Chapter 421 Jewelry(5)_1
In terms of seniority, Madam Yue was Lady Du’s younger sister and Aunt to Cai Wei. At this moment, she was standing by the Lotus Pond, tears streaming down her face, her expression one of absolute despair, her body shaking slightly as if she would collapse at any moment.
Seeing this, Cai Wei felt a mix of sympathy and regret for her. This pitiful woman, much like her own mother, was facing the destiny of being sacrificed by the family clan. Henceforth, she would be bound to an old man on the brink of death. Her prime years will fade away as she tend to the old man’s coughs and aches and pains. For a young maiden in her blooming years, what a cruel fate this was!
Lady Du also saw Madam Yue and discreetly slowed her pace, whispering to her daughter, "Wei’er, do you notice anything strange about her?"
Just as she finished speaking, there was a "splash". Madam Yue had fallen into the Lotus Pond, and instead of struggling, she allowed herself to sink.
"No! She’s attempting suicide!"
Exclaiming in shock, Cai Wei shoved the jewelry box in her hand at her mother, and dashed to the pond in leaps and bounds, jumping right in with a "splash".
The water in April was still quite cold. The instant Cai Wei entered the pond, her body almost cramped from the chill. Suppressing the discomfort, she swam hurriedly towards Madam Yue.
At this point, Madam Yue had already lost consciousness, eyes shut, drifting aimlessly in the water like a floating weed. Cai Wei grabbed her, struggling to swim back to the bank.
On the shore, Lady Du was hollering which quickly brought several nearby servants running. They pulled both Cai Wei and Madam Yue out of the water. Some carried the unconscious women, others ran to raise the alarm. They individually escorted the two of them each back to their respective courtyards.
Back in the Changchun Garden, Cai Wei immediately stripped and crawled into the quilt. Lady Du commanded Xiao Hong to prepare the bath water, with Xiao Qing to prepare Drive Out the Cold Soup. She herself brought some hot tea, personally attending to her daughter’s needs.