Chapter 29: Half-Baked Knowledge

Why is Aunt Zhang not at the dining table?

Upon hearing this, Zhuhua tilted her head slightly, brow furrowed as if a giant question mark had appeared on her forehead. Why would she ask such a thing?

"Aunt Zhang, along with Aunt Zhou, never dines at the same table as the Mistress. That is the rule of the Cheng household; concubines are concubines, and the masters are the masters."

"Aunt Zhou?" Su Yunqing widened her eyes. "There is another concubine?"

Zhuhua nodded. "Yes. The Fourth Young Lady was born to Aunt Zhou, the Second Young Master to Aunt Zhang, and the Eldest and Third Young Masters are the Mistress’s own sons."

After composing her inner surprise, Su Yunqing nodded gently. "I see. Had you not mentioned it, I would never have guessed. I have seen the Mistress treat the Second Young Master and the Fourth Young Lady with even more affection than the Third Young Master." She then gestured toward the embroidery stool beside the bed, inviting her to sit.

Seeing that Su Yunqing held none of the aloof airs of a noble lady, Zhuhua felt herself relax, as if a dam had burst. She sat properly on the stool and said, "Indeed. Though the Second Young Master and the Fourth Young Lady are children of the concubines, they were raised by the Mistress’s side since they were small, and she treats them all with equal care. As for the Third Young Master..."

When speaking of Cheng Cong, young Zhuhua’s brow immediately knotted. She glanced around the room before leaning in to whisper, "The Third Young Master has been mischievous since childhood, a regular hell-raiser. Aside from the Master and the Eldest Young Master, there is nothing in this world he fears. But now, with the Master and Eldest Young Master ill, he has actually restrained himself quite a bit."

"No wonder..."

Hearing this explanation and recalling Cheng Cong’s attitude earlier that day, it no longer seemed strange.

Zhuhua continued, "You may not know this, Miss, but just last month the Third Young Master drove away yet another tutor. Now, in the entire Pan County, there is not a single teacher willing to instruct him. The Mistress is currently having the Second Young Master seek someone from further away."

"Ah!"

...

The two chatted back and forth for quite some time, and through Zhuhua’s words, Su Yunqing gained a rough understanding of the current state of the Cheng family. The Cheng family owned many businesses spread far and wide, previously managed by Cheng Yitang and Cheng Ji. With the recent accident, Cheng Xiao had taken the reins in the face of crisis and was handling the duties with ease.

Like the Mistress, Zhuhua spoke of Cheng Xiao with overflowing praise. As for the two concubines, Aunt Zhang was flamboyant and highly favored by the Master, while Aunt Zhou was reserved, never fighting for attention, yet still held in high regard by the Master.

But no matter how favored a concubine might be, the Mistress’s word was final in the household; no one dared to defy her. Since Su Yunqing’s own family had no concubines, her understanding of the role remained tied to childhood memories of accompanying her mother to banquets at other estates, where, on major occasions, she indeed never saw them present.

After washing up and lying in bed, she still felt the lingering sensation of the waves and the rocking of the boat.

Zhuhua tucked the quilt around her. "If you need to rise in the night, Miss, just call for me. I will be in the outer room."

"Go and sleep. I don't have the habit of rising at night."

"Very well, rest well, Miss!"

Watching Zhuhua retreat, she thought of her own maid, Chunjuan. Zhuhua was about the same age as Chunjuan, who had grown up by her side. Since she could remember, Chunjuan had always been there. After the Su family estate was confiscated, the servants had been sold off; she had been so overwhelmed herself that she had no room to consider their fates. Only now, lying on a soft bed in a spacious room within this quiet courtyard, did she have the luxury to wonder: were they well?

Su Yunqing stifled a yawn. Disturbed half the night by the wako pirates, she was exhausted. It was time to sleep. Tomorrow, she would write a letter to her mother to assure her of her safety, and another to Dr. Ma to inquire about the illnesses of Master Cheng and Cheng Ji, letting him know she was safe as well...

The night passed without dreams.

The next morning, after washing up and accompanying the Mistress to visit the Master and Cheng Ji, and after consulting with the physicians, the Mistress took her for a stroll through the gardens. The pavilions and towers of the Jiangnan style, with their green tiles, dark eaves, and winding streams, held a unique charm.

"The Mistress is finally willing to come out and clear her mind," Mama Jin said. She loved to talk, and her company ensured the mood was never dull. "Before you arrived, for over ten days, the Mistress spent her time either in the Master’s room or the Eldest Young Master’s. Aside from walking between the two, she hadn't stepped outside her own door."

Su Yunqing helped the Mistress onto an arched bridge, where a group of mandarin ducks swam below.

"Mistress, do not worry too much. The Eldest Young Master’s condition is different today than it was yesterday. The doctor said just now that his waking is only a matter of days."

The Mistress let out a sigh of relief. "Only after hearing the doctor say that do I feel a bit lighter. Otherwise, my old bones would barely be able to move."

Mama Jin glanced at the graying hair on the Mistress’s head, lowered her eyes for a moment, and then looked up with a smile. "The Eldest Young Master is about to be married, and the Third Young Master is only ten. You are still young, Mistress; how could you be old?"

The Mistress shot her a look. "You only say what is pleasant to hear. Your words don't count. Speaking of Cong’er, I am so worried. A few days ago, I asked Xiao’er to find him a tutor, and guess what happened?"

Su Yunqing watched her with curiosity, awaiting the rest.

"Once people heard of his glorious reputation, no amount of money could convince them to come. Alas, these educated teachers are all former scholars or degree holders. They have their own circles, and having offended so many, I fear his name is known throughout the entire Cang Prefecture."

Su Yunqing laughed. "Though the Third Young Master is mischievous, he is naturally bright, and at this age, his energy is simply overflowing. Please set your heart at ease, Mistress. Perhaps, in time, he will grow out of it himself?"

"That may be, but time is money. Youth is the best time for study, and I truly fear he will ruin his own future."

Mama Jin helped the Mistress onto a stone stool in the gazebo. "The Eldest Young Master is getting better. Once he wakes, let him handle it. In a little while, the Master will recover, too. There will be someone to keep him in check."

The Mistress turned to Su Yunqing. "Third Miss, I see you are quite knowledgeable and must be a studious person. What books have you read?"

"..." Su Yunqing bit her lip. "I—I have only scratched the surface of my studies. I am but a half-filled bottle."

Mama Jin giggled. "Miss Su is truly humble. The Third Young Master often boasts that he has mastered both ancient and modern knowledge and has no need for those pedantic, old-fashioned teachers."

The Mistress waved her hand. "Enough, enough. It is such a beautiful day, let us not speak of him." She pointed toward the depths of the lotus leaves in the lake. "Third Miss, tell me, is my vision failing, or is there a fresh lotus seed pod in there?"

...

In the days that followed, Cheng Ji’s condition improved steadily. He could open his eyes and swallow food on his own, though he could not yet speak. Although Master Cheng remained the same, seeing the visible recovery of her son caused the Mistress’s brow to unfurl, and her spirits grew stronger each day.

At the same time, her relationship with Su Yunqing grew increasingly close, shifting from the polite "Third Miss" to calling her "Qing'er," as if she were her own daughter. Most surprisingly, Cheng Cong had not caused any trouble for several days.

Everything was moving in a positive direction. The Mistress only hoped that by the day of the wedding, Cheng Ji would be fully awake and able to stand.