Jiao Niang’s Medical Record Chapter 612

Duke Jin’an took the tea handed to him by the maid and waved his hand lightly.

The maid quickly withdrew.

“I couldn’t sleep,” he said. “So I went over there to have a look. You were writing, so I didn’t want to disturb you.”

Even if he hadn’t meant to disturb her, he really should have told one of the young maids. But he had been going to look for that piece of bark, and he didn’t want anyone else to know, so he hadn’t said anything.

“It was a spur-of-the-moment thing,” he added. “Next time I’ll be sure to let someone know.”

The residence wasn’t very large to begin with – whether he said anything or not, he could easily have been found with a single inquiry. Yet after stepping inside, Duke Jin’an still went on explaining himself at length…

And thinking it over, his wife probably hadn’t truly been looking for him. Perhaps, just as she herself had said: It’s nothing – I was just asking where you’d gone.

But words spoken by the princess consort carried a different weight to the ears of those who heard them.

The Princess Consort is asking for His Highness.
The Princess Consort wants to see His Highness.
Where is His Highness?
Quick, go find His Highness.
The Princess Consort needs to see His Highness at once…

Ban Qin couldn’t help but press her lips together in a smile.

“Alright.” Cheng Jiao-niang smiled slightly and nodded. “I just thought that if anything happened, I’d be able to find you as quickly as possible.”

So she was worried about him after all.

Duke Jin’an felt a warm, pleased feeling well up in his chest.

Thinking back, ever since they had met, she had always been concerned for him, helping him along. Time and again, his narrow escapes from death had all been thanks to her.

Seen that way, whenever he was with her he was always in some sorry state, constantly caught up in danger.

That didn’t really seem like something to be happy about.

And yet she didn’t seem to mind him at all.

“I’m really rather useless,” he couldn’t help saying with a laugh. “Even at home, I still make you worry.”

“No,” Cheng Jiao-niang said. “It’s because you’re too capable that you have to be more careful. If you were someone of no consequence, no one would bother spending the effort to harm you.”

People are only willing to expend their energy on those who are worth it – whether to do them good or to do them harm. Sometimes, it takes even more effort to hurt someone than to love them.

Duke Jin’an burst out laughing.

“So you’re good at flattering people too,” he said, laughing.

So Miss knows how to flatter people too?

Ban Qin turned her head toward Su Xin in some confusion. Su Xin had clearly understood as well and was already smiling.

“Cheng Fang – Cheng Fang, come here,” Duke Jin’an called again, beckoning as he headed toward the eastern side room.

Cheng Jiao-niang followed him over.

Su Xin shot Ban Qin a meaningful look, and the two of them turned and quietly withdrew.

“…I took another look just now and felt that the room I’m living in isn’t quite right. Why don’t we rearrange it a bit? What do you think about putting a partition here?”

Duke Jin’an had already seated himself in the east room, brush in hand, sketching on the low table as he spoke animatedly, his brows dancing.

Hearing this, Cheng Jiao-niang sat down beside him and leaned forward to look.

In the bright daylight, the young man and lady spoke with smiles on their faces – one delicate and lively, the other handsome and spirited, a truly pleasing sight.

The smile at the corner of Su Xin’s mouth deepened.

“I never knew Miss could be so good at coaxing people and making them happy,” she couldn’t help murmuring.

Ban Qin shot her a reproachful sideways glance.

“Miss has always been the most considerate of people,” she said.

Precisely because she was so considerate, the lady never pressed or persuaded anyone, letting people come and go, letting their joys and sorrows pass without probing or questioning.

But there were very few who could truly understand this kind of consideration.

“Only those who already think she is good can truly grasp how good she is,” Su Xin said with a smile, lightly tapping Ban Qin on the nose.

Laughing softly, the two lifted the curtain and withdrew to the corridor outside the door. From inside, Duke Jin’an’s voice rang out without pause; now and then they could hear Cheng Jiao-niang respond with a word or two – but that alone was enough to keep Duke Jin’an talking with undiminished enthusiasm.

At the same time, Old Master Chen’s room was likewise filled with laughter and lively chatter.

“…Grandfather, and this too, and this as well – these were all rewards from Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”

Chen Dan-niang said as she set down the red agate bracelet in her hand and opened another box.

Inside was a full case of fresh fruit and sweet snacks.

“…The Third Princess and the others said these were newly presented tributes and even invited me to go eat them. I remembered what Mother and the others had taught me, and I didn’t agree to go just because others politely invited me…”

“I never expected the Empress Dowager to reward me with these as well.”

Chen Dan-niang’s clear, ringing voice echoed through the hall.

“Look, Grandfather – there are crystal cakes too.”

Old Master Chen listened with a smile, responding from time to time with comments like, “Is that so?” and “How lovely,” and “You did thank the Empress Dowager, didn’t you?”

“I did. I properly kowtowed and made my obeisance,” Chen Dan-niang said, her voice carrying both excitement and delight. “Afterwards, Sister even praised me, saying I hadn’t made any mistakes.”

“Our Dan-niang has learned well – how could you make a mistake?” Old Master Chen praised her.

Chen Dan-niang’s grin only grew wider, and a maid at her side hurriedly knelt down.

“Nineteenth Young Lady, shall I put these away?” she asked promptly.

Chen Dan-niang nodded, looking thoroughly satisfied, and watched as the maid began to tidy things up. Then she suddenly reached out and stopped her.

“Grandfather,” she said, looking up at Old Master Chen with a hint of hesitation.

“They’re your things – you may dispose of them however you like,” Old Master Chen said with a smile, seeing through her thoughts at a glance.

Chen Dan-niang immediately brightened and sat up straight.

“Then I’ll send some of these to Lady Cheng,” she said, pointing at the box of pastries and fruit. “Lady Cheng likes making sweets – she must love eating them too.”

As she spoke, she sighed again, her little brows knitting together, looking both comical and endearing.

“I heard Sister say that the Duke upset the Empress Dowager. She’s even forbidden them from entering the palace.”

Old Master Chen smiled.

“…Lady Cheng and the others wouldn’t mind,” he said.

The old servant at the side couldn’t help clearing his throat softly.

Words like that were a bit irreverent – though they were at home, it still wasn’t appropriate to say such things in front of a child.

Old Master Chen smiled faintly and said no more.

“If you want to send them, then send them,” he said.

Chen Dan-niang happily had the maid fetch a small box for packing, but then she suddenly paused, her expression turning a little worried.

“But Grandfather, would this be inappropriate?” she asked. “If I give Lady Cheng things that came from the Empress Dowager, would she be unhappy?”

Old Master Chen looked at her.

“The Empress Dowager has bestowed them on you – once given, they are yours,” he said with a smile. “You’re giving your things to Lady Cheng. Tell me, would she be unhappy?”

Chen Dan-niang’s face lit up with a broad smile.

“She’d be happy!” she said, and with light, nimble movements began placing items into the small box the maid had brought, carefully selecting them. “This one’s good – this one too…”

Old Master Chen watched her with a fond smile. When she had pondered and chosen for quite some time and finally finished selecting, he had the old servant personally accompany the maid to deliver them.

Watching the old servant leave, Chen Dan-niang was still buzzing with excitement.

“I wonder what tasty things Lady Cheng will give me in return?” she said.

Old Master Chen burst out laughing.

“So after all that, you’re really hoping for Lady Cheng’s return gift,” he teased deliberately.

“That’s only proper,” Chen Dan-niang said with a giggle. “If I’m good to Lady Cheng, Lady Cheng will be good to me too.”

Old Master Chen nodded with a smile.

But Chen Dan-niang suddenly sighed again.

“Grandfather, don’t you think Lady Cheng must have had a very pitiful life before?” she said. “I’d never seen someone simple-minded before… I didn’t know that people who are simple-minded… are treated like that…”

Even someone as exalted as the Crown Prince – those eunuchs and palace maids still treated him with thinly veiled disdain, going through the motions, even stepping on him… after all, a fool wouldn’t know pain or humiliation, wouldn’t complain…

And Lady Cheng back then had no status at all, abandoned by her family – how much more miserable her days must have been…

A hand came to rest on her shoulder. She turned her head and saw a look of surprise rise on Old Master Chen’s face.

“Dan-niang,” he asked, “you saw the Crown Prince today as well?”

…

“Dan-niang went into the palace?”

Cheng Jiao-niang asked, looking at the maid before her with mild surprise.

The maid bowed and replied that she had.

“…Eighteenth Young Lady is in the palace teaching the princess calligraphy. The Empress Dowager said there were too few people and wanted to find someone to keep her company while studying, so today Eighteenth Young Lady brought Nineteenth Young Lady along as a study companion…” she said, smiling as she spoke.

To study alongside a princess or prince was, after all, a most fortunate opportunity.

“…The Empress Dowager was very pleased when she saw her and bestowed many gifts upon Nineteenth Young Lady. Nineteenth Young Lady deliberately selected some of them to send to you, Lady Cheng,” she continued.

Cheng Jiao-niang nodded and looked at the box in front of her for a moment.

“Ban Qin,” she called, “bring me the longbow from my room.”

Ban Qin froze for a moment. Duke Jin’an, who was sitting in the inner room reading while leaning against a couch, froze as well.

A longbow?

Duke Jin’an watched as Ban Qin went in, took the longbow down from the wall, and carried it into the reception hall.

“This is what I’m giving to Dan-niang,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.

At the sight of the longbow pushed toward her, the Chen family’s maid froze for a moment. Only after Ban Qin gave her a reminder did she hurry to bow in thanks, then somewhat flusteredly pick up the longbow and withdraw.

Duke Jin’an watched through the window as the maid walked out into the courtyard, then quickly lowered his head and went back to the book in his hands – one he hadn’t managed to read even a single line of for quite some time.

But after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea had passed and Cheng Jiao-niang still hadn’t come in, he could no longer restrain himself and put the book down to look outside.

Cheng Jiao-niang was still seated in the hall, leaning against the couch, seeming lost in thought.

Duke Jin’an hesitated for a moment, then stepped out after all.

“You really are something,” he said with a smile, standing at the moon-gate.

Cheng Jiao-niang looked up at him.

“A fine sword is given to a hero; rouge and powder to a beauty,” Duke Jin’an said with a grin. “So how did you ever think of giving a longbow to the young lady of the Chen family?”

“Because…” Cheng Jiao-niang began, the word leaving her lips – then she stopped, falling silent.

She had always answered whenever asked; this was the first time she had ever started speaking and then not finished.

Duke Jin’an quickly stepped a few paces closer.

Cheng Jiao-niang’s expression was also somewhat strange – calm, yet startled, and at the same time uneasy and grave. In short, it was very complicated.

A complicated expression appearing on her face was, in itself, something rare and unsettling.

“Cheng Fang, what is it?” he asked, the smile fading from his face.

“I feel that something is…” Cheng Jiao-niang said. “Familiar.”

Familiar?

Duke Jin’an was even more surprised and confused.

“Familiar with what?” he asked.

Familiar with what?

“…Did you have fun visiting the Duke of Yang’s residence?”

“…Yes, I did! Father, the Duke of Yang even gave me so many things – look…”

The man before her looked at the little girl’s delighted face with a smile, then stood and took a bow down from the wall at one side.

“…Then I will give you a gift as well…”

Cheng Jiao-niang turned her head to look toward the inner room – the wall there was empty.

“From now on, you must practice archery well and learn to protect yourself.”

“Why? Aren’t you here? You can protect me, Father.”

“Sometimes, I may not be able to look after you.”

“Ah-Fang!”

Someone suddenly raised their voice and called her name by her ear, while at the same time a pair of hands came to rest on her shoulders.

Cheng Jiao-niang jolted and came back to herself, instinctively pressing a hand to her chest – yet someone else was even quicker, lifting a hand to press gently over her heart.

“What’s wrong? Is it uncomfortable here?” Duke Jin’an asked urgently, his hand immediately resting on her, and his expression shifting in surprise.

Summer clothes were thin; the sudden touch was delicate and soft, yet any trace of intimacy hadn’t even begun before the sensation under his hand startled him completely.

“It’s so cold!”

The Duke’s exclamation rang out in the room, causing Ban Qin, who was standing outside, to rush in in a panic.

“Go fetch Doctor Li!” the Duke shouted at her in a flurry.

Ban Qin trembled in fright and immediately turned to obey.

“No need.”

Cheng Jiao-niang’s voice sounded.

Ban Qin froze.

“Ah…” the Duke murmured, supporting her, a hint of worry in his voice.

“I told you not to call me Ah-Fang,” Cheng Jiao-niang interrupted, pushing his hand away as she stood up. “I’m fine. Here… it’s always been cold.”

“Always been cold?”

How could that be? The human chest – how could it be cold? Only…

Duke Jin’an frowned.

“What’s going on? Are you all right?” he blurted out.

Cheng Jiao-niang stopped and looked at him.

“What’s ‘all right’ about it?” she said. “It’s never been all right. And now it’s worse than ever.”

…

“A longbow?”

Old Master Chen looked at the longbow the maid was pushing forward, his expression a little surprised.

“This… is it from Lady Cheng?” Chen Dan-niang was very pleased, but looking at the bow, she also seemed a bit unsure of herself.

The bow, standing upright, was almost as tall as she was.

“Does Lady Cheng want me to practice archery?” she asked excitedly, reaching out to grab Old Master Chen’s sleeve and shaking him. “Grandfather, I want to practice archery! I want to have the same excellent skill with a bow as Lady Cheng!”

Old Master Chen laughed as she shook him, nodding.

“All right, all right – just like her, just like her,” he said, though his gaze remained fixed on the longbow.

By this young lady’s usual habits, a return gift would normally be food, right? Why did she suddenly send a longbow?

Does she really want Dan–niang to practice archery?

But why all of a sudden?

The bow looked like it had been used regularly…

Old Master Chen couldn’t help but turn his gaze toward the screen beside him.

Had this bow ever drawn blood, taken a life? And on this screen, were there spirits of those who had died beneath its string?