[1] The Whole Family Is Insanely Eavesdropping on My Thoughts

"Mother, Mother..."

"Mother, it is time to wake and take your medicine."

Before dawn had broken, Madam Xu's soft and eerie voice called from outside the door, echoing like a ghostly whisper.

The Old Madam, accustomed to being a light sleeper, jolted awake at the faintest noise. Outside, the wind howled ominously, carrying with it Madam Xu's lingering calls, chilling the Old Madam to her core.

"Old Madam, are you alright?" asked Nanny Lin from outside the curtain.

The Old Madam's expression was a mix of anger and embarrassment.

"What are you standing there for? Quickly, bring me a pair of trousers!"

Nanny Lin hesitated briefly, furrowing her brows. In recent months, the Old Madam had experienced several incidents of incontinence. Hurrying to fetch fresh undergarments, she kept her head low, avoiding any glance at the Old Madam's face.

"Why are you just standing there? Help me up! My body feels numb!" the Old Madam snapped, her voice groggy and filled with irritation.

Nanny Lin's heart skipped a beat. "Old Madam?"

It was becoming increasingly frequent for the Old Madam to complain about numbness. Just as Nanny Lin opened her mouth to suggest something, the Old Madam delivered a sharp slap to her face.

"What? Do you think I'm filthy and foul? You wretched servant! How dare you look down on your mistress? You're nothing but a lowly beast, meant to toil like a mule all your life!" she snarled, clearly mortified by the situation.

The sting of the slap painted Nanny Lin's face red. She pressed her lips together, swallowing her words, and lowered her head further in silence. Still, the clear handprint on her cheek was evident.

"It isn't even dawn, and you're crying out like this!" the Old Madam growled, glaring at the sky beyond the window. "Not even the roosters have started crowing!"

Madam Xu replied softly, her voice sweet as honey. "Mother, the doctor said you must take your medicine on time. As your daughter-in-law, I am bound to follow the doctor's orders with utmost diligence."

The Old Madam felt a lump rise in her throat. "Come in, then."

Madam Xu entered, carrying a bowl of herbal concoction.

"Mother, I have never cooked before. Please do not find fault with my efforts," she said, bowing slightly.

The Old Madam cast a sidelong glance at the bowl. The dark, murky liquid smelled far worse than usual. Taking it reluctantly, she sipped only a mouthful before nearly retching.

"What is this horrid taste?" she demanded, glaring at Madam Xu.

Madam Xu blushed, her voice apologetic. "Mother, I began brewing this medicine at midnight. I stayed by the stove all night, but I nodded off briefly, and the medicine overcooked. Please rest assured, it hasn't lost its efficacy."

The Old Madam's chest burned with anger, but she swallowed her frustration along with the wretched medicine. It had been her own decision to have Madam Xu attend to her care, leaving her no choice but to endure. With each sip, nausea churned in her stomach, yet she finished the bowl.

"In the morning," the Old Madam muttered faintly, "I'd like you to prepare my breakfast with your own hands."

Madam Xu's lips tightened into a thin line. "Yes, Mother."

Once the medicine was consumed, the Old Madam lay down again, but the nauseating brew churned in her belly, making rest impossible. Tossing and turning, it was only near dawn that she managed to drift into a light slumber.