"Go and tell the Sun Family and Ye Family at the back that we’ll stop right at the foot of this mountain," Gu Chengyu instructed Ming Yan inside the carriage.
Supporting Mrs. Lv as she got off the carriage, Mrs. Lv felt much better upon seeing the lively scene.
"Madam, today we’re benefiting from Fifth Master. I’ve been in the Capital for three years but haven’t visited this temple yet!"
Sun Xian helped Sun’s mother over to greet everyone.
These words made Sun Xian feel quite guilty. His mother spent her days making pickles at ho, and he never thought to take her out for a stroll.
Even Wan’er had never been here, always busy at the embroidery workshop, while he himself had been to Bao En Temple a few tis with his classmates.
Gu Chengyu knew this was a common issue among scholars, where won usually went to offer incense, and n rely escorted them.
n typically ca with their classmates, rarely going out with the won of their families.
"Brother Sun needs to study, and Auntie is busy all day, even my second sister is occupied with work at the embroidery workshop, and never has ti! We’ll be living in the Capital for a long ti, and there will be plenty of ti. Auntie, don’t just focus on making pickles; it’s good to co out often," said Gu Chengyu, trying to ease Sun Xian’s embarrassnt.
Yao ngxian got off the carriage, gazing through her veiled hat towards the newly opened Jishi Hall.
"Miss! This is it," said Mrs. Gao, who had co here before to fetch dicine and knew this was the doctor’s clinic.
"Let’s go in!" Yao ngxian was the first to step into the clinic, finding there were still quite a few patients at this ti.
"Doctor Gu, is Doctor Li available in the clinic?" Mrs. Gao asked eagerly, recognizing Gu Chengchi, who was preparing dicine at the counter.
Gu Chengchi had just finished wrapping a packet of dicine when he heard soone asking for his master.
Looking up, wasn’t that Mrs. Gao, who had visited once before?
"So it’s Mrs. Gao! Master is in the inner hall! Are you here to fetch more dicine for your young lady?"
"No, my young lady is already cured. We haven’t even finished drinking the tonic dicine from last ti. My young lady ca specifically to thank Doctor Li today," Mrs. Gao said, stepping aside to reveal a petite girl in a veiled hat standing not far away.
"Oh! Quickly, invite your young lady inside!" Gu Chengchi hurriedly called to his wife, Mrs. Zhao, who was helping to prepare dicine in the inner hall, to co out and greet the guests.
Quickly ushering them into the inner hall, they shielded them from the curious eyes of other patients outside.
"Wow! Wasn’t that a lady from a wealthy family? I didn’t expect Jishi Hall to have just opened and already attract such prominent clients," an elderly woman murmured, looking at Yao ngxian’s group entering the inner hall.
"Indeed! My child’s father had a cough for years, and after coming here a few tis, he’s gotten much better. Doctor Gu and Doctor Li truly have miraculous hands, and the dicine is cheaper compared to others!" a woman in her thirties chid in, her face brimming with gratitude.
"Master! Chichi’s wife seems to be overwheld with work. There are more patients now; I’ll stay to help with the dicine," said Mrs. Yao, noticing several patients still waiting for consultation.
"That would be great! Chichi’s wife has been overwheld for a while now." Doctor Li nodded, ready to see the next patient.
Suddenly, the curtain was drawn back, and three won entered from outside, one of whom was wearing a veiled hat.
Upon a closer look, wasn’t that Mrs. Gao from Duke Zhen’s Mansion?
He was startled and then glanced at Mrs. Yao standing with her back to the door.
"Doctor Li, my young lady ca specifically to thank you today. I hope we’re not disturbing you?"
Mrs. Gao smiled, seeing another woman inside, assuming there was another patient.
Doctor Li’s expression darkened, and he rose to speak to Mrs. Yao, "Please go and prepare the dicine."
Mrs. Yao, intrigued, was about to enter the inner courtyard through the right door when she heard a woman’s voice talking about a young lady, prompting her to glance back.
"Alright!" Mrs. Yao replied, turning around, only to freeze on the spot at what she saw.
Mrs. Gao glanced at the woman who turned her head and examined her closely.
"You?" That glance was startling, causing Mrs. Gao to step back several paces in shock and fear.
Her aghast expression also frightened Yao ngxian and Lianxin, prompting Lianxin to ask urgently, "Mrs. Gao, what’s the matter?"
Mrs. Yao, equally shocked, quickly moved to the right, accidentally knocking over a small screen in her haste.
"Don’t leave," Mrs. Gao called out, quickly moving forward to grab Mrs. Yao.
"Who are you? Who exactly are you?" Mrs. Gao clutched Mrs. Yao’s sleeve, incredulously. Despite Mrs. Yao’s struggle, she refused to let go.
Seeing this, Doctor Li hurried forward to pull Mrs. Gao away, "What are you doing, Mrs. Gao? This is my wife; please let her go."
Doctor Li’s heart was anxious; Mrs. Yao mustn’t be recognized. He regretted their decision to co to the Capital.
Yao ngxian, bewildered by the intense reactions of the three, stood with a puzzled expression.
However, since Mrs. Gao stopped the woman, there must be so connection between them.
"Mrs. Gao, what’s going on?" Yao ngxian stepped up beside Mrs. Gao. Although the woman and Doctor Li continued to struggle, Mrs. Gao was with them, so she naturally supported her.
"You are the elder cousin. You are the elder cousin, aren’t you?" Mrs. Gao, almost entranced, wrapped her arms around Mrs. Yao’s waist.
"Xiao Bao! It’s much cooler in here than outside," Mrs. Lv remarked, having sweated from climbing up from the mountain’s base.
Inside the hall, Mrs. Lv and her companions offered incense to the Bodhisattva and donated twenty taels of silver as incense money.
Gu Chengyu was a bit surprised, his usually frugal mother donating so much silver?
"Mother just asked the Bodhisattva to bless you, hoping you would soon find a wife and bear a healthy son," Mrs. Lv whispered with a smile into Gu Chengyu’s ear.
Gu Chengyu sighed helplessly; his mother was indeed persistent.
"Thank you, benefactor!" A monk clasped his hands in gratitude, bowing to the two.
Sun’s mother and Ye’s mother also joined, each contributing so incense money.
"I heard that the fortune sticks at Bao En Temple are very accurate. Why don’t Fifth Master and Brother Xian draw a stick each?" Sun’s mother suggested enthusiastically upon seeing others interpreting fortune sticks outside the hall.
"Sounds good! Xiao Bao, go draw one," Mrs. Lv urged excitedly.
"Mother, let’s not. Let’s explore elsewhere. There are many different varieties of flowers planted on the back hill, and I’ve heard so are quite rare," Gu Chengyu hesitated, unsure of what the fortune sticks might say. As soone who has lived again, he was cautious to avoid unnecessary risks.
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