Seventh Miss let out a soft hum.

Any sympathy for Fourth Concubine dispersed like a wisp of ink spreading in water.

“If something happens to Mother… Third Sister will be delayed another three years!” She feigned urgency. “By that time…”

By that time, Third Miss would be a genuine old maid!

Fourth Concubine trembled violently.

The joy in her eyes immediately vanished without trace, replaced by a face full of worry.

Seventh Miss walked shoulder to shoulder with her onto the small bamboo bridge.

Inside Jieyu Pavilion was indeed chaos.

Seventh Concubine held Sixth Miss in her arms, standing at the pavilion’s edge, watching servants following First Miss’s instructions, anxiously rushing east and west.

Fourth Concubine naturally stood beside Seventh Concubine, smiling as she watched Seventh Miss rush to the First Madam’s side.

The First Madam’s eyes were tightly closed, her face deathly pale, collapsed limply in First Miss’s arms. It seemed she still hadn’t regained consciousness.

First Miss was carefully wringing a handkerchief, wiping the First Madam’s forehead. First Concubine, Fifth Concubine, and the three sisters from Huansha Pavilion all surrounded her with concern.

Seventh Miss also tested the First Madam’s forehead temperature.

Alarmingly high!

How had such a high fever come on so suddenly!

She hastily explained to First Miss, “Fifth Sister’s skirt got soiled. I waited for her to go back and change before coming together… Where’s Second Aunt?”

First Miss glanced at Seventh Miss and let out a long breath.

“Second Aunt went to the privy…” Her tone carried subtle trembling, but more was ice-like calmness. “Fifth Sister still hasn’t arrived?”

“Yuelai Pavilion is far from here after all!” Seventh Miss took a deep breath, trying hard to calm down. “Elder Sister, I think we should carry Mother to Xike Residence! It’s more spacious. Taking her pulse here isn’t proper!”

Though the First Madam and Fourth Concubine were always at odds, with the situation urgent, they couldn’t worry about such things.

Sick people should avoid being moved, especially since the First Madam had suddenly fainted with high fever without warning. Moving her back to the main courtyard now would be too taxing.

First Miss’s eyes focused as she made a decision.

“You’re right! I was so busy I forgot!”

She straightened up, ordering Fourth Concubine without room for argument, “Go prepare Xike Residence.” She instructed Nanny Yao, “Tell Nanny Liang to bring the Ouyang family doctor to Xike Residence. Everyone along the way should naturally avoid them. If the sisters have nothing urgent, go wait at Xike Residence now! Once diagnosed, we can take turns nursing!”

After a pause, she added, “Pass word to Nanny Liang, Nanny Yao, and Nanny Li—tell them to gather their spirits for work! Alas, Father happens to be away just now!”

With First Miss’s arrangements, everyone gained confidence.

Seventh Miss and First Miss watched several sturdy matrons help the First Madam onto a small warm sedan across the bamboo bridge, guarding her left and right as she entered Xike Residence’s main hall. Only then did Fifth Miss arrive belatedly.

Her face still showed undissipated flush. “How did this suddenly—”

While speaking, she had already reached out to test the First Madam’s forehead temperature, then caringly tucked in the blanket corner and grasped the First Madam’s hand.

After all, mother and daughter by nature… The concern on Fifth Miss’s face made the worry on several concubines’ and two concubine-born daughters’ faces seem somewhat false.

Seventh Miss’s heart stirred.

She reached out to hook the First Madam’s collar, gently pulling it open.

With just one glance, Seventh Miss’s expression changed dramatically.

“Fifth Sister, have you had smallpox!” She stood up abruptly.

Fifth Miss also couldn’t help but freeze. “I…”

First Miss said nothing, immediately slapping away Fifth Miss’s hand and pulling open the exquisite spring silk rolled collar.

Bright red small blisters had already blossomed in dots across the First Madam’s neck.

“How did she break out in smallpox!” First Miss couldn’t hide her surprise.

Xike Residence immediately panicked.

Even in modern times, having smallpox couldn’t be called a small matter.

Especially since the First Madam had already entered middle age. When adults got smallpox, one careless move could endanger life…

Countless thoughts immediately spun through Seventh Miss’s mind.

Looking at the First Madam’s pale cheeks, she finally sighed.

“Elder Sister, better have the sisters avoid this!” She asked First Miss.

First Miss bit her lip, her expression faintly showing determination.

With the Grand Master away from home, Fourth Concubine harboring ulterior motives, and the remaining sisters all useless. Though Seventh Miss was steady, she was ultimately just a ten-year-old child—many things she simply couldn’t arrange.

Though a married daughter managing her natal family’s affairs somewhat violated taboos, at this moment, how could she worry about so much!

“All the sisters should avoid this! Return to your own residences. If there’s nothing urgent, don’t come out!” She issued orders methodically.

Fifth Miss was about to speak when First Miss glanced at her. “Right now the household lacks a guiding force and is chaotic. If you all also break out in smallpox, we truly won’t be able to manage!”

Fifth Miss could only silently follow the sisters out of the room.

Third Miss and Fourth Miss naturally ran fastest. Sixth Miss pulled the hesitant Fifth Miss and also left Xike Residence.

“Have all the concubines had smallpox?” Seeing the concubines all nod, First Miss assigned again. “First Concubine, Fifth Concubine, and Tenth Concubine guard Mother together, and while there’s time, escort her to the main courtyard…”

Having contracted smallpox, one couldn’t see light or wind for a month—they couldn’t linger at Xike Residence.

First Miss methodically assigned all tasks.

“Nanny Yao, lead people to prepare silkworm droppings and pig tails… Nanny Liang, ask the doctor to wait a moment while you lead people to cover all the glass windows in the main courtyard… Eighth Sister also hasn’t had smallpox? Second Aunt, quickly take Eighth Sister back! Send someone to inform the young masters—no need to come pay respects later.”

Not until the First Madam was placed on the prepared sickbed in the main courtyard’s western side room did she notice Seventh Miss behind her.

“Why isn’t Seventh Sister avoiding this!” First Miss was startled, about to lead Seventh Miss out of the western side room. “Quickly, quickly, if it passes to you, there’ll be another pile of trouble…”

“I’ve had smallpox, Elder Sister.” Seventh Miss said quietly.

Just watching First Miss’s commanding presence, Seventh Miss benefited greatly.

First Miss truly had real ability.

Even with the Grand Master away from home, with only the old and young in the household, First Miss could probably manage household affairs smoothly.

However, Seventh Miss didn’t intend to leave the stage entirely to First Miss.

Often, crisis was opportunity. Difficult passes were excellent chances to display skills.

As household matriarch controlling household authority, the First Madam usually left no room for Seventh Miss to curry favor.

Most rare was that the Grand Master was away, Fifth Miss hadn’t had smallpox, and First Miss needed to manage all household affairs…

Seventh Miss had a feeling: perhaps this was the opportunity she’d waited for so long!

First Miss’s eyes flashed. “Oh? That’s just right. With Father away and me being a married daughter… trustworthy people are scarce! Since you’ve had smallpox, I’ll entrust nursing to you!”

Seventh Miss paused before saying, “Then… thank you, Elder Sister!”

First Miss looked at Seventh Miss and smiled. “We’re all family sisters—saying such things seems too distant.”

When clever people speak, no need to be too explicit—everyone understands immediately.

#

The Ouyang family’s young master quickly arrived.

The diagnosis result naturally needn’t be stated. During the time waiting for the doctor, the First Madam’s face had become covered in pox… If this wasn’t smallpox, no one knew what illness it could be.

First Miss wore a veil, attending the First Madam’s bedside left and right with Seventh Miss, asking the physician with undisguised concern, “Why did Mother suddenly faint?”

“The lady usually has a phlegm-damp constitution and also has coughing and wheezing problems…”

After a round of explanation, everyone understood: adults getting smallpox was already dangerous. The First Madam also had coughing and wheezing, making breathing even more difficult. Back and forth, she fainted. Perhaps this triggered high fever, causing the pox to break out.

First Miss decided to keep the Ouyang family’s young master. “We’ll trouble you to stay a few more days, otherwise we won’t feel at ease!”

She also sent someone to report to the Grand Master. “This is no small matter… Though Father may find it hard to get away, he should know.”

Though the second household’s nephew young masters had had smallpox, it wasn’t convenient for them to enter the inner chamber to nurse. First Miss didn’t dare decide to let Ninth Brother enter to visit the First Madam.

The household still had so many daily matters… First Miss also needed to care for her little daughter. Too busy to manage everything, she entirely entrusted room matters to Seventh Miss.

Seventh Miss simply moved to live in the main hall, bringing Lixia and Shangyuan and Zhongyuan into the main hall. Each day besides attending the First Madam, she worshipped the Smallpox Goddess. The other sisters were all constrained by First Miss from leaving Baifang Garden, only able to send maids daily to inquire at the door.

Fifth Miss was impatient, sending Guyu to ask over ten times daily. The main courtyard bustled with coming and going maids and matrons.

As if the chaos wasn’t enough, on the third day, Fourth Miss also broke out in smallpox. Over ten servants in the household also fell ill one after another. Fourth Concubine locked Third Miss in Xike Residence, personally entering Qiliuxiang to care for Fourth Miss. First Miss had yet another pile of matters.

“Actually good!” She sighed privately to Seventh Miss. “Fourth Sister is young—getting smallpox isn’t serious. This actually reduces one trouble for the household.”

Seventh Miss smiled with pursed lips. “Don’t know if Fourth Concubine herself has had smallpox. If she contracts it and it flares up, that wouldn’t be reducing trouble but adding trouble.”

First Miss sighed. “There’s already enough trouble—one more wouldn’t matter!”

Inside and outside the household, so many patients—summoning doctors and medicine was so much work, while maintaining the Governor’s Office’s dignity… No matter how chaotic below, outside couldn’t be chaotic.

The Grand Master was still in Hangzhou pressing for military grain—a tremendously important matter. They didn’t dare delay his journey with household affairs. The First Madam had continuous high fever, unable to manage affairs. The only helpful Fourth Concubine had locked herself in Xike Residence day and night caring for Fourth Miss. There was also the main family’s second uncle to entertain. The Gui family had also presented calling cards a few days ago, saying they wanted to visit the First Madam… This involved marriage matters between the Gui and Yang families.

A thousand threads, all tied to First Miss alone. Within days, First Miss’s face had sharpened.

How could Seventh Miss have it any better?

The First Madam’s high fever never subsiding was actually fortunate. Adults with smallpox faced dangers double that of children. The First Madam’s chest and back were covered in smallpox blisters. When itching struck, the suffering was extreme. During occasional lucid periods, Seventh Miss had to softly coax her not to scratch…

When unconscious, she had to repeatedly turn and wipe the First Madam, feed her medicine… The First Madam was drowsy and confused, sometimes sleeping, sometimes waking. Sometimes waking at midnight to relieve herself—another bout of trouble.

The little bit of flesh Seventh Miss had painstakingly gained on her face had long since withered away. Her face seemed to have only a pair of large eyes remaining, with deep dark circles beneath.

First Miss looked at the drowsy First Madam and sighed.

“Don’t know if she can safely recover!” She couldn’t hide her worry. “If something unexpected happens…”

The Yang family’s situation would truly become unclear.

The heir was young, the rear courtyard had a concubine favored for years, and the other household had a covetous sister-in-law…

Seventh Miss also sighed along.

Normally she only felt the First Madam was difficult to serve—suspicious and changeable, petty and narrow-minded.

Only now did she understand that without this suspicious and changeable legitimate mother, who knew what chaos the Yang family would fall into.

“Only hope Mother is safe and sound!” She prayed sincerely. “Buddha protect us, Buddha protect us…”

First Miss’s gaze at Seventh Miss was deeply profound.

She also looked at the First Madam on the bed.

Her opened mouth closed again.

“First Miss!” Nanny Liang called softly outside the door. “I’ve come to request the token to go out and purchase medicinal materials…”

First Miss quickly rose and left the western side room.

Seventh Miss sat beside the First Madam, wringing a handkerchief dampened with medicinal powder to wipe the blisters on her face.

Large and small red pustules covered the First Madam’s fair, even cheeks. In the room’s dim light, they appeared somewhat frightening.

Perhaps the itching on her cheeks disturbed the First Madam’s rest. She began intermittent delirium.

“Don’t steal my cricket… This person has eagle eyes and wolf gaze, not a good match…”

“What’s good about the Yang family…”

Seventh Miss was already accustomed to this.

People with high fevers often spouted delirious words—quite normal. These past days, the First Madam had intermittently said countless nonsensical things.

She gently opened the First Madam’s white silk inner garment, beginning to wipe the blisters on her chest.

“Relief embroidery method…” After a moment of quiet, the First Madam murmured again. “Embroiderer Feng…”

Seventh Miss’s hand couldn’t help but pause.

“Though my husband is poor, but…”

“Already a concubine yet still so restless… Good… She wants to raise a daughter, I’ll fulfill her wish…”

“So itchy… Mother… so itchy…”

“Xianxiu Workshop… Siqiaoshang…” The First Madam’s voice was thin and light. “Third Sister, don’t steal my cricket…”

Siqiaoshang was Jiangnan’s largest embroidery house, standing opposite to the northern Duotiangong—commonly called “Northern Duotiangong, Southern Siqiaoshang.” Both embroidery houses had over a hundred years of inheritance.

Xianxiu Workshop only rose to prominence over ten years ago as the Grand Master became Jiangsu Provincial Administration Commissioner.

Ninth Concubine’s relief embroidery and Embroiderer Huang’s pearl needle embroidery were Xianxiu Workshop’s golden signs… Both had passed their embroidery methods to Xianxiu Workshop’s embroiderers. When Jiangnan people spoke of Xianxiu Workshop, first they mentioned relief embroidery, second pearl needle embroidery, and only lastly fabric colors…

Seventh Miss shook her head, continuing to wipe the First Madam’s body.

What use dwelling on the past!

No matter how disgraceful Ninth Concubine’s entry into the household, she could only pretend not to have heard now.

After all, she was the child of Grand Master Yang and Ninth Concubine…

The First Madam began moaning softly again.

“Careful… cautious… itchy… itchy…”

Lixia quietly entered the room. “It’s time for medicine.”

Seventh Miss patted the First Madam. “Mother, time for medicine.”

The First Madam’s delirious mutterings suddenly stopped. She turned to sleep again.

Seventh Miss quickly gently grasped her shoulder. “Mother, time for medicine!”

After another bout of trouble, the First Madam slowly opened her eyes, gazing at Seventh Miss without focus.

“Time for medicine?”

“Yes.” Seventh Miss sighed softly. “Drink the medicine then sleep!”

The First Madam half sat up. Seventh Miss received the medicine bowl, blowing on the medicine in the blue porcelain spoon, feeding the First Madam mouthful by mouthful.

She gave the First Madam as much breathing time as possible, gauging her expression to adjust the feeding rhythm.

The First Madam’s brows furrowed tighter and tighter.

“Bitter…” she moaned.

“Endure it!” Seventh Miss encouraged the First Madam. “Young Master Ouyang said you can’t eat sweet things, lest it generate phlegm-dampness and breathing becomes difficult again.”

The First Madam was like a child, showing obvious displeasure.

After a while, she asked again, “How many days have I been ill…”

Seventh Miss answered softly, “Five or six days. Young Master Ouyang says the pox have all bloomed. You’ll recover soon!”

The First Madam relaxed. “You’re not lying to me?”

People in illness truly become like children.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but smile. “Not lying to you!”

She gently conveyed, “Fifth Miss and Ninth Brother send people three or four times daily to see you. You must get better soon! Ninth Brother has several times wanted to come in…”

“That won’t do!” The First Madam immediately shook her head vigorously. “Absolutely don’t let Ninth Brother enter! Though he’s had smallpox and theoretically won’t contract it… but what if…”

“Little Seven understands!” Seventh Miss handed the bowl to Lixia, helping the First Madam slowly lie back down. “Sleep quickly.”

She was about to rise.

The First Madam suddenly tried to sit up again.

“Where are you going!”

Seventh Miss had no choice but to sit back at the bedside. “Little Seven isn’t going anywhere… Sleep quickly, close your eyes now, hmm?”

The First Madam slowly closed her eyes under Seventh Miss’s gaze.

Seventh Miss waited a while longer before rising to sit by the window.

“What if…” The First Madam spoke again. “What if I… can’t recover from this illness…”