The Challenge of a Farmhouse Son-in-Law
Chapter 635 - 646: Uncle’s Women

Chapter 635: Chapter 646: Uncle’s Women

Gu Youyou, on her first foray into the palace, seemingly knew no one; who would dispatch a eunuch to remind her of anything?

The Empress? Clearly not possible. If the Empress had wanted to remind her of something, she would have done so before Youyou entered the Renshou Palace, not halfway through the treatment to send a eunuch.

Half an hour passed quickly, and Gu Youyou dismissed the irrelevant eunuch from her mind, once again entering the Empress Dowager’s chambers.

The acupuncture session was much quicker this time, completed in the short span of brewing a pot of tea.

The day was getting on, and a curfew would soon be in place within the palace walls; the Empress did not keep her, instead ordering her to be escorted out of the palace as soon as possible.

...

Her visit to the palace went smoothly today, and upon leaving, she even received a gift from the Empress.

Youyou understood this was because she was a relative of the Lin Family. In the Empress’s line of thought, the Lin Family was kin to her mother’s family, making Youyou effectively one of her own people.

To have "her people" gain face in front of the Empress Dowager was to gain face herself; naturally, she was inclined to bestow some benefits on Gu Youyou.

Fingering the decidedly nouveau riche pearl necklace around her neck, Youyou really couldn’t see what was so beautiful about it.

Once outside the palace gates, she hastened to remove it and place it inside a brocade box.

She most certainly did not want to wear something so tacky on her way home.

Madam Lin had already returned to the Lin Residence. Seeing Youyou back, she hurriedly asked, "How did it go today treating the Empress Dowager’s leg ailment in her chambers?"

Youyou replied, "Aunt, the Empress Dowager’s ailment is a chronic condition; her legs have even become deformed. A complete cure is impossible, but I can alleviate the pain and perhaps enable her to stand and walk a few steps. Maybe she can return to how she was two years ago."

Madam Lin knew that the Empress Dowager could still walk a few steps two years ago.

But hearing that there would be no complete cure, she still felt some disappointment.

"Being able to stand up is good, but it would be even better if she could recover completely."

As she was not a medical practitioner and did not understand these matters, Youyou didn’t argue with her, merely stating, "The Empress has gifted me a string of pearls."

With that, she took out the pearls to show Madam Lin.

Madam Lin opened the brocade box and her expression showed a hint of surprise. She nodded and said, "Each of these pearls is a plump southern pearl. The Empress values you highly. You must not disappoint her."

Youyou gave a slight knee bend and said, "Yes, Aunt."

On her return, she did not see Lin Qianqing. Qianqing generally liked to linger around her, and her absence was somewhat strange to Youyou, so she asked, "Aunt, where is my older cousin?"

Madam Lin’s face lit up with joy as she replied, "The Empress has kept Daya there in the Imperial Palace to keep her company. I’m afraid she won’t be back for a few days."

With Aunt showing such delight, her older cousin must surely be heartbroken.

Poor older cousin.

...

Gradually, the north was also nearing summer.

Youyou had people prepare a large bath for her; she needed to soak and unwind.

Yue Rujing mentioned that someone was bringing Abao over and he was already on the way, estimating that he should arrive in a few days.

Youyou wanted to keep him in her courtyard, but feared that his large size might frighten the women of the Lin Residence.

Speaking of the women of the Lin Residence, one could not ignore Aunt’s adroit methods; she had managed to make her husband choose to sleep in the study rather than visit the back courtyard.

The Lin Residence, a grand estate in Beijing, is where Aunt consolidated all Uncle’s concubines, except for the mother of the second young Miss, into one large courtyard; without her permission, they were not allowed to leave. Each had her own room and a maid to attend to her; they took their meals together in a large dining hall and sat in the courtyard chatting and eating seeds when idle, which bore a striking resemblance to living in captivity.