“…Madam, where should we set the meal?”
“…Miss, would you like to taste if it’s to your liking?”
“…Why are you still calling her ‘Miss’?”
“I forgot, I forgot!”
The women’s cheerful laughter rang out.
His room had never been so lively before. He disliked noise and being attended to closely, preferring to be alone. Yet, at this moment, hearing the commotion, he felt no annoyance but rather a sense of comfort – like a gentle spring breeze brushing against his face as he pushed open a window.
Duke Jin’an’s fingers twitched slightly as he tried to open his eyes.
“Your Highness!”
The voices beside him grew louder.
“Your Highness, Your Highness, are you awake?”
Duke Jin’an opened his eyes to see his familiar attendant leaning in, looking excited.
Had he fallen into another deep sleep? How long had it been this time?
“Madam, Madam, His Highness is awake! His Highness is awake!” Eunuch Jing turned his head and shouted excitedly.
From the distance came a series of hurried footsteps, and someone stepped closer.
Duke Jin’an felt a bright light before his eyes, and his blurry vision suddenly cleared up.
“You’re awake,” said Cheng Jiao-niang, examining his face. “Would you like some water?”
Duke Jin’an nodded.
“Feed His Highness some water,” Cheng Jiao-niang said as she stepped aside.
Eunuch Jing quickly acknowledged the order and called for two maids to carefully help Duke Jin’an sit halfway up. He then picked up a bowl of water and carefully brought it to his lips.
Duke Jin’an watched as the lady turned and walked away.
“Go and inform Doctor Li that he is awake and can be given his medicine now,” she said while walking.
A young eunuch acknowledged the order and hurried off.
Duke Jin’an watched her sit down in the main hall opposite. Two maids handed her a bowl and chopsticks, and after saying something in a low voice, a faint smile appeared on her face…
A face suddenly leaned in, blocking his view.
“Your Highness, have some water,” Eunuch Jing said, studying Duke Jin’an with a touch of concern.
His face looked somewhat vacant, his expression dazed.
Having been poisoned twice in a row, the toll on his body must have been immense. He even seemed a bit muddled.
Duke Jin’an closed his eyes and leaned back.
“I’ve had enough,” he said.
He had only taken two sips. Eunuch Jing was inclined to persuade him further, but he knew the Duke’s temperament – once he decided something, it was final. He disliked others repeating their requests.
A flurry of footsteps sounded outside as Doctor Li hurried in. After paying his respects to Cheng Jiao-niang, who was having a meal, he went straight to examine Duke Jin’an.
“It really is much better, truly much better,” he couldn’t help but say joyfully while conducting the examination.
After administering medicine and applying acupuncture, Cheng Jiao-niang finished her meal and walked over. She had just glanced at Duke Jin’an when Doctor Li excitedly pulled her aside.
“Madam, it’s clearly the same poison, so why is there no issue this time?” he asked.
“The poison is the same, but the person poisoned is no longer the same as before,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied.
Had Duke Jin’an changed compared to before?
Doctor Li glanced at Duke Jin’an on the sickbed, perplexed.
What exactly was different?
“Madam, how exactly did you change him?” he urgently inquired.
Nearby, Eunuch Jing gave a loud cough, his expression tinged with awkwardness.
What was the matter?
Doctor Li turned to look at Eunuch Jing, confused.
“Madam, you’ve been busy all morning. Please go and rest for the afternoon,” Eunuch Jing said respectfully to Cheng Jiao-niang.
Cheng Jiao-niang gave a soft hum in response and stepped out.
“Madam, your bed is ready over here.”
“Would you like to read a book first?”
Upbeat chatter drifted from the nearby room.
On this side, Doctor Li shot an annoyed glare at Eunuch Jing.
“I wasn’t finished asking,” he said in a low voice.
“Are you dense? What kind of questions are you asking?” Eunuch Jing glared back, equally displeased. He pulled Doctor Li aside and lowered his voice, “You asked how His Highness has changed.”
“So, how has he changed?” Doctor Li asked.
Eunuch Jing rolled his eyes at him.
“Of course, it means… he’s become a real man now,” he said impatiently.
Doctor Li was momentarily stunned.
“And you still ask – still asking how it changed? You, you shameless old thing! Even if you revere her as your teacher, you can’t be so utterly without propriety!” Eunuch Jing said through clenched teeth in a low voice. He reached out and tapped Doctor Li on the arm with his whisk. “How do you expect Madam to answer you?”
Doctor Li suddenly realized, feeling both awkward and perplexed.
“Is that so?” he said, frowning.
Such a thing was truly unheard of. But then again, learning was endless, and the world was full of things beyond expectation – just like how he had never imagined that this young lady could get Old Master Chen out of bed in three days…
While the two of them were speaking quietly, a cough came from the couch on the other side. Duke Jin’an cleared his throat.
“Your Highness.” The two hurried over, stepping forward to inquire with concern.
Duke Jin’an raised his hand slightly and waved them off.
“Leave,” he said.
Doctor Li and Eunuch Jing were taken aback.
“Noisy,” Duke Jin’an added curtly, then closed his eyes.
Doctor Li and Eunuch Jing exchanged a look of mutual grievance.
They must have disturbed His Highness.
After enduring such a grave ordeal, hovering between life and death, His Highness truly needed rest. The two bowed and withdrew.
“Come on, let’s go. With the Madam here, there’s nothing to worry about,” Eunuch Jing said in a low voice, looking at Doctor Li, who was still reluctant to leave.
“Of course I’m not worried,” Doctor Li replied. He looked utterly unwilling to go, his gaze lingering on the hall over there. Through the hanging bead curtain, he could see the lady seated upright by the window, reading. “There are still so many things I haven’t asked her about.”
Eunuch Jing snorted at him, then stepped forward and bowed respectfully toward the curtain.
“Madam, His Highness also needs to rest,” he said deferentially. “We servants will wait outside. Please feel free to call for us if anything arises.”
Cheng Jiao-niang set down the book in her hands and nodded.
“You may go,” she said, rising to her feet as she spoke.
Watching those people withdraw, Su Xin hurried over to lift the curtain, and Cheng Jiao-niang stepped into the bedchamber.
Duke Jin’an lay on the couch with his eyes closed, seemingly asleep.
“Madam?” Ban Qin asked softly.
“You should go and rest as well. After all that startle and commotion, you’re all tired,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
Su Xin and Ban Qin answered in acknowledgment and withdrew.
The room grew quiet. With his eyes still closed, Duke Jin’an sensed the person sitting down on the couch; the faint sound of pages turning drifted to his ears.
In the height of summer, cicadas seemed to chirr faintly in the distance. Mingled with the barely perceptible soft fragrance in his breath, Duke Jin’an gradually drifted into genuine sleep.
When Duke Jin’an awoke again, the lamps had already been lit.
Laughter drifted through the room.
“…Look at this one – this must have been written by a child…”
“…Yes, yes, it really is. This one looks nothing like the Madam’s handwriting at all.”
What were they looking at?
Duke Jin’an tried to prop himself up. The maid kneeling nearby noticed at once and happily called out that His Highness was awake.
The laughter outside stopped abruptly. The bead curtain chimed as someone came in.
“Your Highness, please lie back down,” Su Xin said anxiously, seeing that Duke Jin’an had already pushed himself halfway upright.
Cheng Jiao-niang, however, smiled and stepped closer, studying him.
“You’re looking much better. After lying down for so long, you might as well sit up for a bit,” she said.
At her words, the maids hurried to prop up cushions and helped Duke Jin’an sit properly.
Indeed, he had been lying down for too long. When he looked up, his vision swam slightly. A hand came to rest on his shoulder; through the thin summer undergarment, he felt a gentle, warm softness.
“Take a sip,” Cheng Jiao-niang said. One hand lightly steadied his shoulder while the other brought the teacup to Duke Jin’an’s lips.
Duke Jin’an did as she said and took a small sip.
“Madam, where shall we set the meal?” a maid asked from outside.
Cheng Jiao-niang looked at Duke Jin’an.
“Would you like to eat with me?” she asked with a slight smile.
…
“He can already sit up and eat?”
When the news reached the outer courtyard, Master Gu was overjoyed. He didn’t even bother with his meal, standing up and pacing back and forth a few steps.
“Regretting not having the Duke marry her sooner?” Eunuch Jing said with a laugh.
“Sooner?” Master Gu replied. “Sooner wouldn’t necessarily have meant she could be married in. If it hadn’t been for needing someone to accompany him in death, the Empress Dowager would never have allowed her to marry in.”
By now, the Empress Dowager must surely be full of regret.
“I’d long heard of how formidable this Lady Cheng was, but hearing about it and experiencing it up close are two entirely different things,” he said, stroking his beard.
“Yes,” Eunuch Jing agreed. “All of a sudden I feel like nothing really counts as a problem anymore. I actually feel especially at ease.”
How perilous this day had been: the entire Duke’s residence had stood on the brink of collapse. Yet once this lady stepped inside, with no more than two or three sentences before and after, the situation was completely turned around.
To turn clouds and overturn rain – this must be what the saying meant.
Although the Duke’s survival was the key and foundation of everything, the reason he was able to survive at all was unquestionably this lady’s doing.
Even though scholars of the Confucian tradition did not believe in ghosts or spirits, at this very moment they could not help but indulge in a few wandering thoughts.
“He’s eaten a bowl of bird’s-nest porridge.”
Doctor Li came in from outside, beaming with joy.
“After all this time, it’s the first time His Highness has eaten so much.”
Master Gu and Eunuch Jing looked even more pleased.
“Why are you still here?” Doctor Li said, as if only just noticing Eunuch Jing. “It’s not like you need to avoid propriety – why have you slipped out here to skive off as well?”
Before Eunuch Jing could get up and say he was leaving, Master Gu quickly raised a hand to stop him.
“The Princess Consort doesn’t like too many people hovering around her,” he said. “If she hasn’t summoned you, don’t go forward and make yourselves a nuisance.”
Doctor Li stared at him.
“Why does that sound so familiar? Master Gu, you’ve picked it up awfully fast,” he said.
Laughter rang out in the room.
The young servants outside heard it and couldn’t help exchanging glances, their faces unable to hide their delight.
How long had it been since there had been laughter in this household?
This joy had truly come at just the right moment.
The lamplight was soft and warm. A breeze blew in through the open window, setting the mosquito-net curtains hanging down to sway slightly.
When Cheng Jiao-niang set down her chopsticks, Ban Qin hurried over with tea for rinsing the mouth. The waiting maids outside came in to clear the dining table and then withdrew.
Only after word spread that the meal was finished did Eunuch Jing and Doctor Li come in.
Doctor Li took Duke Jin’an’s pulse, speaking to him as he did so.
Though the Duke still could barely speak, he was far better than he had been a few days earlier – not by just a small margin. Doctor Li was overjoyed and kept asking questions.
Duke Jin’an, however, was distracted, his gaze fixed on Cheng Jiao-niang, who sat by the window opposite, listening to Eunuch Jing as he spoke.
Under the lamplight, her skin appeared all the more fair and delicate, her eyes bright and shining. Her expression was attentive yet relaxed, a quality that made the person speaking feel both fully attended to and at ease, without any sense of pressure.
“Your Highness?”
Doctor Li stepped forward and stopped in front of Duke Jin’an, blocking his line of sight.
“Did you hear what I was saying?”
“What’s there to say?” Duke Jin’an replied slowly. “If medicine needs to be taken, take it. If needles need to be used, use them. You talk too much.”
Doctor Li was taken aback, then immediately laughed, turning to look at Cheng Jiao-niang.
Eunuch Jing’s expression also froze in surprise as he turned to look at Duke Jin’an.
“Is Your Highness going as well?” he asked.
They were discussing the matter of returning to the natal home the next day. They had assumed it would be cancelled under the circumstances, but to their surprise Cheng Jiao-niang said they would still go – not only would she go herself, she intended to bring Duke Jin’an with her.
“But His Highness’s health…” Doctor Li couldn’t help saying.
“He’ll be fine tomorrow,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
Fine tomorrow?
Doctor Li and Eunuch Jing stared wide-eyed.
Really?
As night deepened, after Cheng Jiao-niang finished washing and grooming, Duke Jin’an was also attended by four young eunuchs, who helped him wash, groom, and lie down in bed.
“Has your hair dried?” Cheng Jiao-niang asked.
“His Highness’s hair was not washed,” one of the eunuchs replied respectfully.
Cheng Jiao-niang nodded.
“You may go,” she said.
The eunuchs obeyed and withdrew. Ban Qin and Su Xin then extinguished the two lamps in the room and also stepped out.
“I’ll stay here tonight to keep watch. You should go back to your room and sleep,” Su Xin said.
Ban Qin hesitated slightly.
“After all that happened today, I’ll stay as well,” she said softly.
As the two of them were talking, they heard Cheng Jiao-niang’s voice drift over from the other side.
“…Take off your clothes…”
The two froze, exchanging a glance.
Of course, taking off clothes to sleep was normal…
“…Tonight as well…”
Duke Jin’an’s weak voice followed.
Ban Qin and Su Xin immediately avoided each other’s eyes, their faces flushing bright red.
Su Xin grabbed Ban Qin’s hand and, slightly stumbling, hurried out of the hall toward the adjacent room, frantically extinguishing the lamps as she went.
As the room fell into darkness, low, muffled groans and murmurs carried from the bedchamber.
Su Xin buried her head under the blanket.
Please, Madam, have some mercy.
