The First Master looked back at her with a gentle expression, nodding encouragingly. Lady sneered in her heart but replied with a smile on her face, "The Master has already decided. You should go back and prepare, though the time is a bit rushed. If you can't manage, send someone to tell me, and I'll let Daihe come over to help you."
Just as everyone thought Madam Xia would burst into tears of joy and eagerly express her gratitude, Madam Xia instead fell to her knees with a thud, kowtowed to the First Master and Lady, and said sincerely, "Master, forgive me… my health has always been unwell. If I go with the Master to the new post, not only will I be unable to serve properly, but I also fear I will hinder the Master's duties. I should stay in the mansion; although it might be troublesome for Lady, at least in my own home, if I fall ill, it won't drag the Master down." She paused and heavily kowtowed again, "I implore the Master and Lady to choose someone else!"
