Chapter 36: Visiting Miss Xun
The evening breeze was silent. Cicadas chirped from not far away.
Seeing I remained silent for a moment, he seemed to recall something and quickly explained, “Elder Sister, Altai biting Cheng Huaishi with a poisonous snake was not my doing. Poisoning Zhang Taiyue was instigated by Liu Shou. I played along, using Mu Lin’s desire to replace Liu Shou to control Altai’s family and kept a backup plan. The chaos involving Cheng Huaishi and Xun Yitang was outside the plan. I didn’t intend to harm Cheng Huaishi. I would never hurt Elder Sister.”
He was afraid I would misunderstand.
I shook my head, “I don’t suspect you.”
He smiled with delight.
“Elder Sister, if you are unhappy, I will go kill Xun Yitang. Whatever Elder Sister wants, I will not allow anyone to snatch it from Elder Sister.”
I quickly stopped him, “No.”
Killing her, what use would that be?
It would only make Cheng Huaishi feel more guilt. A wound that could never be healed in his lifetime.
My unhappiness has nothing to do with Miss Xun. It is solely about Cheng Huaishi’s heart.
It is most important that Cheng Huaishi has me in his heart. Everything else is futile.
Besides, Miss Xun is the descendant of loyal officials. I do not wish for Feng Gao to have more innocent blood on his hands. The Eastern Depot already has a tarnished reputation. If he were to kill Miss Xun, those scholars would surely condemn him.
“If you refuse to listen, Elder Sister will never see you again,” I said sternly.
He looked at me seriously for a long moment before nodding, “Elder Sister, please do not be angry. I will listen to you.”
He brought his face close to mine, “Elder Sister, please smile. I haven’t seen you smile in a long time.”
I pursed my lips.
He said with relief, “Elder Sister, you should go back. I will stand here and watch you leave.”
I walked far out of the alley and, turning my head, still saw him standing there. The scattered lanterns in the alley cast a faint light, stretching his shadow on the ground very long.
Upon returning to the manor, Cheng Huaishi had already woken up.
He sat by the window drinking tea, deep in thought. Seeing me enter, he poured a cup and offered it to me.
“Eldest Brother sent this Guyu Mei tea. Madam, please have a cup. This year, the rainfall in several prefectures of Huizhou has been scarcer than in previous years. This Mei tea, however, has a special high fragrance.”
I sat on the chair opposite him and said, “I dare not drink tea after dark. I fear I won’t be able to sleep at night. These days, my sleep has been very light.”
He thought I was hinting at something and showed a look of shame, “I have finished organizing the Ministry of Revenue’s tax records for the past five years. I will likely not be as busy from now on. I will try my best to return home early every day to accompany Madam.”
He Ming entered from outside and reported, “Second Master, Miss Xun’s maidservant Rong’er has arrived, saying she has good news to inform you.”
Cheng Huaishi looked at me and asked He Ming, “What good news?”
He Ming replied, “Rong’er said that Young Master Qin Mingxu found a traveling physician who developed a medicine called ‘Seven-Line Powder,’ specifically for snake venom. Miss Xun took the Seven-Line Powder and vomited a lot of black water. She woke up an hour ago. Rong’er wishes to invite you to see her.”
Upon hearing this, Cheng Huaishi let out a long sigh of relief. It was as if an immensely heavy burden on his shoulders had finally been slightly lifted. His inner torment lessened. He regained his usual calm and gentleness.
“If there is an improvement, that is excellent news. Please give Rong’er the aged ginseng and other items we have treasured at home, and tell Miss Xun to take good care of herself. It is already late, so I will not go.”
He Ming acknowledged and walked out the door.
Cheng Huaishi pondered for a moment, then stood up and said, “Wait, it might be better to visit after all.”
He extended his hand to me, “Madam, come with me.”
I hesitated for a moment, looked at him, then thought about it. I stood up and said, “Alright.”
He took my hand, and we got into the horse carriage together, heading towards the Zhang Manor.
I wondered if he was doing this because of the vow he made in the main courtyard today, or because of the words “I will not fail you” on the paper.
In any case, this was the first time he was facing Miss Xun with me – the woman he had known since childhood.
Upon arriving at the west wing of the backyard of the Zhang Manor, Rong’er announced from outside the door, “Miss, Second Master Cheng has arrived.”
The woman on the bed struggled to sit up and said, “Rong’er, I’ve been asleep these past few days and haven’t washed. Hurry… hurry and bring me a basin of water.”
Then, she saw me behind Cheng Huaishi, and the spark in her eyes suddenly extinguished. Rong’er brought water and handed her a warm handkerchief, but she paid no attention to it.
Cheng Huaishi lowered his head and said, “I heard… I heard you are feeling better. I brought Madam to visit you. I wish you a speedy recovery.”
I leaned down and said to Xun Yitang, “You were injured for Second Master, and we both are very grateful. Thank you, Miss Xun, for saving our lives.”
She coughed a couple of times, her face pale and fragile, and said, “You don’t need to thank me. I did it willingly.”
“Seeing that Miss Xun is unharmed, we are relieved. I heard Minister Zhang has arranged a good marriage for Miss Xun, with the son of Academician Yin. Miss Xun and Second Master have known each other since childhood, with a bond like siblings. In the future, when Miss Xun marries, I, as her sister-in-law, will prepare a generous gift,” I nodded.
“Marriage is not important. I have no interest in romantic matters. Madam Cheng need not worry about me.”
She looked at Cheng Huaishi, her eyes filled with attachment and grievance, making her look pitiable.
I said to Cheng Huaishi, “Second Master, the peonies in the Zhang Manor’s garden were blooming beautifully last time I saw them. I’d like to pick some to make cakes. I’ll wait for you in the horse carriage later.”
After saying that, I left.
I wanted to give him and her an opportunity to speak alone. As for what they would say, it was entirely up to him. This was also his final choice. I thought he understood.
I had already prepared for the worst. If he truly could not let go, I would leave the Cheng family.
Even if I had nowhere to go, selling wine at the tavern, painting on the street, which of these could not sustain a lifetime?
I walked with light steps into the garden. The peony season had long passed, yet the peonies in the Zhang Manor were vibrant and in myriad forms. They exuded an indescribable nobility and prosperity. No one could discern any sign of decay.
Faintly, I heard someone speaking. It sounded like Minister Zhang’s voice. I vaguely heard the words “Feng Gao.”
Instinctively, I crouched down, hid among the flowers, and held my breath to listen.
One voice said, “Sir, I have checked all those born in the twelfth lunar month of Jiajing Thirty-ninth Year according to the Yangzhou household registration. No one has a palm-shaped birthmark on their chest.”
“Were there any omissions?”
“I can confirm there were no omissions.”
Minister Zhang said, “Then perhaps it is true… they are no longer in Yangzhou.”
The other person said, “Sir, I found an old servant from the Qin Manor. She said that on the day Madam Qin gave birth, the manor hired an acrobatic troupe for a dragon and lion dance.”
“Can that acrobatic troupe still be found?”
“Acrobatic troupes are from the lower classes, traveling far and wide with no fixed abode. It is truly impossible to find them.”
“Has Feng Gao’s background been investigated?”
“Based on all existing clues, we can only ascertain that Eunuch Feng’s place of origin is Dongchang Prefecture in Shandong. He was sold to Eunuch Cao by a family named Feng. I sent people to Dongchang Prefecture and found the Feng family. However, no one from the Feng family remains. It is said that Eunuch Feng massacred his entire family. Eunuch Feng seems to deeply resent that family and acts with peculiar cruelty. I have interviewed the former neighbors of the Feng family. Some say Eunuch Feng is not the Feng family’s child. As for where he truly came from, no one can say.”
Minister Zhang was silent for a while and ordered, “Do not speak of this matter to anyone.”
“I understand. I would never dare.”
“Inform Zou Cheng of Qionglin Academy to cease the assassination attempts on Feng Gao.”
“Yes.”
Hearing this, my heart surged. It was not until the voices ceased and footsteps faded that I emerged from the flower bushes after a long while.
From afar, I saw Qin Mingxu drinking wine in a pavilion.
I walked over, and he saw me, smiling, “Sang Yu, you’ve come.”
The undercurrents were turbulent, and everyone carried heavy burdens. At this moment, only he smiled so carefree.
“This is the peony wine I made. Would you like to try some? It’s refreshing. It’s not intoxicating.”
I said, “Wine is not intoxicating; it is the person who gets drunk.”
He said, “Sang Yu, I have always remembered what you said on the boat. Why have you forgotten yourself? Eat when you’re hungry, sleep when you’re tired, and leave no room for desire. Whatever you want, strive for it. Even if you cannot achieve it, you will have a clear conscience and satisfaction.”
“Thank you for finding a traveling physician for Miss Xun.”
“It was a small effort.” He tilted his head and finished the wine in his cup.
Minister Zhang’s words just now seemed related to his background. But seeing his demeanor today, he was surely completely unaware.
I bid farewell to Qin Mingxu and got into the horse carriage. After waiting for a while, Cheng Huaishi arrived.
As he got into the carriage, his expression was unreadable.
I did not ask him anything.
After a moment, he tightly grasped my hand, “Madam, thank you.”
He expressed his stance in this way.
He had made his choice.
I felt a sense of relief, as if I had survived a disaster.
Then, he said, “Oh, right. Minister Zhang just told me something. He wants to recommend you as an Imperial Palace painter, to serve in the Hall of Benevolence and Wisdom. You do not need to live in the palace. Except for imperial summons, you only need to report for duty every ten days. Are you willing?”
