The Empress Dowager wasn’t really concerned about who taught Gu Youyou her skills over the years; she simply thought Youyou was intelligent and studious, which led to her achievements.
"How old is Doctor Gu this year? Has she been promised to someone?"
Women, no matter their age, get curious once they are in a good mood, and they love to gossip about such matters when they do.
Gu Youyou said helplessly, "I am twenty-one this year and have not yet been betrothed."
After calculating, it had been three winters since she came here—three years in all. By nominal age, she was already twenty-one.
In this place, a twenty-one-year-old unmarried woman was rare indeed, and it was inevitable that she would become the subject of gossip.
As expected, once her age was revealed, it stunned everyone in the room.
The Empress Dowager exclaimed in surprise, "Why has Doctor Gu not been betrothed at the age of twenty-one?" Then she turned to the Empress, saying, "Doesn’t your cousin think about making arrangements for her?"
The Empress was quite embarrassed and hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, it’s something I should indeed discuss. It’s unheard of for a girl to be twenty-one and not yet married. With Youyou’s qualities, she needn’t worry about marrying late."
Gu Youyou performed a curtsey and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Empress Dowager, and Your Majesty the Empress. However, I choose not to marry because there is a reason."
"A reason?" The Empress Dowager and Empress asked, looking at her curiously.
Gu Youyou explained, "Not to dismay you, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, but I actually suffer from an illness that has yet to be cured. I do not know when it might flare up and take my life. I am truly not suited for marriage."
The Empress had a realization and said, "Oh yes, Mother, I recall my cousin mentioning that Lin Xingyi’s old home had only one sister, who had a daughter with a chronic illness since childhood. That would be Doctor Gu."
The Empress Dowager immediately looked at Gu Youyou with sympathy and sighed, "So young, yet afflicted with illness? Can’t you treat it yourself since you are also a doctor?"
Gu Youyou admitted, "I have studied this illness with my master for many years, Your Majesty, and we have recently made some progress, but I’m not certain if it can be fully cured."
Everyone sighed in empathy, and the Empress remarked, "Then it truly is... inappropriate for you to marry. Youyou probably advanced your medical skills because of your own illness, having no choice but to work hard at it. You should indeed concentrate more on caring for your own health. Being alive is more important than anything. Whether to marry or not should be a secondary consideration."
"Indeed!" The Empress Dowager agreed, nodding softly.
Noting that only a little more than half an hour remained, and seeing that Gu Youyou looked somewhat tired, she instructed a palace maiden, "Take Doctor Gu to have some tea and rest for a while, there’s still half an hour to go."
Gu Youyou expressed her gratitude and followed the palace maiden to an adjacent side hall.
The palace maiden served her tea and some exquisitely made pastries, saying, "Enjoy your meal, Doctor Gu!"
"Thank you for your hospitality, sister," she replied.
The palace maiden responded with a sound and then withdrew.
As Gu Youyou sipped her tea and ate the pastries, she looked out the window at the garden.
The bushes in the garden were lush, pruned into an attractive disarray by the gardener.
Soon, she noticed an eunuch acting somewhat... sneaky as he approached, eventually entering the side hall where she was resting.
Gu Youyou quickly swallowed the half piece of pastry in her mouth and stood up.
Just as she was about to show respect, the eunuch hastily gestured for her to dispense with formalities and said, "Miss Gu, I have come only to remind you with a word of advice. ’Know your limits!’"
Having said only that, the eunuch left as quickly as he had come.
Gu Youyou stood there, stunned for a long moment, coming to her senses only when she saw the eunuch disappear from view by the window.
Where did this eunuch come from, and why did he feel the need to warn her?
’Know your limits,’ he had said, likely referring to the treatment she was providing for the Empress Dowager’s leg ailment.