Resplendent – Chapter 411

Chapter 411: Mother

“Second Brother, I want to ride a horse!” A cool breeze swept past, making Gu Ye feel completely refreshed. Riding a horse was far more comfortable than sitting in the stuffy carriage!

Chu Mufeng affectionately smoothed the high ponytail on her head and gently supported her arm, helping her onto the horse’s back. He willingly acted as a groom, leading the horse forward while holding onto his sister.

Chu Xiaoliu, unable to snatch the reins from his own brother, pouted and trotted alongside, vying for attention and trying to talk to his sister. Meanwhile, Gu Ming walked quietly behind, his expression complicated as he watched his sister’s back. With so many Chu brothers around, he couldn’t even squeeze in to show concern. How frustrating!

Soon, they arrived at the Zhenguo Manor. The gatekeeper saw the second and sixth young masters escorting a small girl on horseback and hurriedly sent someone to inform the inner residence. He himself went out to greet them politely.

“This must be the young lady! We’ve finally been waiting for your return! Look at you. You really do resemble Sixth Young Master!” Elder Liu, the gatekeeper, had once served under the Duke of Zhen in the military. Though his leg was a bit lame, he was still more than capable of handling a few petty thieves.

Chu Xiaoliu proudly lifted his chin and said with a touch of arrogance. “Of course! Among all the brothers, only I look like my sister! I recognized her instantly in the crowd! If a couple of years ago they had let me go search for her, I might have already brought her back by now!”

With her brothers’ support, Gu Ye dismounted from the horse. She smiled sweetly and nodded at the gatekeeper, making Elder Liu even more excited. Indeed, this young lady was unmistakably a Chu family member, kind and approachable!

When passing through the main gate of the Zhenguo Manor, they walked only a few steps before reaching a screen wall decorated with the motif of ‘Five Bats Welcoming Good Fortune.’ 

Through the layered eaves of the outer courtyard, they arrived at an elegant hanging flower gate. Inside, a pale and frail but beautiful woman sat in a sedan chair, anxiously craning her neck, waiting. Around her were several young girls, as bright and beautiful as flowers, dressed in red and green robes, dazzling to the eye.

“Bao’er! My Bao’er!” The moment the woman’s gaze met Gu Ye, she froze. Her large eyes, strikingly similar to Gu Ye’s, instantly welled with tears.

From the moment Gu Ye stepped through the gates of the Zhenguo Manor, her heart was filled with nervous anticipation, a feeling akin to the old saying, ‘the closer you are to home, the more timid your heart feels.’ But the moment she saw the beautiful woman exuding a motherly aura, all her worries melted away.

That gaze, full of tenderness and affection, felt like a warm sun in winter, enveloping her heart in its comforting glow. It was a feeling she had never experienced before. Perhaps this was the radiance of a mother’s love.

The woman’s eyes lingered on Gu Ye, tears welling up, lips trembling. She completely forgot her frail and sickly body, letting the maids and attendants help her down from the sedan chair. She hurried forward two unsteady but determined steps until she stood before Gu Ye. Her slightly trembling hand rose and gently fell on Gu Ye’s face, smaller than a palm, caressing softly, as if afraid of damaging a priceless treasure.

Gu Ye’s eyes reddened. 

This was her mother’s hand, her mother’s touch. Soft, warm, and gentle—the tenderness struck deep into her heart, resonating in the very core of her being. She opened her mouth, wanting to call out that sacred term—’Mother’—but when it reached her lips, she didn’t know how to say it. 

Two lives of loneliness had made her believe she would never have a mother again. Who could have imagined that she would one day be reunited with her mother?

“Bao’er… truly my Bao’er!” The beautiful woman could no longer contain her emotions and pulled Gu Ye into her arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Her poor child—her daughter lost for thirteen years, her most beloved youngest daughter—had finally returned! 

Just one glance was enough for her to know her daughter had come back! The missing piece of her heart was finally complete at this very moment.

“Aunt, finding our cousin is a good thing. Please stop crying. Your health cannot bear such strain; if you fall seriously ill, cousin would feel terribly guilty!” Jun Miao gently released her tightly clenched hands, stepped forward, and smiled as she supported Lady Jun, offering comforting words.

Gu Ye felt something was off. That remark made it sound as if her being found again was somehow troubling her mother. Was it somehow her fault that her mother was frail? She gave a faint glance at the young girl, catching a seemingly friendly smile in return.

But Gu Ye didn’t have time to think, because her mother who was crying with tears streaming down like falling pear blossoms suddenly began breathing rapidly, missing a beat, and fainted. 

Sure enough! The girl’s jinx had hit the mark!

“Mother!” Chu Mufeng quickly stepped forward, taking her mother from Gu Ye’s struggling hands and holding her carefully, rushing toward the inner quarters while barking orders, “Go fetch the imperial physician!”

Although Chu Mushan was also worried, he tried to comfort his still-shaken sister: “Mother is frail. She was just too excited, that’s all… Don’t worry, and don’t feel guilty. This isn’t your fault!” After saying this, he cast a cold glance at Jun Miao. 

Jun Miao’s heart skipped a beat; she chastised herself for being too careless. Suddenly calling someone ‘cousin’ threw her off entirely. She had a premonition that this time it was real. The Zhenguo Manor would have one more girl. Her adoption dreams were about to be shattered… 

Worried about her mother’s condition, Gu Ye shook her head at Chu Mushan, signaling that she was fine. She quickly ran after Chu Mufeng, who was holding their mother. 

Once inside the room, she squeezed to the bedside. Her mother’s eyes were tightly shut, her face as pale as paper, lips nearly devoid of color, and her breathing had slowed from rapid to shallow. 

Gu Ye hurriedly lifted her mother’s hand, placing three fingers on her pulse. Gradually, Gu Ye’s brows furrowed. Her mother’s condition was not looking good!“Cousin, do you know medicine?” Jun Li asked. When she saw the new little cousin’s practiced and professional manner while taking the pulse. She couldn’t help but ask.

Seeing that her young lady had fallen into deep thought, Yue Yuan quickly answered for her, “Our young mistress is a highly skilled physician. There hasn’t been a single illness she couldn’t cure!”

Jun Miao curled her lips in disdain: Learn a bit of medicine for a few days and suddenly you think you’re a divine doctor? She’s boasting without the slightest humility. Aren’t you afraid people will laugh at you?!

Gu Ye appeared to be in contemplation, but in truth, her consciousness was searching through her space for the right medicine. 

Found it! A pill designed to treat severe blood deficiency! 

She pretended to rummage through her embroidered pouch, then took out a small, elegant jade bottle. From it, she poured out a single crimson-red pill and was about to place it in Lady Jun’s mouth.

Jun Miao suddenly cried out in alarm, quickly interrupting her: “Stop! What medicine are you trying to give Aunt? You’re not an imperial physician. How can you administer medicine at will? Aunt’s body is far too weak to endure any reckless treatment! Without the imperial physician’s diagnosis, you dare give her random medicine? Are you trying to kill her? Who exactly are you, and what are your true intentions?”