When the palace eunuch was dispatched from the palace gates, Cheng Jiao-niang had already finished her meal. As usual, she had begun practicing calligraphy – though this time she was seated in the sitting room, as she did not yet have her own study in the residence.
Outside, the maid was meeting with the household matrons to familiarize herself with the affairs of the duke’s estate.
After conversing with one group of people and then another, the maid couldn’t help but fan herself with her hand. Ban Qin, who was standing nearby, immediately picked up a fan and began gently waving it for her.
“You’ve worked hard, Ban Qin,” the maid said.
Ban Qin chuckled softly.
“Ban Qin, isn’t this even more exhausting than managing a business outside?” she added.
“Not exhausting at all,” the maid replied with a smile. “All we need to do is figure out who is responsible for what and let them continue with their duties. It’s just a matter of giving directions.”
While they were talking, a matron approached.
“Sister Ban Qin,” she called.
Both the maid and Ban Qin instinctively responded.
This left the matron momentarily confused, and Ban Qin stuck out her tongue playfully with a smile.
“The study for Madam has been tidied up. Could you take a look and see if it’s acceptable?” the matron quickly asked.
“This will require a bit of legwork too,” Ban Qin teased, lightly tapping the maid’s shoulder with her fan as she chuckled.
The maid also smiled and was about to head over when Cheng Jiao-niang called out to her from inside.
“What is it, my lady?” the maid asked as she entered the room.
Cheng Jiao-niang set down her brush and looked at her.
“What is your name?” she asked.
The maid froze, her expression shifting.
“Miss, what do you mean to do?” she replied, her voice trembling now, so different from the confident, cheerful tone she had used moments earlier with the estate matrons. “Please don’t send me away.”
Cheng Jiao-niang smiled gently.
“Before, I never knew how long any of you would stay by my side,” she said quietly.
The maid gazed back, tears glistening in her eyes.
It was true – she herself had replaced the maid originally serving the young lady, just as that maid had once replaced Ban Qin.
“So I never made a deliberate effort to remember your names,” Cheng Jiao-niang continued, her eyes softening into a slight smile as she looked at her.
Cheng Jiao-niang smiled, yet tears spilled from the maid’s eyes.
There was nothing particularly sad in those words, so why did hearing them make her want to cry?
Perhaps it was because not remembering meant not grieving when someone was gone.
“It seems now that you have nowhere else to go,” Cheng Jiao-niang went on gently.
The maid let out a soft, tearful laugh, even as tears continued to fall.
Yes, now there was likely no one left who would dare ask this young lady for her maid. She would stay by her side from now on, and perhaps forever.
“So, what is your name?” Cheng Jiao-niang asked once more.
The maid wiped her tears, straightened herself, and smiled properly at Cheng Jiao-niang before bowing deeply.
“I am named Su Xin, my lady,” she said.
“Su Xin,” Cheng Jiao-niang repeated softly, then nodded. “You may go attend to your tasks.”
Su Xin bowed once more in acknowledgment and rose to leave.
“Su Xin.” Ban Qin called from outside the door.
Su Xin turned toward her, eyes questioning.
“Su Xin.” Ban Qin called again, grinning playfully.
Su Xin understood then and gave her a mock-scolding smile before lifting her gaze to the matron waiting in the courtyard.
“Let’s go,” she said, her tone bright and spirited.
While the newly settled quarters were filled with a cheerful and fresh atmosphere, the courtyard of Duke Jin’an was tense with unease.
“Is there no other way?” Master Gu asked, halting his pacing.
Doctor Li wiped the sweat from his brow with a sleeve.
“I’m still thinking,” he replied.
Master Gu resumed pacing anxiously, while a eunuch knelt beside the bed, repeatedly applying warm cloths to Duke Jin’an’s shoulders and chest.
The duke lay unconscious, his upper body bare. Dark bruises were clearly visible across his shoulders and chest.
“These were made by hands…” the eunuch whispered, his voice choked with tears. “How could anyone be so cruel?”
“You’re still asking?” Master Gu snapped, his eyebrows furrowed in anger. “Her hands could snap a person’s neck – what do you think, is that cruel enough?”
The eunuch lowered his head.
“My poor lord, why must you endure this…” he murmured under his breath.
“Are you blaming His Highness?” Master Gu overheard and grew even more furious. “This was all your idea! As soon as she arrived, you all treated her like a savior. His Highness managed fine before without relying on her…”
Just as he spoke, Doctor Li peeked in from outside.
“Perhaps… we should still ask Madam–” he began tentatively.
“Li Sishen!”
Master Gu’s roar echoed through the room.
It was at that moment that a eunuch from the Empress Dowager’s palace arrived, interrupting the commotion in the room. He first entered to examine Duke Jin’an.
“Heavens above, how did His Highness end up in this state?” the eunuch exclaimed, wiping away a tear before turning a stern gaze toward the others in the room. “Wasn’t he said to be improving? What happened now?”
The servants knelt in unison, heads bowed low.
“It is because we are incompetent,” they murmured in unison.
The eunuch then turned his attention to Cheng Jiao-niang.
Cheng Jiao-niang stood quietly in attendance, as though she hadn’t heard his remarks.
“Yet perhaps it cannot be helped. His Highness’s health has always been frail,” the eunuch continued, shifting his tone as he bowed slightly toward Cheng Jiao-niang. “That is why Her Majesty has specially arranged for your early enfeoffment as the Princess Consort.”
Only then did Cheng Jiao-niang kneel and bow in formal acknowledgment.
“I thank Her Majesty the Empress Dowager,” she said, touching her forehead to the ground. She then reached out to receive the gold scroll and seal presented by the eunuch.
“Then please come with me to the palace to express gratitude,” the eunuch said.
Cheng Jiao-niang responded in agreement.
“If you please, Your Excellency, allow me a moment,” she replied.
As they watched the newly enfeoffed Princess Consort, now dressed in full ceremonial attire, depart by carriage with the palace eunuch, the household of the Duke’s estate finally turned back inside.
“Why was she enfeoffed ahead of schedule?” Master Gu muttered, frowning in thought.
“Since this was meant to bring auspicious fortune through marriage, an early enfeoffment is quite fitting,” one of the advisers remarked.
Master Gu shook his head.
“If their intentions were truly for fortune’s sake, the wedding day itself would not have been treated with such disregard,” he said, his brow tightening as he watched the carriage fade into the distance. “Are there still contacts in the palace who can be relied upon?”
A eunuch stepped forward and nodded quietly.
“There are still some,” he replied softly. “Though it’s difficult to get close to the Empress Dowager, passing along messages or words of influence remains possible.”
Master Gu let out a low sigh.
“She’s supposed to be quite capable – better for her to rely on herself to stay safe,” he said with a hint of sharpness. Then he glanced back toward the room where Doctor Li stood. “And you, Doctor Li, don’t just wait around hoping someone else will act. You’d better find a way soon to help His Highness recover on your own!”
Doctor Li responded with a somewhat resigned acknowledgment.
“Let’s go, I’ll adjust the prescription once more,” he said, motioning to his assistant.
The young assistant and two eunuchs bowed in reply and followed him out.
…
In the imperial palace, Cheng Jiao-niang bowed before the Empress Dowager to express her gratitude for the enfeoffment.
The Empress Dowager remained silent at first. Beside her, a palace maid held a scroll and recited passages from the Admonitions for Women in a measured, formal tone.
Once the recitation ended, Cheng Jiao-niang bowed once more to thank the Empress Dowager for her guidance.
“It is said you possess remarkable medical skill,” the Empress Dowager finally spoke slowly, emphasizing the words remarkable and skill with a tone thick with sarcasm.
Cheng Jiao-niang kept her head lowered, listening quietly.
“…Duke Jin’an pleaded with His Majesty long ago to approve this marriage. You must not betray his intentions. Serve him diligently, help him regain his health…”
Cheng Jiao-niang softly acknowledged the command.
“…Wei-lang has been frail since childhood. He entered the palace when he was very young, delicate and difficult to raise – often complaining of aches here and pains there. It took great effort on my part to nurse him to health…”
The Empress Dowager spoke on, her mind drifting to memories of the past.
Before her eyes, she seemed to see a little boy running toward her, growing step by step until he became a graceful, handsome young man – smiling at her with a radiant warmth.
“Your Majesty, I love playing here with you the most…”
“Your Majesty, the food here tastes the best…”
Tears immediately welled up in the Empress Dowager’s eyes.
“Your Majesty!” the nearby eunuch hurriedly knelt and called out.
“Wei-lang is the dearest to this old heart of mine. You must treat him well,” the Empress Dowager wept.
Cheng Jiao-niang glanced at her, then bowed deeply in respect.
“Yes, this is my duty as his consort,” she replied.
“Your Majesty, please do not weep. This is a joyous occasion,” the eunuch advised gently, offering a handkerchief with a soft smile. “The imperial doctor has said you must not grieve. If anything were to trouble you, His Highness the Duke would be deeply concerned.”
If anything were to happen to you, the Duke might set his mind on things he should not.
The Empress Dowager understood the implicit warning. She took the handkerchief to dry her tears, then waved a hand toward Cheng Jiao-niang.
“This is a day of celebration. Go and see His Majesty so he may share in the joy as well,” she said.
Cheng Jiao-niang acknowledged the command, rose, and withdrew.
To see the Emperor naturally meant seeing the Empress as well. When Cheng Jiao-niang entered, the Empress could not hide her surprise.
“Did the Empress Dowager send you here?” she asked.
The Empress noticed that no eunuch had followed Cheng Jiao-niang in.
“She guards against you and me as if we were thieves – why would she willingly send you to my palace?” she remarked. “She must know she cannot control what happens within my quarters.”
Cheng Jiao-niang let out a soft “Oh.”
“Then perhaps she feels there is no longer any need to guard against it,” she said.
No longer any need?
The Empress frowned, then suddenly seemed to realize something and rose sharply to her feet.
“This is bad!” she exclaimed.
…
“Done.”
Doctor Li watched as the bubbling medicine in the pot finally calmed. He stood up slowly.
This time, he had changed both the prescription and the method of simmering -alternating between strong and gentle heat. It should take effect, or at least replenish enough vital energy to bring the duke back to consciousness.
The young assistant lifted the medicine pot and poured a bowl of the decoction.
A junior eunuch who had been waiting nearby immediately stepped forward to receive it.
“Let’s go,” Doctor Li said.
They turned out of the small pharmacy, passed through a short covered corridor, and arrived at Duke Jin’an’s chamber.
“Where is Eunuch Jing?” Doctor Li asked as he stepped inside.
Only two eunuchs and two maids were in the room – Eunuch Jing, who usually stood guard here, was nowhere to be seen.
“Master Gu summoned him just moments ago,” a maid replied.
Doctor Li nodded. The maids carefully helped Duke Jin’an sit up, while one eunuch held a goose-necked pouring vessel. The junior eunuch stepped forward and slowly began to feed the medicine to the duke.
“Good. Keep a close watch here. If he wakes, call for me at once,” Doctor Li instructed. “I’ll go prepare the next dose.”
The eunuchs and maids bowed in acknowledgment.
Eunuch Jing stepped into the room and saw two servants kneeling respectfully before the bed, while two maids carefully arranged ice basins nearby.
“Where is Doctor Li? Has the medicine not been prepared yet?” he asked, his brow slightly furrowed.
“The medicine has already been administered to His Highness,” a maid quickly replied. “The doctor has gone to prepare the next dose.”
Eunuch Jing’s expression softened, and he nodded. His gaze shifted toward the drawn bed curtains.
“Doctor Li said His Highness might awaken soon,” a young eunuch added eagerly.
Unable to wait any longer, Eunuch Jing stepped closer and reached out to lift the curtain.
“Your Highness?” he called softly, leaning in to look. The moment his eyes fell upon the scene, his face went pale. His knees gave way, and he dropped heavily to the floor.
“Your Highness! Your Highness!”
He stretched out his hands, lunging forward to grasp Duke Jin’an’s body. The touch was cold and stiff.
No!
Eunuch Jing’s hands jerked back as if burned. His body swayed backward, collapsing onto the floor.
“Your Highness!”
A piercing scream tore through the room.
Doctor Li, who had just stepped through the door carrying a bowl of medicine, was so startled that his hands trembled violently.
A young eunuch tumbled out from the inner chamber, scrambling and stumbling in panic.
“His Highness is gone! His Highness is gone!” he wailed, his voice ragged with terror.
Gone…
With a sharp clatter, the medicine bowl slipped from Doctor Li’s hands and shattered on the floor.
