A dark brown horse-drawn carriage stopped in front of General Hu's Residence. The wooden wheels creaked softly as the coachman pulled the reins. The curtain on the side of the carriage was lifted, and a handsome young man swiftly jumped down. His face was clean and dignified, with sharp eyebrows and intelligent eyes. He wore a deep blue scholar's robe, embroidered with golden cloud patterns along the edges, signifying his status as a distinguished scholar.
Hu Haoran, the second son of General Hu, adjusted the sleeves of his robe. He was a scholar at Longxing Academy, the Empire's prestigious educational institution, where talented young men were trained to become future officials. Although his family's residence was not far from the academy, his studies kept him so busy that he rarely returned home. Each month, he was only given three days of leave. He took a brief glance at the gates of General Hu's Residence and let out a relieved sigh before stepping inside.
A few days ago, Hu Haoran heard that Hu Rui'an had fallen ill after being kicked into the fish pond by Hu Lihua. He couldn't wait to return home and deliver justice for his second sister. However, he also heard that his grandmother had fallen ill, so he had no choice but to prioritize his filial duty by visiting her first.
Hu Haoran strode toward Ronghua Pavilion with steady steps. Upon arrival, he was greeted by Aunt Dong.
"Second Young Master, you've returned," Aunt Dong said upon seeing him.
"Aunt Dong, is Grandmother resting?" Hu Haoran asked, hoping that she was so he could go straight to Hu Rui'an.
"Second Young Master, the Old Madam has already heard of your arrival. She asked this servant to bring you in," Aunt Dong replied with a respectful bow.
Hu Haoran felt a twinge of disappointment but still followed Aunt Dong into the room where his grandmother awaited him.
As soon as he stepped inside, the faint scent of sandalwood incense greeted him. The spacious room featured a small bookshelf and a blue-and-white porcelain vase decorating one of the corners.
On an intricately carved teak bed, Old Madam Hu sat propped up with a blanket covering her legs. A warm smile appeared on her face when she saw her grandson enter. Her complexion had regained some color, indicating that her condition had improved.
"Haoran, you're here," Old Madam Hu greeted gently.
"Greetings, Grandmother." Hu Haoran clasped his hands together and bowed upon seeing her.
"Good child, come closer," Old Madam Hu said, gesturing for him to approach.
Aunt Dong swiftly moved a chair to the bedside, allowing Hu Haoran to sit down.
"Grandmother, how are you feeling?" Hu Haoran asked as soon as he sat.
"I am much better," Old Madam Hu replied. "I believe we will be able to have breakfast together again tomorrow."
"What caused you to fall ill so suddenly?" Hu Haoran asked.
Old Madam Hu fell silent. She couldn't possibly tell him that she had been scared half to death by Hu Lihua's heart's voice, could she?
"…I saw a caterpillar in my vegetable dish," she eventually answered, choosing to lie. At the very least, that was what others believed.
"What?" Hu Haoran's eye twitched slightly, unable to believe that his grandmother had fallen ill just because she saw a caterpillar. It was worth noting that she was the daughter of a military official and possessed martial arts skills. In her younger years, she had even followed her late husband to war in the western regions.
After a brief moment of surprise, Hu Haoran asked again, "Did Grandmother punish the cook?"
"There was no need," Old Madam Hu replied with a dismissive wave of her hand.
Since there was never actually a caterpillar in any of the dishes, she couldn't just punish someone without reason. She even felt a little guilty when the cook and the kitchen staff came to Ronghua Pavilion, kneeling to beg for forgiveness.
Hu Haoran was taken aback. His grandmother was usually strict, yet this time she let the matter go so easily? However, since she had already said so, he couldn't do anything about it.
Reaching into his bag, Hu Haoran took out a long wooden box and handed it to Old Madam Hu. "Grandmother, I bought this on my way home. I hope it will help improve your health."
Old Madam Hu accepted the box and opened it. Her face immediately lit up upon seeing a fully intact hundred-year-old ginseng inside. She couldn't help but praise him, "Haoran, you are truly filial!"
Hu Haoran smiled and accompanied his grandmother for a while before finally standing up to take his leave. Just as he was about to go, Old Madam Hu suddenly called out to him. "Haoran, regarding An'er falling into the fish pond, it was not entirely Hua'er's fault. You must be fair.".
Hu Haoran was stunned. His brows furrowed so deeply that they could pinch a fly. He had never expected his grandmother to say anything in defense of Hu Lihua. However, he ultimately chose not to dwell on it and simply replied, "Grandmother, your grandson understands. You don't need to worry."
Seeing his expression, Old Madam Hu could tell that he wasn't taking her words seriously. In the end, she could only sigh softly and wave her hand. "Very well, you may go now. I want to rest now."
"Yes," Hu Haoran answered. After bidding farewell, he left Ronghua Pavilion and headed straight to Xiangyu Pavilion.
Along the way, Hu Haoran kept replaying his grandmother's words in his mind. That wretched girl had clearly kicked Hu Rui'an into the fish pond on purpose. How could she not be entirely at fault? He scoffed coldly and decided not to dwell on it any longer. The most important thing now was seeing Hu Rui'an.
As soon as Hu Haoran arrived at Xiangyu Pavilion, Qinqin came out to greet him with a bright smile. "Second Young Master, please come in. My miss has been waiting for you."
Hu Haoran merely nodded and followed Qinqin inside. As he stepped past the doorway, the faint scent of medicinal herbs filled the air.
Hu Rui'an was sitting upright in bed, leaning against a pillow. Her face was still pale, almost devoid of color, making her appear even more fragile. Though she forced a smile, her eyes looked exhausted, and her thin hand lay weakly on top of the blanket. A porcelain bowl filled with untouched medicine sat on a small table beside her, exuding a bitter aroma.
Hu Haoran quickly sat on the chair beside her bed, his tone tense as he asked, "An'er, how are you feeling? Why do you still look so pale?"
Hu Rui'an took a white silk handkerchief and covered her mouth before letting out a weak cough. "Cough! Cough! Second Brother, I'm already much better."
Hu Haoran's heart ached, and his chest tightened. She still looked so weak, yet she claimed to be much better? He couldn't even begin to imagine how terrible her condition had been before. Unknowingly, his anger toward Hu Lihua intensified.
"An'er, don't worry. I will make sure you receive justice," Hu Haoran said with unwavering determination.