The Marquise: I Earn My Own Worship

"My dearest child, how can your mother live?" The cry was like a mother animal crying out for the loss of her young child.

Song Shengfu was already weak, and she fainted due to the great sorrow she couldn't bear.

Everyone was horrified when they saw this and quickly surrounded him. Su Chun quickly sent someone to invite Mr. Xu.

At this time, Old Xu was decocting medicine next door. Hearing a wailing sound, he felt something was wrong and hurried to the main house, where he ran into Su Xia who was looking for him in a hurry.

"Mr. Xu, hurry up, the old lady has fainted again." After saying that, he pulled Mr. Xu into the house.

As soon as Mr. Xu entered the room, he asked everyone to disperse quickly, took out the silver needles, and gave acupuncture to the old lady.

After a set of acupuncture techniques, Elder Xu bowed to Duan Jingzong and Duan Jingan and said:

"The old lady was physically weak and emotionally agitated, causing her qi and blood to malfunction, leading to fainting."

"I see the old lady is pale, her limbs are cold, she has chronic heart failure, and both Qi and blood are deficient, which has led to fainting. This is a deficiency syndrome, so I'll focus on the Du meridian acupoints and apply acupuncture to them, so that Qi and blood can flow up to the head, thus reviving the mind."

"In just a short period of time, the old lady fainted twice, which is really harmful to her health. She shouldn't have such extreme mood swings. She needs to rest and recuperate, otherwise it might harm her lifespan."

After hearing what Old Xu said, Duan Jingzong and Duan Jing'an's faces changed. Duan Jingzong gasped and coughed non-stop, and everyone panicked again.

Lu, who was standing next to him, sobbed as she comforted Duan Jingzong's chest.

"Brother Zong, my mother is still lying down. You must take care of yourself and take charge of the situation."

Duan Jingzong waved his hand and was about to speak.

"Boss, come here!"

A weak voice sounded.

Song Shengfu has woken up. He Yun's mind is clear in Song Shengfu's body, but her body's reaction is completely out of her control. Thinking of what the pretty boy said about still needing to get used to each other, she cursed the underworld for its inadequate after-sales service.

When Duan Jingzong saw his mother wake up, he hurried forward.

"Mother, you speak, and I listen."

Song Shengfu lay on the bed, with a sad face, and said with all her might:

"I'm fine, I'm just old and weak. Don't stay with me. You should also take good care of yourself. The Bo's Mansion cannot be in chaos."

(Duan Jingzong's father was a marquis, and when it came to Duan Jingzong, he became an earl)

"Send people to Shu, send more maids and servants, and prepare the funeral ceremony."

"Don't worry, mother. Your son has already made all the arrangements. Besides that, the Lu family has also prepared the soul sail, the mourning seat, the carriage, the paper servants, etc."

"Yes, mother. The slaves and belongings that Third Sister is sending to Shu have already been prepared. We will depart south today. All the daughters-in-law at home have been arranged. Mother, you should rest well and take care of your health."

Lu said on the side.

"I always trust you to do things."

Song Shengfu comforted her eldest daughter-in-law, Mrs. Lu.

"Only one thing."

Song Shengfu turned and looked at Duan Jingan.

"Jing'an, your youngest sister passed away suddenly, and I'm afraid there's no one to take care of your two children."

"This time, you will bring the funeral rites south. After Wen'er enters the ancestral home, bring Shi Wei and Shi Xuan back to the capital and I will personally raise them."

Duan Jing'an quickly bowed and said, "I will obey your mother's orders and bring back my youngest sister's children safely."

"Okay, okay. It's cold today, so be careful on your way. I'll be waiting for you in the capital."

"Please...please help me keep an eye on your little sister. Don't let her be alone."

(This refers to the ancient custom of holding a grand funeral after a person dies, otherwise the deceased will feel lonely and desolate on the road to the underworld. Here, Song Shengfu asked the fourth master to represent her family to attend Duan Jingwen's funeral.)

"You should set off now. It will be even harder to travel when winter comes."

Duan Jing'an said, "After your son leaves, mother please take care of yourself."

"go Go."

Song Shengfu waved her hand and turned to look at Duan Jingzong.

"You should go down too. You are weak to begin with, so don't come to my place. I have many maids and servants, and I don't need you anymore."

"Ms. Lu, please take good care of Jingzong and take good care of his health. I know my own health well, so there's nothing serious going on."

Lu lowered her eyes and said yes.

"Alright, alright, all of you go down."

Duan Jingzong looked at his frail old mother lying on the bed, his heart aching, and he said softly:

"Mom, I'll come to see you tomorrow."

Then he took Lu out, and after leaving Bisong Courtyard, he saw the fourth son Duan Jing'an waiting outside.

"Big brother, safe."

Duan Jingzong coughed twice.

"Well, it just so happens that you are here. Butler Liu will accompany you to Shu. He will take care of your food and accommodation along the way."

"Go get the 1,000 taels of silver from Manager Wang. Ahem, keep this 1,000 taels for yourself as your own private reserve."

"You should prepare the gifts for the two children yourself. If you have any other expenses, you can directly ask Butler Liu."

After saying so much in one breath, Duan Jingzong became a little out of breath.

Duan Jing'an looked moved.

"Thank you for your advice, brother. I have already asked Tongli and Tongxiao to pack up and set off today."

"When will we set off?"

"We'll leave at 5 p.m., but..."

"what happened?"

Duan Jingzong looked at his half-brother in front of him. He had a tall body and a youthful face. Although he was born to his aunt, he grew up in front of his mother and the relationship between them was quite harmonious.

"I want to take Tongli and two others with me to go ahead. The roads are slippery in winter and the convoy is slow. I will take two servants and ride fast horses to get to Shu first."

Fearing that his elder brother would disagree, Duan Jingan immediately added:

"My youngest sister treated me very well in the past. I carried her on my back when she got married. Now I want to give her a ride again."

Duan Jingzong was silent for a moment. He had thought before that he might die before these younger brothers and sisters.

But life is so unpredictable that they didn't expect that the youngest sister would leave them first.

"Well, let's go take a look first. My third sister's parents-in-law are gone now. There's no elders to take care of the family, and there are two young children."

"Ahem, be careful on the road. Let me know when you arrive and don't let your mother worry."

"Yes, then I will go pack my things now."

Duan Jing'an bowed to his brother and sister-in-law and left quickly.

Mrs. Lu turned to look at her husband and supported him as they walked slowly.

"But do we need to bring some maids along?"

Duan Jingzong pondered for a moment

"Mother's nanny, Mama Lu, will come along, along with four maids, two old women, and the previously arranged group of people."

"Ahem, give some of the remaining silver to Steward Liu. When they get to Shu, they should wait until my third sister is buried and return around March of next year."

Lu calculated that the time was almost up. After the funeral was over, her third sister's dowry would need to be packed up and sealed by someone from her parents' side and kept by a special person.

It will take at least half a month to prepare this small amount of dowry. Winter is cold, and it is the coldest time of the year when the two children are sent out for funeral. The adults can barely hold on, let alone two young children. Therefore, the earliest they will set off is the end of February next year.

"Yes."

Lu Fangfei felt distressed as she touched her husband's cold hand.

"Go back and rest. I'll take care of these things. You've been coughing more frequently these days."

Duan Jingzong shook his hand back and looked at his wife beside him, feeling extremely guilty.

His health was weak and many household chores fell on his wife. He didn't even have the energy to teach his son. I don't know how much longer he could stay with them.

"Thank you for your hard work over the years. You've been very busy lately. Please visit mother more often."

"Ahem, there's nothing wrong with my body. Old Xu has been taking care of me. I know my body well, and I want to stay with you for a few more years, at least, at least to wait for Brother Kang..."

"Okay, stop talking. Your health isn't that serious. You've been taking good care of yourself over the past two years. Just listen to Elder Xu and take good care of yourself. Don't dwell on those unnecessary things."

Lu Fangfei felt a tightness in her heart, because her husband thought of her when he learned about his third sister's situation.

Duan Jingzong looked at his wife's nervous expression and knew that his words had frightened her, so he stopped talking.

In this way, the two of them walked back to Minghui Hall in the main courtyard in silence.

Meanwhile, on Song Shengfu's side (He Yun will be referred to as Song Shengfu from now on), Old Xu was removing the needle. After he was done, Old Xu said to the person in front of him:

"Old Madam, you know what I just told Uncle. You must not have any extreme mood swings from now on. Just relax. You are in good health."

"But your brain is still affected this time. I've written a prescription and given it to Miss Suqiu. After you take the medicine, rest well. Remember not to overwork or get sad."

Song Shengfu has now calmed down a little. She was just controlled by her original body's emotions. The grief was so strong that it seemed to swallow her up.

It took Song Shengfu a long time to calm down. Then she looked up at the doctor in front of her, who was about forty or fifty years old, and replied absentmindedly:

"I know, thank you for your help."

When the old marquis was still alive, Old Xu was a famous doctor who was hired outside to take care of the body of the eldest son of the original body. He had been living in the mansion with honor. Thinking of this, Song Shengfu spoke weakly.

"Please ask Doctor Xu to check on Uncle's health later. He has always been stubborn and refuses to talk about any problems."

"Su Chun, you will go to Minghui Hall with Master Xu later."

Su Chun bowed and said yes, then respectfully invited Mr. Xu to leave.