Just past noon.
Madam Wang and Aunt Xue, the two sisters, each occupied a corner of the Arhat Bed and chatted idly.
At first, they discussed nothing more than the right and wrongs of Rong and Ning Mansions. But as they talked, for some reason Madam Wang began looking Aunt Xue up and down.
That suspicious gaze made Aunt Xue's heart pound. She said awkwardly, "What are you looking at, Sister? It's as if you don't recognize me anymore."
Madam Wang burst out laughing. Casually grabbing a few peeled sugar-roasted chestnuts, she gave half to Aunt Xue and clicked her tongue in wonder. "You tell me—after falling ill, not only have you not lost weight, but you've got more color in your face. You're positively glowing with rosy cheer. If you were a few years younger, you could pass for a newlywed bride."
She had merely teased her casually, yet Aunt Xue was so frightened that her heart nearly stopped. Her face alternated between pale and red as it burned, and she hurriedly lowered her head to swallow a chestnut, using it to conceal her panic.
But Madam Wang had lived with her day in and day out for years. How could she fail to notice something was off?
She immediately asked in surprise, "What's wrong with you? Could it be that you're hiding something..."
"Madam! Madam!"
As she spoke, someone hurried in from outside. It was Yu Chuan, the second-rank maid who had replaced Cai Xia. Her face was full of urgency as she said, "YiHong Courtyard just summoned a doctor. It seems Second Brother is truly ill!"
"What?!"
Madam Wang no longer had any mind to get to the bottom of things. Stamping her foot, she cried, "That little debt collector! How could he fall ill just like