Guo Yishu walked into the flower hall and saw Song Jinzhao sitting on the stool, her expression changing slightly.
Why was she sitting in that seat?
Madam Meng saw Guo Yiyao enter and a gentle smile appeared on her face. "Why are you so late today? Mother and I have been talking about you for a while now."
Guo Yiyao curtsied. "The stream of distinguished guests coming to offer birthday congratulations today was endless, causing some delay on the road. I apologize for my tardiness, Old Madam Meng."
Old Madam Meng glanced at Madam Meng and reached out, gesturing for Guo Yiyao to come over and take her hand.
"Grandmother is already overjoyed that you could come. But you look quite thinner; was it the hot weather recently affecting your appetite?"
Standing nearby, Guo Yishu clenched her back teeth tightly to suppress the jealousy in her heart and keep it from showing.
After Liu Fufeng sat down, she inquired of the lady beside her, "Who is that young lady in the light green dress?"
The lady promptly replied, "That's Song Jinzhao. She's the one who cured Old Madam Meng's illness."
Guo Yishu, sitting nearby, heard this and breathed a sigh of relief, murmuring quietly, "So she's just a physician."
Liu Fufeng, her hand under the low table, pressed it onto the back of Guo Yishu's hand and shot her a sharp look.
Guo Yishu looked puzzled, not understanding why her mother had suddenly scolded her.
She wasn't wrong; she was just a physician.
Liu Fufeng let out a heavy sigh, feeling some regret.
Song Jinzhao might just be a physician, but her younger brother is a disciple of Ye Liangyu. It's best not to offend such people if possible. She should have stopped her daughter earlier.
Liao Xiwen, sitting next to Old Madam Liao, stole several glances at Song Jinzhao. When their eyes met, she smiled sheepishly and suggested, "The chrysanthemums in the courtyard are in full bloom. Would you like to go out and admire them together, Miss Song?"
Song Shixue secretly tried to get Song Jinzhao's attention under the table with her hand.
Having been sitting there eating and listening to people she didn't know talk, she was starting to feel restless.
"I'd be delighted not to refuse. I noticed the beautiful chrysanthemums when I came in and was just wishing for someone to enjoy them with."
Song Jinzhao quietly left with Song Shixue and Liao Xiwen. Only after stepping out of the flower hall did the air feel fresh again.
The three of them stood before a pot of chrysanthemums. Liao Xiwen grabbed Song Jinzhao's sleeve, the smile fading from her face.
She gazed into Song Jinzhao's eyes and asked, "Is your medical skill truly that excellent?"
As if sensing her plea, Song Jinzhao countered with a question, "Does Miss Liao have some matter you need help with?"
Liao Xiwen released her grip. The rouge on her lips was slightly smudged from her biting them. "I would like to invite you to the Liao residence to examine my mother."
Hadn't the Liao residence invited so many physicians recently without curing Madam Liao's illness?
It had been over a month already.
Song Jinzhao asked, "May I ask what ailment your esteemed mother suffers from?"
Liao Xiwen's gaze fell on the chrysanthemum's stamen. Her voice was soft and distant, as if it would scatter with a breeze.
"A month ago, my mother had a miscarriage. The physician said she can never bear children again. Since then, she's become deeply melancholic, and recently she hasn't even been able to get out of bed."
Song Jinzhao's expression turned serious. "How old is your esteemed mother, and how many months along was the pregnancy when she miscarried?"
The mere thought of the circumstances of the miscarriage filled Liao Xiwen's heart with bitterness.
"My mother is thirty-two this year. The child was lost at six months. The physician said it was a fully formed male infant."
Song Jinzhao instinctively pressed further, "How many children has your esteemed mother given birth to in total?"
Thirty-two was considered quite old for childbearing in ancient times. Liao Xiwen looked to be only in her teens, so she must have been pregnant more than once in between.
Liao Xiwen wrung her hands together. "My mother only has me, one daughter. But she has been pregnant several times before, and each ended in miscarriage."
"Several times?"
"Since I can remember, twelve times in total."
Song Shixue, who had been admiring the flowers nearby, immediately froze, straightening her back to look at Liao Xiwen.
Twelve times. That was far too many.
Song Jinzhao's brows knitted tightly together. "Were they natural miscarriages or accidents? How many months along was she each time?"
Twelve miscarriages would cause immense damage to a woman's body.
She needed to determine if the miscarriages were due to innate factors, acquired circumstances, or... human intervention?
Liao Xiwen glanced around, then took small, quick steps closer to Song Jinzhao, leaning in to whisper by her arm.
"Some were miscarriages for no apparent reason, some were accidents. Most didn't go beyond three months. This last pregnancy lasted the longest. We all thought it would come to term, but then she suddenly started bleeding, and the child couldn't be saved."
"The physicians said the physical damage from the miscarriage can be treated with tonics, but the distress in her heart is hard to cure. That's why I wanted you to see my mother. If she could still bear children, her heartache would naturally be resolved."
Song Jinzhao swallowed hard, uncomfortably averting her gaze and shaking her head.
"So many physicians have said it's impossible. I can only take a look first. As for whether she can bear children again, I cannot make any promises."
Trying to have a child after twelve miscarriages was practically playing with one's own life.
At the entrance of the Meng residence, the steward, upon seeing Ye Liangyu being helped down from the carriage, immediately sent a servant inside to announce his arrival.
Meng Hechuan, seeing Ye Liangyu enter leaning on a cane, felt a flicker of shock in his eyes.
Wasn't it said his legs were crippled and he could never stand or walk again? How could he now be using a cane?
He stepped forward and cupped his hands in salute. "Master Ye honors us by gracing my mother's birthday banquet. Our humble Meng residence is truly illuminated."
Ye Liangyu raised a hand to stop Meng Hechuan's gesture. "This old man no longer holds an official post. There's no need for such formality, Lord Meng."
After being invited to the seat of honor, the gazes of everyone in the main hall focused on the two men sitting at the head of the room.
Li Tianchong's eyes swept over Song Qiming sitting below Ye Liangyu. "Ye Liangyu's legs must be related to Song Jinzhao. This makes his connection to the Song family even closer."
Li Zien lowered her head and whispered her guess, "If his legs are completely healed, might he be reinstated to his official post and return to the capital?"
Li Tianchong held his breath, concentrating. Given the Emperor's trust in Ye Liangyu, a single word from him would make reinstatement a simple matter.
This news needed to be relayed to the Second Prince as soon as possible.
A fearless, outspoken Censor-in-Chief deeply trusted by the Emperor was like a club—anyone who ran into him would have a hard time.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Meng Hechuan glanced at Song Qiming and said to Ye Liangyu, "When this official went to Song Village to deliver the imperial decree, I saw Qiming and thought even then this child would achieve great things in the future. I never imagined he would become your disciple, Master Ye. It seems you hold him in high regard?"
When talking about Song Qiming, the affection in Ye Liangyu's eyes and the pride in his tone were evident to anyone—his satisfaction with this disciple was clear.
"This old man has only taken Qiming as my disciple in this lifetime, so naturally I have high hopes for him. The boy has talent and works hard. I am truly fond of him."
Yan Baoyi, sitting on a stool in the distance, kept his face lowered. Hearing the crowd's flattery of the master and disciple, his eyes turned bloodshot.
He couldn't surpass him in exams, but at least his family background was better.
Now, with Ye Liangyu backing him, even his status had been overtaken.
Why did all the good fortune in the world fall on Song Qiming? A lowly farm boy from a humble background—what right did he have?
When the banquet began at noon, a huge red character for 'Longevity' hung in the central hall. The Meng family had invited the most famous opera troupe in Anyang Prefecture to perform. The stage was set up across from the pond.
It provided a clear view and displayed their refined taste.
A thin gauze curtain separated the men's seating area from the women's. Voices could be heard, but faces were unclear.
Song Shixue strained her eyes, trying to locate where Song Qiming was sitting, but after looking for a long time, she couldn't find him.
Song Jinzhao pointed to the table at the very front and said, "Master Ye is sitting next to Lord Meng. Your brother is at the table right behind him, back-to-back."
Song Shixue leaned forward, but the gauze curtain in between only allowed her to see a vague silhouette.
"Forget it, I'll see Brother soon anyway. If I'd known the banquet would be this boring, I wouldn't have come. I'd have been better off reading a few more pages of medical texts at home."
Song Jinzhao reached out and gently patted the young girl's head. "It's good to get out and about. At least this time you've seen all the officials and merchants of Anyang Prefecture, big and small."
The birthday banquet was halfway through, and the opera on stage had already changed three times.
Liu Fufeng exchanged a glance with Nanny Lu, who then silently turned and left the main hall.
Song Shixue pressed her legs together and whispered, covering her mouth, "Elder Sister, I need to use the privy."
Song Jinzhao stood up and led Shixue away from their seats. Once outside the main hall entrance, she stopped a maid and asked, "Excuse me, where is the privy?"
The maid respectfully curtsied and led the way. "This way, please, honored guests."
While Shixue was inside, Song Jinzhao and the maid waited not far from the privy.
After a while, with no sign of her coming out, Jinzhao called out from the doorway.
Song Shixue's voice came out, strained and muffled. "Elder Sister, I have a bit of diarrhea. Please wait a little longer for me."
"No rush, take your time. I'll be right outside."
Song Jinzhao walked over to the maid. "You may go back. I'll take my sister back myself once she's done."
The maid glanced at the privy. Considering it wasn't far from the main hall and there was much to attend to at the banquet, she curtsied in reply. "Then this servant will take her leave. The main hall is just through the rockery ahead. Please don't lose your way, miss."
Song Jinzhao waved her hand. "It's just a few steps, I won't get lost. You may go."
Not long after, Song Shixue emerged from the privy, her legs numb. "Elder Sister, I'm done."
"How did you get diarrhea all of a sudden? Did you kick off your blankets and catch a chill last night?"
Song Shixue's eyes darted about, looking pitiful. "I had a bowl of frozen cheese last night. Probably chilled my stomach."
Song Jinzhao scowled. "Frozen cheese in the middle of the night? Don't you remember what's happening in a few days? Be careful of stomach cramps."
Shixue said, "I remember. But it's still days away. I won't eat it again."
As they turned around the rockery, the scene that met their eyes made Song Jinzhao swiftly cover Shixue's mouth and pull her into the rocks.
It was Nanny Lu from Liu Fufeng's side. The other woman looked like a servant of the Meng household. They were putting something into a bowl.
Song Shixue kept her mouth tightly shut, her eyes signaling Jinzhao to let go. Her voice was smaller than a mosquito's hum. "Elder Sister, what are they doing?"
Song Jinzhao observed the situation outside through a small hole in the rockery. She saw the two women stir the contents of the bowl with a spoon after adding the substance, then leave one after the other.
"I don't know, but it's certainly nothing good." She just didn't know who the target of this scheme was.
When the two returned to the banquet, they happened to see that same maid serving at the table where Liu Fufeng and others were seated. The soup bowls were already in many people's hands, being drunk.
Song Shixue stared at the identical soup bowl on their own table, goosebumps rising all over. She felt sure it contained poison too.
Song Jinzhao's gaze swept over that table. Recalling Guo Yiyao's visit to the clinic, a suspicion formed in her mind.
Guo Yiyao was Meng Xiaozhe's fiancée. They were to be married in a month. If something happened to her now, who would benefit the most?
Liu Fufeng was the stepmother, and that nanny was her person. Catching sight of Guo Yishu, dressed flamboyantly and sitting beside Liu Fufeng, a cold smile curled at the corner of Song Jinzhao's mouth.
Coveting her future brother-in-law—that was exactly the kind of thing Guo Yishu would do. That mother and daughter pair were cut from the same cloth.
Since the soup had already been drunk, they would just have to see what happened next. Not getting involved would be a disservice to Guo Yishu's arrogant behavior outside the mansion earlier.
After the time it takes to drink a few cups of tea, noticing Guo Yiyao's maid helping her to her feet, Song Jinzhao whispered to Song Shixue, "Stay seated and don't move. I'll be right back."
Song Shixue nodded seriously, guessing her sister was going to deal with the drugging incident.
Song Jinzhao followed Guo Yiyao out of the main hall. She saw her being led by the maid who had administered the drug into a room.
Was this a scheme involving aphrodisiacs and being caught in bed?
Song Jinzhao poked a small hole in the window paper with her finger. The mistress and maid inside were changing clothes. No man was in sight.
Seeing Guo Yiyao pull a hairpin from her head and forcefully draw a cut on her arm, then smear the blood onto the discarded skirt, Song Jinzhao raised her eyebrows in surprise, a flash of delight in her eyes.
This development was unexpected. A scheme within a scheme?
After changing clothes, Qiu Ye opened the door. The maid waiting outside stepped forward, picked up the garments, and said respectfully with a smile, "This servant will take these to the laundry immediately. Once they are washed and starched, we will send someone to deliver them to your residence."
Guo Yiyao gave a slight nod. "I ate a bit too much earlier and feel unwell. I'll rest here for a moment. You may go."
The maid hurried off with the clothes.
Watching Guo Yiyao pick up a vase, smash it on the ground, and use a shard to press against the cut on her arm made by the hairpin, Song Jinzhao's eyes curved into a smile as she turned and left.
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. A good show was about to unfold.
A maid from the Meng household ran up to Liu Fufeng with a face full of anxiety. "Madam Liu, please come quickly! Miss Guo... she's bleeding heavily down below."
Liu Fufeng frowned and murmured, "Two months without it, and it had to come now."
Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for everyone at the table to hear.
Song Shixue, who had been sitting on her stool attentively observing the surroundings, turned to look.
Bleeding? The one who was drugged was that young lady who came to the clinic!
She was about to stand up when a pair of slender hands pressed down on her shoulders. Looking up, she called out happily, "Elder Sister!"
Song Jinzhao shook her head with a slight smile, leaning close to whisper in her ear, "Don't worry. It's nothing serious."
They saw the maid, after delivering her message, skillfully avoid Madam Meng and instead whisper a few words into Old Madam Meng's ear.
Seeing the women of the Guo and Meng families leaving one after another, many of the guests began to feel restless.
As Liu Fufeng saw Old Madam Meng following them out, her expression grew somewhat unnatural. She forced a smile and said, "Yao'er has been discourteous. It's unfortunate her monthly courses have come today. Please forgive her, Old Madam."
Seeing her behave as if she were covering something up, Old Madam Meng's gaze turned sharp. "But I heard Yiyao hasn't had her courses for two months?"
Madam Meng, standing beside them, looked anxiously between Liu Fufeng and Old Madam Meng's faces, hoping nothing was amiss.
