Chapter 153

Jiu Yue and the others all got off the carriage and rushed toward Gu Kang in the rain.

The Princess Consort wouldn't let her get down, saying she wanted to speak a few words alone with the second young master. Jiu Yue watched as the second young master finally took hold of that family head token, then with difficulty crawled toward her own master.

She had already been weeping uncontrollably in the carriage, thinking back to how the late lady, in order to give birth to the second young master, had not hesitated to exchange her own life for the child's.

The midwife wanted to save the mother, but the late lady insisted that everyone save her child; for this, Wu Granny would speak once and cry once in her presence.

Who would have thought that the second young master was raised by Lady Lin into such a hateful nature, taking a thief as his mother; now, however, he has finally returned, the second young master has finally returned.

At that moment, the carriage carrying the Gu family's legitimate brother and sister arrived at Gu Jiu Ling's clinic, where Zuo Feichen was seeing patients.

The weather was bad today, and there weren't many patients in the clinic; not long after, Zuo Feichen tidied up his things and went to a room on the far east side of the third floor.

To Zuo Feichen, this room was very mysterious; he didn't know where Gu Jiu Ling had gotten all those strange and curious things, which filled the room completely.

Whenever they encountered a difficult and complicated condition requiring urgent surgery, Gu Jiu Ling would perform it in this room, and she also had him assist on the side.

Now Zuo Feichen has completely taken Jiu Yue's place; whenever Gu Jiu Ling performs surgery, Zuo Feichen necessarily assists from the side, and the two are becoming increasingly in sync.

Zuo Feichen knew that Gu Jiu Ling had him come to this room on the third floor, so he realized another surgery was about to be done.

He changed clothes and washed his hands in the side room; in Gu Jiu Ling's words, that was disinfection.

After everything was ready, he carried the medical instruments into the room, while Gu Jiu Ling had already changed her clothes in another disinfection room.

Zuo Feichen looked at Gu Kang lying on the bed and was momentarily stunned.

Gu Kang had already been washed clean at this point; his two legs, mutilated beyond repair, were exposed, and the wounds on them were shocking to behold.

Gu Kang lay there obediently like a child; obviously Gu Jiu Ling had administered anesthesia to him, though it was only local, so his upper body could still move.

Zuo Feichen drew a breath, looked at Gu Jiu Ling, and said, "So it's Gu the second young master."

Gu Jiu Ling handed the scalpel to Zuo Feichen: "This time you'll be the lead surgeon!"

Zuo Feichen's hand trembled slightly; he almost dropped the tray he was holding, and he looked at Gu Jiu Ling in disbelief.

Although he had practiced with Gu Jiu Ling many times these past days, he still felt a bit nervous about being the lead surgeon for the first time.

He was accustomed to observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking, but Gu Jiu Ling's medical practice followed a heretical path, giving a feeling that was truly unlike anything else.

"Master Zuo, it's fine; we're all our own people, take this as a chance to practice your hands!"

Whether it was Zuo Feichen or Gu Kang, the expressions on their faces were somewhat resentful.

"This is Gu the second young master; if I'm going to practice, I should practice on the next patient!" Zuo Feichen said with a strained smile.

Gu Jiu Ling gave him a sideways glance and said, "Precisely because they're our own people we use them to practice; if it were another patient and we messed up, how would we handle compensation?"

She shoved the scalpel into Zuo Feichen's hand, turned and walked to the other side, set up a frame, and pulled down a white cloth to shield Gu Kang on the other side.

Zuo Feichen felt that this elder sister was truly showing genuine feeling toward her younger brother!

He furrowed his brow slightly, focused his gaze on Gu Kang's legs before him, became serious, and his handsome face took on a different hue.

"Hemostatic forceps!" Zuo Feichen used the professional term well; Gu Jiu Ling smiled slightly and handed him the item.

Precisely because he is her own younger brother, Gu Jiu Ling wants to avoid suspicion; if this surgery fails, perhaps Zuo Feichen could bear some of Gu Kang's resentment on her behalf.

Fortunately, the surgery was very successful.

Gu Jiu Ling bought a residence in the suburbs, sent Gu Kang there to recuperate, and really only gave him five hundred taels of silver; after that, she never saw him again.

Only half a month later, when Jiu Yue was combing Gu Jiu Ling's hair and let something slip, did Gu Jiu Ling learn some recent news about Gu Kang.

"What has Gu Kang been up to lately?" Gu Jiu Ling felt that what Jiu Yue had just said sounded like she had misheard.

Jiu Yue hurriedly laughed and said, "My lord, you don't know, but the second young master has really been working hard lately; using the silver you gave him, aside from basic daily expenses, he actually bought nothing but books, and even specially sat beneath the windows of the Imperial Academy to listen to the lecturers expound on texts!"

Gu Jiu Ling's hand holding the hairpin froze there, her eyes widening in disbelief: "You're saying Gu Kang spent all the silver on books? And went to listen beside the Imperial Academy?"

Yes! The second young master has indeed improved; he practices calligraphy every day, learns to write articles, puts in extraordinary effort, and studies bitterly into the midnight hours without rest.

Gu Jiu Ling felt as if she were hearing an incredible, fantastical legend.

Even a sow climbing a tree is more believable than Gu Kang loving to read.

She gave a light smile and still said to Jiu Yue, "Sitting beneath the window to listen amounts to nothing; you can't hear clearly anyway, and the instructor can't teach him to write articles."

"How about this: you take the Rui Wang Fu's invitation and make a trip to the Imperial Academy; I'll invite the academy director to have a drink at Jiangxian Lou, and arrange a spot for Gu Kang to sit in and listen—sitting outside would be how it works."

Jiu Yue's heart leapt with joy, and she eagerly agreed, saying she would no longer look after the second young master, after all, she's his older sister—how could she not care?

As the master and servant were happily chatting, Ling Feng walked to the outside door to report: "Princess Consort, the Prince invites you to the front hall; General Zhao Lang, a battalion commander of the Northern Garrison, has come as a guest."

Gu Jiu Ling hadn't expected Xiao Yin to leave court so early today and bring back a guest; the Northern Garrison is the foremost military stronghold bordering the Bei Di frontier.

Zhao Lang is a battalion commander, which counts as a fifth-rank military post; considering he's only about eighteen years old, attaining this position is truly impressive.

Perhaps Xiao Yin saw in him a trace of his own former vigor and therefore valued Zhao Lang especially.

Zhao Lang's family is small; his parents both live in the frontier and run two shops, making them a modestly well-off household.

Now, as his son's military achievements grow ever greater, Zhao Lang has just returned to court from campaign, been promoted two ranks to deputy commander, and been granted a residence by the emperor; his elderly parents also prepare to move to the capital to live.

The only thing causing him worry now is his son's marriage; his son has reached the age to discuss marriage, but unfortunately, although they are upstarts, they are not a wealthy great clan, nor are they aristocracy.

Thus, the noble ladies of the capital look down on Zhao Lang…

Thinking of this, Gu Jiu Ling instantly understood Xiao Yin's meaning.

Xiao Yin thinks highly of Zhao Lang as a promising prospect and is preparing to arrange this marriage for Su Wanrou; perhaps he will also have her go to the front hall to take a look.

At this moment, Gu Jiu Ling suddenly felt both amused and exasperated.

Originally this was meant to discuss a marriage for Su Wanrou, but the principal party was instead exiled by Xiao Yin to a manor for reflection; yet the two of them ended up helping to evaluate the match for someone else.

Gu Jiu Ling has always had one thing she doesn't understand; she feels Xiao Yin owes Su Wanrou, constantly thinking of her, keeping her in the mansion—concubine not like a concubine, sister not like a sister, daughter not like a daughter.

Now it seems Xiao Yin may be forcing Su Wanrou to marry off.