The medical clinic had just opened when Gu Youyou received an invitation.
Gu Youyou held the invitation with utter speechlessness.
It had been sent by Marquess Yue, and she really couldn’t figure out why Marquess Yue would send her an invitation? Moreover, the timing was calculated to be just after Jin Zijin had left.
Regarding Marquess Yue, Gu Youyou had only met him a few times. Last time she had won a game of chess, and Marquess Yue had laughingly said he wanted to have a rematch with her sometime. Could it be he wanted to play chess with her?
She thought that couldn’t be it, that must have just been a jest from Marquess Yue.
Moreover, according to what Jin Zijin had said, the State Preceptor might be making a move on Lingnan soon, and Marquess Yue himself must be busy dealing with that. So, where would he find the time to send her an invitation for a duel?
Could it be that Yue Rujing went home and whined to his old man?
Gu Youyou was so startled her heart trembled!
But then she thought, how could that be? Her brother wouldn’t kill him.
So, she continued to space out.
"Sister Youyou, you’ve been spacing out. What’s the matter?"
Gu Youyou shook the invitation in her hand and said, "I’m really worried whether or not to go. There are so many things to take care of in the clinic, and I don’t want to go. But then again, I feel it would be rude not to."
Naturally, Gu Youyou couldn’t tell Banxia that the trouble was because of an invitation from Marquess Yue.
After hearing this, Banxia hurriedly said, "If it’s a friend of Sister Youyou, then just go. I’m here at the clinic, and at worst, we can hang a ’closed for consultation’ sign outside."
Gu Youyou rolled her eyes speechlessly and said, "Is this how we’re supposed to run a clinic, fishing for three days and sun-drying the nets for two? Running a clinic is just asking for disaster."
Banxia didn’t understand what Gu Youyou was talking about, and feeling aggrieved by her words, called out to Sister Youyou.
Gu Youyou waved her hand and said, "Alright, do as you say then. Go check how the repairs in the backyard are coming along and tell them to hurry up."
She had already bought the backyard of the neighboring pancake shop. Fortunately, the property wasn’t expensive. Although it was run down, the area was large, and most importantly, it only cost five hundred taels, which was a drop in the ocean compared to modern real estate prices.
"Alas! Even if I don’t want to go, I must, and I must go quickly," Gu Youyou murmured to herself, holding the invitation as she headed out the door.
A servant from the Marquis Residence guided Gu Youyou as she rode in the carriage, and it was only upon arrival that she realized this place was not the Marquis Residence.
Hey! What was Marquess Yue up to, bringing her to a small courtyard in a small alley?
The servant opened the door and invited Gu Youyou in, then closed it again, locking himself outside and Gu Youyou inside.
She felt increasingly puzzled.
Gu Youyou saw Marquess Yue in the courtyard, his silhouette very similar to Yue Rujing’s—like father, like son.
He turned his face to her, revealing a warm smile, and only then did Gu Youyou clearly see the half-unrolled painting he was holding in his hands.
"Greetings, Marquess!" Gu Youyou bowed respectfully.
Marquess Yue hummed in acknowledgment, raised his hand, and gestured for her to stand up.
Gu Youyou straightened up and intently looked at the painting in his hands.
Although the scroll was only half-unrolled, Gu Youyou could see that it was a portrait of a woman painted in the style of ancient beauties—exquisite though it was, it was not quite capable of making the subject appear truly attractive.
Marquess Yue said, "I have invited Doctor Gu today because I have a favor to ask."
He used the word "I" and "ask" for a favor. His demeanor was extremely humble, making Gu Youyou, as puzzled as a monk scratching his head, apprehensive and unsure of what he was about to do.
"Marquess, you honor me too much. Please speak freely. If there’s any way I can be of assistance to the Marquess, it would be my good fortune."
This was the first time Gu Youyou referred to herself as a "common girl"; previously, whether in front of the old madam or Marquess Yue, she had always referred to herself as "I". She did not fancy those strange titles from feudal society and never wanted to place herself in a position of vulnerability unless absolutely necessary.