Chapter 288

The room was huge.

Tan Shuya pulled Li Da Niu, who was looking around.

Li Da Niu was a little disappointed. She didn’t see the man.

Looking down… their mother and daughter’s shoes were stepping on the carpet… both their faces turned red.

Tan Shuya nervously bowed to Madam Bai, “Thank you, Madam, for taking us in…” She couldn’t help but sob.

Madam Bai had already changed her clothes and was sitting in the main seat. She smiled, “We are from the same family. I’m happy to help my own people. You don’t have to be like this!”

“You don’t know, I, I spent so much effort to find this place… but when I asked around, they said the Tan family had moved away. At that time, I really thought our mother and daughter were going to die…” Recalling everything on the road, her body trembled, and tears streamed down her face.

“Don’t cry. You’ve found me, and everything will be fine. Don’t worry, taking care of you and your daughter is a small matter for me. Settle down first, and we’ll talk about other things later.”

“Yes. Madam, I’m being bold, but I have a small request, if you wouldn’t mind…”

“Tell me!”

“My family has fallen on hard times, and after I married, my husband’s family mistreated me. My health is also not very good… I’m not worried about myself, but this little girl, I’m afraid that with my illness, I won’t be able to teach her anything, not even how to do chores. Do you think it’s possible to keep her by your side, as a little maid, to serve you?!”

At this moment, the man came over from the side hall.

“Madam? This is…”

Madam Bai said, “Husband, this is a branch of the Tan family from Huai Shan. They originally moved to another province. Now, the mother and daughter have returned to find their roots. You know the Tan family is here…”

The man smiled, “Oh, so it’s Madam’s family. As long as Madam is here, the Tan family is worth a thousand others…”

“Alright!” Madam Bai said playfully. “You mean, to let this little girl stay in the courtyard… It’s just that I have a lot of things to do. I have to work, meet guests, and take care of my husband and son every day. I’m afraid I won’t be able to look after her properly!”

“Madam! Don’t judge her by her age. She can do everything. Cooking, chopping firewood, fetching water, washing clothes, she can do it all! You have so many flowers and plants in your garden, she can help take care of them too.”

“Little girl, raise your head and let us have a look?!” The man spoke.

Li Da Niu was overjoyed. She looked up at the man, then at Madam Bai.

Madam Bai saw that her hair was dry and yellow, and her complexion was poor, but her eyes were clear, bright, and watery. She had a good impression of her.

“Ah! As expected of Madam’s family, she looks delicate and clever! Little girl, what’s your name?!”

“My name is Li Da Niu!” She was not afraid at all, and even spoke with some excitement.

The man laughed heartily, “What a rustic name! It’s fine when she’s young, but when she grows up, it will make people laugh. Madam, why don’t you give this little girl a name?”

Madam Bai was happy to see her husband giving her relatives such face. “It’s better for you to give her a name!”

“Oh? Let me do it?!” He looked at Madam Bai sideways, wanting to make her laugh.

Tan Shuya hurriedly said, “Please give her one! It’s just that when her father was alive, he disliked her for being a girl and treated her badly. I was thinking, we don’t care about the surname Li anyway, so please give her a name with the surname Tan?!”

Madam Bai was happy to hear that, “Yes, that’s a good idea!”

“Of course it’s a good idea. This way, she can be associated with Madam’s aura… In my opinion, how about… calling her Tan Yan Ling! Yan from wild goose, and Ling from feather. Ling sounds like Ling from cleverness, meaning clever and intelligent. It suits this little girl very well!”

Madam Bai nodded, “It sounds good!”

Li Da Niu said loudly, “Tan Yan Ling… Yan from wild goose, Ling from feather. Niu’er remembers! From now on, my name is Tan Yan Ling!”

Her small face was serious, very earnest.

✿✿✿

“Yan Ling?!” Who was calling her?

“Yan Ling? Wake up!”

Tan Shi’s eyeballs were rolling, wanting to open her eyes, but she couldn’t no matter what.

✿✿✿

Tan Shi didn’t show up that day.

Wen Yu was puzzled. She looked around and asked the maid next to her, “Why hasn’t Concubine Xiu Yun come yet? Did you go ask her?”

Because the Marquis’ two concubines and the concubine by Qi Youyi’s side had all arrived.

A maid next to her replied, “Concubine Xiu Yun said she would go to Old Madam’s place first to check on her, and then come over with Old Madam.”

Master Qing had already finished his work. Looking at the things that were laid out, he came over and asked Wen Yu what to do next.

Wen Yu thought for a moment, “I’ll go see what’s wrong with her…”

Just as she was about to leave, Liu Shi came over from behind and said to Madam Qi and Wen Yu, “Sister-in-law, the doctor came and said that Mother has an upset stomach, is weak, and has just sweated a lot. The doctor prescribed medicine and asked her to rest after taking it.

So, she can’t have her clothes measured now. Mother brought a piece of clothing and said to make a set according to this size. She asked Fifth Young Master’s wife to help choose and make a set for winter.”

Madam Qi didn’t mind and nodded.

Wen Yu was a little worried, “She was fine in the morning. Did so many people coming over disturb her?”

Liu Shi, “Old Madam said it’s fine. It’s just a coincidence!”

“Then let them leave first?”

“Alright, let them leave first!”

It was quickly packed up and put into the box.

Wen Yu walked out with Master Qing, “It’s really a coincidence… I originally wanted you to see her, but you didn’t get to see her!”

Master Qing’s face was a little solemn, “It’s nothing. I have her measurements. I’ll come again when she tries on the clothes!”

✿✿✿

“That’s true! We’ll see her sooner or later.”

✿✿✿

After everyone had left the shop and a while later, Wen Yu took Xiao Ji to Old Madam’s room.

When the maid in Tan Shi’s room saw her coming, she came out and said softly, “Fifth Young Madam…”

“How is Old Madam?” Wen Yu asked softly.

“She took her medicine and fell asleep.”

“Is it convenient for me to go in and see her?”

“No need! Concubine Xiu Yun has been attending to her just now. She has also gone back now! We are watching over her! If there is any news, we will let you know!”

Wen Yu nodded and went back to her room.

Qi Wu came back, quite early.

Seeing Wen Yu coming in, he helped her take off her cloak, “Old Madam is sick?”

“Yes, she took her medicine and fell asleep.”

Wen Yu didn’t talk to him anymore. She sat down and thought carefully: This matter is so awkward.

Did she deliberately do this to make me feel uncomfortable? Although this is like her style… but Concubine Xiu Yun didn’t show up either.

If it weren’t for Master Qing’s matter, everything would be natural, and I wouldn’t think too much about it. Now…

Seeing that she was thinking, Qi Wu sat quietly beside her.

When it was time to light the lamps, Tan Shi was still awake! The maid went to have a look and found that she had a high fever.

Then, there was panic, looking for Third Madam and calling for the doctor.

The doctor came and took a look, his face also became solemn, “It shouldn’t be like this!”

Wen Yu heard about it and hurriedly went to the back hall with everyone. Looking at the people busy coming and going, even the Marquis was called back…

She really is sick?!

…

“Yan Ling!” Tan Shi heard someone calling again. Her head suddenly became clear, and she opened her eyes abruptly. She woke up!

Looking at the embroidered canopy, she turned her head and saw the man sitting on the chair by the bed… Qi Zheng?

Everything from when she was seven years old was just in front of her eyes… Suddenly, her forehead broke out in a cold sweat.

“Yan Ling, you finally woke up?!” Marquis Qi had a smile on his face.

“Marquis…” Tan Shi’s voice was hoarse.

“Quickly, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere else?”

“…I’m fine, why are you here?”

“You had a fever, they were scared and called me over. It was really scary. You slept from yesterday until now! It’s already afternoon!”

“Ah? So serious?! I didn’t feel anything… I…” Tan Shi’s heart was pounding. She thought to herself: I had a fever, I didn’t say anything nonsense, did I?

“It’s good that you’re awake. The doctor will come again later…” Marquis Qi comforted her.

“I feel much better now. Marquis, you go ahead and do your work! I…”

Marquis Qi nodded, “Alright, let me know if anything happens!”

In the back hall, the Qi family was waiting for news.

Finally, Liu Shi came out, visibly relieved, “Mother is awake, the doctor said the fever has subsided, she’s finally fine. Don’t worry, everyone, go back to your rooms!”

Over there, a maid invited Concubine Xiu Yun over.

Xiu Yun was really worried, “Aunt, are you alright? Xiu Yun was scared to death…” She said, her eyes turning red.

Tan Shi smiled weakly, “I’m old, it’s normal. But I’m fine now. You yesterday… didn’t go to have your clothes measured, did you?”

“Xiu Yun has been with you all along, I didn’t go anywhere.”

Tan Shi was relieved, “Yes, let’s do it when I’m better. Pour me a bowl of water…”

Xiu Yun stood up and busied herself. Looking at those familiar movements…

So similar! Luckily, that man didn’t see her yesterday…

Bai Yuqing… is it really her?!

…This is really… Tan Shi smiled bitterly.

The year the Bai family fell, she was only twelve years old.

It’s strange. She’s grown taller and older by decades, but her appearance hasn’t changed much… She still looks as charming as ever!

Heh! But she is no longer a delicate young lady. She has become someone who makes a living with her skills, serving others…

And I, have become the Marquis’s wife.

The world changes, the sea turns into mulberry fields… It’s really funny!

Actually, the six sisters of the Bai family never offended her, they even treated her well!

But, they never saw her in their eyes, and never regarded her as their own sister…

So in the end, the downfall of the Bai family, the tragic fate of those noble young ladies… was the most pleasing to her!

She couldn’t help but chuckle… What did I have back then? I could still put you to death, let alone now?

I was scaring myself… How silly!

The sneer on her face was seen by Xiu Yun, who turned around and called out worriedly, “Aunt?”