Fourth Master Chen couldn’t help but look behind the screen, only to find that the figure who had been sitting upright was now lying on their side.
“Hey, please, don’t sleep!” Startled, he hurriedly called out.
He had barely gotten a word in!
The maid who was about to fetch water saw this and gasped, quickly turning back inside.
“Miss?” Her voice came from behind.
Steward Cao, with a weakening hand clutching his throat, leaned against the ground.
First, get me a bowl of water before saying anything else…
Regret!
He regrets not listening to Young Master Qin’s advice. He shouldn’t have come in to suffer this pain. Standing outside would have been better than sitting in this room!
“What exactly do you all want?”
Behind the screen, Cheng Jiao-niang spoke woodenly.
Though her voice carried no emotion, the listener had assigned it with some emotion.
It seemed like she had gotten impatient from listening earlier, fallen asleep, and was now being woken up, clearly annoyed at having her rest disturbed.
“What do you want with me? I’m leaving,” she continued.
Yes, yes, get to the point already! Why did they waste time talking about this Ban Qin and that Ban Qin? Was this really the time for idle chit-chat?
Fourth Master Chen deeply agreed, glancing at Steward Cao with an expression showing a hint of blame.
“Lady Cheng, my father once encountered you on the road. If you don’t remember, Steward Cao has a record written by one of your former maids. You can take a look and see if it jogs your memory,” he hurriedly said.
Steward Cao nodded repeatedly, but his voice was too hoarse to say much.
“Is this what’s written down?” the maid asked, walking over in a few steps, picking up a thin booklet from the table, and raising it for her to see.
Look, how swift and clear her actions are. Why bother with all that irrelevant nonsense?
Fourth Master Chen shot another glare at Steward Cao.
Steward Cao, with a parched throat and a bitter taste in his mouth, was already feeling numb.
Whatever happens, happens. He didn’t want to say a word anymore.
“Is that right?” Fourth Master Chen glanced at Steward Cao, asking while barely containing his impatience.
Just say it already!
“Yes,” Steward Cao croaked, “Ban… the maid said it’s written in there. Miss, please look for it…”
The maid looked toward the screen.
“Miss, do you want me to read it from the beginning?” she asked.
From the beginning…
“It’s in the last few pages, the last few pages, no need to search from the beginning,” Steward Cao quickly blurted out, despite his discomfort.
This is killing him! If they start reading from the beginning and asking questions all over again—who knows what’s written in there? If they question him on everything, he’d rather just die quickly!
The maid had already opened the booklet, chuckling a bit.
“Oh dear, so many circles. What is this? How am I supposed to read it?” she laughed.
Those who remember would naturally remember. At the time, she told her to write it down in case she forgot, not because she feared herself would forget.
Behind the screen, Cheng Jiao-niang was silent for a moment.
“No need to read it,” she said. “I know.”
Outside, apart from the maid who knew some of the situation, the two men were stunned.
Know?
Know what?
“Two months ago, your father fell ill. Now, he is paralyzed on one side, his mouth droops, drool drips, speech is difficult, his mind is confused and agitated, his face is red, his tongue stiff, urination is short and painful, and his pulse is tense and rapid.”
The lady’s wooden voice came evenly from behind the screen.
The three people in front of the screen were stunned, including the maid.
Suddenly, there was a clattering sound as Fourth Master Chen stood up, knocking over the water bowl in front of him.
“You… you…” His face turned red, eyes wide, a mix of shock and fear. “How do you know?”
Did she really get it right?
Steward Cao was also stunned. He had accompanied his master to visit Old Master Chen. Although he hadn’t personally heard or seen the doctor’s diagnosis, he had taken a glance through the curtain and could tell that Old Master Chen’s symptoms were pretty much as the lady had described.
However, he didn’t know when Old Master Chen had fallen ill, nor did he understand anything about the mouth, tongue, phlegm, urine, or pulse.
But seeing Fourth Master Chen’s reaction, he knew that she had nailed it.
“I saw him… once,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
Saw him once? That must have been six months ago, right?
Did she know back then?
What a joke! How could that be possible?
“How could it not be possible? Han Feizi recorded that Bian Que saw Duke Huai of Cai*, and with just a glance, he knew of his illness!” Fourth Master Chen said, his voice trembling. Suddenly, he knelt down again, straightening his posture, and performed a deep bow. “Please, Lady Cheng, save my father’s life!”
Bian Que?
Steward Cao looked in shock at the screen.
The woman behind the screen was just about to lie down to sleep, but with some coaxing from the maid, she reluctantly got up. At this moment, she was reclining sideways, in loose, flowing robes, her long hair cascading down, creating a hazy illusion behind the cloud-patterned screen that felt both real and ethereal.
“You!” He couldn’t help but speak in a hoarse voice, filled with anger. “Are you playing me for a fool?”
Don’t recognize him? And talking about being “one of us”? And this maid and that maid? And the “You want water? Why didn’t you say so earlier”?
Ever since he had stood at the door and announced his name, he had been toyed with by this lady and her maid!
Although Young Master Qin had already advised him, and it was permitted by the master and young master not to approach this lady as a familiar face, he really didn’t expect that she would dare to go this far!
They only took her maid! Was it really necessary? Was it that amusing to act like a fool and play these tricks?
“Miss, let’s talk about whatever it is. Is it fun to act this way?” He knelt up straight, unable to hold back his urgency and pain; he hadn’t even had a sip of water yet.
Fourth Master Chen and the maid both looked at him, slightly surprised.
From behind the screen, there was the sound of rustling, and then the lady who had been lying down straightened herself up, using the table for support as she stood. She took a few slow steps and turned to face them.
Fourth Master Chen and Steward Cao’s eyes lit up.
In the autumn light of the room, the young lady wore a plain dress, her dark hair cascading down. Her delicate, fair features were extraordinarily beautiful, but her expression was vacant, and her eyes appeared unfocused. The more one looked at her, the more unsettling it felt.
At that moment, her gaze fell on Steward Cao, looking down from her position.
“Of course, it’s fun,” she said blankly.
Steward Cao was speechless.
Fourth Master Chen’s gaze flickered, deep in thought.
“Lady Cheng, I implore you to save my father,” he said, bowing once more.
“Alright,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied.
“Then I will immediately go inform your family and escort you to the capital,” Fourth Master Chen said, starting to rise.
“Wait,” Cheng Jiao-niang interrupted.
What now? They really couldn’t wait any longer; his father was unable to move, so they had to invite her to the capital. This had already wasted enough time.
Fourth Master Chen couldn’t help but clench his hands tightly.
“You don’t go,” Cheng Jiao-niang said, looking at him and then turning to Steward Cao. “You go instead.”
Fourth Master Chen and Steward Cao both froze for a moment.
“I’m not going? Is that appropriate?” Fourth Master Chen asked.
This lady is being too childish, isn’t she?
“Yes, yes, I’ll go,” Steward Cao quickly nodded, not wanting to provoke her any further. He just wanted to hurry and get someone to the capital to settle this matter.
“Do you know what to say when you go?” Cheng Jiao-niang asked.
Originally unsure of how to phrase things, after hearing Cheng Jiao-niang’s question, he had a rough idea of what to say.
Steward Cao bent down and bowed.
“Please guide me, Miss,” he said.
Cheng Jiao-niang looked at him for a moment.
“Do you want to drink some water first?” she asked.
Translator’s Note:
*Bian Que (扁鹊) is a legendary figure in Chinese history, often regarded as one of the earliest and most famous physicians in ancient China. He is believed to have lived during the Warring States period (approximately 475–221 BC) and is often associated with traditional Chinese medicine.
