Chapter 8: Pleading for the Cheng Family
He was still the person who, without a word, treated my foot when I first met him.
He only thought of what he felt was best for me.
Without considering my own thoughts.
In my childhood, my mother once said: “A balanced scale never cheats people.”
For me, owing others is a burden.
I stood up and returned the silver notes to him, “Young Master Qin, what is this? Why would I take your money for no reason?”
Seeing my firm refusal, he fell silent, but his eyes darted towards the door, as if waiting for something.
Meanwhile, the debt collectors refused to leave, guarding the main hall.
I gritted my teeth and quietly told Wu Bi to pawn the pearls.
Wu Bi hesitated, “Second Young Mistress, if we pawn this treasure to pay off the Eldest Young Master’s debts, and Old Madam finds out, her condition will surely worsen…”
“I know. These people are blocking the door, and the business in the shop can’t go on. Pawn it first to solve this urgent problem. In a few days, I’ll think of a way to collect the payment for the goods.”
As we were speaking, two people walked in from outside. Shopkeeper Wu quickly went to greet them, cupping his hands, “Shopkeeper Qian, Shopkeeper Sun.”
He turned and said to me, “Second Young Mistress, these are the shopkeepers from two businesses in Taixing.”
I nodded.
I had just mentioned that the payment from Taixing hadn’t been collected, so why were they here now?
The two men looked at me, then at Qin Mingxu standing beside me.
Whether it was my imagination or not, I saw fear, resentment, and a helpless frustration in their eyes as they looked at Qin Mingxu.
They slowly took out silver notes from their sleeves and said, “Shopkeeper Wu, this is the payment for today’s several carts of goods. Please count it.”
Shopkeeper Wu was overjoyed. After receiving and counting it, he said, “Not a single cent is missing. Thank you both.”
They cupped their fists and said, “Goods and money exchanged. We bid farewell.”
Shopkeeper Wu escorted them out the door and returned to reconcile the accounts with the debt collectors and settle the payments.
Those people finally left.
The shop became quiet.
The rain outside was still falling.
The winter rain in the south was very different from the north.
Like mist drifting, like dew appearing sorrowful.
The color of the grass was dim.
The two plum trees outside the door bowed their heads shyly.
I was puzzled. The merchants in Taixing wouldn’t change their attitude so quickly without reason. Someone must have done something.
Remembering the way they looked at Qin Mingxu, I asked, “Was it you?”
He smiled, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“What methods did you use?”
He lowered his head and touched his nose, “In any case, I’m not a good person. You don’t need to know.”
Then, he looked around and changed the subject, “Last time in Dongchang Prefecture, I heard that Miss Zhu is an excellent painter. Miss, could you paint me a picture?”
I was amused by his audacity.
Who would shamelessly admit they aren’t a good person?
“I’ve told you many times, don’t call me Miss.”
He completely ignored me.
He just refused to change his address.
After I finished reconciling the account books with Wu Bi, I stood up and walked out.
Qin Mingxu said, “Miss, I want you to paint a peony. My mother has been longing to see peonies in Luoyang City. She’s never had the chance. Her birthday is in the latter half of this month. I want to show my filial piety.”
I stopped in my tracks.
Hearing Qin Mingxu’s words reminded me of my own mother.
My mother would never see the beauty and liveliness of the world.
When she was critically ill, she still held my hand and said to me, “Sang Yu, my child, your mother was born into a wealthy family and lived a life of comfort for half her life, never suffering hardship. Life and death are fated, and your mother has no regrets. She only worries about you, my child. Your father is indecisive. As long as your mother is here, you will have a good life. When your mother is gone, what will you do…”
The days that followed proved my mother’s words. Every time I thought of her, I felt endless longing and desolation.
I said to Qin Mingxu, “Come and pick it up in seven days.”
He pursed his lips, “Okay.”
An hour after Qin Mingxu left, Wu Bi found out from the merchants in Yangzhou City what had happened that day.
Qin Mingxu had ordered the families of those two merchants from Taixing to be taken hostage and demanded they repay the money.
It seemed he had made two preparations before heading to the shop.
First, to help me collect the payment; second, to send the silver notes.
Foolproof.
“Young Master Qin is truly ruthless,” Wu Bi sighed. “If Second Master were here, with his scholarly demeanor, he would never do such things.”
It is said that the compassionate cannot lead troops, and the righteous cannot manage wealth.
Recalling that day on the boat, Qin Mingxu’s servant boy was colluding with bandits.
With the “Tiansheng Tower” business spanning the world, and the Qin family’s business being so vast, as the head of the family and the eldest son of the Qin Manor, Qin Mingxu must be formidable.
As for Cheng Huaishi, he had the ideals of a scholar.
Wu Bi had told me long ago that Cheng Huaishi, following his great-grandfather’s ambition, was solely focused on the imperial examinations. Business was merely a means to maintain stability.
They were two completely different kinds of people.
Yet, I owed Qin Mingxu once again.
By the time it was dark, the rain had finally stopped.
The bluestone pavement was wet, like a heart suddenly awakened from a nap.
Lost and unsure of where to go.
The Eldest Young Mistress had urged me several times. The Old Madam in the North Courtyard had also sent a maidservant to inquire. I took Xiao Yin to the small kitchen and made pastries from my hometown, carefully packed them into a food box, and then got up, ready to depart.
Whether for the Eldest Young Master or for Cheng Huaishi, I had to go and see Feng Gao.
He Hua draped a white cloak over me.
The winter night air was chilling.
The Eastern Depot personnel were all housed at the Prefectural Office.
I took He Hua and went there.
The young eunuchs had seen Feng Gao’s different treatment of me at the Cheng Residence today, so they were exceptionally polite.
They guided me all the way to a small courtyard.
The young eunuch led me to the side room and said, “Madam Cheng, Eunuch Feng is currently discussing matters with Prefect Liu. Please wait a moment. After he finishes, he will see you. Eunuch Feng specifically instructed that he would not see anyone else, but he must see you when you arrive.”
I gestured for He Hua to take out a silver ingot and hand it to him.
“Thank you, Eunuch, for your hard work. Have this for some tea.”
The young eunuch took it, “Madam Cheng is truly too kind.”
“It’s only right,” I smiled.
After the young eunuch withdrew, I sat in the side room, curious about what Feng Gao and Prefect Liu were discussing.
I quietly walked to the window of the inner room.
From inside came the sound of “thump, thump” of kowtowing.
“This subordinate’s eyes are blind and do not recognize Mount Tai, and I deserve death. Eunuch Feng, please be magnanimous. If you speak well of me to His Majesty, this matter will pass like a gust of wind. What I gave Eunuch Cao before, I will give you double… we will share the wealth…”
Feng Gao’s voice was still gentle.
“Prefect Liu, please speak with caution. Who is ‘we’? Speak properly, do not be so familiar.”
“This subordinate misspoke, this subordinate will slap himself.”
He actually started slapping his own face.
Feng Gao said, “Prefect Liu, offering incense and worshipping Buddha is a natural human sentiment. What is feared is worshipping the wrong temple. Don’t you agree?”
“Yes, yes, yes, this subordinate was blind.”
“His Majesty was furious upon seeing the petition. Feng is serving His Majesty, so naturally, my heart and eyes are only for His Majesty. If I do not investigate clearly for His Majesty, I would be failing the imperial grace. Eunuch Cao has angered His Majesty. Today’s Eastern Depot is not yesterday’s Eastern Depot. What does it have to do with me, the things you did in collusion with him?”
Prefect Liu’s voice was tinged with tears, “The case of Xun Liangdao involves dozens of court officials in Jianghuai. You cannot overturn the verdict…”
“Even if all of you die, what does it have to do with me?”
Feng Gao’s voice was as cold as winter rain.
“Feng likes to watch people bleed the most. Human blood is much more beautiful than flowers.”
After a while, Prefect Liu said, “Eunuch Feng was also involved…”
“Hmm?”
Feng Gao’s smile held a bone-chilling coldness.
He grabbed Prefect Liu by the collar, “If you continue to be so foolish, you won’t even hear the rooster crow tomorrow. The methods Eunuch Cao used to torture people in the past, Feng is not talented, but I am slightly better.”
Prefect Liu’s teeth chattered, “Why do you have to vindicate a dead grain inspector? Don’t you like money?”
“Of course, I like money. But His Majesty’s trust is more important. Feng has been castrated for fifteen years, starting from fetching foot washing water for Eunuch Cao, and now I’ve reached this position. Feng has no right or wrong in his eyes, only what is important.” Feng Gao said.
“This subordinate… this subordinate… this subordinate will go and fetch foot washing water for you immediately…”
Footsteps moved outwards.
I quickly retreated to the side room.
Prefect Liu left, trembling.
I stood up and walked forward. Feng Gao saw me and came out to greet me.
The deep darkness in his eyes receded, and a smile bloomed on his exquisitely beautiful face.
“Elder Sister is here?”
“I…” I pointed to the food box, “I made you pastries from Dongchang Prefecture.”
Upon hearing this, he was delighted. He took the food box, took out a pastry, and began to eat it. Halfway through, he closed his eyes childishly.
“I’ve been away from Dongchang Prefecture for fifteen years, I’ve almost forgotten the taste of home.”
Looking at him like this, he seemed like a completely different person from the one who had just uttered such venomous words.
“Are you also from Dongchang Prefecture?”
He lowered his head, “Yes… no… I was sold into the Imperial Palace, so naturally, I belong to the palace.”
After a moment, he raised his head, his long, phoenix-like eyes looking at me, “Elder Sister, why have you come?”
“I, I want to beg you, to let the Cheng Family go…”
This was the first time in my life I had asked someone for a favor, and it was as difficult as walking on knife-tips.
He held the pastry and took another bite. After a long while, he said, “Elder Sister, why don’t you just leave the Cheng Family?”
