I served as Li Bai's page.

With the passing of Master Xu, the Xu family lost its pillar of support. Madam Xu was devastated and fell ill. The second concubine searched everywhere except Madam Xu's room, where she dared not rummage through the drawers and cabinets.

"Second Aunt, what are you looking for?" I walked into the study and suddenly found the Second Aunt rummaging through the room.

"Yuehua, do you know where the master keeps the house deeds and land deeds?"

"Wasn't it yours? Everyone says you took it."

"I have nothing, not even the guarantee your young master wrote, the master took it all."

"Second Aunt, they are family after all. Look at you, the master hasn't even had his funeral yet, and instead of going to observe mourning, you're looking for things everywhere. Is that how a family member acts?"

"I have to help my son get his rightful share of the property. It all belongs to him because he's the only male he has the right to inherit."

"But you're a concubine; whether or not your son gets a wife is up to him."

"Yuehua, you're going to drive me crazy!"

"Yuehua, who are you talking to?" Li Bai asked from the study doorway.

"My second aunt was looking for something in the study and asked me if I knew what it was."

Li Bai walked in and saw the books scattered all over the floor. He was heartbroken and quickly bent down to pick them up. When the second concubine saw Li Bai, she didn't say anything and walked out of the study with a straight face.

"Yuehua, your task for the next few days is to protect my mother. Go and stay in her room. Second Madam is resorting to any means necessary to secure the family fortune."

"Okay, I'm going then."

I went to Madam Xu's room. Madam Xu was fast asleep in bed. Wu Ma and Zhang Ma were busy with the master's funeral. Xiaoqian was playing in the yard with two children. No one was paying attention to Madam Xu.

I walked to Madam Xu's bedside and softly called out, "Madam Xu."

Madam Xu opened her eyes, looked at me, and said, "Yuehua, help me sit up for a while."

I helped Mrs. Xu lean against the headboard, poured her a glass of water, and handed it to her, saying:

"Madam, have some water. You need to get better soon; there are many things at home that require your decision."

"My health isn't what it used to be. Is that a backpack you're carrying? Go get my suitcase."

This is a solid wood box, not large but quite heavy. I carried it to Madam Xu. Madam Xu opened the box, took out something wrapped in floral cloth, and said to me:

"These are the house deeds and land deeds of the Xu family. Put them in your schoolbag. If I go with my husband, give them to your son-in-law and let him divide them. All three branches of the family should have some, so they can't be without a source of income. The second son is the only heir of the Xu family, so he can get a larger share." After Madam Xu finished speaking, she coughed loudly.

I went over and patted her back, saying, "You'll get better. The doctor said it was just a temporary shock, and you'll be fine in a couple of days when your temper calms down."

"The master's funeral arrangements are being overseen by the son-in-law; Ziyan knows nothing about it."

"Don't worry, my young master has been keeping an eye on things outside. He sent me to stay with you, in case anything happens to you."

"Is it the second child causing trouble again? Put this bundle in your schoolbag and don't take it out until the very end. I want to rest."

I helped Mrs. Xu lie down, put the bundle into my schoolbag, and sat down on the chair in front of the bed.

On the day of Master Xu's funeral, Madam Xu struggled to her feet. Wu Ma and I helped her to sit in the courtyard. As we listened to the sounds of gongs and drums announcing the funeral, Madam Xu suddenly coughed up blood. I was terrified and burst into tears. Wu Ma held Madam Xu's hand and said, "The dead cannot be brought back to life. You must try to think more positively. This is such a big family; what will happen without you? Miss is married and can't manage this household."

Madam Xu struggled to sit up and took Wu Ma's hand, saying, "Wu Ma, for now, tell everyone that the son-in-law is a son-in-law of the Xu family, but Miss is still a member of this family. Your maid, Xiaoqian, is betrothed to your nephew, Wu Chao, so that they can both take good care of this household for Miss."

"On behalf of my nephew, I thank you, Madam, for your kindness. Our whole family will definitely protect this home for Miss." As she spoke, Wu Ma knelt down in front of Madam Xu.

Madam Xu lay weakly on the recliner where Master Xu had once lain, her eyes closed. Wu Ma and I stayed by her side, not daring to leave her side for a moment, until the funeral procession returned home. Seeing this scene, Xu Ziyan broke down instantly, disregarding all the etiquette of a well-bred lady, and burst into tears, hugging her mother.

Madam Xu struggled to raise her hand to stroke her daughter, tears streaming down her face. She whispered, "Take care of yourself, take care of your child." Then, looking at Pingyang and Boqin, she coughed up another mouthful of blood. Wu Ma hurriedly brought a handkerchief to wipe Madam Xu's face, but Madam Xu's head lolled to the side, and she too passed away. Xu Ziyan fainted beside Madam Xu, and Li Bai carried her back into the house, saying to me, "Yuehua, quickly go and fetch a doctor."

I rode swiftly to Anlu to fetch the doctor, and Xu Ziyan had already woken up. Xiaoqian and the two children were watching over her. The doctor took her pulse, prescribed some traditional Chinese medicine, and said, "It was an attack of internal heat; just relax and you'll fully recover."

"Doctor, does my young mistress have any other ailments? Her mother was also driven to desperation, which ultimately cost her her life," I asked.

"Your mother has asthma, didn't you know?" the doctor said.

"I didn't see her panting at all?"

"She has been taking the medication I prescribed, so she hasn't had a relapse."

"I always thought she was taking medicine when I saw her taking it, but it turns out it's for asthma. We were careless."

Xiaoqian went to brew the Chinese medicine and brought it in, handing it to Xu Ziyan. After drinking the medicine, Xu Ziyan was about to get out of bed.

"Young Madam, why don't you lie down a little longer? Going out won't make much of a difference; it might just cause more trouble," I said.

"I'm alright now. I need to go keep vigil for my mother. Please put my mourning clothes on me and help me to the mourning hall."

Xiaoqian helped Xu Ziyan out of bed, dressed her in mourning clothes, and helped her walk towards the mourning hall. I followed behind with my two children in my hands.

Li Bai breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Xu Ziyan leave. He then took Xu Ziyan's hand and led her to sit down in the mourning hall.

On the day of Madam Xu's funeral, apart from Wu Ma staying at home to watch over the house, Li Bai asked everyone to go and see her off. Madam Xu was buried next to Master Xu.

After we returned from the cemetery, the second concubine gathered everyone together and said in an elder's tone, "Our family has lost two pillars of support. Now I am the eldest in this family, and my son is the sole heir of the Xu family. I am the one who calls the shots in this family. Our most important task right now is to find the deeds to the house and land left by the master, so that we will have a source of livelihood."

Aunt Wu said, "The lady left a will stating that because her husband married into the family, the young lady is the rightful heir to this household."

Li Bai was taken aback by these words, but remembering that the two elders had just passed away, he did not object. However, the second concubine said:

"Aunt Wu, how could Madam have told you her last words as soon as you left?"

"You were all busy at the time, only Yuehua and I were with her. Yuehua can testify to that," said Aunt Wu.

"That's what Madam said. She also said that Steward Wu has served Master his whole life and worked hard his whole life. Madam betrothed Xiaoqian to his son Wu Chao, hoping that Xiaoqian can take good care of Steward Wu for them," I said.

Upon hearing this, Butler Wu was already in tears, and he exclaimed, "Master and Madam, you have treated this old servant like family. I will serve you again in my next life!"