Capítulo 7: Chapter 7 Madam Gu's Visit
"I didn't hear it," Pan Cui shook her head, "but Pan Xia said this morning that it seemed like a thief had entered Li Residence next door last night, and they searched the garden for quite a while."
Zuo Xiangning's brows furrowed slightly, "Our Xianglan Residence is indeed too close to the neighboring garden."
"But there are no vacant courtyards in our residence right now," Pan Cui said. "Fortunately, the wall between our two residences is high enough that ordinary people can't cross it."
What if it wasn't an ordinary person?
When Zuo Xiangning thought of the man last night, her heart pounded.
In her previous life, she had been feverish for a whole night, not knowing whether that man had come or not.
She shook her head gently.
Whether that man had appeared or not, it wasn't important to her.
She smiled and asked Pan Cui, "How's your mother's health?"
"My mother is quite well," Pan Cui said with a smile. "My mother made some chili sauce for Miss and told me to fetch it in a couple of days."
Zuo Xiangning remembered that at this time in her previous life, Pan Cui's mother had fallen ill.
Because she herself had been sick for nearly half a month, Pan Cui hadn't managed to find a doctor for her mother in time. Her mother's life had been saved, but she ended up bedridden and completely incapacitated.
Thinking of this, Zuo Xiangning said, "You should go home right now, take some pickles that Nanny Cai made back with you; I remember your mother enjoys them. Just remember, pickles are too salty, so tell your mother not to eat too much."
"I thank Miss on behalf of my mother," Pan Cui said with a smile as she curtseyed. "I will go back in a few days."
"Don't wait a few days; go back right away," Zuo Xiangning said. "Ask a doctor to go with you and check your mother's condition to ensure her safety."
When Pan Cui last went home, her mother had said that she was having some difficulty breathing, and it was something that had been on her mind.
But thinking of Zuo Xiangning's peril yesterday, she still said with a smile, "My mother knows some medical skills. For minor ailments, she usually just treats herself with her own remedies."
"That won't do," Zuo Xiangning said sternly. "Older people should see a doctor regularly, even just to check up. It's best if there's no illness, but if there is, it's better to discover and treat it early."
"Go ahead, hurry," Zuo Xiangning urged. "Call Pan Xia here; I have something I need her for."
Beyond Pan Cui's affairs, Zuo Xiangning also had Auntie Liu's matters in mind.
Pan Cui thanked Zuo Xiangning repeatedly before she exited to call Pan Xia in.
Zuo Xiangning asked, "Has there been any activity from Auntie Liu and the Third Miss?"
"I heard from the gatekeeping old woman that Auntie Liu gave the Third Miss quite a scolding yesterday, but I don't know why," Pan Xia said. "The gates of Ruyi Courtyard are always closely guarded, and very little news leaks out."
"You and Pan Cui should tidy up the people in our courtyard too, send away those who are close to Ruyi Courtyard," Zuo Xiangning said seriously. "For those you can't handle, give me their names, and I'll find a way."
"I understand," Pan Xia said, suddenly looking pleased.
Pan Xia and Pan Cui had always felt that Auntie Liu and her daughter were not good people, yet Zuo Xiangning, as if enchanted, trusted them completely.
Now that she had suddenly become guarded against them, how could Pan Xia not be happy?
Zuo Xiangning, still concerned, instructed Pan Xia further: "Find some reliable people to keep a close watch on Auntie Liu and the Third Miss."
She remembered that in her previous life, when she woke up, it should have been the next day, and Madame Jiang had stayed by her bedside all night.
When she awoke, Madame Jiang had someone call Zuo Xiangyu over to question her, "How did your sister fall into the water at the Prince Qi's Residence when you were there together?"
Zuo Xiangyu hadn't said a word before collapsing on the ground, and as news reached them, Auntie Liu and Father Zuo arrived one after the other.
Auntie Liu kneeled on the ground, begging Madame Jiang to spare her and her daughter's lives, crying so much she almost fainted.
Father Zuo rebuked Madame Jiang as a jealous woman, saying that Zuo Xiangyu had been frightened and had a high fever all night.
Madame Jiang not only refused to get Zuo Xiangyu medical treatment but also insisted on seeing her early in the morning, practically wanting to kill her daughter, didn't she?
Madame Jiang was so angry that she was trembling all over, and she called over a young maid.
The young maid, trembling, said she had overheard the Third Miss's leading maid, Yu Tao, confiding in her cousin that the Third Miss had ordered Yu Tao to push the Fourth Miss into the water. Yu Tao, afraid of being discovered and terrified, had sought advice from her cousin.
Auntie Liu didn't believe it, crying and saying that Zuo Xiangyu and Zuo Xiangning's sisterly love was profound, how could they possibly do such a thing, clamoring to have Zuo Xiangning clarify the matter herself.
Father Zuo called Zuo Xiangning out.
At that time, Zuo Xiangning trusted Auntie Liu and her daughter completely, insisting that she had accidentally fallen into the water and it had nothing to do with anyone else.
Yu Tao and her cousin also swore oaths of innocence.
Auntie Liu bit back, accusing Madame Jiang of distorting the truth and trying to force her and her daughter to death, followed by Zuo Xiangyu also trying to hang herself and bang her head against the wall.
The Elder Lady Zuo flew into a rage, berating Madame Jiang with harsh words, seizing the power of household management from her... That was the most intense argument between Madame Jiang and her husband to date.
Madame Jiang, who desperately wanted to avenge Zuo Xiangning, was so angry that she lay in bed for several days.
Every time Zuo Xiangning thought of the events of her previous life, she felt as if her mind had been clouded by pork fat, blinded to the goodness in people!
In this life, she would not allow Auntie Liu and her daughter to succeed!
-
Zuo Xiangning still had considerable confidence in Madame Jiang's fighting spirit.
As long as the Elder Lady Zuo didn't suppress Madame Jiang with the 'filial piety' card, even if Father Zuo and Auntie Liu joined forces, they might not necessarily be a match for Madame Jiang.
Because at this time, Madame Jiang had the powerful backing of the Jiang Family, a daughter who had married the Second Prince as Principal Consort and was pregnant, and a son who followed Uncle Jiang in battle, repeatedly earning military merits.
At this thought, Zuo Xiangning started to worry about her legitimate elder brother, Zuo Zixi.
In her past life, her elder brother and Uncle Jiang died in battle at a place fifty miles south of Jinmin Mountain in February of the following year.
This year during the New Year holidays, she must find a way to keep her elder brother and Uncle Jiang, who would return to the capital, within the city!
Because of yesterday's incident, Zuo Xiangning's confidence had doubled.
Upon hearing that the messenger bringing good tidings from the Chu King's Mansion had arrived, she changed into a pink flowered coat and wore the red gold and jade hairpin Madam Jiang had given her, dressing up beautifully before heading to Fanghua Courtyard.
Madame Jiang was sorting out the storeroom, looking for suitable cloth for making things for children.
Seeing Zuo Xiangning enter the room, her eyes lit up.
Over the years, Madame Jiang had never skimped on gifting fine things to Zuo Xiangning, but to not outshine Zuo Xiangyu, Zuo Xiangning always refrained from dressing up. Today was the first time she had dressed in such a festive and pretty manner.
Madame Jiang smiled and waved her over, "Ningning, come here quickly."
"Has Mother found some nice things?" Zuo Xiangning approached Madame Jiang, paid her respects, and asked with a smile, "Where is the person sent by the Chu King's Mansion?"
"They just left," Madame Jiang pointed at the several rolls of cloth on the table, "These are for you, have two sets made in brighter colors, to be worn for your coming-of-age ceremony. After your ceremony, you'll have more social engagements..."
Zuo Xiangning knew that Madame Jiang was preparing to take her to meet potential suitors, and quickly wrapped her arms around Madame Jiang's arm, her face flushing as she said, "Mother, the most important thing right now is, what should we prepare for my elder sister?"
"I've already prepared everything," Madame Jiang pulled her over to the large kang by the window, pointing at the pile of things on the kang and said with a smile, "These are for your elder sister and the child, you'll come with me tomorrow to deliver them."
"Sure." Zuo Xiangning picked up a piece of red damask fabric and said, "Mother, give me a piece of this cloth, I want to embroider a bellyband for my little nephew."
Madame Jiang handed her the entire roll of cloth with a teasing comment, "With your embroidery skills, will one roll be enough?"
Zuo Xiangning took the cloth, pursing her lips in a quiet laugh.
In her previous life, while hiding outside for two years, she spent every day in her room embroidering, and her embroidery skills had improved vastly since then.
"I'll also make a little hat for my little nephew," Zuo Xiangning said with a laugh.
"For the hat, use this damask for the lining and a stiffer satin for the exterior, it looks better that way," Madame Jiang asked someone to find a thick piece of red satin, "I'll teach you when you make it."
As mother and daughter were happily chatting, Lv Ping ran in to report, "Madam, Madam Gu wants to see you."
"Madam Gu? Which Madam Gu?" Madame Jiang was momentarily startled.
Zuo Xiangning's complexion, however, had already drastically changed; in her memory, the only Madam Gu was the mother of Gu Zhiqing!
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