Chapter 290: Delivering a Warning

Su Wan and Gu Baozhu had arrived at an inconvenient time. Old Madam Zhao had been summoned to the ancestral hall, so they were arranged to wait in the flower hall.

It was likely to avoid unnecessary controversy—given Su Wan’s current status, sitting among the noble ladies might stir unwanted gossip.

As a result, the flower hall was occupied only by the two of them, with two maids attending to them, making the space exceptionally quiet.

Before long, the sound of approaching footsteps could be heard.

Su Wan lifted her gaze and saw Zhao Wei striding toward her in a dark robe, his steps steady and composed. The sunlight cast shifting shadows across his face, accentuating his sharp features and deep-set contours.

“Aren’t you busy?” Su Wan snapped out of her thoughts, surprised. “Shouldn’t you be entertaining the guests?”

“Aren’t you a guest?” Zhao Wei glanced at the tea and delicate pastries arranged on the small table before his gaze settled on Su Wan’s fair, radiant face. She seemed in better spirits than the last time he had seen her. “I came to thank you. The medicine you prescribed last time helped my mother sleep peacefully.”

“That’s good to hear.” Su Wan retrieved a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve and placed it on the table, motioning for Zhao Wei to inspect it. “You’re just in time. I’ve developed a remedy for typhoid fever. I was planning to give it to you after the birthday banquet.”

Zhao Wei picked up the small porcelain bottle, pulled out the stopper, and poured out a pill to examine it. “I don’t understand medicine, so I can’t judge it. I’ll take it back for the military doctor to assess.”

“Alright,” Su Wan replied. “If there are no issues, you can send someone directly to Xinglin Medical Hall to discuss the details.”

Zhao Wei noted her businesslike tone and responded with a simple “Mm.”

The atmosphere in the room felt somewhat strange.

Su Wan had said everything she needed to, yet Zhao Wei remained staring at the porcelain bottle in a daze. She started to feel a bit awkward, even uneasy.

At that moment, someone called out to Zhao Wei in an urgent tone.

“You stay here and wait for a moment. If you need anything, just instruct the maids,” Zhao Wei said as he slipped the medicine bottle into his sleeve pocket and left.

Su Wan inexplicably felt a sense of relief. When she turned her head, she noticed Gu Baozhu staring at Zhao Wei’s retreating figure.

“What are you looking at?” 

“Sister-in-law, I remember this big brother,” Gu Baozhu thought for a moment before smiling softly. “He came to our house before and brought us a lot of things, didn’t he?”

“Yes,” Su Wan flicked her forehead lightly. “That was a thank-you gift.”

Gu Baozhu covered her forehead and said with certainty, “Big Brother is a good person.”

Su Wan couldn’t help but chuckle—indeed, he was a good person.

A quarter of an hour later, Madam Rong entered and respectfully invited them, “Divine Doctor Su, Third Miss Gu, you’ve waited for a long time. The Old Madam has returned to Rong’an Hall and specifically asked this old servant to bring you over.”

“It’s no trouble,” Su Wan replied as she took Gu Baozhu’s hand, and the two of them headed toward Rong’an Hall.

As they passed through the moon gate, a figure suddenly rushed toward them.

Su Wan instinctively tried to dodge, but Gu Baozhu was right behind her, leaving her no choice but to reach out and catch the person. The force of the impact was too strong—she staggered backward, only managing to steady herself when her back hit a tree trunk.

“Hiss—” 

Su Wan took a sharp breath as pain shot through her back.

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! Did I hurt you?” Tang Nuan, having bumped her head against Su Wan’s shoulder, was momentarily dazed. She hadn’t expected Su Wan not to dodge. Flustered, she quickly steadied herself and began rubbing Su Wan’s back in a panic, her face full of guilt. “Should I get some medicine for you?”

Seeing that Tang Nuan was on the verge of tears, Su Wan raised her hand to stop her and gently declined, “No need, it doesn’t hurt anymore.”

“I’m heavy, that must have hurt a lot! No, I have to get a doctor for you!”

Without another word, Tang Nuan grabbed Su Wan’s hand, insisting on taking her along. “I won’t be at ease until the doctor says you’re fine.”

Madam Rong, having regained her composure, quickly intervened. “Third Miss Tang, the Defender Duke’s residence has its own doctor. This old servant will arrange for a doctor to see Divine Doctor Su.”

Su Wan nodded in agreement. “I am a doctor myself—no one understands my condition better than I do. Really, I’m fine.”

After a brief pause, she added, “Next time, don’t be so reckless.”

Tang Nuan lowered her head, looking dejected. “I won’t do it again.”

Su Wan smiled briefly and was about to withdraw her hand.

Tang Nuan let go and flashed a bright grin. “I am Third Miss Tang from the Guangyuan Marquis Manor. After the banquet, I’ll come find you!”

Before Su Wan could react, Tang Nuan lifted her skirt and hurried away.

So much for not being reckless…

Su Wan felt a bit helpless.

Madam Rong asked with concern, “Divine Doctor Su, please allow this old servant to take you to see the doctor.”

“I’m fine, that didn’t hurt,” Su Wan reassured her, then urged, “Let’s not delay paying our respects to the Old Madam.”

Madam Rong was still uneasy and decided that once she escorted Su Wan to Rong’an Hall, she would send for the doctor to examine her.

As Madam Rong walked ahead to lead the way, Su Wan subtly pressed the small piece of paper that Tang Nuan had secretly slipped into her palm.

“Sister-in-law, I’ll apply medicine for you later,” Gu Baozhu said, her eyes brimming with tears. She hadn’t missed the pained expression on Su Wan’s face when she hit the tree.

Su Wan moved her shoulder slightly, feeling a dull ache radiate from her back. “Alright, you can do it once we return home.”

Gu Baozhu agreed and remained on high alert for the rest of the way, wary that someone else might try to bump into Su Wan again.

Under the pretense of adjusting Gu Baozhu’s clothing, Su Wan discreetly unfolded the small piece of paper. There was only one line written on it: Be wary of Tang Haoyue and Tang Qingyu.

Tang Haoyue and Tang Qingyu?

Su Wan immediately recalled their identities—Tang Haoyue was the eldest daughter of the Guangyuan Marquis Manor, while Tang Qingyu was none other than County Princess Lin’an.

The person who had just bumped into her had introduced herself as Third Miss Tang—wasn’t she also from the Guangyuan Marquis Manor? Why would she warn her?

Tang Nuan’s clear, innocent eyes flashed through Su Wan’s mind. She crumpled the note into a ball and tucked it into her sleeve.

She couldn’t quite figure it out. When had she ever offended the people of the Guangyuan Marquis Manor?

The only encounter she could recall was that street confrontation, where two carriages had caused a standoff—but she had already resolved that matter.

Suddenly, Su Wan remembered Cao Suxue, the woman who always stayed by County Princess Lin’an’s side. Could this be her doing?

Su Wan frowned slightly, deciding to stay alert and act accordingly when the time came.

——

When Su Wan arrived at Rong’an Hall, the room was already filled with many noble ladies and young misses.

The moment she stepped inside, the cheerful laughter within the hall seemed to be abruptly paused, plunging the space into complete silence.

Old Madam Zhao beckoned warmly to Su Wan and said kindly, “Su girl, have you been waiting long? Come, sit by my side!”

Su Wan stepped forward to the Old Madam Zhao, gracefully curtsied, and offered her birthday wishes. “Old Madam, I wish you blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea and longevity as enduring as the Southern Mountains.” As she spoke, she presented the birthday gift she had prepared with both hands.

Gu Baozhu followed suit, mimicking Su Wan’s respectful bow as she offered her own birthday greetings.

Old Madam Zhao beamed with joy, unable to contain her smile. She accepted the birthday gift and handed it to a maid beside her, then took Gu Baozhu’s hand. “Is this little girl your third younger sister? She looks so delicate and adorable—truly lovable.”

With that, she pulled both Su Wan and Gu Baozhu to sit beside her, one on each side, and began chatting with them about household matters as if no one else were present.

The noble ladies and young misses seated below observed the scene, each with their own thoughts.

Old Madam Zhao was clearly elevating Su Wan’s status, ensuring that no one dared to look down on her.

County Princess Lin’an fixed a piercing gaze on Su Wan, with jealousy raging in her heart. When she had offered her own birthday greetings earlier, the Old Madam’s response had been polite yet distant, lacking any warmth.

Compared to her, Old Madam Zhao clearly favored Su Wan more.

Why?

What had Su Wan done to deserve this? What right did she have?

County Princess Lin’an shot Tang Haoyue a meaningful glance.

Tang Haoyue immediately understood and spoke up, her voice sweet yet pointed. “Wanwan, why did you come alone today? Didn’t the Old Madam of the Su family come with you?”

The moment these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the room shifted.