◎To prepare for an opportunity to join the forces under the Northern General.◎

Early the next morning, Madam Wu, accompanied by Chu’s father, drove to the Li residence. The Li family was already prepared. The couple offered no excuses, spoke politely, admitted their fault, and promised that as long as Second Miss Chu could accept Princess Wang and the child, they were willing to pay double the bride price.

Ignoring the double bride price might have allowed Chu’s father to maintain some dignity. But when he heard that the Li family intended to “buy” his daughter with gold and silver, he flew into a rage. “What do you take the Chu family for?” he shouted, tearing up the engagement contract and storming out.

The broken engagement between the Chu and Li families caused quite a stir in the capital. While most clear-sighted people believed that Third Master Li had poor character and wronged the girl, some of Li’s associates spread rumors, claiming that perhaps Second Miss Chu lacked talent and beauty, which drove Third Master Li to find someone else.

When this reached Lan Zhu, she angrily threw her sewing basket to the ground.

Her mistress was clearly a beauty and well-versed in medicine. Whoever said she was “talentless and unattractive” was spreading nonsense—and certainly, those words did not apply to Second Miss Chu! Though she was full of indignation, it was Chu Yufu who comforted her: let people say whatever they want; it wouldn’t cost her a thing.

Chu Yufu could only laugh at such idle gossip. Men seeking extramarital affairs had little to do with whether the wife at home was talented or beautiful. A man inclined to cheat would do so even if he married a goddess; a man of good character would remain faithful even if his wife was imperfect. Shifting all blame to women—what kind of logic was that?

It was precisely because of such people and such words that many women harshly demanded perfection of themselves, believing that only by being “good enough” could they earn unwavering love. Yet they misunderstood from the start: love is subjective, each sees the flower in their own way.

With the engagement issue settled, Chu Yufu began planning her next step: to compile a medical guide for military use, preparing for an opportunity to join the Northern General’s command.

She spent three days shut in her room, organizing her thoughts and transcribing them onto paper.

The guide was divided into three volumes:

Volume One: Seasons and environmental conditions. For example, in the scorching summer, rapid marches could cause heatstroke. Artemisia annua juice could be dripped into the nose to relieve headaches. For burns from open flames, apply a paste of Sanguisorba, charcoal powder, and sesame oil. If these materials were unavailable, crushed plantain could be used instead.

Volume Two: Emergency treatment for wounds. For open injuries, use gauze soaked in strong saline to clean the wound. For suppurating wounds, crush dandelion leaves and apply externally, changing every three days.

Volume Three: Epidemic prevention and treatment. If a soldier’s tongue coating appears as white as snow, be alert for disease. Boil largeleaf indigo and isatis root for prevention and treatment.

While compiling the guide, Chu Yufu considered not only the marching environment but also limited resources. In just a few days, she could only draft the general framework; the content would need to be gradually expanded and enriched.

She remained in her courtyard, reading and writing without stepping outside. Outsiders, however, assumed she had been so shaken by recent events that she had to close herself off to recuperate.

Half a month later, as the commotion gradually subsided, Lu Jia’an finally came to visit her for a casual chat.

In the Zhuyu Courtyard, Lu Jia’an sat before a bronze mirror, holding up several hairpins to show Chu Yufu, asking which looked best, while chattering in a crisp voice: “Second Sister, I have exciting news to tell you today!”

“What is it?” Chu Yufu approached, looking down at the pins.

“Li Min’s child is gone!”

Chu Yufu was surprised: “What happened? Where did you hear this?”

“A few days ago! The servants spread the story everywhere. Apparently, Li Min went out drinking during the day and sought out Princess Wang. Who knows what they said, but she tried to kill herself, and Li Min accidentally pushed her. Blood was everywhere before he sobered up. In a panic, he had her sent to the doctor, but the child couldn’t be saved. He even bruised his face, becoming the laughingstock of the entire capital!” Lu Jia’an said, fuming.

Chu Yufu shrugged slightly. She hadn’t expected this outcome.

“Enough about that scoundrel. Help me decide which hairpin is best for the Winter Banquet,” Lu Jia’an said, holding three jade pins: lotus-shaped, orchid-shaped, and crescent-shaped.

Chu Yufu examined them carefully, pointing to the crescent pin: “This one.”

During the bleak end of the year, capital aristocrats held Winter Banquets to pass the time, enjoying plum blossoms, snow, and ice sculptures. Madam Luo of the Ministry of Rites loved gatherings and invited friends every year. Over time, her Winter Banquet became an essential winter social event.

This year, the banquet had been delayed due to an epidemic. In mid-November, Madam Luo sent invitations for the end of the month. However, considering that Chu Yufu had recently broken off her engagement, her stepmother didn’t want her to attend and be gossiped about, so she wasn’t informed—meaning she would not be invited.

Chu Yufu was quite pleased with the quiet.

In the original story, Cousin Lu had recently met Crown Prince Zhao in the street, and he had given her a golden hairpin. They were in an ambiguous, flirtatious situation. At the Winter Banquet, Chu Jinhe would take the initiative to flatter the crown prince and recite a poem about snow, drawing applause. Under her elder sister’s instructions, Second Miss Chu would have to support her sister and step on Cousin Lu, making the atmosphere tense. Now, with her stepmother preventing her from attending, Chu Yufu was relieved—she had no desire to wade into that battlefield.

Thinking of the story in the book, she felt a little sympathetic seeing her flushed from her elder sister’s teasing. After a moment’s thought, she said, “At the Winter Banquet, everyone will surely compose poems for entertainment. Cousin Lu, why don’t you prepare a couple in advance?”

Cousin Lu frowned and waved her hand: “I can make up stories, but writing poems? Forget it!”

Chu Yufu was rendered speechless and let the matter drop.

Cousin Lu added, “Why don’t we go together? If you take the initiative to go find Aunt, she wouldn’t leave you out for the sake of face.”

Chu Yufu shook her head: “No, I’d rather not go. I wasn’t willing to go in the first place.”

Cousin Lu wanted to argue further but was interrupted by a knock at the door. Yun Sui entered: “Miss, Madam requests your presence.”

Chu Yufu exchanged a glance with her cousin and replied, “Understood.”

Madam Wu rarely summoned her, so after sending Cousin Lu off, Chu Yufu quickly tidied herself and hurried toward Yunxi Hall. Passing through the flowering gate, she had just reached the main courtyard when she heard a commotion—apparently her stepmother and third younger brother were arguing.

“Mother, you’re so heartless! My leg still hurts, and you insist on driving me to death?”

“Leg hurts? Yesterday when you were playing cricket, your leg didn’t hurt. When you insisted on going to hear the storyteller, your leg didn’t hurt. Today, when it’s time to study, suddenly your leg hurts! You loaf around all day, and now you claim to study for me?”

“How is that not for you? Aren’t you counting on me to make a name for myself and bring honor to our family?”

“You—you!”

In front of the Yunxi Hall maids, Chu Yufu couldn’t help covering her mouth with her sleeve, coughing lightly, and stepped in slowly. She bowed slightly to Madam Wu: “Mother.”

Inside, Chu Junze slouched in the grand chair at the desk, wearing a wrinkled indigo silk shirt like pickled vegetables. He didn’t greet his second sister, fiddling with a purple brush and tilting his head to stare at the asparagus fern on the windowsill. Madam Wu stood across the desk, holding a ruler, her face full of frustration, beckoning Chu Yufu over angrily: “Second Miss, come, check your brother’s leg!”

Chu Yufu hesitated slightly, furrowing her brow with a troubled expression: “Mother, he’s not so young anymore…”

Madam Wu slammed the ruler on the desk impatiently: “He’s your own brother. What’s there to avoid? Just look!” She signaled a maid to roll up Chu Junze’s pant leg, revealing a calf still marked with faint bruises.

Chu Yufu couldn’t help thinking to herself: she’s not an X-ray machine—how could she judge the healing of a bone fracture with the naked eye? Moreover, acute fractures typically hurt for three to five days. As long as the injured area isn’t bearing weight or moving, recovery is relatively painless. Chu Junze’s complaints were purely out of reluctance to study. Mother and son were quarreling, and she had rushed over, thinking something serious had happened!

And Chu Junze himself—if he had been diligent, the trouble with the Li family wouldn’t have occurred. Now that the engagement was finally broken off, she still had to tend to his injury. To make matters worse, he hadn’t even looked at her properly since entering, displaying a lazy, spoiled attitude. Even Chu Yufu’s good temper was tested.

Though displeased inwardly, she forced a gentle smile, bending down to lightly press his calf as a show of care, her crescent-shaped eyes curving warmly: “Third Brother, hold out your hand. I’ll take your pulse.”

Chu Junze’s face stretched into a long frown. Glancing at his mother, he reluctantly extended his right hand. Chu Yufu probed carefully with three fingers, feeling his pulse. After a moment, she switched hands and continued, her expression growing more serious. Her dark lashes fluttered softly as she emitted a faint hiss.

Seeing this, Madam Wu straightened her back and leaned forward, asking anxiously: “What is it? What did you find?”

“Third Brother’s leg isn’t seriously injured. As long as he doesn’t jump around, it won’t hurt. The problem is…” Chu Yufu’s face was serious.

“What problem?” Chu Junze couldn’t help asking.

“The problem is, your pulse is like a stretched zither string—straight and long. It’s a typical sign of liver fire rising! If liver qi is unsoothed, you’ll wake with a sticky mouth, become irritable, have difficulty focusing, experience restless sleep, and your nightmares often involve chasing or falling.” Chu Yufu explained carefully.

“Whoa!” Chu Junze suddenly sat upright, eyes wide. “Second Sister, are you diagnosing me or reading my fortune?”

Chu Yufu didn’t answer, speaking earnestly: “If your mind can’t focus, you won’t learn. Seeing books will irritate you. All of this comes from liver fire rising!”

Madam Wu heard this and realized why her son couldn’t concentrate. She stepped forward, grasping Chu Yufu’s hand anxiously: “Second Miss, can it be treated?”

“Yes,” Chu Yufu nodded. “I’ll prepare a few prescriptions of Gentiana Liver-Clearing Decoction. After a few days, it should help.”

Madam Wu relaxed and looked at the obedient, capable Second Miss before her. She thought to herself, though this girl wasn’t the sharpest, her medical skill came from her maternal family—truly a talent. She patted Chu Yufu’s hand, smiling: “It’s fortunate to have you here, Second Miss.”

From the side, Chu Junze shouted like a mischievous monkey: “So does that mean if I take the medicine, I can study properly?”

“Go on,” Madam Wu laughed, pushing his head lightly.

Chu Yufu took the brush from the maid, leaning over to write the prescription: “Six qian Gentiana root, nine qian Scutellaria, six qian Coptis, five qian Sophora root, nine qian Gardenia fruit…”

When she finished, she put down the brush and volunteered: “Since you’ve been working hard studying and were recently injured, I can make some medicinal dishes to nourish you.”

Madam Wu looked at the prescription and smiled even more: “That would be perfect!”