Upon discovering that the issue lay with the face powder, Ren Shimiao immediately ordered several physicians to examine what kind of poison was contained within it, in order to detoxify Madam Lin and Ren Yaoyu.
Learning that the patients were indeed poisoned, the physicians were no longer at a loss. They gathered together, each contributing their expertise. Coincidentally, among the doctors Ren Shimin had previously summoned was one skilled in identifying toxins. He recognized that the substance mixed into the face powder had been soaked in the venom of a poisonous toad. Counteracting the poison was not particularly difficult.
However, Ren Yaoyu's body was now excessively weak, and it was uncertain whether she could survive after being administered the antidote. After all, all medicine carries some toxicity, and the antidote was not entirely harmless. Ren Yaoyu's current physical condition was truly far from optimistic.
Fifth Master Ren, looking at Ren Yaoyu lying weakly on the bed with no sign of vitality, was also at a loss. He could only grit his teeth and instruct the physicians to administer the medicine. After all, having hope was better than lying there waiting for death.
The physicians worked through the night to prepare the antidote, administering a bowl each to Madam Lin and Ren Yaoyu. They also instructed the maids to soak cotton pads in medicinal liquid and apply them to Madam Lin and Ren Yaoyu's faces.
By the second day, after three bowls of the antidote had been administered, Madam Lin's condition finally began to gradually improve. Although the pustules on her face and neck still could not be eliminated, they showed signs of scabbing. Previously, when medicine was administered to Madam Lin, she would vomit out most of a bowl after drinking it. Now, however, she could swallow the medicine on her own and even consume some thin porridge.
Madam Lin's improvement brought Ren Shimiao immense joy. From that moment on, he refused to leave the bedside, hoping to witness both his wife and daughter recover. At this time, the condition of Madam Lin and Ren Yaoyu's faces and necks was extremely horrifying, and their bodies emitted an unpleasant odor. Even the maids who came forward to apply the medicinal pads would deliberately avert their eyes and hold their breath. Yet Ren Shimiao paid no mind to this at all.
Madam Lin kept her gaze fixed on her daughter and her husband. She was still too weak to speak, but her tears never ceased to flow.
Ren Yaoyu's condition, however, was not as favorable. The medicine was forcibly poured down her throat, yet there was no sign of her regaining consciousness. The physicians explained that Ren Yaoyu had suffered too much damage this time. Even if the poison could be neutralized, the harm it had inflicted on her body was already done. Whether she would wake up was now a matter of fate.
Since learning that Madam Lin and Ren Yaoyu were poisoned, Ren Shimiao, in order to focus on detoxifying the mother and daughter, had ceased their journey to Yan Prefecture. They stopped in Zhending, temporarily renting a courtyard from a local family to stay.
By the fourth day, most of the toxins in Madam Lin's body had been cleared, and she was able to speak again. However, Madam Lin and Ren Shimiao could only look at each other with tear-filled eyes. The joy of Madam Lin's recovery was overshadowed by the looming shadow of Ren Yaoyu's potential death at any moment.
Ren Yaoyu's condition had actually improved somewhat compared to before. Because the toxins were being cleared from her body, she was now able to swallow on her own. Yet, even by the tenth day, she still had not regained consciousness.By this time, Madam Lin was already able to get out of bed, and the pustules on her face had all scabbed over. The physician said that after the scabs fell off, some white marks would remain on her face. It was impossible to completely remove them, but if she continued applying medicine, the marks would fade considerably over two or three years. As a woman, with some makeup, she wouldn’t look too frightening.
Madam Lin had always cared deeply about her appearance. Under normal circumstances, hearing that her face would be left with many pitted scars would have made her feel as if life wasn’t worth living. However, this time, Madam Lin had already walked through the gates of death once. Coupled with the fact that Ren Yaoyu had not yet awakened, she truly had neither the mood nor the energy to care about her face anymore.
A maid brought in a meal and invited Madam Lin and Ren Shimiao, who were sitting by the bedside, to eat. Nowadays, they simply set up a small table by the bed for their meals.
Since Madam Lin could get up, she refused to take even a single step away from Ren Yaoyu and would not return to Yan Prefecture. She was terrified that if she lost sight of her daughter for even a moment, she might never return. Over the past month or so, both Madam Lin and Ren Shimiao had lost a great deal of weight. Madam Lin, in particular, had grown so thin that her eyes appeared sunken.
Madam Lin’s gaze remained fixed on her daughter as she shook her head. “I have no appetite. Fifth Brother, you should eat quickly.”
Ren Shimiao sighed, took the bowl handed to him by the maid, mixed the rice with chicken broth, then scooped some with a spoon and brought it to Madam Lin’s lips. “Have a few bites. Please don’t collapse again, or I truly won’t know what to do.”
Hearing this, Madam Lin’s tears fell once more. She sniffled and took the bowl and spoon from Ren Shimiao’s hands. “I’ll eat myself. You should have some too.”
Ren Shimiao nodded, handed the bowl to Madam Lin, then mixed his own rice with broth and quickly finished a bowl. These days, Ren Shimiao had to care for both Madam Lin and Ren Yaoyu, so he had grown accustomed to eating in this rushed, unceremonious manner.
Watching him finish a bowl, Madam Lin felt an indescribable mix of emotions. Afraid that Ren Shimiao would worry about her, she lowered her head and took a few bites herself.
Seeing Madam Lin eat, Ren Shimiao felt a wave of relief, and the pressure in his heart eased slightly.
Madam Lin could only manage half a bowl before she could eat no more. Ren Shimiao didn’t force her further and had the maid clear away the dishes and utensils. He then went out to the washroom to change his clothes.
When Ren Shimiao returned, however, he saw Madam Lin kneeling by the bed, facing the doorway. Her hands were clasped together, her expression devout as she whispered something softly, seemingly making a wish.
Ren Shimiao waited until she finished speaking and opened her eyes before walking over. He reached out to help her up, casually brushing the dust from her skirt.
“I remember you didn’t believe in Buddhism.”
Madam Lin took Ren Shimiao’s hand, and the two sat back down by the bedside. “I didn’t before, but from now on, I will always believe.”
As she spoke, Madam Lin turned to look at Ren Shimiao. “I don’t know if it was a dream, but when I felt I was about to die, I seemed to see a Buddha’s light. Yet I could also feel you holding my hand, crying, telling me not to leave you, saying you wouldn’t know what to do if I died.”
Ren Shimiao nodded and grasped Madam Lin’s hand. “I did say that.” At that time, Madam Lin couldn’t even swallow medicine. He had been so frantic he cried openly, and Madam Lin had also been weeping continuously. He didn’t know if she had been conscious then.Madam Lin lowered her head and smiled faintly: "At that time, I was in such agony. Though I knew death would bring relief, I still couldn't bear to let go. I pleaded with that beam of light, saying that if I could survive this time and fulfill our marital bond, from then on I would devote myself to Buddhism, become a devout follower of the Buddha, always strive to do good, and never harbor ill intentions in my heart. And then I truly woke up."
Madam Lin paused, turned to look at Ren Yaoyu, reached out to stroke her hair, and said softly: "Just now, I made another vow to the Buddha. If he can let Yu'er wake up too, I am willing to keep this face for the rest of my life, as the retribution I deserve for my own wrongdoings. In this life, and the next, I, you, Yu'er, Jian'er—we will always be a family. Even if we are born into ordinary households, even if we live in poverty, we must stay together forever." Madam Lin looked up at Ren Shimiao, tears in her eyes, and said, "Husband, do you think that's good?"
Ren Shimiao also shed tears. He pulled Madam Lin into his embrace and said hoarsely, "Good. No matter what, we will always be a family."
Madam Lin couldn't hold back her sobs in Ren Shimiao's arms. When she lay on the bed and saw Ren Shimiao looking at her with despair, weeping uncontrollably, she truly came to her senses.
She already had such a husband, yet she still insisted on demanding more, still competed and contended with others. No wonder even Heaven could not stand by and repeatedly sent down calamities as punishment.
Upon careful reflection, in this lifetime, she had a husband like Ren Shimiao who never abandoned her, a pair of healthy and lively children, and no worries about food or clothing. What more did she lack?
What she should fear most now was that Heaven might find her displeasing and take away the happiness she already possessed.
Madam Lin thought, as long as Heaven was willing to return her daughter to her, she would do anything.
She only hoped that Heaven would not resent her for realizing this too late.
At that moment, a maid entered: "Fifth Master, Third Master has sent another letter."
Ren Shimiao quickly took the letter handed by the maid, opened it, and read it. Then he said to Madam Lin, "Third Brother says he will continue to seek out a few physicians or pharmacists skilled in dealing with poisons for us. He asks if we should first take Yu'er back to Yunyang City."
Madam Lin hesitated: "Can Yu'er endure the bumpy journey?"
Ren Shimiao thought for a moment and said, "Yu'er has not woken up, and the physicians are all at a loss. Moreover, this place is remote wilderness, and the environment isn't very good. Perhaps it's better to take Yu'er back to Yunyang City first? Although Jian'er is being looked after by Third Brother and his wife for now, Third Brother says the child has been worried about us every day and hasn't been able to eat properly."
Ren Jian had already been sent to Yunyang City earlier by Ren Shimiao, who initially feared that Madam Lin and Ren Yaoyu's illness might be contagious and worried his son might catch it.
Madam Lin was also concerned about her son. She looked at the unconscious Ren Yaoyu and finally nodded: "Then let's go back first."
Ren Shimiao thought for a moment and said to Madam Lin, "I know you never liked Third Sister-in-law before, but this time, both Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law have set aside past grievances and helped us a great deal. That you were able to detoxify and Yu'er could improve was also because Third Brother promptly wrote to remind me to check if you had been poisoned. In the future, when you're in front of Third Sister-in-law, please be more courteous to her."Madam Lin nodded: "I understand. From now on, I will treat them all as benefactors. I also fear retribution for being disrespectful to benefactors."
The forever-eighteen-year-old author has canceled all activities and returned to update...
All my little friends say they don’t want to play with me anymore...
Indeed, being too dedicated leaves one friendless!
But upon returning and seeing everyone’s blessings and rewards, the author is instantly revived at full health!!!
Love you all～o(∩_∩)o
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