After returning to the manor, Song Zhiwei went straight to Madam Wang’s courtyard. She had only just set down her medicine chest and taken a few sips of tea when Liu’er hurried in again.
“Madam wants us to come to the main courtyard. The Eldest Miss has arrived.”
Song Zhiwei frowned slightly. The Eldest Miss, Gu Fanghua, was Meng Qiyue’s mother and her own aunt. No wonder everything at Duke Cheng’s residence had gone so smoothly today. It seemed each side had been visiting the other’s territory.
Setting down her teacup, Song Zhiwei adjusted a few loose strands of hair at her temples and took a deep breath. “Let’s go.”
She was honestly a little curious. She hadn’t provoked Meng Qiyue in the past few days, so why had the girl brought her mother into it? Unless this visit was aimed at more than just her.
Picking up her pace slightly, Song Zhiwei headed toward the main courtyard.
At that moment, Madam Xu’s room was once again filled with cheerful harmony. Everyone present wore bright smiles, as though each person had some happy occasion to celebrate.
Gu Fanghua sat pressed close beside the old madam. She wore luxurious garments and jewelry, everything shimmering in the light. Whether it was the ornaments in her hair or the robes on her body, each piece was clearly extraordinary and costly.
The senior maid Yuner wore an amused smile as she entertained the room with stories of peaceful times and curious happenings. She was telling a tale about an immortal who had supposedly arrived in Shengjing. His clothes and shoes were always spotless and looked brand-new, yet he was constantly seen in the city’s poorest parts. People who greeted him would turn around, only to find he had vanished without a trace.
According to the story, only in an age of true peace would heavenly stars descend to the mortal world for amusement.
Madam Xu listened with great delight.
The others played along, asking teasing questions to keep the story going. Some asked what the immortal wore, while others asked what he looked like.
Everyone was humoring the old matriarch, treating her almost like a living ancestor whose happiness had to be carefully tended.
Meng Qiyue glanced around impatiently. Seeing that Gu Ce’an still had not arrived, she grew increasingly restless.
Although Gu Fanghua seemed focused entirely on the old madam, she kept an eye on her daughter’s reactions out of the corner of her eye. Noticing Meng Qiyue’s inability to sit still, she gently patted her hand to reassure her before turning to her younger sister-in-law with a smile.
“Mingxiang, where has Youli gone? I’ve been here for a while now, yet I haven’t seen him once.”
Zhao Mingxiang felt both helpless and anxious. She had already sent people to call her son back. But once a son grew up, he was no longer entirely under his mother’s control. He now held an official position and government duties. He was no longer the boy who spent all his time inside the manor. How could she expect him to obey every instruction she gave? Yet her elder sister-in-law had always been overbearing and accustomed to getting her own way. Over the past few days, she had sent invitations repeatedly. Zhao Mingxiang had declined them all, and now the woman had simply come in person instead.
Forcing a somewhat strained smile, Zhao Mingxiang replied, “I sent word as well, but I don’t know where that child has gone. He’s probably occupied with official business.”
“So, Sister-in-law means to say that having him come see his aunt isn’t important business?” Gu Fanghua said, a note of displeasure creeping into her voice. “And what about my niece? Why haven’t I seen her either?”
She spoke as if it were casual conversation, then turned to Madam Xu.
“I’ve heard all about it. Apparently she’s learned some medical skills and even saved someone at the Princess Royal’s residence, causing quite a stir. The entire capital is talking about it now. Imagine that, our Gu family producing a physician. It’s rather amusing, isn’t it?”
This was the first time Madam Xu had heard about it. When she heard the incident had already become widely known, she frowned immediately. “When did all this happen? Why has no one told this old woman about it?”
Zhao Mingxiang rose at once, cold sweat breaking out across her back. She hurriedly explained, “It really wasn’t anything significant. Princess Royal even praised her judgment and said she was someone capable of handling responsibility.”
Madam Xu’s expression remained indifferent. Without warning, she casually swept the teacup beside her onto the floor.
The porcelain shattered with a loud crash, hot tea splashing across the ground.
“I can see you’ve become quite accomplished. These days you don’t tell me anything at all. Are you simply waiting for me to die so you can take charge of the household and become the Gu family’s matriarch yourself?”
Zhao Mingxiang was terrified by the accusation and immediately dropped to her knees. “Mother, I’ve served you for so many years. You know my heart!”
But Madam Xu’s anger had not yet subsided. Part of her anger stemmed from hearing that the Gu family was once again the subject of public discussion. Yet another part was disappointment in Song Zhiwei.
Song Zhiwei knowing medicine ought to have been a point of pride. A young lady from a respectable family who, out of filial devotion to her mother, had learned medical principles and gained the ability to treat the ailments of family elders should have been regarded as a good thing.
After all, thanks to Song Zhiwei’s treatment, Madam Xu herself felt much better and had finally slept soundly through the night.
Treating illnesses inside the family was one thing. But treating people from other households was another matter entirely. That lowered the family’s standing. Was the Gu family no longer sufficient to support her, that she had to go out and make a public profession of herself?
People would laugh at the household for it.
Madam Xu could hardly bear the thought of it. Worse still, the matter had already reached Gu Fanghua’s ears before anyone had informed her. That only made her more uneasy.
“A few days ago I heard she wanted to open a pharmacy outside the manor and distribute medicines to the public, claiming it would accumulate merit and blessings for the family. From now on, she is not to do such things. And if she insists on doing them, then she need not acknowledge me as her grandmother anymore!”
Madam Xu considered herself a woman who had weathered many storms in life. In her view, the more controversial a matter became, the farther one should stay away.
“For the next while, keep her confined. Let her learn proper rules before anything else. And she needn’t come pay her respects to me for the time being!”
The old matriarch spoke with obvious irritation.
How dared Zhao Mingxiang argue? She could only dab at her tears and agree.
Just then, a maid entered quietly to announce: “The Eldest Young Master has returned. He’s waiting outside.”
Meng Qiyue had already been wearing an interested smile. When she heard Gu Ce’an had returned, her eyes lit up immediately. Turning her head, she saw him enter. He had changed into a dark black robe, making his tall frame appear even more imposing. His features were sharp and handsome, and his eyes shone like stars.
“Grandmother. Aunt.” After offering his greetings, he lowered his head and helped his mother to her feet, a slight frown appearing between his brows. “Mother, what happened?” he asked quietly.
Zhao Mingxiang shook her head, looking aggrieved. “It’s nothing.”
Gu Ce’an was about to ask further when Gu Fanghua spoke first.
“Youli, you’ve finally come. You’ve been out all this time. What has been keeping you so busy?”
Gu Ce’an turned toward her, his expression calm. “The matter concerns affairs of the court. I dare not speak of it carelessly.”
Gu Fanghua waved it off with a smile. “Never mind that. It’s good enough that you’ve come. We were just discussing your marriage.”
“You already hold an official appointment and have reached the proper age. It’s time to arrange your marriage.
“To be frank with you, I have been thinking of a match that would strengthen the ties between our families. Duke Cheng’s household would certainly be worthy of your status. You and Yue’er grew up together and share years of affection. As I see it, no marriage could be more suitable. Your elders would never harm you.”
As he listened, a flicker of annoyance crossed Gu Ce’an’s eyes before vanishing again.
In an even tone, he replied, “Thank you for thinking so highly of me, Aunt. But I have never regarded Yue’er in that way. In this life, I will only ever treat her as a younger sister. She and I are truly not suited to one another.”
“How are we not suited?”
“In what way are we not suited?”
Ignoring the change in her mother’s expression, Meng Qiyue suddenly sprang to her feet. “Ah Li, have you really been bewitched by someone?”