Capítulo 1441: Chapter 1419: Superior Intent (Additional chapter for the reward from the book friend “DIME”)
However, the people in the capital are very knowledgeable, especially the noble families and dignitaries, who have grown up surrounded by beauties.
They have known how to distinguish beauty from an early age and thought they had seen enough beauties, yet upon seeing Yang Heshu, they realized it was still too few.
Yang Heshu has been more attractive, more refined, and fairer than others since childhood, and he has become more handsome as he grew.
Now, everyone silently made way for him, even those with higher status than the Yang family stepped aside to let him pass first.
Yang Heshu wanted to follow the rules, but based on past experience, if he declined and stayed behind, the situation would become even more chaotic.
So, whenever someone made way, he went ahead; when they didn’t, he quietly waited behind.
Unfortunately, no one prevented him from passing, so he smoothly made his way to the front.
He jumped off his horse and first went to the carriage to help Ms. Cui down.
Under the gaze of everyone, Ms. Cui held Yang Heshu’s hand to get out of the vehicle, her face slightly reddened. However, after glancing at her husband, she lowered her head and smiled gently, and the couple walked forward together hand in hand.
Upon reaching Manbao and the group, Yang Heshu raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, “Not going in?”
Bai Shan and the group nodded repeatedly, “We’re going in, we’re going in.”
The horses and carriages had servants to arrange them, so they turned and went inside.
However, the places for men and women to entertain guests were separate.
Yang Heshu handed his wife’s hand over to Manbao and smiled, “Take care of her for me.”
Manbao’s hand coincidentally touched Ms. Cui’s wrist, and she felt moved in her heart. Her fingers gently placed on her pulse to check it, and then she raised her eyebrows at the couple, her expression similar to Yang Heshu’s earlier.
Upon seeing this, Ms. Cui lowered her head with a bashful smile and softly remarked, “The prescription you gave me worked well. I’ve been very cautious these three months, but since it’s still early, I can’t speak about it publicly.”
Indeed, it’s still early—only a little over a month.
Manbao supported her and said to Yang Heshu, “Don’t worry, Scholarly Senior Brother Yang. I’ll definitely take good care of Madam Yang, and you help me look after my Junior Brothers and also my Brother Bai.”
Yang Heshu laughed, “Rest assured.”
He led Bai Dalang and the others towards the front courtyard to receive guests, while Manbao heard Bai Shan asking him, “Isn’t Senior Brother Tang coming?”
“He isn’t coming,” Yang Heshu chuckled, “He’s likely too busy during this time.”
Manbao, holding Yang Heshu’s wife’s hand, followed the maid to the rear courtyard, curiously inquiring, “If Lord Tang isn’t coming, is Madam Tang not coming either?”
“She should have arrived early,” Yang Heshu’s wife replied with a smile, “Her family and the Han family are related, so she should be among the earliest to arrive.”
The Li family was particularly lively, celebrating a child’s hundred-day milestone, comparable to an elder’s birthday celebration.
Because this child was delivered by caesarean, and Zhou Man had already advised that Fifth Lady Han should not conceive again, they consulted other doctors who confirmed this, making this child Li Sanlang’s only legitimate son.
Therefore, not only does the Li family cherish this child, but the Han family also regards him highly.
Fifth Lady Han had to lie low during the “washing three” and “full month” periods, unable to entertain guests and resting in her room due to injuries, so celebrations were limited to quiet family meals at home.
Now at the hundred-day mark, Fifth Lady Han has fully recovered and is physically healthy, able to run and jump, and the child has grown healthy and chubby. So both families decided to have a grand celebration in the capital before returning to Yongzhou.
As a result, even friends and relatives from Yongzhou came to join the festivities.
After all, when you have money and time to spare, Yongzhou isn’t far from the capital, so why not come over whenever you wish?
Thus, today was particularly lively.
Manbao, supporting Yang Heshu’s wife, walked through a gathering of affluent women and girls, hardly recognizing anyone.
However, Yang Heshu’s wife was familiar with many there, and likewise, many knew her.
While everyone outside the gates had looked at Yang Heshu’s wife with envy and jealousy, once inside the rear courtyard where Yang Heshu was out of sight, everyone remained friendly to her.
Yang Heshu’s wife responded appropriately and introduced Manbao along the way.
Walking towards the deepest part of the rear courtyard, Yang Heshu’s wife noticed Madam Tang surrounded by others near Fifth Lady Han, and she led Manbao over.
Fifth Lady Han was the center of attention today, chatting and laughing. She noticed Yang Heshu’s wife with a somewhat indifferent gaze, but upon seeing Manbao beside her, her eyes lit up, and she rose immediately to welcome her, “Young Lady Zhou, you’ve arrived. Come and sit.”
She curiously glanced at Manbao and Yang Heshu’s wife and asked, “Are Young Lady Zhou and Cui Family’s younger sister acquainted?”
Indeed, Ms. Cui is two years younger than Fifth Lady Han. Despite Fifth Lady Han’s current mutual affection with Li Sanlang, she had liked Yang Heshu before. The Han family had even suggested a marriage alliance with the Yang family, although it wasn’t accepted.
It should be said that within this room, anyone three years older or six years younger than Yang Heshu has had a crush on him, and many families similarly proposed marriage alliances with the Yang family.
The threshold of the Yang family truly has been worn out by matchmakers. If it weren’t for the younger age of several princesses in the palace, they might also entertain thoughts of stepping onto the Yang family’s threshold.
Manbao smiled and nodded, explaining, “I am from Luojiang County.”
Fifth Lady Han suddenly understood.
See, she couldn’t remember her chief doctor was from Luojiang County, but she remembered Yang Heshu served as Luojiang County’s magistrate. So when Manbao mentioned being from Luojiang County, Fifth Lady Han understood everything.
Madam Tang also smiled and stepped forward to greet her, and in this room, Manbao was familiar with many people who had a positive impression of her.
Though they haven’t met recently, no matter how tumultuous things have been outside, it’s easy to dismiss it when out of sight, but when face-to-face, greetings are customary.
Thus, Manbao remained at ease.
She even followed Fifth Lady Han to see the child.
The child was considerable at birth, and now he’s even healthier, fair and plump. Manbao touched his warm little hand, teased him gently, then felt his pulse, saying to Fifth Lady Han, “The child is very healthy.”
Upon hearing this, Fifth Lady Han became more joyous, as if receiving a precious gift, holding her child and smiling as if she had tasted honey, repeatedly thanking Manbao.
Nearby women guests couldn’t help but feel stirred, each of them facing various health issues, wishing they could immediately pull Manbao aside for a checkup, but considering the current occasion, they held back.
However, everyone turned more enthusiastically towards Manbao. Many women pondered, why should royal disputes concern a mere doctor?
A doctor is only responsible for healing!
As for us women, why should these matters concern us?
We just want to find a knowledgeable, empathetic doctor for a consultation.
With this thought, everyone became more cordial towards Manbao, whether they were acquaintances or strangers, stepping forward to greet her.
Thus, instead of mingling in the garden with girls of her age, admiring the newly bloomed peonies, Manbao was caught up inside, surrounded by chatter and laughter.
Since entering this rear courtyard, Keke only sounded twice, and seeing that Manbao couldn’t dig into anyone’s garden publicly, she simply remained indoors conversing with the ladies and madams.
Primarily because she wasn’t very familiar with the young girls outside.
Before long, Manbao was taken by Madam Tang and Yang Heshu’s wife to another room to meet a group of elderly ladies, who also looked upon Manbao with smiling eyes, and after making rounds, she ended up receiving a bunch of presents.
She was somewhat bewildered, and Madam Tang, seeing this, couldn’t help but pinch her cheek and laugh, saying, “The old madams really like you; this is a good thing.”
She leaned in to whisper by her ear, “This goes along with the Empress Dowager’s wishes.”
Manbao understood and looked at the armful of gifts with a speechless expression, pondering whether the Empress Dowager might suffer a heart attack upon knowing.
She surely doesn’t know that for each gift she rewarded her, she could end up receiving so many more outside, especially since these old madams’ goodwill isn’t so easily obtained.