Chapter 6: Delaying Treatment Will Result in a Limp

The maid said breathlessly, "I don't know what happened in the Old Master's main courtyard, but the manservants are in a hurry to invite the manor's physician over."

The House of Duke Zhong was a high-ranking noble family; they kept two physicians on staff to provide medical consultations at any time.

Holding her book, the First Madam's expression remained unchanged, though her tone betrayed a hint of regret.

"What? How unfortunate. Today, all the physicians in the manor have been sent out to purchase medicine and won't be back for a while."

"How about this: take my token and have Mama Wang go outside to invite a physician."

"Yes." The maid hurried out.

Listening from the side, Chu Yue's small face was somewhat pale.

Because she had known all along that Mama Wang had been instructed by the First Madam never to leave the manor to fetch a physician.

She would keep stalling until the Duke of Zhong was beyond saving!

Chu Yue felt a sense of unease; this was her first time doing something like this, and her hands kept twisting the corner of her clothes.

"Mother," she looked at the First Madam and spoke up with courage, "If Grandfather dies... it wouldn't be very good, would it?"

The First Madam put down her book and beckoned calmly, "Yue'er, come, let Mother speak to you properly."

Chu Yue walked over and was taken by the wrist by the First Madam.

"Yue'er, do you know? Her Highness Consort Shu has already sent word from the palace. After the Ghost Festival passes, she will petition the Emperor to grant the title of Commandery Princess to the daughter of the House of Duke Zhong."

Chu Yue's eyes lit up: "Really?"

A Commandery Princess! This was a glory she hadn't even possessed in her previous life.

If she became a Commandery Princess, she would be surrounded by attendants, served wherever she went, and would be someone no one dared to offend.

And there would be so many beautiful dresses and jewelry to use!

"But, there can only be one Commandery Princess. Do you hope it will be Yan Luo?" the First Madam asked.

Chu Yue froze. Of course, she disagreed in her heart, but she maintained a facade of reserve: "My junior sister is still young; she cannot bear such an honor..."

The First Madam saw right through the child's thoughts, and her pale red lips curled into a slight smile.

"That's right. In the entire House of Duke Zhong, only my Yue'er is worthy of being a Commandery Princess. However, if the Old Master does not die, the Third Branch will always have a chance to rise."

Chu Yue was puzzled; she couldn't grasp the connection between the two.

She heard the First Madam whisper, "Don't be fooled by the fact that the Third Branch is currently out of favor. Years ago, before the Third Master's leg was broken, the Old Master once said he would pass the dukedom of the House of Duke Zhong to him."

"In recent years, although the people of the Third Branch have become increasingly silent, the Old Master has not given up on helping them in secret. Otherwise, do you think the Third Master would have such money to buy so many antiques and treasures without having an official position?"

Chu Yue recalled the extravagant spending of the Third Master, Lin Li, from her previous life.

He had no official position and thus no monthly stipend, yet when buying antiques, he would throw around thousands of taels without even blinking an eye.

Back then, Chu Yue had wondered where his money came from; only now, hearing the First Madam's explanation, did she realize it had come from the Duke of Zhong!

"If one day the Third Master's leg is healed, the Old Master will surely reconsider letting the Third Branch inherit the title, and your position as Commandery Princess will be indefinitely delayed."

"Yue'er, tell me, do you want such a thing to happen?"

If Chu Yue had felt a shred of pity just a moment ago, that pity had now vanished completely from her heart!

She didn't dare speak, but the First Madam already knew her choice, and a satisfied smile flashed in her eyes.

"Go now, good child. Go over there and read."

The First Madam stroked her hand: "You are my child now, a child of the First Branch. Mother will not let you lack in wealth and honor."

Chu Yue had never received the love of parents; seeing the First Madam so gentle and loving, she was instantly enveloped by a sense of happiness.

"I understand, Mother. I will listen to everything you say."

She had no need for guilt or unease at all!

Because in her previous life, the Duke of Zhong also died after falling and having his treatment delayed.

This meant that back then, Yan Luo must have made the same choice as her.

It made sense; facing a mother as gentle as the First Madam, who wouldn't be obedient?

Though the Duke of Zhong would die, it would preserve the glory of the First Branch.

Thinking about becoming a Commandery Princess, Chu Yue felt satisfied!

Fortunately, she no longer had the ability to see ghosts; otherwise, like in her previous life, seeing the Duke of Zhong's ghost wandering above the First Branch every day, glaring fiercely at the First Madam, she would have been terrified.

*Let Yan Luo endure that kind of torment,* Chu Yue thought happily.

As the incense burned down, an hour had passed since the maid last came to deliver the news.

The First Madam finally put down the Buddhist sutra in her hands.

She stood up: "Mama Wang hasn't returned for so long; I wonder how the situation is. Yue'er, let's go see the Old Master."

Chu Yue hurriedly followed.

Mama Wang had long since gone into hiding and would certainly not appear with a physician.

She knew the First Madam was going to check just how seriously the Duke of Zhong had fallen!

Unexpectedly, the Duke of Zhong's voice suddenly came from the doorway.

"Qiansu, where are the physicians in the manor!" His voice was like a booming bell, sounding filled with rage.

The First Madam was stunned, and Chu Yue was also dazed.

What was happening? The Duke of Zhong hadn't fallen?

Before the First Madam could lift the curtain to go out, the maid lifted it, and two manservants carried in a stretcher with the pale-faced Eldest Master.

"What happened!" The First Madam's Bodhisattva-like calm face cracked slightly.

She and Chu Yue both rushed to the Eldest Master's side.

Chu Yue: "Father, what happened to you?"

Following behind were the Duke of Zhong and the entire family of the Third Branch.

The Third Master Lin Li's expression was very grim; sitting in his wheelchair, he looked as if he had been forced to come.

Yan Luo had been pushing his wheelchair the whole way, but since the threshold of the First Branch's door hadn't been removed, the little girl had given a hard push, nearly making Lin Li face-plant.

Fortunately, the Third Madam, Tong Qingyu, was prepared and reached out with another attendant to steady him, preventing Lin Li from losing face.

"You..." Lin Li turned back fiercely, his handsome face covered in shadows, about to lose his temper.

Unexpectedly, he met Yan Luo's soft, white little face.

With straight bangs and big eyes, she blinked twice and smiled at him like a blooming flower.

"I'm strong, right?" She even boasted about it.

Lin Li's surge of anger had nowhere to be vented, so he suppressed it first.

On the other side, the Eldest Master was already crying out in pain.

The Duke of Zhong scolded the First Madam: "Qiansu, you are the eldest daughter-in-law and the eldest daughter-in-law of the house. I trusted you to manage the inner household."

"At a critical moment, both physicians in the manor are missing. Lin Ren fell and injured his leg, and when I ordered someone to arrange for a physician, the gatekeeper said your people had already gone out to fetch one. But it has been so long—where are the physicians? You let Lin Ren suffer in pain for half an hour; this is how you manage this house!"

Lin Ren was the Eldest Master.

Being scolded, the First Madam's face turned as white as paper.

She was full of grievance: "Father, I didn't know such a thing would happen!"

She shot a cold, piercing glance at Chu Yue.

If not for Chu Yue's adamant prophecy that the Duke of Zhong would fall, how could she have intentionally sent all the household physicians out?

Chu Yue was still standing there blankly; seeing the Duke of Zhong perfectly fine, she couldn't find her words.

How could this be?!

Standing beside Lin Li, Yan Luo suddenly saw Chu Yue's gaze turn toward her.

It was a look of belated astonishment, carrying eyes of suspicion and doubt.

*Did Chu Yue guess that I have also been reborn?*

(End of Chapter)