Volume One, Chapter 15: Granny Geng from the Palace
“Daughter-in-law pays respects to mother.”
Just after Jiu Mu finished breakfast, the servant beside Madam Hou summoned her.
Madam Hou, upon seeing her arrival, beckoned her over with a gentle wave. “You’re here, come over here. I want to introduce you to someone.”
“Yes,” Jiu Mu obediently approached Madam Hou’s side.
“This is Nurse Geng, attendant to Empress Xia Fei,” Madam Hou introduced, pointing to the woman seated in the nearby chair.
Though called a nurse, she appeared only in her early thirties, dressed somewhat old-fashionedly, with sharp eyes that immediately marked her as no ordinary person.
Jiu Mu had noticed her scrutinizing gaze since entering. She called out lightly, “Nurse Geng.”
“Your humble servant greets the future lady of the heir. The Empress has always been concerned about the heir and specially sent me along with the imperial physician today to examine him,” Nurse Geng said.
If she had only been suspicious before, now Jiu Mu was certain this Nurse Geng disliked her intensely.
Despite repeatedly calling herself a servant, she remained seated without rising; naturally, Jiu Mu saw no reason to stand when speaking to her.
Jiu Mu sat down at the lower end beside Madam Hou. “Thank you for your concern, Madam. Unfortunately, my husband has just lain down again.”
“Then I shall wait here until the heir awakens. It would be a shame to disregard the Empress’s care,” Nurse Geng replied.
What she said was true: Luo Chen had eaten early, taken the prescribed medicine, and would not awaken before noon.
Imperial physicians in the palace were ineffective; if they could truly cure Luo Chen, it would not have come to the current desperate measures.
Otherwise, Madam Hou would not have remained silent all this while, likely unwilling to intervene.
“That might not be appropriate; it would delay Nurse Geng’s return to the palace,” Jiu Mu said lightly.
Nurse Geng countered, “There is no issue. I will be staying at the Hou residence for some days anyway.”
Before Jiu Mu could respond, Madam Hou asked, “You are going to live at the Hou residence?”
Her reaction suggested she had not been informed of this beforehand.
“Madam, the Empress heard the future lady was raised in the countryside without proper etiquette and thus sent me to teach her well,” Nurse Geng said, casting a sideways glance at Jiu Mu filled with disdain and contempt, as though she herself were the true mistress.
“Jiu Mu’s duty is to care for Chen’er; she has no time to learn manners. Nurse, please return,” Madam Hou refused decisively.
“Following the Empress’s orders, I dare not disobey,” Nurse Geng said with a bitter, insincere smile.
Madam Hou’s expression darkened. “Are you trying to pressure me with Empress Xia Fei? I have already said my daughter-in-law need not learn any etiquette. Do you not understand?”
Watching the usually gentle and serene Madam Yue suddenly radiate such imposing authority, Jiu Mu raised her brow slightly.
Her mother-in-law truly concealed a formidable strength.
Nurse Geng stood up. “Madam, please calm down. I overstepped. I will report to the Empress exactly as it is.”
Madam Hou paid her no mind and commanded in a low voice, “I am tired. Send the guest out.”
Jiu Mu had not expected Madam Yue to dismiss her so bluntly without mercy; evidently, she had strong backing.
After all, Nurse Geng had made it clear she intended to complain to her mistress upon returning.
“Mother, daughter-in-law will see her off,” Jiu Mu said, rising.
Madam Hou only waved her hand, neither agreeing nor refusing.
“Please, Nurse Geng,” Jiu Mu said with a smile masking her restrained anger.
With no choice, Nurse Geng obediently rose and headed to the door, Jiu Mu following at a respectful distance.
“You have seen for yourself that my lady cares deeply for her nephew and thinks only of the heir’s well-being. Yet Madam Hou is ungrateful,” Nurse Geng sneered sarcastically.
Seeing Jiu Mu say nothing, she assumed she was merely afraid of Madam Yue.
“The husband is the heaven of the wife. If you want to survive in this residence, you must rely on the heir. You should understand who truly cares for him.”
Jiu Mu rolled her eyes; Nurse Geng really took her for a fool, practically wearing the words “inciting discord” on her face.
Reaching the main gate, Jiu Mu smiled, “Please take care of yourself, Nurse Geng.”
Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked back.
Nurse Geng’s scornful voice followed, “Truly a wild girl raised in the countryside with no manners. Married to a useless man and yet thinks herself the mistress!”
Jiu Mu’s hearing was sharp and caught every word clearly, but she only curled her lips and quickened her pace toward Madam Yue.
“Mother,” Madam Yue was indeed waiting for her.
“Hm, what did you discuss?” Madam Yue asked calmly, her tone unreadable.
“Nothing much. Just wanted to see if Nurse Geng could speak anything worthwhile,” Jiu Mu answered honestly.
Madam Yue smiled softly, returning to her usual gentle demeanor. “You must be more careful in the future.”
“I will remember, Mother. You looked just like a female general just now, so imposing,” Jiu Mu said sincerely, not a mere compliment but her true impression.
Madam Yue laughed aloud. “You have good eyes. I really have been to the battlefield.”
“Really?” Jiu Mu was surprised; she had only heard from Xia He that Madam Yue came from a noble family but had not investigated further.
“Of course,” Madam Yue said proudly, then sighed. “You must have noticed today that Nurse Geng came with ulterior motives.”
Hearing her confess this willingly, Jiu Mu stopped pretending ignorance. “Yes.”
Madam Yue advised, “Many covet the Hou residence. When you go out, be cautious. Do not stir trouble, but do not fear it either. If you cause a mess, your father and I will be here.”
“Thank you, Mother. I understand,” Jiu Mu said gratefully.
She had not expected Madam Yue to speak so frankly, especially since she was merely a newly married bride brought in to revive Luo Chen’s health.
Such words, even for the sake of Luo Chen or the Hou family’s reputation, showed the nobility of her character.
Back in the courtyard, Jiu Mu saw Sang Lin standing guard outside the room, attentive.
“Future lady of the heir, the people from the Yan family have entered the Pear Fragrance Courtyard as you instructed.”
“Did it go smoothly?” Jiu Mu asked with a smile.
Indeed, she had deliberately arranged for the Yan family, especially Yan Qingling, to helplessly watch their courtyard being seized.
Sang Lin nodded enthusiastically. “Very smooth. When they arrived, the Yan family was in utter chaos, too busy to notice. I heard even Master Yan got involved.”
Sang Lin seemed a bit regretful for not witnessing it personally. Suddenly, Jiu Mu thought of something.
“Keep an eye on the Yan family’s movements. If they call a doctor, inform me immediately.”
“Yes.” Sang Lin responded promptly, then asked, “Madam, you don’t intend to help the Yan family with medicine, do you?”
Jiu Mu smiled without replying; she certainly would not treat anyone for free.