Bai Li’s Dream – Chapter 33

Chapter 33: Discussion

The Young Madam driving away Xueliu instantly became the talk of the household.

“I guessed she would make an example of someone to establish her authority, but I didn’t expect her to target Xueliu first.” Mama Lu clicked her tongue as she sat in the kitchen. “That was someone left behind by the previous Young Madam.”

A servant woman next to her said with a hint of fear, “If she’s not afraid of losing face or her reputation for virtue, then Madam can’t do anything about her.”

The others nodded in agreement. Indeed, Madam still cared about appearances. She couldn’t act like a wicked mother-in-law, especially with the Marquis’s Heir not at home. If the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were to clash, it would become a joke in the capital.

As they were talking, the chaotic shouts of the rough servant girls rang out from outside, “Sister Chunxiang is here!”

Hearing this, the kitchen descended into a flurry of activity. Mama Lu had just stood up when the maid Chunxiang walked in. She was somewhat tall and timid. Although she was a senior maid, she had only served the previous Young Madam for a short time, and with the courtyard lacking a mistress for so many years, she couldn’t help but hunch her back and shrink her shoulders.

However, at this moment, she walked in with a straighter posture than usual. Seeing the servants gathered inside, she even frowned.

“The Young Madam needs to recuperate for a few days. Make dinner lighter tonight. Remove one meat dish from the original menu,” she said.

Mama Lu hastily agreed, then said ingratiatingly, “I’ll stew some chicken soup for her late-night snack.”

Chunxiang shook her head. “No need. The Young Madam didn’t say to change it. Bird’s nest porridge is fine.” She turned to leave, then paused, her gaze sweeping over everyone. “Don’t gather here chattering. Don’t talk about things you shouldn’t, whether good or bad. What good will it do if it gets out?”

Mama Lu and the other servants hurriedly waved their hands. “No, no,” “We won’t gossip,” “We’re going to work now.”

Mama Lu even took a step forward and explained with a forced smile, “We weren’t gossiping before. It was all Xueliu talking. We just saw the Young Madam taking medicine and showed some concern. Who would have thought she’d run to Madam…”

Chunxiang glanced at her, didn’t say anything, and quickly left.

Mama Lu’s expression was tense and uneasy as she watched her go, no longer daring to speak carelessly.

Chunxiang returned to the courtyard. The young maids tidying up moved quietly, and Chunhong stood on the veranda.

“The Young Madam said she wants to rest for a bit,” she whispered to her.

Chunxiang nodded quickly. “Although the physician said it’s nothing serious, she’s indeed weak.” She lowered her voice further, “So Xueliu really won’t be coming back?”

They also found it unbelievable that the Young Madam had directly dismissed Xueliu.

Chunhong said in a low voice, “I think unless Xueliu admits her mistake, even if the Marquis’s Heir returns, it’ll be difficult to make the Young Madam relent.”

She now understood that this young, seemingly gentle and weak Young Madam had a strong personality and wouldn’t tolerate being wronged.

However, being a daughter-in-law in the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence, having a strong personality and not tolerating being wronged might not necessarily be a good thing.

She looked worriedly towards the inner room.

Inside, Chun Yue carefully brought over the brewed tea and looked at Zhuang Li, who was lying on the rocking chair with her eyes closed.

“Young Madam, the tea is ready,” she said softly.

Zhuang Li opened her eyes and took the tea, drinking a few sips.

“Do you really not need to call the physician again?” Chun Yue asked again, her expression worried. The Young Madam looked even paler than she had in the morning.

She was already unwell, and then she had to deal with all this.

Zhuang Li said, “No need. I just need to rest for a few days, and I’ll be fine.”

How could she recuperate? The Young Madam had even said she wouldn’t take the Chaihu Guizhi Decoction anymore. Chun Yue didn’t understand. Was she just going to sleep and recuperate?

“Yes,” Zhuang Li closed her eyes again, the rocking chair swaying, her voice seeming to rise and fall with it. “Sleep is the best way to recuperate. Being able to sleep well is nourishment.”

Chun Yue put the tea aside and picked up a fan, gently fanning Zhuang Li.

“Young Madam,” she still couldn’t help but speak, “Aren’t you afraid of upsetting Madam?”

Zhuang Li, with her eyes closed, said, “Madam is already unhappy seeing me.”

“But, if you endure it, you might be able to please Madam…” Chun Yue still wanted to advise, “After all, she’s your mother-in-law, and you’re her daughter-in-law. Being a daughter-in-law is different from being a daughter at home.”

Zhuang Li suddenly laughed and said, “When I was a daughter, I was even less pleasing.”

Was she saying she was arrogant at home when she was a daughter? Chun Yue thought, who wasn’t? One’s own parents would always tolerate their children.

But being a daughter-in-law was different. She was about to say something when Zhuang Li spoke first.

“Later, Master Zhuang taught me, ‘In managing human affairs and understanding Heaven, it is best to be sparing.'”

What did that mean? Chun Yue said softly, “This servant hasn’t read any books.”

“It means we should cherish our energy and not engage in pointless matters,” Zhuang Li said. “There’s a saying, ‘It’s better to have less trouble than more.’ But actually, having less trouble can also lead to more trouble, adding countless worries and anxieties. It’s better to be decisive.”

She naturally understood Xueliu’s intentions.

This maid didn’t want her to have a peaceful life and constantly wanted to stir up trouble.

She had come to be a daughter-in-law, but there were many ways to be one. How she did it was up to her.

✿✿✿

“Although Madam is angry now, firstly, I’ve made the rules clear, deterring others from gossiping to Madam. This will reduce misunderstandings between Madam and me. Secondly, Madam also understands my character better. Understanding will lead to less worry, and maybe Madam will slowly come to like me.”

Chun Yue couldn’t help but chuckle.

The Young Madam’s thoughts were truly unique.

After confronting and offending someone, she still thought they would like her?

✿✿✿

…….

Dawn broke once again. Chun Yue stood in the courtyard, looking at the fresh flowers delivered from the garden.

The flowers were freshly cut, still with dew on them.

Besides flowers, there were also branches, crooked and winding, and a few bundles of flower buds.

The servant woman from the flower garden said with a smile, “Doesn’t the Young Madam like flower buds? The lotuses are wilting now, so we cut a few branches of other unopened flowers. See if the Young Madam likes them?”

Chun Yue had a strange expression as she had the young maids take them inside.

Not long after, Chunhong lifted the curtain and came out, saying with a smile, “The Young Madam likes them all and kept them.” She handed a string of coins to the servant woman. “The Young Madam wants you to buy wine with this.”

The servant woman’s eyes lit up as she took the coins, thanking her repeatedly and leaving happily.

Chunhong watched the servant woman’s retreating figure and said, “After the Young Madam’s outburst, even the people from the flower garden remember she likes flower buds.”

Did this also fulfill what the Young Madam said yesterday, that after understanding her, they might like her?

Chun Yue found it somewhat amusing.

She entered the room. Chunxiang was arranging the flowers, her eyes sparkling as she spoke to Zhuang Li.

“Young Madam,” she said admiringly, “You’re so skilled in medicine. It’s amazing.”

Zhuang Li sat at the desk, organizing her incense boxes. Hearing this, she didn’t even look up, saying, “Actually, I’m not that good.”

Not that good? Chunhong’s eyes widened. “Young Madam, you’re too modest. You diagnosed the pulse correctly, and what Doctor Zhang said was exactly the same as you.”

Even Mama Huang’s condition of cold phlegm and blood stasis was detected by the Young Madam, and Doctor Zhang confirmed it.

Zhuang Li lifted her head and smiled. “I told him what to say, of course it’s the same.”

She told him what to say? What did that mean? The three maids were puzzled.

…….

…….

In the morning light, the doors of the Baohe Medical Hall opened, and the disciples busied themselves with their tasks until they saw their master, Zhang Shilin, emerge from the inner room.

Zhang Shilin walked, rubbing his forehead, as if lost in thought. He was so absorbed that he didn’t notice the threshold and almost tripped.

Two disciples hurried forward to support him.

“Master, who was ill at the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence yesterday? Was it serious?” The eldest disciple asked, scrutinizing his master’s face. “You went to rest as soon as you came back and only got up now.”

He still looked tired.

Zhang Shilin shook his head. “Tired? I wasn’t even allowed to examine the patient.”

Not allowed to examine the patient? The eldest disciple behind the counter looked at the account book. The consultation fee Master had thrown down upon returning yesterday had already been recorded. It wasn’t just travel expenses.

“It was just to be a witness,” Zhang Shilin sat down, muttering, “To confirm that the Young Madam knows medicine.”

The disciples were immediately curious. Many people understood medical theory. After all, they could learn it from books, and many scholars read medical texts. But truly understanding medicine and being able to treat patients were different matters.

That new Young Madam of the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence actually knew medicine?

Listening to his disciples’ questions, Zhang Shilin only felt his mind grow more confused.

It seemed like she had said a lot.

He reached up and pressed his forehead. He seemed to have praised her repeatedly, but he couldn’t recall the specifics of what she had said.

It was as if he had just had a dream.

The dream had faded like water upon waking, leaving only a blur.