Chapter 33: Feng Gao is Framed
He sat on the corridor, holding his head in his hands.
His usually neat white robe was crumpled.
Though I was only a few steps away from him, it felt like mountains and seas separated us.
《Romance of the West Chamber》 sings, “Though far apart, hearts are near,” but for Cheng Huaishi and me, we are near in body, yet far in heart.
The evening breeze tonight, carrying the scent of the Zhang Manor’s garden in full bloom, and the smell of blood from within, was both enchanting and tragic.
He Ming walked over and bowed, saying, “Second Master, Second Young Mistress, a visitor from the manor just reported that an hour after dinner, the Old Madam suddenly suffered from stomach pain and vomited all the food she had eaten.”
Cheng Huaishi quickly stood up, “Have you called a doctor to see her?”
“The Third Young Miss sent for a doctor, who examined her, prescribed medicine, and she took it. But the Old Madam only calls for the Second Young Mistress. No one else can help.”
Hearing this, I was abruptly jolted from my despondent thoughts and walked straight outside.
The Old Madam is advanced in age and already has a chronic stomach ailment. Now, upset about Miss Sun, a knot of anger has formed in her heart, making her condition worse.
I exited the main gate of the Zhang Manor and got into the horse carriage. Cheng Huaishi followed me.
We rode in silence.
Upon returning to the manor, I hurried to the Main Courtyard. The Old Madam’s personal maidservant rushed to greet me, “Second Young Mistress, you’re back!”
“Where are the Eldest Master and Eldest Young Mistress?”
“They got drunk at the banquet today and have already gone to sleep. The Old Madam said not to wake them.”
The door opened, and I went in. The Old Madam lay on the couch. Seeing me, she called out, “Sang Yu—”
I skillfully took the medicine bowl from the Third Young Miss, added a few pieces of rock sugar from the bedside cabinet, stirred them into the medicine, and fed it to the Old Madam. Afterward, I gently massaged her stomach. This was a technique I learned from a doctor at Yangzhou’s Jishetang last winter when the Old Madam had a stomach ailment. It had always been very effective.
As expected, the Old Madam’s complexion gradually relaxed.
Tears welled up in her eyes, “Sang Yu, my good child, ever since you married into the family, you’ve always done these things. I’ve become unaccustomed to others. Only you take care of this old woman so meticulously.”
“Mother, you are too kind. My mother passed away when I was young. You have been good to me, and I treat you as my own mother.”
“The old saying goes, ‘A long journey reveals a horse’s strength, and time shows a person’s heart.’ I regret most that I listened to Yu Zhen’s words and had you blocked at the door, making you use the side entrance. What I am most fortunate for is marrying you to Huai’er.”
She pulled my hand to her chest.
“Sang Yu, Yu Zhen sent Miss Sun to the Imperial Palace using such a vile method. I fear that if the Brocade Guards find any leverage, the Cheng Family will be in trouble. Cang Shi is easily swayed, and Yu Zhen is foolish. Huai’er’s heart and mind are consumed by official duties. Qing’er is a young lady confined to her chambers. You must steer the Cheng Family. No matter what, do not let the family fall into ruin. I have a few words for you, listen carefully—”
“Please speak, Mother.”
“There’s a saying, ‘Extreme joy can lead to sorrow.’ Our family has been a farming and studying household for generations. From my grandfather’s generation, we engaged in business, and from my father’s generation, we entered politics. Now, we have enjoyed prosperity for nearly a hundred years. If, one day, the tree falls and the monkeys scatter, all the hard work of several generations of ancestors will be in vain. Huizhou is our ancestral root. While we are still wealthy, withdraw funds from the counter and purchase more land in our hometown of Huizhou. We will fund private schools, hire teachers, and educate young children, benefiting the villagers and distant relatives. In case of dire need, this will be a fallback! Descendants can return home to study and farm. We will earn a good reputation among the villagers. When we are in trouble, they will not add insult to injury!”
The Old Madam’s words were pearls of wisdom.
The Third Young Miss, I, Cheng Huaishi, and all the servants in the room knelt on the ground.
“Sang Yu, you must agree.”
My heart filled with emotion, I said, “Mother, your daughter-in-law agrees. I will have people attend to it tomorrow.”
The Old Madam breathed a sigh of relief.
“Now that you’ve agreed, I can rest easy.”
Cheng Huaishi watched all this, becoming even more silent.
The Old Madam looked at him and said, “My son, even if something were to happen to me, I would be at ease knowing Sang Yu is managing the household.”
Cheng Huaishi leaned on the Old Madam, crying out, “Mother, please do not speak such ill omens. May you have a long and prosperous life, living to a hundred.”
The Old Madam waved her hand, “Longevity is determined by heaven. When people age, they no longer place as much importance on life and death. You should all go back and rest. I am tired.”
Everyone said in unison, “Yes.”
Stepping out, I looked at the sparse stars in the sky and stood in a daze for a while.
Cheng Huaishi followed behind me.
Returning to the East Courtyard, after washing up, I lay on the bed.
He got into bed after me.
The lamp was extinguished.
He said softly, “I’m sorry. I couldn’t take you to eat Shandong cuisine today.”
I remained silent.
With my eyes open, I watched the red gauze curtain sway back and forth in the evening breeze.
Sorry for what?
He was merely expressing his true feelings.
Perhaps, even he was unaware of it.
It was only in his heart-wrenching grief that I suddenly saw another side of him. He too had moments of being unable to control himself. He too had moments of losing his reason. He was not just the poised, gentle, and courteous young master before me.
“Madam, in the future, please don’t say things in anger, alright?”
His words carried a plea.
I wanted to speak several times but swallowed my words.
Causing such a huge upheaval was not my intention.
Especially at a time like this, when Xun Yitang was critically poisoned for his sake and her life hung in the balance, if I were to argue with him, wouldn’t everyone say I was jealous and unreasonable?
Seeing my continued silence, he thought I had fallen asleep.
He tossed and turned in bed, sat up, rustled as he got up, and went towards the door.
He did not want to owe me, nor did he want to owe Xun Yitang.
Little did he know, the other side of having it both ways was mutual destruction.
I watched him leave, without calling him back.
He must have gone to the Zhang Manor.
Ultimately, he couldn’t rest easy.
The night was filled with mixed emotions.
I wondered what result Minister Zhang received after his late-night audience with His Majesty.
I wondered what the Hu barbarian imperial physician Altai would confess under interrogation at Dali Temple.
I wondered what the next move in this game would be.
Sleepless, I stood before the steps in the long night.
The river of stars was sparse.
The next morning, a servant boy returning from buying groceries came back and said mysteriously, “Do you know? The head of the Eastern Depot is in trouble! His Majesty issued an edict overnight to surround the Eastern Depot! It’s all over the streets!”
A matron said, “You must have misheard. His Majesty favors the Eastern Depot the most.”
The servant boy said, “How could I have misheard! I went to join the crowd and saw with my own eyes people from Dali Temple tying up that Eunuch! Tsk, tsk, tsk, that Eunuch had such a handsome face, what a pity, what a pity.”
I grabbed the servant boy’s sleeve, “Which Eunuch?”
The servant boy said, “Second Young Mistress, how many Eunuchs can there be in the Great Ming? It’s Director Feng, who holds immense power in the Imperial Court. Normally, everyone fears him. Truly, heaven’s grace is unpredictable. I heard it’s because he had a personal grudge against Prime Minister Zhang and ordered a Hu barbarian imperial physician to poison Minister Zhang. That Hu barbarian imperial physician has already confessed…”
I couldn’t hear the rest of his words.
Before my eyes appeared Feng Gao’s eyes, filled with sorrow.
In just one night.
The world had turned upside down.
I knew that Feng Gao would never be the one to order a Hu barbarian imperial physician.
He was the most meticulous person; he wouldn’t have acted against the Prime Minister without His Majesty’s knowledge.
Feng Gao, with his phoenix eyes and thin lips.
Feng Gao, who called me “Elder Sister” countless times.
“Elder Sister, I only wish to survive this turmoil. It’s not that I fear death. I fear being separated from you again.”
“Whatever happens in the future, Elder Sister, please don’t suspect me, okay?”
“You call me Dou Ya.”
I subconsciously walked outwards, only to collide head-on with Cheng Huaishi, who was returning.
I looked up and asked him, “The Hu barbarian imperial physician confessed, didn’t he?”
“Madam need not concern herself with these court matters.”
“Tell me. I just want to know,” I said gravely.
Cheng Huaishi pulled me back into the room and said, “Last night, Minister Zhang went to the palace to see His Majesty and reported the matter of the Hu barbarian imperial physician’s poisoning. His Majesty greatly comforted Minister Zhang and promised that he would thoroughly investigate the matter. Dali Temple used torture, and Altai confessed that it was Director Feng of the Eastern Depot who ordered him. I always knew the Eastern Depot acted sinisterly, but I never expected him to be so malicious and audacious.”
“He didn’t do this. He’s being made a scapegoat,” I stated with certainty.
Cheng Huaishi said, “The Eastern Depot being punished is a cause for celebration. Why would Madam believe someone who commits all sorts of evil?”
“How did His Majesty handle it?”
“Minister Zhang said that clear rewards and punishments maintain order in the court. His Majesty handed Director Feng over to Minister Zhang, stating that he was to be dealt with as Minister Zhang saw fit. To serve as a warning and deter everyone, Minister Zhang decided to have Feng Gao beaten to death.”
Beaten to death.
Beaten to death.
I clearly didn’t remember the past events Feng Gao spoke of. Why did I still feel so sad upon hearing this news? It felt like an instinct from the bottom of my heart.
I suddenly stood on tiptoe and took down a black box from above the bookshelf.
Inside was the golden brush Minister Zhang had given me.
That boy named Dou Ya, how could I stand by and watch him die?
