Jiao Niang’s Medical Record Chapter 348

“Er-lang, Er-lang, I simply cannot endure this any longer,” declared Second Madam Cheng, her earlier tears now replaced with an expression of sheer indignation. “The Zhou family is truly sincere towards Jiao-niang.”

Second Master Cheng had remained silent throughout, his face dark and brooding.

Ten thousand guan!

As a low-ranking local official, his monthly salary was a mere ten guan. Of course, relying solely on that would have starved him long ago, but even when factoring in all his other income, amassing ten thousand guan would still take many years.

Ten thousand guan! The Zhou family was truly wealthy! And they just threw it away on that fool!

“Was it truly used to build houses for those people?” he asked.

“Whether it was for them or not, I cannot say, but houses were indeed built,” replied Second Madam Cheng, gnashing her teeth in frustration. “What’s the point of building houses! Our family has plenty of properties already. Buying a shop to generate income would have been far better!”

Ten thousand guan! This is ten thousand guan we’re talking about!

“No, before the construction actually starts, you need to quickly appease her and win her back,” said Second Madam Cheng.

Second Master Cheng’s face darkened even further.

“Don’t be ridiculous! First, you sent Qi-niang to coax her, and now you want me to do the same? I am her father!” he retorted, firmly refusing.

“Coaxing her means coaxing the Zhou family—it means securing a good marriage for her…” Second Madam Cheng explained, then suddenly remembered something. “Oh dear, I completely forgot to respond to the Qin family! Quick, quick, we mustn’t keep them waiting any longer.”

As she spoke, she stood up.

“I don’t care anymore. What’s done is done, but we absolutely cannot let Jiao-niang marry into the Wang family! I’m going to see the Qin family now.”

Second Master Cheng hesitated, torn with uncertainty.

“But… is it really appropriate to propose the marriage to the Qin family like this?” he said.

“Why wouldn’t it be? She is your daughter—you have the final say in her marriage. No one else’s opinion matters,” Second Madam Cheng replied, hastily summoning the maids to help her wash her face, fix her hair, change clothes, and prepare to go out. Before leaving, she added, “Hurry and go appease Jiao-niang.”

Ten thousand guan…

Second Master Cheng let out a disdainful snort.

“It’s not just ten thousand guan! Er-lang, you must think long-term!” Second Madam Cheng said, turning back to emphasize her point.

Second Master Cheng fell silent, sitting motionless as conflicting emotions flickered across his face.

“It’s only ten thousand strings of cash!”

On the other side, First Master Cheng once again angrily flipped over a small table in fury.

The clattering and crashing sounds echoed into the courtyard.

“The kitchen won’t be short of firewood today…” two maids whispered to each other discreetly in the courtyard.

The senior servant at the front coughed, shooting them a warning glance. The two immediately lowered their heads and fell silent.

“If the Zhou family wants to throw their money away, let them! Why should we care?” First Master Cheng exclaimed.

Ten thousand guan…

First Madam Cheng silently pressed a hand to her chest.

It did sting a little, truth be told.

“Let it be. If she wants to make a scene, let her. As elders, should we really stoop to throwing tantrums like her?” she finally said, letting out a sigh. “This outburst won’t last more than a few days. Once the excitement fades and she’s married off next month, it’ll be over. It’s not like she can waste all that much in such a short time.”

Even if it were all wasted, so be it—it was just ten thousand strings, hardly a devastating loss. After all, it wasn’t their money to begin with. It wasn’t exactly heartbreaking, just a pity.

Matters involving money always weigh on the mind. While wealth doesn’t guarantee happiness, without it, every step forward feels like a struggle.

At this moment, those distressed over money were not limited to the Cheng family. In the capital, Grand Coordinator Gao was also frowning deeply.

“Is it really that serious?” the Consort asked, holding a hand warmer and wrapped in a heavy cloak as she walked with him toward the Empress Dowager’s palace. “It’s just the Fiscal Commissioner’s Office of Taicang Circuit, after all.”

“Our family’s main focus in recent years has been on the grain trade,” Grand Coordinator Gao replied, furrowing his brow and sighing as he stroked his beard. “This time, the losses are truly substantial.”

“Is Feng Lin really that formidable? Haven’t you sent him a message?” the Consort said, her tone tinged with skepticism.

“One could say we lifted a stone only to drop it on our own feet,” Grand Coordinator Gao remarked. “Originally, I had left it to the officials of Taicang Circuit to devise their own solution. But who could have expected they would resort to arson and murder? Not that such methods are unheard of, but the problem is—they started the fire yet failed to eliminate the target. Now the matter has blown up into a public scandal. No one dares intervene, and Feng Lin is just waiting for someone to step forward so he can tear a strip off them to vent his fury while burnishing his image of loyalty and integrity. The common folk are already hailing him as the reincarnation of an upright official. Once this assignment is concluded, the court will have no choice but to reward him to appease public sentiment. If I speak up now, I’d merely be offering myself as a stepping stone for his glory.”

“What a tremendous loss,” the Consort said, shaking her head. “Grandfather mentioned that to capitalize on next year’s opportunity, he even invested most of the family’s assets into hoarding grain. The plan was to drive up prices in Taicang Circuit this winter, inciting public pressure on the court to release grain reserves at stabilized prices. What do we do now?”

Grand Coordinator Gao let out a heavy sigh.

“What else can we do? We stay put,” he said. “Right now, even the slightest stir in Taicang Circuit is under intense scrutiny—countless parties are waiting to profit from the situation. Our family, in particular, is a prime target. I wouldn’t be surprised if officials like Chen Shao are losing sleep just waiting for me to make a move.”

“Then it’s best to let it go. Don’t invite such trouble,” the Consort urged anxiously. “If we lose money, so be it. Just don’t implicate the First Prince. His Majesty has been showing increasing favor to the Second Prince lately—our family must avoid any mishaps at all costs.”

Grand Coordinator Gao let out a heavy sigh but remained silent.

Naturally, he understood the importance of the First Prince, but the financial loss was equally significant…

Originally, once the official granaries were depleted, they stood to make a massive fortune in Taicang Circuit come spring and summer—turning half the family’s assets into one and a half times the wealth. But now, all that planning had come to nothing.

Their grandfather was already so furious he had taken to his bed.

“What wretched luck! Who was it that dropped that stone right on the feet of those incompetents in Taicang Circuit?” he fumed. “A passerby! How could it be such a coincidence!”

As they spoke, they arrived at the entrance of the Empress Dowager’s palace. The sound of cheerful, childish laughter reached them, and they paused their conversation to look over.

The Second Prince was walking at the front, grinning brightly. Behind him, Duke Jin’an followed at a leisurely pace, while the First Prince trailed further back, his face sullen.

“…Brother, are you coming with me?” the Second Prince asked, turning to look back at Duke Jin’an.

“It’s all your fault. Yesterday, because of you, His Majesty tested me on my lessons, and now I have to wait to recite for him. How can I go?” Duke Jin’an replied.

The Second Prince giggled and reached out to pat the Duke Jin’an’s arm.

“Don’t worry,” he said.

“I’ve already memorized that text. Who told you to take so long with your recitation?” the First Prince interjected.

“Your Highness, you memorize quickly—I dare not compare myself to you. What takes you one day takes me three,” Duke Jin’an said with a wry smile, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

The First Prince immediately broke into a pleased grin.

“Your Highness, Master Gao,” Duke Jin’an said, noticing the two standing nearby, and promptly bowed in greeting.

The First Prince and the Second Prince also came to a halt.

“Where are you off to?” the Consort asked with a smile.

“I’m going to gather some winter plum blossoms for Mother Empress,” the Second Prince replied cheerfully, his face bright. “Would you like some as well, Your Highness?”

The Consort smiled and shook her head, gently patting the Second Prince’s shoulder.

“You are so thoughtful, always remembering the Empress. That’s truly wonderful. Thank you for offering me some as well,” she said warmly.

The Second Prince nodded happily and continued on his way.

Duke Jin’an also bowed and took his leave.

The First Prince bowed and was about to leave when the Consort called out to stop him.

“Where are you going?” she asked, her smile gone as she looked at him.

The First Prince appeared somewhat timid.

“I… I’m going to study… my lessons…” he replied.

Before he could finish, the Consort cut him off.

“What lessons? Is that all you know how to do?” she scolded in a low voice.

The First Prince trembled with fear, and Grand Coordinator Gao quickly interjected with a gentle cough.

“Your Highness, the weather is lovely today. Why not join the Second Prince in gathering some flowers to present to His Majesty?” he suggested with a warm smile.

The First Prince glanced nervously at the Consort.

“Go on, then! What are you waiting for?” she snapped, her brows furrowed as she poked his forehead. “You can’t even match the cleverness of a child. How foolish!”

Panicked, on the verge of tears but not daring to show it, the First Prince hurriedly obeyed and rushed off to catch up with the Second Prince.

The Consort let out a sigh, her expression troubled.

“Now, now, children need to be taught gradually. Besides, it’s a testament to our First Prince’s pure and honest nature,” Grand Coordinator Gao reassured.

The Consort snorted, about to say more, when palace attendants emerged to greet them. Cutting their conversation short, the two proceeded inside.

Nearby, Duke Jin’an finally withdrew his gaze and began to walk away.

“Your Highness, are you planning to go out today? Once you’ve recited this passage and pleased His Majesty, shall we take a stroll outside?” a eunuch suggested with a smile.

Duke Jin’an seemed disinterested.

“Going out isn’t much fun,” he replied.

“Your Highness, you haven’t left the palace since Lady Cheng departed,” the eunuch remarked. “It must be quite dull.”

“Not at all. It’s perfectly fine,” Duke Jin’an said.

The eunuch couldn’t help but chuckle.

“What are you laughing at? I know what you’re thinking,” Duke Jin’an said, shooting him a glance as he flicked his sleeves behind him. “Yes, before I knew her, I found the palace stifling and felt freer outside. After meeting her, that feeling only grew. But now that she’s gone, whether I’m inside the palace or out, it makes no difference—I won’t see her either way.”

The eunuch nodded, still smiling.

“You wouldn’t understand,” Duke Jin’an said, giving him a sidelong glance and waving a hand dismissively. “The friendship of noble-minded individuals is as pure and tranquil as water. Whether we meet or not, it remains the same. So whether I go out or stay in, it’s all the same to me.”

With that, he quickened his pace, leaving the eunuch behind.

The eunuch laughed even more heartily.

“I truly don’t understand. Those words don’t seem to quite match the situation,” he mused aloud, then added thoughtfully, “I wonder how that young lady feels now? Does she also think that having him around or not makes no difference?”

…

“Miss, here is the dowry list, along with the deeds for the shops and land.”

Steward Cao slid several documents toward her.

“Before I came, the Master thought you might need these, so he instructed me to bring them along.”

Cheng Jiao-niang nodded but did not reach for them.

“In that case, since I am about to be married, please go and take inventory of these for me,” she said.

Sure enough, she was cutting straight to the chase—preparing to claim them outright.

He truly hadn’t expected the young lady to move so quickly on the dowry. Given her usual demeanor, she never seemed particularly concerned with wealth. Had the Cheng family genuinely provoked her this time?

Ban Qin had mentioned that the young lady was in low spirits—but why?

Steward Cao shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it. Women’s hearts were always difficult to decipher, especially when it came to this particular young lady. All he needed to know was that the Cheng family had crossed her at the wrong moment, and now they were about to face the consequences.

Walking in and demanding the dowry outright certainly wouldn’t be easy, but there was no need to worry. Once the young lady raised her sickle, she never returned empty-handed.

“Understood,” he replied, bowing respectfully.