High-class maid

“Then let’s not go out to look after the shop today. Since your father isn’t coming with us, it’s better for the two of us women to stay out of the public eye as much as possible,” Wang said.

Shen Xing'er nodded. Although the people of Qin have always been honest and simple and women's status is not so low, they can't go out all day. It's better to stay at home and behave themselves.

"Then I'll draw patterns at home." Shen Xing'er looked up at the sky. The sun was shining today, so drawing patterns by the window would be a good idea.

“Okay, then I’ll take the quilt apart and wash and dry it again,” Wang said.

Seeing how much the mother and daughter trusted him, Shen Kun felt even more guilty towards them, but his background was not something he had chosen.

"I...I'll just go take a look...I won't disturb you..." Shen Kun hesitated, looking down.

"Husband? What's wrong?" Seeing that Shen Kun was in a daze, Wang called him several times but he didn't respond, so she raised her voice.

"Ah! It's nothing. You all stay home today. I'll be back soon after I finish my errands." With that, Shen Kun left, his retreating figure appearing somewhat like he was fleeing in panic.

"What's wrong with my dad?" Shen Xing'er asked, puzzled.

"I think he must be in a bad mood, after all, your father just went back to the village yesterday." Wang attributed all the blame to the division of the family property.

Shen Xing'er nodded, no longer hesitating, and became even more determined to treat her father better.

On the other side, Shen Kun drove his carriage out of the gate and arrived at the gate of Master Hou's mansion. For a moment, he didn't know what to do.

"Make way! Master is ill again! Quickly, send the divine physician over!" Just as Shen Kun was in a daze, he was attracted by the voice of the servant at the door.

He saw a servant pulling an old man carrying a medicine box as he ran into the mansion.

"Sigh... It's pitiful when people get old; they have to call a doctor at the drop of a hat."

"Luckily, this Lord Hou has money; if he were an ordinary person, he would probably be dead by now!"

"His godson is also very filial. I heard that he rushes back every time Master Hou falls ill!"

“How can he be unfilial? Master Hou has no children and has been kind to him. Anyone with a conscience would not ignore him.”

The whispers among the crowd reached Shen Kun's ears.

"Brother, what is he doing?" Shen Kun asked as he walked into the crowd.

"You probably don't know this, but this Master Hou suffers from asthma. Every time it flares up, he can't breathe properly. Look at him now, he's having another attack," the passerby said regretfully.

"Asthma?" Shen Kun murmured.

"Yes, the older you get, the more health problems you have. I was perfectly fine a few years ago," another passerby replied.

"Doesn't Master Hou have any children? Why is everyone praising his godson?" Shen Kun asked, puzzled.

"Master Hou originally had a daughter, whom he groomed to be the successor of the Hou family, but who knew that his daughter disappeared more than 30 years ago! That's why he adopted a godson."

The passerby hadn't talked about the Hou family's gossip for a long time, so when he heard someone ask, he hurriedly and excitedly recounted all the old stories.

“I see, his godson is also lucky…” Shen Kun said.

"He was originally a servant in the rice and flour shop owned by the Marquis's mansion. He gradually became the manager and is now the biggest owner. Look, that's him!"

The passerby, not expecting to see Master Hou's godson, pointed at a man with great interest.

Shen Kun followed his hand and saw a man in a black robe hurrying from the street. He didn't even look at the water at the door and stepped over it, as if he was really worried about Master Hou.

"It's good that someone is looking after him, so I can rest assured..."

Shen Kun dragged his heavy steps back to the carriage. He didn't know what his purpose was in coming here. Did he want to see the place where his mother used to live? Or did he want to see how the person his mother cared about most, besides himself, was doing?

Compared to the bright sunshine on the street, the atmosphere inside the mansion was somewhat oppressive.

“Reporting to your master, you have indeed been poisoned,” a man dressed as a butler said respectfully.

"Hmph, my health has always been excellent, so why did I develop asthma after adopting a godson? There's definitely something fishy going on!" Master Hou stroked his gray beard, looked at himself in the mirror, and said.

The old man in the mirror looked to be about sixty or seventy years old, but because he was well-preserved, he looked only about sixty. If you looked closely, you could see that Shen Kun's eyebrows and eyes were similar to his. He was the self-made, famous wealthy man in the capital, Master Hou.

"These days, most of the doctors in the capital have been bribed. Do you still want me to go to other places to find a miracle doctor?" the steward asked in a low voice.

"There's no rush. I know my own body. As for the child... is there any news?" Master Hou asked.

"Reporting to Master, our servants brought news today that Miss's son returned to Shenjia Village yesterday, reportedly to separate from the family."

"Divided the family property? He went back to the village? We haven't heard from him for so many years. Have you sent someone to follow him?" Master Hou suddenly perked up, stroking his beard and widening his eyes as he asked.

"Rest assured, sir, I have already sent men to follow them, and we should have results tonight," the steward said.

"Master, the young master has found another renowned doctor for you, and he's waiting at the door." A servant's voice came from outside the door.

Upon hearing this, the steward hurriedly helped Master Hou to bed. Master Hou lay on the bed weakly, showing no signs of his former vitality.

"Cough cough, my son is so kind, cough cough, quickly, please come in." Master Hou said, coughing three times in a row, as if he would be out of breath if he said a few more words.

"Father! How are you feeling? Why are you coughing again?" Bai Mo worriedly knelt by the old master's bedside, patting his back and feeding him hot water, looking quite unfilial.

"Cough cough, I'm fine, it's just an old ailment. Cough cough, why did you make a special trip back when you weren't at the shop?"

“With you coughing like this, how can your son possibly focus on the shop? He wouldn’t feel at ease if he didn’t come to see you.” After Bai Mo finished speaking, he winked at the divine doctor, who immediately stepped forward with his medicine box.

"Father, let him take your pulse! I've heard he's quite skilled at treating asthma!" Bai Mo advised.

"No! I've taken so much medicine and I'm still not better! Why should I waste my time on this dying man? You should go back to the shop." Master Hou turned his head away, looking like a stubborn old man.

"Father! You're talking nonsense again. I'd give up all our wealth if it could cure your asthma. Let him take your pulse!" Bai Mo knelt by the bedside and pleaded.

The doctor nodded secretly at the sight of his filial piety. It seemed the outsiders were right; Master Hou had indeed found a good son.

"No! Don't bring these charlatans here again, get out! Cough cough cough..." Master Hou threw the teacup to the ground, and coincidentally, it landed right at Bai Mo's feet.