She also didn’t mention Xu Erpeng’s trip to Nanjing, only inquiring about her father, who was sent home drunk by Laowang.
She then visited Miaozhen, hoping for her early return.
At the Cheng Family, since the head of the household took a concubine, visits to Zhu Yiniang’s quarters had dwindled.
Zhu Yiniang was heartbroken and pretended to be ill.
She invited Yu Zhoujin, who was close to her, to help fake the illness.
The Eldest Mistress knew Zhu Yiniang was faking and summoned Miaozhen.
“Go see Zhu Yiniang for me.”
“Mistress, Yu Third Sister is already treating her. It’s said that ‘one matter does not trouble two masters.’ I’d rather not go,” Miaozhen replied.
She didn’t like this Eldest Mistress for this very reason.
For us laborers, life is hard enough without being used in concubine power struggles.
The Eldest Mistress said, “What ‘one matter, two masters’? That Yu woman is quick with acupuncture but doesn’t know how to properly diagnose. She’s far worse than you.”
Zhao Mama urged, “Miss Xu, if the Eldest Mistress asks you, you should go.”
“Yes,” Miaozhen could only accept and comply.
At Zhu Yiniang’s place, Miaozhen stated her purpose.
A servant said, “Auntie is already asleep. Maybe the young lady can come back later.”
Miaozhen didn’t press to see her and said, “I’ll go report back.”
Returning, she was scolded thoroughly by the Eldest Mistress and had to stand for quite a while before being dismissed.
As soon as Miaozhen left, Cheng Yuan arrived.
Hearing her mother’s complaints, she said, “Miss Xu is a servant we hired and is even treated with respect by sister-in-law, but you complain about her?”
“It’s only a few taels to hire her, not a person of status. Also, I told Peilan in the pharmacy to have Miss Xu teach some medical skills to those going out as dowry. But she keeps her formulas hidden,” Zeng Shi was still angry, remembering how she had sent several sets of clothes earlier.
Cheng Yuan was speechless.
Her mother hadn’t been like this before, but now that she had used her schemes to divide Zhu Yiniang’s favor, she was trembling.
Clearly, she’d been suppressed for too long.
How could someone casually teach their skills?
Cheng Yuan advised, “Doctors keep their prescriptions well hidden. You can’t teach carelessly; half-taught skills are harmful. Miss Xu won’t stay here long. Nowadays, there are many medical practitioners. Finding a genuine female doctor isn’t easy. We should get along with her so if anyone gets sick, we can call her. After all, she cured your old illness.”
Zeng Shi was unconvinced.
Since her illness was cured, she didn’t care much about her daughter’s words.
At the same time, Miaozhen’s last visit to Ru Eldest Grandmother for follow-up showed that the old lady’s complexion had improved greatly.
Miaozhen finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Back at the Cheng household, news arrived of a new female doctor—she was the daughter of the Chief Imperial Physician at the Prince’s Residence of Qingzhou.
She had served there but only barely made a living and, after offending the Prince’s favored concubine, was dismissed.
Guo Mama brought several people to meet her.
Miaozhen and Yu Zhoujin bowed.
Miaozhen learned the new doctor’s surname was Ji, named Zhenjie, and gave her two scented sachets as a gift.
Zhenjie had inherited some of her father’s skills and was quite good at medicine.
She was about seventeen or eighteen, with a gap between her front teeth—not that her mouth looked that way, but she said whatever came to mind without restraint.
She pretended to be shy for two days, but on the third day she was already chatting away with Miaozhen about all sorts of things.
Learning Miaozhen’s previous quarters were occupied by Anhui people, she said, “Those Huishang are stingy outside but spend lavishly on concubines, leaving their wives unattended for twenty years while keeping another household. Outsiders wear gold and silver, summon servants, and cherish their daughters, but inside, wives are treated like dirt.”
“Miss Ji, you speak as if you’ve seen it all,” Miaozhen said.
“Exactly. Our family’s new house is right behind that big mansion. What don’t I know? That family even hired a female teacher for their daughter,” Ji Zhenjie said resentfully.
Miaozhen just listened.
After entering July, Miaozhen had her father send Buddhist scriptures with embroidery to the mistresses and grandmothers.
Because she had been burning incense nearby, the scriptures carried a sandalwood scent.
They were all pleased, and the old madam even gifted her two sets of clothes.
By mid-July, Jing Shi was confirmed to be pregnant.
Miaozhen said, “Madam’s body is weak, and with this summer heat, be careful not to overheat. Take good rest. If anything is uncomfortable, just call me.”
After years without pregnancy, Jing Shi knew this was Miaozhen’s doing.
She said, “As for your father, once he arrives, I’ll have someone guide him to the Household Department to verify his identity, then everything will be fine.”
“Madam’s kindness is beyond repayment,” Miaozhen replied.
Having hoped for a child for so many years, Jing Shi finally had one.
Knowing it was Miaozhen’s merit, they exchanged favors and said no more.
Miaozhen wrote down taboos and instructions for her—no intercourse, no cold or raw food—everything carefully documented on one sheet.
A safe delivery was no small matter, and Jing Shi would naturally follow her instructions.
Xu Erpeng only went to Nanjing after mid-July. Upon arrival, he went to Xichao Gate and announced he was the father of the female doctor, immediately handing over fifty taels.
The Cheng Family gatekeeper laughed, “So it’s Miss Xu’s father. We were just about to send for her.”
Miaozhen was reading medical books in her room and, hearing her father had arrived, happily stood up from her lamp-hung chair and went to meet him.
Xu Erpeng’s face showed little change, but a fold on the back of his neck betrayed long hours bent over writing.
He resolved to help his own health once back home.
Father and daughter met amid many people.
Xu Erpeng said, “Your mother asked me to bring some local products. The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming. These are just some tokens.”
“Father, where will you stay?” Miaozhen asked.
He said he would stay at the East Rising Inn nearby and would come to pick her up tomorrow to visit relatives, secretly slipping a letter into her hand.
Miaozhen first asked two Little Servants to carry a trunk and a bundle inside.
The bundle contained several boxes of snacks and fruits, seasonal foods, while the trunk held tinware, gifts for Eldest Grandmother.
Late at night, Miaozhen had two maids carry the tinware to Eldest Grandmother’s room, saying her father had come.
“Noted,” Jing Shi replied with just a few words.
Miaozhen hesitated but recalled that Jing Shi had said everything was settled last time, so she didn’t rush.
The next day, she met Xu Erpeng again.
Father and daughter had endless things to say.
“She said on a whim that it was settled, but when I sent the gifts yesterday, she acted cold and indifferent. Don’t worry, I’ve watched over her the whole time, and she still needs me. Your matters will be properly handled.”
Xu Erpeng said, “One doesn’t expect everyone to be the greatest. That amount of silver isn’t hard for me to pay. At worst, I’ll just go home.”
Miaozhen smiled.
“She wants to return the favor, but the household is full of difficult people. I think once this is done, I want to step back. One must think of danger, retirement, and change. After Jing Shi gives birth, the Eldest Mistress, Zhu Yiniang, and Third Grandmother with Little Servant Ruan will surely compete for power.”
“As the saying goes, when the kings fight, the little ghosts suffer. I’ve worked here a year, cured many old illnesses, and gained some benefits. It’s time to quit while ahead.”
“Don’t worry. Father knows what to do. They won’t be happy letting you return without reason. Father will find you a good husband,” Xu Erpeng laughed.
Even Miaozhen felt shy hearing that, then patted her head.
“I brought out several bolts of cloth—one of Chitou, one of Leizhou ramie, one of green gauze—for my two younger brothers and you to make shirts and jackets. Also half a bolt of sea sky-hued silk for Mother’s clothes. As for two bolts of red silk, I’ll take them home and store them well.”
Xu Erpeng didn’t refuse but said, “Got it. Later, I’ll treat you to dinner at Zui Xian Lou in Nanjing. Buy whatever small things you like.”
Neither had seriously explored Nanjing before.
As a young lady, Miaozhen couldn’t go out easily, but now with her father leading her, though wearing a veil, she was unusually careful.
Zui Xian Lou was often featured in modern dramas, but it really existed in Ming Nanjing, having opened in the Hongwu era.
If fights broke out, staff quickly intervened.
There were performances with instruments and storytellers—it was lively.
After dinner, Xu Erpeng took his daughter to buy jewelry—a Butterfly Love Flower Gold Comb and a Golden Lantern Pendant.
When they left, Miaozhen hadn’t been home long before Jing Shi’s wet nurse came, saying someone was looking for her father and asked him to come over.
Miaozhen said he was at the East Rising Inn.
The woman hurried off.
Little Xi didn’t understand.
“When we were home, we even asked why Eldest Grandmother didn’t send someone to notify us. As soon as we left, they came looking.”
“Don’t care what they’re like; as long as the matter’s settled, that’s enough. Few people are truly kind,” Miaozhen said knowingly.
If she didn’t reciprocate goodwill, others wouldn’t see her as one of their own and would make things difficult.
Since it was like that, better to let things be.
The next day, the steward from Jing Shi’s household found Xu Erpeng and brought him to the Nanjing Household Department to receive the Certificate of Academy Student.
Since he had purchased the certificate as a Grain Tribute Student, his status was better than average, granting him eligibility for the imperial exams.
Though Xu Erpeng still took the yearly exam, he knew his limits.
Having the Imperial Student status already satisfied him.
He later treated Jing Shi’s steward to a big meal at Zui Xian Lou and gave him two taels of silver as thanks.
The steward relayed the news to Jing Shi, who then gave up any further effort.
Xu Erpeng returned home, and the servants’ titles changed; some called him Xu Jiansheng, others Xu Yuanwai.
Word spread on the ship that Xu Erpeng had registered at the Household Department in Nanjing.
Some muttered behind his back that he was just a Grain Tribute Student, but face to face, everyone respectfully called him Yuanwai.
He had the same exam qualifications as a Juren, and if he succeeded in the imperial exams, he might become an official.
July passed into August, and Jing Shi’s pregnancy symptoms grew stronger.
Though she didn’t publicly announce it, others guessed.
Before the Moon Festival, the old madam asked in front of everyone, and Jing Shi nodded, “Only two months along. The last letter hadn’t arrived yet. It was said she was pregnant but not confirmed, so I didn’t tell anyone.”
The whole clan was pleased except one person—
Third Grandmother.
Previously, Jing Shi had only a daughter and had seemed barren for years, earning jealousy and low status in the family.
Now she was pregnant, and Third Grandmother had nothing.
Hearing it was Miaozhen who helped Jing Shi recover, Qingzhoujin originally wanted to be a concubine, and Zhu Yiniang pretended to cooperate to keep her happy, but now that Jing Shi was pregnant, Zhu Yiniang used this as an excuse to push back Yu Zhoujin’s matters.
Yu Zhoujin blamed Miaozhen for ruining her plans and naturally exaggerated when helping the Third Branch with their ailments.
Third Grandmother, wanting a favored servant, picked and chose, flattering Jing Shi as the primary wife but neglecting herself.
She even blamed Miaozhen for her own infertility and hated her.