Ji Shi’s son’s third bath ceremony was unusually grand, with a constant stream of carriages and bustling guests outside the door.
Amidst such lively celebrations, although Miaozhen was a meritorious subject, she was not entitled to a seat of honor.
She was only a little above the maidservants and didn’t have to fuss about.
At this moment, Xu Erpeng arrived, intending to take his daughter home and also to arrange some bridal trousseau for her in Nanjing.
Miaozhen stepped out to meet her father and had to recount the events of the Cheng family’s third bath ceremony that day.
She said, “This child came out feet first, but it was I who saved her.”
“My daughter is truly remarkable!”
Xu Erpeng thought to himself, feeling that such a great merit should have earned her a seat at the main table.
Miaozhen was unconcerned.
“If so, it’s time for me to gracefully retire. Today, I didn’t tell Third Grandmother, but I’ll speak to her tomorrow, then inform the old ladies, and finally return with you.”
Xu Erpeng nodded.
“In that case, have someone bring out a few trunks so it won’t look too conspicuous on the day you leave.”
“I was thinking the same. I have forty bolts of cloth in total. Let’s have Xiao Xi and Xiao Tao wrap them in felt and bring them out first.”
Miaozhen had indeed saved up quite a bit of property.
Xu Erpeng immediately sent someone to hire more carts nearby.
Xiao Xi and Xiao Tao made several trips before all the cloth was transported, allowing Miaozhen to breathe a sigh of relief.
The next day, she first told Third Grandmother, “My father has already come to pick me up.”
Third Grandmother was somewhat caught off guard and chided Miaozhen, “Child, why didn’t you tell me yesterday? I could have had your father drink a cup of wine before leaving.”
“My father feels uneasy in crowded places,” Miaozhen smiled.
Third Grandmother grasped her shoulders and said, “I agree, but I’m afraid Eldest Grandmother won’t approve. You should speak to her.”
Miaozhen hurried to Ji Shi’s side.
She first checked Ji Shi’s health, and Ji Shi was very pleased.
“This time, it truly was the Buddha’s blessing and heaven’s protection that everything went smoothly.”
“Indeed.”
After seeing Ji Shi was well, Miaozhen didn’t mention herself at all, though she felt somewhat disappointed.
Ji Shi was so strong-willed; surely she wouldn’t want others to say her child was hard to bear.
Yet she didn’t even mention it in front of Miaozhen.
Thinking that Ji Shi had already gifted her many precious jewels, Miaozhen didn’t press the matter and focused on her own goal.
So she straightforwardly said, “My father happened to arrive yesterday and came to take me home. Third Grandmother agreed and asked me to inform you.”
Actually, Miaozhen used careful wording.
Third Grandmother wanted her to get Ji Shi’s permission before proceeding, but Miaozhen said Third Grandmother had already agreed, making her visit more a formality before leaving.
As expected, Ji Shi asked first, “Is my health alright?”
“Rest assured. I just felt some qi deficiency when taking your pulse. Once you expel the lochia, you’ll be fine,” Miaozhen replied.
Ji Shi hummed and said, “In that case, go ahead and leave. I won’t say much—at your age, it’s indeed time to settle down.”
Miaozhen bowed respectfully and withdrew.
Xiao Xi said, “Miss, I thought Eldest Grandmother would try hard to keep you here…”
“If I hadn’t mentioned Third Grandmother, that might have been so. But since I did, she surely doesn’t want to show concern for a mere small female doctor like me. Otherwise, people would think she can’t bear to part with me. Unless one day I truly become a famous doctor, my leaving will be like ‘a great tree losing a leaf, a granary losing a grain.’”
Miaozhen had thought it through clearly.
If she didn’t leave now, Third Grandmother’s next move would come.
Since Ji Shi consented, Third Grandmother naturally had no objections.
She was kind, giving Miaozhen a piece of green peony-patterned silk, a dual-color satin with pine and bamboo plum designs, and also the Qingming Festival gifts early—a piece of scorched cloth, white gauze, medicinal spotted cloth, and some second-rate ramie.
Miaozhen thanked them again.
Ban Xia, Chunxian, and Dou Kou, who were close friends, came by to see her off.
Ban Xia was the most reluctant to part and Miaozhen specially left her two bottles of medicine, saying, “You don’t need to use the bathing medicine too often anymore; you should think about leaving someday.”
“I want to leave, but I have no one to rely on,” Ban Xia sighed.
Miaozhen thought Third Grandmother was truly unkind, but after Ban Xia left with no family, if she were sold again, it would be even worse.
So she said, “If she has no intention of favoring you, you might as well pick someone early and let them come seek you out. Both inside and outside the household would be settled, and she couldn’t stop it. To be honest, Third Grandfather is ill.”
In the end, Miaozhen couldn’t bear it and told Ban Xia.
Ban Xia said, “What about Dongxing?”
“Dongxing? The one by Grandfather’s side?”
Miaozhen was surprised.
Ban Xia nodded.
“Last time, when Eldest Grandmother troubled Dongxing, we’re from the same hometown, so I sent some cakes, wine, and water to comfort him. We’ve consoled each other a few times.”
“I think he’s quite clever and handsome. Perfect. I have a new set of clothes gifted by Ru Eldest Grandmother. I haven’t worn them, so I’ll give them to you as a gift. Don’t disdain it.”
After speaking, she had Xiao Xi fetch the clothes: a silver-red gauze blouse with gold rings, a white autumn gauze skirt with thread embroidery, and matching knee-length pants.
If she married a long-term servant or footman of the mansion, they wouldn’t care about whether she had lost her virginity—everyone would understand. It was better than being outside with no one to depend on.
With Ban Xia’s situation somewhat settled, Miaozhen finally exhaled.
Chunxian called several servants to carry about seven or eight trunks outside, along with bedding, foot basins, and wooden buckets brought from home.
Even Ban Xia recruited two little maids to help finish the moving.
Miaozhen was touched and reluctant but also felt a sense of freedom.
At the Ru and Tan households, she felt more like a student who only had to focus on learning medicine.
The Cheng family was her first job after leaving home, where she gained much and learned patience.
“Let’s go, Zhenzhen,” Xu Erpeng said, sensing his daughter’s mixed emotions.
He was no different.
Miaozhen climbed into the carriage and looked back at Ban Xia, Chunxian, and the others at the door, waving energetically.
Only after turning a corner and losing sight of them did she lower the curtain.
Xu Erpeng had originally planned to linger for a couple of days in Nanjing, but seeing her many trunks and valuable cloth, he thought it best to head home quickly to avoid theft.
After leaving the Cheng family, father and daughter arrived at the ferry.
They paid eight taels for the boat and booked an entire deck, with attendants guarding the door.
Miaozhen sighed.
“Father, why did you bring so many people this time?”
“The river isn’t safe these days, but rest assured. The boatmen are people we know locally and won’t collude with bandits,” Xu Erpeng said.
Miaozhen opened another trunk and said to her father, “This is three hundred taels I saved. Father, you told me my good match would cost much preparing a dowry; take it all.”
Xu Erpeng did not refuse.
“I originally wanted to buy a few acres of land for you, but land is hard to buy; most have been passed down for generations. It’s better to invest in a shop. You wouldn’t have to worry about expenses like sewing and cosmetics.”
“Father, two or three hundred taels won’t get a big business going. Besides, I’m skilled in medicine. Why worry about earning it back? Just use it for consultation fees. I think you should keep this money.”
Miaozhen didn’t dislike the idea of a shop, but with such little capital, the profit would be small, and she’d have to hire staff to manage it—so it wasn’t worth it.
Xu Erpeng realized the sense in her words.
“That makes sense. Since you’ve returned with so many bolts of cloth and jewelry, we can spend less setting up, so it’s better you keep them for now.”
Miaozhen didn’t mention the match but only spoke of Cheng family matters—some thrilling, some mundane, and some involving schemes and traps.