Liu Momo was loyal and capable, handling affairs with great care. In all the years she had served by her side, she had never made a single mistake and had been her right-hand woman. How could she possibly have failed to take good care of her three children?
"Please don’t blame yourself, Momo. Get up and speak."
Meng Nanzhi helped her up and only then noticed that she was limping. She quickly assisted her to a chair to sit down.
As Liu Momo recounted her hardships, tears welled up in her eyes. "In the first few years after you passed, Houye was kind and loving toward the young master and young mistress, and they were both obedient and sensible. All household affairs were still entrusted to me, just as they had been when you were here."
"But as Lady Ping began visiting the mansion frequently under the pretext of taking care of the young master and young mistress on your behalf, the eldest young master quarreled more and more with Houye. He gradually distanced himself from Guanqi, whom you had arranged for him, and often took two newly arrived servants out with him, earning a reputation as the feared Houye’s shizi."
"The second young master, who was originally bright and clever, also began to lose interest in his studies, preferring instead to play with cats and dogs. The stricter Houye became, the more the second young master indulged in his pastimes. If Houye grew angry enough to resort to punishment, the second young master would run away from home."
"The young mistress was innocent and carefree, never picking fights with anyone. But after Lady Ping married into the Marquis’s Mansion, rumors began to spread that the young mistress was willful and spoiled. Once, when the young mistress attended an outing, someone said she was ‘raised without a mother.’ Enraged, she whipped that person. To apologize, Houye blamed this old servant for failing to discipline the young mistress properly, had me beaten with twenty strokes, and expelled me from the Marquis’s Mansion."
At this point, Liu Momo grew emotional again. "Madam, this old servant is guilty. I have failed in the trust you placed in me."
How could this be Liu Momo’s fault? It was clearly the fault of her so-called good husband, Marquis Zhenbei!
To raise perfectly good children into such wayward individuals and then blame outsiders for it—it was utterly preposterous!
Meng Nanzhi lowered her eyelids, concealing the surging anger in her eyes, and spoke gently to Liu Momo, "Momo, you have suffered all these years. Now that I have returned, I will surely seek justice for you."
Liu Momo quickly stood up and bowed, her voice choked with emotion. "This old servant thanks you, Madam."
After wiping her tears, she bowed to Meng Zhengde and said, "This old servant will prepare some tea that you and Madam enjoy."
Before the teacups could be set on the table, the eldest son, Shen Yanxiu, had arrived at the Meng Residence, practically dragging Imperial Physician Hong along with him.
"Mother, I’ve brought Imperial Physician Hong," he said as he strode in, his voice still tinged with urgency. "Imperial Physician Hong, please examine my mother right away."
Upon entering the main hall, Imperial Physician Hong was about to bow to Meng Zhengde, who was seated at the head of the room, when his gaze swept over the figure beside him. He froze in place, stunned. "H-Houye’s wife?"
The Meng family’s daughter, Marquis Zhenbei’s wife—who in Jingdu did not know of her? Who had not heard of her?
Ten years ago, she had drowned in Da Yan Lake, with no trace of her body found, dead or alive.
Her eldest son had jumped into the lake dozens of times to save her. Marquis Zhenbei had drained the lake in his desperate attempt to rescue his wife. Grand Tutor Meng’s hair had turned white overnight, and for ten years, he had fished along the riverbanks day after day, searching for his daughter.
That year, portraits of her had covered the walls of Da Yan’s Jingdu.
From the emperor himself down to the common people, there was no one in all of Jingdu who did not know what Marquis Zhenbei’s wife looked like.
Exactly as she appeared now.
Meng Nanzhi smiled and asked, "Imperial Physician Hong, do you see something amiss with me?"
Imperial Physician Hong regained his composure, clasped his hands in salute and said, "This humble official has been discourteous. Greetings to the Hou Furen. Congratulations on your safe return, and congratulations to the Grand Tutor for recovering his beloved daughter. Perseverance has finally brought clear skies and the sight of the moon."
Meng Zhengde nodded. "Thank you for taking the trouble to come in person, Imperial Physician Hong. Please examine my daughter quickly to see if there is any ailment in her body."
After placing a handkerchief over Meng Nanzhi's wrist, Imperial Physician Hong asked, "May I ask if the Hou Furen is experiencing any discomfort?"
Meng Nanzhi exchanged a glance with her father and replied, "After falling into the lake, I could not remember many things. It was only recently that I recalled my father and was able to return home."
Imperial Physician Hong lightly tapped his fingers on the pulse diagnosis. "If it is as the Hou Furen says, then it is Water Evil Blocking Orifices Syndrome. At the moment of drowning, cold water suddenly enters the lungs and rises to the brain's orifices, subsequently destroying the memories stored within. It is like a scroll encountering water—the writing becomes blurred and difficult to discern."
Shen Yanxiu anxiously asked upon hearing this, "Is there a cure?"
Imperial Physician Hong stroked his beard and pondered. "I observe that the Hou Furen's pulse is steady, indicating that she is likely on the verge of recovery. She only needs to recuperate with warm yang and dampness-dispelling prescriptions, supplemented by acupuncture at points such as Baihui and Shenting. Once the brain's orifices are cleared and refreshed, those scattered memories may gradually return."
"That is good."
Shen Yanxiu felt relieved, grateful that his mother still remembered him.
…
At that moment in the Imperial Hospital, a group of people were idly whispering among themselves. "Who would have thought this Shen Shizi would be so filial?"
"Indeed. Who could have imagined that the ping wife married by Marquis Zhenbei would so quickly replace the Hou Furen in Shen Shizi's heart, even to the point of calling that ping wife 'mother'?"
"But why did Shen Shizi bring Imperial Physician Hong to the Meng Residence? No matter what, Grand Tutor Meng would never accept that ping wife going to his residence for medical treatment, would he?"
"Perhaps that ping wife happened to fall ill while at the Meng Residence?"
"Who knows? Let's wait for Imperial Physician Hong to return."
The wind in the courtyard swept fallen leaves across the stone steps. A figure in deep blue stood before the vermilion gate, fingers unconsciously digging into his palm.
Suddenly, someone called out, "State Uncle."
The group of imperial physicians immediately fell silent and bowed in salute. When they looked up again, the figure had already vanished, leaving them exchanging bewildered glances.
One bold physician said, "Did you see the expression on State Uncle's face just now? Damp, thick, and sticky—I've never seen such an expression on his face before."
An older imperial physician replied, "You must be seeing things. Everyone knows that State Uncle Xie is the war god of our Great Heng, always aloof and without desires, dedicated solely to guarding the border. Here, since your eyes are acting up, try this new eye medicine of mine."
As he spoke, he began to apply it.
The bold physician resisted. "Ah, no, don't."
…
Guanqi hurriedly rushed back to the Zhenbeihou Mansion. Upon learning that Marquis Zhenbei had gone out on official business, he anxiously tried to seek out the Marquis but was stopped along the way.
"Guanqi."
The newcomer wore a crabapple brocade gown of cloud-patterned and embroidered satin, with a pair of phoenix hairpins adorned with pearl-tipped golden wings in her hair. Her gentle appearance made it clear at a glance that she was an amiable person.
Guanqi quickly bowed. "Lady Ping."
Lin Wanrou, the ping wife of Marquis Zhenbei, asked with concern, "The Houye asked you to stop the Shizi. Did you succeed? This child, why can't he just listen properly to the Houye's words?"
Guanqi lowered his head. "In reply to Lady Ping, the Shizi was stopped by Grand Tutor Meng."
Although Lady Ping and the Hou Furen were originally good friends, if it concerned the Hou Furen, he still wished to speak with the Houye personally.
Lin Wanrou breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good then. Fortunately, there is still Grand Tutor Meng. When Houye returns, I can offer him much comfort. The shizi is just being childish for the moment and would never do such an ungrateful thing."
Guanqi lowered her head and remained silent.
Lin Wanrou then said, "You've worked hard. Go and rest."
After Guanqi left, a black-clad servant with a pockmarked face suddenly appeared and knelt on the ground. "Madam."
Lin Wanrou smiled gently. "The shizi didn't go to break off the engagement?"
The pockmarked servant trembled in fear. "Madam, forgive me. It wasn't that I failed in my task, but rather… the Hou Madam, the Hou Madam has returned."