Wei shi walked into the room.
“How is dalang’s wife? Is it serious?”
Gu Rui stood up and said, “She already drank the miscarriage-prevention medicine. Her condition is a little better now.”
Wei shi visibly let out a sigh of relief. She glanced at Jia shi’s face – it was deathly pale, like that of a corpse.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately became worried.
She came to the bedside and softly asked, “Daughter-in-law, how do you feel now? Tell me where you’re uncomfortable.”
Jia shi opened her eyes and said weakly, “I’ve made pomu worry. It’s this unfilial daughter-in-law’s fault. After taking the medicine, I feel much better. Just weak… I can’t get up.”
Wei shi said, “Stay lying down, don’t think about getting up. I’ve already sent someone with houye’s visiting card to summon the taiyi. Don’t worry, he will be here soon. Does your stomach still hurt?”
Jia shi shook her head slightly. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Wei shi finally felt half relieved. No stomach pain, no bleeding – the child should be safe.
She told Jia shi to rest well, then signalled for Gu Rui to speak with her outside.
Mother and son went to the outer room. Wei shi asked, “Dalang, what’s going on with your wife? She was fine, why did she suddenly start screaming that her belly hurt?”
Gu Rui replied, “This son doesn’t know either. She had just washed up and hadn’t been lying in bed long before she started complaining of pain. I didn’t dare delay, so I quickly had someone use houye’s name card to fetch the taiyi.”
At this, Wei shi sighed. “When the maid came to report, lao furen was terrified and insisted on coming over to see her. But it’s so late, and so cold outside – I couldn’t possibly let her go out. Luckily, your er shenniang and I managed to persuade her to stay.”
That was the reason Wei shi had arrived late.
“Lao furen is all right, isn’t she?” Gu Rui asked anxiously.
Wei shi shook her head. “She’s just worried your wife might not be able to keep the baby.”
Gu Rui said, “Since she became pregnant, she hasn’t had a single day of peace. If it doesn’t work out, then… it’s fine not to keep the child.”
“Nonsense!” Wei shi scolded furiously. “You’re the di eldest son. You’ve been married two years, and still no child – how can that be acceptable? Even if you don’t think of yourself, you must think of the hou fu.”
Gu Rui was at a loss for words and finally sighed. “Mother, don’t be angry. I was only speaking casually.”
Wei shi gave a cold snort. “I don’t want to hear such talk again. Mingyue’s body has been nursed for so long, and she finally conceived. And now this happens. If I’d known it would be like this, back then I should never have–”
“Mother!” Gu Rui interrupted her sharply. He looked at her with disapproval. “I was the one who wanted to marry Mingyue. If blame is to be given, give it to me. I will bear all responsibility.”
Wei shi burned with suppressed anger. “You… you’re truly bewitched! Forget it. At this point, it’s useless to say more. When the taiyi arrives, let him give Mingyue a proper examination. If this child really can’t be saved, then don’t force it. Continue nursing her health and make sure next time she can conceive smoothly and give birth safely.”
Gu Rui secretly breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you for understanding, Mother.”
Wei shi snorted coldly. “What else can I do? Your wife already carries so much weight on her heart. If I, as her pomu, were to treat her coldly, she’d probably think of killing herself. I’m not that kind of vicious mother-in-law who torments her daughter-in-law. I only hope you two can live in peace and add children to the hou fu soon.”
Gu Rui felt both touched and guilty. “Your son is ashamed before Mother.”
“Enough. Go inside and stay with your wife. In her condition, I don’t feel at ease leaving her alone.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
Gu Rui went back into the room, sat by the bed, and held Jia shi’s hand.
Jia shi looked at him uneasily. “Pomu…”
Gu Rui comforted her softly. “Don’t worry. It’s all right. Mother is very concerned about you. She told me to reassure you – to keep a calm mind, don’t pressure yourself, and don’t let your imagination run wild. No one in the household will gossip.”
Jia shi was moved to tears. “Pomu always thinks of me, but I’m so useless. I finally conceived, and yet it’s one calamity after another, making everyone worry along with me.”
“Look at you, there you go again, overthinking. The taiyi always say you must keep a peaceful mind and not think too much.”
Jia shi nodded. “I understand. I won’t let my thoughts wander. I will get better.”
Gu Rui let out a breath of relief. “That’s the way.”
At the door, a maid beckoned to Gu Jiu and Gu Mei.
The two of them left the inner room and came to the outer chamber.
Wei shi gestured for them to sit and asked, “When you arrived, what condition was the eldest daughter-in-law in?”
Gu Mei secretly glanced at Gu Jiu, then replied, “Reporting to Mother, when Xiao Jiu meimei and were on our way back to our rooms, we ran into dasao’s maid and learned that something had happened. We rushed here at once. When we arrived, dasao was in so much pain she was about to faint. It was Xiao Jiu meimei who reminded us to quickly take out the prescription the taiyi had given, and get the medicine made. After dasao drank it, her condition improved a lot.”
Wei shi looked at Gu Jiu and laughed. “Xiao Jiu really is a bringer of good fortune.”
Gu Jiu pressed her lips into a small smile. “When I was in the northwest, everyone said I had no good fortune, so I was always sickly. I didn’t expect that once I returned to the capital, not only did my health improve, I could also be of some help. It must be because the hou fu is so blessed, and I too have received its fortune.”
Wei shi was delighted – this child knew exactly what to say.
She laughed. “It shows that the northwest was ill-matched with your fate. That’s why your health never improved there. But the prosperous capital suits you perfectly. As soon as you returned, your body recovered and fortune came to you.”
Gu Jiu smiled sweetly, her eyes curving like crescents. “Hearing tang bomu say it like this, it makes perfect sense. I don’t feel anxious anymore.”
Wei shi laughed heartily. “There’s no need to be anxious in the hou fu. If anything happens, tell Mei yatou. If she can’t solve it, come tell me. I’ll handle it for you.”
“Thank you, tang bomu.”
Just then, a servant came in to report that the taiyi had arrived.
“Hurry, invite Hu taiyi inside.”
Hu taiyi was an old man, nearly sixty, with a beard streaked with grey.
He was a renowned gynaecology expert in the Imperial Infirmary. Whenever one of the imperial consorts felt unwell, they would always invite Hu taiyi to take a look.
He didn’t come alone today – he had brought along two apprentices, one male and one female.
Gu Jiu gave the female disciple an extra glance. Hu taiyi’s female disciple looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Her hair was neatly coiled up, and her expression was blank.
Wei shi, together with Gu Rui, went forward to welcome Hu taiyi.
Wei shi said, “It’s so late already – thank you for making the trip, Hu taiyi. The eldest daughter-in-law has been crying out in stomach pain all this time, and we were all terrified. Later, after taking the miscarriage-preventing medicine you prescribed, she finally improved a little. Please, have a look at her. What exactly is her condition? Is the child in her womb safe?”
“Furen, don’t be anxious,” said Hu taiyi calmly. “I shall first take the young mistress’s pulse.”
“Yes, yes – this way, Hu taiyi.”
Wei shi ushered him into the bedchamber. Gu Jiu also followed, standing at the side and craning her neck to watch.
From the prescriptions Hu taiyi had written earlier, Gu Jiu could already tell that his reputation as a gynaecology master was no empty name – it was real skill.
Indeed, in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology, Hu taiyi had deep knowledge and unique insight.
He placed his hand on the patient’s wrist, checking her pulse with an impassive face.
The female disciple’s name was Jinju. From Gu Mei’s introduction, Gu Jiu learned that Jinju had once been Hu taiyi’s neighbour. After calamity befell her family, she followed Hu taiyi to learn medicine and often handled cases where it was inconvenient for him to act directly.
When Hu taiyi finished feeling the pulse, he motioned for Jinju to examine Jia shi’s body.
Since it involved matters of privacy, everyone else withdrew from the bedchamber.
Before long, Hu taiyi came out again.
Wei shi quickly asked, “Hu taiyi, how is she?”
“You acted promptly and correctly,” he replied. “Fortunately so – otherwise her condition would have worsened. Furen, rest assured: both mother and child are safe. I will write a new prescription. She should take it three times a day.”
At these words, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.
Gu Rui and Gu Mei both looked toward Gu Jiu. Thankfully, they had chosen to trust her – otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Gu Mei whispered softly to Gu Jiu, “Xiao Jiu, thank you.”
“Mei jiejie, no need to be polite.”
Hu taiyi wrote a new prescription, then instructed his disciple Jinju to stay behind in the hou fu to care for Jia shi. With his male apprentice, he then took his leave.
Wei shi said, “Mei yatou, Xiao Jiu, it’s very late now. You two should go back and rest as well.”
“Mother, you should also rest soon.”
“Don’t worry about me. At my age, one needs less sleep; losing an hour or two is nothing. But you two are still growing – don’t stay up late.”
Gu Mei and Gu Jiu together bade farewell to Wei shi and Gu Rui. They also made an appointment with Jia shi to visit her again the next day, before finally leaving the courtyard.
Back at Gu Mei’s Mudan Yuan, Gu Jiu, once she relaxed, suddenly felt utterly exhausted.
“Xiao Jiu, today we all relied on you. You must be tired. I’ll have the maid bring hot water. Once we wash up, we can go to bed.”
“I’ll listen to you, Mei jiejie.”
After washing, they got into bed. Gu Jiu thought she would fall asleep at once, given how tired she was.
But once she lay down, she grew more and more awake. The drowsiness had vanished without a trace.
In the dark, Gu Mei’s breathing was even and steady.
Gu Jiu carefully turned over. Could it be because the environment was unfamiliar, that she couldn’t fall asleep?
“Xiao Jiu, you’re still awake?” Gu Mei’s voice suddenly sounded in the night.
Gu Jiu let out a giggle. “So Mei jiejie isn’t asleep either.”
Gu Mei sighed with a smile, “You troublesome girl – tossing and turning like that, how could I sleep? Are you one of those who can’t sleep in a strange bed?”
Gu Jiu thought for a moment. “I don’t think so. Only on the first night after returning to the capital, I felt a little unsettled by the climate and went to sleep late. Other times, I fall asleep as soon as my head touches the pillow.”
“Then maybe,” said Gu Mei, “you’re just not used to sharing a bed with someone else.”
Gu Jiu nodded. “That makes sense, Mei jiejie.”
They each had their own quilt, but Gu Jiu, mischievous as ever, crawled straight into Gu Mei’s quilt and began to tickle her.
“Xiao Jiu, you’re being naughty again.” Gu Mei burst into laughter and finally managed to grab hold of Gu Jiu’s mischievous hands. “Don’t fool around.”
Nestling into Gu Mei’s arms, Gu Jiu said with a smile, “Mei jiejie, you smell so nice.”
“We’re the same – you say I smell nice, isn’t that praising yourself too?” Gu Mei teased.
Gu Jiu laughed heartily. “Turns out I’m fragrant too!”
Gu Mei stroked Gu Jiu’s hair. “Xiao Jiu, how do you take care of your hair? It’s so black and smooth.”
Gu Jiu grinned proudly. “That’s natural beauty.”
Gu Mei joked, “I just gave you some colour, and you’re ready to open a dyeing workshop.”
Then she pinched Gu Jiu’s cheek. “Xiao Jiu, your skin is so tender.”
“Mei jiejie’s cheeks are tender too.”
Both of them were in the bloom of youth, collagen brimming, their natural beauty radiant even without powder or paint.
Gu Mei curiously asked a question that had been on her mind for a while: “Xiao Jiu, who did you learn medicine from? Can you tell me?”
In the darkness, Gu Jiu’s eyes were wide open, as if they glowed with light. She said to Gu Mei, “Mei jiejie, if I told you I became my own doctor after being sick for so long – that I’m self-taught – would you believe me?”
Gu Mei nodded repeatedly. “If it were someone else, I definitely wouldn’t believe it. But you – yes, I believe you.”
Gu Jiu was puzzled. “Why would Mei jiejie believe me?”
“Because you’re Xiao Jiu.”
Gu Jiu froze. “That’s it? That simple?”
Gu Mei laughed, put her arm around Gu Jiu, and drew closer. “The first time I met you, I felt you were different from others. And sure enough, I wasn’t wrong. Xiao Jiu, how many more surprises will you give me?”
Gu Jiu shook her head. “No more. This is all I can do, and I’ve already shown you everything.”
Gu Mei smiled, lips curved. “I don’t believe it. I’m sure you still have more surprises in store. To be self-taught, at such a young age, and to match the skill of old doctors with decades of experience – that’s extraordinary intelligence.”
Gu Jiu looked at Gu Mei. In the night, she could only make out her outline. “Mei jiejie, if I told you that I cured my illness myself, would you believe me?”
Gu Mei nodded again. “Of course I would.”
Hearing this, Gu Jiu felt moved. Gu Mei trusted her so deeply, yet she had no choice but to deceive her.
“Xiao Jiu, you must have suffered a lot over the years. To cure your illness, you must have studied countless medical techniques. That acupuncture – did you practice it on yourself first?”
Gu Jiu gave a small hum. “Yes, I did try it on myself.”
“I knew it. They all said you were gravely ill before, nearly at death’s door. Later, there was some commotion, and your illness suddenly got better. I guessed that must’ve been when you found a way to heal yourself, and so you staged that scene on purpose, to find an opportunity.”
Gu Jiu looked at Gu Mei with admiration. Other than the fact that she was someone who had time-travelled, Gu Mei had guessed most of it correctly.
With only a few rumours, she had pieced together the truth – it was remarkable. No wonder she was the carefully nurtured di daughter of the hou fu.
Seeing Gu Jiu remain silent, Gu Mei spoke softly to comfort her: “Xiao Jiu, don’t worry. If you ever can’t handle something, you can always come to the hou fu for help.”
Gu Jiu was touched. “Thank you, Mei jiejie. Just thinking that you’ll be married next year makes me so reluctant to part with you.”
Gu Mei laughed. “Even after I’m married, I’ll still be in the capital. If you need anything, just send someone to let me know. If you want to meet, that’s even simpler – I’ll send you an invitation, and you can come as a guest. If Xie shenniang tries to stop you from going out, I’ll go reason with her myself.”
Gu Jiu smiled sweetly. “Mei jiejie, you’re so good to me.”
Gu Mei playfully tapped Gu Jiu’s nose. “Now you see how good I am, hmm? Will you still tease me in the future?”
Gu Jiu quickly shook her head. “I promise I won’t tease you anymore. From now on, I’ll be serious in everything I say and do.”
“You little rascal, always joking.”
Gu Mei looked up at the roof. “Xiao Jiu, today you took dasao’s pulse. Can you tell me what’s really going on with her health?”
Gu Jiu was surprised. “Even Mei jiejie doesn’t know why tangsao is so weak?”
Gu Mei sighed softly. “Mother and da ge surely know, but they’ve never told me. I’ve made guesses before, but they always turned out wrong.
“I see how hard it is for her during pregnancy, always needing medicine to preserve the child, and I wondered if her health had some deeper problem. Could it be that one of her maids is being untrustworthy?”
Gu Jiu said, “It’s not like that. Today, when I examined her pulse, I found that she must have been injured as a child. The root of the illness was never cured.”
Gu Mei froze. “Injured as a child? That, I didn’t know. Da ge and she grew up together, childhood sweethearts – he would definitely know. Do you know what kind of injury it was?”
After a moment of thought, Gu Jiu leaned close to Gu Mei’s ear and whispered: “It seems dasao was poisoned when she was young.”
“What?” Gu Mei was shocked.
“Shh! Mei jiejie, don’t shout. This is only my preliminary judgment. It might not be true.”
“No – it must be true. I suddenly remember, when I was about five or six, there was a time da ge came home covered in blood. Mother was terrified. I don’t remember what happened after that. But now that I think about it, maybe that was when dasao was poisoned.”
Leave a Reply