The nanny beside her quickly supported Old Madam Jiang: "Old Madam, are you alright!" Saying this, she gently pinched Old Madam Jiang’s elbow.

Old Madam Jiang’s gaze shifted, and she immediately rolled her eyes and fainted.

"Old Madam, Old Madam!" The nanny exclaimed anxiously: "Quickly, someone come, Old Madam has fainted."

Madam Jiang paused her steps, furrowed her brows, and turned back to look, only to see Old Madam Jiang leaning against the servant with her eyes tightly shut. Her eyes showed a look of disgust, but she quickly turned with a look of surprise: "Mother, Mother... what’s wrong with you!" Saying this, she hurried over, nervously supporting Old Madam Jiang, and instructed the nanny beside Old Madam Jiang: "Nanny Li, what are you staring at, hurry up and support Mother into the room."

Nanny Li was not just stunned; it took her quite a while to recover from her shock. She secretly admired the Second Madam’s shrewdness, thinking it might be no simple matter, and then looked down at Old Madam Jiang with a sigh: I’m afraid you’re no match for the tricks of this one.

Although she turned these thoughts over in her head, her hands did not stop. Nanny Li supported Old Madam Jiang and, with Madam Jiang, moved into the Warm Pavilion, placing Old Madam Jiang on the bed. Nanny Li looked at Madam Jiang: "Second Madam, perhaps you should have someone call the Second Master and Second Young Master."

Madam Jiang’s eyes shifted as she cast a deep look at Nanny Li, replying, "No rush, fetch a basin of water for Mother." Nanny Li, though insightful, was still a servant, so her lips moved but she said nothing more. A maid brought water, and Madam Jiang touched it with her hand and furrowed her brow, saying, "Go, change it to cold water."

"Madam?" Nanny Li was taken aback. Cold water on such a chilly day, what was the Second Madam intending?

Madam Jiang didn’t even glance at her. The maids quickly changed it to a basin of cold water. Madam Jiang removed her bracelet and ring, rolled up her sleeves, and took a cold towel to wipe Old Madam Jiang’s face. Nanny Li, alarmed, quickly intervened: "Old Madam fainted because of a surge of blood. Madam, you should call for a doctor."

Madam Jiang said nothing, pushed Nanny Li aside, and took the cloth to wipe Old Madam Jiang’s face.

The cold towel was placed on Old Madam Jiang’s face, and she couldn’t help but shiver, immediately wanting to open her eyes to scold Madam Jiang. But thinking of her two sons who hadn’t arrived yet—if they hadn’t witnessed it, the act would have been for nothing—she gritted her teeth and endured it.

Madam Jiang filial wiped for quite some time, observing Old Madam Jiang’s reaction. Indeed, she pretended to faint. A sneer flashed in her eyes. Nanny Li, upon witnessing it, immediately knelt: "Second Madam, it’s best to call for a doctor. Old Madam is too old to withstand such distress."

"As you wish." Madam Jiang was exceptionally straightforward: "Call a doctor, and let’s see what’s ailing Mother." Saying this, she pressed the cloth to her eyes and wept softly: "Mother, you mustn’t let anything happen to you."

The change in countenance was remarkably swift.

Nanny Li’s movements trembled slightly as she got up.

She swiftly exited the door, ran to the study, and knocked on the door. Jiang Shilin’s servant opened the door, and seeing Jiang Shilin behind the desk, without even glancing at Madam Mei standing beside Jiang Shilin, she immediately reported: "Second Young Master, you must come quickly, Old Madam has fainted."

"What happened?" Jiang Shilin stood up at once upon hearing this, looking at Nanny Li with a furrowed brow: "Just now she was fine, how did she faint?"

Madam Mei also looked surprised: "Why would she faint? Shilin, you should go have a look!"

Nanny Li’s face was full of urgency, giving a glance to Madam Mei, and then swiftly recounting what had just happened: "Old Madam was fainted from anger... The Second Madam even... even deliberately used a cold cloth to wipe Old Madam’s face." Jiang Shilin could no longer stay idle, heading outside but pausing at the door, staring sharply at Nanny Li. Nanny Li stammered, heart slightly panicked, replying: "This servant speaks only the truth."

Nanny Li was an old servant by his mother’s side, having watched Jiang Shilin grow up clear as day... Madam Mei saw Jiang Shilin’s skepticism, shifted her gaze, and stepped in: "Sister, how could you do this, making Mother faint from anger, it’s simply too much." Saying this, she went to pull Jiang Shilin: "Shilin, let’s go quickly, we don’t know how Mother is now."

"You needn’t go." Jiang Shilin took back his scrutinizing gaze and cast a glance at Madam Mei: "Go back and rest, aren’t you feeling unwell?"

Madam Mei was taken aback: "I... But I’m worried about Mother, please let me go."

Jiang Shilin’s face turned displeased, and his expression sank. Madam Mei was about to speak when Nanny Li gave a covert glance, causing Madam Mei to tear up: "Then... then I won’t go, I know you are worried about me and Sister having another conflict, so I’ll listen to you and not go." Acting obediently.

Jiang Shilin’s expression eased slightly, nodding and turning away. Madam Mei followed behind him with small steps, pressing her handkerchief to her eyes: "Whatever happens to Mother, you must let someone inform me, I am concerned."

"Will do, you go now!" Saying this, he strode away, with Nanny Li trailing behind in little hurried steps.

Madam Mei watched Jiang Shilin’s retreating figure, then turned back and instructed her maid: "Follow and see..." The maid complied.

Just entering the courtyard, Jiang Shilin saw Madam Jiang’s eldest sister-in-law hastily approaching, covering her face and running while crying.

"Second Brother," Madam Jiang’s eldest sister-in-law said, barely coherent: "How did this happen, she just fainted, what is going on."

Without seeing the truth for himself, Jiang Shilin would not easily speak, he said: "Let’s go inside and see." Leading into the courtyard first.

Entering the door, he saw Madam Jiang kneeling in front of the bed, crying softly: "Mother, please wake up, it’s all my fault, I shouldn’t have ignored your words, I realize my mistake now..." Her tone filled with regret, crying piteously.

Jiang Shilin frowned and entered, his eyes falling on Old Madam Jiang lying there, asking in a deep voice: "What happened." Madam Jiang, startled, looked up at Jiang Shilin, calling out: "Husband!" 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Jiang Shilin didn’t look at her, walking over to Old Madam Jiang, clasping her hand, noting her fingers were cold, he asked angrily: "Has the doctor arrived yet."

A nearby maid replied: "Already gone to fetch."

Jiang Shilin then turned to look at Madam Jiang, still kneeling there: "Get up, why are you kneeling." His tone indifferent, watching Madam Jiang choke as she stood, he inquired: "How did Mother faint just like that?"

Madam Jiang took a handkerchief to wipe her tears, replying: "I was just going to send meals to you when Mother came, saying she wanted to see the household account books. So I brought them to her, and who knew... who knew... she fainted as soon as she looked." Different from what Nanny Li said.