Chapter 3

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⠀⠀As the sun set that day, Fu Ling and Yu Zhu returned with prepared medical ingredients. For the next few days, Su Yunchu did her best to help the man heal.

The relationship between the two was quite different from the beginning, just a simple relationship between a doctor and a patient. They tended to sit in a courtyard in peace and quiet, each doing their own thing, not disturbing the other. There was a peaceful tacit understanding between the two.

Like right now. In the courtyard of the pavilion, Su Yunchu sat on one side quietly dispensing medicine while the man was in the other with his eyes closed, resting.

After so many days of treatment, the gauze covering the man’s eyes had been removed, his vision now blurred and vague.

The inside of the pavilion was quiet, but from time to time came the sound of the porcelain bottles colliding with each other, the spoon clashing with the bowl, and the clinking sound of the porcelain bottles on the stone table. Some of the medicine was hers, some were the various medicinal powders and pills she made with the extra herbs, but most were the medicines necessary for the man’s treatment.

⠀⠀His internal injuries needed special attention but his eyes were the main priority. Within the seven days after vision was restored, without careful attention, the resulting effect could be disastrous.

For the past ten days, Yu Zhu and Fu Ling had practically avoided this man, Fu Ling being a rather jumpy person. Firstly, because this man obviously didn’t look like a simple person, and secondly, Su Yunchu had told them her guess of this man’s identity, so they didn’t dare to be rude to him.

At this time, Fu Ling was giving Su Yunchu a hand, packing up the medicines and other things in preparation for the journey tomorrow.

Su Yunchu picked up a medicine bottle. “This bottle of pills is the medicine to restore your eyesight. As usual, take one pill in the morning and evening.”

Su Yunchu placed the pill on the stone table opposite the man and said in a quiet voice.

But the man did not extend his hand to take it and instead asked, “Miss Yun is leaving tomorrow?”

“There are some matters at home, and if we don’t leave tomorrow, I’m afraid it will be too late.” Having been delayed for more than ten days, if they didn’t get on the road tomorrow, she was afraid that they really would have to miss the old madam’s sixtieth birthday before returning to the capital. Even in her memories from six years ago, the old madam wasn’t good to the real Su Yunchu, but in the end, she couldn’t be absent on such an occasion.

The man nodded his head as if understanding. “These few days, I’ve delayed Miss Yun.”

Su Yunchu still smiled calmly, “No worries, I was the one who voluntarily stayed behind to heal gongzi.” Saying that, Su Yunchu still continued to talk to the man about the medicine left for him, “The pills in the red porcelain bottle are for after recovering your eyesight. As I told you before, the first seven days are critical so don’t let your eyes get irritated again. When the time comes, you’ll need to pay some attention.”

“Hmm.” The man nodded in understanding.

“Here in the other courtyard, after we leave, I’m afraid that no one can take care of you…” Su Yunchu hadn’t finished her words, but the man spoke out and interrupted her.

“Miss Yun need not worry too much.”

Su Yun Chu nodded, figuring that someone like him wouldn’t really be a useless person who couldn’t take care of himself. She was thinking too much and subsequently looked down on him. But in the end, she had spent all those years with a bunch of soldiers so, relatively speaking, there was more of a military nature in her.

Therefore, for this man in front of her, it was a lie to say that she didn’t appreciate his presence, otherwise she wouldn’t have stayed for more than ten days for him, making her have to speed up her journey back.

The next day, early in the morning, Su Yunchu’s party set off. This time, the carriage was significantly faster than it had been ten days ago.

As soon as she left that courtyard, Fu Ling changed back to her original state, her mouth still kept muttering a sentence or two, “Now we need to hurry back. If it weren’t for that person earlier, we’d be at the capital by now. Why do we need to rush like this?”

But this time, Su Yunchu didn’t casually let her continue to whine like this, only calling out lightly, “Fu Ling.”

Despite being light, this voice did carry a hint of unquestionable authority.

Having spent seven years with Su Yunchu, they couldn’t understand Su Yun Chu’s temperament any better, but whenever she had this tone, it was akin to a warning to them.

Even though there wasn’t much of a master-servant relationship between Su Yunchu and them, it was’ot possible to let the people around her question her decisions like this. Such behavior didn’t seem like much on a normal day, but one day, if a serious situation arose, such questioning and hesitation could lead to serious consequences.

She was from a military background and understood all of this best.

Fu Ling also realized her mistake, so she did not have her original jumpy appearance, and was busy apologizing to Su Yunchu, “Miss, maidservant was wrong. I shouldn’t question the lady.”

“Never again.” Su Yunchu casually looked at her, and did not delve deeper.

It was good to say so, otherwise, when the mistake was serious, the resulting punishment was what made Fu Ling shiver when she thought about it.

At this time, in the Xiu courtyard of the Zhiyuan Marquis fu, Su Yiyan was having a temper tantrum with Liu shi*, “Yiniang*, think of a way! Su Yunchu is coming back, what should we do?”

Liu shi still looked unhurried and continued her embroidery work, “Yiyan, have you forgotten what yiniang has taught you since you were little? “

When Su Yiyan heard this, she put away her previous frightened appearance and whispered, “Yiniang told me since I was young that I should learn to be solemn and gentle. No matter what, I have to be calm and collected.”

Liu shi put down the embroidery work in her hands and pulled Su Yiyan down to sit next to her on the couch, “It’s good that you remember. Yiniang told you long ago that what’s yours is yours. Even if Su Yunchu returns, she can’t do anything to you, and yiniang won’t let her have the chance to take away what is yours.”

The stern color in Liu shi’s eyes flickered as she spoke, seeing Su Yiyan in a trance, “Yiniang…”

Probably seeing the look in Su Yiyan’s eyes, Liu returned her gentle smile, “Yan’er*, don’t worry, you’re mother’s own daughter, mother will always pave the best path for you.”

Saying that, she smiled again and asked, “Two days ago, Lu gongzi invited you to go on a lake tour, did you still have fun?”

At the words, Su Yiyan had a pretty look on her face, “Mother…”

Instead, Liu shi laughed lightly, “What’s there to be shy about between you and your mother?”

“Mother, don’t say that. Lu gongzi and I were just out on a trip to the lake, and there were other sons and daughters accompanying us that day. All of us together had fun.” Su Yiyan’s cheeks blushed slightly, but still couldn’t help but tell Liu shi‘s about the day’s events.

Liu shi didn’t say anything else, “It’s good to have fun.”

But Su Yiyan couldn’t help but ask one more question in the end, “Mother, have you thought of another way?”

Liu shi patted Su Yiyan’s hand, as if to comfort her, “Mother didn’t do anything, but your uncle has always loved you! Of course your mother didn’t have to think of a way, your uncle paved the way for you.”

“Uncle?”

“Mm, Yan’er, don’t worry, you have to remember that your uncle has always helped us mother and daughter. In the future, no matter how rich you are, you must remember this kindness.”

“Yes, mother, I remember. Yan’er knows in her heart how much uncle loves Yan’er.” Su Yiyan obediently responded.

Liu shi smiled softly, “You are mother’s good daughter.”

Speaking of which, Su Yiyan fell into Liu shi’s embrace, acting like a spoiled child for a while, “It’s a pity that Yan’er can’t call mother my mother in front of people.”

Liu shi smiled, “Mother only wants Yan’er to remember in her heart what mother has told you before, sometimes it’s necessary to hold ‘the head of a chicken rather than the tail of a phoenix’. Mother doesn’t need you to be the main noble lady and doesn’t need you to cling to the imperial family, but you need to take and hold onto what is yours.”

“Mm, Yan’er remembers.” Su Yiyan looked up at Liu shi and nodded, indicating that she had heard.

Liu shi was originally the daughter of Qingzhou’s merchant family. The business was considered to be the sole biggest in Qingzhou, and even in the capital they had a certain influence, so it is not too much to say that the family was extremely wealthy. But for some reason, she chased the Zhiyuan Marquis back then and became the third yiniang of the Zhiyuan Marquis.

But Liu shi was a smart person. She has been living a relatively peaceful life in the Zhiyuan Marquis’ fu and gave birth to the dainty-looking Su Yiyan. Besides, now that she was of marriageable age, she had developed a sort of charm. In the capital full of beautiful women, she attracted a lot of attention.

Moreover, there has been rumors in the capital that the Zhiyuan Marquis fu’s second Miss was beautiful and had a simple and kind nature. In this capital full of well-bred ladies, she was adored by men and even the women were willing to associate with her.

Even though Liu shi had an average appearance, when he was young, Zhiyuan Marquis was the most beautiful man in the capital, and was elegant and rich. All the young ladies admired him. Therefore, nowadays, there were three courtyards in Zhiyuan Marquis fu’s backyard and if it weren’t for the death of Song shi nine years ago, there would have been four.

For the people in the capital, having four courtyards was more than enough. To have a good reputation, most people had two courtyards, sometimes three. Even if there were more, most would be raised outside of the fu.

Therefore, when Zhiyuan Marquis was young, the story of Zhiyuan Marquis’ fu became the talk of the capital.

shi: added after a woman’s maiden name to show she was married

yiniang: father’s concubine, position directly below the wife

er: added behind a person’s name to show affection

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