Some people, once they've had a first time, there will undoubtedly be a second. Aunt Wei demonstrated weakness at every turn, continuously showing Mr. Zhong her fragility, timidity, tenderness, and thoughtfulness; eventually, half of his heart settled with Aunt Wei.
The mother-in-law's reproaches, the husband's betrayal, and the concubine's duplicity gradually made Mrs. Ying walk on thin ice in the Zhong Residence, but none of these were the reasons for her early demise.
Mrs. Ying's health did not falter overnight; the most severe episode was during Zhong Lan's birth, which coincided with the New Year when few doctors in the capital were available for consultation. After much difficulty, a doctor was summoned, but then Aunt Wei caught a chill while pregnant and suffered unbearable headaches.
