Peerless Physician: The Path of a Foolish Eldest Daughter's Rise to Power

Gu Siming slumped in his chair, his body thin and haggard, his eyes bloodshot, revealing endless exhaustion and pain. Five years of torment had robbed him of his former radiance, as if he had been forgotten by time.

When he learned of his mother's death, a wave of grief washed over him, and tears streamed down his face. His hands trembled as he covered his face, his sleeves soaked with tears.

“Mother, your unfilial son…” he murmured softly, his voice filled with self-reproach and regret, “You left this world with your heart full of love for me, and I was unable to be with you in your final moments…”

Recalling his mother's gentleness and care, his heart ached. His mother was the most important person in his life, yet he had disappeared when she needed him most.

He was tormented by endless longing and guilt. In these long five years, he missed his mother every moment. Now his mother has left him, and he left her with the regret of not finding him.

Gu Xinyue carried the medicine to the door and heard her father's soft sobbing. Her heart ached. Her father knew that her grandmother had passed away, but he had been suppressing too many emotions. It was good for him to cry.

"A man doesn't easily shed tears, unless he's truly heartbroken." She hoped her father would cry out loud, but he still restrained his emotions; he didn't want anyone to see his vulnerability.

Gu Xinyue stood outside until her father stopped crying, and then found that the medicine had gone cold. He went to the kitchen, Chuntao heated it up, and brought it back to him.

Gu Siming had already washed up again. He picked up the medicine and drank it in one gulp. He didn't eat the candied fruit that Gu Xinyue had prepared. "Yue'er, you don't need to prepare candied fruit anymore. I'm a grown man, I don't need it."

"Okay, Daddy."

"Moon, when Father feels better, shall I teach you a couple of martial arts techniques for self-defense?"

Gu Xinyue said with a smile, "I'm really looking forward to my father teaching me. I've been practicing with the whip for a while and I'm pretty good at it. That day, my father gave me some pointers."

"Isn't your little brother adorable? Who does he look like?"

"He is very cute and mature for his age. It's heartbreaking to see him like this. He is looking forward to seeing his father and wants to become a general like his father. His grandfather personally taught him martial arts, and his maternal grandfather personally gave him his first lessons."

"This kid is lucky. Your maternal grandfather personally taught him, which makes many talented people envious."

“Father, my brother looks like you. I recognized him as my brother the first time I saw him.”

A slight smile appeared on Gu Siming's lips; his child, whom he had not yet met, was the source of his anticipation.

On the Lantern Festival (the fifteenth day of the first lunar month), Gu Xinyue asked Gu An to take care of her father, while she took Shaoyao and Xiahe to the Yang residence.

Old Madam Yang held Gu Xinyue's hand and said, "You should come to our house more often in the future and keep your grandmother company."

Aunt Xu joked, "Your grandmother had us prepare a lot of your favorite foods today."

Gu Xinyue thanked her maternal grandmother and two aunts. What does she like to eat? She's not a picky eater.

Yang Muyan sat quietly next to her grandmother today. Gu Xinyue looked at her but didn't notice anything unusual. Was she in a bad mood or feeling unwell?

Seeing Gu Xinyue looking closely at Yang Muyan, Madam Wang said, "Xinyue and your cousin have something to say. Why don't you go to your cousin's courtyard? When your mother arrives, I'll have someone call you over."

"Okay, Aunt."

In Yang Muyan's room.

"Cousin, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Gu Xinyue asked with concern.

Yang Muyan shook her head, but tears streamed down her face.

"Waaaaah... Xinyue, I'm so sad." Yang Muyan threw herself into Gu Xinyue's arms and sobbed softly.

Gu Xinyue gently patted her back and comforted her, "Cousin, don't cry, tell me what happened?"

Yang Muyan raised her head, wiped away her tears, and said, "I've fallen for someone, but he's a notorious playboy in the capital, and I'm afraid my family won't approve..."

Gu Xinyue looked at her in surprise, thinking that her cousin actually had someone she liked. So, her secret crush was... a secret romance. She quickly asked, "Cousin, does he like you?"

Yang Muyan blushed and whispered, "I like it."

"Be careful not to be deceived in your feelings. How do you know he likes you?"

Yang Muyan took a box out of the cabinet, opened it and gave Gu Xinyue a jade hairpin with a bright green color, saying, "He made this by hand."

"You're engaging in secret dealings," Gu Xinyue teased, "Be careful your second aunt doesn't get so angry she'll vomit blood."

The jade hairpin had a red rose on its tip. "Red and green, a terrible combination," she thought, but she didn't find the hairpin tacky at all; on the contrary, she found it elegant and beautiful.

There were two tiny characters in the center of the rose, which were micro-carved. Gu Xinyue stared at them intently for a long time before finally recognizing them as the two characters "Yan Jie".

Gu Xinyue smiled as she looked at it. She's quite a romantic person. I wonder if her cousin saw it.

"What's his name?"

Yang Muyan glanced at Gu Xinyue, then lowered her head and remained silent.

"I can predict the future and I know one of the characters in his name."

"Which word?"

"Jie, the Jie of outstanding people and a beautiful place."

"You really know?" Yang Muyan asked in surprise.

"Tell the truth."

Yang Muyan's face turned even redder, her ears looked like they were about to bleed, and she said shyly, "We met at the poetry gathering. He is Zhao Jie, the eldest son of the Minister of Revenue."

“He’s a notorious playboy in the capital. Even I, who just returned to the capital, know that the chances of you two being together are practically zero,” Gu Xinyue said firmly. Her heart was heavy with the thought that people who love each other cannot be together.

“Cousin, he’s not as bad as you say. He’s a good person.”

"He's a good person, but his reputation is terrible."

“Cousin, I’m so sad. You’re always teasing me. I’m going to find someone I like on my own, just like my aunt.”

“My mother was robbed, and my father rescued her. They fell in love at first sight. My mother was both beautiful and talented, and my father was a centurion at the time. Can you two compare to my parents?”

"You brat, why can't we compete?"

"Is your talent as renowned as my mother's? Zhao Jie is far inferior to my father."

"I just don't want to show off at those kinds of banquets. If my reputation spreads, and people I don't like come to my house to propose marriage, wouldn't I be making trouble for myself?" Yang Muyan said to Gu Xinyue shyly. "Besides, I already have someone I like."

"How do you want me to help you?"

"I haven't figured it out either, but you have a lot of ideas, so I came to you."

"Why don't you just have him come to our house to propose marriage?"

“Mother will definitely kick the matchmaker out.”

"Then you should have him pass the imperial examination and then propose marriage."

Yang Muyan fell silent. She wiped away non-existent tears and said, "He doesn't get along with his stepmother. His stepmother has been spoiling him and preventing him from studying."

"I need to think carefully about how to get him to participate in the scientific expedition."

Yang Muyan laughed, and Gu Xinyue said, "What are you laughing at? I haven't been able to help yet."

A maid came and said, "The young lady has arrived. Please come to Madam Yang's room."