Child patient care is extremely important. "Wipe him down, use warm water, clean his mouth, neck, and anus to prevent infection," Qi Yue said as she worked.

"Young Madam, let me handle that," A'ru said. She was already dressed in attire identical to Qi Yue's.

Qi Yue looked at her, nodded, and handed her the washcloth. "You can hold the chopsticks and give him water, even if it's just enough to wet his lips," Yue added to Second Wife Liu.

Second Wife Liu nodded. That night, the lamps in the main house never extinguished, and everyone in the entire estate stayed awake, anxiously and excitedly watching by the gate of Qi Yue's courtyard.

Unbeknownst to them, nearly the entire village stood outside the courtyard walls, equally tense and eager, watching this single manor. "Young Madam, his temperature has dropped a bit," A'ru said excitedly, looking repeatedly at the thermometer.

Qi Yue, who was wiping her hands with medicinal alcohol, heard this and leaned over to look. They gazed toward the morning light, studying the faint red line on the thermometer.

"How many times did he defecate last night? What was his temperature?

You recorded it all, right?" Qi Yue asked. A'ru nodded and picked up a sheet of paper set aside earlier.

Qi Yue took it and read it carefully. "Gousheng, Gousheng..." A woman's cry of alarm, laced with sobs, drifted from the bedside.

The servants outside couldn't help but feel their hearts sink. "It seems he's not going to make it," everyone sighed and shook their heads.

Just then, the door burst open. A'ru rushed out clutching a packet of medicine.

The people in the courtyard were astonished again—was he not dead yet? By noon, they were certain of it; the faint cry of a baby emerged from the room.

"...Be good, you must take the medicine to get better..." Qi Yue coaxed the child, bringing the syringe to his lips again to administer the dose. The child resisted in terror; even his mother's soothing was useless, and in the end, the medicine was not swallowed.

"You stubborn child!" Second Wife Liu scolded, a mixture of anger and desperation in her voice. "Ha, it seems he has much more spirit.

Come, Auntie... well, I know this is very bitter...

if you take a sip, I'll give you a sip of sugar water, okay?" Qi Yue said with a smile, pointing to another bowl and drawing some into a different syringe. "Here, you taste this first, see I'm not deceiving you." As she spoke, she brought the syringe close to the child's lips and gently expelled a drop or two.

The child’s parched lips immediately licked out, and his struggling posture eased slightly. Qi Yue smiled and cautiously brought the syringe containing the traditional medicine closer again.

The child finally slowly opened his mouth. "What a brave child!" "Wonderful!

Another mouthful!" "Oh, is it sweet? Is it sweet?" "Incredible!

You finished it all!" "He'll surely grow up to be a great hero!" Tube after tube of the traditional medicine was administered. Watching Qi Yue's unbroken smile and listening to the constant words of encouragement spoken to the child, Second Wife Liu’s tears welled up again.

She covered her mouth with her hand, stifling her cries, letting the tears flow freely. Black turned to white, the sun rose and set.

Qi Yue, who had been assigned the latter half of the night for rest, awoke naturally. As soon as she woke, she pulled on her clothes and hurried over.

Second Wife Liu had been watching her child without rest, unwilling to rest even when the child slept. A'ru was carefully sprinkling lime-infused alcohol onto the ground.

Hearing the movement, she quickly looked up. "Young Madam, he had two bowel movements last night.

Here is the stool," A'ru said, putting down her work and holding up the soiled cloth. Compared to the previous few days, her demeanor was much calmer, as if she were holding two newly embroidered handkerchiefs.

Qi Yue took it seriously and examined it. "He's urinated, he's urinated..." Second Wife Liu suddenly cried out from over there, her voice filled with surprise.

Qi Yue was also greatly surprised. "That's excellent.

As long as we can control the dehydration and he can swallow the medicine, the medicine will start working." She quickly put down the soiled cloth, efficiently washed her hands, put on a mask and cap, and went to the child's side. Sure enough, beneath the sleeping child, the newly placed diaper was damp with urine.

Forgetting that the child was asleep, she happily picked him up and gently weighed him. "A'ru, re-mix the rehydration ratio this time, make it for oral consumption." A'ru quickly replied in assent.

"Mother... hungry..." The child woke up from being bundled warmly and let out a murmur.

This sound was like celestial music to the ears of the three women. Qi Yue could finally breathe a sigh of relief after these few days.

At the Residence of Marquis Dingxi, Concubine Zhou also finally relaxed. "That little scoundrel!" Marquis Dingxi smashed his teacup to the floor.

The cup rolled across the ground, splashing a wet patch near a maid kneeling beside it. "My Lord, My Lord, please allow this servant to go to the estate to attend to the Young Madam." The maid looked up, her normally pretty and charming face covered in tear streaks.

Crying, she spoke, revealing the delicate dimples of her canine teeth—who else but Ah Hao? "Get up.

No one needs to go. Let that wretch go himself!" Marquis Dingxi said sternly.

Ah Hao looked up at the Marquis, her gaze drifting toward Concubine Zhou standing behind him. Concubine Zhou gave her a meaningful look.

Ah Hao then bit her lower lip, forcing out an expression that was both tearful and smiling. "Thank you, My Lord..." she said.

Tears clung to her round face, her cherry-like mouth pouted, giving her an air of naive, pitiful charm that made Marquis Dingxi stare intently. "Then you go down first.

The Marquis has his own arrangements," Concubine Zhou said. Ah Hao immediately kowtowed and retreated.

The curtain dropped, severing Marquis Dingxi's lingering gaze. "Summon that wretch to see me immediately," Marquis Dingxi said, his anger not yet subsided.

"And sell those two women." "My Lord, absolutely not," Concubine Zhou quickly interceded, stroking his shoulder with a look of unease. "After all, they were chosen by the Madam..." Marquis Dingxi snorted.

"I know exactly what intentions she harbors," he said. "Don't meddle in this matter.

Poor Yue Niang must have suffered terribly." Concubine Zhou said no more, gently massaging the Marquis's shoulder. "Without the Old Madam, she still has you, My Lord.

Yue Niang is truly fortunate in life," she sighed. "Beautiful women deserve good fortune," Marquis Dingxi chuckled, enjoying Concubine Zhou's service and closing his eyes.

Concubine Zhou returned to her courtyard where Ah Hao was already waiting, looking at her with tear-filled eyes. "Do you still want to save your Young Madam?" Concubine Zhou asked in a low, frowning voice.

Ah Hao nodded, about to kneel. "Then stop that look immediately," Concubine Zhou sternly whispered.

Ah Hao immediately dared not cry or move. Concubine Zhou scrutinized her up and down, missing nothing, causing Ah Hao's hairs to stand on end and her whole body to tremble.

"Do you know why the Young Madam is so unwelcome in this household?" Concubine Zhou asked slowly. "Because...

because the Heir does not like the Young Madam..." Ah Hao stammered. Concubine Zhou gave a disdainful smile.

"No man in this world has ever not loved beauty," she said, stroking the winter plum blossoms arranged on the table. "The reason the Heir dislikes the Young Madam is due to instigation from behind the scenes.

And the reason those instigators can be so unrestrained is because, in this house, aside from the Old Madam, no one speaks favorably for the Young Madam." "And Auntie..." Ah Hao looked up pleadingly, kneeling, and said. "Me?" Concubine Zhou sighed.

"I have the heart, but lack the power." She reached up to touch her face. "I am old, and in this household, there are more and more women younger and more beautiful than me.

A woman, no matter how good, amounts to nothing when she ages," she said slowly, a trace of sorrow in her expression. "No, no, Auntie is the most beautiful," Ah Hao mumbled, offering flattering words.

Concubine Zhou smiled. "Don't use sweet talk on me.

Whether it's sweet or not, I don't care. I know your heart," she said, smiling as she reached out to pull Ah Hao up, but did not release her, instead scrutinizing her face again.

Although she wasn't stunningly beautiful, she was in the bloom of youth, with watery eyes and cheeks so rosy they looked ready to burst with moisture... "Those people who currently hold influence are all aligned with the Madam.

Do you think they would speak well of the Young Madam to the Marquis? The only one in this house who can control the Heir is the Marquis.

Ah Hao, do you understand now how to help your Young Madam?" Concubine Zhou said slowly, emphasizing each word. Ah Hao's large eyes widened as she looked at Concubine Zhou, her complexion slowly shifting from red to pale, before she finally nodded heavily.

The very next day, Concubine Zhou heard the news she had been waiting for, though it was somewhat less than ideal. "The Marquis and the Madam quarreled.

He ordered the Madam to sell the two tongfang [secondary wives/concubines], stating that until the Young Madam bears him an heir, no one else should be added to the Heir's bedchamber. Then they sent for the Heir, but were told he had already left—headed toward the Young Madam's estate," Ah Jin reported, a hint of regret in her expression.

Concubine Zhou showed little reaction. "That boy is cunning.

Since he dared to say that, he will surely play the part completely," she said blandly, trimming an excess branch from a flower with her scissors. "When the Marquis heard that, half of his anger and suspicion dissipated," Ah Jin frowned.

"But there's still the other half," Concubine Zhou smiled, putting down the scissors to ask, "What about Ah Hao's matter?" "This morning, she brewed soup essence and took it to the Marquis's study," Ah Jin whispered. "She didn't come out until past noon." Concubine Zhou's face lit up with delight.

"So, that means she already..." she murmured. "No," Ah Jin quickly corrected.

"I asked her. She said the Marquis demands propriety; he intends to formally acknowledge her before taking her in, so she won't be looked down upon.

The Marquis has always been considerate and thoughtful." Concubine Zhou let out a cold laugh, a sound filled with unspeakable bitterness and sorrow. "Considerate?" she muttered.

"A sentimental person is inevitably heartless." Silence filled the room for a moment. "Right, since things are settled with the Marquis, take some time to visit Yue Niang at the estate, persuade her, and comfort her," Concubine Zhou instructed.

Ah Jin nodded happily and hurried out to make preparations. As soon as Ah Jin left, Concubine Zhou called a young maid over and gave an instruction.

Soon after, an unfamiliar maid, about twenty years old with a slender figure, entered. "Have you prepared everything I asked for?" Concubine Zhou inquired.

"Auntie, rest assured, everything is ready and waiting for the Heir to arrive," the maid replied softly. Concubine Zhou nodded.

"You must be extremely careful and thorough," she cautioned solemnly in a low voice. The maid nodded.

"As long as the Heir steps through that door..." Concubine Zhou turned back to look at the trimmed winter plum blossoms, their buds on the verge of opening, "...he won't escape this entanglement..."