After Ji Zhenjie left, Miaozhen began reading books on difficult childbirth—not to curse Eldest Grandmother’s difficult labor, but to prepare in advance and not neglect her studies.
Medical learning was truly endless.
In the afternoon, Third Mistress invited her over again.
The place was full of various lists—these were dowry inventories for Second Miss, who was meticulous and unwilling to let family members handle the arrangements for fear they would belittle her or say she managed poorly.
So, she asked Miaozhen, an outsider, to help tally the accounts.
Naturally, such extra work to earn money was usually given to Miaozhen by Third Mistress—an unspoken understanding between them.
The dowry list was thick enough to make a small booklet.
Miaozhen was stunned, “So much dowry? Forget the wardrobe and bed, there’s even a coffin and funeral buckets.”
Third Mistress just smiled, “You’re young and inexperienced. This is how dowries always are. My family’s was the same—there was only more, never less.”
“How much does it cost?”
Miaozhen asked, seeing several official wooden chests made of purple sandalwood and yellow rosewood.
Third Mistress held up one finger, “Ten thousand taels.”
Miaozhen was stunned—this was an astronomical sum to her.
While she was helping transcribe and tally, a maid came in to say Third Master was being scolded by Second Master.
Third Mistress’s expression immediately darkened.
Having lived at the Cheng Family for a year, Miaozhen knew Third Master was the eldest son of the second wife’s line, but a thorn in the side for Second Master and Second Mistress.
Though the couple worked hard, Second Master never looked favorably upon him.
Family relations in a great household were indeed complicated.
After leaving Third Mistress, Miaozhen, feeling stiff from sitting too long, decided to cut through the woods behind the rockery to return home, taking a longer route.
Unexpectedly, Qin Biaoguniang hurried out of the woods, looking flustered.
“Xu Medical Woman, is that you?”
Qin Zhi Lan greeted hastily.
Seeing her like this, Miaozhen thought there must be some private matter.
She waved her handkerchief, “Yes, I just dropped my handkerchief here and came to retrieve it. Qin Guniang, why are you here?”
Qin Zhi Lan saw her confusion and forced a dry smile.
“Nothing much, I was just tired and stopped here to rest. By the way, someone brought some pine moss tea from Suzhou to me. Why don’t you come to my place for some?”
“No, no, I need to get back and write medical records. I have to leave now.”
Miaozhen turned away; since walking outside wasn’t easy, she would pace in her room for a few thousand steps.
Cheng Yuan, aware of all this, knew that Qin Biaoguniang was young but very calculating.
Only her mother was unaware and wanted to marry Qin to Fourth Young Master.
Apparently, Fourth Young Master marrying a cousin without influence would displease Zhu Yiniang, which made Cheng Yuan happy.
But the truth was not Zhu Yiniang’s fault, nor would Miaozhen’s father easily let Fourth Young Master marry an unhelpful woman, since Fourth Young Master was to have an official career.
People were just that pragmatic.
Qin Biaoguniang had seen things clearly early on and acted preemptively.
After the Double Ninth Festival, Miaozhen was invited by Ji Zhenjie to her home, which was located behind a wealthy household.
Ji Lao Die no longer planned to practice medicine, now running a small silk and ribbon shop with his son, selling some sundries.
Having a daughter working as a medical attendant in the Cheng Family meant no one dared to cause trouble.
Miaozhen had prepared some fruit-filled pastries, two handkerchiefs, and two sewing kits as gifts.
She first paid respects to Ji Zhenjie’s mother before entering the inner room to talk.
Outside, news came that Dong Nai Nai had arrived. Ji Zhenjie whispered into Miaozhen’s ear, “That’s the mistress of the Anhui merchant family I mentioned.”
“You again? Say less,” Miaozhen said, fearing Ji Zhenjie’s sharp tongue might get her into trouble someday.
Dong Nai Nai was short and stout, with a melon-shaped face, willow eyebrows, cherry lips, and looked about thirty to forty.
With her was a young lady wearing a pink blouse and a gold-thread embroidered skirt—slender and graceful.
Behind them followed another young woman—
Miaoyun.
Miaoyun did not expect to run into Miaozhen here.
She felt an urge to flee.
She was impersonating Qiu Niangzi’s disciple and working as a female teacher in the Dong Family.
To properly teach this frivolous rich miss, Miaoyun had practically gone through all the lessons herself.
There was no choice. Because her father had been beaten, they had fled overnight by fishing boat to Nanjing.
They said Wu Zixu’s hair turned white overnight; Miaoyun’s father had gone gray almost instantly.
Her mother complained she was deceived and had to marry whichever husband she got.
In truth, Miaoyun knew the Huang Family wouldn’t let them return, feeling ashamed.
Her mother, out of options, followed her father to Nanjing.
With no contacts or connections, and her father unable to even find a servant job, her mother couldn’t find a family to do embroidery.
So Miaoyun braved it and bribed several nuns who had wide networks to recommend her as a female teacher.
Unexpectedly, a nouveau riche family like the Dongs actually hired her.
Dong Miss was said to be about to marry into an official’s household because of her wealth and beauty, but she was illiterate and relied on Miaoyun for tutoring.
With the money the Dong Family earned, Miaoyun’s mother bought a waist loom, and her father worked as shop manager, specializing in daily Suzhou fine cloth.
Life was just getting comfortable. Miaoyun did not want her cousin to expose her, so she stood awkwardly, unsure where to place her hands.
Miaozhen had no idea about the impersonation but seeing Miaoyun’s embarrassment, she pretended not to recognize her.
As the saying goes, “Leave a little room to meet again,” don’t pry into everything or deliberately expose others’ wounds.
Madam Ji introduced, “This is Miss Xu who serves as a medical attendant with our Zhenjie at the Cheng Family.”
The Dong Family’s wealth was tens of thousands of strings of cash, and they had no interest in associating with a family like the Ji’s.
But since the Ji Family was connected to the Cheng Family and had good relations with the big household next door, they started socializing.
Jing Nai Nai was pleased to see Ji Zhenjie lively and Miaozhen elegant.
She didn’t stay long, brought birthday gifts, and left.
Miaoyun exhaled deeply in relief.
Outside, Dong Miss stared at her.
“Why so guilty?”
“It’s not guilt. I was scared of doctors ever since I was stabbed by one as a child.”
Miaoyun lied.
Dong Miss chuckled.
She was always mischievous, “Look at those two young ladies, not afraid of injections or acupuncture, but you’re scared?”
Miaoyun could only smile along.
Dong Nai Nai had brought crystal goose from Deyi Pavilion.
The table was laden with fifty-five dishes prepared by the Ji Family. Relatives came and went.
Miaozhen buried her head in the food, thinking what if Third Mistress’s child was born in breech or crosswise.
Looking up, she saw Ji Zhenjie’s face flushed red.
“What’s wrong?”
Miaozhen asked, puzzled.
Ji Family relatives were all laughing, and Xiao Xi whispered, “Miss, the Ji family is arranging a match for their eldest sister.”
So that was the reason.
Miaozhen teased Ji Zhenjie.
On the way back, Xiao Xi asked, “Was that the girl we saw?”
“Probably. She’s well-dressed now, likely still working as a female teacher. Let’s pretend we don’t know. Don’t even mention Ji Family’s eldest sister—let them live quietly in Nanjing.”
Miaozhen said.
Xiao Xi objected, “If her father hadn’t lied, you wouldn’t have had to leave home.”
“That may be, but living at the Cheng Family isn’t without benefits. I’ve saved up so many silks, brocades, and jewelry. That will cost money to buy for myself. Besides, it’s broadened our horizons—things we can’t see at home. Although Qiu Niangzi teaches us housework, seeing how Third Mistress manages the household shows me how things really are.”
Miaozhen did not think it was entirely a bad thing.
Xiao Xi said, “You always look on the bright side. So it’s all settled?”
Miaozhen nodded, “Yes. Otherwise, what else can we do? If they were forced into a dead end, would they go back to their family? Besides, I heard from Ji Zhenjie that Jing Guniang will marry next year, so the eldest sister won’t stay there long.”
Sometimes Miaozhen understood what it meant to be desperate.
Why not leave others a way out and save yourself as well?
Xiao Xi knew their mistress was no pushover—if not, women like Yu Zhoujin, Third Mistress, would all have been outsmarted by her.
But she was broad-minded and merciful when possible.
After returning, Miaozhen brought some food for Xiao Tao, who was eating when she said that the eldest daughter’s Mama had come by.
“Did she come to see a patient?”
Miaozhen asked.
Xiao Tao shook her head, “I asked. That Mama said no, just passing by and came in to take a look.”
Miaozhen thought to herself that such unannounced visits rarely meant anything good.
She decided to ignore it for now.
If they wanted to find her, they would come again.
“Eat first. I’ll rest a bit. The carriage ride to the Ji Family today jostled my back terribly.”
Saying that, she took off her outer garment and lay down on the bed.
The eldest daughter, Cheng Jing, seeing her Mama return empty-handed, said, “What are we to do? If this child is born, both the Cheng and Xia families are doomed.”
A widow at home, yet pregnant—how could people not talk?
At first, she sincerely wanted to remain a widow.
After all, marrying someone else meant the same—three wives and four concubines, constantly serving mother-in-law, and sister-in-laws scheming.
Besides, being a widow could earn a good reputation.
The Xia Family even had an understanding with her family, promising to support her father and brother’s futures.
In official circles, no matter how capable you were, you couldn’t advance without connections.
But if you had connections, even a scholar could become an official.
Gradually, her resolve weakened.
She couldn’t wear bright clothes or attend celebrations.
She had to stay secluded and couldn’t smile too happily or else people said she was bad luck for men.
But her resolve faltered when she met someone with whom she shared marital intimacy.
That man urged her to remarry, but she dared not.
If she left the Cheng Family to elope, the groom would be the wife, and she the concubine—what life would she have?
How would her family and relatives react?
Therefore, the child could not exist.
“Tomorrow, have Xu Medical Woman come again. She’s discreet and skilled. We can’t neglect her. Get two hundred taels of silver ready. We must be sincere.”
The eldest daughter said firmly.
That Mama nodded and came again to invite Miaozhen the next day.
On the way, Miaozhen asked, “How’s the eldest daughter? Has last year’s illness returned?”
The Mama was tight-lipped and spoke only of irrelevant matters.
Soon, Miaozhen arrived below the eldest daughter’s chamber.
Upon entering, she found her a bit different from usual.
She couldn’t pinpoint why, just that something was off.
“Let’s take your pulse first,” she said.
“Upstairs, please,” the eldest daughter suggested, as if Miaozhen didn’t know her place.
Miaozhen was puzzled but agreed.
When she examined the pulse, problems appeared.
A widow having such trouble for months, with misfortune after misfortune: targeted by Third Mistress’s schemes, encountering Miaoyun, and now this.
Heaven, what was she to do?
Miaozhen felt as if she were about to become a roaring lion…