Chapter 1688: Chapter 1688: Restless Mind

"Uuuh..."

"Madam, madam, wake up."

Madam Lu frowned in her sleep as someone patted her awake. She opened her eyes and saw Nanny Zhou’s worried expression.

"Nanny Zhou, what is it?"

"Madam, did you have a nightmare?" Nanny Zhou saw her forehead covered in sweat and tear tracks at the corners of her eyes, and couldn’t help asking.

Madam Lu was slightly dazed. She got up from the bed, feeling sticky and uncomfortable all over, and her face was wet; she reached out to touch it.

She couldn’t even tell whether it was sweat or tears on her face, but that didn’t matter; what mattered was the pounding in her chest, the deep discomfort.

She stretched out her hand and thumped her chest a few times, wanting to beat away that heavy, stifling feeling.

"Madam, what’s wrong?"

Madam Lu said, "There’s this tightness in my heart, what time is it?"

"It’s already a quarter past the hour of Mao. Dawn’s breaking."

Madam Lu pulled off the thin quilt on her body and said, "I feel all sticky, have them bring water to bathe and wash, then I’ll go to Chunhui Hall to pay my respects to the Grand Madam."

Nanny Zhou answered, but seeing Madam Lu’s pallid face, she couldn’t help growing more worried, thinking it would be best to have Lin Qing take her pulse later.

...

Song Ci had woken up; for this morning’s formal greeting, Chunhui Hall was packed full, with elders and juniors alike all clustered around Song Ci, asking after her health, fussing over her, teasing and joking, looking every bit the assembly of filial sons and dutiful grandchildren.

"Su’er’s wife and Jie’er’s wife should take the children back for breakfast. The weather is too hot, I can’t set out any ice here, and I’d rather they didn’t catch heatstroke, let alone pick up any lingering sickness." Though Song Ci was weak, the corners of her mouth were gently smiling.

Guan Shuyan and Fu Yunjin made a proper curtsey and led the children out.

"Mother, shall your daughter-in-law serve you breakfast?" Madam Jiang said with an attentive smile.

Song Ci said, "If you haven’t eaten yet, then eat here with me. Don’t keep walking back and forth—work up a sweat and you won’t have any appetite. Once breakfast is done, I have things to instruct."

The daughters-in-law exchanged a glance and answered in unison.

The weather was still sweltering, and breakfast was light. No one had much appetite; they just took some porridge and a few small side dishes. Madam Lu, feeling unwell in her heart, ate only a few hurried mouthfuls before putting down her chopsticks.

Song Ci saw that her face looked bad and asked, "Madam Lu, are you feeling poorly? You look rather ill at ease, distracted."

Madam Lu touched her cheek and said nervously, "I’ve worried Mother. Your daughter-in-law only had a nightmare last night, it’s probably just excess heart fire; I’ll have the household doctor prescribe a couple of doses later and take them."

"Another nightmare? I’ve only just woken up, and now you say you’ve had a nightmare as well. Are we really to set up a ritual ground in the manor?" Madam frowned and said.

Madam Jiang lightly nudged her elbow.

Madam looked at Song Ci’s cool expression, and hastily said, "Mother, I only thought it would put everyone’s mind at ease."

Song Ci said, "Disasters are still raging everywhere right now; don’t go making a big spectacle. If the Imperial Censor seizes on it, he’ll impeach the Song Family for extravagance and waste."

Madam’s smile froze: "Mother is right; your daughter-in-law did not think it through."

Song Ci had the breakfast dishes cleared away and moved to sit on the Arhat bed in the east side room. She rested her arm on the big pillow, then, after sipping some warm water with the maids’ help, she waved her hand and looked at the few of them.

"Keeping you here isn’t for anything else—it’s about the disaster situation. From today on, seal up the well in the West Garden for reserve use; in the household, aside from the guards and retainers, everyone’s grain rations are to be cut by half a measure. Also, have Purchasing lay in extra candles, medicinal herbs, trauma salves, and the like..."

This disaster is going to drag on; we’ll have to fight a long battle.

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