Chapter 610: Chapter 609: Let You Suffer in Vain
Madam Zhou hurried to Zhou Xiuerâs room, and by then, she was burning up with fever, her little face flush and scorching hot.
"How did it suddenly get this bad?" Madam Zhou exclaimed, quickly having someone fetch water, and she wrung out a handkerchief to place on her forehead.
"Auntie, Xiuxiu doesnât want to leave; auntie, please donât send us away," Zhou Xiuer pleaded with a raspy voice, grabbing Madam Zhouâs hand. "Auntie, Xiuxiu will be obedient and take good care of you."
A warmth flooded Madam Zhouâs eyes, and she said, "Silly child, donât talk like that. Youâre sick now; just focus on resting."
"Xiuxiu wants auntie to promise me," Zhou Xiuer whined.
Although Madam Zhouâs heart softened, she dared not make any promises.
Wufu had already spoken, and if she made a promise to Xiuxiu without his consent, itâs likely that Wufu would be upset.
Noticing Madam Zhouâs hesitation, Zhou Xiuer felt secretly infuriated, her head spinning even more.
Even with Xiuxiu so ill, could Madam Zhou really be heartless enough to emulate that cold-blooded and unfeeling woman, Wufu?
"Auntie..."
"Madam."
Zhou Xiuer had just begun to speak when she saw Jadeite, the maid beside Wufu, enter and interrupt her.
Seeing Jadeite, Madam Zhou looked behind her but didnât see Wufu.
"Madam, the young miss has already gone to bed. Hearing that the female cousin wasnât feeling well, she sent me to attend," Jadeite said, bending her knee in a curtsy.
Zhou Xiuer felt a sigh of relief upon hearing this, yet some displeasure mingled in.
She was ill, and yet Wufu couldnât even come to take a single look. Surely, this meant she wasnât being taken seriously.
However, it was better that she didnât come. Xiuxiu would have an easier time convincing her aunt. With her around, it would probably be even more difficult.
With this thought, Zhou Xiuer looked earnestly at Madam Zhou and started coughing.
Madam Zhou didnât say anything upon hearing that Wufu had gone to bed.
"Madam, seeing that the female cousin seems to be burning up, Jadeite knows a bit of differential diagnosis, which you are aware of, Madam. Why not have her come and take a pulse?" Jadeite suggested.
Madam Zhouâs eyes lit up; the two maids Wufu had purchased were indeed very skilled, and she knew that all too well. The one named Jadeite did have some knowledge in differential diagnosis; she had even given Madam Zhou a prescription to regulate her health, and after taking it these past days, she felt much better.
"Quickly fetch her here; I was just thinking to call her for a visit," Madam Zhou said joyfully.
On such a late evening, their mansion was just an ordinary small household, and unlike those wealthy families, they did not have a physician on permanent call. Thus, if someone fell ill in the middle of the night, they could only go out to summon a doctor.
And now, during the New Yearâs festivities and with the cold weather, and at this late hour, the doctors would probably be unwilling to come.
Having Jadeite available was the best scenario.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Xiuer became frantic, as if this Jadeite could actually cure her, then her whole ordeal, her strategem of suffering, would have been for naught.
No, sheâd risked her health in her gamble, not for it all to come to nothing.
Zhou Xiuer exclaimed urgently, "Auntie, itâs so late; thereâs no need to bother the people from my female cousinâs side. I just need to sleep, and after resting for a few days, itâll be fine. Thereâs no need to see any doctor."
But Madam Zhou countered, "Youâre delirious with fever, burning up to the touch; how could you not see a doctor? Donât rely on your youth and shy away from medical care; a minor ailment can escalate to a serious illness, which would be troublesome."
Without allowing Zhou Xiuer to refuse, she motioned to Jadeite to summon someone.