How was that madness? It was clearly done on purpose – to harm them!
Mad with fury, Second Madam Cheng’s eyes blazed. She didn’t even bother to tidy up the half-packed bundles scattered across the room; as soon as she heard her husband’s words, she went straight to Old Madam Cheng and burst into tears.
“…Everyone says brothers should help each other. We understand that, and we know your health hasn’t been good these days. Brother was gravely ill, and now Er-lang is going so far away – if something happens, he won’t be able to help at all…”
Before she could finish, Old Madam Cheng hurled her teacup to the floor.
“Nonsense! My health is perfectly fine! I’m still waiting for my son to win me an honorary title from the Emperor!” she shouted. “And Da-lang’s health – what, is there no one else in this family? We’ve got sons and grandsons sitting idle, even great-grandsons in our arms, and you mean to tell me this household can’t stand on its own?
“And besides, Er-lang going to the capital – do you think he’s doing it for himself? He’s doing it for the Cheng family!”
“So he really has gone foolish after his illness! Call him here, now!”
As the startled maid hurried out to carry the order, Second Madam Cheng lowered her head and dabbed at her tears – yet at the corner of her lips, a faint, satisfied smile appeared.
Old Madam Cheng’s scolding went on for half a day without pause.
First Madam Cheng knelt outside the door, weeping as she pleaded to take her husband’s punishment in his stead. She begged the old lady to have mercy, reminding her that First Master Cheng was still weak from his recent illness and could not endure kneeling for long.
“Whoever dares to ruin Er-lang’s future is ruining the future of the entire Cheng family!” Old Madam Cheng shouted in fury. “Even if it costs me my life, I will not let it go! He is your own brother – why can’t you bear to see him do well?”
“Mother, I only meant it for his own good…” First Master Cheng said helplessly, raising his head. Before he could finish, First Madam Cheng clutched his sleeve.
“My lord, I beg you – please, don’t say another word,” she cried, bowing low.
Hearing her, First Master Cheng sighed, lowered himself, and knocked his head to the ground.
“I have spoken without due thought. I beg your forgiveness,” he said.
“Make sure Er-lang brings plenty of money with him,” said Old Madam Cheng with a snort. “Everyone says life in the capital is no easy matter – you need funds for socializing, gifts, and all sorts of dealings. Don’t you dare let him lose face for the Cheng family.”
First Madam Cheng could no longer hold back and lifted her head.
“Mother, the household is short on money. And besides, Second Master won’t be lacking once he’s in the capital – after all, Jiao–”
Before she could finish, First Master Cheng nudged her sharply with his elbow, cutting her off.
“Yes, Mother,” he said quickly. “A poor home but a rich journey – no matter how tight things are, I won’t let my brother’s prospects suffer.”
Only then did Old Madam Cheng nod in satisfaction.
“Go now,” she said, then added in a gentler tone of admonition, “Your brother’s serving so far away – why do you think he’s doing it? Isn’t it still for the sake of the Cheng family? For your sake as well? How can you harbor resentment?”
If only she knew – he feared that this journey might ruin not only his own future, but the family’s as well.
First Master Cheng gave a wry smile, but knowing it was useless to argue with his mother, he bowed respectfully, answered “Yes, Mother,” and withdrew with his wife.
“If there’s something you need, you can come speak to me directly,” said First Master Cheng, looking at Second Madam Cheng. “There are matters Mother doesn’t understand – don’t use her as a tool. She’s old now, and it hasn’t been easy for her. There’s no need to trouble her heart over the affairs of us younger ones.”
“Yes,” Second Madam Cheng replied with a sweet smile, bowing politely. “You are ever so thoughtful.”
First Master Cheng paid her no further attention and turned to look at his brother.
“Even if you don’t plan to consider what I’ve said,” he continued, “it would be best to wait a little longer – go after the New Year.”
Originally, Second Master Cheng had prepared to say all the usual courteous words -how he felt guilty for leaving his brother at home to care for their mother, how he himself was unfilial, and so on – but upon hearing that last sentence, his face changed and his temper flared again.
“What do you mean by that? After the New Year? You think the Grand Court of Revision has no one else? If I don’t go, there’ll be plenty of people waiting to take my place!” he said heatedly.
“That’s exactly why,” said First Master Cheng calmly. “Since the Grand Court of Revision can run perfectly well without you, it’s better for you to go somewhere else. The capital… really isn’t a good place.”
“Brother!” Second Master Cheng was nearly exploding with anger. “What do you mean by all this? I’m going to the capital to serve as an official, not to climb a mountain of blades, and certainly not to disgrace the Cheng family! Why must you insist on stopping me?”
As he spoke, his wife’s earlier words came to mind – nonsense he’d dismissed as typical of women’s gossip. But seeing the strange expression on his elder brother’s face now, he couldn’t help but start thinking along those same lines.
“Could it be,” he said, narrowing his eyes, “that you just can’t stand the thought of me doing better than you?”
“Bah!” First Master Cheng spat. “What’s there to be happy about if you end up worse off than me?”
“Then why won’t you let me go to the capital?” Second Master Cheng demanded.
“Because I fear that the capital is a mountain of blades,” First Master Cheng said in a low, grave voice. “You’re walking straight into the hands of those who’ll carve you up alive.”
Second Master Cheng stared at him in astonishment.
“If that’s the case, then it seems the whole world is eager to climb that mountain of blades and become fish on the chopping block,” he said with a laugh.
But First Master Cheng didn’t laugh. Instead, he nodded slowly.
“That’s true,” he murmured. “In this world, being an official and chasing profit – well, in a sense, isn’t that exactly what it means to climb a mountain of blades and be carved up like fish?”
It seemed his brother’s illness had truly affected his mind – his thinking had turned strange indeed.
Second Master Cheng’s expression softened; the anger and impatience faded, replaced by a trace of pity.
“You should go rest,” he said. “I’ve been an official for over ten years now – don’t you think I know what I’m doing?”
“You’ve been an official for over ten years,” First Master Cheng replied, “and yet you still don’t find anything strange about this matter?”
“Not at all!” said Second Master Cheng impatiently, clearly running out of patience.
“Think about it,” said First Master Cheng. “Jiao-niang despises and resents us so deeply – do you really believe she’d want you to enter the capital? She would never request a reward on your behalf. Even if His Majesty wished to grant one, she would surely find a way to decline it.”
Second Master Cheng flew into a rage.
“She wouldn’t dare!” he shouted. “Such disloyalty, such ingratitude, such unfilial behavior – she would be unworthy of being called a daughter! Heaven itself would not tolerate it!”
“Don’t talk about Heaven tolerating it,” First Master Cheng said urgently. “Ask yourself first whether people will tolerate it. With her abilities, is there anything she wouldn’t dare say before the Emperor? And yet, despite that, this reward was still granted to you – that means someone must have forced it through. It certainly wasn’t according to her wishes. If it wasn’t her will, then you’ve already made an enemy of her. Can’t you see? You’ve become someone else’s weapon!”
Second Master Cheng stared at him as though he were an idiot.
“What are you even thinking?” he said, frowning and pointing at himself. “That’s my daughter – my own daughter! She wouldn’t tolerate me? Then she’s turned against her own father!”
First Master Cheng was about to speak again, but Second Master Cheng cut him off.
“Brother, about that matter last time – it wasn’t that I meant to defy you, but you truly went too far,” he said. “That dowry rightfully belonged to her; that can’t be called defiance. If there’s any discord, it’s between you and her – it has nothing to do with me.”
Before First Master Cheng could reply, Second Master Cheng briskly lifted his foot to leave.
“I’m leaving for the capital tomorrow, and there’s still much to pack today. No need for any family banquet to see me off. You should focus on recovering from your illness. I’ll go pay a visit to some colleagues at the magistrate,” he said.
First Master Cheng tried to say more, but Second Master Cheng was already gone like a gust of wind.
“So it was me who went too far over the dowry matter? And it has nothing to do with you?” First Master Cheng muttered, half angry and half amused. “Fine, yes, it was my fault, and none of your concern – but remember this: once you’re in the capital, don’t you dare do anything too harsh toward her. Otherwise, don’t blame her if she defies you.”
He stopped short, suddenly struck by a thought.
“Defies…”
“So that’s what it was about,” he murmured, falling deep into thought.
“What?” First Madam Cheng asked quickly.
“Leverage,” First Master Cheng said slowly.
He had finally figured it out and wanted to speak to his brother again – but that night, Second Master Cheng came home completely drunk, and at dawn the next morning, still half-asleep and reeking of wine, he forced himself onto the carriage. The whole family rushed off in such haste it was as if they were fleeing, not even waiting to be seen off.
Their behavior so infuriated First Madam Cheng that she refused to go at all. But First Master Cheng, unable to bear the shame, still hurriedly took the children and chased after the carriage to bid them farewell outside the city.
“…Well, they’re truly blessed now…”
“…Soon Seventh Young Lady and the others will be able to find good matches in the capital…”
“…I heard the First Young Lady even knows the Emperor himself – and from what Second Madam said, Seventh Young Lady might even end up marrying into the royal family…”
“…Heavens, then our household will have imperial relatives!”
In the courtyard, the maids and servants whispered among themselves, their words punctuated by bursts of giggling.
Cheng Liu-niang suddenly leapt to her feet and hurled a vase from the windowsill with all her strength.
“Get out! Aren’t you all sickeningly annoying?” she shouted.
The crash of shattering porcelain and her furious voice sent the servants scattering in fright, fleeing like startled birds.
She stood before the window as the autumn wind from the lotus pond swept in, carrying the scent of chrysanthemums. It was the tenth month, the height of golden autumn – in just a few days, the household should have been preparing for the annual chrysanthemum poetry gathering.
But now they were all gone. All of them. They’d all gone chasing after that fool in the capital – calling her “Sister.”
Cheng Liu-niang’s lips quivered, and tears spilled uncontrollably down her cheeks.
“She’s a bad person!” she shouted toward the courtyard. “She’s a bad person, and one day she’ll ruin all of you!”
The bustle in front of the Cheng residence gradually faded, but throughout the city, talk of Second Master Cheng receiving an imperial decree continued to spread in lively excitement.
Compared to the lively bustle of the North Cheng household, the South Cheng was quiet and subdued.
“Didn’t expect that, huh? Your mistress is quite something,” Cheng Ping said, clicking his tongue as he lowered the divination flag and glanced away from the riverside.
“Of course she is,” replied Steward Cao.
“But no matter how capable a person is, they can’t escape the debt they owe their parents,” Cheng Ping said with a teasing grin, the tone of someone enjoying others’ misfortune. “I wonder if your mistress still dares to act all high and mighty in the capital?”
Steward Cao shot him a sideways look.
“My mistress has never been high and mighty,” he said coolly. “My mistress speaks only of principle.”
At that, Cheng Ping’s eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands in delight.
“Steward Cao! Seems you haven’t followed me in vain – you’ve grasped the Way!” he laughed.
Before the words had even faded, Steward Cao reached out and smacked Cheng Ping’s hat askew.
“Stop spouting nonsense,” he scolded. “Go finish the feng shui reading for the Qi household. It’s been forever and you still haven’t saved a single hundred coins. Every time you make a bit of money, you blow it all on food and drink within three days.”
Cheng Ping grinned, holding his hat in place.
“No rush, no rush – everything follows its destined course,” he said.
Steward Cao made as if to hit him again, and Cheng Ping bolted off laughing.
While Second Master Cheng’s family was on their way to the capital, Cheng Jiao-niang in the capital continued to live her days as usual – archery practice in the morning, calligraphy lessons outside her gate afterward, cooking with a few maids in the afternoon, and reading by dusk…
“In short, she never leaves this little patch of land,” Lady Huang said with a sigh. “They say young ladies shouldn’t go out too often, but at her age, she ought to go out and see more of the world.”
“Madam, are you saying you want to go out?” the passing maid said with a bright smile. “Where shall we go play? We can go tomorrow.”
“I’ve already wandered through nearly every corner of this capital – where else is there to go?” Lady Huang said, pretending to scold her.
Now that she had grown familiar with everyone in the household, much of her former reserve had faded. Being naturally talkative and cheerful, Lady Huang had begun to show her true temperament again.
“Madam, how could you have seen all of the capital? There’s still plenty left!” the maid said with a laugh.
As they were speaking, someone knocked on the door.
“Someone’s here – I’ll go take a look,” Lady Huang said quickly, rising to her feet.
Because of the Divine Arm Bows’ outstanding success in battle, demand for them had skyrocketed. The Emperor practically wished for every soldier in the realm to have one overnight, and Fan Jianglin had simply moved into the Imperial Armory to oversee production day and night.
Lady Huang was no longer shy about receiving visitors. After all, she’d already met members of the imperial family – no one else seemed particularly intimidating anymore. And besides, few people ever came these days.
Outside the door stood a man who looked visibly uneasy. When the door opened, he even flinched in surprise.
“I – I’d like to seek Lady Cheng’s advice,” he stammered nervously.
“Miss practices her calligraphy in front of the gate every morning. If you wish to seek her instruction, just come back then,” the maid said.
The man quickly shook his head.
“No, no, that’s not it. I…” He hesitated for a moment. “I’ve come to ask about something else.”
Something else?
The maid gave him a curious look. He certainly didn’t look like a scholar – too sturdily built, and without a trace of scholarly refinement.
“You’re not here to learn cooking too, are you?” she asked suspiciously.
After Qin Shi’san had sent over three maidservants, word had gotten around, and soon several others grew eager to do the same – sending girls to learn household skills under Cheng Jiao-niang. Cheng Jiao-niang hadn’t refused, only saying that her home was small and it was hard to manage too many people at once. She would accept more once these current ones had finished their term.
The news quickly spread through the noble families of the capital, causing quite a stir. After all, this wasn’t merely a matter of sending a few cooks to learn recipes – it was a chance to form a connection with Lady Cheng herself, and that was what truly mattered. Soon, everyone was asking about it eagerly.
The man froze at her words, as though he hadn’t quite understood. After a moment’s daze, he hastily shook his head.
“No, I – I wanted… to discuss a business deal with the lady,” he said.
A business deal?
The maid gave him a long, assessing look.
“And you are?” she asked.
Only then did the man seem to remember himself. He fumbled around his robes for a while, then awkwardly lowered his hand.
“I – I no longer hold an official post, so I have no calling card,” he said, bowing his head in shame. “My name is Li Mao…”
“Li Mao?”
Upon hearing the name, Cheng Jiao-niang set down the scroll in her hands and straightened her posture.
“Yes,” the maid said in a low voice, “he’s from the Li family – the same one that was punished half a month ago after that fire incident.”
Cheng Jiao-niang nodded, her gaze resting on the man kneeling under the eaves.
“Your family has already come to see me,” she said.
Ever since the fireworks display that day, the Li family’s pyrotechnics firm had sent generous gifts, hoping to discuss a partnership.
“But I don’t deal in that line of business,” Cheng Jiao-niang continued.
Li Mao bowed his head. “Yes, my lady.” Then he glanced around at the surrounding maids, hesitating.
The maid looked toward Cheng Jiao-niang; seeing that she did not dismiss him, she immediately rose and led the others away.
“My lady, I’m not here to speak of my family’s fireworks trade,” Li Mao said, drawing something from his sleeve and sliding it forward. “I’ve come to discuss this business with you.”
