Chapter 145: Leaving the House for Treatment
Mengxi was excitedly preparing the medicine made with red bananas when Zhiqiu hurried in and told her that Master Shangguan was critically ill. Mengxi was shocked and asked anxiously:
"What? How could big brother suddenly become critically ill?!"
After hearing this, Zhiqiu looked at Second Madam and blushed. She wanted to evade the question, but then she thought that Second Madam would know about this sooner or later, so she said honestly:
"Second Madam, you don't know that Master Shangguan has been ill for half a month. We have searched for famous doctors in Pingyang, but none of them could find the cause. Later, we sent someone to Yichun Hall to find my brother, asking him to send someone to tell him if you can return to Pingyang for treatment. My brother and father know that you are having a hard time in the Xiao Mansion and it is difficult for you to leave the mansion, so they told Shangguan's family that there has been no news from you. My brother was afraid that if he told you, you would be worried about him and would risk leaving the mansion regardless of any obstructions, so he kept this servant in the dark and never told you."
When Zhiqiu said this, he stole a glance at Second Mistress, and seeing that she was only listening attentively and had no intention of blaming him, he became a little bolder and continued:
"I thought Shangguan would be fine, but yesterday morning, Master Shangguan's servant Xiao Zongzi went to the pharmacy again. As soon as he entered the door, he knelt down in front of my brother and begged him, saying that Master Shangguan had found the most famous imperial physician in Pingyang City, but the physician could not find the cause of the disease. He only said that judging from the pulse, Master Shangguan would not live long. I heard that Master Shangguan had been unconscious for two days and stopped breathing yesterday. Xiao Zongzi remembered the Soul-Restoring Pill you gave him last time, and forced open his teeth to feed it to Master Shangguan. Then he started breathing again, but the imperial physician said that the pill could only prolong his life for three days. If the cause of the disease cannot be found, Master Shangguan will still die."
After hearing this, Mengxi dropped the box in his hand to the ground with a clatter. His face turned pale and his hands trembled.
"What? It's such a big deal, why didn't you tell me earlier? I risked my life by leaving the house, and it would only be a punishment. My brother, my brother, that's a life!"
"Second Madam, Second Madam, it's my fault. I shouldn't have kept it from you. Please don't get excited. Master Shangguan is not dead yet. We'll go there soon. Maybe he can still be saved. Please calm down. Don't let anything happen to you. If anything happens to you, Master Shangguan will be dead!"
Seeing Second Madam like this, Zhiqiu stepped forward to support her, knelt at her feet, and begged. After a long time, Mengxi finally calmed down and murmured:
"Brother, you must hold on. Even if I have to go to heaven or hell and face the King of Hell, Xier will save you. One day when Xier leaves the Xiao Mansion, I will travel around the mountains and rivers with you and be the best in the world!"
…
Mengxi dressed up as a maid and wore Zhichun's clothes. Under Zhiqiu's arrangement, the two of them took a small carriage and left the Xiao Mansion smoothly. Not far away, they saw the carriage that Li Du had arranged earlier parked on the side. The two of them got on the carriage and asked the carriage in the mansion to find a place to wait. Men's clothes were already prepared in the carriage Mengxi and Zhiqiu changed in the carriage, combed their hair again, put on the crown and scarf, and packed the women's clothes and put them on another prepared carriage. After watching the other carriage leave, Zhiqiu said:
"Second Madam, my elder brother said that these days, there have been a lot of people around Yichun Hall for no reason, as if they were monitoring the pharmacy. My brother knows a few of them who were sent by Master Shangguan to protect you, but he doesn't know the others, and he's afraid they might do you harm, so he made this arrangement. We won't go to the pharmacy later, but go directly to the teahouse next to Yichun Hall. That teahouse is the Yipin Teahouse I told you about last time, and it's also our property. Master Shangguan's car is waiting there, and we'll change cars there to meet Master Shangguan. This way, you don't have to show up in Yichun Hall, lest you be seen by someone with ulterior motives and cause trouble."
Mengxi nodded without saying anything. After a while, the car arrived at the Yipin Teahouse next to Yichuntang and stopped at the door. This teahouse was also bought by Li Du according to Mengxi's suggestion last time. Even Shangguan didn't know that it was Yichuntang's property. Li Du opened a secret door between the teahouse and the pharmacy to make it convenient for Mengxi to come out. She could go to the teahouse to drink tea first, and then enter the pharmacy from the teahouse.
In Li Du's words, the pharmacy is not like when it first opened and no one was interested in it. Instead, it has become too famous. Even the Xiao family sends people over every now and then. There are always spies from different forces hanging around in front of the door, which is too eye-catching. If the Second Grandma goes in and out of the pharmacy directly from the main entrance, she will most likely be followed. If she is discovered by the Xiao family, she will suffer again, so this arrangement was made.
Mengxi and Zhiqiu got off the carriage at the entrance of the teahouse. There was already another carriage waiting there. The coachman next to them opened the door and let the two in. Mengxi raised her eyes and saw Xiao Zongzi, the servant of Master Shangguan, sitting in the carriage, motioning her to get in quickly. Mengxi was stunned for a moment, hesitated for a moment, flicked her sleeves, strode into the carriage.
After getting in the car, he took a look around, and couldn't help but sigh at the luxury of Shangguan. The car looked only slightly bigger than the usual ones from the outside, and it was very ordinary. But inside, it was like a luxurious boutique small bedroom. The seats were covered with pure white snow fox fur, which was soft and comfortable. It was equipped with all the daily necessities, and there was also a small desk where he could read and write. These were things that ordinary people didn't see. Even though Mengxi was from a wealthy family, she had never seen some of them, and she was secretly amazed.
As soon as Mengxi and Zhiqiu sat down, the carriage started moving. Xiao Zongzi waited until the carriage started moving before he stood up and knelt down in front of Mengxi:
"Master Li, the outside of Yichun Hall is full of spies of my master's enemies, so I didn't go downstairs to greet you just now. Please forgive me, and I beg you to save my master."
Mengxi reached out and gave Xiao Zongzi a helping hand, saying :
"Xiao Zongzi, get up quickly. Shangguan is my elder brother. Unfortunately, I was not in Pingyang. I only received the news a few days ago, so I hurried back. I hope I can save your life in time."
"My master is ill this time and in critical condition. He is completely dependent on you, young master."
As Xiao Zongzi spoke, his eyes turned red.
Mengxi looked at Xiao Zongzi's expression and thought of Shangguan's imminent danger. She felt a little sad and quickly changed the subject, saying:
"Fortunately, I got back in time. Xiao Zongzi, please tell me about your young master's situation first so that I can be prepared."
After listening to this, Xiao Zongzi nodded quickly and started to talk. His story was basically the same as Zhiqiu's, except that Xiao Zongzi described the different conditions of Master Shangguan every day after his illness in much more detail than Zhiqiu. This would help Mengxi understand Shangguan's condition.
As they were talking, the car had arrived at the Shangguan Master's villa. When they arrived at the gate, Xiao Zongzi did not get out of the car, but only opened the door and waved to the gatekeeper. The gatekeeper hurriedly opened the door and let the car in directly. The car did not stop after passing the second gate, but kept going inside, turning left and right, and finally stopped in a relatively secluded garden. Xiao Zongzi then opened the door, asked Mengxi to get out of the car, and said:
"Mr. Li, I specially brought my master from the mansion to this villa yesterday so that you can treat him. It is quieter here and there are fewer people. Mr. Li, please come in."
Mengxi nodded, let Xiao Zongzi lead the way, and she and Zhiqiu followed behind and walked into the inner room together.
