The news that the third sister was to be sent to the Lin Mansion as a concubine shocked everyone at the Zhong Mansion.

"Xiuxiu, a woman’s fate is just like this, not up to her at all."

Ms. Luo, feeling the same way, said: "You’ve been able to enter Chunshan Women’s Medical College, you must follow the teacher well and study medicine. That way, you might find a good family in the future, and your aunt can die at peace."

"Aunt, your best days are still ahead; don’t speak so morbidly."

Zhong Xiuxiu knew that even her father couldn’t stop this, which meant that the third sister was the one being sacrificed for the family.

After thinking it over, she went to plead with Madam Zhong.

"You said you need some medicinal ingredients to make some pills for your third sister?"

"Yes, Mother, the third sister..." Zhong Xiuxiu knew some things couldn’t be said too bluntly; it would hurt their dignity: "Xiuxiu is a bit reluctant to part with the third sister, just hoping she can be well at the Lin Mansion."

"You child, always so kind-hearted and capable."

Madam Zhong sighed deeply. Indeed, among so many concubine daughters, this one was the most inconspicuous, yet also the most resourceful. First, she resolved a difficult situation for the legitimate first daughter, and now she wants to protect the third girl.

"Let Nanny Chen take you to the small storeroom and get whatever herbs you need."

Madam Zhong said: "Since you have the heart, how could I as a mother be stingy."

"Thank you, Mother."

Nanny Chen opened the door to the small storeroom, which held many rare herbs.

Following Chun Nuan’s guidance, Zhong Xiuxiu selected some rare herbs. Seeing that some were missing, she asked Nanny Chen to buy them outside the mansion.

Then she plunged into her courtyard and stayed up all night, working until her eyes were red and swollen, finally producing several types of pills.

What can I say?

Although they’re not pretty, she can guarantee that the past few months of study have not been wasted; these pills will definitely be useful.

"Miss, it’s dawn, do you want to rest for a while?"

Her maid, Qing Ju, yawned and asked.

"Let’s go to the third sister’s courtyard first. She may be going to the Lin Mansion at dawn."

"Miss..."

Qing Ju thought her own miss was simply too kind.

The third miss hadn’t been as kind to her, yet she toiled all night making pills for her.

"If you’re tired, you can go rest; you don’t have to accompany me."

"How could I not accompany Miss?"

Reluctantly, she still followed Zhong Xiuxiu’s pace.

When the master and servant arrived at Zhong Xiuyao’s courtyard, her maid, Luo Xia, stopped them.

"My miss is grooming, inconvenient to see guests."

"Sister Luo Xia, my miss stayed up to make some pills for the third miss..."

Truly like the story of "the dog biting Lü Dongbin," not recognizing a good person.

If it were up to Qing Ju, she would have turned around and left, refusing to give them.

"My miss is well and didn’t need any pills, you can keep them."

Luo Xia didn’t relent at all and even resented the fifth miss, wondering if she was cursing her miss to be unwell or what.

"Luo Xia, can you speak for the third sister?"

Zhong Xiuxiu frowned at her: "Now, you immediately go and report to the third sister. If she still says no, I’ll turn and leave."

"Fifth Miss..."

"Go and report."

Luo Xia was startled by Zhong Xiuxiu’s imposing manner and had no choice but to report it.

"Miss is fine; the fifth miss insists on delivering some pills, truly with ill intentions."

Luo Xia added an extra comment after reporting.

"Enough."

Mrs. Qin and Zhong Xiuyao spoke in unison: "Quickly, let them in."

"Miss..."

Luo Xia was dumbfounded. What were her miss and mistress thinking?

"Miss, will the third miss see us?"

Qing Ju was also uneasy in her heart.

Her own miss was kind-hearted and ended up facing a closed door.

"She will; Luo Xia is just a maid and doesn’t understand."

Smart as Aunt Qin and Zhong Xiuyao were, if they didn’t meet her, it would show that their cleverness was fake.

Sure enough, Luo Xia came respectfully to invite them in.

"Xiuxiu greets Aunt, greets third sister."

Zhong Xiuxiu greeted them respectfully and inquired after their well-being.

"Fifth Miss, no need for such formality."

Mrs. Qin, seeing the calm Zhong Xiuxiu, had mixed feelings. If only Xiuyao had chosen to go to Chunshan Women’s Medical College, would her path have been easier?

"Fifth sister, please sit."

Zhong Xiuyao felt quite uncomfortable too.

Back then, she didn’t know how she had convinced the legitimate mother and the legitimate elder sister not to choose her for the Minister’s Mansion. Mysteriously, she also earned their respect, and the legitimate elder sister even became pregnant.

"Third sister, Xiuxiu has some things she wishes to speak to you about privately."

"Alright, alright, I need to prepare some things for the third girl, you sisters can chat."

Mrs. Qin had also worried all night, imparting all her lifelong skills to her daughter, just hoping that in the Lin Mansion she could live safely and comfortably.

Truly, as a concubine, one’s fate is controlled by others, life and death held in the hands of the head of the household. She truly feared her daughter might one day lose her life over a youthful folly.

After Aunt Qin left the room, Zhong Xiuxiu directly spoke plainly to Zhong Xiuyao.

"Third sister, you have sacrificed yourself this time to protect the Zhong Mansion, Xiuxiu is grateful to you."

Zhong Xiuyao’s nose tingled, and tears flowed down.

Indeed, the entire Zhong Mansion faced a catastrophe, and she was the one pushed forward to ward off the calamity.

The other sisters in the residence all mocked her, only Zhong Xiuxiu came expressly to thank her.

"Third sister’s journey this time, Xiuxiu can’t help much. With Mother’s permission and help, Xiuxiu made some pills overnight."

Qing Ju brought in a small wooden box and then exited the room.

"Third sister, there are five types of pills here. Time was short; Xiuxiu didn’t have time to make more, only five pills of each type."

Zhong Xiuxiu explained the effects of the five types of pills to her.

"Fifth sister..."

Zhong Xiuyao was indescribably grateful; Zhong Xiuxiu truly remembered her sacrifices.

The five types of pills: some for treating colds and flu; some for high fever; one for birth control; another for neutralizing the effects of abortion medicine if taken cold and bitterly; and one for stopping bleeding.

Each one, something she might need.

In Lord Lin’s inner quarters, there was a crowd of deceitful women, and Mrs. Lin, being older, was no longer in charge and had handed over the housekeeping to her eldest daughter-in-law from the Mei Family to manage.

As for this Mei Family, no matter how much her father-in-law stirred trouble, she hadn’t managed to produce a single illegitimate child.

All because the Mei Family was skilled; women entering the household were made to drink the abortion soup.

That medicinal soup was potent, capable of ending one’s ability to conceive with just one bowl.

Zhong Xiuxiu learned at Chunshan Women’s Medical College, and the affairs within Lin Mansion’s inner quarters were privately discussed among the noble ladies, so she specially made an antidote for her third sister.

For a concubine to not bear children is not necessarily bad, what’s terrible is that the Mei Family is too ruthless, directly cutting off those women’s hopes of becoming mothers.

Third sister is still so young; whether to bear children or not should be her decision, not one poisoned by the Mei Family.