Song Zhiwei had been visiting Madam Wang’s courtyard frequently these past few days and was already quite familiar with it.
Liu’er lifted the curtain for her, revealing Madam Wang seated at a round table, reading a letter while wiping away tears.
“You’ve come.” Madam Wang’s eyes were red. She rose and took Song Zhiwei’s hand. Though she smiled, tears still lingered in her eyes. “She sent a letter. She says the swelling in her lower abdomen has already gone down considerably, and she’s asked me to bring you over to see her again.”
Hearing this, Song Zhiwei immediately asked, “When are we going? Now?”
“Now?” Madam Wang hesitated. “She is the eldest daughter-in-law of Duke Cheng’s household. The Duke’s residence is extremely particular about protocol. They’ve only just sent an invitation. Even if we’re going, it would be several days from now.”
Song Zhiwei shook her head. “But she can’t simply stop taking medicine for several days, can she? If I don’t examine her, how can I know whether the prescription needs adjustment? If treatment is carried out in such a half-hearted way, how can the illness possibly improve?”
After only a moment’s thought, she said, “Let me accompany the servant carrying the reply from the manor. Few people in Shengjing know me yet anyway.”
Madam Wang frowned. “Wouldn’t that be treating you far too poorly?”
Song Zhiwei was unconcerned. “How is that poor treatment? If one frets over even this, that’s simply being pedantic.”
Madam Wang was momentarily stunned. Her gaze on Song Zhiwei grew even gentler. “Very well. Is there anything you want to bring with you?”
“Yes,” Song Zhiwei replied without hesitation. After a moment’s thought, she said, “Could you trouble Liu’er to ask Lancao to bring over several portions of the medicines I’ve prepared?”
She could hand some out and give some away. Consider it advertising. At least the trip wouldn’t be wasted.
Liu’er agreed, and before long Lancao arrived carrying a small wooden medicine chest.
Song Zhiwei immediately slung the box onto her back. The clothes she normally wore were never expensive. They had been washed so many times that the colors had faded, making them look little different from the clothing of some of the household’s more respectable maids. Now, with the medicine chest on her back, she looked capable and efficient. No one who saw her would think the sight strange. In fact, it seemed exactly how she was meant to be.
Song Zhiwei looked down and lightly tapped the plain cloth shoes on her feet. For the first time in a long while, she felt a small sense of solidity beneath her feet, as if she were finally standing on firm ground again.
A person’s character begins to take shape in youth.
Song Zhiwei had spent her life working hard to survive. Being made to live as she was now, dependent on others and constrained at every turn, always left her feeling vaguely uneasy. “Let’s go,” she said decisively.
Liu’er glanced at Madam Wang.
Madam Wang nodded. “Take Miss Song with you. Have the stable prepare a carriage and tell them I’m sending gifts to Duke Cheng’s residence.”
Liu’er acknowledged the order and led Song Zhiwei away.
Lancao watched her mistress’s departing figure with obvious anxiety and cast a worried look toward Madam Wang.
“Don’t worry. Your young lady will be fine.” Madam Wang couldn’t help but laugh softly. At the same time, she felt reassured that the maids by Song Zhiwei’s side were truly loyal.
Liu’er was well accustomed to carrying messages. Whether conveying instructions within the manor or running errands outside it, she handled such tasks with ease.
As she represented Madam Wang’s authority, the stable servants wasted no time. Before long, Liu’er, Song Zhiwei, and four young servants from the manor headed to Duke Cheng’s residence.
The carriage rattled along leisurely. It traveled from the quiet streets near the Southern Gate into the bustling market district, then continued westward toward the quieter area near the Imperial Avenue.
As the crowds gradually thinned, the carriage stopped in what was clearly a rear alleyway. Liu’er set down a mounting stool and moved to help Song Zhiwei alight. Instead, Song Zhiwei simply jumped down herself. Casually dusting off her hands, she looked up at the tall, enclosing walls.
Liu’er blinked in surprise, then smiled and put the stool away. Stepping forward, she handed over Madam Wang’s calling card.
The gatekeeper at the rear entrance examined it carefully, then looked Song Zhiwei and Liu’er up and down before finally nodding and leading them inside.
Duke Cheng’s residence’s rear quarters were naturally even larger and more complex than those of Marquis Dingyuan Manor. Likewise, far more people lived there.
The Gu family inevitably suffered losses among its male members because of warfare. The Duke Cheng’s household, however, was different. Generation after generation had produced descendants. Legitimate sons and daughters, children born of concubines, branch families upon branch families. Together, they filled the manor with masters and mistresses. But not all masters were equal. A child born of the principal wife’s womb and one born of a servant girl’s womb had entirely different resources and opportunities. And even among principal wives, there were distinctions.
A wife who managed the household enjoyed an additional layer of prestige. Beyond providing better resources for her own children, she had other advantages as well. The maids and servants feared her more. They obeyed her more readily.
No one understood this better than Du Yueniang’s children. When their mother controlled the household, they were treated as the manor’s treasured young masters and young ladies. But after one of their aunts took over household management, the ones elevated above everyone else were Meng Qiyue and Meng Wanlin.
As a result, although they were born into wealth and privilege and pampered from childhood, they had also faced their share of life’s cold realities and changing fortunes. Ironically, it had taught them to be more courteous and more attentive to other people’s feelings and expressions.
When Liu’er was admitted into Du Yueniang’s courtyard, Meng Jiping was in her mother’s room, amusing herself with a game of weiqi. As soon as the curtain lifted, she saw two unfamiliar young women being ushered in by a nursemaid. Upon seeing her, the girl in front greeted her politely.
“Miss Ping.”
The one behind merely let her gaze rest briefly on Meng Jiping’s face. Her delicate, attractive features carried a faint smile as she inclined her head in greeting.
Meng Jiping immediately smiled and returned the gesture. Because her mother’s health had declined and her father paid little attention to the inner household’s affairs, she had suffered enough quiet slights and setbacks to become much more perceptive and tactful than before.
The fact that these two women were allowed to enter openly and formally meant they must have legitimate status.
Sure enough, after her mother saw them, especially the young woman who entered second, her expression brightened noticeably.
“Little Doctor, how did you come here?” Du Yueniang asked in surprise. She had never expected Song Zhiwei to arrive so soon. She had assumed it would be several more days before she could visit. Today, she hadn’t even prepared to receive guests. She had not yet arranged her hair and was hardly presentable by etiquette standards. Yet the first emotion that welled up within her was indescribable happiness.
Anyone suffering from illness longs to regain their health as quickly as possible. Were it not for all the constraints of rank and propriety, she would have wanted to visit the Gu residence herself. She had never imagined Song Zhiwei would willingly come to her doorstep in such a humble manner, almost as though she were an ordinary servant running an errand.
“Surely this is far too much of a sacrifice for you!” Du Yueniang clasped Song Zhiwei’s hands, her eyes already reddening with emotion.
After all, Song Zhiwei was a young lady from a respectable family. In her world, a woman’s reputation was more important than almost anything else. If she went out like this and was seen by others, there would be no shortage of gossip waiting for her. Moreover, she no longer had her mother to watch over and protect her, and life in the Gu household was difficult enough as it was.
Du Yueniang had only recently been treated by her and was already deeply grateful. How could she not be moved by this?
Taking a seat, Song Zhiwei did not appear delicate or aggrieved. Instead, she spoke in a gentle yet firm voice. “You are my patient. Naturally, your condition must come first.”
Her expression then grew serious. “Let me examine you.”