Resplendent – Chapter 414

Chapter 414: Reunion of Familiar Faces

Chu Mufeng handed the medicine bottle that his sister had given him to Physician Zhang and said, “This is the Blood Rejuvenation Pill. Chief Physician Zhang, please take a look and see if it is suitable for Mother.”

Chief Physician Zhang took out a blood-red pill, scraped some powder from it, gently smelled it, and then tasted it carefully. His expression was grave and serious, tightly gripping the hearts of the Chu family father and son.

Suddenly, his eyes brightened, and an unusual radiance spread across his face: “This… this is medicine from the Gu family of Yan City! Could it be that the Gu family has developed a new formula? This pill is indeed excellent for nourishing blood and replenishing qi, even more suitable for the Duchess’s condition than the Wuji Baifeng Wan. When you purchased this medicine, what did the apothecary say?”

“Replenishes blood, generates new blood, promotes blood regeneration…” Under the intense gazes of the Duke and Chief Physician Zhang, Chu Mufeng held steady and repeated his sister’s words.

“That’s right! This medicine seems tailor-made for the Duchess. This is also why so many noble families are willing to humble themselves and cultivate good relations with great apothecaries. When faced with difficult and rare illnesses, if you can seek out a top apothecary and have a custom pill made, the chances of recovery increase significantly!”

Chief Physician Zhang stared intently at the blood-red pill in his hand, almost wanting to claim it for himself. This was a new medicine from the Gu family. Miss Gu had developed yet another new pill! 

Historically, many great apothecaries could spend their entire lives creating a single new medicine and consider it a lifetime achievement. Yet this Miss Gu of the Gu family kept producing new medicines. What extraordinary talent this was!

“Grandpa Chief Zhang, what you said isn’t entirely correct. Although this Blood Rejuvenation Pill can relieve the Duchess’s symptoms, it does have some shortcomings. However, in one respect, Grandpa Zhang, you are correct. Even for the same illness, the way it manifests in different people means the medication often needs slight adjustments. Having a top apothecary tailor the medicine is indeed necessary! I will slightly modify this Blood Rejuvenation Pill according to the Duchess’s condition,” Gu Ye said as she entered, giving Chief Physician Zhang a sweet smile.

She had gone with Chu Mushan to the small kitchen, where sure enough, the Duchess’s tonic was simmering. She picked out a bowl of the almond-rose goat milk that smelled good, ate two pieces of pastry, and, still concerned about the Duchess’s condition, hurried back. Unexpectedly, the imperial physician invited by the Duke’s residence turned out to be an old acquaintance!

Trailing behind her, Chu Mushan quietly reminded her, “What do you mean by ‘the Duchess’? How should we address her? You can follow your brothers and call her ‘Mother,’ or you can call her ‘Ma’…”

Hearing the voice, Chief Physician Zhang turned around and saw the young girl dressed in an apothecary’s robe, walking in with a bright smile. He was visibly surprised and delighted: “Miss Gu, so it’s you! No wonder the medicine was so precise. Naturally, it could only be Miss Gu. Are you… here in the capital to participate in the pharmacist assessment?” 

Gu Ye performed a standard pharmacist salute to the elderly physician, her face lighting up with a big smile: “Grandpa Chief Zhang, you flatter me. I am just a humble apprentice pharmacist; how dare I deserve your praise?”

Chief Physician Zhang stroked his beard, smiling warmly and kindly: “Miss Gu, there’s no need for such modesty. I have a premonition that at this Great Pharmacists Convention, you will be the unexpected dark horse, sweeping up all the honors.”

“Thank you for your auspicious words, Grandpa Zhang,” Gu Ye said sweetly, smiling. “By the way, how are your waist and legs feeling?”

“Much better, much better! Thanks to the ointment and medicinal wine you sent. A few days ago His Majesty even praised me as ‘old but vigorous’!” Chief Physician Zhang’s smile deepened, and the corners of his eyes bloomed like little petals.

“This time coming to the capital, I brought quite a bit of medicinal wine. Grandpa Zhang, you must be running low. Send someone to fetch it anytime!”

To Gu Ye, such a small gesture seemed trivial, yet it could relieve someone of years of chronic pain. Chief Physician Zhang was one of its beneficiaries. His attitude toward her grew even warmer, his gaze kinder than he would show even to his own granddaughter.

The Duke, sitting by the bedside, had abruptly stood the moment Gu Ye entered, taking two hurried steps toward her. In his tiger-like eyes, a flush of red gradually appeared, the corners growing moist.

This was his daughter? 

His whole being seemed to scream—This had to be his daughter; he could recognize her at a glance! Watching the young girl speak confidently to Chief Physician Zhang, handling herself with ease, the Duke felt an overwhelming surge of pride. 

His daughter, Chu Bufan’s daughter, was extraordinary indeed; she had even tamed that slippery old rascal, Chief Physician Zhang! She truly was a girl of the Chu family!

“Bao’er! My Bao’er!” Suddenly, the still-slumbering Duchess flailed her hands in the air, her pale face showing panic, her brows knitting with faint worry.

Chu Bufan quickly stepped forward, gently holding her hands, softly calling her daughter’s nickname to soothe her: “Here! Our daughter is here! The moment you open your eyes, you’ll see her…”

Chief Physician Zhang’s gaze swept across the three young girls in the room. He knew that when the Duke’s family had fallen on hard times and lost a daughter. But he hadn’t heard when she had been found. Among the three young girls, one bore a resemblance in the brow and eyes to the Duchess. Could it be her?

Chief Physician Zhang frowned and shook his head slightly. That girl looked decent, but compared to the rest of the Chu family, she wasn’t in the same league. Especially the timid and shrinking expression… such a pity!

The Duchess gradually calmed down. She slowly opened her eyes, her gaze scanning the bedside, disappointment reddening her eyes: “Brother Fan, I dreamed that our daughter was found! She was exactly as I imagined—delicate, beautiful, radiating confidence that draws the eye. If… that weren’t just a dream, how wonderful that would be!”

“It’s not a dream, truly!” Chu Bufan was about to call Gu Ye over, but was interrupted by the Duchess’s excited cry.

“Yu lock? This… this is Bao’er’s jade lock! Brother Fan, you… where did you find her? My precious daughter, she hasn’t… hasn’t she already—” The Duchess held the begonia-patterned jade lock, tears streaming down her face. 

Gu Ye had never seen anyone cry so beautifully; no wonder the ancients used the phrase ‘pear blossoms bathed in the rain’ to describe a beauty’s tears!

“You, you’re always overthinking! Bao’er is back, our daughter has been found!” Chu Bufan tightly held his wife’s hands, his doting gaze enough to give anyone goosebumps. 

Ugh, this couple is unbearably sweet! Gu Ye secretly rubbed her arm. 

The Duchess’s joy quickly turned to worry: “Brother Fan, you aren’t tricking me again, are you?”

“No, of course not! Bao’er, come over and talk to your mother!” Chu Bufan turned to Gu Ye, his eyes full of hope, earnestness, and overwhelming love.