Chapter 82 – Nanny Han Successfully “Died”
Jin Ling, Shufei, a few maids and several other maids and old maidservants who were also slightly unwell were taken out together to an empty courtyard appointed by the Madam Dowager as a temporary place for them to stay. Among them was Nanny Han from the Madam Dowager’s courtyard.
Since Doctor Yu wasn’t sure what kind of illness it was, he invited a doctor from outside to take a look. It was said that the invited doctor didn’t have a clue either after checking the conditions of all the patients. Servants like Shufei looked very healthy when they left the mansion, but some were still unwell.
Nanny Han and Jin Ling fell to the second category.
No one dared to suggest letting the patients return to the mansion before they were in stable conditions. Therefore, they stayed in that courtyard together.
There was a great reduction in the number of servants in Lotus Courtyard. Nurse Mei and Huamo were now fully occupied. Work that used to be done by four maids was now the sole responsibilities of the two of them. As a result, they were awfully busy. Moreover, with a lot of minor maids gone, the courtyard wasn’t run as smoothly as it had been.
Fortunately, because Wei Yuewu was not feeling well at present, the Madam Dowager exempted her from paying morning and evening greetings. Since she didn’t have to go out as often as before, the decrease in the number of servants didn’t matter too much.
What Wei Yuewu needed most now was recuperation to improve her health. A scab had been formed over the wound on her wrist, so her injury wasn’t a big deal now. However, as she had lost too much blood, her face was pale all the time. She looked a little spiritless and unhealthy.
“Miss, Madam Dowager has sent a few maids over. She said they could help with the affairs here for the time being. If Jin Ling and others come back healthy, you can let these maids go back then.” Nurse Mei walked in from outside and reported to Wei Yuewu.
Wei Yuewu did not raise her head. Only a hint of mockery appeared around her lips. Sure enough, she had hardly sent her own servants away before other servants were sent to her.
The Madam Dowager had never been so anxiously concerned about her.
“Let them in.” Wei Yuewu said indifferently.
Nurse Mei nodded and answered yes. Not long after, she took four maids over. The first one looked fifteen or sixteen and was very good-looking. Besides, she looked familiar to Wei Yuewu. The rest behind her were only eleven or twelve years old, looking a little younger.
Moreover, there were obvious differences in the positions where they stood. The fifteen or sixteen-year-old was leading the eleven or twelve-year-old.
The maids curtsied in unison at the sight of Wei Yuewu.
“Sixth Young Lady, this is Qianxi. She was originally a second-grade maid in Madam Dowager’s courtyard. She’ll serve you as a first-grade maid for the time being. If you are satisfied with her service, you can let her stay. Otherwise, you can send her back to Madam Dowager when Jin Ling and the others return. As for these three maids, they are all minor maids doing auxiliary work for our courtyard. They were transferred by the Madam Dowager from other courtyards.”
Nurse Mei introduced with a smile.
Now the Madam Dowager’s second-grade maid was sent here, how could she send her back even if she wanted to? Otherwise, the accusation of being ungrateful would cause enough trouble for her.
As for waiting for Jin Ling to come back, perhaps many people felt that the fate of the maids sent out of the Lotus Courtyard this time was more ominous than propitious. It was said that Nanny Han from the Madam Dowager’s courtyard was in really bad conditions. She and Jin Ling were transferred to another place so that they were isolated from the others.
Of course, credit should also be given to the doctor she had asked the shopkeeper of Brocade Clothing Shop to find for her. That doctor was currently in charge of treating this Nanny Han.
Doctor Yu was definitely unwilling to treat Nanny Han and Jin Ling who were seriously ill. Of course he was happy to hand them over to someone else who was willing to take care of them. There was relatively no psychological burden for him to treat those maids who looked like normal people.
“Nurse Mei, take these three maids out first and let Qianxi stay.” Wei Yuewu nodded with a smile. Her eyes fell on the maid called Qianxi.
This maid was indeed pretty. She was quite qualified to be a first-grade maid, let alone a second grade one. The reason Wei Yuewu noticed her at a glance was that she found her somewhat familiar. Every time Lady Li and Wei Yan entered the Madam Dowager’s courtyard, this maid called Qianxi would welcome them with a flattering smile.
Although other maids and old maidservants also curried favor with Lady Li and Wei Yan, Wei Yuewu still sensed some difference in this maidservant. When this maid looked at Lady Li, she carried a sense of intimacy about Lady Li, which was found in no other maids and her expression was also very natural.
This girl called Qianxi should be Lady Li’s confidant!
Nurse Mei received the order and took the maids out. Wei Yuewu received the tea from Huamo and took a sip elegantly. She then raised her head and asked lightly, “How long have you served Madam Dowager?”
“I’ve served Madam Dowager for three to four years.” Qianxi answered respectfully and appropriately. She did not look around after entering the room. She was obviously well trained.
“Since grandmother has trained you well, you and Huamo will take charge of the matters in my room. I have been lying in bed preserving my health. I might take some medicine that improves my health. You will help me decoct the medicine and do other similar things. When Jin Ling and the others come back, I’ll ask Nurse Mei to assign you new work.”
Wei Yuewu raised her head, with her clear bright eyes landing on Qianxi’s face. Her gentle gaze made Qianxi’s chest involuntarily tightened and the maid responded even more obediently. “Yes, I will listen to Sixth Young Lady’s orders.”
“It’s about time. Go to the kitchen and see if my medicine is ready. If it is, bring it here for me.” Wei Yuewu nodded with an imperceptible sneer at the corner of her lips.
Since this maid might have something to do with Lady Li, she might as well ask her to help look after her medicine. There was no small kitchen in Wei Yuewu’s Lotus Courtyard. In the entire mansion of Marquis Hua Yang, only the Madam Dowager, Lady Li and Lady Zhang had their own kitchen. Meals for the young ladies and young masters were prepared by the general kitchen.
Wei Yuewu’s medicine was of course decocted in the general kitchen.
Qianxi answered and curtsied respectfully to Wei Yuewu. She left the room and headed for the general kitchen.
“Miss, why did you…” Huamo asked with hesitation after she saw Qianxi leave.
“Why did I let her look after my medicine?” Wei Yuewu faintly smiled and took over the question.
“Yes. I can go and do the job. This medicine is too important. It helps improve your health. If she has ill intentions, it will be troublesome.” Huamo said worriedly.
Things that were going to end up in the mouth must be taken good care of. Any mistake would cause a big problem.
“She won’t dare, nor will she be so stupid.” Wei Yuewu shook her head. She stood up and walked to the window. Her watery eyes were cold. At the very least, that maid wouldn’t dare to meddle with her medicine for the time being, since she was new here and was in charge of her medicine.
At a time like this, if something really happened, not only she herself but her mistress in the dark would be held accountable…
Nanny Han was seriously ill and finally “died” quietly. As for what kind of illness it was, Doctor Yu could not explain, nor could the other doctor who treated her. The maids, including Jin Ling, recovered very quickly within a few days. Seeing their vigorous appearances, Doctor Yu had to admit that all of them had recovered.
As for Nanny Han, perhaps because she was older, she didn’t survive the disease. It seemed that the so-called epidemic was just an ordinary influenza. It only stirred up a false alarm.
Since they knew that it was a false alarm and the patients had all recovered, no one paid attention to the dead Nanny Han any more. She was just a menial servant. After so many years, very few people remembered that this Nanny Han was once the servant supervisor of the late Marquise Hua Yang’s courtyard and had been highly valued by the Marquise.
Jin Ling and Shufei returned to the mansion. Qianxi was given by the Madam Dowager so she mustn’t be sent back. Thus, she and Huamo and the other two became the four chief personal maids of Wei Yuewu.
Wei Yuewu hadn’t picked many menial maids before, so having three more minor maids wouldn’t be considered out of limits. There was no need to send them back either.
Nanny Han was secretly taken to stay in a courtyard near the Plum Blossom Nunnery, as had been arranged by Wei Yuewu beforehand.
If Wei Yuewu directly asked the Madam Dowager for Nanny Han, she would easily arouse the Madam Dowager’s vigilance. This move to make Nanny Han “die” quietly was the best way. It would not attract anyone’s attention. Moreover, there were many people who had fallen ill and the disease was big news and had Doctor Yu as a witness. No one would suspect her.
Early in the morning, Wei Yuewu went to greet the Madam Dowager with Shufei. She had been resting for a few days and now felt better.
“Yuewu, are you feeling better now?” The Madam Dowager asked after having her breakfast.
“Thank you for your concern, grandmother. I’m almost fine.” Wei Yuewu stretched out her hand to show the Madam Dowager the wound on her wrist. A scar had formed and the medicine was effective. Only a faint mark was left.
The Madam Dowager nodded her head with satisfaction. “Go to relax yourself. Have a walk. Zhang, have someone prepare a carriage for Yuewu. Be careful this time. I want no accident.”
Her last sentence was addressed to Lady Zhang. Lady Zhang hurriedly nodded her head and said, “Mother, don’t worry. I’ll send someone to arrange it immediately. Everything will be under absolute control this time.”
Lady Zhang gave her instruction. Unexpectedly, the coachman who drove the carriage for Wei Yuewu last time asked to do the task with much enthusiasm!
The Madam Dowager had wanted to drive this coachman’s family away after she had interrogated him. However, Wei Yuewu sent Shufei over to save his family.
The coachman, Old Li, was extremely grateful to Wei Yuewu. If his family were driven out of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang, no other mansion would want them, because they knew a case like this must involve some serious matter and thus no one dared to hire such a servant.
In that case, his family would have to either live on the streets or end up as tramps who were unable to make a living in the capital.
The coachman was much grateful to Wei Yuewu at the thought of such a prospect. He therefore decided that the Sixth Young Lady was his mistress.
When he knew that it was the Sixth Young Lady who wanted a carriage, he offered to drive for her. Wei Yuewu also agreed when she heard about it!
The carriage went smoothly towards the Plum Blossom Nunnery outside the city. At the same time, an old maidservant peeped out from the back door of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang, and seeing no one noticing her, she hurriedly walked out…
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