When the Zhou family’s door was forced open, Master Zhou and Madam Zhou decided to act with the authority of elders, determined not to indulge Cheng Jiao-niang any further.
However, this child was unlike any other. Facing her elders, she showed neither the respect expected of her nor any sense of unease. There was no joy in seeing their concern, nor any trepidation at their displeasure.
She simply sat there. After making her formal greeting, she remained seated and still. She answered when asked, and fell silent when not.
Faced with such a reaction, Master Zhou, despite having a stomach full of scolding words, found himself unable to voice them. Finally, he let out a sigh.
“Jiao Jiao,” he said with a hard expression, “back when you were gravely ill as a child, your father and grandfather disapproved of you, and it was only because we stood by you that you are here today. Now that we’ve brought you home, how can you behave so outrageously? Even if you’ve forgotten us, have you also forgotten your grandmother’s kindness to you?”
“You’re being unreasonable!”
“I am not being unreasonable,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied, casually turning a page in her book.
It was unclear if she could even read, but she maintained the pretense of reading. Master Zhou snorted in frustration, clearly irritated.
“Jiao Jiao, you’ve been in the capital for quite some time now. Do you miss home?” Madam Zhou asked, changing the topic.
Cheng Jiao-niang glanced at her.
“No,” she replied.
As expected, heartless and unfeeling—clearly planning to cling to the Zhou family for good.
Master Zhou and Madam Zhou exchanged a look.
“Very well,” Madam Zhou said, forcing a smile. “The Lantern Festival in the capital on the fifteenth is especially lively. After you’ve seen it, we’ll send you back.”
Cheng Jiao-niang looked at them but said nothing.
A maidservant rushed in hurriedly from outside.
“Master, Madam, something terrible has happened—someone has broken in!” she cried.
What?!
Master Zhou and Madam Zhou were startled.
The only situation in which someone would dare barge into a household in the capital like this… Could it be? No, impossible! Their family had done nothing wrong!
“Master, Master, it’s from the Tong family—Tong Neihan’s household…” The steward came running in right behind her, so flustered his hat had fallen off, holding a card in his hand.
Before he could finish, four or five people pushed in, carrying a door plank behind them.
“Out of the way, out of the way!” The crowd shouted in disarray.
Before Master Zhou could figure out who this “Tong Neihan” even was, these people had already barged in, entering the main hall uninvited.
“Why have you brought a dying man here?” Madam Zhou exclaimed.
The man on the door plank had a grayish complexion, and his ears were already pinched back—a clear sign that he was on the brink of death. As someone who had seen her share of elderly relatives pass away, Madam Zhou recognized it immediately.
During the New Year, death was already considered ominous, let alone when the person wasn’t even part of their household!
“What… what are you doing?” Master Zhou shouted.
The steward holding the card had been pushed to the back of the crowd. Struggling to make himself heard, he raised the card and shouted loudly,
“Master, it’s Tong Neihan! He’s seeking a consultation from Lady Cheng!”
The Zhou family finally came to their senses.
Several men stepped forward and bowed deeply.
“Please, ask Lady Cheng to save our father!” they pleaded.
“He’s already on the brink of death! How can he be saved? You’d better hurry back and prepare the funeral bed and burial clothes! You can’t let him die outside!” Madam Zhou exclaimed.
“Didn’t you all say you only treat those who are at death’s door?” the young men of the Tong family retorted.
“That wasn’t us who said that!” Master Zhou was the first to deny it, pointing to the side. “It was all her—young and ignorant, just joking around!”
Amid the chaotic commotion in the room, there was only one person who remained calm and seated throughout.
Cheng Jiao-niang raised her head, set down the book in her hands, and met the crowd’s focused gazes.
“The patient stays. Everyone else, leave,” she said.
“Jiao Jiao, are you crazy? This man is practically dead!” Madam Zhou shouted in a panic. “How can you possibly treat him?”
Master Zhou joined in, yelling, “Don’t make a scene!”
The young men from the Tong family looked at the girl before them, someone barely older than their younger sisters, their faces full of doubt. But at this point, they had no choice—treating a hopeless case was better than not trying at all. At least this way, they wouldn’t be blamed for neglect and accused of unfilial behavior if word got out later.
“Thank you for your help,” the leader said loudly, bowing deeply.
The others followed suit, expressing their gratitude before turning and retreating from the room.
In an instant, only the Zhou couple remained in the room.
“Are you going to see him die?” Cheng Jiao-niang asked, looking at them calmly. “If anyone is here, I won’t treat him. If he dies, don’t blame me.”
Blame them if he dies? What kind of reasoning was that?!
The Zhou couple was furious, and the Tong family members outside grew even more anxious.
“Master Zhou, we beg you! Please save a life!” they shouted in disarray, their voices filled with anger. They glared at the Zhou couple, who were still standing inside, as though they were mortal enemies.
Left with no choice, the Zhou couple stomped their feet and stepped out of the room. The maid quickly pulled the door shut behind them.
“If he dies in our house, what are we going to do?” Madam Zhou exclaimed in a panic, stomping her feet as she paced in circles.
“What kind of mess is this!”
“This girl is nothing but trouble!” Master Zhou fumed in frustration.
“Who are you calling trouble?” the young men of the Tong family immediately shot back, surrounding Master Zhou.
Master Zhou jumped in fright.
“You should count your blessings that we even set foot in your house,” one of the young men from the Tong family shouted.
And rightly so—an Imperial Hanlin academician, a close confidant of the Emperor, was leagues above the Zhou family, who were merely low-ranking military officials. Even catching sight of someone from such a prestigious household was rare, let alone having them visit their home.
Of course, having a living guest visit was an honor, but a dying one? That was nothing but trouble.
This troublemaker had to go!
This troublemaker had to go!
“Get a carriage ready immediately. Send them away at once! Whatever happens, let the Tong family deal with the Cheng family,” Madam Zhou sobbed, clutching her chest and struggling to breathe.
“This has nothing to do with us. You insisted on coming here yourselves,” Master Zhou snapped, glaring at the Tong family with a sour expression.
At that moment, the door to the room opened.
Everyone in the courtyard seemed to hold their breath all at once.
“Where are the patient’s family members?” the maid asked, looking around the courtyard.
A few of the young men from the Tong family quickly stepped forward.
“I… I am,” they stammered. “My father, he…”
“Here’s the thing,” the maid interrupted. “My mistress’s consultation fees aren’t cheap. Can you make the decision to cover it?”
The entire courtyard nearly choked on their collective breath.
Consultation fees?
Now, of all times, talking about consultation fees?
“We’ll pay, we’ll pay,” a trembling woman’s hoarse voice came from outside. “No matter how much, we’ll pay!”
Madam Tong, supported by a concubine, rushed over in tears, extending her hand desperately.
The young men surged forward as well.
“Mother,” they called out, their eyes brimming with tears.
The maid nodded.
“Understood, Madam. Ten thousand guan. If it’s delivered today, you can take the patient home tomorrow,” she said with a smile, offering a slight bow before turning back into the room.
Ten thousand guan…
The Zhou couple froze. That was quite a bold demand.
Take the patient home tomorrow…
The Tong family members were also stunned. Did that mean they’d be taking home a corpse—or someone still alive?
“Madam Tong, this is no joking matter,” Madam Zhou finally regained her composure and wiped her tears. She stepped forward, saying, “This child has always been odd since she was young, and we truly cannot handle her. Please, don’t listen to those words. Let’s get Master Tong back home quickly.”
“You don’t need to worry. If anything happens, we won’t blame you,” Madam Tong replied through her tears.
“Yes, yes, our Madam will try anything for the sake of the master,” a concubine beside her also wiped her tears, adding.
As they were speaking, the door to the room opened again, and the same maid walked out.
“Could you kindly go buy a box of golden needles?” she said with a smile.
The entire courtyard burst into disbelief.
A doctor treating a patient and needing to buy needles—that was like a soldier realizing they forgot their weapon before facing an enemy! It was absurd and chaotic!
Master Zhou’s face turned ashen, and he stomped his foot, angrily swishing his sleeves as he stormed off.
