maidservant

Chapter 128 A Fear of Mentioning Flowers and Willows

Since Wanqing began to change, things have become much calmer at home on the surface, but in reality, a heavy blow from fate is quietly approaching.

One day, Wanqing suddenly felt unwell. She experienced unbearable itching in her private parts, discharge from her lower body, and frequent abdominal pain.

At first, she thought it was just a common illness, but as the symptoms worsened, she had a bad feeling. After much hesitation, she finally asked Yunshan for help.

After carefully examining Wanqing, Yunshan's expression turned solemn. After a long silence, she softly said:

"Madam, you... seem to have contracted venereal disease."

Upon hearing this, Wanqing was struck dumb, her face turning deathly pale, and her body began to tremble slightly.

"This...how is this possible..." she murmured to herself, tears welling up in her eyes.

Looking at the heartbroken Wanqing, Yunshan felt a deep sense of sympathy. She gently took Wanqing's hand and said:
"Madam, please don't panic. This illness is troublesome, but it's not incurable. However, you must first tell me if there has been anything unusual lately?"

Wanqing sobbed uncontrollably, and after a long while, she choked out the story of how Zhao Hongye had been frequently going out to seek pleasure and even bringing strange women home.

Wanqing's tears flowed uncontrollably, her body trembling slightly with grief. She could no longer conceal her sorrow and began to weep to Yunshan:

"Miss Yun, do you know where my illness came from? I have a guess."

"I just found out that Zhao Hongye was having an affair with Zhong'er's wife from Wanhuai Alley two months ago!" With that, she closed her eyes in sorrow, overwhelmed with grief.

After pausing for a moment, Wanqing continued:

"That woman was also pitiful. Her husband was addicted to alcohol. When he had no money to buy alcohol, he went so far as to send her to another man's house to serve him for a night in exchange for money. Zhao Hongye was not picky! It was under these circumstances that he had an ambiguous relationship with her."

"I devoted myself to managing the household affairs and tolerated his absurd behavior time and time again, only to be rewarded with this outcome!"

Wanqing became increasingly agitated as she spoke, her voice trembling with tears, on the verge of collapse.
"What did I do wrong to deserve such misfortune and this shameful disease!"

After saying this, she covered her face with a handkerchief and sobbed uncontrollably, releasing all her grievances and despair in her weeping.

Yun Shan felt a surge of anger, but the most important thing at the moment was to appease Wan Qing.

"Madam, this is not your fault; the fault lies with that shameless person. You must pull yourself together and cooperate with the treatment."

Yunshan's words were sincere.
"I will do my best to treat you. This illness will take some time and the process may be painful, but as long as you have faith, you will get better slowly."

Wanqing shook her head in despair: "Now that I'm like this, plagued by this illness, how can I face living in this world? I thought that if I made changes, this family would get better, but now..."

Yunshan quickly interrupted her:
"Madam, you must not have such thoughts. You come from a distinguished family and are exceptionally talented. There are still many wonderful things in this world waiting for you."

"Although this disease is not honorable in the eyes of the world, in the eyes of us doctors, it is just a difficult and complicated disease. The name of this disease should not be a reason for you to give up on yourself."

"You still have a child, and she needs you. If you give up now, won't those who want to see you fail get their way?"

As Wanqing listened to Yunshan's words, a struggle welled up in her heart. She thought of her child, the most precious thing she cared about in this world.

Seeing the determination in Yun Shan's eyes, Wan Qing gritted her teeth and slowly said:
"Miss Yun, thank you. I will listen to you and do my best to get better."

Yun Shan breathed a sigh of relief and comforted her:

“That’s right, Madam. From now on, I will come to examine you regularly. You can rest assured to leave the medication and treatment to me. During this time, you can just focus on recuperating and not worry about the troubles in the manor. Everything will be alright.”

Wanqing nodded slightly, a glimmer of hope rekindling in her eyes, though that hope seemed rather faint under the gloom of this deep mansion.

Under Yunshan's meticulous treatment, Wanqing's condition finally improved after a month of arduous struggle against her illness.

During this month, she followed the doctor's orders, drank bitter medicine, and endured both physical and mental torment, all in order to regain hope for life.

However, fate once again revealed its hideous fangs to her.

This matter had seemingly come to an end, and Yunshan was busy at the clinic. Unexpectedly, Wanqing suffered another devastating blow without her knowledge.

That day, Zhao Hongye walked hesitantly into Wanqing's room. The moment Wanqing saw her husband, a strange unease welled up inside her.

Zhao Hongye avoided Wanqing's gaze and stammered as he spoke:
"Madam, there's something I need to tell you. There's a woman outside, she... she's pregnant with my child. Yes, it's a boy."

The teacup in Wanqing's hand fell to the ground with a "clatter," shards flying everywhere. Tea soaked her skirt, but she was oblivious, staring intently at Zhao Hongye, her eyes filled with disbelief and anger.

"How could you do this to me!" Wanqing's voice trembled, filled with endless grievance and resentment.

"I've devoted myself to this family, and you've infected me with this disease. Just when my condition was starting to improve, you brought me this news!" Zhao Hongye murmured, head bowed.

"Madam, I... I was confused for a moment. She is a weak woman, carrying my child, a boy! I have been unable to conceive a son for years. This mother and child are so pitiful, please do me a favor and help me take care of her and ensure a safe pregnancy."

Wanqing was so angry that she trembled all over:

"How am I supposed to take care of you? I'm already so weak myself, and I'm drinking bitter medicine every day to stay alive. Do you even care about this family? Do you even care about me?!"

Tears welled up uncontrollably and slid down her pale cheeks.

"Madam, you have always been generous and kind, please help me this one more time." Zhao Hongye suddenly knelt down and begged.

Wanqing looked at her husband kneeling on the ground, her heart filled with sorrow.

The man she once entrusted her life to has now become so heartless and selfish.

"What have I received in return for my generosity and kindness?" Wanqing gave a bitter, desperate smile.

"Time and time again I've been hurt, time and time again I've been humiliated. And now you expect me to take care of your children with your mistress and bring them into the house? Have you ever considered how I feel?!"

Zhao Hongye was speechless, and could only keep kowtowing:
"Madam, I beg you, the child is innocent." Wanqing closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face, her heart filled with turmoil and pain.

After a long while, she slowly opened her eyes, her voice hoarse and weary: "Okay, I promise you. But this is the last time. If there is a next time, I will not let it go."

It took Wanqing all her strength to say those words. She knew that she had compromised once again in the quagmire of this marriage, but this time, her heart was completely shattered.

Although Wanqing agreed to take care of her mistress, every step she took was difficult. Despite her still-recovering illness, she forced herself to arrange her mistress's accommodations and purchase all necessary items.

After the mistress moved into the mansion, she became increasingly arrogant and spoiled, taking advantage of her unborn child. She would make a scene at the slightest dissatisfaction and would often speak ill of Wanqing in front of Zhao Hongye.

Zhao Hongye was easily swayed by others' opinions, and his attitude towards Wanqing worsened, harshly reprimanding her for even the slightest mistake.

The servants in the household, seeing which way the wind was blowing, knew that their master preferred a male fetus, so their respect for Wanqing diminished considerably, and gossip behind her back was endless.

Wanqing was physically and mentally exhausted, and her illness relapsed. Even so, she gritted her teeth and persevered, just to maintain this crumbling family and to give her child a place to stay.

However, fate dealt them a series of blows.

On the day his mistress gave birth, she encountered a difficult labor. Zhao Hongye was extremely anxious and believed the words of a quack doctor, who said that Wanqing had cursed his mistress out of resentment, which caused this disaster. He then beat Wanqing severely.

Wanqing was beaten black and blue and collapsed to the ground. Looking at her strange and ferocious husband, she was filled with utter despair.

In an era of male dominance and social injustice, women's fates were like duckweed, adrift and uncertain.

Wanqing struggled with all her might, but she was ultimately defeated by her husband's ruthlessness and the oppression of worldly norms.

She lay on the cold ground, her eyes vacant, the candle of her life flickering in the cold wind before slowly going out, leaving behind only a poignant and tragic story in this deep mansion.

In this world, when a woman seeks a good man, she must marry someone who is already a good person.

Do not readily believe the frivolous talk of a prodigal son returning home, for it is nothing but a reflection in the water or a flower in a mirror—seemingly beautiful, but in reality illusory.

A kind-hearted person, with pure character and a sense of responsibility, will cherish the person beside them, living in harmony with them, sharing joys and sorrows. In the mundane details of life, they will understand your hardships; in the turbulent times of life, they will be your support.

But what about the prodigal sons? They are used to being unrestrained and wandering freely in brothels and red-light districts, their hearts like wild horses, difficult to tame.

Perhaps at some point, they speak earnestly and vow to turn back, but old habits die hard, and when the novelty wears off, the absurdities of the past will be repeated.

When that time comes, all your expectations will turn into disappointment, and your deep affection will be misplaced, leaving you alone to grieve in tears and regret your past actions.

In traditional marriages, women are often instilled with the idea that virtue and tolerance are the keys to maintaining a family, but the harsh reality proves that this is not the key to happiness.

Like Su Wanqing, who came from a scholarly family, was dignified and virtuous, and managed all the affairs of the household. She tolerated her husband taking concubines and the concubines' provocations time and time again, but what she got in return was her husband's increasingly outrageous behavior and the concubines' wanton bullying.

Even though she tried to change and regain her dignity, she could not escape the consequences of her husband's infidelity and contracted venereal disease.

These events all demonstrate that marriage is not a one-sided, unlimited sacrifice.

If a woman is always virtuous and tolerant, but lacks principles and bottom lines, she will only allow the other party to take advantage of her and ignore her needs and feelings.

A truly healthy marriage requires mutual respect, loyalty, and understanding from both parties. Women should also bravely defend their rights and not be bound by outdated ideas.