Chapter 225 Kneeling to Beg Yichuntang
Hongzhu came back from Qingxin Temple and reported the Second Madam's words truthfully. When the eldest master heard Mengxi say that the Second Master's life or death had nothing to do with her, he stood up in shock and anger and interrupted Hongzhu's words. He could never have imagined that Mengxi, who seemed to be such a well-educated and sensible person, could say such heartless words.
Seeing that the master was angry, Hongzhu was so scared that she swallowed the rest of her words and looked at the master tremblingly.
Hearing his father's unkind tone, the Second Master opened his eyes, his face surprisingly calm, and struggled to sit up, but unfortunately, he had no strength at all. He grabbed the bed with his hands for a long time, but couldn't get up. Hong Xing saw this and was about to step forward, only to hear the old lady say:
"Jun'er, just tell me what you want. You're weak, so stop tossing and turning and just lie down."
The Second Master closed his eyes, as if he was gathering strength. After a while, he opened his eyes, let out a long breath and said:
"Jun'er is unfilial and has caused grandma and father to worry. Jun'er also wants to get better soon, but Jun'er is really... I'm afraid Jun'er won't make it this time. Grandma and father should just pretend that Jun'er was never born. Jun'er should have died two years ago. Jun'er has lived for two years and is already content. Jun'er's only wish is to ask grandma and father to look at Jun'er and not make things difficult for Mengxi and let her leave the Xiao Mansion safely."
When the Second Master said this, he took a breath for a while and then continued:
"Jun'er and Mengxi have long since broken off their relationship. It's just that I have an injury on my hand and can't write a divorce letter. Jun'er doesn't want to wait for the injury to heal, so he asks grandma and father to be witnesses. I say, let Hongzhu write a divorce letter for me and let Mengxi go. Hongzhu... prepare the pen and ink."
The Second Master seemed to have used up all his strength to finish his words in a halting manner, then he lay there gasping for breath as if he had collapsed.
When the people in the room heard this, they were all stunned and stood there like wooden carvings or clay sculptures. Hongzhu looked at the old lady at a loss, not knowing whether she should listen to the second master's instructions and prepare the pen and ink.
After a long while, the eldest master who had stood up came back to his senses. He walked to the bedside, looked at the second master and said:
"I think Jun'er is really sick and confused. Your grandmother and I are still alive. You are so young, how can you be dying and living? There is no bridge that cannot be crossed in this world. Jun'er didn't die in such a disaster two years ago, so he can survive this time as well!"
"Father……"
"Jun'er, listen to me. If you want to write a divorce letter, wait until you are well again and write it yourself. If you dare to die like this, Mengxi will only be able to be a widow in the Xiao family and be filial to you for the rest of her life. Don't even think about leaving the Xiao Mansion. If you want Mengxi to be well, you must live well and send her away from the Xiao Mansion in person!"
"Father……"
After hearing what the eldest master said, the second master became anxious, called out "father", and then fainted.
"Jun'er! Jun'er!"
"Second Master! Second Master!"
The second master's room suddenly became a mess.
…
It was already the fifth day, and the Second Master still had not eaten or drunk anything, and was hanging on with only one breath left. The Xiao Mansion was filled with gloom, and the servants were even more careful when walking. The old lady sent the eldest aunt, the maid and others to Qingxin Temple three times last night, but Mengxi refused to come back to serve the Second Master. The old lady hated her so much that she wanted to tie her up, but she knew Mengxi's character. If she really tied her up and risked her life to say a few cruel words in front of the Second Master, the Second Master might roll his eyes immediately.
Doctor Li came once and left again. Faced with the fact that the Second Master vomited everything he ate, the doctor was helpless. Before leaving, he sighed and said:
"If an ordinary person didn't eat or drink for five or six days, he would have died long ago. Fortunately, when Second Master was unconscious for the first two days, he was given medicine and water, so he can still hold on until now. However, Second Master has injuries on his body, and the wound on his hand that was healing has begun to rot and fester again. I'm afraid he won't last more than one or two days."
After sending Doctor Li away, the old lady, the first wife, and the first master sat there, looking at each other. They had just tried to force the second master to drink some rice soup, but he still vomited it out. Seeing the second master still convulsing due to vomiting, the first wife looked at the first master with a pleading face and murmured:
"Master, do you have any other ideas? Otherwise, send someone to ask the Second Madam to try. Maybe Jun'er will feel better after seeing her and eat his meal."
After hearing what the eldest wife said, the old lady shook her head and said nothing. She had been invited four times already. Even a strong man would be tempted after hearing about Jun'er's appearance, but Mengxi's heart was harder than iron. It was not that Master Jingyun had said that Mengxi was the second master's benefactor and could ensure the prosperity of the Xiao family's descendants. The old lady really wanted to kill this heartless Mengxi, open her chest to see what her heart was like, and let her live freely in Qingxin Temple.
The old lady was even more superstitious at this time. She believed that when the Second Master's life or death was uncertain, Mengxi's staying in the Xiao Mansion would always be able to keep the Second Master safe. So, even though Mengxi repeatedly refused her summons and openly disobeyed her in front of the servants, making the old lady extremely angry, she still ordered the servants to keep Mengxi well in Qingxin Temple.
Seeing her son struggling on the edge of death, the first wife had to give up the idea of killing Mengxi. After all, the second master's illness was caused by Mengxi. A heart disease needs a heart medicine. It doesn't matter if Mengxi lives a few more days. As long as Mengxi is in the Xiao family, she is in control. But she can't let her son die for her. That's why she reluctantly proposed to send someone to call the second wife to try. Seeing the old lady shaking her head, she felt desperate and couldn't help crying again. She begged the first master:
"Master, please think of a solution! I only have this one son. If anything happens to him, how will I live?"
The upset master felt that the mistress was being particularly noisy. Jun'er's illness was caused by her. He didn't understand why she couldn't wait until Jun'er recovered before mentioning Mengxi's matter. She had to force him to divorce her as soon as Jun'er woke up, which made Jun'er feel cold.
Listening to the eldest wife's crying, he was really upset and shouted:
"Shut up!"
The eldest wife was so frightened by the eldest master's shout that she shuddered violently and quickly shut her mouth. A trace of resentment flashed in her eyes when she looked at the eldest master, and then she began to sob softly.
Seeing that the room had become quiet, the eldest master seemed to have made a great decision and said to the old lady:
"Mother, for Jun'er's life, I have no choice but to go to Yichun Hall in person. The worst that can happen is..."
"Master..."
"Mother, this Medicine God has miraculous medical skills. When the prince was critically ill, his disciples also knelt before him. The daughter of the leader of the Green Gang also knelt for five days to save her father. The Medicine God is famous and powerful, and his power is at odds with that of the Xiao family. He is also the prince's sworn brother. Not to mention that my son only went to beg him in person, even if he kneels before him, it is not a grievance. It is better than Jun'er losing his life."
Looking at this bearded son, who was a noble family head and was forced to kneel down and beg the God of Medicine in public, the old lady moved her lips twice but could not make a sound. After a long while, she finally spoke:
"The master is a man of status after all, how can we ask for help so easily? Yun'er is back, why not let Yun'er give it a try."
"Mother, I just thought about asking Yun'er to go over there, but mother also knows that Yichuntang is full of hostility towards our Xiao family. I'm afraid that Yun'er's going there will be of no help at all. Jun'er's illness can't be delayed any longer. As the head of the family, if I go there in person, they should believe in the sincerity of my Xiao family's request for peace, and they should give them some face and not make it too difficult."
The old lady thought about it and it made sense. Yun'er was young, and if she went to beg, it wouldn't be shameful even if she knelt. But if she was like the daughter of the Qing Gang leader, who knelt for five days before the God of Medicine took action, Jun'er would have died long ago.
After thinking for a long time, he finally nodded helplessly.
…
With an attendant, the master came to Yichun Hall. As soon as he entered the door, he saw several waiters busy helping customers get medicine. Because they came early, there were not many customers. A waiter looked up and saw them come in, and hurriedly came forward to greet them:
"Sir, what medicine would you like to buy?"
"Young man, I want to see your shopkeeper. Can you please pass me the message?"
"It's unfortunate. Our shopkeeper went out early in the morning. If you have any urgent business, please go over there and wait for a while. If not, please come back another day."
The waiter pointed to a few chairs at the door and said, then made a gesture for guests to please sit down, turned around and went to greet other guests.
Xiao Ang, who was following the master, grabbed him and said with a bow:
"My dear brother, I will tell you the truth. My master is Mr. Xiao, the patriarch of the Pingyang family. I have come to visit the God of Medicine because I have long admired him. Please help me pass on the message."
When the clerk heard that it was a member of the Xiao family, he didn't care about the head of the family. He just followed the orders of the shopkeepers and drove out all the members of the Xiao family. After listening to what Xiao Ang said, he was no longer as enthusiastic as before. His face changed and he said:
"Sir, my master is not in Pingyang. Since you are not here to buy medicine, please go ahead. The gate is over there . Please don't block our view and delay our business."
"How can you ..."
Xiao Ang had been with the master for many years. Whenever he mentioned the master's name, he was always respectful. Even the crown prince of the dynasty showed courtesy to him. He did not expect that he would be interrupted by a young waiter. He was about to scold him when he saw this, but the master stopped him. For the sake of his son's illness, he had to endure the rage at this moment. The master clasped his fists towards the waiter and begged:
"This young man, I am not happy with what you said, because my son has an emergency and I want to see the God of Medicine. I hope you can help pass on a message."
"Hey, sir, why are you so nagging? I've already told you that my master is not in Pingyang. Besides, the rule of our shop is that we only sell medicines, not treat illnesses. Your son has an emergency, so you should go find a doctor. There are so many famous doctors in Pingyang City. You can find many doctors with your time. You are from a noble family, and even the imperial doctors in the palace are trying to please you. Don't waste time in our shop. Get out! Get out! Don't interfere with our business."
After the young waiter finished speaking, he began to push the master out. Seeing this, Xiao Ang rolled up his arms and was about to step forward, but was glared back by the master. The master was about to say something else when two more young waiters came over and pushed the master and servant out together.
Hearing the waiter's shouting, the customers in the store stopped to watch, pointing and talking. Some of them knew the eldest master of the Xiao family. Seeing the eldest master of the Xiao family being humiliated, they all opened their eyes wide and sighed inwardly that Yichuntang was so powerful that they even dared to offend the noble families!
After being forcibly driven out, the master stood at the door of Yichun Hall, looked up at the plaque above his head, and really wanted to smash the plaque. At this time, he was completely sure that Yichun Hall and the Xiao family definitely had a feud, but he really couldn't remember when he had offended Yichun Hall in the past two years. While he was thinking, he heard Xiao Ang say:
"Master, judging from Yichuntang's attitude, they won't take action. Let's go back first."
The master listened and nodded, turned around, took two steps, and then stopped. If he really left like this, what would happen to Jun'er? Thinking that his beloved son's life was at stake, for a moment, his heart felt like thousands of steel knives were twisting it. He hesitated for a moment, turned around abruptly, and knelt straight at the door of Yichun Hall!
