“What should we do then? Are we really going to give up and hand it over to the Cheng family?”
The lamps in the Zhou family’s hall had already been lit. Madam Zhou looked anxious as she watched Master Zhou pacing back and forth in the room.
“She’s not going to wake up. Several doctors have said she’ll last at most three or four months before it’s over. That fourth son of the Cheng family is useless, but if the Chengs come after us, we’ll have no end of trouble.”
Master Zhou winced in distress.
“Hand it over to the Chengs? Never!” he snorted, stopping abruptly to stroke his beard. Thinking of the mountains of gold and silver at stake, he clenched his teeth. “Even Master Jiangzhou has no right to meddle in our family affairs! And since that girl is just a maid of the Zhang family, there’s even less to fear! Are the Zhangs really going to let their wicked servant seize another family’s property?”
“Exactly! How can an outsider interfere in our private matters?” Madam Zhou immediately chimed in. “As long as we treat that fool well, what can anyone say against us?”
That’s right!
Unlike the shameless Cheng family, they would take good care of Cheng Jiao–niang. If she remained ill, they would tend to her properly. If she died, they would give her a proper burial—no mistreatment whatsoever! With a clear conscience! Open and aboveboard!
Master Zhou nodded.
This time, no matter who stepped forward, there was nothing to fear!
He was Cheng Jiao-niang’s own maternal uncle—even the emperor himself couldn’t rightfully interfere.
For him to take charge was only natural. As for others, even attempting to intervene would force them to consider the disgraceful accusation of seizing another family’s property.
“In that case, we must do this sincerely,” Madam Zhou said. “Let’s not send servants to wait on her there. We’ll bring Jiao-niang back directly, and I’ll personally care for her!”
Who could possibly stop them from tending to their sick niece?
Master Zhou nodded again.
“As long as we provide for her, no one can find fault with us,” he said.
Madam Zhou smiled in agreement.
“I’ll go myself tomorrow and bring her back,” she declared.
Night gradually fell, casting a dim haze over the still-unlit courtyard.
“Ban Qin, it seems they don’t dare come again,” Jin Ge’er said, his body stiff from holding the door bolt upright for so long.
“You were amazing,” he added cheerfully.
The maid shook her head with a bitter smile.
“It wasn’t me who was amazing,” she said. “It was the borrowed strength that was amazing.”
But no matter whose strength it was, the problem was solved for now.
Jin Ge’er grinned in relief.
The maid shook her head again.
“Strength that isn’t your own—borrowed strength—can’t last,” she murmured, gazing into the deepening dusk. “And besides… this matter is, after all, a family affair. Outsiders can’t interfere forever.”
Jin Ge’er’s face immediately twisted with worry again.
“Then what do we do?” he asked urgently.
The maid turned to look inside the house, where Ban Qin had already lit the lamps, filling the room with warm, bright light.
“I don’t know…” she whispered, biting her lower lip as tears finally spilled over. “I don’t know…”
Miss… tell me, what should I do?
Miss… without you, I still can’t stand firm… can’t hold my ground…
The night wind blew, making the wind chimes under the eaves jingle softly.
“Jin Ge’er, let’s rest. At least tonight, nothing will happen,” the maid said, forcing a faint smile. “We… will take it one day at a time.”
Jin Ge’er, who had been standing frozen with the door bolt in hand, finally relaxed and nodded at her.
Just as they were about to turn away, the sound of knocking came from the gate again. Both of their faces paled.
“Fine! If you truly have no shame, then neither will I!” the maid gritted her teeth and shouted. “Jin Ge’er, open the door!”
Jin Ge’er pulled the gate open. The lantern by the entrance swayed in the night breeze, casting flickering light that made it seem as though many figures stood outside—or perhaps only one.
In the blink of an eye, the person had already stepped inside.
“Hit them—!” the maid shouted.
Without hesitation, Jin Ge’er swung the door bolt with all his might.
Someone raised a hand and caught the bolt mid-air, while simultaneously throwing a heavy punch straight at Jin Ge’er.
At the same time, another voice barked out sharply.
The fist froze just inches from Jin Ge’er’s face.
The fierce gust of wind from the punch nearly forced his eyes shut…
It was clear—if that fist had landed, his face would have been smashed to a pulp…
“It’s me.”
A man’s voice rang through the night as the figure took another step forward, his tall, slender frame draped in a cloak emerging before the maid.
He reached up and pushed back the large hood, revealing his face.
It was him!
The maid’s expression turned to shock.
This young man—who hadn’t appeared since the incident with the deserters…
She had thought he had been scared off, that he would never return.
Yet here he was, not only reappearing suddenly, but not sneaking over the wall as before—instead walking straight through the front gate.
And at such a late hour…
“What… are you doing here?” the maid asked, stunned.
“I came to see her,” said Duke Jin’an, raising a finger to his lips in a hushing gesture. “My time is limited, and you talk too much. I don’t have the leisure to chat with you—step aside.”
With that, he strode past her and headed inside.
I talk too much? He has no time…?
Snapping out of her daze, the maid turned indignantly.
What kind of person is this!
She hurried after him.
Duke Jin’an had already entered the inner chamber.
This was the first time he had stepped into this girl’s room—though, unfortunately, he was in no mood to take in the surroundings.
“Miss is over here,” the maid said, lifting the curtain.
Ban Qin had naturally heard the commotion outside, but she had remained quietly by the bedside, turning her mistress over, feeding her sips of water, murmuring soft words—performing the same unchanging routine.
Now, seeing the young lord enter, she bowed in greeting.
“Please have a seat, my lord,” she said. “I will prepare tea for you.”
Just as she would have done before the young mistress fell ill.
“No need,” Duke Jin’an replied, not even removing his cloak. “I’ll be leaving shortly.”
Leaving so soon…
BanQin lowered her head in acknowledgment.
But it was enough.
That he had come to see Miss at all—that was enough.
“Cheng Jiao-niang.”
Duke Jin’an stepped forward and called out.
On the bed, the girl had already changed into her sleeping robes, her hair loose as if she were peacefully asleep.
“Miss can’t hear you,” the maid said.
“She can,” Duke Jin’an replied, flicking his sleeves as he sat down and called again, “Cheng Jiao-niang, I’ve come to see you.”
The girl on the bed moved her lips slightly.
“See? She heard me!”
The young lord exclaimed with delight, leaning forward eagerly.
“No, she didn’t,” Ban Qin said softly. “Miss has always murmured like this on her own. It’s not a response to you.”
“Cheng Jiao-niang. Cheng Jiao-niang.”
Ignoring her words, Duke Jin’an continued calling her name.
He had always been impossible to reason with.
The maid sighed and turned away.
“…What did you say? I can’t hear you clearly…”
The young lord’s voice continued from behind. The maid turned her head to look and saw him leaning even closer, tilting his ear toward the young mistress as if straining to catch her words…
So close…
Under the glow of two lamps, his handsome profile was illuminated, the cloak making his silhouette appear taller than before as it cast a shadow over Cheng Jiao-niang.
It was somewhat improper—after all, men and women should maintain decorum…
The maid parted her lips to speak—
“Speak louder… I still can’t hear…” The youth’s voice remained clear and bright.
She closed her mouth again.
“Miss is saying, ‘Who am I,'” Ban Qin whispered from the side.
Duke Jin’an glanced at her.
“That’s really what she’s saying?” he asked.
Ban Qin nodded.
Duke Jin’an leaned in again, turning his ear closer.
In the quiet room, the murmuring girl’s voice seemed slightly clearer now.
Who am I…
Who am I…
So it really was this.
“What is your name?”
“I don’t know.”
Duke Jin’an straightened up with a faint smile.
“I know,” he said.
You know? Know what?
The maid frowned and turned to look—was he starting with that nonsensical talk again?
“I know who you are,” Duke Jin’an said with a laugh, leaning in once more. “You are—Cheng Fang.”
What?
Both the maid and Ban Qin froze.
Cheng Fang? What was that?
The girl on the bed moved her lips again.
Who am I…
“You are Cheng Fang.”
“Young master, what are you saying?” The maid stepped forward and asked.
Did he come here just to make a scene?
She hurried over, standing tall to look down, her gaze falling upon the girl on the bed.
Duke Jin’an had already straightened up, allowing the lamplight to spill onto the girl’s face.
Under the soft glow of the night lamp, the girl opened her eyes.
Opened her eyes…
Opened her eyes!
The maid let out a sharp cry, covering her mouth with her hand, her expression one of shock and disbelief.
At her scream, Ban Qin also turned to look at the bed—and immediately shrieked as well.
Duke Jin’an gazed at the now-awake girl, his smile blooming across his face.
“Cheng Fang,” he called.
Cheng Fang!
I am Cheng Fang!
The girl’s eyes shifted toward him, and under the lamplight, they shone like stars.
I am—Cheng Fang!
(The End of Volume 5)
