SFS Chapter 207 Fainting
Chapter 207 Fainting
Xiao Zhijie went straight to his master's Taoist temple after leaving home. He sat and meditated for a while, and Ye Qingqiu, noticing his absent-mindedness, asked him what was wrong.
“This is a place for self-cultivation, not your refuge.”
Xiao Zhijie slowly opened his tightly closed eyes, his heart filled with struggle and frustration.
He knew that what happened last night was really his fault. Not only had he harmed the girl for no reason, but he was also starting to feel uneasy.
In his frustration, he had no choice but to ask his master for help.
"Master, if I... don't go to the border..."
Ye Qingqiu, who was also meditating on a futon on the other side, opened his eyes in surprise upon hearing this.
"You've actually wavered? Who on earth has such power? I've never advised you against going, and you've never agreed to it before!"
Ye Qingqiu's cunning eyes darted around, and he immediately guessed who it was. He simply pointed at him and said...
"Is it thanks to your wife, Qiao Qingshu?"
Xiao Zhijie frowned, scratched his head, and said with a hint of helplessness,
"It's not her fault, it's my fault."
Ye Qingqiu couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration. This eldest daughter of the Qiao family really had some skills; she had actually managed to break through such a tough nut.
Ye Qingqiu hurriedly added,
“Then we won’t go. The border region doesn’t need another one like you, but your second branch of the family only has one son.”
However, going to the battlefield to fight the enemy was Xiao Zhijie's long-cherished wish. But did he really want to leave his parents and wife at home and go away for three years?
For the first time, he wavered...
At that moment, a servant burst in and shouted,
"Master, the Second Madam has fainted!"
Xiao Zhijie jumped to his feet and grabbed the servant, saying,
"What! What did you say happened to Mother?!"
The servant boy, panting heavily, said...
"The Second Madam suddenly fell down while walking in the courtyard and hasn't woken up yet. The Second Master specifically asked me to call you back."
Xiao Zhijie was so frightened that he rushed home without thinking.
The entire courtyard of the second house was crowded with people. Xiao Zhijie squeezed in and saw his mother lying on the bed with her eyes closed, her face deathly pale.
Qiao Qingshu and the Second Master Qiao were standing at the head of the bed watching the doctor taking Su Yunzhen's pulse when Xiao Zhijie rushed over and said...
"What's going on? What on earth is going on?!"
Qiao Qingshu stepped forward to comfort him,
"My mother suddenly fainted and is being examined by Doctor Ouyang. Husband, please be patient."
Xiao Zhijie stared intently at Mr. Ouyang, who was taking his pulse. As soon as Mr. Ouyang stood up, he hurriedly followed him out.
Mr. Ouyang sighed softly.
"The Second Madam's illness is truly rare and quite peculiar."
Xiao Zhijie frowned deeply.
"What did the gentleman say?"
Ouyang stroked his beard and explained casually.
"If this illness is not treated in time, it will probably only last for one or two months. But if you take medicine properly and take care of yourself for three to five years, you can recover completely. My uncle recorded this illness many years ago, and I happen to know the prescription."
Qiao Qingshu quickly grabbed Xiao Zhijie's hand and said happily,
“My husband, listen, there is a cure.”
Xiao Zhijie also became somewhat excited.
"Sir, just write the prescription and fill the medicine. It's worth it no matter how much money it costs."
The Second Master Xiao, standing to the side, nodded emphatically.
"We hope you will do your best, sir. The Xiao family will certainly not treat you unfairly."
Ouyang glanced at Xiao Zhijie indifferently, then shook his head slightly and said...
"This prescription isn't expensive, but the ingredients are quite novel. I heard that your young master is going to join the army in the Northwest soon, so this medicine probably can't be made."
Xiao Zhijie, puzzled, quickly said,
"What do you mean by that, sir?"
Ouyang added,
"One of the ingredients in this prescription is the hair and nails of a close relative, and they must be from a young man. The trouble is that this medicine must be taken every day, and the nails and hair must be freshly taken every day. Young Master Er will be leaving the capital soon, so this ingredient may not be suitable."
Qiao Qingshu deliberately asked at this moment,
“My husband is not the lady’s biological son. Is it acceptable for his hair and nails to be like this? Would it work if it were another nephew or niece of the same generation?”
Ouyang smiled faintly and said,
"Madam suffers from an emotional illness, and the person she loves is her cure. Besides Young Master Xiao, the care and affection of her nephews' wives surpasses that of Young Master Xiao."
Su Yunzhen had no children of her own, so she adopted Xiao Zhijie as her only son and raised him as if he were her own. Everyone said that Xiao Zhijie was really lucky to have met such a devoted mistress.
Apart from Xiao Zhijie, none of the other distant relatives or nephews had ever received such treatment. Xiao Zhijie was Su Yunzhen's most beloved son.
Qiao Qingshu deliberately asked again,
"But my husband will be leaving the capital for the Northwest soon, so it may be difficult to make a medicine. Do you have any other methods, sir?"
Ouyang shook his head and waved his hand, preparing to pack his suitcase and leave.
"Then I'm afraid I can't help you. Please find someone else who can help you."
If even Mr. Ouyang can't think of any other way, then there's no one in the capital who can cure this disease.
As he spoke, Ouyang packed up his medicine kit and prepared to leave.
Xiao Zhijie was torn between two conflicting emotions: his long-planned military service and his mother's need for her son, who was in a coma.
His brows furrowed deeply, and his face showed a weary struggle; he didn't know what to choose...
Qiao Qingshu gently grasped his arm and said,
"My husband, I will support you no matter what you choose."
The thought that he had already slept with Qiao Qingshu meant that they were now officially husband and wife, and that he was not only a son but also a husband.
His mother and wife must both need him. Looking into Qiao Qingshu's longing eyes, he clenched his fist and said...
"it is good!"
He reached out and blocked Mr. Ouyang's path, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.
"Doctor, please prescribe the medicine. I will stay and serve my mother."
Upon hearing this, everyone standing in the outer room was taken aback. Old Madam Xiao had just arrived when she heard this and excitedly rushed in.
She looked at Xiao Zhijie, whose expression was firm, and then met Qiao Qingshu's eyes; both of them smiled.
Madam Xing frowned. Was she not going?
Are you just not going?
With the second wife's face like this, they had hoped that once Xiao Zhijie left, perhaps the old lady's heart would return to their eldest wife's side. But now she's not leaving at all!
Wouldn't Old Madam Xiao then favor the second branch of the Xiao family even more in the future? What would become of the first branch then?
She spoke with some displeasure,
"If Jie-ge'er says he's not leaving and then just stops, wouldn't that make him a laughingstock among the other powerful families?"
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Xiao turned and glared fiercely at her, making Madam Xing tremble and dare not utter another word.
Seeing the old lady's expression, the third branch of the family, naturally wanting to win her over, smiled and said to the first wife,
"Sister-in-law, let others say what they want. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future, but Jie-ge'er only has one mother."