After returning, Miaozhen immediately started reading books.
She was certain that before the Ghost Festival, Father would have one of the Little Servants deliver the Buddhist scripture, and at that time she would have someone bring the letter back.
Otherwise, if she relied on Third Grandmother’s household, the letter would inevitably pass through her hands.
She would then suspect that Miaozhen was colluding with Eldest Grandmother, and that would be bad.
One must not be too openly aligned; at least it shouldn’t look like that.
In her room, she kept reading all kinds of medical texts—naturally, all about the same subject: conception.
This “conception” wasn’t specifically about seeking a son, but simply about getting pregnant.
Miaozhen had accepted such a huge favor from others and naturally wanted to repay them.
She was eager in her heart but didn’t show it outwardly; otherwise, if she arranged everything early on, they might not take her matters seriously.
The next day, she helped Third Grandmother finish balancing the Household Account Book.
Third Grandmother knew Miaozhen was discreet; she wouldn’t speak of anyone’s illness, so she didn’t pry further.
Miaozhen then went to Eldest Grandmother to take her pulse.
“If the Heart Meridian’s cun pulse is smooth and slippery, the Spleen Meridian’s guan pulse relaxed and even, and the Kidney Meridian’s chi pulse full, that would be a pulse indicating pregnancy. But all three of your pulses are wiry—that indicates liver qi stagnation.”
“Is the stagnation in the heart? But I feel fine usually,” Jing Shi said.
“That’s what the pulse shows. When qi is stagnant, liver qi is not smooth, which can cause blockage around the waist and navel, preventing qi and blood from moving along the Ren and Dai meridians. How can one conceive then? Only when the liver, spleen, heart, and kidneys are all relaxed and the womb’s qi opens easily can pregnancy happen. Otherwise, even if conception occurs, miscarriage is likely.”
Miaozhen explained patiently.
As she spoke, she drew the organs for Jing Shi to see, making it easier for her to understand.
Jing Shi was convinced and asked Miaozhen to prescribe something.
Miaozhen gave her the Yu of Depression Decoction.
“Drink this for at least a month.”
The prescription was given to the people around Jing Shi, and they boiled the medicine themselves in the room’s stove.
Jing Shi innocently asked, “If the medicine works for me, can others take it too?”
Miaozhen quickly waved her hand.
“No, no. Every medicine must be tailored to the individual; there is no one-size-fits-all.”
With that, Jing Shi felt reassured and began her treatment.
Miaozhen had only a patient or two each day, which gave her more time to study medicine.
By June, Jing Shi indeed felt much lighter and calmer.
She and Cheng Junze were still young husband and wife and often shared the same bed.
Meanwhile, Miaozhen’s affairs involved sending a letter to Suzhou Prefecture first, then using her husband’s official credentials to greet the Southern Academy people.
Because there were still dealings to manage at the Household Department, Miaozhen hadn’t told her.
Sure enough, someone came for her—a messenger from the Boat Firm bringing the letter.
Miaozhen also slipped them a silver coin to help carry her letter back.
Xu Erpeng never expected his daughter to surprise him so much.
He had been reluctant to rely on the Cheng Family because he feared Qiao Yifu would stir trouble, using their daughter for his own gain.
Qiao Yifu wouldn’t be grateful for the favor; he would consider it owed.
If their daughter had bad luck, he would have a reason to say she failed.
But he never imagined his daughter’s medical skills not only earned him the status of an Imperial Student but also allowed him to purchase an Academy Student certificate.
Buying the certificate was tempting, but spending 280 taels of silver seemed too costly.
It was better to persevere through the imperial exams for the status.
In truth, Xu Erpeng was quite learned, and the Chengyu appreciated his knowledge, but he never caught the attention of the Grandmaster during the exams.
This time, he had been unexpectedly granted the status of Imperial Student, thinking fortune had turned.
It was all because of this matter.
Of course, his daughter told him to visit the Southern Academy to make sure his appearance matched his status.
She had nearly eighty taels saved, not counting her clothes and hairpins, and planned to use twenty taels to smooth things over with Eldest Grandmother.
“This child,” Xu Erpeng shared with Mei Shi.
“Xiaozhen has been away for so long; I truly miss her,” Mei Shi said.
“If you miss her, so do I,” Xu Erpeng said, though he didn’t trust her out there.
Finding a husband for her was hard; those he liked might not like them, and those who clung persistently, he disliked.
Last time, Miaozhen sent back a wedding robe with embroidered flowers.
Mei Shi kept it and was very happy.
As for the dark satin, the couple had been reluctant to make clothes out of it last year; only this spring did they open the storage and tailor clothes.
He quietly saved a thousand taels as dowry for his daughter and carefully picked a suitable son-in-law, wanting her to have a good home soon.
He thought that after becoming an Imperial Student, his status would improve, making the marriage match more favorable.
Mei Shi said, “Looks like you have to go to Nanjing soon. That’s good; I always worry about our daughter.”
“Of course. Coincidentally, I’m finishing a book now and plan to have it published. The next one will wait until I return, so I have time to take care of this,” Xu Erpeng said, handing Mei Shi fifty taels to buy some wine pots, teapots, and storage vessels from the Xi Qi Steward to bring to Eldest Grandmother.
This was per the instructions in their daughter’s letter.
She said she told Eldest Grandmother their family was in financial difficulty, and she was willing to manage things.
But they couldn’t be entirely ungrateful.
Xu Erpeng wouldn’t let his daughter pay for this; naturally, he took care of it.
Mei Shi said, “Lu Shian’s provincial exam is in August. I think he’s handsome and talented but poor.”
“You can say I’m mercenary or petty, but I don’t consider poor men. Even if he passes the Juren exam, I won’t care. Besides, I looked into it; his family situation is bad,” Xu Erpeng said, appalled.
Mei Shi didn’t know and asked, “Since you investigated, why not tell me?”
Xu Erpeng patted his chest.
“I was so shocked I nearly broke out in goosebumps. Since I’m not considering him, I didn’t mention it.”
Mei Shi pleaded, and he finally explained: “The Lu family was once very wealthy, but here’s how they rose. Originally, a well-matched couple married, but the man died of illness. The widow had no sons but had estates. She needed to find a husband, and Lu Shian’s father, though educated, was a frivolous playboy. He was kind to the widow, despite her being nine years older, so they married. At first, it was fine, but then his true nature emerged.”
“Did he forcibly take the widow’s estate?” Mei Shi asked.
“Not just that. Forcing property is one thing, but Lu’s father often incited others to bully her. Beatings were the mildest; they humiliated her, hanging her from trees, withholding food, calling her ugly and old. Later, to marry a new wife, Lu’s father killed the widow. He enjoyed six or seven good years, but karma came. He was burned alive in his inn after a dispute with guests. His new wife, Lu Shian’s mother, died of anger when the family divided the estate.”
“Lu Shian was taken in by his aunt, who was poor and supported him by running a half-shady business with her daughter, as both niece and future wife. Though that woman was a prostitute, she was sincere toward him. When I asked if he had a fiancée, he flatly denied it and didn’t mention his cousin. How could I want such a man? Even if he passes Juren, he’d just use our daughter as a stepping stone.”
Mei Shi was shocked by the ugly truth behind the handsome and talented Lu Shian, who was also considerate and warmhearted.
“Truly a wolf at heart,” Xu Erpeng said with a shrug.
“But we can’t offend such people either. I thought I’d wait until he passes the Juren exam and then use a good match I found as an excuse to decline. When I rejected him before, he ignored me and kept hanging around. If he doesn’t propose, I can’t forbid my daughter from marrying him.”
Mei Shi understood.
“That makes sense.”
“Besides, our daughter has talent, beauty, and a decent dowry. Why settle for a poor man with talents? Rich men aren’t necessarily gentlemanly, and poor men aren’t necessarily sincere.”
The couple talked at length until Mei Shi’s father, Mei Juren, arrived to celebrate Xu Erpeng’s newly acquired Imperial Student status with a drink.
Xu Erpeng disliked drinking, so he only brought out stored wine and ordered some dishes, having Li Clerk and the Tang Brothers accompany him.
He went back to his study to write.
In Mei Juren’s presence, Mei Shi dared not reveal that her husband was about to become an Academy Student; she feared the news might leak and cause trouble.