Lüzhu said, "Miss, it's not good for us to offend the Countess like this. Miss will have to live in this mansion before she gets married."
"Not offending her doesn't guarantee a good life either. If I had shown any weakness today and let her open the chest, her next demand would have been that the estate was in financial difficulty and, as family, I should make a contribution."
"That can't be right. Even though money was lost, the Earl has his salary, and there are so many shops in the estate. Gold and silver can be lost, but surely such large businesses wouldn't be lost too?"
"Even if the deeds and property titles were lost, it should be fine to reapply for them at the yamen. How could your money be used for this? This is the dowry left to you by your father and mother."
"It always hurts to spend my own money, but it's different for other people's."
"Ah?"
Lüzhu pondered this and found it made a lot of sense. She made up her mind to buy more locks and protect her young lady's dowry.
Shui Wa said, "We worked for nothing today, I'm so angry, this system is furious. You should have acted more pitiful so that Lord Tang could have championed our cause."
"They, husband and wife, didn't fall for it, and their attitude wasn't aggressive at all. Lord Tang is ultimately an outsider, and this matter is difficult to handle."
"Alas, it's so boring here."
"Right, that Madam Su talks too much. I'm exhausted today, I need to get some good sleep."
The Countess returned to her room, so furious she couldn't eat a bite. The steward brought the accounts of the outside businesses at noon. How could such meager profits support such a large estate?
Seeing those figures gave her a headache. She thought of the many good things in Jun Jiuli's chests. Hmph, they would all be mine sooner or later.
"Madam, you shouldn't have been so impulsive today. Even if you had doubts, you should have consulted me first."
"My Lord, I know I was wrong. I was just blinded by anger. Who knew that Second Young Lady was so deep in her scheming? To actually invite Lord Tang here! My reputation from now on... *sob sob sob*."
"Brother Tang is not one to gossip. Ensure the servants in the mansion keep their mouths shut. You must be more careful in the future; this Second Young Lady is indeed rather peculiar."
"More than peculiar! Ever since she returned, our estate has been in turmoil. Hang'er is still lying in bed... Ahhhh..."
"Madam, what's wrong with you?"
The Countess clutched her neck, looking very uncomfortable. The Earl was startled and reflexively stood up, taking a large step back.
His illness had just begun to subside, and he could move around. He didn't want to contract any other illnesses and quickly covered his mouth and nose with a handkerchief.
The Countess drank two cups of tea and, finding she still couldn't speak, pointed to her throat and made a few guttural sounds.
"Madam, you can't speak?"
The Countess nodded quickly. The wet nurse beside her immediately went to fetch a doctor.
The Earl fell into deep thought. He had never seen anyone go mute suddenly without injury or taking medicine.
The Madam drank that cup of tea only after the incident. Before that, he and she had eaten similar things.
He coughed forcefully. He could still make a sound when he opened his mouth, and the Earl's heart finally settled.
"Madam, don't be afraid. The doctor will be here soon."
"Ah ah ah... Ah ah..."
She immediately dipped her hand in the tea and wrote "child" on the table. The Earl finally reacted and ordered someone to check quickly.
"Reporting to my Lord, there are no abnormalities with the Fourth Young Lady, only that she is still grieving for the lost items."
"My Lord, my Lord, it's bad! The Eldest Young Master has a high fever, and his body is covered in blisters."
Two more people entered. The other two young masters were in the same condition. The Earl was stunned and hurried to his eldest son's room.
"My son, my son, wake up quickly. Don't scare your father. How did you suddenly become like this? Father is waiting for you to achieve fame, marry, and have children."
The person on the bed did not open his eyes, no matter how loudly his father called. The Earl felt as if all his strength had been drained, and he sat by the bed, motionless.
The mansion's residents rushed over after receiving the news.
"My grandson, my dear grandson. How could you become like this? How am I supposed to live? *Sob sob sob*~"
The Earl shouted, "Why are you crying? My son will be fine."
The old madam was stunned by his roar and dared not say another word.
"The doctor is here, the doctor is here."
The crowd immediately parted. The doctor put down his medical box and began to take the Eldest Young Master's pulse.
Everyone held their breath, their hearts in their mouths as they watched his movements.
"This gentleman's condition is something this old man has never seen before."
"Doctor, please save my son. He is so young; he cannot afford to have anything happen to him."
"I am powerless to help, I apologize."
He said this, waved his hand, and was about to leave. The Earl grabbed him.
"Wait, I have two more sons, and they both have the same symptoms. Doctor, please go and examine them. Perhaps those with milder symptoms can be saved."
The old doctor reluctantly followed him. The result was still no treatment plan, and he was powerless.
The old madam cried, "Heavens above, this is karma! King Yama, please open your eyes. These brothers are so young; if you want to claim a life, claim mine! *Sob sob sob*~"
"Ah ah ah... Ah ah ah..."
"Why are you yelling? You wicked woman! If you hadn't been so malicious, my son would at least have had offspring."
"Mother, what are you saying? The child is sick, and Madam is even more distressed. I will go and seek an audience with His Majesty to see if the imperial physicians at the Tai Hospital can think of a solution."
"Son, hurry, hurry! The imperial physicians will surely find a way, they surely will."
Zhao Jingyi stepped into the room and, seeing her brother's tragic state, tears flowed like pearls from a broken string.
"Brother, dear brother, please wake up quickly. Take Yi'er to fly kites. Yi'er misses going horseback riding with Brother. Brother, please wake up! *Sob sob sob*~"
"Can't you see your brother is ill? Don't shake him. You're a grown girl, how can you be so clueless?"
The First Madam immediately stood in front of her daughter. Zhao Jingyi grabbed her mother's hand.
"Mother, will my brothers be alright?"
The First Madam could only nod to comfort her.
"Mother, why aren't you speaking?"
"Ah ah ah... Ah ah..."
"What is going on? Why has everything changed after I woke up? It's only been one afternoon, Mother, why? *Sob sob sob*~"
The Countess comforted her, gesturing to her not to be afraid. The old madam saw this situation and retreated, murmuring to herself.
"No way, why is Madam Su mute? Could this be a sequela of that illness? What should I do? It's all my fault."
She stepped on her skirt and almost fell. Jun Jiuli, who had just entered, caught her.
"Grandmother, please be careful."
The old lady immediately covered her mouth and nose and retreated. "Second Young Lady, don't come near me, don't come too close."
Jun Jiuli obediently moved away. "Grandmother, what's wrong with you?"
"This is a sin, truly a sin."
The old lady cried and revealed her suspicions. The Countess and Zhao Jingyi did not believe a single word.