The fourth wife casually said that it was impossible to ask the Jingnan Palace to spend 10,000 taels on medical treatment for an old aunt. One thousand taels still had some hope.
The maid served the second wife a cup of tea. The second wife wiped her nose and was about to take a sip when a maid ran in from outside and said, "Old madam, Aunt Tao is not well. I want to see you one last time."
The second wife looked at the old lady and begged, "Old lady..."
The old lady pinched the Buddhist beads in her hand and frowned slightly. Mother Sun said, "How can the old lady go? What if the old lady is over the illness?"
The second wife knew that the old lady would not go. In fact, she did not know what Aunt Tao wanted to see the old lady for, and she did not dare to persuade her again for fear of making the old lady unhappy.
Although Aunt Tao was just an aunt, she was the second master's biological mother after all. When she died, the second wife had to stay by the bedside.
The old lady didn't go, so the second lady retired.
The second wife walked back to the west courtyard in three steps and two steps, and arrived at the courtyard where Aunt Tao lived.
In the house, Aunt Tao was leaning against the big pillow, already furious. The second master invited a doctor for Aunt Tao. When the second wife came in, the doctor happened to take Aunt Tao's pulse. He shook his head at the second master and whispered.
He said, "It only took half an hour. If you have anything to say, please say it as soon as possible."
The imperial doctor didn't even prescribe the medicine, but just took the medicine box and left.
Aunt Tao looked at the second wife and said with a wry smile, "Isn't the old lady willing to come?"
The second wife swallowed even more, "You know the old lady's temper..."
Yes, after living under the same roof for decades, how could she not know the old lady's temper? She was just worried and hoped that after her death, the old lady could take care of the second master.
She had been cautious all her life and never dared to make the old lady angry. She asked to see her before she died, but she refused to give her such a small favor. How could she expect her to support her son in the future?
While I still have my last breath, I need to explain something.
Aunt Tao raised her hand to push the maids and wives away, then raised her arm with difficulty, pointed to the dressing table and said, "There is a brocade box in the secret compartment behind the dressing table, bring it to me."
The second wife looked surprised. She really didn't know there was a hidden compartment behind the dressing table.
The second master went over to move the dressing table, and sure enough he saw a hidden compartment, and took out a brocade box from the hidden compartment.
The second master respectfully sent the brocade box to Aunt Tao.
Aunt Tao opened the brocade box and saw a pile of silver notes. Although the amount was not large, the thickness was considerable.
Aunt Tao handed the banknotes to the second wife. The second wife counted them. Ten denominations of one thousand taels equaled ten thousand taels.
Aunt Tao is just an aunt, how come she has so many banknotes in her hand?
The second wife couldn't believe it.
The second master was also shocked and asked, "Aunt...Mother, where did you get these banknotes?"
This sound made Aunt Tao burst into tears.
She swallowed even more, "Don't let the old lady know that I left ten thousand taels for you, remember that."
After the second master and his wife nodded, Aunt Tao handed the other box in the brocade box to the second master. The box was locked. Aunt Tao warned, "The things in this box are more important than the banknotes. This is my mother's gift."
The amulet I left for you, I promise you, mother, you won’t open it unless you have no choice but to do so.”