The Tongrentang Pharmacy?
"Go personally to that Tongrentang Pharmacy you mentioned. Say that someone in our mansion has fallen ill."
"Then, have them send a doctor to make a house call."
Su Xian thought for a moment, then added another instruction.
"Request their most senior attending physician, no others!"
"We'll pay double the silver!"
The steward was somewhat surprised. He secretly lifted his head and glanced at the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
"Hurry up and go!" The Princess Consort of Pingyang was staring right at him. The steward quickly lowered his head.
"Yes, I'll go at once!"
The steward bowed in salute and practically trotted out of the mansion.
In another part of the mansion, Yunxi knocked on the door, then pushed it open and walked inside.
She spotted Yunmeng secretly hiding something. A flicker of understanding passed through Yunxi's eyes.
"Third Sister, why didn't you say something before coming in?" Yunmeng saw who had entered and was clearly displeased.
"I knocked. You just didn't hear me."
Yunxi walked over to the seat across from Yunmeng and sat down.
Su Xian had arranged for Madam Su and her two nieces to stay in a small courtyard.
Yunxi and Yunmeng shared a room, while Madam Su had one to herself.
Seeing Yunxi sit down with a pale face, saying nothing as she held her tea, Yunmeng's face showed curiosity.
"Third Sister, when you went to Aunt’s place, how did it go?"
Yunxi held her teacup with both hands, as if drawing warmth from the tea's steam.
Seeing her sister's expression, Yunmeng couldn't hide her gloating.
"Third Sister, don't tell me Aunt scolded you too?"
"Come on! Let's go find Grandmother!"
"Tell Grandmother all about the grievances you suffered. Let her get justice for you!"
Seeing Yunmeng's smug look, Yunxi didn't bother to explain.
Instead, she let herself be pulled by Yunmeng to Madam Su's room.
Madam Su was resting on her bed when she heard Yunmeng’s loud, excited voice.
"Grandmother! Grandmother!"
"I'm here, in the room." Madam Su sat up and watched Yunmeng drag Yunxi inside.
She studied Yunxi and noticed her granddaughter's poor complexion.
"Grandmother, Aunt scolded Third Sister!"
"Aunt knew perfectly well that Third Sister was only following your orders when she went to ask, yet she still scolded her! She doesn't respect you at all!"
With one sentence, Yunmeng had pinned a black mark on Su Xian.
Yunxi gave Yunmeng a complicated look, then turned her gaze to her grandmother.
Sure enough, she saw her grandmother's face darken.
Yunxi quickly explained.
"Grandmother, Aunt didn't scold me. Yunmeng is just making things up."
Hearing Yunxi contradict her, Yunmeng became quite upset.
"With the way you looked so lost and dazed when you came in, how could it be anything but a scolding?"
Yunmeng's eyes darted around slyly.
She reached out and took Yunxi's hand, leaning in with feigned affection.
"Third Sister, don't worry. If you tell us, Grandmother will stand up for you."
"Besides, it's just the three of us here. We're family!"
Yunxi nodded.
"Seventh Sister, you're right. We are all family. Aunt is family too."
Seeing Yunxi's lack of understanding, Yunmeng angrily let go of her hand and ran to the bedside.
"Grandmother, when we go out tomorrow, we're not taking her!"
Madam Su leaned against the soft pillow. She glanced at Yunmeng, then fixed her gaze on Yunxi.
"Tell me. How did it go with what I sent you to ask about?"
Yunxi bowed to Madam Su.
"Grandmother, when I arrived, Aunt was busy."
"Aunt said she'd take us out once she had free time in a couple of days."
"Grandmother, Aunt promised to take us out tomorrow!"
"Now she says she's busy. She's stalling—she just doesn't want to take us out!"
The thought of their shopping trip being canceled made Yunmeng blurt out her frustration without restraint.
Madam Su's face fell.
Seeing her grandmother about to lose her temper, Yunxi hurriedly explained.
"Grandmother, something came up in the mansion."
"Aunt said a servant had come down with a pestilence..."
Before Yunxi could finish, Madam Su was shocked.
"What? A pestilence? Are you sure?"
Yunxi herself wasn't certain.
"Aunt said it's a contagious disease."
"But Grandmother, don't worry. Aunt said they found it early and have already moved the person out."
"However, they're now checking to see if anyone else has been infected."
"So, Aunt told us not to wander around the mansion."
"She also said not to leave the mansion, lest the authorities find out and we get taken away..."
If the authorities discovered a pestilence, they would seize anyone involved, regardless of status, and burn them in an open field.
Madam Su couldn't help but shiver after hearing that.
She noticed that Yunxi was keeping her distance, while Yunmeng was clinging close to her.
Yunxi had a steady temperament and mostly stayed in her room at the Pingyang Prince's Mansion.
But Yunmeng was different.
She roamed all over the mansion. Who knew if she'd come into contact with the servant who had been moved out?
The thought made Madam Su quickly push Yunmeng away.
"Didn't you hear what your Third Sister said? Both of you should get back to your room right now!"
Caught off guard, Yunmeng nearly stumbled.
She looked at Madam Su in disbelief, her face full of grievance.
"Grandmother!"
Madam Su shot Yunmeng a sharp look. "I'm doing this for your own good. Do you want to catch it yourself?"
Hearing this, Yunmeng quickly wiped her hand with a handkerchief, the one she had just used to pull Madam Su's hand.
Madam Su's face was dark as a storm cloud.
"Go back to your room!" she ordered, shooing them away.
Yunxi bowed to Madam Su. "Grandmother, Aunt said she'll call for a doctor to examine everyone in the mansion."
"Once the doctor gives us the all-clear, we'll be allowed to go out."
Madam Su waved her hand at the two of them, her expression impatient.
Shopping, errands—none of it mattered more than her own life.
Where there's life, there's hope!
Yunxi and Yunmeng turned and left the room, heading back to theirs.
Yunmeng's eyes flickered. She quickened her pace and rushed into the room first.
Then, she slammed the door shut behind her.
Yunxi hurriedly knocked. "Seventh Sister, what are you doing? Open the door! I haven't come in yet!"
Yunmeng shouted back through the door, her voice smug.
"Third Sister, find somewhere else to stay!"
"This pestilence is contagious. If you live with me, what if you pass it on to me?"
Yunxi was frantic. Where else could she go?
"Seventh Sister, open up! This is my room too!"
Yunmeng walked triumphantly to a chair and sat down.
Lucky she reacted in time!
Aunt was the mistress of the Pingyang Prince's Mansion. She might have come into contact with that moved-out servant.
Yunxi had just been to Aunt's place. She might be the one who was infected!
Yunmeng picked up a piece of fruit from the plate and took a bite, chewing with satisfaction.
After knocking for ages with no response from inside, Yunxi finally had to give up.
