Xu Shichu asked the imperial doctor to do so, and asked a guard to ride to the imperial hospital quickly.
The distant cousin sister-in-law quickly said gratefully: "Thank you madam for your help... My little wife, my health is incurable and cannot be cured. During these days, because I was unable to concentrate on taking care of my child, he got cold. Now, It’s not healed yet, it would be great if a doctor could help take a look..."
Xu Shichu looked at the child in Zhichun's arms. He had a pouty face, but his face was pale and listless. He had been away from his mother's arms for a long time and had no energy to cry. He was indeed ill.
"What's this child's name? How old is he?" Xu Shichu asked.
"In reply to Madam, my child is two years and three months old this year, and his birthday is on the third day of April. His father named him Du Zhao." The distant cousin replied quickly, and added hurriedly as if she was afraid that Xu Shichu would dislike her:
"He is very well-behaved and doesn't make trouble. He usually likes to laugh. Now he is quiet because he is ill. He doesn't need anyone to take care of him..."
"By the way, because my husband has a bad relationship with his tribe, he went to Beijing to take the exam this time and sold the last bit of land in his family, leaving only a dilapidated old house. He originally planned to find a job outside the city if he won the Jinshi. The official who served will never return to Suzhou... But I didn't expect that he was so unlucky that he won the Jinshi but was not destined to become an official..."
The distant cousin took off the purse hanging from her waist again, took out a few banknotes and a land deed, and said to Xu Shichu with red eyes:
"This is the only remaining property of our family. My husband is sick and has spent a lot of money on medicine... I know that I can't raise Zhao'er with this little money, so I just beg my wife to let him live and grow up well." As long as it’s big, at least I can leave a bloodline for my husband… As for the rest, I don’t ask for much.”
She picked up the only land deed with trembling hands again: "This is the small house we live in now. Although it is a bit simple, it is our home after all... When Zhao'er grows up, please ask Madam to hand over this land deed." Give it to him so that he can have a place to settle down..."
As she spoke, she started crying again, looking at Xu Shichu with pleading eyes.
Xu Shichu took the banknote and land deed from her and solemnly promised her: "Okay, I will raise him up, let him go to school, and give him the land deed when he becomes wise."
Although Xu Shichu looked down upon the small amount of money and the land deed, only by accepting these could the woman who was left alone on her deathbed be able to relax a little.
When the distant cousin sister-in-law heard her words, her lifeless eyes lit up and she said with gratitude: "Thank you madam, for your great kindness. My husband and I can only repay it in the next life..."
Perhaps she finally felt relieved after her last wish was fulfilled. As soon as she finished speaking, she spat out a mouthful of blood and fell softly to the ground. The maids were so panicked that they rushed to help her.
I don't know if the mother and son are connected, but Du Zhao, who had been quiet before, suddenly started crying sadly. His cry was weak, but he stretched out a pair of small hands towards his mother with tears on his face.
The maids carried their distant cousin to the couch, and Xu Shichu walked to her side to check her pulse. Looking at her face, they knew that she was indeed on her deathbed.
"Please, madam, take me back to my home now...let me be with my husband..." The distant cousin held Xu Shichu's hand tightly and begged.
How could Xu Shichu not agree to her request, so he quickly asked someone to carry her downstairs, got into the carriage, and rushed to her home as quickly as possible.
When they arrived at the Du family, they found that the Du family's house was indeed small and simple, but it was clean and tidy and the decoration was very warm. However, Xu Shichu could not pay attention to this at the moment.
Because there was a simple coffin placed in the main hall of the Du family, and several men who looked like scholars were mourning the deceased. When they saw many people coming, they were shocked and confused.
A man in his early thirties was shocked when he saw his distant cousin being carried back. He hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Who are you? Didn't Mrs. Du go to find relatives for help? Why did she come back like this?"
Xu Shichu nodded to him and said, "I am a relative of his family and came to help with the funeral. My cousin-in-law is seriously ill and is now on her deathbed. After she entrusted her youngest son to me, she She just wants to spend the last time with her husband."
The man was surprised when he saw Xu Shichu's appearance. The clothes and jewelry she wore were worth a lot of money. She also had the appearance of a fairy with fair skin and beautiful face. At first glance, she looked like a lady with an extraordinary status. Why? Could he be related to Du Qian (Du Zhao's father), a poor student? !
"I wonder which family Madam is from? I have never heard Brother Du mention that he has such extraordinary relatives before." The middle-aged man asked doubtfully.
They were close classmates and friends with Du Qian, and they all knew very well about Du Jian's family background. If he had such a wealthy relative, why didn't he seek help from this relative early when he first fell ill, instead of asking him for help after his death? Let your wife find it?
If Mrs. Du entrusted her child to the wrong person, how could they treat Brother Du? The man thought to himself.
"Mr. Sir, please rest assured. Cousin Du is the son of my cousin's aunt. Our blood relationship is distant, but we are indeed relatives. It's just that my family is in Beijing and my cousin's family is in Suzhou, Weicheng. The two sides are too far apart. We have become estranged after many years of contact, and it was only when my cousin-in-law came to visit that I learned that my cousin's family has reached this situation." Xu Shichu avoided his identity and introduced simply.
Only then did the classmates of her distant cousin believe her.
In fact, if it weren't for the poor family backgrounds of his classmates and friends or the difficulty in getting along with their wives, Du Qian would not have asked his wife to entrust their son to Xu Shichu, but to these friends.
Mrs. Du returned home, lay down next to her husband, held his cold hand, looked at her son with one last look full of reluctance, then slowly closed her eyes and left.
Xu Shichu had already been mentally prepared, so he asked someone to buy a double coffin and bury the couple who died young together so that they could live in the same quilt and die in the same coffin.
Although Du Zhao was young and didn't understand what death was, his parents closed their eyes and ignored him as he cried. As if he knew something, he used all his strength to cry. Being sick, crying so weakly and hoarse is extremely sad.
The funeral of the Du family couple was simply held by Xu Shichu, with only Du Qian's classmates, friends and neighbors attending. She did not alarm the Prime Minister's Mansion. After all, the Du family were only her own relatives.
But about bringing Du Zhao back to the Prime Minister's Mansion, he had to inform Luo Changqing. After all, this was his family's territory, and there was no reason to adopt a child without telling the owner of the mansion.
