to the capital, they were starving and poorly clothed. It is hard to imagine how much suffering they had to endure, and they also had to guard against some evil people."
Xu Yunci sighed, a hint of emotion in his eyes as he looked up: "This morning all the refugees have found their own place to live. It's not a big place, just a small courtyard and a house, but everyone is smiling."
"That feeling is really different, and the imperial physicians have already developed a better prescription for treating the epidemic. Once those people recover, they can move into their new homes."
"Actually, the most important thing is that they are getting better now because of everyone's efforts. Anyone who sees this feels moved and gratified." Li Shiyue smiled slightly and held his hand in return.
"Now that things are about to end, you look much older than before. Don't rush out. There's some fresh soup in the kitchen; I'll have Chunling bring you some. You should have some to nourish yourself."
She was about to get up when Xu Yunci pulled her back down.
"I don't want to drink. I still have to go out in a while. You should spend more time with me. I guess I won't be back until very late tonight."
"However, Mother's health does not seem to be improving. Should we seek out another doctor, or perhaps go to the palace to invite the imperial physician? Before, Mother was worried that the imperial physicians in the palace were too busy with the epidemic, so she only sought out a doctor to take her pulse, but she has not gotten better."
“Grandmother has been in good spirits these past two days, but Mother is still the same as before.” Li Shiyue said with some worry, sitting up from his lap.
"I'll have Changshun take the Duke's mansion's invitation to the palace later. You should take a look too. Your grandmother and mother have been ill for quite some time, and you've been by their side, so you should be careful."
Xu Yunci didn't stay long. Li Shiyue remembered Qin Wanyin's matter and told Xu Lingzi about it.
"I don't know if it's true or not. I haven't seen Ayin in a long time. I heard it from Madam Yang."
Xu Lingzi rested her chin on her hand and said, "If that's the case, I also find it a bit strange. Even if the two families are really interested, they wouldn't announce it publicly before the formal engagement is made."
"Just look at the Zhang family of the General's Mansion and the Yang family of the Duke of Chengen's Mansion, and you'll know that before you and your second brother got engaged, you didn't publicize it much. It was only after your second brother obtained the imperial decree to officially announce the marriage that the two of you were told about it."
"Without a formal engagement, it's still far from settled. If we talk about it and it doesn't work out, it will give people something to talk about and could damage our reputation."
“I think so too.” Li Shiyue mimicked her by supporting her chin with both hands, a hint of doubt in her eyes.
"But Madam Yang also said that he was a student favored by Grand Tutor Qin. His home was quiet, he was handsome and refined, and his talent was outstanding. Madam Qin never received guests, and A-Yin was also confined to the mansion. There were rumors in the capital that good things were about to happen at the Grand Tutor's mansion."
“I was thinking that once my maternal grandmother and mother are feeling better, we should go to the Grand Tutor’s residence to visit A-Yin. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen her. If good things are really on the horizon, we should prepare some nice things for her as part of her dowry.”
“A student from a respectable family background, as long as Ah Yin herself likes him, is probably really something.”
Xu Lingzi nodded thoughtfully: "That makes sense. We'll go see her once Mother is feeling better. But Awan has recently gone back to her hometown with her aunt and isn't in the capital right now. It would be nice if Awan went to the Grand Tutor's residence first."
It's true that he misses Qin Wanyin, and it's also true that he misses Yang Shi.
Chang Shun acted quickly, inviting the imperial physicians from the palace into the mansion. He first went to see Old Madam Xu to confirm that there was nothing seriously wrong, before leading his men towards the main courtyard.
Although Yang's hair was neatly styled and she wore no jewelry, only a headband, her jacket, perhaps due to her illness, was quite elegant and understated.
Her face was slightly pale, her eyelids drooped weakly, and she was about to fall asleep.
Stepping into the outer room, Li Shiyue said, "I get fever twice a day. After taking medicine to reduce the fever, it comes back within two hours. After taking medicine to reduce the fever, it comes back again after a while. This cycle repeats itself without getting better."
"He's listless and has been sleeping fitfully for the past two days. When he's awake, he can't even eat properly. If this continues, his body can't take it. I don't know why. Just tell me what medicine you need."
The imperial physician, who was older, stroked his white beard and said, "The Duchess is suffering from both qi and blood deficiency. I have also looked at those prescriptions and medicinal materials, which are all for replenishing qi and blood, and will not have much effect on the Duchess's condition."
"No need for expensive medicines, it's not serious, but you absolutely cannot skip meals. Also, drink plenty of warm water, and even if you can't drink it, have the servants wipe your body down."
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