Song Ruotang turned around and walked into the house. She saw Du Lingxuan taking two plates of pastries and a bowl of soup out of a bamboo basket. Du Lingxuan turned around and smiled at her. "These are the pastries and chicken soup I made myself. Have a taste, Third Sister."
After what happened to Liu'er last time, Song Ruotang didn't move. She just said calmly, "I've already had my breakfast."
Du Lingxuan's face stiffened. She lowered her eyes and looked at the pastries on the table. Then she still tried hard to persuade her. "I got up early to make these pastries. I started simmering this black-bone chicken over a slow fire before dawn. Third Sister, if you don't mind, please have a taste."
She glanced at Song Ruotang. After saying this, if Song Ruotang didn't try her food, it would seem as if she was still holding a grudge over something that had happened a long time ago.
Du Lingxuan kept staring at Song Ruotang. Song Ruotang let out a breath, walked to the table and sat down. Qingxing, who naturally knew what had happened before, called out to her worriedly, "Madam..."
Song Ruotang smiled at her. Du Lingxuan wouldn't be so stupid as to tamper with the food she brought so openly.
Seeing Song Ruotang sitting down, Du Lingxuan smiled and brought the pastries in front of her. "Have a taste, Sister."
Song Ruotang took a bite of a pastry. It was very salty. She paused slightly and put down the half - eaten pastry.
Seeing her action, Du Lingxuan was slightly stunned. Looking a bit embarrassed, she handed another plate of pastries to Song Ruotang. "Then try this one..."
Song Ruotang was quite polite and took another bite. It was extremely sweet. She didn't swallow it but took out a handkerchief and spat it out.
"I'm really sorry, Sister. I don't usually deal with these things, so I didn't make them well..." She smiled apologetically at Song Ruotang and then brought over the chicken soup. "But I asked the head chef in the kitchen how to make this chicken soup. It shouldn't taste too bad."
Song Ruotang remained calm. She lowered her eyes and looked at the chicken soup with a thick layer of oil floating on it. She frowned slightly. What did Du Lingxuan mean? Was she trying to humiliate her with such unpalatable food?
She looked up at Du Lingxuan. Du Lingxuan was looking at her eagerly. Song Ruotang's eyes flickered. She still calmly blew away the oil and took a sip.
Indeed, compared with the two plates of pastries, the chicken soup was much better. It was just a bit greasy, but otherwise it was okay.
"Madam, if we don't leave now, the sun will be too strong when we come back later. It'll be difficult to travel." Qingxing also noticed that the food was unpalatable and deliberately found an opportunity to change the topic.
Song Ruotang stood up and smiled apologetically at Du Lingxuan. "Second Sister, this..."
"It's okay. You can go first. It won't be good if the sun gets too strong later. Then I won't bother you anymore." Du Lingxuan was quite sensible and didn't try to persuade her to eat anymore. She left the courtyard with the basket.
Before leaving, she also said to Song Ruotang, "Sister is magnanimous. It was my fault before. I'm glad you can forgive me. I'll leave these pastries for you. I'll take my leave."
Song Ruotang watched her leave briskly. She lowered her eyes slightly. "Qingxing, send someone to follow her."
Qingxing nodded and left to carry out the order.
Song Ruotang met Qingxing at the door. The two of them went out, bought some things and didn't come back until afternoon. It was already noon then. Song Ruotang and Qingxing found an inn outside to have lunch. They waited until the sun wasn't so strong and then went back with umbrellas.
As soon as they entered the courtyard gate, the maid guarding the gate walked up to Song Ruotang and reported, "Madam, the First Madam came at noon."
Song Ruotang was a bit surprised. Lin Yun hadn't done anything in the past two months. She only occasionally brought Song Ruotang some small trinkets.
She led Qingxing into the house. The maid who was cleaning the house also came over and said, "Madam, the First Madam came at noon and brought something for you."
Song Ruotang nodded. When she entered the room, she saw a carved wooden box on the table. She opened it and found a hairpin. The pattern was the trendy flowing cloud pattern, and the material was high - quality jade. It was obviously very valuable.
Song Ruotang closed the box and sat down on the stool, letting out a breath. The pastries Du Lingxuan had brought were still on the table. She let out another breath. "Qingxing, take these away."
Qingxing nodded and put away the pastries. Song Ruotang wanted to pour a cup of tea, but Qingxing stopped her. "This pot of tea was brewed this morning. It's already cold. I'll ask someone to brew a new pot for you, Madam."
It was just the beginning of spring. The weather was still cold in the morning and evening. It wasn't good to drink cold tea. So Song Ruotang nodded. Qingxing took the pastries and the teapot out. Song Ruotang's gaze fell on the wooden box on the table. She got up and took it to a box. Inside were the things Lin Yun had given her in the past two months. She put this wooden box in it too.
After sitting back on the stool, the maid brought in a newly brewed pot of tea. Song Ruotang poured a cup. The water was still very hot, with steam rising. She had to wait a while before drinking it.
Just when the tea was slightly warm and Song Ruotang picked it up but hadn't brought it to her lips, Qingxing rushed back in a hurry. "Madam, something has happened to the First Madam."
Song Ruotang's eyes turned cold. She put down the tea. "What's going on?"
"They said she felt unwell at noon. Just now, her condition suddenly worsened. She's suffering from severe abdominal pain. They've already called the doctor." Qingxing explained. She pursed her lips. "Madam, could it be..."
Song Ruotang frowned slightly. "Let's go and have a look first."
She led Qingxing towards Lin Yun's residence. Before they reached the courtyard, they met Pei Zhiyan who was coming back from his duties. He frowned slightly. "Atang, are you going to Lan Yue Courtyard?"
Lan Yue Courtyard was Lin Yun's residence. He knew where Song Ruotang was going right away. It seemed that Lin Yun's people had already told Pei Zhiyan.
Song Ruotang nodded. Pei Zhiyan walked to her side and took her hand. His eyes were a bit cold. "I'll go with you."
When they entered the courtyard, they heard Yan'er crying in the room. "Madam, please bear with it. The medicine prescribed by the doctor will be ready soon."
Granny Sun's voice also came from the side. "I've already sent someone to tell the master. Madam, please bear with it..."
Pei Zhiyan and Song Ruotang stepped into the room at this time. Maids were bustling in and out of the room. When Granny Sun saw Pei Zhiyan, she seemed to see a life - saver. She rushed up in a hurry. "Master, please go and see Madam. We don't know what's going on. She suddenly..."
Pei Zhiyan walked over steadily. Lin Yun was lying on the couch, covering her stomach tightly with both hands. Her face was pale, her lips were purple, big beads of sweat were rolling down her forehead, her hair was in disarray, and the loose strands were sticking to her temples. She looked extremely painful.
"What did the doctor say?" Pei Zhiyan turned to ask Yan'er. Yan'er sniffled and wiped away her tears. She said with a sobbing voice, "The doctor only said it was an acute illness caused by catching a cold during the season change. But although Madam had some symptoms before, it wasn't as serious as this time..."
Song Ruotang was standing behind Pei Zhiyan. She looked at Lin Yun's complexion and frowned slightly. Lin Yun's symptoms didn't seem to be an acute illness caused by the change of cold and hot during the season change. It seemed more like... poisoning.