In Huining Courtyard, the potted wind orchids had already withered. The banana leaves beyond the window drooped in quiet decline. Only the unassuming osmanthus tree stood resilient, its buds forming silently—like a gentle beauty in embroidered robes, concealing her fragrance until the right moment.
Zheng Qian had cleared out the west wing. Inside, she arranged a few strange items and began what she called "physical training."
The maids had no idea what she was doing. They gathered around with her cat to watch, whispering curiously.
By the end of it, Zheng Qian was completely exhausted.
"Miss, please rest a bit," Xiu Zhu said, distressed. "What are you doing?"
"Training," Zheng Qian replied simply. "From now on, at least an hour every day."
The maids were speechless.
Xiao Zhan watched from the side. He recognized the movements—practical, efficient, clearly meant to strengthen the body.
She truly knows everything, he thought. If she isn't some celestial being, what else could she be?
On her first day, Zheng Qian barely lasted fifteen minutes before she was gasping for breath. Still, she resolved to take it slow.
After working up a sweat, she went to bathe—and as usual, her cat disappeared.
"A-Chou is such a gentleman," she said with a smile.
"What's a 'gentleman'?" Hong Luan asked.
Zheng Qian: "…"
Soaking in the tub, she let Hong Luan knead her shoulders, feeling utterly relaxed.
When she emerged, the cat had already returned and was waiting in her chamber.
Just then, Cai Yuan entered with a stack of invitation cards.
"Miss, more people have sent invitations. Some even wish to visit you in person."
At first, people merely invited her out of curiosity. When they failed, they began requesting visits instead.
Zheng Qian declined them all.
Still, she glanced through each card, keeping track of who was interested in her.
This time, however, two invitations stood out—they were from men.
"Lu Shu?" she murmured, searching through the original owner's memories. He seemed to be acquainted with Zheng Yutan and had spoken highly of her.
Zheng Qian had no interest in dealing with Zheng Yutan's associates.
"Xiu Zhu, do you know Lu Shu?" she asked. Given that people outside were now calling her 'the ghost doctor disciple of Lu Qi', she had to be cautious.
Lu Qi was the revered ancestor of the Lu family. She couldn't completely distance herself after borrowing his name.
"The young divine physician Lu Shu?" Xiu Zhu replied. "The heir of Jinkui Hall's Lu family. Miss, you didn't know?"
Now she did.
She set the invitation aside.
The other invitation was from someone simply named "Lu."
"Do you know this one?" she asked.
Xiu Zhu shook her head. "Never heard of him. But with that surname, he's probably from the same Lu family."
Zheng Qian couldn't avoid the Lu family forever.
Since she disliked Lu Shu, she decided to meet this "Lu" instead—explain how she treated Wen Zhao, and indirectly inform the Lu family, so they wouldn't cause trouble later.
That evening, her fifth younger brother came as usual to freeload dinner.
"I want to invite someone," Zheng Qian said. "It's not convenient for me to do it directly. Tomorrow, help me send an invitation to this Lu and ask him to visit."
"Lu?"
"You know him?"
"No. But definitely someone from that Lu family," he said casually.
Zheng Qian nodded. "Invite him for me."
Meanwhile, several Lu family cousins were walking back from the apothecary.
"Lu, I heard you sent an invitation to Miss Zheng? Are you out of your mind?"
"You're being too opportunistic. Even our eldest brother can't meet her—what makes you think you can?"
"Have some self-awareness."
They mocked him openly.
These cousins all fawned over the main branch heir. As a neglected son from a lesser branch, Lu had no standing to argue back.
When he returned home, even his own elder brother humiliated him.
"Look at yourself! You're an embarrassment to our entire branch!"
Lu retreated to his room, humiliated and furious.
He clenched his fists, wishing he could run away and earn merit in the military like others.
With no recommendation, that was the only path to advancement.
Slap!
He struck himself. "Stop dreaming."
At that moment, his servant rushed in excitedly.
"Master! An invitation—from the Zheng family! The Fifth Young Master invites you!"
Lu froze.
Joy surged—then suspicion followed.
Why would Zheng Five invite me? We're not even acquainted…
Is this to mock me?
Still uneasy, he went the next day.
At the Marquis Jing'an's residence, in Zheng Five's courtyard, he saw her.
A young woman stood there in a pale blue blouse with vine patterns and a white skirt. Tall and slender, she wasn't dazzling at first glance—but her eyes were bright and clear. And that red beauty mark on her forehead made her unforgettable.
She… she was Zheng Qian.
The girl with the red mark—he finally saw her clearly.
Lu held his breath.
Zheng Five coughed loudly, snapping him back to reality.
Flustered, Lu hurriedly greeted her.
Zheng Qian got straight to the point.
"You sent me an invitation—was it to ask how I treated Young Master Wen?"
"Yes."
"Was it your idea, or your family's?"
"My grandfather," Lu admitted. "The Empress Dowager asked him, but he couldn't answer."
Zheng Qian smiled faintly.
Yet your grandfather didn't come himself. How arrogant.
Still, she needed the name of "Lu Qi's disciple" for now. She had no intention of offending the Lu family.
"Go back and tell your grandfather—I'll visit after lunch," she said. "I'll explain everything in person."
Lu's eyes lit up with overwhelming joy.
"R-Really?"
"Why would I joke about that?" she said lightly. "And in the future, if you need anything, go through my fifth brother. Also—if your Lu family acknowledges me as Lu Qi's disciple, you should address me as your ancestor."
Lu: "..."
He practically ran all the way home.
Within half a day, the entire Lu household knew:
Miss Zheng was coming.
"How impressive! Eldest Young Master not only met her but invited her over!"
"As expected of the young divine physician—everyone gives him face."
The praise spread rapidly—
Until a servant beside the old master spoke up:
"It wasn't the eldest young master. It was Ninth Young Master."
Everyone froze.
"Ninth Young Master?"
"From the fifth branch. The illegitimate son… Lu."
Silence fell.
So in the end—
The prestigious eldest young master had been outdone… by an overlooked illegitimate son.