Song Zhiwei pressed her lips together and said nothing. She knew Gu Chunran was not exaggerating. She was telling the truth.
It was just that the moment she saw someone fall into the water, adrenaline surged through her body. Before she even realized what she was doing, she had torn off the valuable ornaments from her head and body and jumped in. By the time she fully regained her senses, she was already swimming with the drowning girl in tow.
Her voice grew a little heavier. “But that was a human life. I couldn’t just stand there and watch…”
She did not finish the sentence. A wave of exhaustion suddenly washed over her, leaving her even more drained than when she dragged someone through the water.
Gu Chunran opened her mouth, intending to mock her. So many people had been around the pavilion. Almost anyone could have gone to save the girl. Why did Song Zhiwei have to be the one showing off?
But then she remembered that not long ago Song Zhiwei herself had been pushed into the water and had nearly lost her life. For a moment, she fell silent.
Rarely for her, Gu Chunran said nothing else.
The two walked for a long time without speaking. On the journey back, they moved unusually slowly. Especially Song Zhiwei, who could already sense that she had gotten herself into trouble and simply wanted to postpone the headache for as long as possible.
But no matter how slowly they walked, they would eventually arrive.
Strangely enough, when they returned to the waterside pavilion, no one seemed to care about Song Zhiwei anymore.
In fact, barely anyone even noticed them. Everyone’s faces were flushed as they excitedly discussed something among themselves.
Completely bewildered, Gu Chunran grabbed someone she recognized and asked directly, “What happened? What are all of you talking about?”
“You two left before it happened. The Heir of Prince Rong was caught by the princess estate’s servants peeking at us. And then he actually claimed he had come to inspect potential wives!”
“We’re all discussing which one of us he’s picked as his future wife.”
“Who’d dare become his wife? If you want the job, you take it. I certainly won’t.”
Prince Rong’s heir was famously handsome. The girls had heard their elders mention him before, though those mentions usually came with a sigh that he was far too flighty to be a suitable husband.
They had never fully understood why before. Today, however, they understood perfectly.
“What a shameless rogue. He has no sense of propriety whatsoever.”
“Who does he think we are? He’s actually evaluating us like merchandise. And who does he think he is?”
Song Zhiwei paused and exchanged a glance with Gu Chunran.
Apparently, a young lady falling into the water and requiring mouth-to-mouth resuscitation was still less scandalous than being secretly watched by a mischievous nobleman.
“Bastard!”
Li Rongpei knelt on the floor, one side of his face burning with pain from a slap.
Princess Consort Rong sat beside the Princess Royal. When the servants reported what had happened, she flew into a rage and slapped Li Rongpei the moment she saw him.
“You think you’re someone important? Do you know what kind of place this is? Do you know who those unmarried young ladies are? Are you trying to anger your mother to death?”
“Don’t be so upset. Pei’er is still young and impulsive. He was only curious and went to take a look. It’s really not such a serious matter.”
Princess Consort Rong was trembling with anger. How was she supposed to arrange his marriage now? What respectable family would consider him?
The imperial clan already resented him because of the Empress Dowager’s favor. And yet he still refused to conduct himself properly. Did he never stop to think about the future?
What if, one day, the Empress Dowager could no longer protect him? She was already elderly. If he lacked a powerful wife’s family to support him and had alienated his own relatives as well, what then?
Clutching her chest, Princess Consort Rong grew even more furious.
Li Rongpei knelt upright the entire time. Only when his mother personally drove him out did he finally rise.
“Get out!”
“Mother, please take care of your health.” Even after being expelled from the room, Li Rongpei showed not the slightest sign of discouragement. Very quickly, the familiar mischievous grin returned to his face.
Turning to Eunuch Huang, he asked, “Eunuch Huang, what do you think? If I go tell that Miss Song that I deliberately helped her out of that awkward situation, will she fall hopelessly in love with me? The sort of thing where she’d insist on marrying no one but me?”
Eunuch Huang rubbed his backside, which had taken ten strokes from the board, and shot Li Rongpei a deeply aggrieved look.
Li Rongpei’s eyes narrowed into crescents as he smiled.
Truthfully, he was remarkably handsome. His eyes seemed naturally affectionate, and paired with his fair skin and youthful appearance, even the light crimson robe he wore, somewhat frivolously, suited him surprisingly well.
According to Eunuch Huang, if Li Rongpei could refrain from acting ridiculous in front of young ladies and speak to them properly for once, some girl might actually agree to marry him.
After all the excitement and turmoil, Song Zhiwei became much more subdued. She had thoroughly abandoned any thoughts she harbored about using the banquet to build connections and cultivate future clients.
Just then, Madam Wang appeared from somewhere and beckoned her over.
Song Zhiwei walked over, and Madam Wang led her some distance away from the others before speaking once she was sure no one was nearby.
“The incident you caused earlier created quite a stir. While I was explaining matters to people, a very important lady took an interest in you. I’m taking you to meet her now. If you’re not confident about her condition, do not agree to treat it.”
Song Zhiwei blinked in surprise. “But I look so young. Would someone of such status really trust me?”
Madam Wang still remembered what Song Zhiwei had once said: if a patient didn’t trust the physician, refused the medicine, and wouldn’t cooperate, recovery would be impossible. Hearing the question, she merely sighed lightly. “She knows how miserable my situation used to be. If you’re confident, then just examine her.”
Song Zhiwei understood immediately and nodded.
Seeing this, Madam Wang added one final warning. “Remember, if you aren’t absolutely certain, don’t agree to anything. But if you are confident, and if you cure her, then incidents like today’s will amount to nothing at all for you in the future.”
Madam Wang then led Song Zhiwei into a private room. She did not reveal the identity of the influential lady inside. Instead, she introduced Song Zhiwei and explained her background.
From behind the screen, the noblewoman responded softly. After a moment’s hesitation, she quietly invited Song Zhiwei to come inside.
From the setup alone, Song Zhiwei could already guess how difficult it must have been for this woman to seek medical treatment. Her attitude immediately became more serious. She looked at the temporary couch that had clearly been arranged in haste. Sitting upon it was a well-dressed, attractive woman.
When the woman saw Song Zhiwei enter, she noted her composed demeanor, but also how young she looked, no more than twenty. The woman bit her lip hesitantly, then, with trembling fingers, reached for the sash at her waist.
This was another woman. If she could cure Madam Wang’s seemingly hopeless illness, perhaps she could help her too. Even if things only improved a little, it would still be better than continuing to live in her current half-dead state.
Summoning her courage, the woman looked at Song Zhiwei and said, “Come a little closer.”
Seeing that the woman had already offered a basic measure of trust, Song Zhiwei immediately took the lead. “My surname is Song. You may call me Physician Song.”
She walked over and sat beside her. Only when she drew near did she notice the woman’s yellowish complexion and fatigued expression. Were it not for her clothing supporting her figure, she looked as though she would be nothing but skin and bones.
“Ever since I gave birth to my fourth child several years ago, I’ve never truly been healthy again. Every few days I seem to fall ill. At first I thought I hadn’t recovered properly after childbirth and that rest would solve it. But no matter how much time passed, I never got better.”
As the woman spoke, Song Zhiwei listened while examining her. She observed that the woman’s limbs were thin and frail, yet her lower abdomen protruded noticeably, almost as if she were four months pregnant.