Chapter 193 I suspect she's been bewitched.
Xiao Mingshu shook her head. "Mother, I don't want to marry him. We just had a falling out with the Duan family yesterday. They look down on me, and I look down on them too. Why are you suddenly making me marry him?"
Madam Yang patted her daughter's hand, "This is also the Duan family's intention. It seems I guarantee I won't pursue yesterday's matter, so you can rest assured."
Her sisters-in-law all looked at her with pity.
The Duan family's betrayal and dishonesty make this an ill-fated union.
Xiao Xiuning was engaged to the Duan family, but the engagement was broken off and she was demoted from wife to concubine, with the marriage changing hands multiple times.
Having already suffered a loss at their hands, why would they still want to marry Shu'er off to the Duan family?
I don't understand, I really don't understand.
Xiao Xuance was not entirely a filial son and strongly disagreed with Yang's decision. "Mother, do you know what you're saying? We severed ties with the Duan family long ago. Shu'er is only fifteen and has no trouble getting married. Even if she never marries, we can still support her."
The others nodded in agreement.
Xiao Mingshu nodded. "I can earn money to support myself. I can dig for medicinal herbs, I can take on embroidery work, and when the land is relocated, I can clear wasteland and farm. I can support myself. Please, Mother, don't marry me off to the Duan family."
Madam Yang explained the reason: "Old Madam Duan's last wish was for Shu'er to marry into the Duan family. Shu'er has reached the age to marry into the family. Our two families originally had a marriage agreement that was broken off, but before the news spread, outsiders all thought we had a marriage agreement."
Among the exiled troops, only Young Master Duan and Shu'er are of similar age, so I want Shu'er to marry into the Duan family and have a good future, thus fulfilling one of my wishes.”
Xiao Mingshu sat down beside her, hugged her arm and pleaded, "Mother, I don't want to get married. I finally returned to my family, and I want to spend more time with you."
"Both families are in the exile group, and we can see each other every day, Shuer, don't be afraid."
“It’s different. Once I’m married, I’ll belong to another family. They can then take advantage of me with a clear conscience. The other day, the First Madam said that I’m not good enough for her son. I’m not familiar with that Young Master Duan. Can Shu’er not marry him?”
Yun Zhaoxue suspected that she had been poisoned by the mushrooms and raised her own questions, "Just because someone is the same age, you have to marry them? What kind of logic is that? There are plenty of people who are the same age. Aren't you and General Duan the same age?"
The others nodded in agreement again, and only then did they realize what she had said. They immediately opened their eyes wide and looked at Yun Zhaoxue.
Madam Yang was so angry that her chest heaved and she almost passed out. Her hand trembled as she pointed at her. "You, you, you... cough cough cough... How dare you! You want me to remarry? You are outrageous! I was born a member of the Xiao family, and I will die a member of the Xiao family!"
Yun Zhaoxue raised her hands to comfort her, saying, "Please don't get agitated. I know you've always been devoted to your father-in-law. This is just an example. Being the same age isn't a valid reason. Did someone say something to you?"
Madam Yang said, "My health is deteriorating. I'm worried that I might suddenly pass away one day. I hope that before I go, I can arrange Shu'er's marriage. Madam Yun, Shu'er is my daughter. You should not interfere in her marriage."
Upon hearing this unfamiliar address, Yun Zhaoxue picked at her ear.
Yun Clan?
She's never called herself that before; she must be poisoned.
As if giving her last instructions, Madam Yang said to her third son, "Ce'er, Xiao Wu is still young, so I'm entrusting his marriage to you. Find him a good family, one that doesn't need to be of high status, but one that is diligent and thrifty, and that follows the three obediences and four virtues, and that he obeys his husband after marriage."
It was found entirely based on Yun Zhaoxue's reference.
Xiao Xuance said, “Mother, he may not like what you’re saying, but it’s good that he does. You’ve always been in good health, so why did you suddenly leave? Are you overthinking things? Are you feeling unwell? I’ll have someone go find Physician Chen.”
If Physician Chen can't cure it, there's still Yun Zhaoxue and Physician Hua.
"No need to look at it, I know my health is all old-fashioned."
Xiao Mingshu asked her through tears, "Mother, you've been acting so differently lately. Are you sick?"
She remembered when she first came back.
Madam Yang felt deeply guilty towards her, showing her concern and warmth, saving the best food for her first, never saying a harsh word to her, and never forcing her to marry someone she didn't like.
Yun Zhaoxue bent down and reached out to take Yang's pulse.
I just touched her wrist.
She flung him away as if she'd been electrocuted, shouting sharply, "What do you think you're doing?"
"Xue'er is taking your pulse, Mother. You are sick. When you are sick, you need to see a doctor."
After rolling up her sleeve, Yang pressed her other hand firmly against her pulse point. "I know my own body. I don't need her to take my pulse, and I don't need anyone else."
Although Yun Zhaoxue only touched it for a moment, she still managed to get a pretty good grasp of the pulse.
Her pulse was deep and weak, as faint as a thread about to break, and it would occasionally pause, as if something was sucking away the nutrients from her body, like... a lamp running out of oil.
No matter who tried to persuade her, Yang insisted on giving Xiao Mingshu to the Duan family.
After saying that, she lay down by herself.
Xiao Mingshu squatted outside the dilapidated temple, secretly wiping away tears and sobbing.
Yun Zhaoxue comforted her, "Don't be afraid, if you don't want to get married, then we won't."
Xiao Xuance also said, "Shu'er, I promise you, you can decide your own marriage. The eldest son's family lost you and caused you to suffer for more than ten years. I have no right to decide who you marry."
"If you don't want to get married, then you don't have to. Don't worry about Mother; she's just temporarily sick. Your third brother will find a doctor to cure her, and everything will be alright."
Xiao Mingshu threw herself into Yun Zhaoxue's arms and cried with emotion, "Waaah... Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law, you are so good to me."
"Alright, stop crying. The sky won't fall, and even if it does, we'll be there for you." Yun Zhaoxue wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.
Once she's finished crying and calmed down, let her go home; it's not safe outside.
Yun Zhaoxue pushed Xiao Xuance out of the woods.
Tell him about Yang's strange pulse.
Xiao Xuance knew that Lady Yang had no pre-existing illness, so how could she have died so quickly in just a few days?
"My mother has been poisoned?"
Yun Zhaoxue shook her head, "It's more like being poisoned by a curse."
"Poisoned? Who poisoned it? Was it Ye Hongying?"
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