Dong Xue thought for a while, and said, “Then… I shall go and ask Young Master for instructions. Don’t worry, our Young Master will definitely give you a satisfactory answer.”
When Dong Xue got out of the carriage, Gu Ye wrinkled his nose and said, “Prestigious families are troublesome and have many rules. Why don’t we go back to Qingshan Village directly, or live in our own home? I miss Aunt Yan’s flower rolls. By the way, how is Aunt Yan now? Has she gotten used to living at home?”
”Aunt Yan took the medicine you left behind, and it didn’t take long for her to get better. Her cooking skills are awesome. Simple radish and cabbage can be cooked in a variety of ways, and the taste is super delicious. You see, in just a few days, I’ve gained a lot of weight.” Gu Ming pinched his face and showed his sister that he had grown flesh.
Gu Ye considered her brother carefully, and sure enough he was a little fatter. She then nodded and said, “Yeah, you still look better when you’re a little fatter. You can no longer find a young boy who is more handsome than you in Qingshan Village.”
Gu Ming scratched his head with some embarrassment. He said, “You, you’re making fun of me! In my heart, you are also the best!”
The siblings were separated for a few days, so it sounded like they had endless things to say. Shortly after, the carriage stopped again. They have arrived at the Jun Residence. Dong Xue lifted the curtain of the carriage and helped Gu Ye to get off the carriage.
What a big courtyard! Gu Ye was amazed, looking at the tall courtyard wall in front of her. Visually, the wall facing the street was more than 300 meters long. The majestic vermilion gate was flanked by a pair of majestic stone lions. Upon entering the door, there was an elaborate spirit screen.
The Jun family has had two generations of imperial teachers. After the Emperor ascended the throne, they quickly retreated, politely declined the Emperor’s rewards, returned to their ancestral home and hid in the city. In the generation of the Duke of Zhen’s wife, three males and one female were direct descendants. Young Master Chu has three uncles, two of them are on local errands, and one is a famous Confucian scholar who works as a mountain chief in the most famous academy in the north.
In the outer courtyard of the Jun Residence, Young Master Chu’s eldest uncle, Jun Yonglun, was waiting with several of his sons for the arrival of his nephew. In the Jun family’s generation, only the wife of Duke Zhenguo was the daughter. When she was still unmarried, her brothers pampered her the most. Their love for her extended even to the crows on her roof. Moreover, their sister’s only daughter went missing in Yan City. The entire Jun family felt guilty over this.
Now that their nephew was seriously injured and needed to rest, the Jun family would naturally give him the best care.
Young Master Chu exchanged a few words with his uncle and cousin, then looked back at Gu Ye and said, “Miss Gu can be considered my savior. In order to save me, she braved the wind and snow and traveled day and night, endured the harsh conditions, and assisted her master to treat my wound. If it wasn’t for her and her master, you would never see your nephew, Uncle.”
Chu Muhua’s words were so sincere that Gu Ye couldn’t help but be moved. It turned out that she was this great, the living example of a selfless savior, waah!
Hearing this, Jun Yonglun immediately bowed deeply to immortal-like Medical Sage then back to Sage Apothecary. He said, “My deepest gratitude to you, divine doctors, for your labors to save Hua’er. Miss Gu, you can live at home with confidence. Don’t consider yourself as an outsider, just treat this place as if it were your home.”
Like my own home? We don’t have this big of a courtyard! Gu Ye smacked her lips in her heart — This outer courtyard alone was as big as twenty to thirty Gu family courtyards. When will we be able to live in such a stylish house? It seems that I have to work harder, for a big house, Gu Ye cheered herself!
Young Master Chu continued: “Uncle, Miss Gu’s illness requires daily pulse diagnosis. Would it be inconvenient if she stays in the inner courtyard?”
Jun Yonglun thought for a moment and said, “It’s okay. There are two guest houses in the second courtyard. One of them has been tidied up and reserved for your recovery. As for the one right next to it, I’ll have someone change the bedding supplies and warm up the room. It is closer to the outer courtyard, so the two divine doctors can easily come and go. If Miss Gu doesn’t dislike it, would you like to recuperate there?”
”I’m totally fine with it. I don’t dislike it!” An independent courtyard was set aside for her recuperation, making Gu Ye feel flattered. “Apologies for causing you trouble!”
”As we should!” Jun Yonglun beckoned, and the soft sedan chair he had prepared was carried over. The soft palanquins were naturally prepared for the two wounded and sick people, Young Master Chu and Gu Ye.
Gu Ye was assisted onto the soft sedan chair. She was not used to being carried, so she trembled a bit out of nervousness. The soft sedan chair wobbled as the servants walked. She’d rather they let her down and allow her to walk by herself, lest she’d die of discomfort!
Fortunately, the courtyard prepared for her was not far from the outer courtyard. It took less than a stick of incense to enter the hanging flower gate, and then arrived at the “Tingfeng Garden”.
The servants in the courtyard were busy, cleaning up the room non-stop. A woman in charge approached with a smile on her face. She didn’t give the siblings, Gu Ming and Gu Ye, the cold shoulder because they were dressed in ordinary clothes. Instead, she came over to bow with thoughtfulness and courtesy, and pleaded guilty, “The courtyard is clean and has just been arranged, but it’s still quite a mess. I hope you will forgive me, distinguished guests. The floor fireplace in the living room is already burning up. Please head there first to warm yourselves up with a cup of tea.”
”You must be tired, Momo[1]!” Dong Xue took chunks of silver and stuffed them into the granny’s hand. The smile in the old lady’s eyes shone even more sincerely. Gu Ye looked at the chunks of silver, they must be at least two taels. Back then, she was only worth two taels of silver when Liu Shi sold her to that slave matron. It was really easy to make money in wealthy families!
”My pleasure, Miss! Honorable guests, please come with this granny!” Because of the crowd, the woman passed through the courtyard paved with blue bricks, went up two steps, and came to the hall with the words “Yuyan Hall” written on it. The layout inside exuded scholarly taste, and the impression left by the entire main hall was nothing more than the word “elegance”.
Dong Xue supported Gu Ye to sit in the hall. Medical Sage and Sage Apothecary also took their seats. Sage Apothecary stretched his waist and said, “After riding in a carriage for seven or eight days, my arms and legs are almost rusty. Listen, you’ll hear a ‘crack’ when I move.”
”Master, I’ll massage you in a while and you’ll feel comfortable.” Gu Ye felt a little guilty. Her master was at an advanced age, but he accompanied her around and worried about her.