With Imperial Physician Zheng and Imperial Physician Fan both present, and Fan Jiangyue also "putting aside past grievances" to help, the old madam's condition quickly stabilized.
Imperial Physician Zheng gave some instructions and repeatedly assured Song Yuan that neither he nor Imperial Physician Fan would reveal anything about the matter before leaving the Song residence.
However, Imperial Physician Zheng was a man who appreciated talent. Before leaving the Song residence, he also asked Fan Taiyi if Fan Jiangyue could study under him.
This made Fan Taiyi feel greatly honored, as Imperial Physician Zheng's medical skills were considered top-notch in the Imperial Hospital!
As Imperial Physician Zheng walked out of the Song residence, the rain had finally lessened considerably.
The Song family gave Imperial Physician Zheng a generous reward, and a servant personally held an umbrella to escort him back to his manor.
No one noticed that at the street corner outside the Song manor, the carriage of Prince Chang's residence was still parked.
Inside the carriage, Mu Changxi was still resting with his eyes closed. Seeing Imperial Physician Zheng leave, the young eunuch outside hurriedly lifted the carriage curtain: "Master, Imperial Physician Zheng has left. The Song residence is very peaceful. I saw the servant escorting the imperial physician had a happy expression on his face. It seems the fourth young lady succeeded."
Only then did Mu Changxi nod, signaling the coachman to leave: "She has always been like this. She wouldn't do something if she wasn't sure of it."
—
At this moment, within the Song residence, Song Chaoyu had transformed from a sinner who "poisoned her grandmother" into a "hero" of the Song family.
Song Yuan no longer bothered with Song Chaoyu's unauthorized departure from the manor.
After the old madam woke up, she naturally learned of everything Song Chaoyu had done.
Her attitude towards Song Chaoyu became even more affectionate.
However, regarding who was truly responsible for the poisoning, Song Yuan and the old madam decided not to investigate further after discussion.
The old madam's reasoning was that if the culprit intended to do more harm in the future, they would eventually be caught. There was no need to investigate thoroughly now, which might expose the Song family's affairs and make them appear to have a less than reputable family reputation.
Song Yuan was naturally pleased with this outcome, and the Song family had another major event to prepare for in the coming days.
The Song family's ancestral home was in Jiangzhou. They only moved to the capital after Song Chaoyu's grandfather passed the provincial examination through his own merit.
Furthermore, Song Chaoyu's grandfather, Song Zhang, was not from the legitimate lineage of his great-grandfather. Song Chaoyu's great-grandmother was his great-grandfather's second wife.
Therefore, Song Zhang's line was the second branch of the Song family.
After Song Zhang moved to the capital, he had little contact with the legitimate eldest branch in Jiangzhou.
It was only after Song Yuan established himself in the capital and knew that the Emperor valued filial piety and family traditions that he resumed contact.
The Song family had previously been a scholarly family in Jiangzhou. However, their prosperity had declined by the generation of his great-grandfather.
Currently, the eldest branch of the Song family had two sons and one daughter from legitimate and concubine births, respectively, who were Song Chaoyu's two paternal cousins and one paternal cousin.
The legitimate lineage lacked talent. Instead, the concubine-born cousin, named "Song Jiaxing," had passed the provincial examination last year and planned to come to the capital this year to take the imperial examinations.
Naturally, they thought of Song Yuan and expressed their wish to send Song Jiaxing to the capital to stay with the Song family.
Song Yuan could not refuse such a request.
As a result, on the way, Song Chaoyu's uncle sent another letter to Song Yuan, stating that they were also sending their concubine-born daughter, Song Xiuxiu.
Song Xiuxiu was the same age as Song Yanjiao and was known as a talented and accomplished woman in Jiangzhou. The Song family did not want Song Xiuxiu's talents to be wasted in Jiangzhou, so they sent her to the capital, hoping the old madam could find a respectable family for Song Xiuxiu.
When Song Yuan received this family letter, Song Chaoyu was serving her grandmother medicine.
After Song Yuan read the family letter, the Song family's old madam snorted, "Talented and accomplished? How dare they say that! What kind of woman is that Song Xiuxiu? Do they really think no one knows?"
Song Yuan, who usually did not concern himself with household affairs, naturally did not understand the old madam's meaning: "Mother, what do you mean? I've also heard that Song Xiuxiu is quite famous for her talent in Jiangzhou. How is she not someone easy to get along with?"
Song Chaoyu served the medicinal soup and then placed a preserved plum, personally made by Concubine Liu, into the old madam's mouth.
The old madam's furrowed brows finally relaxed slightly. She looked back at Song Chaoyu and smiled: "Your concubine is sensible. Despite being pregnant herself, she still works hard every day to make fruit preserves for this old woman."
Song Chaoyu smiled faintly: "That is Concubine's filial piety! Concubine always says that the old madam's mouth is bitter after taking medicine, and she would be happy if the old madam could eat a couple of her fruit preserves to sweeten her heart. Besides, these fruit preserves are not difficult to make, and Physician Fan also said that as Concubine's pregnancy progresses, it's good for her to be active. This way, childbirth will be easier!"
The grandmother and granddaughter's warm interaction made Song Yuan's lips curve slightly. He uncharacteristically spoke a few good words for Concubine Liu: "Since it is Eleventh Mistress's filial piety, Mother, please eat with peace of mind. When she was on the estate before, she made these fruit preserves and plum cakes very deliciously. Our family's cooks don't have Eleventh Mistress's skill."
The old madam nodded with a smile, then continued to talk about Song Xiuxiu: "I remember when I returned to Jiangzhou a few years ago, I met this Song Xiuxiu. She was indeed good-looking and had some talent. But this girl is truly arrogant and loves to show off. At that time, she was in an ambiguous relationship with a teacher in Jiangzhou. So, when I heard that Brother Xing from the eldest branch was coming, I specifically inquired about the eldest branch's situation."
Speaking of Song Xiuxiu, the old madam's brows furrowed again: "Although Brother Xing is of concubine birth, his upbringing and temperament are good, and there's nothing to pick on. When he comes to our house, you should help him out. While he shouldn't surpass our Yang'er, having a family member by your side in the future will put me at ease. As for this girl Xiuxiu... she is truly unbearable! Do you think they would send this girl to our household, with whom they have little contact, at such a crucial time when she is about to be married?"
Song Yuan also frowned deeply.
Old Madam Song continued with a cold laugh: "That girl caused a major incident in Jiangzhou! It is said that she met a wealthy merchant from somewhere and got involved in an unclear affair with him. However, that man had a legitimate wife, who made a big fuss about the matter in Jiangzhou. Now, let alone respectable official families, I'm afraid even those from merchant or farmer backgrounds would not be willing to marry Xiuxiu. That's why they are sending her to the capital!"
Upon hearing this, Song Yuan slapped his thigh fiercely: "This won't do! If she enters our manor, and those unsavory matters become known to others, won't it ruin our family's reputation? Mother, why don't I write a letter to the eldest branch and ask them not to send her? I can say that Mother has not been feeling well lately and the manor should not be too noisy."