Jiao Niang’s Medical Record Chapter 157

After the first spring rain in March, the weather became a bit warmer.

In Cheng Jiao-niang’s small study, Chen Dan-niang put down her brush.

She rubbed her nose, glanced at Cheng Jiao-niang and Chen Shi’ba-niang, who were still diligently practicing their writing, hesitated for a moment, then lifted her skirt and tiptoed out.

The small courtyard carried the damp, earthy scent of spring mud, and a thin layer of green grass covered the flower beds on the ground.

Chen Dan-niang took a deep breath.

“Shi’jiu-niang.*” A maid, sitting under the eaves by the door mending socks, stood up quickly when she saw her come out. “Have you finished writing?”

Chen Dan-niang walked over with quick steps and sat down on another mat, exhaling as she looked at the courtyard.

“I finished one sheet,” she said, shaking her wrist. “I already did my homework at home before coming over.”

As she spoke, she pouted in grievance.

She had come over hoping to play, but instead, she had to practice calligraphy. If she had known earlier, she wouldn’t have come at all.

“You are still young; writing just one sheet is enough. In about the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, Miss and Shi’ba-niang will be done, and then they can play with you,” the maid said as she set down her needlework. “Shall I bring you some snacks? Miss made them herself yesterday.”

Chen Dan-niang clapped her hands in delight and watched as the maid got up and brought out a plate from inside the house.

Golden, white, black, square, round, and diamond-shaped treats were scattered across several plates, soft, glutinous, and sweetly fragrant.

“Wow,” Chen Dan-niang exclaimed, taking the silver spoon the maid handed her. Without another word, she happily dug in.

By the time Chen Shi’ba-niang and Cheng Jiao-niang finished practicing their calligraphy and came outside, Chen Dan-niang had nearly emptied the plates.

Old Master Chen taking Chen Dan-niang along when he encountered Cheng Jiao-niang on the road had already become a well-known story within the household, often brought up in casual conversations. Naturally, no details were left out—including the fact that Chen Dan-niang had eaten Cheng Jiao-niang’s red bean cake.

Although she was still young, Chen Dan-niang had been well-taught and was not one to be greedy for food. Moreover, the Chen family was not one to lack clothing or sustenance. For her to remember it so vividly, it must have been something she had never seen or tasted before—delicious and rare.

As Chen Shi’ba-niang spoke, her gaze shifted to the tray in the maid’s hands, where only two bamboo tubes remained.

“This is for sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo,” the maid explained with a smile, noticing her look.

“Mm-hmm, it’s really tasty! There are dates and chestnuts inside,” Chen Dan-niang eagerly chimed in.

On the other side, Cheng Jiao-niang set down the water bowl in her hands.

“Miss, are you heading out?” the maid quickly put down her snack and asked.

This had become Cheng Jiao-niang’s routine in recent days—practicing calligraphy with Chen Shi’ba-niang every morning after breakfast, then going out to the Yudai Bridge residence, only returning after dinner.

Hearing this, Chen Dan-niang no longer fussed over the food and stood up.

“Lady Cheng, come play at my house,” she said.

“Another day,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied.

“Then how about I invite you out to play another day?” Chen Shi’ba-niang suggested.

As they spoke, the group walked toward the exit.

“Now that it’s March and the weather is warm, it’s the perfect time for an outing,” Chen Shi’ba-niang continued.

“Yes, yes! Lady Cheng, let’s go out and have fun together!” Chen Dan-niang tugged at Cheng Jiao-niang’s sleeve, looking up at her expectantly.

Cheng Jiao-niang nodded.

“Alright,” she said.

Outside the second gate, the Chen family’s carriage had already arrived, but the Cheng family’s carriage was nowhere to be seen.

“Miss, since Madam and the other ladies all went out today, so…” a maid said uneasily.

“Not a single carriage left?” the maid beside Cheng Jiao-niang frowned in displeasure.

“Only the ones used by the servants…” the maid explained.

“Then take mine,” Chen Shi’ba-niang quickly offered. “Wherever you’re headed, I’ll take you there.”

“Alright,” Cheng Jiao-niang agreed, nodding slightly in thanks.

It seemed that spring had arrived in the blink of an eye. The streets were filled with bright, lively sights, and more and more men were passing by with flowers in their hair.

“Miss, we can’t go any further ahead. Let’s take a different route,” the coachman said.

The maid, who had been lifting the curtain to admire the street view, quickly turned her gaze forward. Sure enough, the road ahead was packed with people.

“Oh no, I forgot!” she suddenly realized and turned back to Cheng Jiao-niang. “Miss, today is the day the exam results are posted!”

Cheng Jiao-niang also looked outside.

“We’re not even near the Imperial Academy yet, and there are already this many people?” Chen Shi’ba-niang asked in surprise.

The maid turned back with a smile.

“Lady Chen, you might not know—people start reserving spots in the middle of the night. This entire street will be packed! Some are scholars checking the results, but even more are just here for the excitement—or waiting to find a son-in-law,” she said, covering her mouth as she laughed.

Chen Shi’ba-niang had only moved to the capital this year. She had heard of these customs before, but this was her first time seeing them in person.

She couldn’t help but look outside as well. Sure enough, a dense crowd surged down the street, cheering and shouting, with occasional bursts of crying mixed in.

The maid hopped off the carriage, looked around, and began discussing an alternate route with the coachman.

“Ban Qin seems quite familiar with the capital,” Chen Shi’ba-niang remarked, watching the maid outside.

“She has lived here for many years,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied.

“Oh? Have you also lived here for many years?” Chen Dan-niang asked curiously.

“No,” Cheng Jiao-niang said, her gaze lingering outside.

Chen Shi’ba-niang stopped Chen Dan-niang from asking further and followed Cheng Jiao-niang’s line of sight. Amidst the bustling crowd, a young man had stopped beside Ban Qin.

“What a coincidence, we meet again,” Han Yuanchao said with a smile.

“Young Master Han, are you here to check the exam results?” the maid asked with a smile as well, her expression carrying a touch of warmth and respect.

Since her mistress had gone to such great lengths for this young man, he must be very important to her.

Han Yuanchao nodded.

“Yes, but I’ll have to come again in three years,” he said with a laugh.

“Young Master Han, don’t be discouraged,” the maid comforted him.

Han Yuanchao nodded.

“I’m not. I’m not one of those prodigies—how could I pass in just one try?” he said with a smile.

Seeing that he wasn’t overly dejected, the maid felt relieved.

Han Yuanchao’s gaze shifted toward the carriage.

“I’m accompanying the young ladies on an outing,” the maid quickly said. She hesitated for a moment but, seeing that there was no indication from within the carriage that Cheng Jiao-niang wished to meet Young Master Han, she remained still.

Han Yuanchao stepped aside.

“I will be leaving the capital in a few days. Meeting here in the city is fate, but this is where we part,” he said, bowing. “Please convey my respects to your mistress.”

The maid quickly returned the gesture.

Han Yuanchao nodded with a smile, then turned and walked away. His waiting companions hurried to follow him.

“Young Master!” the maid called after him.

Han Yuanchao stopped a few steps away and turned back.

“When will you be leaving?” the maid couldn’t help but ask.

“In three to five days,” Han Yuanchao replied, cupping his hands in a respectful salute before turning and striding away.

“Hey, I wonder if the lady in that carriage was planning to find a husband,” a companion joked.

Han Yuanchao glanced back, but the maid and the carriage had already disappeared around some alley, out of sight. He shook his head with a smile—whether at his companion’s words or at the misunderstanding from when that maid had once sought him out at the shop, he wasn’t sure.

“There’s no need to worry about that now,” he said, brushing off his robes. “No one is interested in capturing a failed scholar.”

Everyone laughed, but beneath the laughter, there was a trace of melancholy.

“That carriage…” one of the companions suddenly said, then hesitated.

“What about the carriage?” the others asked, looking at him.

“It seems to belong to the Chen family, Minister Chen Shao,” the companion said after a brief pause.

Minister Chen Shao?

Everyone’s faces turned surprised, and they couldn’t help but look back, but of course, the carriage was no longer in sight.

“Ah, right! Now that I think about it, I knew that emblem looked familiar…”

Voices followed one after another.

All eyes turned to Han Yuanchao, who was also visibly surprised.

The Chen family?

“Yuan Chao, you almost became the Chen family’s son-in-law…” one of the companions murmured.

Han Yuanchao snapped back to his senses and chuckled.

“Don’t talk nonsense!” he said. “That was never going to happen!”

But his companions paid no mind to his protest. The brief exchange lifted the mood, and they all burst into laughter, shaking off the earlier tension.

On another street, a group of people also stopped, watching as a large crowd surged toward one direction.

“If we go any further, we’ll reach the Imperial Academy, where the exam results are being posted. The street will be full of people, and it will be difficult to disperse them,” the two leaders whispered, turning their horses around.

A procession, with banners and insignia, surrounded a carriage.

“Your Highness, we can’t go through the area near the Imperial Academy. We’ll need to take a detour,” one of the men reported.

“Take the detour, then,” a male voice from within the carriage replied.

The guards, following the order, began to turn the carriage around and were about to move forward when the carriage window curtains were suddenly lifted.

“Wait.” A young man’s face appeared.

Everyone froze and quickly halted.

The Duke of Jin’an glanced to the side. This was a stone bridge crossing the river, and because of the exam results being posted today, all the excitement of the capital had surged toward the Imperial Academy. As a result, the bridge, which was usually bustling, had become unexpectedly quiet.

A carriage was parked in front of a residence near the bridgehead, where three maids were helping two ladies and a young girl down from the carriage.

Upon seeing one of the ladies, the Duke of Jin’an’s eyes instantly narrowed.

“Since you’re here, come in and sit for a while,” Cheng Jiao-niang said as she turned her head.

It was extremely rare for this lady to extend an invitation, so Chen Shi’ba-niang and Chen Dan-niang naturally agreed.

Just as the three were about to step forward, the sound of galloping hooves reached their ears.

“Hey, whose carriage is blocking the way?” a rough voice shouted.

Since they were all traveling by carriage and not walking outside, neither of the two ladies had covered their faces. At this shout, they instinctively looked up.

The ladies’ faces were now exposed to the public.

“Hey, can’t you walk properly?” a servant from the Chen family frowned and shouted, pointing at the wide street. “Who runs straight into a carriage like that?”

The man on horseback snorted, narrowing his eyes as he looked at the emblem hanging on the carriage.

“I just can’t stand people like you who rely on your powerful family,” he muttered, then spurred his horse forward and rode away.

“Truly absurd!” the maid exclaimed, steadying Cheng Jiao-niang. “Miss, let’s go inside.”

As the ladies filed in, the carriage was also guided through, and the courtyard gate was shut behind them.

The Duke of Jin’an shifted his gaze away.

“Your Highness, it’s the Chen Shao family’s carriage,” a guard stepped forward and whispered.

“I know,” the Duke of Jin’an replied, lowering the carriage curtain. “Let’s go.”

The guard waved his hand, and the carriage continued moving forward.

Inside the swaying carriage, a faint smile appeared on the young man’s face.

I know.

Chen Su, Chen Shi’ba-niang.

Such an ugly, strange person—truly, it’s hard to forget her.

Translator’s Note:

*Shi’jiu-niang（十九娘）：“Shi’jiu”（十九）means “nineteen” in Chinese, so Chen Dan-niang is the nineteenth daughter from the Chen family.