Resplendent – Chapter 558

Chapter 558: Suffocating

Meijing thought: Oh dear, my lady, it’s exactly a matchmaking meeting! Madam ordered that you must be dressed beautifully—the Second Grand Secretary’s wife is coming with her legitimate grandson. 

But since Gu Ye insisted on not wearing the collar, there was nothing she could do.

“Bao’er, come greet Lady Lu,” Lady Jun prompted, her heart melting at the sight of her delicate daughter. She beckoned her over and introduced the Second Grand Secretary’s wife. “Lady Lu’s family has been close friends with the Jun family in Yan City for generations. Lady Lu is your maternal grandmother’s closest confidante in her youth.”

In front of elders, Gu Ye always put on her most well-behaved face. She sauntered over, bowed with head lowered and knees bent, and said sweetly, “Ye’er pays my respects to Elder Madam.”

“Good child, rise quickly,” Lady Lu gently took the little girl’s hand, scrutinizing her closely before smiling at Lady Jun. “Your daughter is carved from the same mold as you were in your childhood. But our Ye’er is even more spirited and clever!”

“The flatter her. Bao’er has a pure and free-spirited nature. Neither her father nor I could bear to restrict her. I hope you’ll bear with her little ways.” Lady Jun hadn’t expected that her daughter, who caught a wild boar barehanded on the mountain, had saved the life of one of her most favored potential sons-in-law, Shao Ziyan, by sheer coincidence. Could this be fate?

Lady Lu presented a jade bracelet as a gift. Seeing Gu Ye accept it graciously with thanks, she couldn’t help but grasp her hand, reluctant to let go. The matriarch smiled and said, “It’s rare to find a child with such an innocent heart. That’s truly wonderful. Yan’er, this is your Sister Ye. Didn’t you say you’d personally come to thank her for saving your life?”

Only then did Gu Ye notice standing behind Lady Lu, an elegantly dressed young scholar in white. He wore a straight-cut robe embroidered with subtle silver patterns, his jet-black hair pinned upright atop his head with a silver satin ribbon. His phoenix-like eyes curved slightly upward at the corners—truly a picture-perfect youth, ‘with features like a painting and a flawless jade-like face.’ Compared to his disheveled state that day, he was like a different person.

Shao Ziyan seemed to recall that day’s events as well, his cheeks flushing slightly. He stepped forward and bowed his hands, saying, “Thank you, Miss Chu, for your timely assistance and the medicine you provided that day. The imperial physician said that if it weren’t for your skillful treatment and the quality of the medicine, my leg might very well have been crippled…”

Gu Ye returned the bow, her lips curving slightly. “No need for formalities, Young Master Shao. It was nothing more than a small gesture. Since your injury is in your leg, it would be unwise to move about too soon. You should rest in bed for a few more days.” 

When it came to her professional expertise, she couldn’t resist offering a bit of medical advice.

Lady Jun hurriedly interjected, “My oversight! Please, Young Master Shao, take a seat…”

Lady Lu turned to her grandson and nodded. “By family ties, you should address the Duchess as your aunt. There are no outsiders here. With your foot injured, sitting to converse is perfectly acceptable.”

Shao Ziyan lowered his eyes in acknowledgment and sat down below the matriarch. Gu Ye instructed the servants in the hall, “Bring a footstool for Young Master Shao to rest his leg.”

At this, Shao Ziyan nearly jumped out of his seat. His face flushed crimson as he shook his head repeatedly. “No, no need! My leg is fine already…”

“I treated your wound. Who gets to decide whether it’s healed or not?” Gu Ye assumed her doctorly authority, her small face stern as she glared at him.

Shao Ziyan stammered, “You… you decide. But my wound has already scabbed over…”

Gu Ye ordered someone to fetch an embroidery stool and propped his injured leg upon it. As if she hadn’t heard a word, she continued, “If you don’t want this leg to suffer sequela, you’d better stay home and rest for ten days or so. Keep your foot elevated whenever you’re awake…”

Though Shao Ziyan didn’t know what ‘sequela’ meant, he could guess from her tone. Not wanting to become lame, he obediently nodded.

Lady Lu teased, “What did I tell you? I said I would handle this trip myself, but you insisted on coming personally to show sincerity. You wouldn’t listen to me, and now you’re forced to obey, aren’t you?”

Shao Ziyan’s face instantly turned as red as a piece of cloth. He lifted his charming phoenix eyes and glanced toward Gu Ye, softly pleading, “Grandmother.” But his gaze met Gu Ye’s curious stare, and he quickly lowered his head like a timid young wife, his face flushing even deeper.

Gu Ye watched the young scholar with amusement, inwardly marveling at such a bashful boy who flushed at the slightest provocation. Still, with his delicate features, he did possess a certain ‘peach blossom face’ charm.

“Miss Ye, how badly is my grandson’s leg injured?” Lady Lu recalled the imperial physician’s alarming description.

Gu Ye lifted her small face, revealing a pair of dimples. “It’s just a superficial wound. No bones or tendons were damaged, nothing serious. The imperial physician deemed it dangerous mainly because wild animals carry viruses in their mouths. Improper treatment could lead to severe complications. Once the virus invades the body, it could result in amputation at best, or death at worst…”

Lady Lu’s expression turned grave, her eyes clouded with concern. “But what about Yan’er’s injury…”

“He’ll be fine. I disinfected his wound thoroughly and administered a tetanus shot. There shouldn’t be any risk in that regard. If you’re still uneasy, I can re-examine him shortly.” Gu Ye’s words were like a reassuring pill for Lady Lu.

Lady Lu expressed her gratitude: “Then we’re truly indebted to Miss Ye…”

“Elder Madam, there’s no need for formalities. This is simply part of my duty.” Gu Ye’s smile carried a hint of calm detachment, without a trace of arrogance.

Unpretentious and composed, Lady Lu’s regard for her grew even higher.

The conversation then shifted to casual chatter between Lady Lu and Lady Jun. You praised my grandson for his promising future, certain he’d make a name for himself in the imperial examinations; I praised your daughter for becoming a Level 9 Pharmacist at such a young age, destined to surpass even the legendary Lady Apothecary. 

Gu Ye maintained her smile, appearing to listen attentively, though her mind had long since wandered elsewhere, lost in her own thoughts.

Lady Jun, who knew her daughter well, smiled and said, “Young Master Shao, the garden next door is quite refined and worth seeing. Ye’er, go fetch your brothers to accompany Young Master Shao as they savor tea and admire the scenery in the garden.”

“Right away!” The mask-like smile on Gu Ye’s face finally shifted. Her large, dark eyes sparkled as he looked at Shao Ziyan and said with a smile, “Young Master Shao, please follow me.”

Shao Ziyan’s face, which had only just regained its pallor, flushed red again. He hesitated briefly but did not refuse, murmuring softly, “Then I’m terribly sorry to trouble Miss Chu…”

Supported by his personal servant, Shao Ziyan stepped out of the reception hall. Gu Ye thoughtfully had a sedan chair prepared and invited him to take a seat. Unable to decline further, he climbed into the sedan chair, his face still crimson.

Stepping outside the reception hall, Gu Ye felt the air itself grow fresher. Her whole body came alive. She took a deep breath of the air, fragrant with osmanthus blossoms, then slowly exhaled. Stretching lazily, she exclaimed, “Good heavens, I was suffocating! Playing the part of a proper lady is exhausting work.”

Hua Hao and Yue Yuan couldn’t help but cover their mouths and giggle. Earlier in the reception hall, the young lady had disguised herself so well that they’d both thought their mistress had been replaced. 

Meijing, however, eyed her lady with some disapproval—Ahem, Young Miss, Young Master Shao is still here! Could you at least keep up the act a little longer?

Gu Ye caught Shao Ziyan’s curious gaze and turned to ask, “What are you looking at?”

Shao Ziyan’s handsome face flushed bright red. He stammered, “N-nothing…”

Gu Ye stared at the young scholar’s face for a long moment. Shao Ziyan felt like his face was about to catch fire. He ducked his head toward his chest, not daring to meet her eyes.

Gu Ye chuckled, “Young Master Shao, do you blush this easily all the time?”

Shao Ziyan shook his head earnestly. “No… I don’t…” The young scholar felt a pang of frustration, silently berating himself for his ineptitude, always making a fool of himself in front of the young lady. Yet he couldn’t fathom why he felt this way, as if he’d lost control of himself.

The garden on the estate was one of the three places Gu Ye cherished most. The orchard, the hot springs, and the small garden made her so happy she felt reluctant to leave. With its small bridges over flowing water, pavilions and terraces, artificial hills and long corridors, and an array of flowers, plants, and trees, it formed a uniquely charming scenic escape. The lake beneath the artificial hills connected to the mountain stream outside the estate. One could often find small shrimp and crabs in the crevices of the rocks, and sometimes even catch unexpected surprises while fishing.

After Gu Ye and her brothers and cousins arrived, she left Shao Ziyan behind and took the two maids, Hua Hao and Yue Yuan, to catch little crabs in the crevices beneath the rockery. She declared they’d fry them for lunch—crispy and fragrant, and good for calcium too.

Meijing glanced toward the pavilion and inwardly sighed: Miss, with guests present, can you please restrain yourself a little and avoid frightening them away!

“Ahhhh! Look what I caught!” Gu Ye squealed delightedly, plunging her fingers into the water. Pinching a slender, wriggling creature between her fingers, she deliberately waved it before Liangchen and Meijing.

The two maids froze instantly, letting out a piercing shriek. Startled, the Chu brothers entertaining guests in the distant pavilion rushed over, fearing their sister was in danger.

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?” Chu Xiaoliu arrived first, asking urgently.

Gu Ye smugly waved the wriggling creature in her hand, grinning. “We’re in for a treat at lunch! How should we cook it? Dry-fried eel segments? Chicken and eel soup? Spicy eel slices?”

Chu Mufeng and Chu Mubai, arriving shortly after, saw their sister clutching a plump eel, flaunting it before them. Glancing at the two screaming maidservants, they offered an awkward apology: “Forgive us, young masters. We mistook it for a snake, so…”

“What’s wrong?” Shao Ziyan, supported by a servant, hobbled over and asked with concern.

Gu Ye instructed a maid to fetch a fish basket, a mischievous grin playing on her lips. She leaned close to Shao Ziyan, shoved the eel in her hand right up to the other’s face, and chuckled, “Guests are honored. How would you like it cooked, Young Master Shao?”

Caught off guard, Shao Ziyan nearly got whacked in the face by the eel’s tail. He scrambled back a step, his voice tinged with nervousness. “Whatever works for the host. Whatever you wish to do with it, Miss, I will gladly comply!”