Jishi was fervently searching for a concubine for the eldest master, but she chose girls from families with sons, not good families.
The household lived in fear.
Miaozhen even overheard the newly assigned maids say, “Good thing we’re at the medical bureau; if we’d been sent to the main house, it’d be the end of us.”
She beckoned Dou Kou and asked, “I heard you all talking earlier. Why don’t you want to go to the main house?”
“Miss Xu, you don’t know. Our Eldest Grandmother’s family is a duke’s household. Those who came with her are all military men, their arms thicker than ordinary people’s thighs. The eldest master also had a concubine once. She was heavily pregnant, but after going to the Eldest Grandmother, she lost the child.”
Dou Kou gestured at her belly.
“Lost? What do you mean? Did she die?”
Miaozhen was shocked.
Though she watched palace intrigue dramas in modern times, she hadn’t encountered such things in the past.
Dou Kou shook her head, “The child was lost; she bled a lot.”
Tsk tsk, Miaozhen found it hard to imagine such a family doing such things.
“Miss Xu…”
Dou Kou waited for her to ask more.
Miaozhen grabbed some fruit for her.
“Share these and eat.”
The fruit had been sent by the steward’s wife at the second gate, who also suffered from women’s ailments and normally took random medicines from traveling doctors or midwives.
Since Miaozhen cured her, she often sent fruits and snacks.
The favored maids inside the house were well cared for, while those outside were not.
Miaozhen first gave some to her own two maids, then handed out the rest to the maids who brewed medicines.
Dou Kou was so happy to receive fruit she went to eat it somewhere private.
Meanwhile, Li Yao’e initially thought Jishi was just strict, but after hearing all this, she felt uneasy.
Though attracted to the eldest master’s almost divine demeanor, her own life was more important.
Besides, she wanted to be a proper second wife, not a sold slave.
Her own mother had been pawned as a concubine; her life was in others’ hands.
At their next secret meeting, she voiced her worries.
“I’ve long admired the eldest master, but Mama wants to arrange a marriage for me. What should I do?”
Eldest Master Cheng Junze said, “Your mother’s anxiety is understandable at your age. If you marry, I’ll give you a dowry.”
“Because you’re so kind, I’m reluctant. I have a plan. Master, please help me find a family not too far, not too near, so we can still meet. When I return home, Mama won’t oppose it,” Li Yao’e knew how to leverage connections.
Her mother and brother wanted to marry her into a good family, but their eyes and contacts were limited.
Cheng Junze, however, knew many wealthy and noble families; any introduction from him would benefit her.
She hinted at the possibility of secret affairs, which pleased Cheng Junze and reminded him of a scholar friend.
The friend was a local gentry who had been a widower for years, living aimlessly.
Li Yao’e wouldn’t do as principal wife but could be a second wife.
After some urging, Cheng Junze helped arrange it.
When the Li family heard Li Yao’e was to marry a juren as a secondary wife, with several acres of land and a comfortable life, they readily agreed.
These days, Li Yao’e still received her monthly allowance, and Cheng Junze never came empty-handed. She saved two hundred taels and secured a good family.
Hearing this, Miaozhen and the others all sent polite gifts.
Li Yao’e, being close to Miaozhen, advised her, “Sister, you’re at the coming-of-age age. You should plan for yourself. It’s best to lean on a big tree to enjoy the shade.”
“Thank you for your advice, Sister. But once you leave, I won’t have anyone to talk to,” Miaozhen sighed.
Li Yao’e only smiled.
While in the main house, she found Jishi difficult.
The eldest master, mindful of his reputation, didn’t dare fully accept Jishi, so Li Yao’e would have to find her own way.
Fortunately, she managed her relationships well.
After marrying and raising several sons, nothing was better than nurturing one’s children to succeed.
Though her body was broken, a bit of blood rubbed on would suffice.
She just had to stop being so timid.
Which man didn’t have three or four wives?
Why couldn’t women?
Li Yao’e bowed to the mistresses and had her brother move her belongings out.
Yu Chujin was deeply disappointed.
She had heard from the western mansion’s informants that Li Yao’e secretly met someone.
How could she marry so peacefully?
She asked Miaozhen, who knew nothing and said, “I just worry that with her gone, the two of us will have to take turns on night watch.”
Though patients rarely got sick suddenly at night, they still had to take shifts.
Yu Chujin was reluctant, but Miaozhen would not indulge her.
She called Gu Mama, who agreed, “You two young ladies should take shifts. That way, if someone is needed, we can send help quickly instead of waking the whole courtyard.”
Only then did Yu Chujin agree, and Miaozhen was satisfied.
With Li Yao’e gone, Miaozhen told Xiao Nuanshi, “I’m afraid I might mislead apprentices. I’m only skilled in women’s medicine and acupuncture, not pediatrics.”
“No need to worry. Someone will come soon. By the way, you cured my stubborn illness at the end of last year. I was fine during the New Year, but now I have another problem: excessive menstruation,” Xiao Nuanshi said worriedly.
Miaozhen said, “Excessive menstruation means liver wood overacting on earth, heat with dampness. I’ll prescribe Si Wu Tang with Huang Qin and Bai Zhu, one qian each. Someone will bring it to you soon.”
Seeing Miaozhen’s confidence and the lack of serious symptoms, Xiao Nuanshi relaxed.
“Just send the prescription to someone else to brew. I don’t want to trouble you.”
Miaozhen wondered what trouble, and saw it was accounting work.
She was known for fast calculation; even in modern times, she memorized two-digit multiplication tables quickly and did mental vertical calculations faster.
Besides, Qiu Lady had also taught her arithmetic.
She sat down to calculate but was interrupted by someone saying Eldest Grandmother had summoned her.
Miaozhen said, “I’ll finish your accounts tomorrow.”
When Eldest Grandmother returned, Third Mistress remained in charge of the household.
This was understandable, as the eldest master would surely serve in the capital or be posted elsewhere in the future, and Eldest Grandmother would follow.
It was better to keep consistent management rather than change hands repeatedly.
But Eldest Grandmother thought differently.
As the eldest son’s wife and a duke’s family member, she needed to maintain dignity at home.
Her rules were strict, and the household should be hers to manage.
She was unhappy seeing Xiao Nuanshi wielding power.
However, she knew the priority was producing heirs.
Before, Li Yao’e had helped her with health, but since Li Yao’e left, her maid said Miaozhen was Tang Yunxian’s direct disciple and excelled in women’s medicine.
“The previous Eldest Sister didn’t say much and left everything to her,” so Eldest Grandmother invited Miaozhen.
Jishi suffered from Yin Sore.
Previously it cleared up with some fire-clearing remedies, but this time it lingered. Miaozhen took her pulse and said, “You have chronic Yin Sore. If the ulcers get too large and don’t heal, it causes unbearable discomfort. This is liver heat with damp toxin. I’ll first do some acupuncture and then prescribe medicine.”
Jishi asked, “How long will it take to heal?”
“It didn’t start in a day and won’t heal in one day, but once the pus comes out, it will get better,” Miaozhen smiled.
She inserted needles at Ligu, Taichong, and Dadun points.
When needling Dadun, she warned, “This will hurt a bit. It’s the liver channel’s well point. Please bear with it; once done, the liver fire will be expelled.”
After placing needles in Ligu and Taichong, she burned moxa; Dadun was left with a needle.
Jishi gasped, “It’s not as painful here now.”
“Wait for the sore to break open; it will heal,” Miaozhen said, explaining she would apply musk and apricot externally.
Jishi insisted on applying it herself.
Miaozhen filled two small silk bags with medicine, burned them, and had Jishi place them in her mouth.
She instructed others to brew Long Dan Xie Gan Tang.
Jishi drank it that night, began to feel pain, and the sore opened the next day.
Several servants cleaned it for a long time before it began to close.
After days of pain, Jishi finally recovered.
She summoned Miaozhen again and said, “Miss Xu, you truly are a divine healer.”
“I don’t dare accept such praise,” Miaozhen smiled.
Jishi was a woman who both loved and hated fiercely, with some masculine spirit, and admired capable people.
She immediately rewarded Miaozhen five taels.
Miaozhen thought fortunately it was the Cheng household, with many officials and a well-managed house, so they were comparatively wealthy.
She gained much from it.
With gifts given for Qingming and Dragon Boat festivals, another five taels was an unexpected joy.
Jishi kept her to talk and, learning Miaozhen’s father was a student, said, “Why didn’t he buy a government post?”
Miaozhen thought Jishi had connections but wasn’t sure if she could find a path for her father.
So she said, “My family’s finances are tight. Father runs a small business to get by. Although buying an official post is a good policy, local people look down on those who do it. They are exploited everywhere; superiors borrow furniture and don’t return it, levy relief funds during famine, forcibly loan money if the county lacks funds, with officers extorting. Without care, they get beaten more than normal people. Father said it’s better to wait to pass the imperial exam and buy a post officially, but no one in our family has the connections.”
One of Jishi’s maids chimed in, “Oh Miss Xu, isn’t there a great Buddha before you?”
Feigning joy, Miaozhen kowtowed, “I’m blind not to recognize the true Buddha. If Eldest Grandmother can help, I will have my father seal silver to repay you. If not enough, I’ll use my own savings.”
Jishi loved compliments.
She leaned back, “You small family has little money. Leave it to me. I know officials in the educational and provincial offices. But you have excellent medical skills; you must help me recover and bear a child—that’s more important than anything.”
Miaozhen knew the score and eagerly agreed, saying many agreeable things.
“Who would have thought you, so honest, could speak so well,” Jishi laughed.
Miaozhen shyly nodded.
Once outside, in a quiet place, she hugged Xiao Xi and Xiao Tao.