Jiao Niang’s Medical Record Chapter 154

After hearing that the guest had left, Zhang Chun stood up and came over. Young Master Zhang was already there.

“Grandfather, what’s going on? It’s so noisy here,” he asked. “Is it because that Ban Qin kitchen maid is leaving, and she’s crying?”

Old Master Zhang twirled his beard and shook his head.

“The one leaving isn’t crying; it’s the one staying behind who’s crying,” he said with a smile.

Young Master Zhang knelt down and sat properly, a bit curious.

“Grandfather, was it Ban Qin’s master who visited just now? Which young lady is it?” he asked.

Ban Qin had been wandering around the door since yesterday, so the whole family knew her former master was coming to visit.

It’s common for a servant to show respect when meeting their former master, but it’s rare to see them happy about it.

“The young lady of the Cheng family,” Old Master Zhang said. “She’s also from Jiang-zhou.”

Zhang Chun wasn’t very interested in this and, knowing that his father was fine, he got up to leave.

“Father, Father,” Young Master Zhang suddenly remembered something and hurriedly called out. “Guess who I met today?”

Zhang Chun stopped in his tracks.

“Do you have some inside information about the Ministry of Rites’ exam list?” he asked.

The triennial imperial exam had already ended, and now, at the end of February, the results would be announced in March. Naturally, some of Zhang Chun’s disciples had participated, so everyone was quite concerned about how familiar faces had done. Over the past few days, many had been secretly inquiring and exchanging information.

“No, no, I met Tong Neihan,” Young Master Zhang said.

Old Master Zhang frowned slightly.

“The one who’s been waiting to become an immortal by eating stalactites?” he asked. “Wasn’t it said that once he achieves great success, he’ll ascend?”

Young Master Zhang laughed heartily.

“Grandfather, you’re being so harsh with your words,” he chuckled.

Old Master Zhang snorted but didn’t say anything.

“He nearly died not long ago, but now he’s completely fine,” Young Master Zhang said with a smile, gesturing with his hand. “Ten thousand taels, he bought his life from an immortal.”

Old Master Zhang became even more disdainful.

“Grandfather, it’s true! I saw him today, and in just half a month, he looks even more energetic than before. The strangest thing is, his temples, which had turned white, are now black again,” Young Master Zhang said, his face filled with surprise. “Grandfather, that divine doctor is truly amazing. I heard she was enlightened by True Master Li, and she only treats diseases that are fatal.”

Zhang Chun shook his head and got up to leave.

“You’re about to take up your official position, so don’t get caught up in such idle talk,” Old Master Zhang said.

“It’s not idle talk. Everyone thought it was a joke, but when I saw him today, he really is better. He’s even more spirited than before,” Young Master Zhang quickly said with a smile.

“There are many secret techniques in the world; it’s not that surprising. Nothing to make a fuss about,” Old Master Zhang said, dismissing the topic. He then looked around with some worry. “She’s been cooking for me for a while; I wonder if I’ll be able to get used to eating food made by other cooks. A month…”

Cheng Jiao-niang’s carriage stopped at the Yudai Bridge.

“Does the mistress live here?” the maid, carrying a bundle, asked while getting off the carriage and looking around.

“No, this is the mistress’s residence. She lives at her maternal grandfather’s house,” the maid smiled and said, looking at the boy who had run out. “Look, you’re from the same family, you recognize him, right?”

“Qing Mei!” Jin Ge’er spotted her, paused for a moment, and then called out, “You came to the capital too?”

The maid smiled and pursed her lips.

“Jin Ge’er, you’ve forgotten my name,” she laughed.

At home, she was called Qing Mei, but when she followed the mistress, she went by Ban Qin. Not long after, she moved out of the Cheng family, and most of the household servants hadn’t gotten used to her new name yet.

“Ban Qin,” Jin Ge’er called, then looked at the maid. “Hey, there are two Ban Qin now, I won’t get them mixed up, will I?”

“No,” the maids replied in unison.

After saying that, they exchanged a glance and smiled awkwardly, neither of them willing to say they want to be called by their original name.

“Alright, we’re leaving now. You’ll stay here,” the maid quickly changed the topic and said.

“I’ll come tomorrow. I have something to tell you,” Cheng Jiao-niang said, lifting the curtain of the carriage and looking at the maid.

The maid nodded in response.

“Alright, now you have someone to keep you company,” the maid smiled at Jin Ge’er as she jumped back into the carriage.

Jin Ge’er and the maid watched the carriage leave.

“How wonderful! Qing Mei… Ban Qin, you’re here too.”

“Yes. So, you are now with Miss.”

“When did you arrive?”

The two of them chatted and laughed as they entered the house.

At the Zhou family’s residence, Cheng Jiaoniang stepped into the courtyard and stopped.

The maid was momentarily stunned and looked toward the room.

The maids quietly stood in the corridor, and the door to the room was wide open. Zhou Liu-lang sat upright, his gaze heavy as he looked over.

“The immortal has returned,” he sneered.

Cheng Jiao-niang lifted her foot and stepped inside.

“Sixth Young Master, what is it this time?” the maid asked, with a hint of displeasure. “This is our mistress’s private chamber; could you please give us some privacy?”

Before Zhou Liu-lang could respond, she quickly added, “Oh, I forgot, this is your house, and we are just staying here.” She pretended to bow and apologize, “I’ve overstepped, Sixth Young Master, please forgive me.”

“Shut your mouth! Who are you to speak!” Zhou Liu-lang shouted, standing up.

Cheng Jiao-niang sat down and looked at him.

“Well, then, speak,” she said.

Zhou Liu-lang kicked a sword on the ground, making it flip into the air, then handed it to Cheng Jiao-niang.

“Immortal, do you have a heart of compassion?” he asked.

Cheng Jiao-niang took the water handed to her by the maid, glanced at him, and didn’t respond.

“Speak plainly,” she said.

Zhou Liu-lang reached out and grabbed her arm, then took a large step, pulling her toward the door.

“Miss!” the maid cried out, quickly reaching out to support her.

The water in Cheng Jiao-niang’s hand spilled onto the ground as she was pulled, stumbling a little, but she quickly regained her balance and caught up, not wanting to appear awkward.

“Sixth Young Master, what are you doing?” the maid shouted, trying to stop him, but Zhou Liu-lang pushed her aside with one hand, causing her to stumble and fall to the ground.

The maids in the courtyard fell silent, all shrinking back, not daring to speak or intervene.

Tears welled up in the maid’s eyes as she scrambled to her feet and chased after them.

Along the way, the maids watched in surprise and kept their distance as they saw Zhou Liu-lang pulling Cheng Jiao-niang away.

“Quick, go tell Madam!”

The maids shouted in confusion, watching the two walking away.

Zhou Liu-lang kicked open the door. The low, dim servant’s room was empty, except for a girl lying on the chaise by the wall.

“Immortal, if you truly have a compassionate heart, come, take this sword, and give her a quick end!” he shouted, throwing Cheng Jiao-niang into the room.

The sword clattered loudly as it hit the ground.

The girl on the chaise seemed to be in a deep sleep, completely unaware. The loud noise didn’t make her stir in the slightest.

Cheng Jiao-niang steadied herself and didn’t look around. Instead, she slowly stretched out her hand to hold her arm, gently moving it.

“Miss!” the maid cried as she caught up, forcefully pushing past Zhou Liu-lang at the door, rushing over to hold Cheng Jiao-niang’s arm.

“Liu-lang!” Young Master Qin’s voice came from outside, and two young servants helped him hurry in. “What are you doing?”

“That’s right, I’m causing trouble!” Zhou Liu-lang said. “I’m the one who foolishly took your maid, I’m heartless and ungrateful, and then there’s her.”

He took a few steps forward and pointed at the girl on the chaise.

“And this girl, she left you and ran away with me, also heartless and ungrateful.” He continued, “Yes, we’re both heartless and ungrateful, leaving you, the fool, behind without a care. Now look, it’s come back to bite us—she hanged herself…”

When “hanged herself” was mentioned, the maid couldn’t stop her tears and paused, instinctively looking over.

Cheng Jiao-niang’s expression remained calm, not even turning her gaze.

“She deserved it,” Zhou Liu-lang continued, “She deserved to suffer, she deserved to die, she should have died a long time ago.”

Ban Qin, lying on the chaise, let out a soft sob, reaching up to cover her face.

“Zhou Liu-lang, stop stirring up trouble!” Young Master Qin shouted as he stepped forward, then looked at Cheng Jiao-niang. “This girl did something wrong and couldn’t handle the punishment, so she took her own life. This has nothing to do with you, you need not worry.”

“Don’t comfort her. Does she even want your comfort?” Zhou Liu-lang shouted, taking a step closer and staring at Cheng Jiao-niang. “Isn’t this exactly what she wanted? She’s been waiting for this. All of us who have wronged her, all of us who should have died long ago—she’s probably happy about it.”

“Zhou Liu-lang, shut your mouth!” Young Master Qin shouted, stepping forward himself. “Lady Cheng, he’s angry with himself. Ban Qin made one mistake, Liu-lang made one mistake. Because of that mistake, they have both suffered deeply. This is their karmic retribution, the punishment they deserve. Liu-lang is foolish—please don’t blame him.”

As he spoke, he quickly urged the maid.

“Help the mistress leave,” he said.

The maid hurried to support Cheng Jiao-niang, but she didn’t take a step forward. Instead, she turned around and looked toward the chaise.

Under the corner of the old, tattered bedding, a small figure lay, trembling as she covered her face and cried. Upon sensing the gaze, she trembled even more violently.

The room fell into a heavy silence.

“Miss, Miss,” Ban Qin suddenly crawled up, and with a loud thud, she knelt and knocked her head on the floor, breaking the suffocating silence in the room. “Miss, it was I who abandoned you. It was I who wanted to follow Sixth Young Master, it was I who didn’t want you anymore. I couldn’t face you, not even daring to say goodbye. Miss, it was me who didn’t want you. I abandoned you…”

Miss, I never told you, it was me who didn’t want you…

Miss, I owe you a word, owes you a farewell…

Ban Qin finally collapsed into uncontrollable sobs, falling to the ground in anguish.

Once again, both inside and outside the room fell into a deep silence.

Cheng Jiao-niang extended her hand.

“Water,” she said.

Everyone was stunned, and only then did they notice that she was holding a water bowl.

Before Zhou Liu-lang had grabbed her, she had been about to drink, but the water had spilled, though the bowl was still tightly held in her hand.

No matter how dangerous or helpless the situation was, the mistress would never let herself appear messy; she simply endured silently.

In circumstances beyond her control, the only thing she could control was herself, and she would never give up that control.

For example, when the carriage was forcefully hijacked, or when she was dragged forward stumbling.

The maid’s tears immediately welled up.

“Look at what you’ve done!” Young Master Qin said with a stern face, striking Zhou Liu-lang with his cane once again.

The maid was frantically searching the room for water, but the room was filled with broken pots and empty bowls.

“Bring some water!” she cried, wiping her tears and glaring at the door.

The maids who had been watching outside quickly regained their senses, and a few of them hurried off. Not long later, they returned with water.

Cheng Jiao-niang sat on the floor, took the bowl, and slowly drank the water.

Ban Qin bent down, choking on her sobs, while Zhou Liu-lang stood with a stiff expression, and Young Master Qin sat down.

“Lady Cheng, Liu-lang is just like this, a fool. This situation was unexpected, and he became anxious,” Young Master Qin said after a moment of reflection.

“Unexpected? She forced me into it!” Zhou Liu-lang muttered.

Young Master Qin raised his cane and struck him again.

“Blaming others! Blaming others! Was it someone else who forced you to leave? Was it someone else who made you take her away? This is all self-inflicted—how can you blame others? Absurd!” he said.

“That’s right, I know I’m at fault, the Zhou family is at fault,” Zhou Liu-lang shouted, staring at Cheng Jiao-niang. “Cheng Jiao-niang, it’s all clear, so can you stop pretending? Yes, I wronged you—can you just say what you want, openly?”

Cheng Jiao-niang looked up at him.

Since the last time, when she had stood in the snow and watched him asking for forgiveness, this was probably the second time she had directly looked him in the eye.

Zhou Liu-lang kept his face stiff, staring back at her, unwilling to yield.

“Actually, what you’ve done isn’t something that calls for an apology,” she said, shaking her head. “Those things… they don’t amount to much.”

Zhou Liu-lang sneered.

“Do you want to know what it really means to wrong someone?” Cheng Jiao-niang looked at him and slowly said.