Blossom in Adversity

C99. Do What is Humanly Possible, Accept Fate.

Chapter 99: Do What is Humanly Possible, Accept Fate

The old lady's gaze swept over the several daughters-in-law, "Fourth daughter-in-law, stay, the rest of you may leave."

The third lady felt a slight dissatisfaction, but she dared not defy the old lady, so she followed behind Zhu Shi and exited, making sure to close the door and personally stand guard, ensuring that the others stayed far away.

She didn't understand the affairs of the household, but her daughter had told her that if she didn't know how to handle matters in the inner courtyard and Lin Mama wasn't by her side, she should follow the fourth sister-in-law. Her daughter's competence was well-known, and she was certain that following her lead wouldn't be wrong.

The third lady, Xia Shi, sidled over and whispered, "You even being kicked out, eldest sister-in-law, the old lady is really biased."

"The fourth sister-in-law is more capable than me, keeping her is more useful than keeping me."

Xia Shi was taken aback. How could someone be so quick to admit their own uselessness!

Inside the room, the old lady was breathing heavily. Suyun Mama brought over a cup of tea, "Quick, rinse your mouth."

The old lady tasted blood in her mouth and wanted to rinse, but the dark flashes before her eyes made her realize that she might not be well. Biting her tongue to focus her dissipating mind, she looked straight at the fourth daughter-in-law, "Discontinue lessons, dismiss the scholars, close the doors of the Hua family tightly, except for essential purchases, no one is to come in or out. Haitang, you must take charge of the household, using whatever means necessary to hold things together until Hua Zhi comes back."

She spoke almost without pause, her chest heaving rapidly, breathing heavy like a bellows being pulled back and forth quickly.

Her eyes were filled with earnestness, and Wu Shi nodded vigorously without a second thought. The relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in the Hua family had always been harmonious, and seeing the previously energetic old lady wither away in such a short time was extremely distressing for her.

"The burden of the Hua family is too heavy; only Hua Zhi can bear it. Haitang, you must help her well. She said she would bring back the men of the Hua family. Perhaps, perhaps she truly can. You must help her well."

Her instructions were like those given for final arrangements, causing several old servants to cry as if they were about to faint. Wu Shi's tears flowed uncontrollably, unable to say anything, only gripping the old lady's hand tightly and nodding vigorously.

The old lady's gaze gradually drifted, murmuring self-deprecatingly, "I'm truly useless..."

"Mother..." Wu Shi tremblingly reached out to check the old lady's breath, and once she confirmed that she was still breathing, she sat down abruptly, exclaiming, "Why hasn't Doctor Chu arrived? Someone go and hurry him!"

Bao Xia hurried in with the medicine. Normally, Fu Dong would bring it over with a plate of snacks for the old lady to offset the medicinal taste. However, she had already found out about the situation in the old lady's room from the maids and had grown to despise the eldest aunt, so she instinctively hid Fu Dong.

Wu Shi turned around, "Is this the medicine the old lady usually takes?"

Suyun Mama hurriedly replied, "Yes, it's from Miss Shao Yao, and the old lady has been much better after taking it."

Understanding her intention, Wu Shi nodded, "Help mother up."

But she couldn't swallow it!

No matter how hard Wu Shi tried to pry open her teeth, the medicine kept spilling out, as the old lady had completely lost the ability to swallow.