The Lucky Farmgirl

Chapter 2397: Chapter 2371: The Handkerchief

Manbao really couldn’t see anything, holding the handkerchief and asking Jiu Lan, "He only gave the handkerchief, did he not say anything else?"

Jiu Lan: "He said it was given by an old friend of the lady, and the lady would understand upon seeing it."

Manbao inspected the handkerchief thoroughly once more, but she really couldn’t figure it out, "What mystery does this handkerchief hold?"

Jiu Lan: "...Lady, this handkerchief was made by Sister May."

Manbao widened her eyes, "Could it be that they know May?"

Jiu Lan: "...Lady, this handkerchief was made for you, the orchid grass embroidered on it is the same one as the orchid grass on Mr. Zhuang’s desk."

Manbao stared at the orchid grass on the handkerchief, and after a while, she said: "Is that so?"

But she’s seen similar orchids on many people’s handkerchiefs; they all look quite similar.

Jiu Lan said: "This handkerchief was only made for the lady by Sister May."

Although May and Jiu Lan rarely served in front of Manbao, they had many tasks after being assigned to Manbao. Laundry, collecting clothes, folding clothes, and cleaning the house were routine tasks. It’s just that since Zhou Man spent most of her daytime outside, she rarely saw them.

Besides these, they also needed to prepare small items like clothing accessories and sachets for Zhou Man.

The purses, sachets, and handkerchiefs Manbao wears are not bought outside; previously, it was Third Sister-in-law of the Zhou family who helped make them, but after coming to the capital, the ones used by Manbao were made by them.

It’s just that Manbao wasn’t aware, every once in a while, May would bring a tray of purses, sachets, and handkerchiefs for Manbao to choose from, and Manbao just had to select and wear them.

But Jiu Lan, who spent day and night with May, knew well, and was very familiar with May’s sewing, so she immediately recognized it was May’s craftsmanship.

And indeed, this handkerchief was only for Zhou Man, that’s why she accepted the handkerchief, thinking Zhou Man would know, but it seems now the lady knows less than she does.

Jiu Lan said: "Lady, think carefully, whom did you give the handkerchief to? This thing is important and generally can’t be given to outsiders."

Manbao said: "I know, Auntie Zheng taught me, only Bai Shan and Bai Er have used my handkerchiefs, I haven’t even given one to Yin Huo. Besides them..."

Manbao thought hard, hesitating a little, "Lord Gu?"

Jiu Lan said, a little possessively, "Which Lord Gu?"

"The one beside His Majesty, Gu Zhong the Neishi."

Jiu Lan was instantly relieved, "Oh," she said, "Was this handkerchief given to Eunuch Tong by Gu Neishi?"

"But... are they friends?" Manbao was puzzled, because Imperial Doctor Liu had said that Gu Zhong used this opportunity for his apprentice to replace Junior Neishi, directly taking over Eunuch Tong’s position in the Palace Eunuchs Department. In the palace, reaching this rank as a eunuch is almost the end; the next step would be Gu Zhong’s position, serving directly beside His Majesty and occasionally helping draft documents, as an official of third rank.

Isn’t it said that robbing someone of their future is like killing their parents?

They should be enemies, how could they exchange handkerchiefs?

Manbao was full of skepticism.

But after thinking it over carefully, indeed, apart from Bai Shan and Bai Erlang, only Gu Zhong had her handkerchief.

Back then, it was when the Empress Dowager was seriously ill, Manbao and Imperial Doctor Liu were waiting in the side hall, and Gu Zhong was running back and forth to deliver various messages. When night fell, he accidentally slipped on the grassy verge of the blue bricks.

At that time, the Empress Dowager was on her deathbed, the Emperor was grieving, and many matters in the palace required Gu Zhong’s instructions. If he had any mishap then, he might have never returned to serve by the Emperor’s side.

The palace had more eunuchs than palace maids, talent was the least scarce commodity; if he stepped back, many would be ready to replace him.

It was also the time of the Emperor’s deepest sorrow; those who stayed by his side would surely have different sentiments in the future.

But indeed, Gu Zhong was immobilized at that time, with a twisted waist, even finding it difficult to stand.

All the doctors from the Imperial Hospital were waiting in the side hall for the Empress Dowager. They couldn’t be distracted even if they dared, nor could Gu Zhong move them.

Finally, it was Gu Zhong’s young apprentice, wiping tears, walking back and forth by the window several times, drawing Manbao’s attention to inquire, and thus she learned.

Back then, it was Manbao who followed his young apprentice to visit Gu Zhong; he dared not appear in public, hiding in a small room, without even hot water, using tea to moisten the handkerchief to wipe the blood from his hand. Manbao then prepared a piece of ointment in that small room to apply to his waist and pierced a pain relief needle, allowing Gu Zhong to hold his waist and manage affairs.

Manbao remembered it because it was the afternoon the Empress Dowager passed away, and she gifted Manbao several medical books, leaving a deep impression.

Moreover, Gu Zhong promised to return her handkerchief, but later he never did.

However, since Gu Zhong was a eunuch, Manbao didn’t really care whether he returned it or not.

Manbao stuffed the handkerchief into her sleeve, "Forget it, I’ll ask him directly when there’s an opportunity."

Jiu Lan said worriedly, "Lady, what does Eunuch Tong want with you? Does he know it was you who mentioned the eggs in front of Director Xiao, prompting so many ensuing issues, and come for revenge?"

Manbao: "Impossible, I just made a casual remark. The root of this issue was the corruption in their Palace Eunuchs Department, wasn’t it? Even if they don’t reflect on themselves and must find an enemy, they should target Lord Gu and Director Xiao, right?"

Jiu Lan: "What if they bully the weak and fear the strong?"

Manbao akimboed her hips and said, "I’m not a pushover either!"

Nearby, Xi Bing hesitated and said, "Is it to ask our lord to treat them?"

Manbao and Jiu Lan looked over.

Xi Bing said, "Our lord is a doctor, a very skilled one. Generally, people seeking a doctor are for treatment, aren’t they?"

Manbao stroked her chin in contemplation, "That makes sense, I’ll go ask Imperial Doctor Liu."

Xi Bing and Jiu Lan didn’t understand why they needed to ask Imperial Doctor Liu, so they just followed her back.

Today, Imperial Doctor Liu had to stay and keep watch with the two of them, there was no choice. The testing area was packed with subjects, quite a number.

Moreover, Director Xiao purchased the remaining five Western Region cattle from Zhou Man’s family for re-testing cowpox, and this time not only Western Region cattle were used, but two local cattle as well.

Director Xiao said, "It’s just these few Western cattle left, we can’t expect to buy a batch from Western Regions for cowpox in the future, right? Let’s try using ours for now."

So, recently they haven’t been idle, and as rare free time arose, Imperial Doctor Lu sat in the courtyard with eyes closed sunbathing. Hearing some disturbance, he opened his eyes for a glance, seeing Zhou Man coming in with two maids, faces full of curiosity and excitement, he resentfully shut his eyes, turning over on the mat, and put the fan back over his face.

Manbao glanced at Imperial Doctor Lu lying in the courtyard, heading straight to find Imperial Doctor Liu, asking curiously, "Imperial Doctor Liu, did Eunuch Tong the Deputy Director of the Palace Eunuchs Department have any ailments before?"

To doctors, "having ailments" is literal, not an insult, Imperial Doctor Liu nodded directly, "He has a cold syndrome."