Great Madam, upon hearing the news, became panic-stricken and stammered, "What, what’s this about now?"
Her agitation was impossible to hide.
She was still the same, a person without much cunning.
Song Jiyun subtly arched her eyebrows, her tone becoming even more earnest, "How could it not be? Look at those apprentices from the small kiln factories, why they don’t learn as quickly or as well as those from the big kiln factories. Do you think it’s truly because those apprentices are not clever? It’s because they don’t have as many opportunities to practice as the apprentices in the big kiln factories. Just like those doctors, what’s the use of reciting medicine formulas by heart if they don’t practice?"
Great Madam suddenly turned pale and became restless.
Song Jiyun added fuel to the fire, suggesting as if to offer advice, "Great Aunt, what do you think about me transferring a steward from the kiln factory to help you manage things over there? That way, when Old Master Song is unconscious, those newly-recruited master craftsmen won’t have any supervision and might slack off...
Before she could finish, Great Madam stood up with a start like a frightened bird, hurriedly saying, "No need, no need! It’s just a small kiln factory that hasn’t even started proper firing yet; there’s no need for a master craftsman from the Song Family Kiln Factory to manage it. Wouldn’t that be like using a cleaver to kill a chicken?"
"Really no need?" Song Jiyun looked at her and smiled.
Great Madam was visibly uneasy, "Really, truly no need!"
Great Madam had already seen for herself just how formidable Song Jiyun was.
Moreover, when Song Daliang wanted to seize Song Youliang’s family wealth, he used this pretext, saying that since Song Youliang was gone, he, as the uncle, couldn’t just watch them, a widow and an orphan, without someone to take charge; he had to go and offer his help.
As these thoughts flashed through her mind, her face burned with embarrassment.
It truly fit the old saying, "Thirty years on the east bank of the river, and thirty years on the west."
In just a short month, Song Jiyun had replaced Song Daliang, now sitting in their hall and saying the same words that Song Daliang had said before.
With a forced smile, she said, "Your granduncle is fine, the Doctor also said that he would wake up soon."
"That’s good to hear!" she smiled, her demeanor caring and gentle, "You seem to be not quite in high spirits, and while I’m here, let me watch over things for a while. You go lie down on the bed for a bit. Even if you can’t sleep, it’s good to rest your eyes for a while. When Old Master Song wakes up, I should be leaving."
Great Madam was burning with anxiety.
Song Jiyun couldn’t be planning to wait until Song Daliang woke up before leaving, could she?
But the Doctor had already administered the medicine to Song Daliang as they had requested, and he would remain unconscious for some time!
Sweat broke out on her forehead, but she was powerless to do anything and could only keep urging Song Jiyun, "No need, no need. There’s no need for you to stay. I’m not tired, and caring for your granduncle is my responsibility."
Song Jiyun, however, seemed determined to wait for Song Daliang, refusing to leave no matter what she said.
Great Madam felt increasingly certain that she was seizing the opportunity to take over their kiln factory.
As she spoke with Song Jiyun, Great Madam’s gaze involuntarily wandered to the inner chamber several times.
Song Jiyun saw this and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly. She pondered for a moment and said, "Since that’s the case, I should head back."
Upon hearing this, Great Madam’s expression brightened.
She almost couldn’t wait to stand up, "Let me send you off."
"I couldn’t impose!" Song Jiyun politely responded, and they walked out side by side.
But just as Song Jiyun had reached four or five steps away from the inner chamber’s folding screen, she suddenly stopped and said, "Great Aunt, on second thought, since I’m here, I really should take a look at Old Master Song. Otherwise, when relatives come to visit him and ask about his condition, I won’t know what to say."
"What?!" Great Madam was dumbfounded.
Song Jiyun, however, had already walked toward the inner chamber.
Great Madam’s forehead was slick with cold sweat, occupied by one thought alone, "Song Jiyun must not enter. Song Tao is still in the inner chamber."
What to do?
Her vision darkened, and an idea struck her, so she simply let her body go limp and collapsed to the ground.
"Great Madam!" The hall erupted into chaos.
Song Jiyun felt a shock in her heart and turned back to see the Great Madam with her eyes tightly shut, slumped in the arms of the maids and nannies.
Only her eyelids were moving.
It was clearly a ruse.
Such convenient timing to faint!
Song Jiyun lowered her eyelids, masking the mockery in her eyes, as she watched the maids and nannies pinch Great Madam’s philtrum, squeeze her Tiger’s Mouth point, or run to fetch a doctor.
Song Tao, however, suddenly strode in from outside.
"What happened here?" she blinked in surprise, rushed to the Great Madam, and held her, her voice sharp, "Where’s the doctor? Why hasn’t anyone fetched the doctor?!"
Immediately, a maid responded, "We have already sent for one!"
Song Tao let out a sigh of relief and busily directed the maids and nannies to carry the Great Madam to the east wing room to lie down.
Standing aside, Song Jiyun said, "Aunt doesn’t know why she fainted, I think we better not act rashly, let’s wait for the doctor’s examination. We have several doctors at home for Old Master Song’s condition, don’t we? It won’t delay matters just this short while."
"Cousin Yun," Song Tao finally seemed to have time to address her, with an apologetic tone, "The house is in such disarray, it isn’t right to keep you here. I’ll have someone send you back."
"No rush!" Song Jiyun said with a smile, "With this mess here, you shouldn’t worry about me. Aunt is what’s important."
While they spoke, a nanny led in the doctor who had been waiting in the neighboring teahouse.
Song Jiyun and Song Tao made way for the doctor.
After feeling the pulse for a prolonged period, the doctor declared that the Great Madam was fine, merely overly fatigued. A good sleep and some Qi-boosting medicine would suffice. He prescribed Qi-boosting Pills.
Song Tao thanked him, the nanny followed the doctor to fetch the medicine, and Song Tao directed the household’s maids and nannies to move the Great Madam to the east wing room.
Sitting by the bed, Song Jiyun took Great Madam’s hand and spoke with Song Tao as if they were siblings, close and without barriers, "When did Old Master Song faint? Have any messages been sent from the elder sisters and their husbands? If they could come back to take turns, you and Aunt wouldn’t have to be so exhausted. It was quite cool last night, I’ve heard that people who have been drinking are easily invaded by pathogenic wind if they catch a chill, causing them to faint..."
Song Tao frowned, patiently enduring as she responded to her chatter.
Finally, when the medicine was ready and seeing Great Madam had not woken up, Song Jiyun added, "The medicine needs to be taken while hot."
She also instructed the nanny who brought in tea, "Go and ask the doctor who treated Great Madam if she can have acupuncture in her current state. If acupuncture is possible, ask if they have someone skilled in it. Great Madam waking up sooner rather than later to take her medicine would surely speed her recovery!"
She took charge as if she were the mistress of the household.
Song Tao’s expression gradually darkened, her eyes flashing with annoyance, but when she looked up, she saw the Great Madam giving her a meaningful look with half an eye open.
Emotions churned in the depths of her eyes; she pursed her lips and after a long moment finally smiled at Song Jiyun, "No worries, it’s not like we lack maids and nannies to attend to her or money for medicine. If it cools down, just brew it again. Let my mother rest for now, she hasn’t closed her eyes since last night due to caring for my father."
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