It wasn't yet late into the night, but one could vaguely sense the clamor and restless unease permeating both inside and outside the entire Su family mansion. In the hall, the lamplight flickered, casting a faint glow from the windows. In Su Tan'er's bedroom, Chan'er and Juan'er stayed by the bedside, using warm towels to dab the forehead of Su Tan'er, who seemed restless in bed. The old doctor, his hair and beard all white, sat by the bed, taking Su Tan'er's pulse. Ning Yi stood at the door, arms crossed, pondering matters. Apart from the young apprentice who followed Doctor Sun, no one else entered the courtyard outside.

The diagnosis didn't take long. The old doctor released Su Tan'er's wrist, got up, and walked out. Juan'er quickly followed, and Xing'er, with slightly reddened eyes, also came to the door outside.

"The Second Miss has caught a cold. Judging by the symptoms, it's been several days. In the meantime, there were other reasons... Well, catching a cold these past few days, her period also, cough... also came. These combined have worsened the cold. If it were just this, it wouldn't be a big deal. A few doses of medicine, the fever will subside, and she'll be almost recovered. But besides that... The Second Miss is probably also overworked. Perhaps the matter with the Master triggered her, and the blow exhausted her heart and mind... These combined, she won't recover in a few days."

"Exhausted heart and mind?" Ning Yi frowned and asked.

The old doctor nodded. "Yes. This time, it's less a cold and more long-term fatigue and pressure, physical and mental exhaustion. Most importantly, it's in the heart. But with the cold, it's all erupted at once. This matter cannot be taken lightly. I will prescribe medicine to reduce the Second Miss's fever first. But the way to cure the illness, in the end, still requires... the Second Miss to let go in her heart, alas..."

This Doctor Sun sighed. He was a Su family retainer and oversaw Su Boyong's treatment. Naturally, he understood the current situation of the Su family. To ask Su Tan'er to let go in her heart, how easy would that be? He shook his head, wrote out the prescription in the living room, and after giving some instructions, he took his leave. Xiao Chan went to fetch the medicine. Juan'er and Xing'er ran to the bedside to look at the unconscious Su Tan'er, then looked towards Ning Yi with tearful eyes, "What do we do?" These words were like asking Ning Yi for help, and like a self-talk. Usually, the three maids managed many affairs of the eldest branch and were very decisive, but at this time, with Su Boyong fallen and Su Tan'er also fallen, they were finally at a loss.

Ning Yi took the prescription and thought for a while, then asked, "What exactly happened these past few days?"

The reason why Su Tan'er caught a cold might be because she fell into the bathtub that afternoon. She seemed to have some symptoms in the first few days, but they were not serious. After Su Boyong was assassinated, the challenges Su Tan'er faced were certainly difficult, but there was no sign that she was retreating or being defeated. That morning a few days ago, she confidently said that she would handle the Imperial Merchant issue. Her spirit and confidence were at their peak, and her response was flawless.

Just like a large company, it will face many blows, many conspiracies, light or heavy. After the blows, it is normal to respond. Su Boyong's assassination can be seen as a sudden blow. If Su Tan'er would just give up and fall after one blow, she would never have been able to get to this point. Only those who can adapt to favorable circumstances can hardly move a step even if they control the Su family in the future.

Su Tan'er is not this kind of person. Ning Yi has long been clear. To damage her mentally, it can't be the previous things. And she should have been psychologically prepared for the other party's conspiracies and blows. In these short four days, something more important must have happened...

Hearing him ask this, Juan'er was slightly puzzled and turned to look at Xing'er, who had spent most of her time with the Miss these past few days. Xing'er was still in tears, looked at Juan'er and Ning Yi for a while, wiped her tears, and choked, "I... Miss said not to say..."

Ning Yi thought for a while, then sat down on the chair next to him, sighed, rubbed his forehead, and murmured, "Exhausted heart and mind... The Imperial Merchant, something went wrong with the Imperial Merchant issue, a problem that can't be solved... External or internal, external, offending some big official in the Weaving Bureau, but these days, the shopkeepers have been doing the work of visiting those officials, not to the point of falling out... It can only be an internal problem, a problem that can't be solved. I'm not too interested in technical matters, so I won't talk about them for now..."

The two maids listened to him muttering these things beside him, and then Xing'er cried even harder: "Actually, actually... a few days ago..."

Before she could finish speaking, footsteps were already heard outside. Juan'er and Xing'er quickly went to the door. It was Shopkeeper Liao, the most senior shopkeeper of the eldest branch, who had also learned about the situation from Doctor Sun and came to inquire. The Old Master Su had not yet returned to the mansion. Juan'er and Xing'er certainly couldn't make the decision. They whispered a few words to Shopkeeper Liao. Ning Yi sat in the room, speculating on the possibilities, stood up, took a few steps, and looked at the sleeping Su Tan'er on the bed.

This bedroom was usually quite tidy, but these days, probably because it was too busy, it actually looked a little messy. When Ning Yi walked towards the several books on the table, he inadvertently saw something falling from the foot of the bed. He picked it up, it was a small piece of cloth, triangular, light yellow, with a simple pattern on it.

The piece of cloth probably fell to the ground these two days, with no dust on it. Ning Yi brought it closer to the oil lamp, and some things came to mind. That was one day on the second floor of the opposite small building, Su Tan'er took a piece of cloth and showed it to him, smiling like a flower, very happy: "Husband, do you think this color is beautiful?"

"Oh... it's beautiful, but ordinary people can't use this color..."

Bright yellow cloth... Su Tan'er didn't discuss this topic too much at the time, but the piece of cloth was bright, Ning Yi probably still remembered, but the piece in front of him seemed to have faded, becoming light yellow...

Shopkeeper Liao mentioned Ning Yi's name outside. Ning Yi sighed and put the cloth back into his sleeve. Now that Su Boyong and Su Tan'er have fallen, it is impossible to call the people from the second and third branches to find a solution. Ning Yi usually doesn't care about these things, but he still has the status of a master in the Su family. Then Shopkeeper Liao chatted with him a few words, probably to let him express his attitude. Ning Yi nodded.

"It's not a big deal. Everything remains the same. We'll cross the bridge when we come to it. Just don't spread rumors about Tan'er's matter. Don't let too many people know she's sick for now. That's all."

"I know that the Second Miss's condition requires rest and peace of mind, but... if there is a real change, when a decision needs to be made, I don't know..."

"Then bring it over, and we'll find a way here. As for the rest... please trouble Shopkeeper Liao and the other shopkeepers."

"Yes. In fact, even if there are any changes, everyone has experience in dealing with them. For so many years, they have all been old hands in the cloth business. Please also ask the son-in-law to let the Miss rest assured..."

What Shopkeeper Liao said was indeed just words of comfort. If it were just Jiangning, any shopkeeper could sit in charge without any problems, but if it involved changes and impacts on national business, there must be a backbone. But for the time being, there is no other way to think.

After Shopkeeper Liao left, Chan'er came back with the medicine. Soon after, the Old Master, who had returned to the mansion, rushed over. He looked at the still unconscious Su Tan'er. This matter dealt a great blow to the old man as well. But saying anything now was useless. He told Ning Yi and the three maids some comforting words and returned with heavy steps.

After the Old Master left, the courtyard finally quieted down, with flickering lights and the smell of boiled Chinese medicine. Similar quiet nights had happened many times before for the few people in the courtyard. At that time, everyone sat together talking and chatting, playing Gomoku, occasionally laughing. It was a family. Before Ning Yi came, the four girls in the courtyard could probably also be considered a family, but at this time, the atmosphere was too quiet. Xiao Chan brought in the medicine bowl. In everyone's silent waiting, Juan'er couldn't help but choke out, "What should we do? Son-in-law..."

Su Boyong has fallen, and Su Tan'er is also unconscious. Even if she can wake up, her body won't be good for a while. The Old Master may only be able to let others temporarily take over the affairs of the eldest branch. The future suddenly became empty and unpredictable, and no one knew why it would suddenly become like this. Those who can be relied on are probably just the few people around them. If Ning Yi were really that bookworm, he might be excluded, but in the year or so of getting along, at least on such matters, Ning Yi has also been accepted as a member of this family... Of course, Juan'er asked at this time only because she was at a loss. Ning Yi is a man, different from them, but if there is a way to solve the problem, it is certainly impossible.

Ning Yi was standing by the window tidying up some things on the desk. The room was a bit messy, so he put some things back in place, and some were thrown casually into the cabinet where they couldn't be seen. His movements were not fast, but at this time, he had already tidied up almost everything. He didn't turn around, but folded a piece of uncut rice paper on the table a few times, then unfolded it, poured some water into the inkstone, and slowly ground the ink.

"Haven't I taught you how to deal with these things before?" Ning Yi said in a low voice.

The three girls shook their heads.

Ning Yi picked up the brush and was silent for a moment: "Next... I want the Su family's account books for the past seven to ten years, the Su family's development records in various aspects, letters to and from shopkeepers in various regions, I want to know every thing that happened in the Su family's business, the response methods, the final results and why these results occurred... Also, I want more rice paper, ink, I want some fine thread, prepare some pastries, filling the stomach without being too sweet, prepare a large pot of tea... That's probably all for now..."

There was a silence in the back. The three maids were a little at a loss, not knowing what he was going to do. Ning Yi turned around.

"Father-in-law is impossible, Old Master... may call someone over to help, but it's useless." Ning Yi pointed to Su Tan'er on the bed faintly, "Your Miss won't let go, the first thing she will do when she wakes up is not to take medicine, but to get out of bed, no one can replace her... So, the result is very simple."

He smiled at them, somewhat helpless, somewhat bored, not much different from when he played chess and told stories on weekdays: "Let me try..."

Juan'er and Xing'er were still hesitant, but Chan'er took a breath there, originally with tears in her eyes, but at this time she showed a smile, wiped the corners of her eyes, turned around and went out: "I'll get the account books and records..." The Su family has a general accounting room, but the eldest branch

The eldest branch has these separate records. In fact, a copy is next door. The three maids usually manage these things and are qualified to take them.

After Xiao Chan left, Juan'er thought for a while and followed her out, then Xing'er, she wiped the tears from her face and whispered when she went out, "Son-in-law... just here?"

"Otherwise, what will your Miss do when she wakes up?"

The son-in-law wants to help the Miss solve some problems. For such thoughts, Xing'er and Juan'er could hardly tell whether it was a good thing or not, what the result would be, but if it were in other places, once the Miss woke up, she would definitely want to get out of bed and deal with things immediately. The three maids knew this very well. In any case, the Miss must be kept in bed. Perhaps only the son-in-law can do this.

She smiled awkwardly, then went out. When there were only him and the unconscious Su Tan'er in the room, Ning Yi sat down and sighed at the rice paper and brush.

"You people are going too far... even the adopted son-in-law can't have peace..."

Vaguely, that seemed to be a complaint to some people behind the scenes...

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In the early morning, after Chou Hour (1-3 AM), Su Tan'er woke up...

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ps: It's a bit difficult to fix the update time, but if it's not updated by 10 pm, I will post in the book review area to announce the possible time, well, I'm afraid I can only do this for now... (To be continued, if you want to know what happens next, please log in, more chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!)