Chapter 191
"Don't make a noise, let me sleep a little longer," Chu Nan said, rolling over.
Ye Yunniang patted her chest; he had just startled her.
Leaving Chu's Pharmacy, Ye Yunniang and Jiang Mingzhe departed in a carriage.
"Wait."
A noble lady who came out after them called out to the couple.
"I apologize to you for what happened with Zhaoli." The noble lady was Chu Yuling, the Duchess of Duke Zhong's Mansion.
Chu Yuling had known since morning that Zhong Zhaoli went to find Ye Yunniang.
At that time, Ye Yunniang was nothing but an insignificant figure to her, so she didn't care.
Now, Ye Yunniang was her benefactor, and her attitude had completely changed.
"Tomorrow, Imperial Physician Gu will visit to treat Madam Li."
"Thank you, Madam," Ye Yunniang thanked her joyfully.
In Ye Yunniang's mind, Imperial Physician Gu was a white-haired old man.
In reality, Imperial Physician Gu was just over thirty, handsome and elegant, exuding a scholarly aura. He didn't look like a physician at all.
Gu Cundong carefully took Cai Damei's pulse.
Ye Yunniang stood by, feeling both anxious and fearful.
When Gu Cundong withdrew his hand, Ye Yunniang could not help but ask.
"Imperial Physician Gu, can the poison be cured?"
"Madam Jiang, may I take a look at Elder Chu's medical notes?"
Jiang Mingzhe handed Chu Nan's notes to Gu Cundong.
After reading them, Gu Cundong suddenly understood.
"With Elder Chu's notes, I am seventy percent sure I can cure the poison."
"And my mother's lifespan?"
"Her lifespan will not be affected."
"Thank you, Imperial Physician Gu, ah—" Ye Yunniang became overwhelmed with emotion, and waves of pain suddenly hit her belly.
Jiang Mingzhe immediately caught Ye Yunniang in his arms, and Gu Cundong reached out to check her pulse.
"The pregnant mother is exhausted and anxious; there are signs of a miscarriage."
"I'm fine, my mother is what's important." Ye Yunniang struggled to get up.
"If you keep moving, you can say goodbye to this child," Gu Cundong warned strictly, then looked at Jiang Mingzhe. "Your wife needs to rest in bed for at least half a month."
"Yunniang, be good."
Terrified of losing the baby, Ye Yunniang returned to her room to rest.
Knowing that Ye Yunniang was worried about Cai Damei, Jiang Mingzhe arranged for her to stay in the room right next to Cai Damei's.
Li An and Cai Shuyi ran back and forth between the two rooms, keeping everyone updated on each other's condition.
"Sister-in-law, the needles are scary." Cai Shuyi ran in, climbed onto the bed, and leaned against Ye Yunniang's leg.
Cai Shuyi knew that the little sister in Ye Yunniang's belly wasn't doing very well.
She knew she couldn't pounce on Ye Yunniang's belly, so she just lay on her leg to talk.
Ye Yunniang didn't understand Cai Shuyi's words at first, but she still reached out to stroke her head. "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
"Imperial Physician Gu is giving Grandma acupuncture," Li An explained as he followed her in.
"Imperial Physician Gu is amazing. With a swish, he inserted the needles right into Grandma's head." Speaking of the imperial physician, Li An's eyes were full of admiration.
No one knows a son better than his mother; Ye Yunniang could tell that Li An wanted to learn medicine from Imperial Physician Gu.
However, someone of Imperial Physician Gu's background would likely not be willing to take Li An as an apprentice.
"I want to try." Li An was not one to give up easily.
"If Dr. Gu disagrees, you must not pester him," Ye Yunniang instructed Li An.
Li An agreed.
"An'an, what are you talking about?" Cai Shuyi was confused. What pestering?
These things didn't need to be known by Shushu.
"The kitchen is frying big chicken drumsticks today."
"Shushu wants to eat!" Cai Shuyi quickly scrambled out of bed and grabbed Li An's hand. "An'an, let's go eat chicken drumsticks."
Ye Yunniang ordered Qiushuang to go next door and check the situation.
Qiushuang complied and went next door.
Ye Yunniang leaned against the headboard, listening to the noises from the next room.
"What are you listening to?" Baise walked in.
"How do you have time to come over?"
"You are on bed rest; no matter how busy I am, I have to come see you." Baise walked to the bed and observed Ye Yunniang's complexion. Not bad.
"If Aunt Cai knew you were ruining your own body, she would definitely scold you."
"My mother wouldn't do that; she loves me too much," Ye Yunniang retorted.
"Since you know Aunt Cai loves you, get your body back in good shape."
"Aren't I resting right now?" Ye Yunniang smiled. "How about you? Have you found a buyer for your furs?"
"Ugh, don't bring it up." Baise truly hadn't expected doing business in the capital to be so troublesome.
The first thing people asked when they met was which noble mansion she belonged to.
Once they learned Baise was an outsider with no backing in the capital, they wanted to swallow her whole, bones and all.
How could Baise tolerate that? She clashed with them head-on.
Now her goods were sitting in the warehouse, growing mold.
"What are you going to do then?"
"Nothing." Baise wasn't anxious. At worst, she would burn it all; she wouldn't let those bloodsuckers take advantage of her.
Ye Yunniang didn't understand business and couldn't offer any good ideas, so she could only advise, "Panmei is there with you, so don't be rash in what you do."
Baise gave an affirmative hum, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
"Madam, there is a Miss Zhong outside who wishes to see you."
Zhong? Was it Zhong Zhaoli?
"Please invite her in."
Soon, the person entered the room. It was indeed Zhong Zhaoli.
"Madam Jiang, you are truly impressive. You actually managed to persuade my mother to invite Imperial Physician Gu." Zhong Zhaoli was genuinely full of admiration.
"It was all just a coincidence," Ye Yunniang gently explained.
"Even a coincidence is part of your capability."
"And this young lady is?" Baise sized up Zhong Zhaoli.
"Let me introduce you. This is Miss Zhong from Duke Zhong's Mansion. This is my friend Baise, a business owner from the borderlands."
"A business owner? What kind of business do you do?"
"Furs. Miss Zhong, are you interested?" A certain idea flickered in Baise's eyes.
"Are you trying to pull me in as a business partner?" Zhong Zhaoli saw right through Baise's intention.
"Are you interested, Miss Zhong? I brought three large cartloads of furs. I have a stable source of goods at the border."
"What do I have to contribute?"
Zhong Zhaoli didn't believe anyone would just give money away for free.
Baise didn't hide anything and recounted the blockades and interceptions she had faced recently.
She wanted to borrow the prestigious name of Duke Zhong's Mansion to do business. In return, thirty percent of the shop's profits would go to Zhong Zhaoli.
Zhong Zhaoli didn't lack money and initially refused.
But who was Baise? Other than suffering a loss at the hands of that fox Jiang Mingzhe, she won against everyone else she crossed paths with.
Soon, Zhong Zhaoli lost to Baise's glib tongue and agreed to buy shares, securing a forty percent dividend of the profits.
Ye Yunniang listened without interfering.
Knowing that Zhong Zhaoli had taken a fancy to Tong Mo, Baise even shared her own experiences with her.
"When it comes to dealing with men, I have plenty of experience. Men are all the same; they don't cherish what they get easily. You have to learn to string him along." Baise offered ideas to Zhong Zhaoli.
Zhong Zhaoli clicked her tongue in wonder as she listened.
As soon as she finished listening, she wanted to go and try it out, leaving Ye Yunniang no time to stop her.
"You are being too reckless. Her status is different."