Old Madam Deng’s mouth remained agape for quite some time before she finally managed to ask: “How do you know him?”

Qiao Zhao picked up the beauty’s hammer and naturally began massaging Old Madam Deng’s legs while correcting her: “I don’t know him—I recognized him. Grandmother, have you forgotten? On Buddha’s Birthday, when Marquis Guanjun entered the city, wasn’t I pushed in front of him by the crowd?”

Qiao Zhao applied just the right amount of pressure and understood medical principles, making Old Madam Deng very comfortable. However, upon hearing these words, she instantly tensed up and was secretly alarmed.

Could it be that Marquis Guanjun had disguised himself as a guard to accompany the divine physician here to evaluate her granddaughter?

Old Madam Deng looked deeply at Qiao Zhao.

The thirteen-year-old girl still had traces of youth between her brows, just beginning to show hints of stunning beauty.

Speaking of it, this granddaughter of hers was extremely beautiful, only perhaps a bit too young!

The old lady’s thoughts wandered far, and Qingyu carefully reminded her: “Old Madam, the Rural Lady is still waiting in the flower hall.”

Old Madam Deng suddenly snapped back to reality.

Oh no, she had forgotten about that!

“Zhaozhao, you go back to Yahe Courtyard first. I’ll go see your great-aunt.”

Old Madam Deng hurried away with Qingyu’s support, while Qiao Zhao remained seated on her small stool without getting up.

Another senior maid, Hongsong, smiled and said: “The rain is getting heavier now. Let this servant fetch you a rain cloak.”

“No need,” Qiao Zhao said lightly.

Meeting Hongsong’s puzzled gaze, she glanced toward the flower hall and said, “Old Madam will summon me over in a moment. Please trouble Sister Hongsong to bring me a cup of honey water.”

Hongsong suppressed her inner surprise and turned to go to the tea room for honey water.

Lady Jiang had been waiting in the flower hall until she was furious. Upon seeing Old Madam Deng enter, she exploded: “Sister-in-law’s hospitality has become increasingly thoughtful!”

Old Madam Deng played dumb with a smile: “Rural Lady, you flatter me. The divine physician is different from ordinary guests, so naturally, we must put forth our utmost effort in hospitality. Fortunately, there were no mishaps, otherwise, if we had embarrassed the Li family name, I wouldn’t have the face to see you.”

The only mishap was probably forgetting about this Rural Lady.

“Sister-in-law was certainly attentive in hosting the divine physician, but don’t you think you kept me waiting rather too long?” Seeing Old Madam Deng playing dumb, Lady Jiang spoke directly.

In all these years, when had she ever received such cold treatment? Recently, the West Residence has been increasingly neglectful of the East Residence.

Old Madam Deng laughed heartily: “Rural Lady, such words are too formal—we’re family. What’s this talk of being guests?”

Lady Jiang: “…” Who did this old sister-in-law learn this from?

Since they were comparing who had the thicker skin, she wouldn’t be polite!

Lady Jiang cleared her throat and said directly: “Sister-in-law, the divine physician came today to see Third Girl, didn’t he?”

Old Madam Deng heard the ominous tone in these words, but couldn’t deny such an obvious fact, so she could only nod: “When Physician Li sent Third Girl back, he did say he would come to see her. I thought it was just a polite remark, but unexpectedly, he came today.”

Lady Jiang deeply agreed.

Who wouldn’t think it was just a polite remark? This was a divine physician who had declined even imperial recruitment, yet he had taken a liking to Third Girl!

“Yes, with such heavy rain today, Physician Li still came over, showing he truly cares about Third Girl. By the way, I also heard that Physician Li acknowledged Third Girl as his goddaughter—is this true?”

“Yes, this is true.” Old Madam Deng felt increasingly uneasy.

Lady Jiang raised her hand to rub her already sparse eyebrows and sighed: “Sister-in-law knows that my right eye is already useless, and my left eye can barely see. I originally thought that when the day came when I couldn’t see at all, I’d just take my last breath and be done with it. Heaven has mercy—Physician Li has come to the Capital and happens to have a grandfather-granddaughter bond with our Third Girl. Perhaps this is Heaven’s will for me to regain my sight.”

“Can the divine physician cure such eye ailments?” Old Madam Deng asked aloud while sneering inwardly.

This Rural Lady was already so domineering with one blind eye—if her eye condition were truly cured, who knows how much more she’d act up.

“The divine physician can pull back people who have one foot in the grave—what’s a small eye ailment to him? Sister-in-law, please send someone to fetch Third Girl. I have something to say to her.”

“Whatever the Rural Lady wants to say, you can tell me the same. I’ll pass it on to that girl later.”

Lady Jiang’s expression darkened slightly: “What’s this? I want to see my great-niece, and my sister-in-law wants to stop me? Could it be that the sister-in-law feels sorry for Third Girl having to show filial piety to this blind old woman?”

With the hat of respecting elders pressed down on her, Old Madam Deng had no choice but to instruct Qingyu to invite Third Miss.

Qingyu left the flower hall and walked back, running into Hongsong, whom she asked: “Has Third Miss returned?”

Hongsong shook her head: “No, she’s been waiting in the east side room, saying Old Madam would summon her over later.”

She paused here, looking at Qingyu in surprise: “Could it be that Old Madam sent you to fetch Third Miss?”

“Indeed, she did.” As Qingyu spoke, she hurried inside, thinking that Third Miss was becoming increasingly inscrutable.

Hearing Qingyu’s explanation, Qiao Zhao rose and followed her outside.

The crabapple flowers in the courtyard were blooming magnificently. Yesterday, when she came to Qingsong Hall to pay respects, they had looked like dense red clouds, but after today’s heavy rain, they had become sparse, with fallen petals covering the ground.

Qingyu saw Qiao Zhao calmly watching the crabapple tree swaying in the rain and found Third Miss even more difficult to fathom, whispering to curry favor: “The Rural Lady wants to see you, apparently about that divine physician.”

Qiao Zhao nodded lightly to show she understood.

She had stayed behind instead of leaving because she had long anticipated what that Rural Lady, who never acted without profit, had come for in such heavy rain.

Speaking of it, the Rural Lady’s left eye wouldn’t last much longer. Did she want to ask Grandpa Li to perform the Golden Needle Cataract Removal technique on her?

Qiao Zhao curved her lips slightly and entered the flower hall.

“Great-aunt, Grandmother.”

“Third Girl, come sit here.” Lady Jiang spoke up, her tone unusually gentle.

Qiao Zhao walked over and sat down.

Lady Jiang carefully examined Qiao Zhao with her left eye and smiled faintly: “That day at Dafu Temple, Third Girl already impressed your great-aunt. Looking carefully now, you’ve truly become a young lady. Zhaozhao, your great-aunt watched you grow up, and as your elder, I won’t speak in pleasantries. Your great-aunt came today to ask for your help.”

“I wonder what I can help great-aunt with?” Qiao Zhao asked calmly.

Lady Jiang reached out to pat the back of Qiao Zhao’s hand.

Her well-maintained hand was still delicate, but Qiao Zhao felt a slimy discomfort.

She imperceptibly withdrew her hand, naturally raising it to tuck fallen strands of hair behind her ear.

“Your great-aunt heard that Physician Li has miraculous healing powers and can cure eye conditions like mine, so I want to ask Zhaozhao to help invite the divine physician to treat my eyes.” Lady Jiang looked deeply at Qiao Zhao with meaningful intent: “Zhaozhao, Physician Li is your godfather, so he could be considered family to us. You’ll certainly help your great-aunt with this favor, won’t you?”