Chapter 29 Old Madam Song is Here
The weather was very good on the day when Old Madam Song went to Jiyun Lane, and Madam Qin came to the house to change the medicine for Song Tangning.
The roses in the courtyard were forming buds, and green vines were climbing up the bamboo racks. Hua Wu and Nanny Jiang were outside directing several maids to set up a swing. Tang Ning was leaning against the window and chatting with Madam Qin, listening to her tell about the interesting things she encountered when practicing medicine in Shuzhong.
"You don't know the strange people I've met. At the end of last year, I met a guy covered in hair. The kind of long, pitch-black hair that covered his face, leaving only his eyeballs. He was afraid of being seen during the day, so he sneaked into the clinic in the middle of the night and stood in front of my door. He was such a big, black ball, I thought he was a blind bear turned into a spirit. I was so scared at the time that I almost lost my soul."
"Another time, I was treating a patient and was short of a medicinal ingredient. The herb grew on the edge of a cliff deep in the mountains. I was just going down with a rope to collect it when someone suddenly appeared above me, needing to urinate. You have no idea how I felt at that moment. I climbed up and wanted to beat him to death. Even after washing ten times, I could still smell the stench."
Tang Ning's body shook with laughter, and even as her dimples sunk in, she felt extremely envious: "Sister Qin has been to many places."
"Not too many. It's a pity that the border has not been peaceful in recent years. Otherwise, I would like to go to the Northern Jie side to take a look."
Madam Qin felt a little regretful. "I heard that there is a tribe in Northern Jie who are good at witchcraft, and their witch doctors are very magical. If I could go and see them, my life would be very fulfilled."
"Sister Qin is so comfortable."
Tang Ning's eyes were filled with admiration. Unlike the people she had known before, Madam Qin was over thirty years old but had never married or had children. She traveled far and wide to absorb the essence of medical skills from all over the place. After putting her knowledge into practice, she integrated her original medical skills to carry forward the knowledge. She never kept her own medical skills to herself, and people who had exchanged medical ideas with her were all over the Wei Dynasty.
Although she was a woman, many doctors from all over the country regarded her as their teacher, and even the people in the Imperial Medical Bureau in the capital respected her very much.
Even when Tang Ning was young, she was at most more unrestrained and flamboyant than other noble ladies, but she knew that her life would always be trapped in that defined circle.
No matter how high her birthplace or how good her family background was, she could never break the established rules. She could do whatever she wanted for two years and be happy for two years, but after she reached the age of 15, she had to restrain her temperament, get married and have children like other girls in the capital, and follow the path that had been determined when she was born.
Lady Qin's life was something she had never seen before, but Tang Ning, who had been trapped for a lifetime and finally died in that small place, yearned for it immensely.
"I envy my sister so much for being able to travel around and see all the beautiful scenery."
"You can do it too. You are still young and have plenty of time. You can find something you like."
Tang Ning was stunned. Can she do it too?
The atmosphere in the room was tense. Tang Ning was feeling uneasy because of what Madam Qin said when someone suddenly came in from outside. No one knew what she said to Madam Jiang, but her face looked extremely bad when she came over.
"Girl, someone is coming from the Song family."
Tang Ning's smile faltered. Her brother had previously instructed that no one from the Song family could enter the Tang Mansion, yet now someone from outside still came to report, "Is it the old lady?"
Nanny Jiang nodded: "She brought the eldest lady of the Song family with her, and she is right outside the door."
If it was anyone else from the Song family who came, no matter whether it was Song Hong or Song Jinxiu, they could have been thrown out like the Lu family's long-time servant, but the one who came was Old Madam Song, the girl's grandmother.
Not to mention kicking someone out, even just blocking someone from standing outside the door for a while can easily lead people to say that the girl is unfilial.
The word "elder" was like a mountain pressing down on Song Tangning, making him unable to move.
Nanny Jiang's face was filled with worry. "Girl, I heard yesterday morning that the Song family father and son had a feast in front of the emperor. This old lady Song suddenly came over. It seems she has bad intentions. Otherwise, I will ask the princess to come over. You should stay away first..."
You can't keep people out, but you can always pretend to be sick and hide away.
Tang Ning shook his head upon hearing this. "Distant water cannot quench a nearby fire. Prince Cheng's Mansion is far from Jiyun Lane. Even if my aunt got the news, she wouldn't be able to make it in time. Besides, they came here for me today. Even if I'm dying now, my grandmother can't avoid seeing me."
"But you..."
Nanny Jiang was afraid that Tang Ning would suffer if she faced those two people.
Song Tangning was a little afraid of Old Madam Song, but she had to face many things on her own. She couldn't rely on Xiao Yan and her aunt for everything. She said to Nanny Jiang, "Please ask someone to lead them to the front hall first. Tell them that I will be there after taking the medicine."
Seeing that Tang Ning had made up her mind, Nanny Jiang had no choice but to leave first. However, she was still worried, so she quietly asked someone to leave the mansion through the corner gate and go to Prince Cheng's mansion to inform them of the news.
Song Tangning turned to look at Madam Qin: "Sister Qin, do you have any ideas to make me look uglier? It would be best if you could make me look sick and pitiful, and make the wound on my face more serious."
"How heavy?"
"As long as it scares people."
"That's easy."
Madam Qin reached out to unfasten her waist belt, and saw that the originally ordinary laces contained many small compartments, and each compartment contained a thumb-sized box.
Madam Qin took out a few of them, asked Hua Wu to fetch some water, and then dipped the powder in two boxes into the water and smeared it on Tang Ning's face. Tang Ning, who had a rosy face just now, turned pale in an instant.
An extra layer of medicine was added to the wound on her face, mixed with something unknown. When Madam Qin put down her hand, Hua Wu was startled.
Madam Qin said, "It's not a good idea to overdo this on your face, lest it really stain the wound and cause it to fester. But it's not a problem to hide this look from your grandmother."
"I heard Canglang say that the Song family treated you badly. I have a little toy here. If they go too far, you can find an opportunity to put it in your mouth. I guarantee that no one will dare to embarrass you."
Song Tangning took the wax-sealed pill curiously and asked, "What is this?"
"Good stuff, you can try it later."
Seeing that she spoke mysteriously and looked as if she believed me, Tang Ning put the pill away and thanked her.
Madam Qin pinched the uninjured side of her face and said, "Go quickly." Then she turned to Hua Wu, who was standing beside her, and said, "Little girl, be smart later. If you see something is wrong, cry loudly, or come and call me."
Hua Wu nodded quickly: "I will remember this."
…
Before Old Madam Song and the others came to Jiyun Lane, Zou was worried that they would be stopped outside the mansion, but when she saw the servants of the Tang Mansion respectfully inviting them in, she immediately felt relieved.
"Mother still has a way. Tang Ning finally cares about you."
"She is well-behaved and sensible."
Old Madam Song responded casually, looked up at the surrounding environment, and a gleam of brilliance flashed in her eyes.
I had heard before that the houses in Jiyun Lane were exquisite and precious, and that Xiao Yan's mansion was the best among them. I thought he just gave it to Song Tangning casually, but I didn't expect that this mansion was as gorgeous and precious as their Duke's Mansion. Even the guards I met at the front door just now looked like they were not ordinary people.
Old Lady Song originally thought that Xiao Yan took Tang Ning away on a whim, but now it seems that the eunuch seems to be really sincere towards Tang Ning, his "adopted sister".
She was even more eager to make peace with Tang Ning. Although the eunuch had a terrible reputation, his power was real. The Song family had been in a stalemate over the years, and the position of Duke had been vacant for a long time and could not be inherited. If she could get the eunuch's help and let Tang Ning coax him to say a few good words for them in front of the emperor, it would no longer be difficult for Song Hong to inherit the title.
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