The moment the two entered, Qi Zhenzhen sensed something was amiss. She grabbed a hurried servant to inquire and learned that concubine Ruyan had accidentally fallen and gone into labor.
Strictly speaking, she was still a month away from her due date.
After Qi Zhenzhen had advised her last time, Ruyan had been extremely careful in her actions. How could she have fallen accidentally? The child in her womb was extremely important to her; how could she have fallen?
"How is she now?" Qi Zhenzhen asked.
"She hasn't given birth yet, and I heard it's not an easy labor," the servant replied fearfully.
Qi Zhenzhen instructed Zi to escort Qi Xuanyuan back to her courtyard and headed straight for Zhaohui Hall.
Two unfamiliar women guards stood at the entrance. Seeing Qi Zhenzhen about to enter, they stood side by side, blocking the door.
Qi Zhenzhen's eyes turned cold. "Move aside!"
"The Old Madam is unwell. The Madam ordered us to guard here to prevent any miscellaneous matters from disturbing the Old Madam's rest," the two women said in unison.
Very well. When they left in the morning, the Old Madam had been full of vigor. Yet, in less than half a day, she was unwell? Qi Zhenzhen wasn't a three-year-old child; how could she be fooled by such words?
"I'll say it again, move aside!" Qi Zhenzhen's expression grew increasingly displeased.
The two women remained unmoved, clearly not taking Qi Zhenzhen's words to heart.
She simultaneously struck the Zhongchong acupoint on both women with her fists.
The expressions on the two women's faces turned pained as they clutched their chests and wailed.
"Little Wolf, watch them here. If they try anything else, bite them right here to let some blood," Qi Zhenzhen pointed at their necks.
"Awoo, so dirty," the little wolf cub growled lowly.
Not only was the courtyard entrance guarded, but the house entrance was also guarded. It seemed Madam Qin had come prepared today.
The commotion at the courtyard entrance had clearly been heard here. The two maids guarding the door looked wary upon seeing Qi Zhenzhen. "The Madam has ordered that no one is to disturb the Old Madam's recovery. If the Second Miss is worried about the Old Madam's condition, we can call the physician inside to tell the Second Miss about it."
"Whether it's good or bad, I'll see for myself."
"We are under the Madam's orders. Second Miss, please do not make things difficult for us."
Qi Zhenzhen was too lazy to argue with them. In this situation, she preferred action over words.
These two were skilled. Qi Zhenzhen's attacks were all blocked, and they looked shocked. They hadn't known the Second Miss was so adept; with their combined strength, they could barely fend her off. Moreover, the Second Miss's attacks were tricky; they couldn't discern her martial arts style.
Having gauged their abilities, Qi Zhenzhen knew what she was doing. She first sidestepped and punched one of them in the side, incapacitating her, then knocked her unconscious with an elbow strike. While the other was distracted, she did the same, knocking both unconscious.
"Grandmother, are you alright?" Qi Zhenzhen reached out to push the door, but it didn't budge. She grew anxious. "Grandmother, Madam Fang?"
*Thump—*
The sound of a heavy object falling echoed from inside the room.
The door was pushed open. Madam Fang's hair was disheveled, her face bore bruises, and there were traces of blood at the corner of her mouth. She looked truly disheveled.
Qi Zhenzhen quickly helped Madam Fang. "Mama, what happened? Where is Grandmother?"
"The Old Madam has fallen ill," Madam Fang said anxiously. "I ordered someone to fetch the estate physician, but was told the physician had an urgent family matter today and had already taken leave. Someone was sent to find the Marquis, but he was assigned a task at the yamen today and is not in the capital. The person sent to fetch the imperial physician with the Old Madam's token has not returned. I was planning to send someone to fetch the Second Miss, but Zhaohui Hall was sealed, and no one was allowed to leave. The Madam sent a physician, but he did not administer acupuncture or medicine to the Old Madam, only checked her pulse from time to time. When I argued with him, those two outside disciplined me and tied up my hands."