Chapter 247: Compassion for the Young Maid by Comparing Hearts

Liu Xia hurried home, only to see the house decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and he immediately knew what had happened.

His second and third brothers were already married, and only his eldest sister remained unmarried in the boudoir; if these preparations were not for his eldest sister, could they possibly be for him, an Outsider? Especially when he was not even at home?

However, although he was called an Outsider and had already seen his master, he had not yet returned to the mountain to thank his master after this training, so he could not truly be considered to have left the secular world.

Liu Xia pondered for a moment, then hurriedly entered the mansion through a small side gate. A servant boy nearby saw him and was both shocked and suspicious: wasn't the Third Young Master determined to go up the mountain to seek the Dao, having left home a month ago? Why had he returned at this moment?

But it was only for a moment before the servant boy regained his composure and hurried off to report to the main house.

As for Liu Xia, once he entered the mansion, he went straight to the residence of the eldest Miss Liu. However, the old woman guarding outside the courtyard kept a tight watch; although she was surprised by Liu Xia's arrival, she did not let him pass, saying only that the eldest Miss was currently preparing her dowry in the boudoir and that even the men of the house should not disturb her, let alone the Third Young Master who had left the secular world.

The old woman's words confirmed his suspicions. Liu Xia frowned upon hearing this, then entrusted the old woman to deliver a package into the courtyard, saying only that it was a congratulatory gift from a younger brother, before heading to the front courtyard.

The old woman who took the package could not help but feel surprised; could it be that the Third Young Master had returned specifically for the eldest Miss's wedding? But then she thought, perhaps that was exactly it.

The Third Young Master had often played with the eldest Miss since he was a child, and during his early education, he would also frequently come to this courtyard to slack off; the siblings had a very close bond, so looking at it this way, it was not impossible, but...

But this congratulatory gift was truly too shabby...

The old woman weighed the package in her hand and shook her head helplessly, thinking that perhaps because the Third Young Master had left the secular world, a person outside the world would not have much wealth, which was why it was like this.

Forget it, forget it; at least it was a gesture of his heart, and it fulfilled the bond between siblings.

Thinking this, the old women went to deliver the package into the room.

Liu Xia hurried toward the outer gate, intending to find his father to talk, but he did not expect his second brother, Liu Zhong, to be receiving a guest in the hall, and that guest was none other than Xin Yi.

As soon as Liu Zhong saw Liu Xia enter, he hurriedly stood up, walked over, and hugged Liu Xia, but he did not say a single word.

Liu Xia was very astonished. What was wrong with his second brother today? In his impression, his second brother was skilled in Martial Arts and well-versed in Military Strategy, having received the true teachings of his father, and was a forthright person; when had he ever shown such a side?

Seeing this, Xin Yi hurriedly stood up to persuade him: "Second Young Master, there is no need to worry. An Elder of our sect is already on the way. She is skilled in medicine and understands pharmacology; she will certainly be able to cure the illness."

Hearing this, Liu Xia finally understood: "Who? Who is sick?"

Xin Yi had originally thought that Lingxiang would arrive at the Inspector's Mansion just after him, but he had not expected to wait for a full day, and she had actually come alone.

Now that the Demon Race was making complex moves and Bai Wuchang was plotting something unknown, with the Langtou General by his side, he was not someone easy to deal with. Lingxiang had come to the Inspector's Mansion all by herself; if she encountered danger on the way, how could he answer to Long Qi?

However, Lingxiang did not seem to care and just waved her hand, saying it was no matter. Seeing Lingxiang's indifferent manner, Xin Yi could not help but sigh.

With her heartless nature, and the fact that she ran Youran Abode all by herself and had to travel the world from time to time, how on earth did she grow up to be this old...

It was unknown whether it was because he worried too much about his daughter or because he had caught a cold at the training grounds a few days ago, but Liu Cishi, who was already advanced in age, was now unable to get out of bed, coughing incessantly, and even convulsing when it was severe, which was very frightening.

"The doctor said it is consumption and ordered the courtyard to be cordoned off, forbidding anyone from entering to prevent it from spreading," said Liu Zhong's wife, Liu Yaoshi, with red eyes.

"Eldest brother holds an important position and is currently in the camp and cannot get away, so this matter has not yet been told to him. Eldest sister-in-law is pregnant and cannot manage affairs, and fearing that the illness might be passed to her, she was told to be served in the courtyard early on. Eldest sister's marriage is a hard-won happy event, and Mother also ordered that she not be told, lest it delay the wedding. But how can such a major event be hidden!"

Now, as for the affairs of the house, the outside matters were being handled by the second Liu brother, the inner courtyard was being managed by Liu Yaoshi, and Lady Liu was serving medicine in Liu Cishi's courtyard, having only brought two old women with her, and not a single young maidservant was allowed in.

Liu Yaoshi knew well why her mother-in-law did this. Those maidservants were all young and in the prime of their lives; if they were to accidentally contract consumption, that would be the end of them.

Who was not born of parents?

But doing it this way was unfilial!

When there is work, the disciples should take the toil; now that the father-in-law is ill, as son and daughter-in-law, they do not serve the medicine but instead let the mother-in-law take the risk—where in the world is there such a principle?

But the Liu Zhong couple could not sway Lady Liu, as she insisted on serving him personally.

Hearing Liu Yaoshi's grievances, Lingxiang patiently comforted her: "Madam, do not worry. Inspector Liu has a heart for the people and has labored for the country and the people his whole life; he will surely be blessed by the heavens. Inspector's wife is kind and virtuous, and he will certainly be safe and Wuyang. Madam, just handle the outside affairs well, and allow this Daoist to go in and examine him."

Having received Lingxiang's comforting words, Liu Yaoshi nodded repeatedly, thanking her again and again, and ordered the old woman beside her to take good care of Lingxiang before letting the two enter the courtyard gate.

It was not that the Liu family was slighting Lingxiang, but Lingxiang had stated beforehand that if Inspector Liu truly had consumption, having too many people go in would be counterproductive, and she had also applied Eupatorium and Angelica dahurica to her body for fumigation, which was why she only asked for one old woman to lead the way.

Upon entering the courtyard, they saw several stoves set up under the veranda, with the medicine pots on the stoves steaming, and waves of medicinal fragrance assailing their nostrils, with two old women tending to them respectively.

Lingxiang leaned in to take a sniff; it was exactly Rhinoceros Horn Rehmannia Decoction, Angelica and Rhubarb Decoction, and Dusan Tang.

"Hmm, it is indeed the right prescription," Lingxiang said, stroking her chin and nodding.

But this remark was not trivial, and it frightened the two old women watching the medicine, who hurriedly asked who the visitor was.

The old woman Qin who led the way was also startled, thinking that just a moment ago this young girl was following behind her, and in the blink of an eye, she had run to the side of the medicine stove; if the old women watching the medicine hadn't spoken up, she wouldn't have even known!

"Old sisters, this is the Third Young Master's martial aunt, who is extremely skilled in the Dao of medicine and has come specifically to see the master," old woman Qin hurriedly explained, panting.

But one of the old women watching the medicine said: "Old Qin, have you gone senile? Even if you want to deceive people, it shouldn't be like this. I have seen this young girl before; she is clearly the disciple of Daoist Chiyanzi, so how did she become the Third Young Master's martial aunt?"

This stumped old woman Qin; she had heard things in a muddle outside the courtyard earlier, and now that she was asked to explain, she did not know how to say it for a moment.

At this time, Lingxiang smiled: "It is no matter, no matter. Whether martial aunt or disciple, I have come to see your master, have I not?"

This was true, but the old woman who asked was a bit distrustful of Lingxiang: she knew of Daoist Chiyanzi's abilities, but if it were his disciple...

Just at this moment, the Inspector's wife walked out from the inner room: "The master is ill, why is there such a commotion?"