At this moment, Chen, the female doctor, had already approached, smiling at Grace. "Third Miss, it's good that you're back. The Marquis was really worried."
Grace didn't quite agree with that sentiment, but she felt a strange sense of goodwill towards Chen. "It's nice to meet you!"
Chen: "…"
Xiaolan and Xiaojv quickly intervened, "Miss had quite a fright today, so her speech might be a bit odd. Please don't mind her, Madam."
With two sets of memories in her mind, Grace found it challenging to handle the original's recollections as smoothly as Ella's. Unless it was something or someone particularly memorable, or she took the time to think carefully, she might miss many details. Moreover, her behavior habits from her previous 24 years didn't change overnight. Fortunately, she had two clever maidservants.
Chen was understanding. "Third Miss has always been warm and sincere. Why would I mind? The ladies of the house must be anxious. Please, go ahead."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, they parted ways.
Grace looked back at them before moving forward.
She had read many palace intrigue novels—at least two hundred if not three hundred—and never had she come across one with so many women openly engaged in professions. She distinctly remembered that the original story described a society with strict adherence to propriety, where women followed the "three obediences and four virtues"...
"Third Sister?!"
Just as she was about to pass through the hanging flower gate, a young boy approached from the other side. He stopped under the pomegranate tree, staring wide-eyed at Grace. Then he jumped up and ran back, shouting, "Third Sister is back! The Emperor really saved her! Someone, quickly tell the madams!"
It seemed everyone in the Marquis's residence had some sort of eccentricity, all firmly believing that the Emperor would intervene on behalf of someone who had offended his mother.
Grace called out, "Heng, stop!"
She had already reviewed the original's memories earlier on the way here. Though she hadn't seen much of the family tutor Wang, identifying her own family members wasn't difficult. Judging by his height, this boy was her eldest uncle's youngest son, Zhao Han, the fourth young master of the Zhao family.
After the Marquis of Qingyun's household moved to the capital, due to the needs of internal and external affairs, an elder brother and two younger brothers had also moved in. Currently, apart from the fourth uncle Zhao Ying and his wife who helped manage the Marquis's estate, the eldest uncle Zhao Nan and the third uncle Zhao Yu held different official positions.
The eldest uncle Zhao Nan had two daughters and two sons. The eldest daughter was already married, and the second daughter was betrothed. The third uncle had two sons, and the fourth uncle Zhao Ying had a son and a daughter. Grace was the third-ranked among the young ladies in the family.
The original Grace had always been generous. If her younger siblings wanted something from her or asked her for small favors, she never refused. Apart from the issue of the Marquis remarrying, she never caused any trouble at home. This was likely why her younger siblings were always supportive of her.
"Third Sister," Zhao Han immediately ran back. "You're really back!"
Zhao Han had just turned eleven last month, a few years younger than Grace.
"I'm back!" Grace asked him, "I'm back, why are you shouting?"
"You don't know. When we heard you were taken to the palace by the Empress Dowager, the whole city was in an uproar! Second Uncle was on his way to the military camp but turned back immediately when he heard the news and rushed to the palace. My mother and the other aunts were worried sick. Just now, my mother went to the palace, but the Empress Dowager wouldn't let her in, so she had to come back. Everyone is waiting for news in my mother's room now!"
"Why would the whole city be in an uproar?" Given the original Grace's reputation, she didn't think she warranted such attention.
"That's because you caused a scene at the theater. Those present spread the news far and wide! When the Empress Dowager's people took you away, many started betting on whether you would survive the day!"
That was excessive.
But thinking about the situation at the time, it made sense.
"Su Jie'er!"
Just as Grace was stepping down the stairs, she saw her aunts, uncles, and cousins rushing towards her from all directions.
Grace instinctively stepped back from the threshold, only to feel a large hand firmly press against her back. "Where do you think you're going?!"
The voice was deep and commanding, naturally making one stop in their tracks.
According to the original text, the Marquis of Qingyun, Zhao Ke, was a nobleman of impeccable character and reputation. He was born into a military family, with an impressive background and a striking appearance. Many secretly admired him, ranking him high among the supporting male characters.
Even though the man entering now had a face half-covered with a beard, far from the dashing image of his youth, his height of at least 180 cm and his muscular frame, tightly wrapped in official attire, exuded the strength of a powerful warrior. From the elegant young nobleman in the book, he had transformed into a majestic and imposing general, now more attractive with the maturity of his age.
As Grace looked up at this imposing figure, the Marquis of Qingyun's stern face loomed over her. "You've caused such a huge trouble, and you still have the face to come back?"
Grace was speechless. "Didn't you go to the palace to rescue me?"
If he went to rescue her, why blame her for coming back?
The Marquis of Qingyun's expression softened awkwardly. "The Emperor said you were released, so I came back too."
That answer seemed reasonable.
Her eldest aunt, Madam Xing, approached. "Alright, enough talking. It's already a blessing that she's back safely!"
Madam Xing was a plump woman who quickly pulled Grace from the Marquis's presence. "Don't be afraid. Let's go to the room first. Someone, bring a bowl of soup for the third young lady to calm her nerves. And send a message to Aunt Ning in Biyue Pavilion that the young lady has returned safely. My dear girl, you really scared us all this time!"
With these words, Madam Xing, along with the third aunt Madam Huang and the fourth aunt Madam Du, accompanied Grace into Qiyu Courtyard.
The not-so-small courtyard instantly became lively.
The kitchen brought over soup, and the women watched as Grace drank it, only then did they sit down.
Madam Xing had witnessed Grace's mother's death and had promised the Marchioness to take good care of Grace. Although Aunt Ning later took over Grace's daily care, Madam Xing, as the matriarch of the Zhao family, had always looked after Grace.
Now, all her attention was on Grace, showing genuine concern. However, in the original's memory, because Madam Xing had enforced strict studying and discipline after the dowager passed away, and had even hit her palm, the original Grace was not particularly close to her.
And probably because whenever Madam Xing disciplined her, someone would cry and take her back, Madam Xing eventually stopped enforcing discipline, letting the original Grace run wild.
Just as Grace took the cloth from Madam Xing to wipe her mouth, footsteps and an anxious female voice came from outside.
"Where is Su Jie'er?"
Xiaojv quickly responded, "Aunt Ning is here!"