Resplendent – Chapter 412

Chapter 412 — What Are Your Intentions?

“Shut up! If anything happens to my mother because of this medicine, I’ll repay her with my own life!” Gu Ye raised her head and looked directly at Chu Mufeng. 

If he, too, doubted her like that girl did, then she would have to reconsider this entire reunion!

Chu Mufeng had witnessed his little sister’s skill in making medicine and had heard enough about her strange yet brilliant medical abilities. He didn’t know exactly what medicine she was giving their mother, but he was certain of one thing: his sister would never harm her own mother. 

Meeting Gu Ye’s searching gaze, he nodded firmly. “Little sister, I believe in your medical skills. Give Mother the medicine. If anything happens, I’ll take full responsibility.” 

“Little sister, I believe in you too!” Chu Mushan stood resolutely by his sister’s side. His mother was also his sister’s mother. She would never harm her own kin!

Jun Miao frowned deeply. This girl’s identity wasn’t even confirmed yet, and they were already trusting her this much? 

Second Cousin and Sixth Cousin must have lost their minds! If she had been sent here by someone with ill intent, wouldn’t her Aunt’s life end up ruined because of her foolish sons?

“It’s better to wait until the imperial physician arrives and diagnoses Auntie first! Aunt suffers from severe blood deficiency. As far as I know, aside from Wuji Baifeng Wan, there aren’t any other medicines on the market that can cure her illness!” Jun Miao spoke with an expression of deep concern for her aunt, though her gaze toward Gu Ye was filled with suspicion.

Gu Ye smiled faintly and turned to ask Chu Muliu, “Sixth Brother, do you believe me?”

“I do! I believe you would never harm Mother!” Chu Mushan’s heart was practically bubbling with joy! His little sister had called him ‘Sixth Brother’! She had finally acknowledged him as her brother! 

If it weren’t such an inappropriate moment, he might have done a few somersaults right there in the room! His mother was also his sister’s mother. Whatever his sister did, it would only be for her mother’s good. Chu Mushan’s faith in her grew even stronger!

“As long as you believe me, that’s enough.” As for everyone else, irrelevant people with irrelevant opinions. She didn’t care what they thought. Gu Ye cast a cool glance at the three unfamiliar young ladies, particularly at the one who kept speaking against her, and inwardly rolled her eyes.

Girls from noble families always had such complicated minds! But that didn’t mean everyone else was a fool!

If people don’t offend me, I won’t offend them. But if anyone does, I’ll repay them tenfold. 

That was Gu Ye’s guiding principle in life. She never allowed herself to suffer loss or injustice! She silently warned the three young ladies to be smart and not provoke her!

“Little sister, why didn’t you ask me instead of Second Brother?” Chu Mushan asked, a little smug. Could it be that, in his sister’s heart, his position was higher than Second Brother’s? Naturally — he was the one who found her and brought her home. If she wasn’t close to him, who else would she be close to?

Gu Ye lifted her gaze to glance at her second brother but said nothing. She lowered her head and carefully broke the pill into a piece no larger than half a fingernail, then gave it to Lady Jun with a sip of water.

“This medicine contains a mild sedative. Sleep is the best time for the body to replenish blood. Mother… Mother’s current condition doesn’t allow for strong emotions. Let her rest for a while.” There was something in Gu Ye’s tone and expression that naturally inspired trust.

Chu Mufeng looked worriedly at his mother’s now-peaceful face and said slowly, “Little sister, speaking of Mother’s illness, is there hope for her recovery? The imperial physician said she’s suffering from severe blood deficiency and needs nourishing tonics and foods to restore her strength. For the past two months, Mother has practically been living on medicinal soups and tonics, yet there’s been no improvement. On the contrary, she’s actually gotten worse. Even the imperial physicians can’t explain why…”

Chu Mushan knelt on the footrest beside the bed, holding his mother’s hand with a trace of sorrow in his voice. “Originally, after taking the Wuji Baifeng Wan sent from Yan City, Mother’s health had started to improve. But in just these past two months, for some unknown reason, her condition suddenly took a sharp turn for the worse. The imperial physician said that if it weren’t for the Wuji Baifeng Wan and all the rare tonics keeping her alive, Mother might have already…” — bled out and died!

“There’s no need for you two brothers to worry,” Gu Ye said calmly. “My Blood Rejuvenation Pill helps nourish and generate blood, stimulating the body’s hematopoietic function. It’s perfectly suited to Mother’s condition. As for why her health continued to deteriorate even after taking Wuji Baifeng Wan… that’s something worth paying serious attention to.” She frowned slightly, carefully taking the Duchess’s pulse again. 

Unfortunately, her pulse was rather ordinary. There was nothing unusual on the surface! If only her Uncle-Master were here…

Only by identifying the true source of the illness could the problem be resolved at its root. Hopefully, her mother’s illness wasn’t so severe that she would need a blood or bone marrow transplant, because right now, that was simply impossible!

Gu Ye sat quietly at the bedside, lowering her gaze to study the Duchess’s face. Her small, delicate face was frighteningly thin, her chin so sharp it could almost pierce through skin. Her tiny lips had lost the healthy rosy tint of a living person, though their shape remained exquisite—petite and perfect, like a cherry blossom bud, fitting perfectly with modern ideals of beauty.

Even with her eyes closed, one could tell she had large, expressive eyes; her dark lashes curled thick and long, like two little fans resting against her lids…

Despite having borne seven children, despite the hardships her family had endured, despite years of torment from illness, the Duchess didn’t look old at all. She appeared barely in her early thirties. Gu Ye touched her own face lightly, wondering whether she, too, would stay youthful like the Duchess when she grew older.

Chu Mushan misread the gesture and hurried to say, “Little sister, you really are the one who resembles Mother the most. In face shape, eyes, lips, there’s not a single feature that isn’t like hers! Anyone who dares say you aren’t Mother’s child must be blind both in eyes and mind!”

“There are indeed people in this world who look alike without sharing any blood relation,” Gu Ye said with a faint smile tugging at her lips. “You can’t judge kinship by appearance alone. But from a genetic standpoint, it’s true that direct relatives tend to resemble each other more often than not.”

“Exactly! Fang’er and Aunt have no blood relation at all, but they look quite similar too!” Jun Miao quickly pushed Ding Fang who had been standing quietly like background scenery forward. In truth, she just wanted to remind her sixth cousin that the girl before him might not truly be Aunt’s biological daughter.

Chu Mushan glanced at Ding Fang, the girl who had played the role of his sister for more than half a year, and indeed she and his real sister did share a few similar features. If someone didn’t know the truth, they might really think the two were sisters! Father and Eldest Brother must have spent a great deal of effort to find her.

But unfortunately, even with all their care, Mother had already seen through it long ago. Still, she chose to go along with their act. She must have done it because she didn’t want her family to worry!

Gu Ye, however, caught the underlying meaning behind Jun Miao’s words. Her senses had always been sharp, and she could faintly detect the girl’s hostility.

For some reason, this little cousin didn’t want her to regain her rightful identity as the Duke’s legitimate daughter. But precisely because of that Gu Ye was determined not to let her have her way!

Gu Ye took a jade pendant from inside her collar, removed it, and gently placed it in the Duchess’s hand. She said softly, “This jade pendant was blessed at Fuling Temple in Yan City. I used to be in poor health, but after wearing it, I gradually recovered. They say that a mother and daughter are connected by heart, so this jade pendant will also protect Mother.”