Jin Wang Dotes on His Concubine

Chapter 152.2: Jin Wang Dotes on His Concubine Ch 152 Pt. 2

Translated by gingercat

Edited by gingercat

Yaoniang immediately understood her look, and loudly said, “Xiaobao, enough with the playing. What did you promise me?”

Xiaobao was looking for an opportunity to talk to Yueyue, how could he be bothered to think about anything else? Yaoniang could only shake her head helplessly, and instruct the maid beside her, “Take the young master back inside. Otherwise, he may catch a cold.” Then she said to Mama Bai, “I wonder if there is a restroom nearby?”

Mama Bai quickly arranged for someone to lead the way for Yaoniang. Yu Chan followed along.

Once they reached the restroom, the maid who led the way remained outside, while Yu Chan and Yaoniang entered.

Yu Chan whispered, “Niangniang, Madam Qiao is not doing very well. An Shiyi said that she was very ill, and the entire courtyard was still. He followed your words and asked Madam Qiao what she had in mind, seeing how she didn’t seem to have the intentions to leave. Madam Qiao said she wants to say thank you, and that she won’t live much longer, so please leave her alone.”

Hearing this, Yaoniang was shocked, what could make the erudite and gentle Qiao-shi say such a thing? Only people who were intending to die would say something like that.

What the hell was going on? Was her illness so serious that she didn’t even have the will to live anymore?

“Did she say anything else?”

“Qiao-shi asked if you could look after Young Miss Yueyue. She said that Xian Ge’er is protected by the old madam and he’s a boy so she didn’t worry about him too much. However, Miss Yueyue is a girl so she couldn’t feel at peace in her heart, leaving her on her own. She added that in her next life, she’d repay this favour.”

“That’s all?”

Yu Chan nodded.

Yaoniang’s hands clenched into a fist, then unclenched, then clenched up again. All kinds of thoughts flew back and forth in her mind. It wasn’t until the maid, waiting outside, asked if everything was okay that she came back to her senses. She hurriedly acted as if she had just finished then pushed the door out.

On the other side, Xiaobao was feeling incredibly anxious in his heart. He wanted to find a chance to talk to Yueyue in private, but there was always someone watching. He had a hunch in his heart that something bad must have happened to Qiao-shi. Otherwise, Duchess Zhenguo wouldn’t be so careful.

The time flew by. Yaoniang couldn’t remain in the manor forever, so she could only bid goodbye.

But Xiaobao was reluctant to leave. He insisted on taking Yueyue home to play. Without any other option, Yaoniang could only ask Mama Bai if she could bring Yueyue to Jin Wang Manor to play for a few days. She added that she’d definitely take good care of her.

Xiaobao was kicking up a huge fuss, just shy of rolling on the ground. Mama Bai could only go to report to Duchess Zhenguo.

As soon as she heard of this, Duchess Zhenguo lost her patience. She waved her hand angrily and said, “Let them take her away!”

“But old madam—”

Of course, Duchess Zhenguo knew what Mama Bai was worried about. “What can a little girl know? Besides, I haven’t done anything. Since she has this disease, I’m covering it up for the good of the family and her two children. Let them take the girl away. I will have someone pick her up in a few days.”

“If the eldest young miss said something, and people heard it-” Mama Bai hesitated.

“So what if they heard something? In the end, it won’t be our family that’s shamed. Contracting a serious illness is one of the seven grounds for divorce*. If this Side Consort Su is not afraid of causing Qiao-shi to divorce, she won’t share it with anyone.”

Upon hearing this, Mama Bai no longer protested. Originally, it was best to cover up this matter, but if it really couldn’t be covered up, it wouldn’t cause any serious problems for Duke Zhenguo Manor.

After getting in the carriage, Yaoniang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Before Xiaobao could say anything, Yueyue said, “Chen Gege, please help me save my mother. They said that my mother has tuberculosis. I want to see my mother, but they won’t let me. My grandmother doesn’t like me. Those maids and mamas don’t like me. I can’t see my mother. I’m so scared…”

Yaoniang snorted in her heart. She finally understood why Qiao-shi would say those words.

She had tuberculosis? She had only seen Qiao-shi a few days ago, and it didn’t seem like she had tuberculosis back then. How could she suddenly contract it in such a short period of time?

When Jin Wang came back from the Ministry of Works, Yaoniang paced around him. She hesitated for a long time but still told him about it.

“What do you want to do?”

Yaoniang hesitated. “I don’t really know. I just think that it can’t be so simple. Qiao-shi was fine a while ago. How long could it become so bad so fast?”

Jin Wang didn’t speak.

Yaoniang rambled on and said to him, “I hope I’m overthinking it. You don’t know how some mothers-in-law treat their daughters-in-law. They can be especially cruel when making a move. In the neighbourhood where my family lived, there was a mother-in-law who made her daughter-in-law work every day without giving her any food. The daughter-in-law was very pitiful. Plus, even if Qiao-shi really has this disease, I wonder if there’s any way to cure it. Can we have Doctor Liu take a look? Qiao-shi is a very good person, if Yueyue loses her mother, I…”

Seeing her so sad and worried, Jin Wang patted her hand reassuringly. “Alright, don’t think about it too much. I’ll have someone send a letter to Sun Mang. If there’s anything unusual, he will solve it. As for other things…” He pondered for a while, “Let’s not talk about it for the time being.”

“Will this cause you any trouble?” This was the main reason for Yaoniang’s hesitation.

Of course, it would cause some trouble, but since she wanted to, he’d get it done.

“You don’t need to worry about that. Benwang will handle it.”

Lanruo Pavillion was indeed as lifeless as An Shiyi said it to be.

Ever since the yard was sealed, all the servants who could pull strings to leave, left. Qiao Shi was a kind-hearted person and wasn’t willing to make things difficult for others, so she didn’t keep them.

Originally, there were dozens of maids and mamas in the courtyard, but now there were only a few people left.

As for those who worked by Qiao-shi’s side, there were only two left, Ru Meng and Ru Hua. Even the other dowry maids brought by Qiao-shi from Jiangnan had left.

There was still another person, Qiao Xiuli.

Although she knew that the courtyard was sealed, she still came to Lanruo Pavilion. Even if she could only enter but not leave, she still went. Just like that, she stayed by Qiao-shi’s side with the intention to help and serve, but Qiao-shi didn’t actually let her do anything. Qiao-shi didn’t want to feel like a burden to anyone. With Ru Meng and Ru Hua serving her, she didn’t let Qiao Xiuli touch her. At most, she would accompany her to chat, but this didn’t even happen that frequently.

The doors and windows were tightly shut. Although the outside was bright since it was daytime, the inside was completely dark.

There was only one light in the room, and it wasn’t very bright.

Qiao Xiuli cried, “Sister Yan, don’t think too much. You still have Xian Ge’er and Yueyue. If something happened to you, what will happen to your two children? As the younger sister, I really shouldn’t be saying this, but if you were no longer here, brother-in-law would definitely remarry. In this ducal manor, how many people are waiting to throw stones down the well? What kind of future will your two children have? So you must get better… “

Qiao-shi had no strength at all. She didn’t even want to move, but her mind was still spinning uncontrollably.

She missed Sun Mang. She couldn’t bear to leave him, she couldn’t bear to leave her two children…

Indeed, if she really died, Sun Mang would definitely marry again. Her mother-in-law was always thinking of marrying him to a daughter of the nobility. Over these years, although Qiao-shi didn’t do any of those filthy things, she did hear all sorts of dirty secrets. Perhaps her eldest son will be abandoned. Maybe her Yueyue will be married to someone with a bad character. Although she entrusted Side Consort Su to take care of her daughter, she was still considered an outsider after all…

No, she mustn’t die. Even if she wanted to die, she must arrange for the future of her two children appropriately before she died.

Her eyes fell on Qiao Xiuli involuntarily. Over these past few days, she could see that she was a good person. In the past, she had a little contempt for the other party’s fawning attitude, but now it had completely turned into gratitude.

“Sister Li, if I asked you to take care of my two children, would you be willing?”

“Sister Yan, what did you say? What do you mean?” Qiao Xiuli clenched her hand tightly. In her heart, she was screaming, finally! Finally, it happened! She has arranged for so much and put so much thought into this, just for this moment.

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to live much longer. If you agree, I will send a letter to my father to let him adopt you under his name. I will talk to my husband and have him marry you. I hope you can…”

The rest of her words disappeared into the air with a loud roar.

Sun Mang swept in with a chill emanating from his body, “I’m not marrying anyone! Put your thoughts away!”

Qiao Xiuli jumped up involuntarily like a frightened grasshopper.

Why did Shizi come back?

Before Qiao-shi could speak again, she saw Sun Mang turn around and cup his hands eagerly but respectfully. “Imperial Physician Liu, please take a look at her.”

“No need to be so polite, Shizi. This one has long retired from working as an imperial physician.”

As he spoke, Doctor Liu walked in.