The Challenge of a Farmhouse Son-in-Law
Chapter 650 - 661: The Empress Strikes

Chapter 650: Chapter 661: The Empress Strikes

Gu Youyou remained as calm as usual and was indeed not overly concerned about whether to accept or not.

For her, taking the Ninth Princess as a disciple had its pros and cons.

"Go and call the Ninth Princess here," the Empress Dowager said to a palace maiden by her side.

"Yes, Your Highness the Empress Dowager."

After the palace maiden had left, she turned her gaze to Gu Youyou with an increased hint of inquisitiveness in her eyes.

"Jiujiu, that child, enjoys playing with Yingying because she knows some medical skills," she remarked.

Gu Youyou raised her eyebrows, her eyes slightly startled.

"Her birth mother was always in poor health and passed away after a few years of illness. Her desire to learn medicine is not merely for fun; she may be serious about it. Doctor Gu, it’s true that women from families other than ones like Doctor Cui’s don’t often study medicine. But since Jiujiu wishes to learn, I have allowed it. Whether you accept her or teach her is up to you. You needn’t worry that this is coming from me or about her status as a princess," the Empress Dowager said with a sigh, her expression tinged with sadness.

Gu Youyou remained silent, yet she internally noted the Empress Dowager’s approachability.

She understood that, as an ordinary female doctor, she couldn’t refuse to teach the princess. However, she also realized that insisting on something doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good thing!

Being inherently indecisive, Gu Youyou saw no reason to refuse, especially since the Empress Dowager herself had put it that way.

Soon after, the Ninth Princess and Cui Yingying were brought by the palace maid. While taking a master was a significant event, with the Empress Dowager presiding, they simply knelt three times before Gu Youyou and offered a cup of tea to complete the ceremony.

To them, Gu Youyou handed two small gourds she had prepared in advance. They were not engraved with any words. She said to them, "When you both complete your studies, your master will engrave words for you, alright?"

"Thank you, Master!"

The two young girls smiled sweetly, treasuring and carefully pocketing the gourds.

Giving these gourds was also because Gu Youyou had no better gifts on hand, for which she privately chastised herself.

So stingy!

"The Empress has arrived!" a eunuch’s voice rang out sharply. Shortly after, the Empress appeared, accompanied by a group of palace maidens, with Lin Qianqing following at her side.

After paying their respects to the Empress Dowager, Gu Youyou and the others bowed to the Empress, and with much mutual kneeling, they finally got around to discussing important matters. It was truly troublesome.

"Mother, I heard that the Ninth Princess wishes to learn medical skills from Youyou, is this true?" the Empress inquired.

Having spoken, without waiting for the Empress Dowager’s response, her gaze shifted to Gu Youyou, her expression less amiable than usual.

Gu Youyou lowered her head, remaining silent.

This was not her place to speak.

The Ninth Princess stepped forward, standing beside the Empress Dowager with a timid voice, "Yes, Jiujiu has already taken a master."

The Empress’s brow furrowed, and her gaze returned to Gu Youyou.

"Alright, alright, it’s not such a big deal. If Jiujiu wants to learn, let her. She is just a child after all," the Empress Dowager then declared.

The Empress paused for a moment before adding coolly, "Since the Empress Dowager has spoken, then it shall be settled."

Then turning to Gu Youyou, she continued, "The Ninth Princess wants to learn from you, but where do you plan to instruct her? And when will you teach her? Do you intend to come to the palace every day, or perhaps you plan to become a court physician and live here in the palace?"

Gu Youyou’s heart skipped a beat; she quickly knelt down and said, "Your Highness the Empress, Your Highness the Empress Dowager, I am not robust enough to frequently come to the palace. If the princess finds it inconvenient to follow me out of the palace, perhaps I could... teach her every few days?"

This was exactly the part that Gu Youyou was hesitant about.