When Gu Jiangyue returned to the courtyard, Zhi Yuan was already sweating with anxiety. After learning that the matter was successfully handled, she finally let out a long sigh of relief. Gu Jiangyue didn't idle around either. She had to act quickly, so she directly called Song Zhong over.
It was already getting late. Carrying his medicine chest, Song Zhong emerged from the darkness.
"Doctor Song, the matter is done. Please take care of my face."
There were only four or five days left until her coming - of - age ceremony. At present, the most important thing for her was to treat her face first, and during this period, she mustn't let this matter be exposed. If Lin Yeran went back on his word, it would be a disaster.
So the best plan now was to treat her face first, and then announce at the coming - of - age ceremony that she wasn't disfigured. By then, the marriage of Gu Zhuying and Lin Yeran should have spread throughout the capital, and everything would be foolproof.
"Miss Gu, rest assured. In no more than three days, this old man can make your face return to its original state."
Song Zhong stroked his grayish - white goatee with a smile. Then he opened his medicine chest and took out several herbs, handing them to Zhi Yuan.
Before leaving, he instructed Zhi Yuan on some matters to pay attention to, and only then did he feel at ease.
"Oh, Miss Gu, since your matter is done, can this old man return to the Azure Water Cloud Residence?"
Just as Song Zhong stepped one foot over the threshold, he turned around and looked at Gu Jiangyue with eager eyes.
Although his hair and beard were white, his eyes were especially bright. Gu Jiangyue immediately understood what Song Zhong meant.
A gentle smile curled up on Gu Jiangyue's lips, and she nodded at him.
"Of course. Doctor Song, feel free to go."
"Then this old man will take his leave."
Song Zhong left happily after saying goodbye.
He had been staying in the Gu Mansion for the past few days. Although the room arranged by Gu Jiangyue for him was very good, he still couldn't sleep well. He especially missed his small cottage in the Azure Water Cloud Residence. Without Xie Jiuan constantly bothering him all day long, he felt a bit uncomfortable.
But if he really went back privately, Xie Jiuan would surely be unhappy and might even drive him back here again.
Fortunately, Gu Jiangyue had agreed. The more Song Zhong thought about it, the happier he became. He took a carriage and rushed straight to the Azure Water Cloud Residence.
The medicine prescribed by Song Zhong for Gu Jiangyue was indeed very effective. After this incident, she increasingly felt that Xie Jiuan seemed to be more trustworthy.
Gu Jiangyue had asked Zhi Yuan to decline many visitors in the past few days on the pretext of being in a bad mood. She finally had some rare peace.
There was a tradition in the coming - of - age ceremony of the Gu family's daughters. The protagonist of the ceremony had to show her talents in front of the guests. Gu Jiangyue chose the guqin. Coincidentally, since she had nothing to do these days, she practiced the guqin in the courtyard.
Her guqin skills were not bad. Because her mother was good at playing the guqin but died early, she could only play the guqin to comfort her mother. This feeling became even stronger after Gu Jiangyue married Xie Chengrui. In the huge Eastern Palace, she had no one to confide in, so she could only play the guqin.
But Xie Chengrui didn't like the sound of the guqin. In contrast, he preferred watching dances. However, Gu Jiangyue was not good at dancing. Playing the guqin was the only thing she did that didn't follow Xie Chengrui's preferences. Now that she thought about it, the reason why Xie Chengrui liked watching dances should be because of Gu Zhengwan.
Gu Jiangyue had been staying indoors these days, but she still learned from Zhi Yuan that Gu Zhuying had started a hunger strike to protest and show that she didn't want to marry Lin Yeran. She even claimed that she would rather die than marry him.
It was okay for her to say such things by herself, but once they reached the ears of the Grand Matriarch, it would be a problem.
Seeing Gu Zhuying's determined resistance, the Grand Matriarch simply sent someone to tie her up and lock her in the wood - shed. She also cut off her three meals a day, so that she could starve more thoroughly and see if she would give in.
Gu Zhuying was smart. She only stayed in the wood - shed for one day before begging the Grand Matriarch for mercy. Then she was released, and her personality changed greatly. She said that she was willing to marry.
Gu Jiangyue didn't take this matter to heart. After all, the Grand Matriarch would discipline Gu Zhuying.
But there was one thing she didn't know. Every time she practiced the guqin, there would be a figure in black standing outside the courtyard. The figure was as tall and straight as jade. He would just lean against the wall quietly, listening to Gu Jiangyue play the guqin inside the wall. When someone came, he would hide; when there was no one, he would come back to continue listening.
The man in black silently guarded for four or five days before leaving.
When the coming - of - age ceremony arrived, the red marks on Gu Jiangyue's face had completely disappeared. She was sitting in front of the bronze mirror, getting dressed up. Zhi Yuan was behind her, arranging her hair. Her dressing today was not as plain as usual, but still elegant.
With the red marks completely gone, her skin looked even more delicate and fair, as if she was even more beautiful than before.
After finishing her dressing, Gu Jiangyue picked up the veil on the table and hung it on her ears.
It would be so boring if she just announced the truth directly. Didn't Gu Zhengwan want to steal the show at her coming - of - age ceremony? She just wanted to make Gu Zhengwan suffer a setback.
No matter how out of favor Gu Jiangyue was, she was still the legitimate eldest daughter of the Gu Mansion. The Grand Matriarch gave her enough grandeur.
Early this morning, the entrance of the Gu Mansion was crowded with people. The families in the capital that were on good terms with the Gu family all brought gifts to congratulate Gu Jiangyue on her fifteenth birthday.
Gu Jiangyue was also greeting the guests at the entrance. She was wearing a long white dress with a layer of light red gauze as thin as a cicada's wing on the outside. There were large - scale embroideries on it, vivid and lifelike, with gold threads on the stitches. Coupled with her aloof smiling eyes under the veil, she looked noble and cold, making people not dare to desecrate her.
People passing by were all shocked by Gu Jiangyue's dressing. She didn't need to show her whole face. Just her eyes and figure were enough to be called extremely beautiful.
Wasn't the legendary eldest Miss Gu, Gu Jiangyue, a stupid and timid person? But seeing her today, everyone couldn't believe it. Their eyes were glued to Gu Jiangyue, constantly sizing her up.
But after seeing the veil on Gu Jiangyue's face, they all couldn't help but sigh, saying that God was unfair to let such a beautiful person be disfigured.
The news of Gu Jiangyue's disfigurement had been spreading like wildfire in the capital these days, and Gu Jiangyue didn't try to suppress it. There were too many people with ulterior motives. Gu Jiangyue would surely show up at the coming - of - age ceremony. Even if the Grand Matriarch wanted to stop the spread of the news, she was powerless and could only let it ferment.
Gu Zhengwan, standing beside Gu Jiangyue, could hardly keep the smile on her face. Actually, she didn't have to stand here today, but she had dressed up carefully and put on her most gorgeous clothes. Her purpose was to steal the limelight that originally belonged to Gu Jiangyue, so she had followed Gu Jiangyue early in the morning and stood at the entrance with her.
But now she understood the situation. Everyone's eyes were on Gu Jiangyue, and no one noticed her.