Chapter 78: with translation of chapter title

In reply to the noble's words," the woman covered her mouth with a handkerchief, sobbing as she cried out, "I am Chen Cuihua, twenty-eight years old, living in the countryside outside Quanzhou."

Gu Jiu Ling watched her tremble with nervousness, nodded, and pushed a cup of hot tea toward her.

Chen Cuihua drank the hot tea, and instead calmed down; having followed the princess's household to the capital along the way, she had also broadened her horizons, and she hurriedly said, "As a commoner girl, I showed nothing unusual at birth, but starting at four or five years old I noticed my belly was very large."

Chen's wife on the side hurriedly took up the conversation; she appeared quite sharp, watching her daughter stammer and fail to speak coherently.

Moreover, the noble before them looked gentle; she had been wondering all along where they were being taken as a family of three, and only now did she realize that these people intended to treat her daughter's illness.

These nobles, dressed in gold and silver, if they complied with the nobles' wishes, regardless of whether her daughter's illness was cured, they would be handed over to the nobles to receive a reward of ten or twenty taels of silver, and then her son's marriage would be no worry.

She plucked up her courage and smiled, saying, "I pay my respects to the noble master!"

"Or let me, this old woman, speak; she can't explain things clearly, she's been stupid since childhood, not as clever as my son."

Gu Jiu Ling didn't much like the woman's way of speaking, but since she was Chen Cuihua's mother, she looked at her without changing expression and said, "All right, tell me about your daughter's condition in detail."

Chen's wife hurriedly nodded and replied, "This girl has been an ill-omened star since childhood; her belly started to grow at five or six years old, like a drum."

"At that time, we farming folk had nowhere else to turn; we thought it was a drum ailment, so we had the doctor prescribe a few medicines to drink, but we didn't really take them."

First release website htt

"Who would have thought that as she grew older her belly would only get bigger; a young lady, not yet married out, already looks like this—how could she ever marry in the future?"

Chen's wife heaved a deep sigh: "Truly worrisome!"

"To have raised such a money‑losing good‑for‑nothing at home! When she reached marriageable age, the matchmakers from ten li around would see her belly and shake their heads repeatedly; even the mute at the village entrance despised her."

"Not to mention the gossips in the village, who say my daughter got pregnant before marriage; how could our pure and honest family produce such a shameless wretch…"

"Speak to the point, why are you going off on tangents?" the Grand Princess said coldly.

Chen's wife's face flushed, she hurriedly rose to make amends; the Grand Princess glanced unnaturally at Gu Jiu Ling—this Princess Consort of Rui had originally been pregnant out of wedlock, her reputation ruined, a matter known to everyone in the capital.

Gu Jiu Ling didn't take it to heart, continued asking some key questions, and preliminarily realized that Chen Cuihua and Cheng Ming's ailments were likely the same condition.

She then suggested to the Prince and the Grand Princess that Chen Cuihua stay in the princess's guest quarters, examined her briefly, and formed a plan in her mind.

The same condition! Both are fetus-in-fetu.

Cheng Ming was regarded as a monster because of this condition, while Chen Cuihua, because of it, could not marry, was subjected to cold remarks from the villagers, and became an old maid.

Gu Jiu Ling felt Chen's wife was in the way, and Chen's father was a mute gourd good for nothing; she then informed the couple of the treatment process, while also guaranteeing she could cure their daughter's illness.

Unexpectedly, Chen's wife grabbed Gu Jiu Ling's arm: "Noble one! Whatever you say, we'll believe it, but I've raised this daughter to this size, our household hasn't skimped on grain; if she were to die by accident, what would you have us old folks do?"

Gu Jiu Ling stared for a moment, wondering what could be done.

"I am saving your daughter; not asking you for medical fees is already generous, yet you seem to be trying to extort me?"

Before she could speak, Chen's wife seemed to confirm Gu Jiu Ling's guess, paused, then gave an embarrassed laugh: "Noble one, to be frank, we still have an unmarried son at home; if you could send us off with a few melons and dates, you may do whatever you wish with Cuihua."

"Cough!" Chen's father's face paled a bit, but after being glared by Chen's wife, he was suddenly unable to speak.

Gu Jiu Ling's lips curled into a cold smile: "Well, this is preferential treatment for males over females, huh?"

She didn't want to delay, ordered Jiu Yue to fetch fifty taels of silver and hand it to Chen's wife, saying, "I am a doctor, not a murderer!"

"Keep this silver, and treat your daughter better from now on!"

Seeing Gu Jiu Ling angry, Chen's wife hastily grabbed the silver, dragged the old man away, and slipped out of the compound, squatting at the wall base grinning ear to ear.

She produced the money pouch Jiu Yue had given her, tightly clutching two silver ingots, and giggled, "Old man, look at how generous they are!"

"Just this pouch, its embroidery could fetch a good price even in our town!"

Chen's father heaved a deep sigh, worry flickering in his eyes, not knowing what these people intended to do to his daughter, wondering if they would really harm her.

Gu Jiu Ling prepared for the surgery in the afternoon, and at noon rested in the princess's guest quarters.

She had just lain down on the noble consort's couch and dozed a moment when she heard low voices outside; she immediately sat up, and through the green‑gauze lattice saw a tall, dark‑clad youth standing at the courtyard gate, his face cold as he spoke.

Yun Duo also lifted her head, her face stern as she replied; she couldn't make out what was said, but it seemed their conversation was not pleasant.

Gu Jiu Ling's thoughts paused, she rose and left the warm pavilion; Jiu Yue sat on a nearby round stool, preparing the instruments Gu Jiu Ling would need shortly, and upon seeing her rise, hurriedly got up as well.

Gu Jiu Ling gestured to her, and she closed her lips.

Gu Jiu Ling stood at the gate and heard more clearly.

Cheng Ming, with the air of someone who thinks the whole world owes him money, said coldly, "Tell your master, if you mess this up this time, I won't spare her."

Yun Duo said coldly, "Although I am a rustic country girl, I know that having received kindness one must repay it with gratitude; Marquis, you left one unforgiven and right one unforgiven—you're being petty!"

"What are you, daring to rebuke the prince?" Cheng Ming flew into a rage.

Yun Duo was about to speak when Gu Jiu Ling shouted her down.

"Yun Duo! Impudent!"

Yun Duo lowered her head and stood behind Gu Jiu Ling; Gu Jiu Ling stared at Cheng Ming and snorted with laughter: "Great nephew, you remember the wager between your aunt‑in‑law and me?"

Cheng Ming's face turned pale; these past days he had also been tense, not knowing what the future held, anxious, so he came to check on the situation at the guest quarters, but seeing Gu Jiu Ling again was displeasing to him.

At this moment, when she brought up that wager, he instantly sneered, "I naturally remember it; if you dare play any tricks, you will surely die!"

"Your uncle may save you for a moment, but he cannot save you for a lifetime!"

"Hmph!" Cheng Ming turned and walked away.

"Hold it!" Gu Jiu Ling thought, looking at this brat made her hands itch to discipline him, but out of respect for his mother she let it go.

But there is something she wanted to ask him directly.