The Prime Minister's Darling

Chapter 49: 49 New Year Greetings

Shopkeeper He, after escaping the villa, didn’t leave immediately but instead waited at a nearby spot, observing the villa’s movements.

Seeing the young master nearing death, he wondered if that fool at the Hu family would blindly proceed.

If the young master dies under his treatment, the Hu family would perhaps have nowhere to turn to!

As Shopkeeper He was overjoyed by this thought, he saw Gu Jiao and her two companions emerging from the villa, unscathed.

He was taken aback.

What happened?

Did the young master not die? Or did they, like him, flee without treating him at all?

But looking at their composed demeanor, that didn’t seem to be the case…

While Shopkeeper He stood there, dumbstruck, Gu Jiao and her companions boarded a carriage to go to Director Li’s residence.

That maid named Yu Ya came running out: “Hey! You from the Huichun Hall! Wait for me!”

But the carriage had already gone too far to hear her shouts.

Yu Ya, leaning against the gateway, was gasping for breath.

Shopkeeper He emerged from behind a large tree and approached her, asking, “Miss, did something happen to the three of them?”

Yu Ya responded, “What could have happened to them? It’s my family’s young master…”

Shopkeeper He’s eyes lit up!

Did the young master really die from their treatment?

Yu Ya paused to catch her breath, then continued, “My family’s young master has woken up, and he’s throwing a huge tantrum!”

Shopkeeper He understood each word she said, but putting them together left him confused: “Do you mean the young master’s illness…”

“The Huichun Hall really has a miracle doctor! Our young master woke up! He’s even got the energy to get angry!” Yu Ya was incredibly happy, her young master tore up four of the Marquis’s antique paintings in one breath, he hasn’t been this lively in a full year!

Shopkeeper He admitted he was having some difficulty following her line of thought…

Yu Ya sighed with regret, “We were too ecstatic, and we forgot to pay them their consultation fee!”

“Wait, you mean… They …” Shopkeeper He couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence, finding it absolutely improbable!

To his surprise, Yu Ya nodded vigorously, “Yes! Yes! They were the ones who revived our young master!”

This must be a blind cat stumbling upon a dead rat!

Shopkeeper He couldn’t believe for a second that a physician from a small town could be this skilled, but that wasn’t going to stop him from taking credit for it!

“Indeed, our Huichun Hall provides miraculous revivals!”

“What’s it to you?”

Yu Ya rolled her eyes at him.

“I…” Shopkeeper He awkwardly laughed, “That person is our Huichun Hall’s subordinate, the master at the Hu family!”

Yu Ya sneered, “Weren’t they just name-twins? They’re from the town’s Huichun Hall, and you are from the capital city’s Huichun Hall! There’s no relation between the two! They and the Hu family have no connections! Have you already forgotten the words that you said? Hehehe!”

—

After such a near-death experience, the subordinate at Huichun Hall could hardly remember to ask for his consultation fee! Gu Jiao did remember, but she assumed he had collected it.

By the time their carriage reached Director Li’s house, he had just returned from fishing. Shedding off his formal academy attire, he donned the clothes of a fisherman complete with a fisherman’s hat and raincoat. At first glance, he looked just like any other fisherman.

Of course, on closer examination, one could still discern his extraordinary demeanor and manner of speech.

Gu Jiao and the second master at Huichun Hall disembarked from the carriage.

“You are?” Director Li didn’t recognize Gu Jiao nor did he know the second master at all.

Gu Jiao politely replied, “Xiao Liulang is my husband. My younger brother and I have come to visit you, and my brother is inside.”

The director’s attitude immediately changed. He usually disliked visits from students, but if the visitor was Xiao Liulang—his future beloved student’s family—then it was a different matter.

The second master at Huichun Hall: Why do I feel like the director suddenly has the kind of eyes one might use to look at their daughter-in-law?

Director Li, in a gentle voice, asked: “How should I address you?”

Gu Jiao answered: “My surname is Gu. The villagers call me Mother Jiao.”

In reality, the villagers call her “the little fool.”

Gu Jiao then introduced the second master and his companions to Director Li, “…they happened to be in the area today and gave me a ride along their way.”

The director very politely refrained from asking why they were in the area, expressing sincere gratitude to the second master for helping his student and his student’s family. He invited them to come inside and have a seat.

“Is this director… the director of Tianxiang Academy?” Upon entering the courtyard, the second master quietly asked Gu Jiao.

“Yes.” If her husband is a student at Tianxiang Academy, then wouldn’t his director be the director of Tianxiang Academy? Took you long enough to realize that, didn’t it?

The second master had been nervous all morning treating the young master. He had even forgotten his own name, let alone realizing this?

By the time it dawned on him, he felt that things were far from simple.

While the director’s reputation might not be noticeable in a small town, in the capital, everyone sought after his presence. He was a student of the old Wine Server and was the leader of the city’s four greatest scholars. The second master, younger by a few years, grew up in the director’s shadow. Every parent hoped their son would grow up to be like the director, a brilliant talent, but sadly, most only grew up to be mediocre.

The director was the nightmarish figure of their generation.

Because of him, how many parents considered their own sons failures?

In terms of background, the Hu family had hundreds of years of history in the medical field, while the director came from humble beginnings. But in terms of influence, all the descendants of the Hu family combined couldn’t compare to Director Li.

He had once held the position of Cabinet Scholar and had moved to this town to care for his sick mother.

The director had moved to the Qingquan Town before the second master, who had initially contemplated visiting him, but eventually decided against it, thinking of his childhood shadow.

Of course, the main reason was also the understanding that the director wouldn’t meet him.

“I heard… he doesn’t accept gifts.” The second master said to Gu Jiao. The director was known for his integrity during his official career, which had led him to offend many people, and setting up the academy here further highlighted his disapproval of private interactions.

Gu Jiao took out the mountain produce from the basket, “Director, this is Xiao Liulang’s gift to you!”

The director hurriedly accepted it, his swift action resembling someone afraid of a change of mind: “Xiao Liulang is very thoughtful.”

The second master looked bewildered: Hold on, don’t you even want to pretend to refuse? If I didn’t know any better, I’d think that someone of your stature, the respected director, was in need of these meager mountain goods!

Director Li: While my mouth says no, my body is honest. The betrothal gifts have arrived with my daughter-in-law!

Encouraged by Gu Jiao, Xiaoshun also presented his New Year’s gift—a wood carving.

He had loved carving since he was a child, and that’s why he had etched his name on Gu Jiao’s umbrella handle in the past. This wood carving was originally meant for Gu Jiao, but she suggested that it was more urgent to give it to the director first, and another one could be carved for her later.

Xiaoshun thought his sister’s point made sense, so he handed over the wooden carving!

He had carved an image of Gu Jiao, lifelike and exquisitely detailed, her face without the birthmark, as beautiful as a fairy.

But… is it really okay to gift your sister’s carving to your director?

The corner of the second master’s mouth twitched.

Gu Jiao’s lips stiffened too, she had not anticipated that Xiaoshun’s carving would be this.

Director Li also looked a bit confused, placing a student’s wife’s carving in his room didn’t seem quite appropriate, did it?

Just then, Old Lady Li woke up, and her eyes brightened at the sight of the wooden carving: A Bodhisattva!

Old Lady Li took the wooden carving of Gu Jiao, respectfully placed it on the table in her room, and even lit two joss sticks.

Gu Jiao: “…”

The director: “…”

Everyone else: “…”