Chapter 166 - 164: The More I See Her, the More Pleasant She Looks (First Update)

Chapter 166: Chapter 164: The More I See Her, the More Pleasant She Looks (First Update)

Zhao Shao Hua enthusiastically approached, taking Xu Jing by the hand with a smile and led her into the pavilion. She addressed the two women seated at the main table, "Mom, Aunt, this is the Doctor Xu I mentioned."

The woman next to Zhao Shao Hua, dressed in a light purple ruqun with a heroic air similar to Zhao Shao Hua, was evidently Zhao Shao Hua’s mother.

The woman sitting beside her had a fuller figure, dressed in a red and purple green floral patterned long skirt, overlaid with a semi-transparent white gauze shirt. Her smile appeared kind, although the sharpness in her eyes indicated that she was not as simple as she seemed.

Noting that she sat closer to the main seat than Zhao Shao Hua’s mother, Xu Jing immediately realized she was the current mistress of the Zhao Family.

She smiled slightly, performed a greeting, and said, "I greet the two ladies."

The octagonal pavilion was spacious enough to accommodate over a dozen people. At the moment, three young women were seated inside, all seemingly junior members of the Zhao Family, curiously observing Xu Jing.

The woman seated at the main seat immediately smiled and said, "Please rise. Everyone here is family, no need for such formalities. My surname is Cen; Doctor Xu may call me Madam Cen. Beside me is Shao Hua’s mother, surnamed Kang."

In Great Chu, married women were addressed by their original surnames, unless their original surname was unknown, in which case they would temporarily use their husband’s surname.

Xu Jing readily followed, saying, "Madam Cen, Madam Kang."

Seeing Xu Jing’s composed demeanor, Mrs. Kang’s smile deepened, knowing that Xu Jing had recently been treating her daughter and had helped resolve a concern of hers just yesterday. Mrs. Kang increasingly found Xu Jing agreeable and said, "Shao Hua, why have you kept Doctor Xu standing? Quickly, let Doctor Xu sit down.

Doctor Xu experienced quite a scare last night, surely she was frightened."

Madam Cen also expressed concern, "Indeed, Doctor Xu, no lingering fears, I hope? That child Wang Wuniang is pitiable; though her mother’s actions were extreme, I wouldn’t be confident I could do any better in her place."

While speaking, Madam Cen sighed and shook her head.

Xu Jing smiled and said, "Thank you both for your concern; it’s nothing serious."

After returning to her mother’s home, Zhao Shao Hua appeared noticeably more like a delicate young lady, giggling, "Mom, Aunt, you have truly underestimated Doctor Xu. Yesterday, when trapped in the manor, Doctor Xu was calmer than most!"

Zhao Jingming, who had been silent, secretly curled his lips.

They hadn’t just underestimated her; they had completely misjudged her!

If he weren’t mistaken, it was primarily Miss Xu who solved the case of Wang Wuniang. Yanci only spent a brief time there, accomplishing little more than getting involved, playing the hero to save the beauty.

Madam Cen raised her eyebrows slightly, smiling, "Indeed, for a woman like Doctor Xu, not only possessing remarkable medical skills but also running a clinic in Anping County on her own, her experience must be extensive and thus not easily frightened. I hear from Shao Hua that you plan to open a clinic in the Capital. Women as capable as you are indeed rare.

However, I hope Doctor Xu doesn’t mind my curiosity. Isn’t your family worried about you being alone outside? Judging by your age, you should be of marriageable age, correct?"

Zhao Jingming instantly covered his face with resignation.

His mother never fails to express concern about everyone’s marriage matters whenever she can.

Xu Jing raised an eyebrow. In ancient times, it was indeed concerning for a woman to be alone outside; Madam Cen’s question was only natural. She smiled slightly and said, "My family encountered some changes earlier, temporarily... I have no home to return to."

Xu Jing’s words, though truthful, were enough to let the imagination wander.

There are many reasons for being homeless, but regardless of which, it is undoubtedly a sorrowful matter for the involved person.

Madam Cen’s face immediately showed some regret, saying, "I asked an inappropriate question; I hope it doesn’t affect your mood, Doctor Xu."

Xu Jing shook her head, saying, "Certainly not."

Madam Cen couldn’t help but sigh and shake her head, "Although Doctor Xu is young, she is stable in dealing with others. Without family backing, she might even delay her own marriage issues. Unlike my unruly son, I worry constantly about his marriage, and he simply doesn’t appreciate it. Seeing him so grown yet less stable than Doctor Xu, it truly worries me! Doctor Xu, please don’t laugh; usually, my son is so elusive that even his shadow is hard to find. I wonder what prompted him to chat with me today, truly he irritates me in every way!"

As she spoke, she cast a stern glare at Zhao Jingming siting beside her.

Zhao Jingming, trying to minimize his presence: "..."

Why has the topic shifted to him again!

Before Miss Xu arrived, hadn’t his mother already scolded him once? He thought she had vented all her anger!

If it wasn’t for learning this morning from the servant that Xi had sent an invitation to Doctor Xu, he wouldn’t have stayed!

His face turned sour, but in front of Xu Jing, he still wished to maintain some composure, so he tried to keep a straight face and said, "Mom, we still have guests; these talks can wait until the guests leave."

Madam Cen found his behavior strange; knowing her younger son well, anytime she mentioned his marriage, he promptly found excuses to flee.

But who cares, it’s rare he’s willing to stay here, and once he runs off, she wouldn’t know where to catch him.

With a serious expression, she said, "Don’t think you can fool me. Who in the Capital doesn’t know you’re well over twenty and still unmarried? Days from now, at your grandmother’s seventieth birthday, I sent invitations to some ladies in the Capital, asking them to come early to chat over tea, so you better stay home and entertain them.

Also, there’s Yanci. Given his family’s circumstances, surely no one can arrange his marriage either. Invite him over too. Although he offended a number of ladies last time, with his merits there are still quite a few ladies discreetly inquiring about his situation..."

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Unexpectedly, his own mother dragged Xiao Yi into it as well, causing Zhao Jingming to hastily cough while discreetly observing Xu Jing’s expression. He said to his startled mother, "I understand, I understand! Mom, didn’t you say you wanted that cooling oil developed by Doctor Xu? And you wanted to procure more to share with the ladies you’re acquainted with. Let’s address that first!"

He knew confronting his mother now would only result in more incessant chatter, so he could only randomly agree to change the subject.

Madam Cen saw through his intentions instantly but just glared at him, and remembering she couldn’t keep neglecting Xu Jing, turned to smile at her, "Indeed, I nearly forgot the main issue. Earlier, when Shao Hua returned home, she brought a jar of ointment called cooling oil, which she said was effective for headaches, summer heat, insect bites, and motion sickness. I used a bit last time, and it indeed works wonders. So, seeing Doctor Xu here now, I wanted to ask if you had any more in stock."

Xu Jing quickly gathered her somewhat scattered thoughts and thoughtfully looked at the several patches of red skin on the back of Madam Cen’s hand and neck, saying, "There is stock, and even if there wasn’t, making more wouldn’t be difficult. However, before that, I would like to know Madam Cen’s purpose for buying the cooling oil."

Madam Cen was momentarily stunned, then smiled, "There’s no particular purpose, really. It’s just that hearing about all its effects, I thought it would be good to keep a jar at home. Although it’s early autumn now, with fewer insects, headaches, and heat not likely to occur soon, summer will come again next year, and it’s always good to be prepared. Moreover, sometimes when I travel in carriages for too long, I get motion sickness, so it could come in handy then."