Although the tumor was not large, when compared to Little Meat Bun's tiny four-year-old face, it indeed looked a bit strange.
She checked carefully again, left and right, and found no other muscular anomalies, only scaring Little Meat Bun into shrinking further and further, his tiny body trembling as if he might run away at any moment.
Gu Changsheng sighed softly, looking at Xiao Cui, "Is it because of this that I wouldn't let him get close? Is it also for this reason that they treated him like an evildoer and a curse?"
Xiao Cui, not understanding, nodded her head. It seemed that her lady did not despise him, even reaching out to touch it; her lady really had changed.
Seeing her nod, an anger that Gu Changsheng could no longer hide suddenly exploded, "I've never seen such a notion qualify as being an evildoer; the world is full of so many! Damn, ignorance is truly terrifying; to hell with their notion of evildoer and curse."
Xiao Cui stared at the stool kicked away by her lady, dumbfounded...
Little Meat Bun also looked up in alarm...
Gu Changsheng continued to curse and vent her anger. It was just a fibroid, common in infancy and old age, yet it had turned her adorably explosive son into an evildoer and a curse!
The ignorance of ancient people, what should I use to save you?
Xiao Cui watched her lady, who was completely lacking the demeanor and temperament of a noble, spew a stream of curses, and she felt an illusion that her lady had been possessed by bandits.
It had to be said, Xiao Cui was spot on.
As a bona fide third-generation red, Gu Changsheng was born into a family of high-ranking officials. Unfortunately, Elder Gu was a rough man, reportedly with ancestors who were bandits. Gu Changsheng inherited this quite well, often involved in mischief and fights, even stealing roof tiles; she had troubled many people. Not to mention that she later joined the army, where she became even more arrogant and unruly. There were truly few who could handle her, except for someone who was extremely protective and doted on her, making complaints even more futile.
"Lady, how can you call yourself 'old lady'..." Xiao Cui finally found her voice and protested weakly.
"Why can't I call myself 'old lady'? I am his mother; if I want to call myself old, whose business is it?"
Xiao Cui: "..."
After Gu Changsheng had run through the classic Chinese curse words and still felt unsatisfied, she huffed, then calmed her agitated breath, and took two steps forward to hold her son in her arms, who did not refuse this time.
Returning to the bedside to sit down, she adjusted her son into a comfortable position. Gu Changsheng asked tenderly, "Son, what's your name?"
"I don't have one; I have no name." After a while, Little Meat Bun spoke, his voice soft and sticky, so tender that it melted Gu Changsheng's heart.
"No name?" Gu Changsheng repeated, feeling the urge to explode again, but since her son was in her arms, she had to restrain herself, and said to Xiao Cui in a fierce tone, "How neglected must one be, to be nearly four years old and still without a name? Xiao Cui, your lady, I'm tired of cursing. You give my regards to the family tree of Li Mansion!"
Xiao Cui looked towards her righteous and indignant lady, feeling awkwardly at a loss and lowered her head; she really couldn't bring herself to curse...
"You are not my mother; my mother wouldn't hold me, nor would she touch this..." Little Meat Bun suddenly spoke up, his tiny hands even lifting the tumor as if afraid it would go unnoticed.
Gu Changsheng was taken aback; children really are the most sensitive!
"Son, whether you believe it or not, you are flesh that fell from my body. There's no question about it." Gu Changsheng was certain that this body had indeed given birth to a child, "I know I wasn't a good mother before, but I will change."
Little Meat Bun furrowed his brow, his little head lowered, fiddling with his fingers, silent.
Gu Changsheng raised his hand and gently rubbed the two small buns on his son's head, speaking gently, "Son, I know you are a smart child. You must have suffered a lot these past few years, and it's mother who has let you down."
Little Meat Bun barely shook his head, his little head bowed without revealing what was on his mind.
Gu Changsheng sighed and pointed to the lump on his neck, continuing, "Son, this thing on your neck, mother can remove it for you."
Little Meat Bun looked up at her with a puzzled expression.
Xiao Cui stepped forward excitedly, grabbing Gu Changsheng's sleeve with a face full of eagerness and disbelief, "My lady, is what you say true?"
"Naturally, and not just for him, I can also heal your limp. I am none other than Gu Changsheng, who was taught by Yhan's, the successor of their full legacy, the one who has gained great accomplishment in the field of traditional medicine! Besides, my achievements in Western medicine are also remarkable; such a minor surgery is certainly not beyond my means!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Cui knelt by the bed and began to weep with emotion.
Gu Changsheng, unfazed by her reaction, turned to Little Meat Bun, her face showing a rare seriousness, "Son, no matter what, I will heal you, so that you can be like other children, no longer mocked, ridiculed or abandoned with disdain. Now, there is a question that you need to think about."
Seeing that Little Meat Bun in her arms looked up at her uncertainly, Gu Changsheng continued, "Son, your mother has been abandoned. Do you choose to follow me, or to return to Li Mansion?"
"If you follow me, I fear we will endure some hard times, but it will improve soon. If you go back to Li Mansion, perhaps you could be surrounded by maids and servants, living the life of a privileged young master."
Having said all this, Gu Changsheng felt a bit nervous and quickly added, "But the people of Li Mansion are not good birds; you'd better think it over carefully."
Xiao Cui: "..."
Is it really okay for my lady to speak like this?
No matter what Xiao Cui thought, Little Meat Bun seemed to be genuinely thinking hard, his head bowed and brow furrowed.
As time trickled by, Gu Changsheng's heart began to beat like a drum, worried that she might lose the little blessing and heaven-sent child so soon without fully enjoying it.
"You won't abandon me, will you?" After a while, Little Meat Bun finally asked with a timid voice.
Immediately, Gu Changsheng saw hope and nodded vigorously without delay.
"Then I will follow mother. I like my mother now; she hugs me, and she talks to me..."
Gu Changsheng laughed out loud, a huge weight lifted from her heart. She bent down and kissed her son twice, declaring loudly, "Good! From now on, your name shall be Gu Ze, meaning 'kindness' and 'benevolence.' You are Gu Changsheng's son! Ha ha..."
Gu Changsheng laughed unrestrained, just like her personality.
In the following days, Gu Changsheng helped Xiao Cui reset her ankle bones and went to the pharmacy to buy herbs to make a medicinal plaster. With injuries affecting bones and tendons, healing could only come slowly with time.
In her free time, Gu Changsheng spent time nurturing the bond with her son, while also worrying about their livelihood. Fortunately, she had some jewelry she carried with her. She exchanged them for silver coins, which allowed them to get by for the time being.
One day, while Gu Changsheng was practicing physical exercises with her son, something suddenly occurred to her.
"No, we must pay a visit to Li Mansion."