Although deeply upset, Zhou Liu-lang still sent Steward Cao to meet with Madam Zhou upon returning home and explained in detail what he had purchased on the street.
Master Zhou couldn’t help but blame Madam Zhou for neglecting such a trivial matter. Madam Zhou, feeling both wronged and guilty, exchanged a few cross words with him before the couple, both sulking, went to bed separately.
That night, Madam Zhou had a long conversation with her personal maid and came up with a plan.
Early the next morning, Madam Zhou opened the storeroom and selected new clothes that had originally been prepared for her daughters to wear during the New Year celebrations. She had the maids carefully wrap them up and made her way once again to the Chen household.
Upon meeting the family, they began by inquiring after the health of the old master.
“He’s much better now; he can sit up,” Madam Chen said gratefully as she received Madam Zhou.
Could he really recover?
Madam Zhou was overjoyed.
“It’s thanks to the old master’s good fortune and blessings,” she replied.
“I was just about to send someone to inform you,” Madam Chen continued. “Let Lady Cheng stay here a while longer. With her around, we can feel more at ease, and it’ll also make consultations and prescriptions more convenient.”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking,” Madam Zhou said with a smile, gesturing to the maids behind her. “So I brought along some replacement clothes.”
As she spoke, she sighed.
“This child, because of her illness, has always been peculiar and withdrawn, unwilling to talk or interact with others. I won’t hide it from you—she isn’t close to us either. Whether she’s right or wrong, we can’t guide or advise her. If she does anything improper, I beg you, Madam, to be understanding. Please consider that she’s been sickly since childhood, lost her mother at a young age, and has been lonely and pitiable. I hope you can be lenient.”
Her expression was sincere and filled with helplessness as she raised a hand to wipe away a tear.
Madam Chen naturally noticed Cheng Jiao-niang’s indifference toward the Zhou family. It wasn’t her place to speculate about others’ family matters, but she hadn’t expected Madam Zhou to lay everything bare. This eased some of her reservations and even evoked a sense of sympathy.
“You shouldn’t speak like that, Madam,” she quickly said, extending a hand in invitation. “Please, have some tea.”
The invitation for tea marked the line between familiarity and formality.
Madam Zhou’s lips curved into a faint smile. She lowered her head to express her thanks, then picked up the teacup and took a slow, contented sip.
“Unfortunately, Lady Cheng is currently administering acupuncture to the old master,” Madam Chen said. “Perhaps you could see her a bit later?”
“In that case, there’s no need to see her,” Madam Zhou replied with a smile as she set down her teacup. “I don’t have anything urgent; I’ll just leave these items here and give the maids a few instructions. Besides, she’s focused on the old master’s illness. If I were to meet her now, it might distract her. And with you taking such good care of things, Madam Chen, I’m completely at ease.”
Madam Chen’s smile grew warmer.
“Of course, Madam. Rest assured,” she said with a nod.
In Old Master Chen’s room, the curtains were drawn back, the wooden windows half open, and the paper doors slightly ajar. Two maids carefully arranged freshly picked flowers from the greenhouse in the main hall.
The faint floral fragrance mingled subtly with the scent of burning charcoal and medicinal herbs, replacing the putrid stench that had once lingered due to the old master’s bedridden condition, where eating, drinking, and other necessities had all taken place in bed.
After arranging the flowers, the maids tiptoed out of the room, careful not to disturb those inside.
Cheng Jiao-niang slowly picked up the last golden needle.
Nearby, the Chen brothers each held their father’s shoulder and arm, their hands trembling in unison with their father’s shaking body.
“All done,” Cheng Jiao-niang said, placing the golden needle back into its case.
Old Master Chen, with Chen Shao’s help, slowly sat up.
“Refreshing, truly refreshing,” he said, raising his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his face.
“After taking your medicine today, you can try getting out of bed this afternoon and walking a few steps,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
The three members of the Chen family were overjoyed.
“Get out of bed? Walk?” they asked in disbelief.
All they had hoped for was to preserve his life—they hadn’t dared to dream that he might walk again. After being paralyzed for so long, how could he possibly get out of bed so quickly?
“Oh, of course, if you don’t want to get out of bed, you can stay lying down,” Cheng Jiao-niang added.
Her peculiar way of speaking was something the three were starting to get used to.
“Thank you, Lady Cheng,” said Old Master Chen, his excitement evident as he struggled to sit upright and bow in gratitude.
Chen Shao and his brother quickly followed suit, bowing with equal fervor, their excitement impossible to contain.
Amazing, truly amazing!
Looking at the clothes laid out in the room, Cheng Jiao-niang remained silent.
The maid waved her hand, signaling the maids to leave, then helped Cheng Jiao-niang remove her outer robe. The white silk undergarment underneath was already soaked with sweat.
“Miss, all these clothes were sent by the Zhou family. What do you think? Should we accept them or not?” she asked.
“Accept them,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied, glancing briefly at the floor.
The maid nodded in acknowledgment. “Understood.”
As Old Master Chen’s condition improved, the number of visitors to the Chen family also steadily increased.
When someone is gravely ill, people might forgo a visit, but once the patient shows signs of recovery, visiting becomes a must. In this way, both the visitors and the visited find themselves pleased.
“Madam, Master Dong and his wife have come to visit the old master,” a maid hurriedly announced as she entered.
In the room, four ladies were already seated. Hearing the news, they all chuckled.
“What perfect timing—they’ve come too,” one of them remarked.
Madam Chen smiled and rose to welcome the new arrivals.
It wasn’t really “perfect timing”; after all, there had been several groups of visitors the day before as well. Smiling, she escorted the ladies to the hall. The stewardess gave her a subtle look, and Madam Chen lingered a few steps behind.
“Madam, will today’s guests be staying for a meal?” the stewardess whispered.
Madam Chen gave a somewhat resigned smile.
“It seems they have no intention of leaving anytime soon,” she replied.
Stepping into the room, the newly arrived Madam Dong was the first to offer her congratulations.
“I just saw him earlier—how much better the old master looks now,” she said with a smile. “It truly is a blessing; after great trials come great fortunes.”
“Indeed, indeed! Now we can all look forward to a peaceful New Year,” the others chimed in.
“Alright, let’s skip the pleasantries,” Madam Chen said with a laugh. “Besides visiting the old master, what else are you all after?”
With Old Master Chen’s health greatly improved and her husband avoiding the mourning period, the weight on Madam Chen’s heart had lifted. She was in an exceptionally good mood.
“To eat yellow sparrows!” everyone replied in unison.
Madam Chen burst into laughter.
One day, a colleague who came to visit Old Master Chen was invited by Chen Shao to stay for a few drinks. Recently, the family had developed a fondness for salt-and-pepper fried yellow sparrows, so they served the dish as a drinking snack.
The friend enjoyed the dish immensely but, considering that the host was recovering from illness, refrained from excessive praise to avoid seeming like he had come specifically for the food.
After leaving, the friend tried catching and cooking yellow sparrows himself, but unfortunately, the flavor never quite matched the Chen family’s. Unable to forget the taste, he mentioned it in conversation, and the story began to spread. Curious individuals started timing their visits to coincide with meal hours to test their luck. Those who managed to try the dish were full of admiration.
Thus, word of the Chen family cook’s exceptional skill in preparing yellow sparrows began to circulate.
As Old Master Chen’s health steadily improved, people stopped being so reserved. While their visits were ostensibly to check on him, they also came in groups to enjoy the famed dish.
“There’s also one more thing,” a lady suddenly remembered and said. “Could you possibly introduce the divine doctor you brought to your home?”
Yes, yes, compared to the food, the divine doctor is far more important.
Although the Chen family had kept Old Master Chen’s illness private, news in the capital spreads quickly. Everyone knew that, at most, he only had two or three months left. No one expected that after bringing in this mysterious doctor from somewhere unknown, Old Master Chen had recovered in just three to five days.
Such a doctor is someone they definitely need to get to know better.
Madam Chen hesitated for a moment.
“Well, I really can’t make that decision,” she said.
“We’re not asking you to make the decision, just to introduce her. Since she’s a doctor, she should be taking patients. She’s not going to avoid it, is she?” Madam Dong said.
Madam Chen’s expression became even more awkward.
“She’s… well, it seems she’s not actually a doctor,” Madam Chen said.
Not a doctor? Then what is she?
The ladies present were stunned.
Madam Chen gave a bitter smile, feeling that she couldn’t quite explain.
“Anyway, she doesn’t take patients,” she said. “Others have asked, but she politely declined.”
Saying she “politely declined” was a bit too kind. In truth, she had been very straightforward in refusing.
“Right now, she’s entirely focused on Old Master’s illness, so we’ll talk about it once he’s recovered,” the other ladies said, all too understanding, laughing as they spoke.
Maybe, Madam Chen thought to herself. After all, who wouldn’t want to be praised for their healing abilities? Surely no one would refuse such attention.
After the meal, and seeing off the satisfied guests, Madam Chen let out a sigh of relief.
“Where is Dan-niang?” she suddenly asked.
“She’s with Lady Cheng,” the maid replied.
It was strange. Although Lady Cheng was quiet, there was always something about her that made people feel she was unapproachable. During all the times she had visited, no one dared to go near or talk to her. Only Chen Dan-niang would go every day to play with her.
It was hard to understand how a fourteen or fifteen-year-old and a four or five-year-old child managed to play together.
“Don’t let her disturb Lady Cheng,” Madam Chen said.
The maid responded with a yes.
“Then, what is Lady Cheng doing?” Madam Chen asked again.
The maid’s expression became a little strange.
“She’s… making clothes,” she replied.
“Miss,” Dan Niang said with admiration, “You’re amazing.”
On the floor mat, Cheng Jiao-niang spread out the brocade, and the scissors in her hand moved smoothly, while the maid stood by, helping with the threads.
“Yes, I’m amazing,” she said.
The maids sitting outside in the corridor exchanged a glance.
Here it comes again. The way these two always speak in such perfect harmony.
“They fried yellow sparrows again for lunch today. I can eat five at once,” Dan-niang said, stretching out her small palm.
Cheng Jiao-niang glanced at her.
“They’re not cooked well,” she said.
“Hey, they’re really delicious,” Dan-niang said, shaking her head and widening her eyes.
“Yellow sparrows, you need to handle the yellow sparrow properly,” Cheng Jiao-niang said, her scissors and needle not pausing.
“How do you handle them?” Dan-niang asked, confused.
“Tell the cook to go to the market and see how they cook fish. Then you’ll know,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
Dan-niang responded with an “Oh.”
“Okay, I’ll remember,” she said happily, then looked at Cheng Jiao-niang and exclaimed, “You’re amazing.”
“Yes,” Cheng Jiao-niang nodded in response.
“Miss, Father and Uncle say you’re a divine doctor. Are you really a divine doctor?” Dan-niang asked.
Cheng Jiao-niang stopped what she was doing and sat up straight.
“I think… I might be more like a cook,” she said, looking down at the robe she had been stitching on the mat, “or… a tailor.”
Prefecture Qu, Prince Xiu’s Manor.
Prince Xiu had already been laid to rest, but the mourning rites in the manor had yet to be taken down.
Under the white lanterns at night, the vast Prince Xiu’s Manor was as bright as day.
Outside the main chamber of Princess Consort Xiu’s quarters, a group of servants stood in neat rows.
“Your Highness, Young Duke.”
Voices greeting him in unison echoed from outside the chamber, as the servants standing by swayed slightly in synchronization, like waves on a shore.
A young man dressed in white mourning garments with a white sash strode forward. His robes flowed gracefully, his gait steady. Though his face was solemn, his eyes were red, and his expression carried traces of exhaustion.
Two kneeling maids in the corridor reached out to slide open the paper doors, allowing the glow of pearls and jade from within to spill forth.
The young man stepped into the chamber.
“Your Highness.”
Inside, two rows of men and ladies knelt. Some were young, others elderly, all dressed in mourning attire. They straightened their backs simultaneously and bowed deeply in salute.
