HCB Chapter 226 Illness
Chapter 226 Illness
He brushed aside Madam Xing's hand and said with great dissatisfaction,
"I don't recognize this prostitute. I just thought she was the girl from Lin Dong."
These words only made Madam Xing even angrier. How could Lin Dong have come in with Qiao Qingshu and then left?
She was suddenly shocked to discover that her husband was actually coveting Lin Dong, the maidservant beside Qiao Qingshu. This discovery made Madam Xing even more furious.
She unleashed a torrent of angry curses at Xiao Zhiheng.
"Don't be shameless! You still have your eye on that little girl! She's old enough to be your daughter!"
It should be noted that Lin Dong is even a year younger than Xiao Qianqian.
How could he tolerate being insulted like that by his own wife!
A slap landed hard on Madam Xing's face.
Xiao Zhiheng looked at her with a stern face and said,
"Don't push your luck. The Xiao family isn't under your control!"
Having said that, he turned and left.
Madam Xing was left with her face red from the beating, and she collapsed onto the bed, wailing loudly. Xiao Chengyan and Yongxian rushed over upon hearing the commotion and tried to comfort her until dawn, but she was still not well.
Xiao Zhiheng was furious at being tricked, so he immediately ordered people to investigate the matter. He sent people to Baihualou to ask, but they all said that there was no such woman.
Just when I was feeling frustrated, I also felt that my private parts were extremely itchy for the past two days, and no amount of washing could stop it.
He hurriedly summoned the physician from the manor to examine him. The physician took his pulse and examined him thoroughly, but knelt on the ground, not daring to speak.
Xiao Zhiheng had already sensed something was wrong and sternly rebuked him for speaking his mind.
The doctor then said, tremblingly,
"The master has contracted... a hidden illness... and the most severe kind..."
Although Xiao Zhiheng was prepared, he still staggered back a step, his face turning pale instantly.
He was always careful about his health, and when he went to brothels, he always went to clean girls who had been examined. He had never gotten sick before. The only time he slept with someone of unknown origin, he actually contracted this damned disease.
Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He carefully inquired of the doctor about any symptoms. The doctor's face was also deathly pale, and he even took two steps back, covering his mouth and nose.
"This disease is contagious, especially for the lady. If she has intercourse with the man again in the future, she will definitely be infected. She may also be infected if she sits at the same table to eat. If the disease becomes serious, her strength will gradually decline, and even a slight cold may be fatal."
Xiao Zhiheng gripped the corner of the table tightly, his back soaked with sweat. He asked anxiously,
"Is there any way to cure this? I'll pay any amount of silver!"
The doctor, however, said with a trembling voice,
"As far as I know, this disease is incurable. Two monarchs of the Southern Zhao Kingdom have died from it, both in their prime. It seems even the imperial physicians in the palace are helpless against it..."
Xiao Zhiheng's mind exploded, and his whole body trembled involuntarily. This was the first time he had ever felt so helpless and panicked.
Before Xiao Zhiheng could dismiss him, the doctor himself said he wanted to go back to his hometown to serve his mother, and left the Xiao family mansion in a couple of days.
Xiao Zhiheng has been like a walking corpse lately, restless and unable to sit or lie down. He has lost a lot of weight in a short time, and his body is becoming increasingly itchy.
He didn't tell anyone, knowing that if others knew about his illness, they would laugh at him. As the most prestigious elder in the Xiao family, how could he allow himself to be ridiculed?
That day, Madam Xing came to bother him again. Xiao Zhiheng was already in no mood to pay attention to her, and her fussing only made him more irritable and angry.
"We've already slept together, why are you making such a fuss every day! You have no manners!"
Madam Xing was still crying, her face contorted in pain.
"Do you know that everyone in the courtyard is laughing at me now! You're having a good time, but where do I put my face?! How can I face anyone anymore?!"
"My son has only been married a short time, and the princess has already witnessed his father-in-law's behavior. She'll inevitably gossip about it back at the palace, which will likely affect my son's future career."
Hearing this, Xiao Zhiheng became even angrier. This woman only cared about her own face and her son's career, and her words showed no concern for him whatsoever.
He also developed a distance from Madam Xing. After many years of marriage, he had come to see Xing Yu's true nature.
Women who chase fame and fortune are the most callous and selfish!
A sudden surge of vengeful intent rose within him. Why should he bear this pain alone? As husband and wife, they should share both happiness and hardship.
If Xing Yu also suffered this pain, Xiao Zhiheng would feel a little more at peace!
He didn't say much, but simply picked up Xing Yu, who was still wiping away tears, and carried her to the bed to do his thing.
You should know that Xiao Zhiheng hasn't taken the initiative to do that with Xing Yu for a long time. Although Madam Xing was suffering in her heart, she couldn't say anything.
Now that she could actually receive the old man's affection, her unhappiness vanished instantly, and she hugged Xiao Zhiheng's neck tightly, begging for his love.
After their lovemaking, Xiao Zhiheng sat slumped on the edge of the bed, lost in thought, while Madam Xing held him contentedly, whispering flirtatious words.
Qiao Qingshu had already planted spies in the main courtyard, so the news of Madam Xing and Master Xiao's night of pleasure naturally reached her ears.
The alluring woman, wearing a veil, knelt before Qiao Qingshu in the dark alley.
"Thank you, young lady. If it weren't for this money, my younger brother and sister would have starved to death."
The woman's name was Meiniang. She was originally the lowest prostitute in a brothel, but she was kicked out because she contracted a disease and was forced to kneel on the street begging.
Qiao Qingshu found her, offered her a hundred taels of silver, and told her to go to the Xiao family and sleep with the eldest master of the Xiao family.
Mei Niang was already near death, and her illness wouldn't last much longer, but she was tormented because her parents had passed away, and her younger siblings were waiting for food.
She used to be able to sell herself to support them, but since being kicked out, she has had no source of income and has to beg on the streets to survive.
If Qiao Qingshu hadn't given her money to settle her younger siblings, she probably wouldn't have died in peace.
Kneeling before Qiao Qingshu, Mei Niang kowtowed three times, truly regarding Qiao Qingshu as her benefactor.
She waved her hand and called out a boy and a girl hiding in the alley, then pressed their heads down and ordered them to kneel.
"Hurry up and kowtow to your benefactor!"
The little boy and girl obediently knelt down and kowtowed. Qiao Qingshu hurriedly tried to get up and help them up, but Meiniang stepped back and pushed the two children in front of Qiao Qingshu, her eyes filled with tears, and said...
“Miss, I don’t have much time left, and I’m afraid I’m going to die soon. These two children are my only attachment. I’m really worried about them. If you don’t mind, you can take them back and use them as maids or servants. Just give them some food.”
Seeing that Qiao Qingshu did not agree, Meiniang pushed the two children forward again. The two children were clever and each grabbed one of Qiao Qingshu's legs.
"Don't worry, young lady, these two children are perfectly healthy. I don't usually get close to them. They are very clean and healthy... Please, young lady, have mercy and take them in."