Chapter 157: Fourth Granny Was Afraid of Affecting Your Studies
"N-not yet." The housekeeper’s voice trembled as he replied.
The General wasn’t in the residence, and with the situation being so serious, he didn’t dare speak out of turn.
Mrs. Zhan noted that it was already past noon. By her calculations, the girl should have been home by now.
"Pangtuan can really sleep. She probably woke up late," Zhan Chi said.
"Let’s go. We’ll head to Lou Mountain Academy. If we run into her, we’ll just bring her straight home." Mrs. Zhan was a decisive woman.
Zhan Chi nodded.
Elder Gu hurried to follow them. "I’ll go with you."
"What are you going for, Elder Gu?" Zhan Chi asked, looking back.
"To pick up the little lass, of course. You’re not half bad, boy," Elder Gu said. His attitude toward Zhan Chi had taken a complete one-eighty.
"Don’t you get any ideas about her."
"I just feel a connection with the little lass. Mrs. Zhan, our two families should visit each other more often in the future." Elder Gu was already thinking about a marriage alliance. ’Mrs. Zhan seems like an excellent person.’
Mrs. Zhan turned and gave Elder Gu a slight bow. "This is a matter for the Zhan family. We wouldn’t want to trouble you, Elder Gu. Son, get in the carriage."
Zhan Chi shot him a glare and boarded the carriage.
Mrs. Zhan entered the carriage as well.
One moment, Elder Gu was praising her; the next, he regretted it. ’All I want is to get a little closer to the lass.’
’Why do these people always have to be a thorn in my side?’
「Yuehua Small Building, Side Room.」
Sniffling, Ye Qianning lay sprawled by the bedside. She knew Fourth Granny had been beaten, but she hadn’t expected the people from the Prime Minister’s estate to be so vicious.
If Fourth Granny hadn’t eaten that fruit from her dimensional space before, she would probably be dead by now.
Fourth Granny’s breathing was faint. She was barely hanging on, her consciousness fading in and out.
"Pangtuan, Fourth Granny is a good person; heaven will look after its own." Wiping her eyes with a handkerchief, Liu Shi continued, "The doctors have all been here. The General even brought several Imperial Physicians from the Imperial Hospital, but they all said there was nothing they could do... that we should prepare for the worst."
Ye Qianning climbed onto the bed and wrapped her small arms around Fourth Granny. Her eyes grew red as she pressed her head close to the old woman’s ear. "Fourth Granny, Pangtuan is back. It’s me, Fourth Granny."
’Although I’m not the real Pangtuan,’ she thought, ’the memories in my head are like a surging tide, and the time we’ve spent together is still so vivid.’
’The Prime Minister’s estate... So this is the Prime Minister’s estate!’
The group of concubines also stood by the bed. Seeing this, some lowered their heads to wipe away tears, while others turned away, not wanting to be seen crying.
Though they hadn’t known her for long, everyone knew what kind of person Fourth Granny was. She was kind to everyone and treated Pangtuan better than her own granddaughter.
On the bed, Fourth Granny seemed to hear the voice, and her fingers twitched.
Ye Qianning noticed the movement. She grasped Fourth Granny’s hand and, without anyone noticing, discreetly took her pulse. It was so faint it was nearly imperceptible.
’In a situation like this, an ordinary doctor would be helpless. It’s a good thing I came back today.’
"Pang... Pangtuan..." The soft voice was nearly inaudible.
"Fourth Granny, it’s me. I’m Pangtuan," Ye Qianning said, bringing her small face closer.
Fourth Granny’s face was as pale as paper. She tried to lift her hand but had no strength, and her fingers were ice-cold.
Ye Qianning looked back, her eyes filled with a cold light. "Fourth Granny is hurt this badly. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?"
"Fourth Granny begged us not to. Sh-she was afraid it would affect your studies, so she begged us not to say anything," Liu Shi said, tears streaming down her face.
Ye Qianning was furious with herself. ’If I hadn’t drawn so much attention, Fourth Granny wouldn’t have been hurt this badly. The Prime Minister’s estate... Right now, I wish I could cut the people who hurt her into a thousand pieces!’
"Pangtuan..." Liu Shi didn’t know how to comfort her.
Ye Qianning wiped her eyes with her small hands, her voice thick with tears. "All of you, get out."
"Pangtuan."
"Get out," Ye Qianning repeated, her voice sharp.
Liu Shi started to say something else, but Peony tugged on her sleeve, signaling for everyone to leave first.
The group filed out of the room, their faces etched with worry as they stood by the door.