"It's all because Concubine He has spoiled Young Master Hao so much on a daily basis. He has been idle all day long, and now he's even got this filthy disease," the old lady said angrily, stomping her walking stick hard.
"Old lady, I respect you as an elder, but don't push people too far. Miss Shu has always been sickly. She was born a weakling. But my Young Master Hao is different. He suddenly got seriously ill, and yet you just dragged the doctor away. As his wife, I really can't figure out what's on your mind," Concubine He stood outside the door with one hand on her hip, shouting. On the surface, she was addressing the old lady, but her words were all aimed at Liu Yushu. Each sentence was like a knife.
Liu Yushu was indignant. She didn't like any of the three concubines in the family, but the most restless and disgusting one was undoubtedly Concubine He outside the door.
Liu Yushu would always remember that when she was four years old, her mother was pregnant with her younger brother. Concubine He led Liu Yanhao, who was three years older than her, into the mansion. Her father said that since Young Master Hao was older and the eldest son, it was not convenient to raise him outside.
Her mother was pregnant and couldn't get angry. For the sake of the baby in her womb, she endured it.
The old lady in the family was the aunt of the current empress. Back then, when the empress was still a princess consort and giving birth to the princess, she asked the old lady to enter the prince's mansion to accompany her. When the old lady came back, Liu Yushu's mother was already buried. She died of spitting blood after giving birth to her younger brother.
Poor Liu Yushu's younger brother was born prematurely and was in poor health since childhood. His health was even worse than hers. He couldn't even get out of bed and had been bedridden for years.
Her mother's death was all because of Concubine He's provocation. Relying on her father's support, Concubine He insulted her mother with all kinds of words. Her mother was gentle and kind and didn't know how to fight back. Her father favored his concubine and mistreated his wife, always taking Concubine He's side. That's why her mother was so angry that she died.
After the old lady came back, Liu Yushu knelt in front of her, crying miserably, and listed one by one all of Concubine He's misdeeds. The old lady was so angry that she wanted to drive Concubine He out immediately. But at that time, Concubine He was pregnant, and her father helped her to excuse and obstruct many times. The old lady had no choice. She couldn't just kill a pregnant woman. It would damage the reputation of the Liu family if it got out.
Now that Liu Yanhao had contracted venereal disease, it was also Concubine He's retribution.
"Don't worry about what's going on outside. Just focus on getting well," the old lady took Liu Yushu's hand and then turned to instruct Nanny Lu, "Go and tell the kitchen to make some dishes that our Miss Shu likes. But remember, they should be light. And as for Miss Shu's medicine, you have to watch over it personally. We don't want some people with evil minds to do something dirty." The old lady was sharp - eyed, and nothing in the family could escape her notice.
"Yes, old lady. You can rest assured. I'll watch over the food and medicine for both Miss Shu and Young Master Yi personally. There won't be any mistakes," Nanny Lu said. Then she opened the door and invited Doctor Yan out.
As soon as the door opened, Doctor Yan's sleeve was quickly grabbed by Freya, Concubine He's personal maid. Freya glared angrily and shouted aggressively, "Hurry up. How long do you want Young Master Hao to wait?"
"A filthy disease like venereal disease needs to be treated slowly. There's no need to be in such a hurry," Nanny Lu sneered sarcastically.
Nanny Lu was the old lady's dowry maid and had served the old lady for half a lifetime. She understood the old lady's mind very well. Some things the old lady was not convenient to say directly, so she would say them instead.
Hearing this, Concubine He distorted her features and spat, "Nanny Lu, aren't you afraid of shortening your lifespan by talking nonsense? My Young Master Hao just has a cold." Then she peeked into the room, looked Liu Yushu up and down with a sneer of contempt, "There are two weaklings in this family. Even a healthy person will be affected. At least the one in the next room is paralyzed. The other one wanders around the mansion all day long, bringing bad luck in broad daylight."
Seeing the old lady there, Concubine He reluctantly made a bow without even bending her knees.
Concubine He's words were so unpleasant that Liu Yushu immediately got angry. She coughed violently and felt dizzy.
"Miss Shu, are you okay?" the old lady patted her on the back.
Liu Yushu shook her head, "Grandmother, I'm fine." Her eyes were filled with grievance and anger.
Being so presumptuous in front of the old lady, Concubine He was really too arrogant.
The old lady didn't even turn her head. With a cold face, she gave an order, "Nanny Lu, what are you standing there for? Go and call the guards to tie up this shrew for me."
"Yes," Nanny Lu pushed Freya, who was standing in front of her, away. Freya staggered and fell to the ground.
Two tall and strong guards came. One held each of Concubine He's arms and easily grabbed her, as if they were picking up a chick and took her to the yard.
"Let me go. If any of you dare to touch me, wait for the master to come back and exterminate your whole family," Concubine He shouted and cursed with a twisted face. She struggled constantly like a live fish on the chopping board.
"Cover her mouth. Don't let her talk nonsense," the old lady ordered. Nanny Lu immediately grabbed a rag from a maid and stuffed it into Concubine He's mouth forcefully. Then she kicked Concubine He hard on the calf. Concubine He's knees bent and she knelt on the ground. She glared at the old lady angrily with an aggrieved look in her eyes and made a muffled sound in her throat.
"You," the old lady stood up with the support of her walking stick. Her sharp eyes swept across Freya's face like a sharp blade. Freya was so scared that she knelt on the ground trembling and begged for mercy, "Old lady, this maid knows her mistake. I'll never be disrespectful to you again." She looked up timidly and saw the old lady with a black face, stomping her walking stick on the ground a few times, "If any of you dare to speak rudely to Miss Shu or Young Master Yi again, I'll drive her out of the mansion."
Freya kowtowed repeatedly, "Yes, this maid doesn't dare anymore. I'll never dare again."
Nanny Lu frowned and scolded, "You useless girl. Hurry up and take Doctor Yan to see Young Master Hao."
After getting up, Freya bowed respectfully to the old lady and left with Doctor Yan.
As for Concubine He, the old lady ordered the two guards to tie her tightly to a dead tree in the yard with a thick hemp rope. Since it was almost noon, let her be exposed to the sun. No servant was allowed to give her water to drink.
Everyone in the mansion was watching. The other two concubines who had been bullied by Concubine He on weekdays didn't show any obvious reaction on the surface, but secretly they were clapping their hands for joy, all watching Concubine He make a fool of herself. Concubine He had completely lost face in the mansion this time.