Chapter 55: Younger Sister

 Chapter 55: Younger Sister

After seeing off Qin Yao, Gu Jue rode Qin Yao’s brown horse back to the capital.

As he passed by Jishi Hall, Gu Jue instinctively glanced into the medical clinic.

This glance revealed a familiar figure in teal, Chu Qianchen, who had her back to the clinic’s door, speaking with Physician Liu.

Gu Jue’s gaze lingered on her slender back for a moment before he urged his horse to leave.

Inside Jishi Hall, Chu Qianchen sensed something and turned to look out at the street, which was empty except for a few pedestrians strolling by.

Chu Qianchen: "..."

She had come to Jishi Hall today to deliver the Ten-Ingredient Balm she had made for Qi Niang.

After handing the balm to Physician Liu and giving instructions on how to use it, she left.

Once she left the clinic, she wandered around the neighboring street, bought some storybooks and boxes of sweets, intending to bring them back to comfort Chu Yunmu.

When entering the estate through the corner gate, she shared a box of hoof cakes with the doorman, also giving her a silver coin.

"Thank you, Second Young Miss."

The doorman was overjoyed by the extra reward, her eyes narrowing into a smile.

The silver coin was worth one tael, nearly half her salary for the year. The cakes from Jinshi Ji were rare and expensive, perfect to take home for her little grandson.

"Second Young Miss, County Princess Jing came earlier," the doorman suddenly remembered something and casually mentioned, "You should hurry back to Wan Yan Courtyard."

Chu Qianchen thought for a moment before realizing whom the doorman referred to.

County Princess Jing, Shen Wan, was from the Mu Guo Gong family, and was the younger sister of her legitimate mother, Shen Shi.

Chu Qianchen smiled and thanked the doorman for the reminder.

Though she had never met her so-called aunt, she had heard that County Princess Jing despised concubines and illegitimate children, so her legitimate mother would likely not have sent her to pay respects.

Chu Qianchen strolled slowly toward Wan Yan Courtyard.

County Princess Jing had only recently arrived at the Marquis residence, and at that moment, she sat in the main hall of the residence, holding a seven or eight-year-old girl in her arms.

"Ah Wan," Shen Shi smiled warmly as she pushed a tea cup toward her, then changed the topic, "What brings you here today?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Wan’s radiant face broke into a smile. "Elder Sister, have you heard of the divine physician in the capital recently?"

Shen Shi raised her brows. "A divine physician?"

She had not heard of anyone like that.

Shen Wan was coaxing the little girl to eat rose pastry as she explained, "Four days ago, the third and fourth young masters of the Zhongyong Manor fought fiercely on the street. Young Master Yun had his throat slit and bled out, dying on the spot. However, he was revived by a divine physician. I heard that the physician used only three needles, and the bleeding stopped, restoring his breath."

To seek treatment, Shen Wan had asked around and learned many rumors about that day, which she now shared with Shen Shi.

Shen Shi understood, glancing at the little girl in Shen Wan’s arms, Qi Niang, whose face was covered with a dark green ointment that emitted a faint herbal scent, fresh and pleasant.

"Ah Wan, did you take Qi Niang to see this divine physician?" Shen Shi asked.

Shen Wan nodded, tenderly holding her daughter, her spirits lifted as she said, "The divine physician said Qi Niang's face can be cured."

Her daughter's face had been scarred for so long, and after seeing countless physicians, only this young divine physician had promised it could be healed. No matter the result, Shen Wan was willing to believe.

"This ointment was given by the divine physician. He said Qi Niang should use it for three days," Shen Wan continued, "He asked me to go to Jishi Hall for new medicine this afternoon, so I thought I’d bring Qi Niang here to visit you along the way."

In truth, Shen Wan had only learned last night about the argument between Shen Shi and Chu Lingxiao, and worried her elder sister might be upset. She came to offer support and possibly ease her mind.

In her opinion, this marriage should never have happened. But because their grandfather felt indebted to the old marquis for saving his life, he had arranged this union.

Since entering the Marquis residence, her elder sister had fulfilled her duties as a wife, showing respect to her parents-in-law and nurturing the children. What had she done wrong to deserve being treated with such arrogance by Chu Lingxiao, just because of a lowly concubine?

"Qi Niang, come, Auntie will hold you." Shen Shi gently took Qi Niang from Shen Wan’s arms and used a handkerchief to carefully wipe the crumbs of rose pastry from her hands.

The dark green ointment covered the scar on Qi Niang’s left cheek, making the other half of her face appear even whiter, smooth, and delicate, with skin that gleamed like snow.

Qi Niang’s eyes were vacant, her expression blank. As Shen Shi held her, she stared at Shen Shi, neither crying nor making a sound.

Shen Shi sighed softly and comforted her, "Ah Wan, don’t feel too guilty. This has been a year now."

Though she said that, as a mother, if her own daughter had been harmed, Shen Shi would have likely gone to great lengths to punish the person responsible.

But since Qi Niang had returned, life had to go on for her sake. Shen Wan was now torturing herself over the past, and it pained Shen Shi, as her sister, to watch.

"Yes, it’s been a year," Shen Wan said with a faint smile, her tone indifferent. "Let’s not talk about that. Elder sister, where’s Huang Jie'er?"

"I’ve already sent someone to call her," Shen Shi smiled. "She knows you’re here, she’ll be here soon."

Chu Qianhuang and Shen Wan had always gotten along well. After Shen Wan’s marriage, which was childless for several years, she had treated Chu Qianhuang like her own daughter.

Shen Shi continued, "My daughter Chen Jie'er, would you like to meet her too?"

She spoke so naturally, without any hint of the grudge she should have felt from the situation with the wetnurse, Cui Mama, just a few days ago.

"Never mind," Shen Wan wrinkled her nose in distaste, speaking angrily, "I remember she’s the daughter of that woman, right? Didn’t you just beat her birth mother a few days ago? Who knows how she might hold a grudge against you."

"Elder sister, you’re too soft-hearted. These concubines have no boundaries. If you treat them kindly, they’ll only see you as weak and trample all over you!!"

"Take my advice, don’t always be so trusting of others. If you raise someone else’s daughter, you might end up with an ungrateful wolf!"

Shen Shi sighed lightly, her expression serious as she replied, "Chen Jie’er is a good child. If it weren’t for her, my Mu Ge’er might not have survived."

Shen Wan curled her lips, unconcerned. "No matter how good she is, she’s still the child of another woman. Elder sister, you can’t expect her to side with you over her legitimate mother."

"..." Shen Shi furrowed her brows, her face showing a thoughtful expression.

Shen Wan thought her elder sister had come to an understanding, so she added, "These illegitimate daughters, if you like them, treat them like little cats or dogs, as long as they make you happy, it’s their good fortune."

"But always be on guard. In the end, they have their own mothers. Those two are connected by blood, with hearts tied together."

Shen Wan felt her elder sister was too kind-hearted.

Shen Shi lowered her gaze, thinking for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Ah Wan, do you think there could be a mother who doesn’t love her own child?"

(End of chapter)