From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 159 Doting on concubines and destroying wives
Xu Zhongchao and Liu Yun spent half a day together, and returned home in the evening carrying a basket of pastries.

At the gate of the mansion, he ran into his wife, Ma Shujie, who was returning home from teaching.

Ma Shujie was followed by a personal maid named Yingzi.

Yingzi was not an ordinary maid. She was trained in martial arts by the Ma family from a young age. She was both a maid serving Ma Shujie and a bodyguard protecting her.

Before her marriage, Ma Shujie was a high-level martial artist. She entered the Xu family as part of her dowry upon marriage.

Because the Xu family had abundant resources for martial arts training, they would occasionally give Yingzi a few Qi and Blood Pills, which enabled her to break through and become a Xiantian martial artist.

Ma Shujie saw that Xu Zhongchao had just returned home and knew where he had gone.

"came back?"

She asked indifferently.

Xu Zhongchao smiled ingratiatingly: "Wife, Liu Yun has personally made you some crispy jujube paste cake and locust flower glutinous rice cake... all your favorites."

I just got it from her for you.

"She has a heart."

Ma Shujie's expression remained unchanged.

During this period, Liu Yun would send her pastries and other treats every now and then, sometimes through her maid, and sometimes in person.

Ma Shujie found Liu Yun's ingratiating behavior normal: Liu Yun was perceptive and knew that Ma Shujie was actually in charge of Xu Zhongchao's small family.

Behind her, Yingzi couldn't help but speak up: "Sir, could you please wash up before you come home next time? The lipstick mark on your neck is still there."

His tone of voice was sarcastic and unsettling.

"Huh? Oh, oh~~"

Xu Zhongchao looked slightly embarrassed. He handed the basket he was carrying to Yingzi, wiped his neck a few times, and then went into the courtyard with Ma Shujie to wash up.

"Madam, that lowly concubine has gone too far! Isn't she blatantly bullying you? And the master is really something, never staying home with you, always snuggling into his concubine's arms..."

Yingzi has served Ma Shujie for too long, so she speaks frankly and doesn't hold back much.

"Let him be. Liu Yun is pregnant, so it's only right that he takes care of her."

Knowing she couldn't control Xu Zhongchao in this regard, Ma Shujie simply acted magnanimous and didn't compete with her concubine for his affections.

The two had no emotional foundation when they got married. She was attracted by the Xu family's power and influence, while Xu Zhongchao was forced into marriage by his father's pressure.

Ma Shujie manages the finances of her small family and has a career and status within the Xu family, which is enough for her.

As for where Xu Zhongchao's heart lay, she didn't care that much.

"Give me a piece of flaky red date cake. Liu Yun's cooking skills are quite good. I don't know where she learned it. It tastes much better than the pastries we buy at home."

"Madam, here you go."

Yingzi took a fragrant and crispy pastry from the bamboo basket and placed it in Ma Shujie's hand. She then sorted the remaining pastries into the pastry box.

Ma Shujie couldn't resist eating a few more pieces, so much so that she was full after only a few bites at dinner.

After dinner, Ma Shujie yawned, feeling dizzy and sleepy.

"Ugh~~ I get sleepy so easily lately."

She went to bed early.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

More than ten days later.

"Madam, Madam? Doctor Li is here."

Yingzi strode into the house, followed by an old doctor with gray hair and a long beard.

The doctor's name was Li Zhikang. He was originally a doctor at a clinic in the county town, and his medical skills were quite good. Later, he was invited by the Xu family to Baihe Mountain to treat the Xu family members.

The Xu family paid a lot of money, the work was light and easy, and the environment of Baihe Mountain was also good, so Li Zhikang decided to make it his retirement home.

A few days ago, Ma Shujie suddenly fell ill and developed a cough and fever.

Li Zhikang diagnosed it as a cold and prescribed some remedies for it.

However, after drinking the medicinal soup for several days, Ma Shujie's condition did not improve; in fact, it worsened.

"Doctor Li, come quickly! The lady is delirious with fever."

Yingzi was extremely anxious and urged Li Zhikang to step forward.

Ma Shujie was lying on the bed, her face pale, her lips bloodless, and her breathing very weak.

"lady?"

Li Zhikang placed the back of his hand on Ma Shujie's forehead, then reached out to take her pulse, calling her softly a few times, but there was no response.

He looked at Yingzi: "What symptoms did Madam have when she was awake?"

"Coughing! Madam coughs every time she wakes up, and there's blood in her phlegm. Doctor Li, please tell me what to do! Madam is so young, how could she suddenly fall ill like this?"

Yingzi's voice was choked with sobs.

"Ah~"

Li Zhikang sighed: "Madam is frail and caught a cold. After a few days of treatment, it got worse and turned into tuberculosis."

"tuberculosis?!"

Yingzi exclaimed in alarm, "What should we do? Doctor Li, please, save Madam!"

She had heard many stories of people dying from colds, but she never expected Ma Shujie to die like this.

"I'll prescribe a few more doses of medicine for Madam. Try to get her to take them. Madam is very lucky and will definitely be alright."

Li Zhikang took out paper and pen and wrote a prescription on the spot.

Yingzi waited anxiously beside him, sensing from the doctor's words that Ma Shujie's condition was very serious.

Seeing that Li Zhikang had finished writing the prescription, she quickly took it.

"Don't rush, let me explain. There are two prescriptions. The medicine from this prescription should be drunk once a day, and the medicine from the other prescription should be drunk once every two days. Don't get them mixed up."

"Understood, Dr. Li." Yingzi remembered what he said and went to get the medicine with the prescription.

She quickly returned from the pharmacy with several doses of medicinal herbs, brewed two bowls of herbal soup, and fanned the scalding soup with a fan to cool it down to lukewarm.

"Madam, Madam! Get up and drink your medicine. Drink the medicine before you go back to sleep."

Yingzi forcibly woke Ma Shujie up in order to give her the medicine.

"Cough cough~~"

Ma Shujie struggled to open her eyes, her eyelids half-open, extremely weak, and a hoarse, leaky cough came from her throat.

Yingzi quickly helped her sit up: "Madam, please drink your medicine. You'll recover after drinking the medicine."

She picked up the still-hot soup bowl and blew on it, saying, "Madam, be careful, it's hot."

And so, Ma Shujie was fed two bowls of medicinal soup, and then lay on the bed and drifted off to sleep in a semi-conscious state.

"Madam, you must get better."

Seeing her critically ill state, Yingzi felt heartbroken and tears streamed down her face.

Just then, Xu Zhongchao walked into the room: "How is Madam?"

Yingzi quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and replied, "Doctor Li said that the lady is weak and her cold has worsened into tuberculosis. She just drank two bowls of medicine and fell asleep again."

Xu Zhongchao frowned, "I hope the prescription written by Doctor Li will work."

"Sir, please think of another way. Madam is so young, how can she fall ill and never recover?"

Yingzi pleaded.

"I will go to the city to invite a famous doctor over."

Xu Zhongchao turned and went out the door again.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"If Shujie dies, I... sigh."

For some reason, Xu Zhongchao felt a secret sense of joy when he thought of Ma Shujie's death.

The secret joy he felt inside made him afraid.

Although he and Ma Shujie were in the same bed but had different dreams, they were still husband and wife for seven years.

"Li Langzhong's medical skills aren't top-notch. I'll go to the county town and invite a renowned doctor. If even a renowned doctor can't save Ma Shujie, then we'll have to leave it to fate."

Xu Zhongchao's good nature ultimately triumphed over that sliver of evil thought.

However, as soon as he stepped out of the mansion gate, he encountered Liu Yun's maid: "Master, master, something terrible has happened! The second madam says she has unbearable abdominal pain."

Liu Yun's maidservant called Ma Shujie "Madam" and Liu Yun "Second Madam".

"Unbearable abdominal pain? I'll go take a look. You go and call Doctor Li."

Xu Zhongchao quickened his pace and hurried to the small courtyard where Liu Yun lived.

Liu Yun is three or four months pregnant now; it's his child, and nothing can happen to her.

After working for most of the day, Li Zhikang said that Liu Yun was too worried about Ma Shujie's condition and had upset her baby. He told her to calm down and rest.

Since Liu Yun only had one maidservant by her side, Xu Zhongchao was busy preparing tonics to help with the pregnancy and things to help Liu Yun relax and relieve stress.

"Xiaoyun, Shujie will be fine, don't worry about her. The most important thing for you right now is to protect the pregnancy and rest and recuperate. Don't worry about anything else."

Xu Zhongchao stayed with Liu Yun at her residence for the night before remembering to ask Ma Shujie to go to the city to find a famous doctor.

However, Liu Yun was too dependent on him, and he couldn't get away, so he arranged for a reliable employee from the Xu family to handle the matter.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Yingzi waited for Xu Zhongchao to invite a famous doctor, but after a whole day, no one showed up.

Compared to yesterday, Ma Shujie's condition is more serious.

Yesterday I could wake her up to take her medicine, but today no matter how much Yingzi calls out to her, I can't wake her up.

"Madam, Madam! Don't scare me!"

Yingzi was extremely anxious and, disregarding her presence by Ma Shujie's side, rushed out to find Xu Zhongchao.

"Where did the master go? He hasn't come back all day..."

Upon inquiring, she learned from the maid that Xu Zhongchao had gone to Liu Yun's residence.

She was instantly filled with rage: Ma Shujie was critically ill and on the verge of death, while Xu Zhongchao was having an affair with his concubine?

Her innate martial arts prowess erupted, and she rushed to Liu Yun's residence in three quick steps.

"Bang!"

With a loud bang, Yingzi kicked the wooden door of the courtyard, shattering it into flying planks.

She stormed in, seething with anger, and saw Xu Zhongchao shouting as he came out of the room: "Who made such a commotion? Xiaoyun is pregnant, what if she gets scared?"

"Master! Didn't you say you were going to the city to invite a famous doctor? Why are you here with your beloved concubine?"

Yingzi asked in a sarcastic tone.

"I...I've already sent someone to take care of it..."

Knowing he was in the wrong, Xu Zhongchao lowered his voice.

"This is a matter of life and death for the lady, and you're sending a mere servant to handle it? Who knows if you're just lying to me again, hoping the lady will die from her illness so you can install that vile woman in your position!"

Yingzi scolded angrily, pointing at Liu Yun who came out of the room.

"You! How dare you! You're always so outspoken, but this time you dare to be so disrespectful? Do you believe I'll have you executed on the spot?"

No matter how low Xu Zhongchao's status was in the family, he was still the master.

No matter how deep the relationship between Yingzi and Ma Shujie was, she was still a maid.

However, Ma Shujie's critical condition nearly drove Yingzi to madness. She shouted recklessly, "Insubordination? It is you, Master, no, it is you, Xu Zhongchao, who favors his concubine over his wife and commits a heinous crime!"
"Miss is usually very healthy, her sudden serious illness is probably the work of that wretched concubine."

(End of this chapter)