Song Yuan’s eyes immediately filled with anger, and everyone else averted their gaze.
Dr. Zhou never expected to find a woman’s bodice in his medical kit.
But before Dr. Zhou could say anything, the maid, Tiaohong, standing nearby, exclaimed, “Yi!” drawing everyone’s attention.
She pointed at the bodice and said, “This maid has seen this bodice before!”
“What?!”
Everyone was greatly alarmed.
Originally, Dr. Zhou was a married man. While it was indeed embarrassing for a bodice to appear in his medical kit, it could at most be attributed to his haste in leaving home that morning, accidentally stuffing the bodice into his kit.
Now that Tiaohong suddenly claimed to have seen the bodice, it proved that the bodice was related to the Song family, naturally causing surprise.
Song Yuan stepped forward, his brows knitted together like a tangled rope, staring at Tiaohong. “Did you see clearly? You are a maid of the Song family; how could you have seen Dr. Zhou’s bodice?”
Even the Second Concubine who had accompanied them looked around suspiciously and speculatively.
Tiaohong knelt before Song Yuan. As Song Chaoyu’s maid, she spoke with proper decorum. “Replying to Master, this maid has seen this bodice. It was in my room. This appears to be Mama Qiu’s bodice!”
At these words, everyone gasped!
Mama Qiu used to serve Madam Da. Later, she was sent to the estate to “take care of” Song Chaoyu and Concubine Liu.
Now, she had returned with the mother and daughter and lived in the same room as Tiaohong and Xunlu.
Mama Qiu actually had a husband; Madam Da had married her off to a farmer on the estate.
They had a daughter, who was now a sweeping maid serving Madam Da.
Song Yuan clearly knew Mama Qiu’s situation and stared at Tiaohong with disbelief. “What did you say? Whose is this?”
Tiaohong looked up, pointed at the bodice, and said decisively, “It is Mama Qiu’s bodice. We live together all day and have seen it many times! The red leaves on the bodice were embroidered by Mama Qiu herself; there’s no mistake!”
She then looked at Xunlu standing beside her. “Xunlu, we live with Mama Qiu. Didn’t you also see this bodice?”
Xunlu then reacted and also knelt to testify. “Yes, I said this bodice looked familiar. It is Mama Qiu’s bodice; she loved embroidering red leaves the most. If we compare the red leaves she embroidered, won’t it be clear?”
With the matter having reached this point, whether they compared them or not, Mama Qiu could not escape.
“This… this is impossible!”
Upon hearing this, Dr. Zhou also looked bewildered and explained to Song Yuan, “Master Song, how could your Mama Qiu’s bodice appear in my medical kit?”
He seemed not to have grasped the situation yet.
Song Yuan, however, had already lost his temper. “You’re asking me?! Shouldn’t I be asking you?! Dr. Zhou, I know your wife manages you strictly! But you can’t reach your hand into my Song manor! My Song family is a scholarly lineage. Although it is just a servant causing such trouble, it is still damaging to our family’s reputation. How can I trust you like this?!”
Only then did Dr. Zhou understand what had happened. Beads of sweat visibly appeared on his forehead. “Master Song, this is not how it is! How could I have any relationship with your household’s servant? They are all people of the inner chambers, and I cannot even interact with them!”
Song Yuan frowned and looked at Concubine Liu. “What is going on?”
Fortunately, Song Chaoyu had already discussed a plan with Concubine Liu. Concubine Liu appeared embarrassed. “Since Concubine returned to the manor, my body has been under Dr. Zhou’s care. Mama Qiu returned to the manor with Concubine, so naturally, she could see Dr. Zhou.”
She glanced at Dr. Zhou with some disdain. “This Concubine has seen Dr. Zhou speaking with Mama Qiu several times. I just didn’t expect they would have such a relationship. It was my oversight; I beg Master’s punishment.”
Concubine Liu usually appeared gentle. Now, with her pregnancy and severe morning sickness, her pale face made Song Yuan feel pained. “Enough. You are pregnant now; it cannot be blamed on you.”
Song Chaoyu also stood up, her words differing from Concubine Liu’s. “Father, please investigate clearly and do not wrongly accuse Mama Qiu. She was someone by Mother’s side and also took care of Daughter and Concubine on the estate. The people Mother trained should not, after all, do such things.”
While she spoke of Mama Qiu taking care of them, she subtly distanced Mama Qiu from them.
Song Yuan’s gaze grew colder. “What is there to investigate in such matters? If this becomes a scandal, wouldn’t it ruin the reputation of my Song family?”
He snorted coldly, having already made his decision. “Send Mama Qiu back to the estate, and let her husband deal with her!”
“As for you—”
Song Yuan’s gaze fell upon Dr. Zhou. He recalled that Dr. Zhou had been taking care of everyone in the Song family’s health for years; even without merit, he had rendered service.
Song Chaoyu and Concubine Liu both noticed Song Yuan’s hesitation. Song Chaoyu stepped forward. “Father, it’s not that Daughter doesn’t trust Dr. Zhou. It’s just that with today’s events, everyone in this courtyard will likely know. There will be endless gossip, which might affect Concubine’s pregnancy.
Song Yuan nodded, then turned to the Second Concubine who had followed. “With such a major incident, go inform Madam Da and ask her to find another reliable doctor!”
“Father!”
Song Chaoyu called out to Song Yuan. “Actually, it’s not that troublesome. I heard there are some excellent female physicians in the capital. Why doesn’t Father invite them and let Concubine choose one to stay by her side for care? After all, it’s a female physician in the inner chambers, and we can feel more at ease.”
She then glanced at Dr. Zhou. “It also saves Dr. Zhou the trouble of waiting every morning and evening, and prevents any careless mistakes like today’s.”
Seeing Song Chaoyu’s cleverness, Song Yuan finally nodded. “Very well. Having a female physician in the inner chambers does indeed provide more peace of mind. You may choose yourselves; there are daughters from several medical families in the capital who have some medical skills. However, if your Concubine is truly unwell, you must still ask Dr. Zhou to examine her!”
He turned and glared sternly at Dr. Zhou. “Dr. Zhou, I hope such a thing does not happen again! My Song family is a scholarly lineage; it cannot be made chaotic by you!”
Dr. Zhou wanted to explain further, but Song Yuan’s angry gesture of waving his sleeve frightened him into silence.
At the same time, those sent to apprehend Mama Qiu had already reached the back courtyard.
Mama Qiu was still asleep when she was pulled from her bed.
She didn’t even know what was happening before being cursed as a “bitch” and then dragged away, told she was being sent back to the estate.
Mama Qiu’s cries echoed from the courtyard. Song Yuan felt increasingly disgraced and berated the servants outside. “Hurry up! Send her away and don’t disturb Concubine’s pregnancy!”