Chapter 1356: Chapter 1356: Forceful Rectification
As Ru Yi entered the bedroom, she saw Song Rushuang, the dragon-phoenix twin, sitting on the bed. Her little face was red, and she was crying with tears streaming down her face, looking utterly pitiful.
Jing Shui set down the medicinal ingredients, walked over, and gently coaxed her, taking her into her arms.
Ru Yi frowned, placed her hand on Song Rushuangâs forehead, finding it scorching hot, and instructed Ru Yi, "Quickly summon the residence physician."
Ru Yi hurriedly left the room.
"The child has such a high fever, and instead of summoning the residence physician, you went outside for medicine, whatâs wrong with you? You were assigned as the steward mother for the children, is this all youâre capable of?" Ru Yi scolded.
Angry and upset, her voice sharpened and raised, frightening the already uncomfortable Song Rushuang into crying even louder, her small body trembling.
Seeing this, Ru Yi felt indescribable inside.
This is the fate of motherless children.
Jing Shui first calmed Song Rushuang down, and then replied, "This servant also wanted to ask Zhao Dazhuâs household to summon the physician, but they said that the Fifth Missâs fever wasnât particularly high, and that she could just sweat it out with a blanket. Seeing that the Fifth Miss hadnât reached a high fever, this servant only went outside to buy a few packets of fever-reducing medicinal ingredients to see if they could induce some sweat."
"Foolish, and you believed what they said? With a child having a fever, thereâs not a single person watching over them in the house, and Yiâer even directly ran outside the courtyard. If I hadnât happened to come and see, who knows where the child could run off to or what trouble could occur? If something really happened, could you bear the responsibility?" Ru Yi harshly reprimanded, "No matter how much theyâre out of favor, theyâre still Song by name, and itâs not your place as servants to neglect and humiliate them."
Jing Shui, with a bitter expression, kneeled down: "This servant knows my fault."
Ru Yi, seeing her submissive yet still soothing the crying and fussing Song Rushuang, felt as if sheâd punched a fist into cotton, and said, "Get up, and take good care of the child."
The residence physician arrived quickly, and after an examination, concluded that the child had caught a cold, causing the fever. Upon checking the prescriptions and medicines Jing Shui had bought, they were appropriate, so someone was sent to brew the medicinal soup to feed the child.
Ru Yi didnât personally administer the medicine, leaving it to Jing Shui while she diligently supervised the entire courtyard, instructing the inner courtyard steward, Madam Zhao, to deal with the lazy and deceitful people in this courtyard, punish those who should be punished, transfer those who should be relocated, and replace the staff with a new batch of service people.
She also inspected the expenditures and found no shortage, but everything was of inferior quality masquerading as good. She reported to Madam Fang, held the relevant personnel accountable, and effectively tidied up the neglected South Garden.
After Jing Shui lulled Song Rushuang to sleep, she kneeled before Ru Yi, kowtowing in gratitude.
Ru Yi said, "To be honest, I have no fondness for Bai Shi at all. Now that she has passed, I wonât mention past events. These two children are not my own, and I cannot treat them as if they were. However, I am their legitimate mother and do not intend to torment them harshly. Since you have been permitted to be the steward mother of their courtyard, you should demonstrate your capability, and if you cannot, I will find someone competent."
Jing Shui, prostrate on the ground, said, "This servant thanks Madam for her recognition."
Ru Yi added, "Going forward, these children will depend on your diligence. If thereâs anyone lazy or deceitful, just report it. I do not want to see incidents like todayâs happen again."
"Yes."
After finishing her words, Ru Yi was about to leave. As she did, Song Lingyi, held by the new housewife, gave her a silly smile, causing her footsteps to pause momentarily before she turned and walked away.
Jing Shui climbed to her feet after Ru Yi left, lowered her gaze as she watched her walk away.