Chapter 605 - 607: Is this how the Du Family shows their gratitude?
As Bai Ruozhu was having a lively conversation with Tu Ying, Wang Miaoshuang stealthily signaled the Du Family’s Lady.
Madame Du understood the cue and stood up, holding a cup of Plum Blossom Wine. "Miss Bai, a toast to you in appreciation for you having saved my nephew’s life."
Bai Ruozhu thought to herself, is it starting? She also politely stood up, smiling, she said, "Madame Du, you are an elder, you shouldn’t be so formal with me, it will fluster me."
"Of course, of course, I always held great favor towards Zhongshu, you saved him, you are a benefactor to our Du family," she said as she lifted her cup. "Allow me to drink a toast."
Bai Ruozhu saw her drinking and also reluctantly picked up her own cup. She carefully took a sniff; it seemed there was no problem with the wine. She gulped down the content without hesitation.
Tu Ying clapped by her side. "Ruozhu, your unreserved drinking style is admirable, I am determined to be your friend!"
"Miss Bai even saved the son of the Du family? Which one of them? Madame Du, you need to tell us, we are incredibly impressed with Miss Bai’s medical skills." Lady Li, who was seated across from Bai Ruzhu, said languorously.
Madame Du responded, laughing, "It was my third son, Du Zhongshu, who obtained the title of Scholar and is studying in Beiyu Study Palace along with Miss Bai’s own brother."
All the noblewomen pricked up their ears. The banquet quieted down for a moment as if they were anticipating explosive revelations.
Bai Ruzhu pursed her lips and decided to listen further.
"At that time, Miss Bai was travelling with Zhongshu when we arrived at Beiyu City. During the journey, Zhongshu was poisoned by some villains and continuously spit blood. It was Miss Bai who decisively saved his life. The way Miss Bai detoxified could have horrified my niece," laughed Madame Du.
Many people became curious and urged her to continue and reveal what the method was.
Now, don’t get scared when I start telling this - her method was to strip my nephew naked and immerse him in the Medicine Barrel, with fire lit underneath, just like stewing a soup," she said jestingly and burst out laughing.
"What? Does that actually work? Wouldn’t that have stewed him?" someone curiously asked.
Madame Du quickly replied, "Of course not, my nephew is still lively and well, attending the banquet in the outer courtyard as we speak."
The gathering was filled with amazement as they inquired further about Bai Ruzhu’s method.
Bai Ruzhu smiled and explained, "The poison acted swiftly, causing constant bleeding. If I were to rely solely on medicine, before the medicine had taken full effect and cleared the poison, The Young Master Du could have lost even more blood and his life. So, I had to use medicated soup for bathing to allow the medicine to penetrate his body faster and combine it with my acupuncture technique to detoxify him smoothly."
Mother Du and all the others immediately began praising Bai Ruozhu. It seemed as if Du family adored Bai Ruozhu. The guests at the banquet started to perceive things with an altered view.
Lady Li began laughing and said, "I see! This is not just an act of gratitude, but a marriage proposal, isn’t it?"
The crowd burst into laughter, but Madame D did not feel the slightest embarrassment. She said earnestly, "Indeed, we have been considering it. Miss Bai is intelligent and capable. My nephew has always demanded an accomplished wife. If he could marry Miss Bai, it would be a blessing for him several lifetimes over."
Fang Guizhi was seething with annoyance, she tugged Bai Ruozhu under the table. Did the Du family want to finalize everything in public?
Lady Li tittered and fluttered her eyelashes. Glancing at Bai Ruozhu, she said, "I see! When the detoxification was carried out, The Young Master Du had to undress. Doesn’t that breach the barriers between males and females? It will be an acceptable matter if Miss Bai were to marry Young Master Du."
The crowd’s expressions instantly changed. Some had an air of schadenfreude while others looked towards Bai Ruzhu, filled with concern. Though in Danliang Country, there is no strict segregation between males and females, it surely affected a woman’s reputation if she had seen a man’s naked body.
Yu Hongxiu, seated on the adjacent table, spoke anxiously, "In saving people, doctors do not care about such things. Don’t we normally consult with male doctors for pulse diagnosis? If Ruozhu had cared for her reputation then, the Young Master Du would not be alive today."
Many agreed and found Yu Hongxiu’s words reasonable.
"We are indeed grateful to Miss Bai, but we also do not want this matter to harm her reputation. So, our family Patriarch wishes to have her married into the Du family," Madame Du quickly added.
Bai Ruozhu felt somewhat incensed. It turned out that the Du family and Wang Miaoshuang were conspiring to dictate her marriage. Did they think that marrying her would bring wealth and fortune and that they could manipulate her later?
Hmph, this would be her second marriage, she certainly had the right to make her own decisions.
She stood up, looking directly at Du’s Madame Du. "Does the Du family truly appreciate me? If you appreciate me, you shouldn’t publicly say such things to damage my reputation. Is this how you treat your benefactor?"
Madame Du did not expect Bai Ruozhu to directly confront her without regard for maintaining appearances. In their circle, many of the women had a different public and private face. Even if they especially disliked someone, they would never make a fuss in public.
If it were anyone else, Bai Ruozhu would subtly ridicule them and settle the score with them later. But with the Du family, she felt that she didn’t need to put on a facade any longer.
"On the day when the Young Master Du undressed and sat in the medicinal barrel, it was a young boy and coachman assisting him, not me. My second brother and I were standing outside the door, and we didn’t see anything. But coming from you, Madame Du, it gives the feeling that something inappropriate occurred. As for gratitude, you can spare me. I have saved countless patients. If every one of them came to express gratitude by proposing marriage, I would have little peace and quiet," Bai Ruozhu’s voice was filled with scorn.
Tu Ying hit the table abruptly, also standing up. "Now, I understand! You have taken a liking to Bai for her abilities, and you want to pressure her into marrying into the Du family. But marriage is a matter of a willing heart, you can’t force it on someone! Even if you wanted to propose, you should be negotiating with Ruozhu’s parents. What is your purpose of discussing this publicly?"
Bai Ruozhu gave Tu Ying a grateful smile and shrugged. "Perhaps they were hoping that, for the sake of my reputation, I would have no choice but to capitulate. But I practice medicine to save lives. If I constantly worried about my reputation and adhered to tradition, then I probably might as well give up practicing medicine."
Tu Ying patted Bai Ruozhu’s shoulder, "Don’t worry. I am fair-minded and can’t stand injustice. This matter is now in my hands. I won’t let the Du family slander you!"
The crowd watched, each with different expressions, thinking that Madame Du ran into two greenhorns and was quite unfortunate. After all, Tu Ying was the daughter of the city’s defense officer, and although civil officers and military officers generally didn’t get along, civil officers’ family members did not dare to offend military officials’ family members.
At this moment, Wang Miaoshuang hurriedly tried to mediate, "Alright, alright. Today is my invitation, why don’t you both give me some face and not ruin friendships over a misunderstanding?"
Bai Ruozhu looked at her and replied, her smile teasing. "Lady Wang speaks truly. However, I still have two sentences that I am unsure of whether I should utter..."
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Finally finished the five updates for today, please don’t verbally attack me, I don’t dare to explain further, if I do, further criticism will only follow, going to sleep now, everyone, be sure to rest early as well~