“Leaving?”
The people inside the room were once again taken aback, even Old Master Chen sat up straight.
“Sister, you’re leaving?” Dan-niang called out.
“Of course I’m leaving,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied.
She had been staying here quietly, coming over every day to perform acupuncture and prescribe medicine, spending the rest of her time in her own courtyard. If not for Old Master Chen’s gradual recovery day by day, the Chen family might have almost forgotten her existence.
“Miss, why not stay a little longer?” Chen Shao said.
“San-lang, you mustn’t insist,” Old Master Chen interjected. “The lady has already stayed here for more than half a month. If she says she is leaving, it means my illness no longer requires her presence.”
Cheng Jiao-niang nodded, and Chen Shao could only give up on persuading her further.
“Then, are you returning to Jiang-zhou or…?” He hesitated before asking.
“I will stay in the capital for some time before discussing the journey home,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied.
Chen Shao breathed a sigh of relief. As long as she was still in the capital, it was fine. After all, though she assured them, as a son, he couldn’t help but worry about his father’s recovery.
That evening, Madam Chen personally delivered the medical fee.
Cheng Jiao-niang pushed the red envelope back to her.
Although neither of them had discussed the amount—Cheng Jiao-niang hadn’t stated how much to charge, and Madam Chen hadn’t mentioned how much she planned to give—it was easy to imagine that the sum inside the red envelope wasn’t small.
Madam Chen looked slightly uneasy. Was it because she thought the amount was too little?
“I must trouble you with a favor, Madam,” Cheng Jiao-niang said. “I’m unfamiliar with the capital. Please help me find a house to rent.”
Madam Chen was stunned, and the maids of the Zhou family kneeling outside exchanged shocked glances.
Good heavens!
It took Madam Chen quite a while to recover.
“This is so sudden and urgent. It’s not easy to find one right away. Why don’t you stay in our home for now? Once a suitable house is found, you can move, and it will allow you to take your time choosing,” Madam Chen suggested.
The corners of Cheng Jiao-niang’s lips curved slightly.
“Madam, the reason I’m asking you to find one is precisely because it is urgent,” she said.
Madam Chen looked embarrassed. This lady appeared quiet and gentle, not one to say much, but when she did speak, her words were always sharp.
On hearing what Chen Shao and his wife had said, Old Master Chen laughed heartily.
“Then let’s do as she says,” he said. “She’s absolutely right—if you truly want to find a place, no matter how urgent, it can be done.”
After saying that, he paused to think for a moment.
“No need to ask her further. Let’s sell her our house by Yudai Bridge. The furniture and everything are already complete; she can move in right away.”
Chen Shao hesitated slightly.
“Father, you mean sell it to her?” he asked.
Not give it to her?
“Sell it to her,” Old Master Chen confirmed with a nod, repeating himself.
Chen Shao responded affirmatively, “Understood.”
The news quickly reached the Zhou family, causing an uproar just like it had in the Chen family.
“Is that really what she said?” Master Zhou roared.
The maid in front of him trembled with fear.
“Yes, yes, Master. Madam Chen has already gone to discuss buying a house for Lady Cheng with Old Master Chen,” she stammered.
“That wretched wench!” Master Zhou cursed furiously. “Such blatant disrespect for her elders!”
“What should we do?” Madam Zhou said, her face hardened with displeasure. “If word gets out, what will others think of us?”
Initially, as the outcome of the treatment was uncertain, the Chen and Zhou families had not publicized their decision to hire a physician. However, now that Old Master Chen’s illness was receding and his health was steadily improving, the Zhou family had subtly begun to associate themselves with his recovery.
Every three days, Madam Zhou would visit the Chen family. Whether she managed to see Cheng Jiao-niang or not, it didn’t stop outsiders from speculating.
Why would a low-ranking military officer frequently visit the home of a civil official of such high standing?
The recent incident of ruthlessly dismissing the maids had just calmed the Chen family’s suspicions. They thought the matter had passed, but unexpectedly, this lady had quietly stirred up a new commotion!
“Truly ungrateful! As the saying goes, ‘like a nephew’s dog—eat and leave,’ and it couldn’t be more accurate. Has she forgotten which family’s support allowed her to live safely until now?” Master Zhou grew angrier as he spoke. “A child without any upbringing!”
In his fury, Master Zhou was about to storm off to the Chen family to teach this unfilial girl a lesson, but Madam Zhou stopped him.
“Master, that girl is foolish and doesn’t know what to say or do. If you make a scene in front of the Chen family, it will completely ruin our relationship,” she advised.
“Isn’t it already ruined?” Master Zhou trembled with rage.
“There’s still a chance to salvage it,” Madam Zhou replied. “After all, the Chen family knows that girl isn’t close to us. She came to the capital, treated Old Master Chen successfully, and now wants a house to secure her position. It’s not unreasonable.”
Master Zhou gritted his teeth.
“And then? Are we just going to stand by and watch her move in?” he asked.
“Let her move in, and then we’ll invite her back,” Madam Zhou said.
Master Zhou sneered coldly.
“So I’m supposed to swallow my pride, let this wretch trample on me in public, and then smile and try to win her over?” he shouted. “Who does she think she is? What right does she have to act like this? Has she forgotten that half the blood in her veins comes from the Zhou family?”
Outside the door, Zhou Liu-lang, who had been listening, suddenly released his clenched fists and turned to walk away.
The snow started falling in the middle of the night, and by dawn, it had blanketed the ground in a thick layer.
“Once winter arrives, it snows particularly often in the capital,” the maid said, glancing at the packed bundle.
Or rather, the single bundle, containing just a few clothes Cheng Jiao-niang had made herself and her grooming tools.
The clothes gifted by Madam Zhou had already been given away by the maid to the Chen family’s maids.
Just as when they first arrived, they would leave with the same simple bundle in tow.
Property in the capital was expensive, and the medical fees paid by the Chen family were just enough to exchange for a house.
Though that was how it was said, everyone understood that it was more of a half-purchase, half-gift from the Chen family.
So it seemed they had arrived with nothing and would leave with nothing.
“I’ll go check if the carriage is ready,” the maid said.
Cheng Jiao-niang nodded, her gaze fixed on the swirling snow outside the window.
The maid held an umbrella as she made her way out, only to see Jin Ge’er running over.
“Jin Ge’er,” she called out quickly, “head over to the new house first and start tidying up.”
Jin Ge’er’s leg injury had fully healed, and he nodded at her words.
“I was just about to take a cart there,” he said, pointing to a small donkey cart nearby.
“Go ahead and warm up the floor heating,” the maid instructed. “Boil some water; don’t worry about clearing the snow just yet.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll go together and make sure everything’s sorted before she arrives,” said the two young men driving the cart.
The maid smiled and thanked them before heading to check on the carriage prepared for Cheng Jiao-niang.
It was the same carriage Madam Chen used for her outings but had been specially rearranged following the maid’s instructions.
After thoroughly checking everything once more, the maid finally felt reassured and went back to invite Cheng Jiao-niang.
“Miss, please,” the maid outside said respectfully, holding an umbrella.
Cheng Jiao-niang raised her hand and pulled up her hood.
Chen Shao and his wife, along with the whole family, came to see her off. The elderly master, unable to go out in the cold due to his illness, had already bid farewell the previous day when she announced her departure.
“Since you’re still in the capital, I’ll come to see you when I’ve recovered,” he said cheerfully. “No need to make a fuss over today.”
When the lady finally appeared, she did not disappoint. Beneath the gently falling snow, she carried a delicate blue umbrella, wore a dark cloak, and as she walked, the deep-colored robe with its wide sleeves underneath was revealed, eclipsing the surrounding colors entirely.
“I must have a dress like that made for myself,” a lady murmured, her eyes fixed intently on the approaching figure, trying to memorize every last detail.
In a moment of stillness, everyone took a step forward.
“Sister.” Chen Dan-niang ran past the others and approached Cheng Jiao-niang, pulling on her sleeve and looking up with eager eyes. “Can I come visit you and play?”
“Of course,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied.
During her stay at the Chen household, the two of them, the elder and the younger, had been talking happily together.
It must have been because of their old acquaintance.
The young ladies standing nearby watched, a little envious.
Although they were of the same age, this lady made them feel somewhat timid. Even though they had once traveled together, they still didn’t dare to approach her or know how to start a conversation. In the end, they had no further interactions.
The carriage stopped outside the second gate, and Madam Chen watched as Cheng Jiao-niang got into the carriage.
“The house has been arranged over there. I’ve checked it. If there’s anything missing, just let me know,” she said.
Cheng Jiao-niang nodded in thanks, saying nothing further as she sat inside the carriage.
As the carriage curtain fell, it finally blocked the view, and a low murmur of regret seemed to rise from the crowd.
The carriage swayed gently forward, with Master Chen and the other men staying behind to see her off. The rest of the group stopped to watch her leave.
“I wonder how old Lady Cheng is. Has she been promised to anyone yet?” Fourth Madam Chen suddenly murmured.
“She’s still young, but she’s at the age to be courted,” Madam Chen replied. She, having deliberately inquired, knew more about Cheng Jiao-niang than anyone else present. “She was ill at first, but she’s recovered now. She probably hasn’t been betrothed yet…”
The mention of her not being betrothed caught everyone off guard for a moment, then warmed their hearts.
The young ladies quickly averted their eyes, while the young men pretended to look away but couldn’t help straining their ears to listen.
“Sister-in-law, then how about we…” Fourth Madam Chen began, her eyes lighting up as she took a few steps forward to speak.
Before she could finish her sentence, a maid and a young servant ran in from outside.
“Lady Cheng’s carriage has been blocked!”
What?
Everyone was startled. How could her carriage be blocked? Who would dare stop a carriage in front of the Chen family’s gate?
“Ridiculous, who are you?” Chen Shao quickly stepped down and shouted in a deep voice.
In front of the gate, a young man stood with his arms crossed, a saber at his waist.
“I am Zhou Family’s Sixth Young Master,” he said in a loud voice.
Zhou family?
Chen Shao raised his hand, stopping the servants who had rushed over, ready to teach this troublemaker a lesson.
“You?” he frowned and said, “What are you doing?”
“Master Chen, I’ve come to pick up my sister,” Zhou Liu-lang said.
After speaking, he stepped forward, pushed the coachman aside, and swung his saber, striking the horse’s hindquarters with a heavy blow.
The horse neighed loudly and began to gallop away.
