Just like the Second Master Lin, he didn’t believe that the young Doctor Gu was genuinely skilled in medicine. He thought that her success in curing that case of typhoid fever was purely coincidental, that she just happened to have come across the right prescription.
Imperial Physician Fang looked at the Second Master Lin in surprise, causing the Second Master Lin some embarrassment.
Since Cuiya had already spoken, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and say, "Indeed, it was Doctor Gu from Jisheng Hall who treated her."
"It was really her?" Imperial Physician Fang’s face looked somewhat strange, it was unclear whether he was struck by the young female doctor’s capability or comforted by the thought that younger generations were indeed formidable.
He then turned to look at Miss Du who was still unconscious and muttered indistinctly, "Fine, if it works, then continue drinking it."
Gu Youyou had reached the day when she was finally released from confinement. Being locked up for half a month made her deeply realize that the Lin Residence was not a place to stay for long.
The aunt was too overbearing and her beliefs were too conservative.
She was a resident doctor at Jisheng Hall, yet she had been forcefully kept from leaving the residence for half a month.
In front of her grandmother, they treated her quite well, but it was a different story behind the scenes.
She and Lin Qianqing had been hiding in the yard, eating braised beef, yet her aunt even skimped on her food? They cut off the heating in her room, forcing her to stay in the pharmacy to avoid the cold.
Could it be that the Lin Residence couldn’t afford beef? Could they be lacking a few pieces of charcoal? Ridiculous.
She knew it was her aunt’s way of showing who’s boss, to tell her that in this Lin Residence the uncle and grandmother were the most respected, but the one who held power was her. She could make her life unpleasant in every aspect, from clothing and food to housing and transportation.
But fortunately, every night Jin Zijin would come, bringing her some of the food she wanted to eat.
Gu Youyou had complained to Jin Zijin about her aunt’s harshness, but he remained very calm.
He simply said, "It’s quite common for the official wife to deal with disobedient concubines and their children behind the scenes, setting traps and poisoning, shaming them in front of outsiders or skimping on their clothes and food in plain sight. You, as a niece, have it pretty good."
"As long as you don’t do anything that seriously harms her, there shouldn’t be any major problems. The restrictions on clothing, food, housing, and transportation are just minor issues."
Gu Youyou thought about it and felt it made sense. She indeed had no deep grudge against her aunt, for there was no significant conflict of interest between them. She understood the women of the inner court. Compared to her Gu Family relatives who would kill for gain, her aunt was pretty adorable.
Alright, she admitted, in the Lin Residence, her aunt was the boss. As a down and out relative, she truly had no need to get into a serious argument with her. In the future, she would just act more obedient in front of her.
However, she couldn’t tolerate the restriction of her freedom, so the first thing Gu Youyou did after her confinement ended was to leave the estate and go to Jisheng Hall.
No sooner had Gu Youyou stepped out the door than a maid hurried to report to Madam Lin.
"Madam, the young mistress has left the house again."
Madam Lin set down her teacup and immediately scowled.
"All she thinks about is running outside, what kind of behavior is that? I said that those medical clinics should not be opened, and now look, what has a fine young lady become? A merchant woman?"
The maid knelt on the ground and said softly, "The young mistress is a doctor, not quite a merchant woman, right?"
"How is she not?" Madam Lin slammed the teacup onto the table, causing tea to spill all over it.
"What did she open that medical clinic for? Isn’t it to earn silver? How is that any different from a merchant woman? Living in the Lin Residence, the young mistress is a merchant woman, and it makes me feel ashamed to go out. Those who don’t know might think I’ve mistreated her, forcing her to open a clinic to support herself... Eh, hold on, where is the eldest miss? Did she go with her?"
"No, she didn’t!" the maid hurriedly replied with her head lowered.
Madam Lin breathed a sigh of relief and lamented, "That’s good, I was just afraid she’d lead Daya astray; Daya is meant to marry into the Imperial Family, after all."