Chapter 142 Revealing the Truth (First Update)

Anyone who has had even the slightest contact with Yao would not believe that she could do something so brutal.

Ms. Yao suffers from severe hysteria and depression. If she goes into a fit of madness, she might lose her mind, which is another matter.

However, Yao was perfectly clear-headed and calm. The slap she gave Aunt Ling was a solid, purposeful one.

Yao said with sharp eyes, "This slap is to repay you. You made my daughter worry."

As a mother, the thing I least want is not to be hurt myself, but to be abused and hurt in front of my child.

She wanted to protect her children, to prevent them from getting hurt physically or emotionally.

Aunt Ling's mouth was stained with blood, which showed just how much force Yao had used in that slap.

Aunt Ling wiped her mouth with her finger, then looked at the bloodstains on her fingertip and laughed self-deprecatingly: "Madam, what are you talking about? I don't understand."

Yao said coldly, "Do you have the right to address me as 'I'?"

Aunt Ling's gaze turned cold, seemingly too lazy to pretend anymore, and she coldly laughed, "Has Madam gone mad? After serving the Old Madam all morning, she thinks she's the mistress of the mansion?"

Madam Yao said sternly, "I don't think so. I was brought into the Marquis's mansion as the principal wife in a grand sedan chair. It's you who thinks you're so important, but you're still just a concubine. I'm hitting you to set a rule for you. If you have the guts, go and complain!"

Aunt Ling sneered, "Does Madam think I wouldn't dare?"

Yao stared intently into her eyes: "If you dare, I dare too. You know best what you've done to me."

For the first time, Aunt Ling was unable to meet Yao's gaze. She snorted coldly and turned her face away: "I don't understand what you mean, Madam?"

Yao stared at her face: "It doesn't matter if you pretend to be deaf and dumb. There's plenty of time. I'll make you see clearly that I'm not fighting you, not because I can't beat you, but because I'm too lazy to fight you!"

Aunt Ling suddenly laughed: "Heh, didn't you say you didn't care about these things, Madam? What are titles, what are fame and fortune? They're all external things. You said it yourself, Madam."

Madam Yao took a step forward and stared intently at Aunt Ling: "I don't care for it, but you do, so I'm not going to give it to you!"

"you……"

Aunt Ling choked.

It must be said that Yao's last sentence really hit Ling Yiniang's Achilles' heel.

The position of Lady Yao, which Yao didn't care about, was something Ling had always dreamed of. The favor that Lord Gu, which Yao didn't care about, was something Ling also longed to hold onto. Even Yao's appearance and her indifference to worldly affairs were things that Ling could not obtain.

Aunt Ling clenched her fists and began to change the subject: "How much more noble are you than me? Back then, my sister didn't mind your family's decline or your young age. She treated you like her closest sister, yet you stole her husband."

Madam Yao did not believe that Aunt Ling was unaware of the truth of the matter; she was trying to provoke her.

Madam Yao was no longer someone who would be led by the nose like before. Madam Yao smiled faintly and said, "At least I managed to snatch him away. What about you? I was away from the manor for ten years, and you still couldn't snatch this man away. Is that all you've got?"

Every word Yao said struck a nerve with Aunt Ling, making her so angry she felt like she was about to vomit blood.

She had never been so embarrassed in front of Yao.

Compared to Yao's hurtful words, that slap was nothing.

Seeing that Aunt Ling's fighting power had been exhausted in this round, Madam Yao gave her a cold glare and walked away proudly!

Once she was out of sight, Aunt Ling's maidservant dared to approach her and ask with concern, "Aunt, are you alright? Madam went too far! How could she hit you? Let's go tell the Old Madam and have her punish her!"

Aunt Ling touched her swollen cheek and said coldly, "Just for a slap? Good iron should be used where it's needed most!"

After returning to the courtyard, Madam Yao did not allow any maids to follow her and went straight into her bedroom.

As soon as she went inside, she closed the door and collapsed to the ground as if all her strength had left her.

Granny Fang sensed something was wrong with her mistress halfway through the journey. After Madam Yao entered the room, Granny Fang also pushed open the door and came in.

As a result, they saw Yao sitting on the ground in a disheveled state.

So it turns out she wasn't unafraid after all...

I just held back.

Granny Fang was Yao's personal attendant. She was ten years older than Yao and had served her since they were in the Yao household. It could be said that she had watched Yao grow up step by step to where she was today.

She knew Yao's personality well.

He doesn't cause trouble, doesn't make trouble, and is even a little afraid of trouble.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have been forced to move to the village in the first place.

When Madam Yao made those boastful promises to the eldest daughter, Granny Fang didn't have much hope, thinking she was just talking. Little did she expect that Madam Yao would be so domineering as to attack Aunt Ling.

This is assuming the patient is not experiencing any symptoms.

To be honest, this kind of lady was quite unexpected for Granny Fang.

“Granny…” Madam Yao looked at Granny Fang with a wronged expression.

Granny Fang chuckled, knelt down, and straightened Madam Yao's hair ornaments: "Madam did very well, Madam is very brave. From now on, just like this, put on the airs of the principal wife. Even if you are afraid, don't show your weakness in front of others, and don't let those petty people look down on you. If we don't fight for anything, others won't believe us. Since that's the case, then let's fight for it openly and generously, and let them know just how powerful we can be when we fight!"

As Yao's emotions gradually calmed down, she nodded and said, "I was naive before. I thought that if I didn't fight back, they would let me and Yan'er go... I won't be so foolish again."

There were too many things to do at the Ministry of Works, so Lord Gu was unable to return home last night and only dragged his tired body home this evening.

Without saying a word, he went to Yao's place.

It was so late, yet Yao hadn't gone to bed; she had left a lamp on for him in the room.

Lord Gu was deeply moved.

Sure enough, after living on the estate for more than half a year, his relationship with his wife improved significantly.

Lord Gu's weariness vanished instantly, and he opened the door refreshed: "Madam, I'm back!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a washcloth fell to the ground in front of him with a thud.

Lord Gu raised an eyebrow strangely: "Uh... this is..."

Madam Yao turned around and looked at him coldly: "I heard you hit Jiaojiao."

Lord Gu's heart skipped a beat, and he straightened his back, saying, "Which scoundrel said that?"

“Huang Zhong,” Yao said calmly.

Huang Zhong slowly emerged from behind the pillar, his head drooping.

Lord Gu's expression changed instantly: "You traitor!"

Huang Zhong lowered his head even further; this is what it means for gods to fight and mortals to suffer.

You've created this mess yourself, so clean it up yourself. I can't handle it anymore!

Yao dismissed Huang Zhong.

Lord Gu approached Madam Yao, cleared his throat, and reached out to take her hand, but Madam Yao slapped it away.

Lord Gu said awkwardly, "You mean that time at the manor? I didn't mean it, I swear! At that time... I thought she was trying to harm you!"

Madam Yao said, "How could she possibly harm me? I am her mother!"

Why is it impossible?

I'm her biological father, and she still beats me up!

And more than once!

They even kicked it into the water, fished it out, and hung it on a tree!

That's terrible!

Even when I haven't done anything wrong, she can still beat me up for no reason, like it's nothing!

Lord Gu still felt resentful thinking about the beating he received outside the county government office during the provincial examination!

Lord Gu didn't say these things to Madam Yao. He was a man, and he had his pride too, you know.

Lord Gu coughed lightly and tugged at Madam Yao's sleeve: "Alright, I was wrong. I was wrong that time. I will never treat her like that again."

"The person you should apologize to isn't me." Yao pulled her sleeves out, turned her back to him, and refused to look at him. "If Jiaojiao can't forgive you, then I will never forgive you in this lifetime!"

Lord Gu looked at the washboard on the ground with a pitiful expression.

Ugh, is it too late to kneel down like this now?

The whole family was quite disappointed that Yao didn't move to Bishui Hutong, but like Gu Jiao, they respected Yao's choice.

After half a month of work, the clinic is finally taking shape.

The clinic has two floors, with a backyard and a row of rear rooms.

Gu Jiao places great importance on protecting patient privacy. Unlike conventional clinics where all consultations are held in the lobby, the lobby mainly consists of a counter, information desk, and pharmacy. Regular consultation rooms are on the first floor, and wards are on the second floor.

The rear enclosure is not yet in use. Gu Jiao's idea is to build an operating room and a treatment room.

Of course, that's a story for another time.

"Tell me, what should our clinic be called?" the second owner asked Gu Jiao, who was flipping through the account books, in the lobby.

Gu Jiao turned a page: "Either is fine, you decide."

The name doesn't matter; what matters is the doctor and the medicine at the clinic.

A doctor must be highly skilled and ethical; medicinal herbs must be of good quality and reasonably priced.

Her clinic wasn't just for the wealthy; she aimed to treat everyone, young and old, fairly and honestly.

"What do you think of Miaoshoutang?" the second boss asked casually.

Gu Jiao hummed in agreement: "A miraculous cure, very good."

The second boss's eyes darted around: "Then it's settled?"

Gu Jiao nodded: "Mm."

The second landlord waved his hand and said, "Bring the signboard in!"

Huichuntang and Miaoshoutang are determined to compete with Huichuntang.

Gu Jiao shook her head. At this moment, the second boss looked like a child about to get into a fight.

The second master truly cared about the clinic. Perhaps he had an innate passion for this profession, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to work so hard to run his clinic despite being exploited by the Hu family.

After he was kicked out of the Hu family, the clinic in Qingquan Town no longer belonged to him.

However, the connections he built up over the years still exist.

After receiving his message by carrier pigeon, Manager Wang immediately rode to the capital without hesitation.

The old doctor was originally going to come too, but he was too old to handle the hassle, so he sent his apprentice instead.

His apprentice is also a trustworthy person. His medical skills are still somewhat immature, but he is upright and hardworking.

In addition, there was a doctor whom they had known in the capital.

He had a falling out with the second master's stepson and left Huichuntang in a fit of anger. The second master then invited him over.

Everything is ready; we're just waiting to choose an auspicious day to open for business.

The second landlord carefully consulted the almanac: "The 25th is auspicious for opening a business, so this is the day!"

Coincidentally, the girls' school next door is also scheduled to start on the 25th.

The news of the girls' school had already spread, and while there were voices of praise among the people, there were also voices of opposition. However, the imperial court was very good at creating momentum, and when it was announced that several famous talented women from the capital would be entering the girls' school, the voices of opposition weakened.

There are two ways to enter a girls' school. One is admission without examination. Those who obtain this qualification are usually talented women who are already famous in the capital, such as Zhuang Yuexi, the elder sister of Zhuang Mengdie, and Gu Jinyu, the daughter of a marquis.

Another option is admission by examination.

Because of what happened last time, Lord Gu has not been allowed to set foot in Madam Yao's house for many days.

It was impossible for him to apologize to that girl, so he thought of another way to express his love for his daughter to Madam Yao.

He went to the palace and asked to see Consort Shu: "Your Majesty, could you please help me get a place in the girls' school?"

Consort Shu was quite surprised to hear this: "Didn't Jin Yu already have a spot?"

Lord Gu rubbed his hands together and said awkwardly, "It's not for Jinyu, it's for... Jiaojiao."

Consort Shu frowned slightly: "Jiaojiao? That girl who grew up in the countryside?"

"Yes." Lord Gu nodded.

Consort Shu had no feelings for that girl. She didn't like Yao's child in the first place, and since she grew up in the countryside, she heard that she was ignorant and ugly. Such a person would only bring shame to the Marquis's mansion if she went out.

Consort Shu did not quite agree.

Lord Gu pleaded and begged, "...Oh, I'm so sorry for this child. She's been living among the common people for so many years, suffering so much. As her father, I haven't shown her any love for a single day, and now I can't even get her to go to school..."

Consort Shu didn't believe her brother truly doted on that girl. If he really did, would he only beg her now? School was about to start; where was he all this time?

"Did Lady Yao send you?" Consort Shu asked.

"No, no, no, absolutely not!" Lord Gu shook his head like a rattle-drum.

Does his saying it's not true mean it isn't?

Consort Shu did not believe it.

However, since he was her own brother, Consort Shu agreed.

Consort Shu was not very familiar with the Crown Princess, so she went directly to His Majesty. His Majesty did not say anything, but sent someone to the East Palace to get her an admission letter.

(End of this chapter)