Chapter 1009 - 1011: Like Seeing a Ghost_1
"I don’t know, it was a servant from the elder master’s study room who delivered the message, and he left immediately after speaking," the maid quickly replied.
Gu Xue’an gave Bai Ruozhu an apologetic smile and said, "It seems I must trouble you to make a trip, the chair hasn’t even warmed up yet, and you have to go out again."
"It’s alright, walking after eating is good for digestion, it won’t make me gain weight." Bai Ruozhu also felt it strange, but it was acceptable for the younger generation to visit an elder.
The two women left Gu Xue’an’s yard and headed toward Elder Gu’s study room.
Just as they arrived outside the study, they heard the cheerful laughter and conversation of men. Gu Xue’an was slightly stunned, then quickly realized who it was and said to Bai Ruozhu with a smile, "That’s Grandpa Bai’s voice, he is Qizhi’s grandfather, the vice minister of the Ministry of Rites."
Bai Ruozhu remembered Bai Qizhi’s grandpa was Bai Guanghe, who had spoken for her in the main hall before. It happened to be a good opportunity to express her gratitude in person today.
With that thought, she understood probably both Bai Guanghe and Gu Xue’an’s father wanted to meet her. But since Grandpa Bai was an external male, it wouldn’t be appropriate to bring him to the yard of Gu Xue’an, who was awaiting marriage in the Gu Residence. Plus, being old, he likely had difficulty with mobility, so they had asked the women to come over.
The servant hurriedly announced their arrival to Elder Gu in the study, as Gu Xue’an linked arms with Bai Ruozhu and they entered the study room.
In the room, Bai Ruozhu saw two men sitting. One was Elder Gu, Gu Yuanfeng, which went without saying, and the other was an elderly man with white hair, naturally Bai Guanghe.
However, as Bai Ruozhu looked over, Bai Guanghe suddenly widened his eyes, his expression twisting in an instant as if he had suffered a shock.
Before the two women could exchange formal greetings, Bai Guanghe clutched at his chest and collapsed.
"Grandpa Bai!" It seemed that Gu Yuanfeng reacted quickly and caught him, otherwise, even if there wasn’t serious trouble, there would have been.
Gu Xue’an was also startled and hurriedly stepped forward, asking, "What’s happened to Grandpa Bai? I’ll go and call for a doctor!"
Bai Ruozhu was still in shock and hadn’t regained her senses. She clearly saw that it was after seeing her that Bai Guanghe’s expression had suddenly changed, especially the look of pain and surprise before fainting was too obvious—it was as if he had seen a ghost!
Involuntarily, she touched her own face. Was she that frightening? Or did she resemble someone who had passed away?
"That’s right, Ruozhu, you have medical skills, quickly save Grandpa Bai," Gu Xue’an remembered that Bai Ruozhu was present and urgently said.
Bai Ruozhu was pulled back from her thoughts by Gu Xue’an’s words and quickly went forward to check. She soon confirmed that Bai Guanghe was old, his heart was weakening, and it couldn’t withstand a major emotional disturbance.
"I will administer a needle to protect his Heart Meridian first, then I’ll prescribe a formula. This condition can only be managed with proper care and no significant emotional agitation," Bai Ruozhu said.
"Good, good, thank you, Lady Jiang," Gu Yuanfeng said to Bai Ruozhu with a bow.
"Elder Gu is too polite," Bai Ruozhu replied, then took a silver needle from the hairpin on her head and began to protect Bai Guanghe’s Heart Meridian. This would prevent serious damage to his heart and stave off problems like a myocardial infarction.
After a set of needles was administered, although Bai Guanghe didn’t wake up, his complexion looked much improved and his breathing had stabilised.
It was only then that Gu Yuanfeng breathed a huge sigh of relief, muttering, "Fortunately, there’s no harm. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know how to face Mt. Yuan in the future."
In fact, Bai Ruozhu had a way to awaken Bai Guanghe right now, but she decided against it when she thought about his reaction upon seeing her earlier. It was better not to wake him up now; the old man’s heart couldn’t bear another shock. It would be wiser to keep him from seeing her at this moment.
But why had Bai Guanghe been so agitated and terrified upon seeing her?
"I could have awakened Lord Bai by now, but given his advanced age, this unconsciousness serves as a form of self-rest for his body. It’s better not to interrupt it. When he wakes up naturally, he should drink a few formulas of decoction and take good care of himself, making sure not to get overly excited," Bai Ruozhu said and, requesting pen and paper, wrote a prescription for Bai Guanghe.
Upon hearing Bai Ruozhu’s words, Gu Yuanfeng thanked her again and called for a servant to carefully carry Bai Guanghe to a soft lounge nearby to rest. Seeing this, Miao An tugged on Bai Ruozhu’s hand, saying, "Father, we should take our leave first to avoid disturbing Grandpa Bai’s rest."
Gu Yuanfeng seemed somewhat distracted as he nodded, his mind evidently elsewhere, and he didn’t manage to say much to Bai Ruozhu.
After leaving Gu Yuanfeng’s study, Miao An apologized to Bai Ruozhu: "My father is just too worried about Grandpa Bai’s safety, and he has been quite absent-minded. He couldn’t spare more words for you."
"It doesn’t matter. I will come to your house often to play, and it won’t be too late to pay respects to your father then," Bai Ruozhu thought about Gu Yuanfeng’s concerned appearance and couldn’t help feeling a bit guilty. If it hadn’t been for her, Bai Guanghe wouldn’t have suddenly fainted.
Miao An also sighed, "If Qizhi knew about Grandpa Bai’s sudden collapse, I don’t know how heartbroken she would be. She respects Grandpa Bai the most on normal days."
"Elder Bai is getting on in years and cannot afford to experience too much emotional fluctuation. It’s not a serious illness. With proper care, he will be fine," Bai Ruozhu added, hoping to alleviate Miao An’s worry.
Miao An looked puzzled, "Could it be that he experienced great emotional upheaval today? It wasn’t Qizhi’s second uncle who angered him again, was it?"
Miao An angrily spoke about how Bai Guanghe’s second son was unambitious and always upsetting their father, but Bai Ruozhu listened somewhat absentmindedly, her mind repeatedly conjuring up the image of Bai Guanghe’s face before he had collapsed.
Really, she had wanted to thank Bai Guanghe, but she never got the chance to speak.
Bai Ruozhu did not stay for lunch at the Gu Residence, and with an unconscious patient in their midst, the family lost their appetite.
So, after arranging with Miao An to come to the Bai Residence in a couple of days to learn accounting, Bai Ruozhu left the Gu Residence and returned to the Bai Family.
Upon arriving home, Lin Ping’er found it strange and asked, "Didn’t you say you weren’t coming back for lunch? What happened?"
Seeing her daughter looking somewhat downcast, she could not help but ask.
"I was supposed to stay at the Gu Residence for the meal, but one of Lord Gu’s guests suddenly fainted. I treated him, but then I felt it was inappropriate to disturb them further, so I took my leave early," Bai Ruozhu explained.
Lin Ping’er then felt at ease, "Well, it’s even better that we can eat together and make it more lively."
Nowadays, there were fewer people dining together in the Bai Family than before, which Lin Ping’er always complained was too quiet. Especially at noon, Bai Zepei was unable to come back for lunch from the Imperial Academy, Jiang Yichun often had official duties after morning court and couldn’t return, and Zhang Liliang was frequently out on business, so if Bai Ruozhu did not come back, only Bai Yihong, Lin Ping’er, and Rongrong, the mother and daughter, would be there for lunch.
Bai Ruozhu smiled at her mother, "When the end of the year comes, my eldest brother and sister-in-law will be here, along with a little girl to bother you. It will definitely be lively then."
Upon hearing this, Lin Ping’er’s face immediately lit up with a smile, "Yes, it will be lively very soon. With the weather turning colder, I need to start preparing their winter clothes in advance."
Bai Ruozhu’s thoughts drifted again, and she suddenly asked, "Mother, who do you think I resemble?"