In Shi’an Courtyard, basin after basin of bloody water was carried out, frightening everyone.

Seeing the Old Madam’s face paler than paper, Xie Erli feared she might become ill from anxiety and quickly entered the east wing to whisper in Pei Yu’s ear.

Pei Yu walked to the outer room. “Everyone stop waiting here. Third Master won’t wake up anytime soon. Old Madam, Madam, please return. They’re external injuries, nothing serious.”

Xie Erli quickly agreed. “Someone, help the Old Madam and Madam back to their rooms.”

Madam Zhu cleverly stepped forward to support the Old Madam.

“Grandmother, rest assured. I’ll stay right here and won’t go anywhere. As soon as Third Brother wakes, I’ll be the first to tell you.”

“Good!”

“I’m not leaving!”

Madam Wu wiped her tears. “I must wait here for Third Son to wake up.”

The Old Madam turned to look at Madam Wu. Madam Wu didn’t dare speak further and wiped her tears again, saying to Pei Yu:

“Third Son is most afraid of pain, Imperial Physician Pei. You must be gentle with him!”

What kind of talk was this?

Xie Erli looked at Pei Yu apologetically, silently apologizing on his mother’s behalf.

Pei Yu knew Madam Wu’s character and didn’t take it to heart. “Certainly, certainly.”

Just as he finished speaking, Xie Wanshu entered the courtyard supporting Concubine Liu.

Seeing the Old Madam about to leave, Concubine Liu quickly pushed away her daughter’s hand and stepped forward. “Madam must be worried about Third Master. Let me help the Old Madam back.”

You certainly know how to seize opportunities to curry favor.

Madam Wu’s expression turned cold. “No need, Concubine Liu. The Old Madam walks slowly—you don’t have that patience.”

Concubine Liu said nothing more and stepped aside, lowering her head. “Yes!”

The Old Madam extended her hand and patted Concubine Liu’s arm. “You have a good heart.”

Concubine Liu quickly raised her head. “Old Madam, it’s only proper and fitting.”

“Mm!”

The Old Madam nodded and slowly left Shi’an Courtyard. Reaching a deserted area, she stopped and looked deeply at Madam Wu.

“How many times have I told you—you’re the wife, she’s the concubine. No matter how much you hate her in your heart, you cannot stab at her in front of so many people and make her lose face.”

“I…”

“We women must have sweet mouths and hard hearts. Why can’t you remember? A whole courtyard of people watching eagerly—if this reaches the master’s ears, it will be your fault again!”

The Old Madam struck her cane heavily on the ground. Such disappointment!

Madam Wu said tearfully, “Old Madam, normally I’m not someone who can’t tolerate others. It’s just that my heart was worried about Third Son, so I…”

Hearing this, the Old Madam felt even more uncomfortable.

Normally you can tolerate others, but at critical moments you can’t—doesn’t that mean all the previous efforts were wasted?

“Forget it!”

She sighed deeply. “Don’t count on the master anymore. Count more on your two sons. As long as your sons are here, even after I close my eyes, no one will dare touch a hair on your head!”

Madam Wu didn’t dare talk back and could only lower her head to wipe her tears.

…

Jingsi Residence.

Yan Sanhe lay silently;

Pei Xiao and Li Buyan stood face to face.

Seeing Yan Sanhe not waking for so long, Li Buyan would occasionally reach out to check her breathing, feeling anxious.

“He’s here, he’s here! The imperial physician is here!”

Tangyuan’s voice rang out from outside. Pei Xiao was delighted and hurried to greet him.

“Uncle Shen, you’re finally here.”

“You brat, are you summoning souls!”

Imperial Physician Shen Wei pointed at him. “Where’s the patient?”

“Inside. Please go quickly.”

Pei Xiao’s heart was concerned about Xie Wushi. With Shen Wei here, he felt at ease. “Uncle Shen, I’m going to the front. I’ll be right back.”

“Wait.”

Li Buyan came out. “I’m going with you.”

Pei Xiao glared. “What are you joining in for? Stay here properly and watch over Yan Sanhe.”

“Tangyuan, you watch over Miss for me.”

Li Buyan gritted her teeth. “I’m going to settle accounts with that bastard Zhu Qing—attacking me from behind.”

“Aiya, my lady ancestor, please don’t.”

Pei Xiao said, “Forget it. This matter can’t be explained in a few words. When your young lady wakes up, ask her.”

Li Buyan: “Why ask her?”

“Don’t worry about it. Just asking her is right.”

Pei Xiao looked at her with utter disdain, shaking his head. “Your young lady is so clever, but why is the maid so dense!”

I’m dense?

It’s because you people have too many twisted thoughts in your bellies—all nine turns and eighteen bends.

Li Buyan cursed furiously in her heart!

…

Yan Sanhe’s eyes flew open.

Li Buyan’s face appeared overhead, full of concern. “Does it hurt?”

“What hurts?”

Just as Yan Sanhe asked, she discovered her foot was being held and examined. She was about to kick out…

“Quick, hold her down. Don’t let her move.”

Li Buyan pressed down with both hands. “Sanhe, don’t move. Your foot is badly injured.”

Yan Sanhe’s face and mind both went blank for an instant.

“The tendons and bones are strained.”

Imperial Physician Shen Wei stood up and took the cloth handed to him by his medical assistant, wiping his hands. “For the next half month, you’re not allowed out of bed. For the next month, you’re not allowed to walk.”

A whole month?

Yan Sanhe’s scalp went numb.

“Rest well!”

Imperial Physician Shen said, “The ointment on your foot is one I applied. Change it every seven days. After four changes, you can walk as swift as flying.”

Li Buyan: “Imperial Physician Shen, please write a prescription.”

“What medicine? Just rest quietly.”

Imperial Physician Shen glared hard at Yan Sanhe.

“Don’t climb around anymore in the future. I’ve never seen any young lady injure her foot this badly. Now you know to behave.”

Yan Sanhe wasn’t behaving—she hadn’t heard a single word. Her mind held only one thought—a whole month, what about Jingchen’s matter?

Just after seeing off Imperial Physician Shen, Madam Zhu entered Jingsi Residence with Chuntao.

“How could this happen? How did your foot get sprained?”

Madam Zhu swept in like a gust of wind, reaching the bedside to look left and right at Yan Sanhe’s foot. “What did Imperial Physician Shen say?”

Tangyuan replied, “In response to the eldest madam, the tendons and bones are injured.”

Without needing to think, Madam Zhu knew the foot was badly injured. She immediately instructed Chuntao behind her.

“Tell the small kitchen that starting today, Miss Yan’s three meals daily will be prepared separately. Each meal must include a bowl of rich, thick bone broth.”

“Yes!”

“Tangyuan.”

“Eldest Madam.”

“From now on, serve Miss with extra care. If anything is lacking, just come ask me for it.”

“Yes.”

After all these instructions, Madam Zhu finally looked at Yan Sanhe. “How did you injure it?”

Yan Sanhe answered vaguely, “I wasn’t careful.”

Hearing this, Madam Zhu immediately looked at Li Buyan.

“Miss Li, normally I shouldn’t say this, but you’re an old hand. When Miss isn’t careful, you need to be careful at her side.”

Li Buyan felt a wave of sadness.

She and Sanhe had been together for years, always safe and sound. But recently, one incident after another kept happening. It was becoming cursed.

“She takes very good care of me.”

Yan Sanhe knew Madam Zhu meant well but couldn’t stand hearing others criticize Li Buyan. “The eldest madam has been troubled. I’ll be fine after resting.”

“Miss, what you’re saying…”

Madam Zhu’s peripheral vision glanced at Li Buyan.

This maid’s luck was truly good—having such a protective mistress.