Chapter Sixty-Five: The Blessing of an Adopted Daughter Who Is a Physician

Song Ci reclined comfortably on the beauty couch, letting out a long sigh. This body was truly old and feeble; after just a short stroll outside, she already felt utterly exhausted.

“Here, too—give it a rub,” Song Ci instructed the young maid kneeling beside her, massaging her legs.

“Yes, Madam Dowager,” the girl replied.

Song Ci couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt as she looked at the maid’s wide eyes and the twin buns atop her head, her small hammer moving obediently. In just a few short days, she had learned to carry herself with the air of someone above others, able to instruct her little maid to wait on her without hesitation.

“I’ll have Nanny fetch you a handful of candy later, to thank you for your hard work,” Song Ci said with a smile, reaching out to gently pat the girl’s forehead.

The maid, whose name was Pomegranate, grinned so hard her eyes curved into crescents. “Thank you, Madam Dowager. It’s no trouble at all.”

Nanny Gong lifted the curtain and entered, bowing deeply. “Madam Dowager, the Lady of the House has come to pay her respects.”

“Let her in,” Song Ci replied.

The Lady of the Song family entered, curtsied with a pleasant smile, and asked with concern, “Mother, was your outing too tiring?”

“Tiring, indeed. But I still want to go out again next time. Once I’ve seen all there is in the capital, I’ll head to the outskirts—or even farther afield,” Song Ci declared.

The Lady’s smile faltered for a moment, but quickly blossomed again. “It’s rare to see you in such spirits, Mother. Next time, I’ll accompany you.”

Well, it seemed that after falling ill, the old lady’s temperament had changed, and even her manners were different now. Formerly she disliked going out, but now she was always thinking of excursions, even to distant places.

How strange—what sort of illness could make her act so out of character? Could it be that she felt her days were numbered and wished to see more of the world while she still could?

The Lady was a little anxious. “Mother, my husband and I have discussed it, and we’d like to invite a female physician to the house to take care of your health. I asked my family to help find one, and at last we have. She is from the renowned Lu family of healers, a most skilled doctor. Would you like to meet her?”

“A female physician?”

“Yes. Your illness truly frightened us, Mother. With a female physician attending to you regularly, adjusting your health, you’ll surely feel more comfortable, and we as your children can be at ease as well. Mother—”

Fearing Song Ci might overthink it, the Lady was ready to persuade her further.

“What a wonderful idea! Have her come and take my pulse straightaway—see what other ailments I still have,” Song Ci interrupted eagerly.

In these ancient times, men and women were strictly segregated, yet most doctors were men. Many women dared not confide their ailments to male physicians, which made accurate prescriptions difficult. A female physician was far more suitable.

Song Ci was not the original owner of this body. In her heart, she was still young, merely trapped in this failing frame. Given the choice, of course she wanted to be healthy—able to run, to sleep well, and to remain beautiful.

So the Lady’s worries were entirely unnecessary—Song Ci herself was more than willing to nurse her body back to health. If she could even regain a trace of her former allure, so much the better.

The Lady hadn’t expected her to be so agreeable and was overjoyed, hurrying to have Lin Qing brought in.

Lin Qing had already heard that Song Ci had returned to the manor. She had changed into clean, gentle attire and waited for the summons. Seeing that the one to deliver her was Song Ci’s personal nanny, and knowing this woman had served in the palace and held rank, she greeted her with great courtesy.

Song Ci, seeing Lin Qing’s age, her healthy complexion, and tall, graceful figure, felt as if she’d just bitten into a lemon—so sour she could hardly bear it.

That was the youth and physique she longed for—oh, how she wanted it!