Xu Erpeng was both pained and proud to hear of her experiences.
When he heard that Miaozhen’s name was even inscribed on the stone tablet, he said, “I am but a lowly man. If only I could get someone to publicize your name.”
“Absolutely not. When someone is too famous, they are praised and mythologized at first, but in the end, those very people will be the ones to tear you down. Though I’m gratified, it’s unnecessary.”
Miaozhen knew some people all too well.
Everyone has flaws; she had hers and feared being set up.
Xu Erpeng sighed.
“That’s for the best. You really have grown up.”
A father couldn’t stay long in his daughter’s room, so he left first.
Miaozhen removed her hairpins and lay down.
For a moment, she recalled how she was dragged from bed in the Cheng family, waiting in the snow all day until nearly frozen.
Now, she felt truly comfortable.
She turned over and went back to sleep.
At night, the sunset light streamed through the window cracks, casting a wan and desolate glow on the wall.
Xiao Xi brought in dinner.
“Our master is talking with a young gentleman, and they share wide-ranging knowledge; they get along very well.”
“My father is talkative but has to write, so he can’t often chat. It’s good to have company on the journey. By the way, didn’t we bring some candied fruits? Send them to Father for snacking.”
Miaozhen said.
Xiao Xi immediately brought a small plate with several kinds and gave it over.
Xu Erpeng was dining with the young Qixingongzi and said, “So, you came to receive your family’s master? You’re only about thirteen or fourteen, yet so bold. Young man, you truly have courage.”
The Qixingongzi smiled, “You flatter me.”
Xu Erpeng admired the boy’s knowledge and insight.
Seeing Xiao Xi bring the plate, he said, “Let your lady rest well.”
The two grew increasingly engaged in conversation, especially since Xu Erpeng was a scholar skilled in writing, versed in astronomy and geography, and deeply resentful of injustice.
Their talk lasted deep into the night.
When Miaozhen first left, the Cheng family barely noticed, but after a couple of days, unease arose.
A true warrior’s merit isn’t always obvious.
She always anticipated symptoms before seasonal changes or feasts and carried pills accordingly.
After the third bath, the First Madam again suffered indigestion.
Her old diarrhea condition, once cured by Miaozhen, returned because of unchanged habits and fondness for miscellaneous foods without care.
Usually, Miaozhen would prescribe medicine whenever she felt unwell, but today the diarrhea reappeared.
Cheng Yuan, unaware of Miaozhen’s departure, hurriedly sent someone to summon her, only to be told, “Miss Xu left the day before yesterday.”
“Left? Where to?”
“Her father took her home.”
Cheng Yuan was stunned, having heard nothing.
They had no choice but to summon an outside doctor who took her pulse behind a screen.
After much effort, the First Madam was barely stabilized with medication.
While the First Madam suffered, other branches of the Cheng family were uneasy.
Fourth Miss Cheng Shu spoke with her elder sister, “It’s strange you still favored her, but now she’s gone and you didn’t even know. I just asked Third Sister-in-law and heard her family arranged a match for her.”
Cheng Yuan was aware.
The match was decent—a marriage to Cen Jinshi of Wu County—but the couple’s relationship was poor.
Strangely, in the previous life, only a female doctor surnamed Ru had come to their mansion.
This time, it was Xu Miaozhen.
Had she been reborn, changing even Xu Miaozhen’s fate?
After Miaozhen left, Ji Zhenjie stayed on.
Though she specialized in minor pulse diagnosis and only had some knowledge in other fields, whenever a woman in the mansion had gynecological issues, they sought her out, keeping her very busy.
She had to continue working at the Cheng family to earn some extra money.
For Miaozhen, the Cheng family affairs were soon cast aside.
She was like this—when working somewhere, she gave her all, but once done, she no longer dwelled on it.
When they arrived at Zhenjiang, to avoid bandits, their boat hid near Luhuadang for a while before departing.
Someone apparently leaked news of their many trunks, and robbers tried to board.
Luckily, her father brought guards, and the young Qixingongzi fought them off.
Miaozhen and Xu Erpeng personally thanked him.
Miaozhen, a poised young lady, said, “May I ask your name? I’m skilled in medicine, especially acupuncture for women. If your wife or mother ever falls ill, please come to Suzhou to find me.”
She then presented two bolts of satin as a gift.
Unexpectedly, the young man said, “I’m honored, but I’m Qijiguang.”
Qijiguang?
She had met the famous general Qijiguang here!
Glad she had responded appropriately, Miaozhen felt it was worth it and even took an extra glance at him.
Qijiguang disembarked at the riverbank ahead of them.
Two days later, they arrived in Suzhou City.
Mei Shi greeted Miaozhen warmly, even speaking to her outside the bathhouse, “Why so many trunks? With all that cloth, one might think you two went to rob a silk shop.”
Miaozhen, soaking in the tub, only smiled, “They’re gifts from patients my mother helped. Oh, I also bought some silk flowers from Nanjing for you—very pretty.”
“You child, how much money did you spend on this?”
Mei Shi was inwardly delighted.
Miaozhen washed with rose-scented soap, eager to wash away the dampness and stuffiness from the boat ride, all the while chatting about the harrowing journey.
Mei Shi said, “It’s better to stay in Suzhou. The outside world is full of bandits and worse.”
Though the event was frightening, Miaozhen was genuinely shaken.
“Yes, I didn’t expect so many bandits. I heard they even killed a newly appointed official.”
After bathing and washing her hair, the house was already set for dinner.
Miaozhen first presented gifts.
To Mei Shi, two boxes of Nanjing silk flowers; to Xu Erpeng, a netted scarf with a jade buckle; and to her two younger brothers, two clay whistles and a kite each.
The gifts weren’t expensive but chosen with care.
Mei Shi put a piece of braised pork shank into Miaozhen’s bowl.
“This has been slow-cooked; the bones are almost tender.”
“Mm,” Miaozhen buried her head in the food, too busy enjoying the delicious home cooking to speak.
After the pork shank, she happily ate the steamed buns made by Chunbulao.
Mei Shi also ladled some chicken soup with many red dates, longans, and ginseng roots to nourish her.
Once fully satisfied, Miaozhen slowly sipped the soup and asked, “How is Second Madam Ma next door? Has Ma Jiejie recovered?”
“After you treated her last time, she’s better. Now she might be getting married to the Wang family of the Xunjiansi. The wedding is planned for the end of this year,” Mei Shi smiled.
The Xunjiansi was a minor official post, akin to today’s police.
They interrogated spies, salt smugglers, unregistered residents, and strangers.
Miaozhen said, “Time flies; it seems everyone’s grown up.”
Especially regarding her own marriage, Miaozhen planned to ask Mei Shi after dinner at the embroidery tower—but first had to tidy her jewelry.
Her most precious pieces were the loose hairpieces and accessories gifted by Second Madam and Eldest Grandmother—over twenty items.
Mei Shi was amazed, “These two loose hairpiece sets alone must be worth four or five hundred taels.”
“Yes, so I guarded that trunk with my eyes wide open on the way, afraid of theft,” Miaozhen laughed.
Besides the two hairpiece sets, there was a jade pendant from Chunxian stored in a long wooden box.
Also, Madam Qin sent three golden embroidered sweat towels, which Miaozhen gave to Mei Shi.
“I think these suit you. I specially saved them for you.”
Mei Shi refused but Miaozhen insisted until she accepted.
Then she said, “Your father also prepared much household furniture: a Huanghuali frame bed, a Nanjing four-poster bed, a gilt-decorated trunk, a mother-of-pearl screen, and a mud-gold pine-bamboo-plum folding screen. Quite a collection.”
“Your father said your future husband’s cousin is betrothed to a salt merchant’s daughter, and his younger brother to the daughter of the Wu County Registrar. Both have good status, so your dowry must be complete.”
“Mother, if that’s so, why would the Xiao family arrange a match for me? They haven’t even met me,” Miaozhen truly didn’t understand.
Mei Shi said, “Your father knew Second Madam Xiao was devoted to Buddhism, so he bribed a maid to set things up and praised your birth chart wildly. Unexpectedly, Second Madam Xiao really believed it.”
Never had Miaozhen imagined her marriage was arranged this way.
She said, “That’s really improper.”
“At first, I thought so too, but later considered that the Xiao family isn’t foolish. We did have a maid say a few good words, but even the Zhao, Gong, and Tong families showed interest. Since they chose us, it means we’re not bad. Your father is a Jiansheng, we live in Suzhou’s most prosperous district, and you’re well-versed in the classics and medicine, able to earn a good living alone. So don’t fuss too much. If you were a man on the path of officialdom, you’d also need someone to speak well for you, right?”
Mei Shi’s words echoed what her husband had advised.
Miaozhen felt conflicted but remembered how Li Yao’e and Yu Zhoujin, both from famous medical families with secret knowledge, also ended up in this position.
Still, she said, “Isn’t this ultimately dishonorable?”
Seeing her daughter’s integrity, Mei Shi snorted, “Are others honorable? Xiao’s cousin once swore he wouldn’t marry unless he passed the Jinshi exam. He was originally engaged to Ding Jiaoyu’s daughter, but after passing, the Xia salt merchant’s daughter pursued and stole him away. The Xia family knew he was betrothed but didn’t care.”
“Also, the Zhao family from the carriage and horse business was recommended by a Xiao elder to marry their daughter. Everyone shows their skills in different ways. I truly don’t understand why you work hard to become Yang Ruren’s disciple, bribing the housemaids, but when it comes to your own marriage, you’re so naive.”
Miaozhen realized how much her parents cared for her.
“Father, Mother, you both do so much for me, yet I do not show understanding. It’s my fault.”
Mei Shi hugged her daughter.
“I know. When you were young, some mocked you for your palm lines, but women with such lines are most capable.”
“Mother, I still remember Third Aunt’s jokes. I’ve long since cast them aside. How can one’s destiny be judged by palm lines, facial features, or birth charts? Even if it says a rotten fate, I’ll live it better and better.”
Recalling Third Aunt Baomu’s saying that men with broken palms are strong but lazy, and women with broken palms tend to have inharmonious marriages or even harm their husbands, Miaozhen dismissed these superstitions as nonsense.
Even if her marriage failed or she remained unmarried, she would still make something of herself.