Spring of the eighth year of the reign of Emperor Qianlong
Springtime in the whole state is unusually cold and gloomy this year.
The copper rings on the vermilion gate of the Cheng family mansion were covered with water mist, and the copper bells on the eaves made a dull sound in the cold spring wind.
Inside the main room of Songhe Courtyard, the strong smell of medicine mingled with sandalwood. The old ancestor's withered fingers gripped the blue satin quilt, and he breathed heavily, his throat making a bellows-like sound.
The patriarch of the Cheng family had been bedridden for several days, and her health was deteriorating rapidly.
The recent cold snap has made me even more vulnerable, and my already weak body is now like a candle flickering in the wind.
Doctors came and went, and despite their best efforts, everyone knew that the old man's condition had reached a point of no return.
The entire Cheng household, from masters to servants, was shrouded in a somber atmosphere.
"Have you sent a message to the capital?" Madam Cheng asked softly, handing the snow-dampened crane cloak to the maid, her tone tinged with urgency and worry.
Her eyes were dark and a wisp of hair fell beside her pale cheek, indicating that she had not slept well for several days.
Cheng Dalang slumped in his rosewood armchair, rubbing his temples with his eyes closed: "An urgent letter sent via the official post station should be ready by tomorrow at the latest..."
Before he could finish speaking, the sound of porcelain shattering suddenly came from outside.
He lifted the curtain in frustration and looked out, and saw a young maid kneeling on the corridor picking up broken porcelain shards, her clothes still stained with medicine.
"Useless thing!" Old Master Cheng kicked over the charcoal brazier by the door, and sparks splashed onto the maid's hand, burning her so much that she cowered and dared not make a sound.
Madam Cheng quickly signaled to Granny Lu to drag the person away, then turned to look at the gray sky outside the carved window—this was the third servant to be punished this month.
The master has been frowning these past few days, and he can't even be bothered to touch his favorite Longjing tea. He paces back and forth in his study all day, occasionally muttering curses under his breath.
Others might not understand why he had become so irritable lately, but the First Madam, who was by his side, knew perfectly well why.
Our ancestor is getting old and his illness is recurring, which is causing the master great anxiety.
What troubled the master even more was his dealings with that mysterious person.
The First Madam did not know who the mysterious person was, only that he was a man who came and went without a trace at the Cheng family.
Every time Master Cheng met with him, he would return with a frighteningly gloomy expression.
The First Madam overheard the Master talking to that mysterious person, vaguely mentioning words like "deadline" and "risk," suggesting that the Master and the mysterious person had a significant deal between them.
The First Madam dared not ask too many questions about the nature of the deal, but she could sense that the Master was overwhelmed by it.
Once, Master Cheng was drinking alone in his study. In his drunken stupor, he muttered to himself, "If only I hadn't been greedy for that little bit of advantage back then, things wouldn't have come to this..."
The First Madam stood outside the door, her heart pounding with fear, but she dared not go in to disturb them.
---
Knowing that Master Cheng was in a bad mood, Madam Cheng finally asked anxiously in the evening, "Alas, I don't know if it will be in time, sir. Do you think they can come from over there?"
The Cheng family members knew how important their ancestor was to the family, and the people in the capital were the family's last hope.
Grandpa Cheng leaned back on the bed, frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and then slowly said, "He was able to come because he was raised by our ancestor for several years when he was a child. He has always been grateful for that kindness, otherwise he wouldn't have come to visit our ancestor on his way through Quanzhou."
"Then what do you think? Would it be feasible to send our Yu-ge to the capital? To keep Nian-ge company?" Madam Cheng asked tentatively, a hint of anticipation flashing in her eyes.
Originally, the plan was to send Yu Ge to study at the Imperial Academy in the capital with the help of the old ancestor when he was a little older.
Our ancestor's illness is progressing rapidly, and it seems he won't live to see that day.
Once the patriarch passes away, the bonds within the Cheng family will gradually dissipate, and Yu Ge's future will naturally become uncertain.
Grandpa Cheng understood what she meant, but still shook his head: "Let alone whether the second and third brothers agree or not, even the eldest son's wife, would she be willing to let Yu leave home at such a young age?"
"Can……"
Before the First Madam could finish speaking, she was interrupted: "Besides, what kind of status does Nian-ge have? How can we just say he can go and keep us company?"
Grandpa Cheng's tone carried a certain self-righteousness, whether it was to persuade Madam Cheng or for his own sake, it was unclear.
The First Madam was so worried that she couldn't sleep all night, tossing and turning, thinking about how to secure a good future for Yu Ge.
She knew that the future of the Cheng family hung by a thread, and she had to find a bright future for Yu Ge.
---
These days, the masters of the mansion are all busy with the old matriarch's illness, and with no one watching over her anymore, Wang Xiuxiu has become completely idle.
Three or four days later, the whole household was busy again. Looking at this scene, Wang Xiuxiu felt that it was very familiar.
Late at night, the Cheng family mansion was brightly lit.
All members of the Cheng family gathered at the Cheng family ancestral home, surrounding the bedside of the critically ill elderly man.
A suffocating atmosphere filled the room; everyone held their breath, awaiting the final moment.
"Grandmother..." someone whispered in the old woman's ear, a barely perceptible sob in their voice.
However, the ancestor's eyes were only slightly open, his gaze was blurry, and he seemed to have lost consciousness.
Her lips moved slightly, but no sound came out.
Relatives and family members sat around the old man's bedside, their faces filled with grief and reluctance, regardless of whether it was true or not.
The man in the lead, dressed in a brocade robe, looked travel-worn.
It was Lu Jingze, a distant relative of the Cheng family, who had rushed over from the capital, and also the most valued descendant of the ancestor.
The old woman's breathing grew weaker and weaker, and she struggled to raise her hand, as if trying to grasp something.
"The Cheng family..." The old man used his last bit of strength to utter only these two words.
Lu Jingze held the old ancestor's hand tightly, "Don't worry, I will protect the Cheng family for you."
As if a wish had been fulfilled, the ancestor slowly closed his eyes.
His breathing gradually weakened, and eventually stopped.
The room was immediately filled with sobs as relatives burst into tears.
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