Chapter 27: Ten Thousand Taels of Gold

After crossing the courtyard, traversing a small bridge, and walking along a cobblestone path lined with flowers, one reaches the Emerald Pavilion.

"Madam, Miss Su has arrived."

Su Yunqing followed Mother Jin into the small courtyard. The lotus leaves in the pond remained lush, standing like overlapping parasols, while a cluster of bamboo beside the water was vibrant and verdant. Two snowy-white Huating cranes stood by the pond, their feathers as pure and ethereal as fallen snow.

A woman dressed in refined, elegant clothing but devoid of any jewelry emerged from the east wing, supported by a maid.

"Is this the third Miss Su?"

Mother Jin answered for her, "Yes, Madam, this is indeed the third young lady of the Su family."

Su Yunqing looked toward the voice. The woman had a fair, gentle face, though she appeared slightly haggard, and her hair was a shocking, premature gray that looked entirely out of place with her youthful features.

Su Yunqing stepped forward and, before speaking, knelt to offer a formal kowtow.

The Madam hurriedly leaned down to pull her up. "Get up, child, get up. It has been a long journey; you must be exhausted. There is no need for such formalities!"

Su Yunqing insisted on pressing her forehead to the ground once before looking up into the woman’s eyes. "I am Su Yunqing, paying my respects to you, Madam."

"Rise!" Madam Cheng’s voice was as gentle and kind as her appearance. "There is no need for such decorum. Come, come, sit down and have some tea."

Once Su Yunqing was seated, a maid poured her a cup. "Please, Miss Su."

Madam Cheng took her hand. "The poor child, how was the journey here?"

Su Yunqing nodded. "I am quite well. After the incident at home, I sent my mother to my uncle’s house and hired a boat to travel south on my own."

Madam Cheng sighed. "We heard about what happened to your family. I was so worried you might have met with some misfortune. I had intended to send Ji’er to Zejiang himself, but who could have expected that we would receive your letter first? But now, Ji’er and the Master have also… so I arranged for someone to meet you at the pier instead."

As she spoke, Madam Cheng bowed her head, her expression darkening with sorrow.

"Madam, when did Uncle Cheng and Eldest Brother encounter the Japanese pirates?"

"At the beginning of the month. On their way back from Zejiang, the ship reached Huamu Port, less than a hundred miles from home. That area is frequently plagued by pirates, and that day, they ran straight into them. The pirates seized the ship and threw everyone overboard. Ji’er was severely wounded, and by the time they were rescued by a fishing vessel, Ji’er was in critical condition, and the Master had already lost consciousness!"

As she spoke, Madam Cheng raised her hand to wipe away her tears.

Su Yunqing leaned over to soothe her back. "What does the doctor say?"

Seeing Madam Cheng too choked with emotion to speak clearly, Mother Jin answered for her. "The doctor says the Master’s condition is mostly set; it would take a miracle for him to wake up. However, there is still great hope for the young master. He suffered a head injury that caused internal congestion, but thanks to the daily acupuncture and medicine, he is gradually improving."

Su Yunqing stood up. "Madam, could you take me to see Eldest Brother and Uncle Cheng?"

The room was heavy with the scent of medicinal herbs. Cheng Ji lay on the bed, and a beautiful, gentle-looking maid was diligently massaging his limbs.

Mother Jin said to her, "Mujin, Miss Su is here to see the young master. You may step out."

At these words, Mujin paused. She did not speak, nor did she turn to offer a bow. She simply placed Cheng Ji’s limbs down with meticulous care, pulled the quilt up to tuck him in neatly, and only then turned around.

Keeping her eyes fixed on her own toes, she walked slowly toward Su Yunqing, offered a curtsy, and said, "I am the maid Mujin, greetings, Miss Su."

Su Yunqing nodded at her. As Mujin looked up and brushed past her to leave, the intense hostility in her eyes sent a chill down Su Yunqing’s spine.

She had no time to ponder the thoughts of a maid and walked softly to the bedside.

Cheng Ji’s eyes were closed, his head wrapped in gauze. Though his face was gaunt, it did not diminish the handsomeness of his features or the refinement of his profile.

"Ji’er, can you hear Mother? Miss Su is here," Madam Cheng said, reaching out to stroke his face.

Cheng Ji showed no reaction.

Fearing that Madam Cheng would become overly agitated, Mother Jin stepped up to support her. "Do not worry, Madam. Mujin was just exercising his body; he has likely tired himself out and fallen into a deep sleep."

Madam Cheng murmured, "I only fear that come the day of the wedding, he will not be able to rise…"

No sooner had she spoken than Cheng Ji’s eyelids flickered. He seemed to be struggling to open them, though he could not quite manage it. Madam Cheng quickly pulled back the quilt to take his hand and realized his fingers were beginning to curl.

Madam Cheng was overwhelmed with excitement. "Ji’er heard me! He can hear me…"

Mother Jin was also pleasantly surprised. "Indeed, Madam! I told you—the young master is a man of great fortune. The heavens are watching over him. What a coincidence that the moment Miss Su arrives, the young master begins to recover."

This remark reminded Madam Cheng of something. Still holding Cheng Ji’s hand with one of hers, she took Su Yunqing’s hand with the other. "It is no wonder the Master always said these two children were destined for one another!"

Though Su Yunqing felt somewhat uncomfortable with Madam Cheng’s enthusiasm, she understood the feelings of a mother in such a plight, so she placed her other hand over Madam Cheng’s.

"Besides the head injury," she asked, "are there any other wounds?"

Mother Jin replied, "There are none."

"Then this is a sign of recovery," Su Yunqing said. "I once heard a royal physician say that those with head injuries suffer from internal stagnation, which indirectly affects bodily functions. This condition cannot be rushed. Once the congestion in the brain gradually diminishes and disappears, Eldest Brother should be able to recover fully."

Mother Jin and Madam Cheng exchanged a glance and smiled. "What Miss Su says is exactly what the doctor told us. Miss Su is truly as clever as they come."

Seeing Cheng Ji’s improvement brought Su Yunqing some comfort. Although she knew the pirates were the ones responsible for the Cheng family’s suffering, she felt a lingering sense of guilt, knowing her own situation was linked to the cause. It was impossible not to feel a burden in her heart.

Especially when she looked at Madam Cheng’s gray hair and weary face.

Madam Cheng gripped her hand tighter. "It is a blessing that you have come. Cong’er is small and only knows how to be mischievous and cause me worry. Now that you are here, it feels as though I have someone to lean on."

"Rest assured, Madam. I will stay by your side and help Uncle Cheng and Eldest Brother recover."

Madam Cheng looked at Cheng Ji with infinite tenderness for a long while before reluctantly pulling the quilt up for him. She stood and took Su Yunqing’s hand. "Come, let me take you to see your Uncle Cheng."

The maid waiting nearby stepped forward to support Madam Cheng, and Mother Jin joined them as they walked out.

As soon as the four of them cleared the doorway, a figure darted past them and vanished rapidly into the room.

From the corner of her eye, Su Yunqing recognized her: it was Mujin.

Su Yunqing followed them to another courtyard, where the plaque bore three gold-leaf characters: *Hall of Gathered Fortune*.

This was where Master Cheng and Madam Cheng resided.

Before they had even stepped into the courtyard, the sound of whimpering and sobbing drifted out from within.

Madam Cheng’s expression clouded with displeasure. She glanced at Mother Jin, who understood immediately and walked quickly toward the east wing.

"Madam has returned. Concubine Zhang, please take your leave!"

As Su Yunqing and the maid helped Madam Cheng slowly ascend the steps, a woman dressed in gorgeous, jewel-laden attire stepped out of the room, her face a mask of arrogance, fury, and resentment.

She offered a curtsy. "Greetings, Madam."

Madam Cheng’s tone was stern. "Has the Cheng family lost its sense of propriety? Why do you insist on running to my courtyard?"

Concubine Zhang looked deeply aggrieved. "I only wished to keep the Master company and tend to him. Seeing the Master in this state, I am restless and cannot sit still. I hope you will be considerate of my heart, Madam."

Madam Cheng said coldly, "Your absence is the greatest care you could provide him. Go back!"

Through the hand she was holding, Su Yunqing could feel Madam Cheng’s body trembling with anger.

In her grandfather’s house, there were no concubines, nor were there any in her father’s. Thus, in her upbringing, she had never even considered the existence of concubines in the Cheng household.

As she reached the final step, she lifted her foot a little too low and nearly tripped, but Mother Jin was quick and caught her.

"Careful, Miss!"

From not far away, Concubine Zhang’s voice drifted back: "That is worth ten thousand taels of gold, one really ought to be careful with it…"