Chapter 91 (Combined Chapter)
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, Miaozhen specially arranged for mooncakes and fruits to be placed in the middle of the courtyard so that she could enjoy the moon with her family. In addition to her family, Tingge'er and his two nephews were also in the courtyard.
The Xiao family has main branches like the inner third branch of Dingxiang Lane, which are either rich or noble, or branches that are not doing well. Those who can study are slightly better off, like Xiao Jinghu, who can be introduced to wealthy wives. But those who cannot study can only help manage the clan's affairs and businesses, which is no different from being a manager.
The two who were able to come out with Xiao Jingshi were young but quite capable. Xiao Qing studied for several years but failed, and later helped out at the Erfang Tea Shop. He managed the Jinling branch for two years and did it very well. Xiao Bin had already obtained the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the imperial examinations), and was experienced in his work and quite good at handling documents.
Miao Zhen had discussed it with Xiao Jingshi. Since the people had come with them, they must have something in mind. Although she wasn't one to join in the fun, she still had to help them out when necessary.
She first said to Xiao Bin, "You're twenty-six or twenty-seven now. Your mother asked me to find you a marriage partner. What a coincidence! Zheng, the military commissioner of Jiannan, has introduced a young lady. She's the daughter of the provincial judicial commissioner. She's been studying since childhood, is exceptionally intelligent, and has a beautiful appearance. I wonder what you think?"
Xiao Bin thought that his experience as an inspector had already made him a seventh-rank official. Although his family had some property, they were rich but not noble. Moreover, he was the second son in his family and was not as favored as his brothers. He was already very grateful that the other party had put in a lot of effort to arrange this marriage. He was overjoyed and thanked Miaozhen.
Miaozhen smiled and said, "Since you agree to this, why don't you write a letter to your parents? Your fourth uncle and I will then make the arrangements for you."
She then reassured Xiao Qing, "Don't worry, as long as there's something good, your aunt will arrange it for you. The main thing is that Bin-ge'er is a bit older."
Xiao Qing quickly said he didn't mind, but he thought that Xiao Bin was four years older than him, so his aunt was right, especially since they usually received the same amount of food.
After that, Sister Fu was learning to take the pulses of Brother Ting and Brother Zheng, with Miao Zhen giving instructions from the side. Every now and then, Xiao Jing would say a few words. Later that evening, everyone dispersed.
The Jiang family next door finished even earlier. Madam Jiang was health-conscious and strictly adhered to the routine of working at sunrise and resting at sunset. She would also soak her feet in the evening and take a medicinal bath on the first and fifteenth of each lunar month. So, she had already gone to bed early by this time.
However, Lord Jiang was a chatterbox. Although he was usually serious and unsmiling in public, he was incredibly talkative at home, especially when he was with Madam Jiang.
"Zheng Qianshi is quite adept at dealing with people. He quickly established a relationship with the newly arrived Xiao Qianshi. I think Xiao Qianshi is only around thirty years old, yet he was able to become a fifth-rank official. I am more than twenty years older than him. I wonder what his background is?"
Madam Jiang said, "I heard from Madam Xiao that they used to serve as officials in the capital, specifically in the Ministry of Personnel. With such qualifications, they must be extraordinary."
Lord Jiang suddenly had an idea: "I remember he took his two sons and daughter with him when he took office. Our family can arrange a marriage between our families. What do you think?"
The Xiao family was indeed of extraordinary origin. Even the headdress worn by Madam Xiao was made by the imperial court, making her look both rich and noble. Her own family was naturally quite good as well, with an official position even higher than Xiao Jingshi's. However, in officialdom, it is always the case that the old are bullied, not the young. Even if Xiao Jingshi lived to be sixty, he still had thirty years of official career ahead of him.
Madam Jiang yawned: "I'll go and sound them out when the time comes."
In September, a letter arrived from Xiao Bin's family, agreeing to the marriage and leaving everything to Miaozhen's discretion. However, aside from the letter, there was nothing else; not even a simple jacket was sent, let alone any betrothal gifts.
Miao Zhen didn't care about any of this. She had originally planned to provide the funds herself. After all, Xiao Bin was working for Xiao Jingshi, so she definitely needed to win him over. Some people just talk the talk and ask others for help, thinking they're clever, but little do they know that this is just a one-off deal.
Xiao Bin felt very guilty. Unlike Xiao Qing, who had managed the shop for several years and had savings, his parents were very generous to his older and younger brothers. Why was it that when it came to him, even though he had a good marriage, his parents were so stingy?
Fortunately, her fourth aunt didn't mind and took out the money to help her.
Both of them were not young, so the marriage was arranged quickly. Xiao Jingshi gave the couple three rooms behind the yamen to live in.
Miaozhen also sent two bolts of fine silk, two bolts of brocade, and eight bolts of colored silk to Lin Jingli's family, Xiao Bin's in-laws. She also sent two sets of green long coats and long skirts, a bright red blouse with wide sleeves and folded floral patterns, a silver-threaded bun, half a set of jewelry, and silver-gilt bracelets and bangles.
They also prepared twenty people to help Xiao Bin with his wedding, making it quite a lively affair.
At the end of October, the Lin family moved in.
The dowry of the Lin family was also very generous, a total of twenty loads, which were carried into the house. She was beautiful and had a good temperament.
The day after they arrived, they made braised pork with fermented rice and sliced conch, which were so delicious that they made one's mouth water. Not to mention the pickled side dishes, which were also very tasty.
Miaozhen laughed and said, "You're a really capable girl. Since we'll be working together from now on, you can come over and chat or do some needlework whenever you have free time."
Lin hurriedly and respectfully agreed.
Miaozhen let her go first. Newlyweds should spend most of their time together. Although she was an elder, she really had no intention of making things difficult for the new bride.
After Lin went downstairs, Miaozhen went to check on Fu Jie'er's homework from yesterday. Studying medicine is very hard work. Miaozhen had received systematic training, but Fu Jie'er was just a little girl. Fortunately, at her age, her memory was at its best, and she could memorize prescriptions, usage instructions, and pulse diagnosis records.
“Hmm, that’s excellent. I’ve already taught you a few moxibustion methods, but you still need to learn acupuncture. Your pulse diagnosis has also improved a lot. What you lack is practical experience. I’ll have you treat a few patients to try when the time comes,” Miaozhen said.
Sister Fu was both nervous and happy.
Miaozhen used to have no shortage of patients in Suzhou, but in Fuzhou, because she lived in the government office, fewer people came to her door. In fact, many people were afraid to let her treat them because she was an official's relative.
But Miaozhen was not discouraged. Since she could not treat patients outside, she would try her best to see the officials in charge of the provincial judicial office and the servants in her household if there were any problems.
At first, Sister Fu felt that learning medicine was like reading a book written in heaven. Gradually, she felt that she seemed to have some talent and that treating patients was not difficult. But in the end, she felt that the medical knowledge was too profound and she was far from being good enough.
Today, the Jiang family's youngest son developed a cough. Miaozhen first asked Fu Jie'er to diagnose the condition. Fu Jie'er asked very carefully and saw that he was pale, had phlegm, and was coughing. She thought that her mother had said that coughing with sound and phlegm was a sign of lung damage and that the cough was initially caused by lung injury. She suggested using Qingfei Yin (a traditional Chinese medicine formula) and Tingli Wan (another traditional Chinese medicine formula) if the cough persisted.
She cautiously told her mother her diagnosis, and her mother said, "Your diagnosis is completely correct. Do you still remember the prescription for the Lung-Clearing Decoction?"
"I remember, I remember," Sister Fu quickly wrote it down.
My mother said that during the autumn and winter seasons, the weather is cold and many people get typhoid fever, so she made her memorize a lot of prescriptions.
After Fu Jie'er finished writing the prescription, Miao Zhen glanced at it and, finding it correct, stamped it with her own seal.
This was the first time Fu Jie'er had prescribed a medicine, and she was overjoyed to receive the approval of her mother and teacher. She even went to inquire three times a day whether Jiang's son had recovered.
However, when she returned from the Jiang family, she said to Miaozhen, "Mother, Madam Jiang is so strange. She keeps asking me about our family."
Miaozhen thought for a moment: "Usually, such probing is likely about marriage or political infighting. Remember what to say and what not to say."
She didn't want her daughter to know nothing; on the contrary, she taught her little by little. Fu'er was intelligent in her studies and traveled all over the country with her parents, unlike those women who stayed in their boudoirs.
Soon Madam Jiang arrived, and Miaozhen recognized her tone. She still refused to arrange a marriage for the child, citing the child's young age as the reason.
The Jiang family is from Jiangxi, which is too far away. Moreover, Lord Jiang is already over fifty years old. At most, he can be promoted to Provincial Surveillance Commissioner. By the time Zheng Ge'er grows up, the Jiang family will probably have already resigned from their posts and returned to their hometown.
One asked the question tactfully, and the other gave a roundabout answer; neither said it outright, and they all still had a good relationship.
Even Zheng-ge'er is being eyed; I wonder how Zhao-ge'er is doing?
Zhao Ge'er has been at Qiubai Academy for almost half a year now. Except for returning home once for the Mid-Autumn Festival, he spends most of his time studying at the academy. He has adapted quite well, but sometimes he still misses home.
"Xiao Zhao, your family has brought some things."
Someone brought in two large bundles. One was a silk bundle containing several winter clothes, a white fox fur cloak, and two brocade robes. Presumably, these were prepared by my grandfather, who was always very extravagant. The other bundle contained various kinds of pastries.
He didn't eat alone; he shared a lot with his roommates. Just after he finished, someone brought in two more bundles. One bundle contained the latest anthology of literature and two light blue padded jackets, while the other bundle contained various side dishes and a box of beef buns.
Like his mother, he loves steamed buns the most, and this must have been a gift from his maternal grandmother.
Your classmates were all envious: "Your family treats you so well."
Zhao Ge'er laughed and said, "My parents are not at home, so my grandparents and maternal grandparents dote on me a lot."
He rarely flaunted his family's status at the academy, but given his imposing presence, no one dared to underestimate him. Moreover, Zhao-ge'er's seemingly refined and good-tempered nature did not mean he was someone to be trifled with.
Besides sharing the food with his classmates, he saved some for Miao Ge'er. Miao Ge'er was born at full term, and he was born after a pair of twins. Now he has grown much taller, but Miao Ge'er is very thin and weak. Not only that, but he also has many growths on his scalp.
Zhao Ge'er said, "You only ate a few bites of rice and then stopped?"
"They all ate too fast. They finished before I even started eating, and I really couldn't eat any more of this food," Miao Ge'er said, distressed.
"So you often go to buy fried cakes to eat?" Zhao Ge'er knew that there was a vendor selling fried cakes at the back gate of their academy, and many students bought them there.
While others might treat it as a snack, Miao Ge'er ate it like a meal.
Miao Ge'er smiled and tacitly agreed.
Zhao Ge'er had heard his father say that appearance was also important in the imperial examinations, and Miao Ge'er should know this as well, but why didn't he pay more attention to it? Thinking this, Zhao Ge'er took out his food and shared it with him: "I'm sure you have what your family sent you. I brought you some beef buns that my maternal family sent."
Unexpectedly, Miao Ge'er was a picky eater: "I don't really like eating steamed buns."
"Alright, if you want some, just ask me for it." Zhao Ge'er said and left.
He is currently studying in the outer dormitory. Next spring, there will be an exam to enter the middle dormitory, and then the inner dormitory. He still has to work hard for this. Besides, his younger brother's mother is at home and can take care of him. He is still just a child and can't take care of so many things.
In reality, Lou Qiongyu couldn't care less about much anymore, because news came from Nanjing that Qin Ying was pregnant. This was expected, as Qin Ying was young and healthy, and she often spent time with Xiao Jingtang, so pregnancy was only a matter of time.
She simply couldn't express her bitterness and sorrow to anyone else.
A man's heart will lean towards whoever he's close to, and once his heart changes, nothing can bring him back. Just look at why Fourth Sister-in-law is so determined to go to her post outside the capital, even neglecting her own son. Isn't it because she's afraid that Fourth Brother will take a second wife outside the capital, and that they'll become rivals?
Although Wei Jie'er was young, she was sensible from a young age. Seeing her mother like this, she couldn't help but ask her adoptive mother, "Aunt Lu, has my mother encountered some trouble?"
Of course, Madam Lu knew why. Fearing that Wei-jie had offended Sixth Madam, she whispered, "I heard that Aunt Qin is pregnant, and the young lady will soon have a younger brother or sister. This old servant guesses it might be because of this."
"So that's what it was about." Children from wealthy families mature early, and Sister Wei understood.
At that time, her aunt wanted to arrange a marriage between her second cousin and her own cousin, which caused a rift between the two sides. Her eldest sister also became cold towards her second cousin, so she could only try to survive by not offending either of them.
She sighed softly, mimicking an adult, "Aunt Lu, do you think Father will still treat us well after Aunt Qin has a child?"
Madam Lu thought that was hard to say. Men don't have children, so they tend to favor whichever woman they like and the child born to that woman. But she couldn't be so blunt and had to comfort Wei-jie: "Second Miss, don't worry, the adults will handle these things."
Wei Jie shook her head: "Actually, Fourth Aunt could also go to Fujian with Fourth Uncle, so why doesn't my mother go to Nanjing?"
Mrs. Lu thought to herself, "How could she possibly explain this clearly?"
When Madam Ren saw Miaozhen's letter saying that they had helped Xiao Bin marry his wife while they were in office, she was very happy. She said to Baozhu beside her, "Fourth Brother's wife is so efficient. She takes everything I ask to heart, unlike others who ignore everything I say."
Baozhu understood who this was referring to. Originally, Madam Ren disliked Han Yueyao because Han Yueyao wasn't her chosen daughter-in-law and had even resorted to unscrupulous means to enter the family. But now, Madam Ren didn't particularly like Lou Qiongyu.
It wasn't just about Mrs. Lou; it was about Madam Ren's birthday in August. She wanted a forehead ribbon, and Han Yueyao knew to make several, but Lou Qiongyu, despite her excellent needlework, didn't send any.
The relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is difficult to explain. Baozhu thought that the second wife was already a very good mother-in-law. She never made her daughter-in-law stand on ceremony, never bothered her, and even helped out by taking care of the children. Even though Mrs. Lou had scolded her harshly, she didn't hold a grudge against Lou Qiongyu. But now she felt Lou Qiongyu's neglect and was definitely unhappy.
Baozhu thought it would be great if Fourth Madam were here. Second Madam was still thinking about how Fourth Madam had helped her bathe last time. She would take her pulse every morning and evening, showing genuine concern.
The sixteenth day of the eleventh lunar month is the birthday of Fu Jie'er and Zhao Ge'er. Zhao Ge'er's birthday gift has already been prepared and sent back by someone. With Fu Jie'er by her side, Miao Zhen will definitely help her celebrate well.
Not only did she have the kitchen prepare many dishes, but she also invited several of Fu'er's recent friends over, including the daughter of Prefect Cai, whom she had met on the road, and a local tycoon. Miaozhen, not wanting to disturb them, did some needlework with Lin in the outer room.
Lin said, "Now there are so many more people asking you to see a doctor, you can't even hold all the visiting cards."
There is a saying in Fujian: "Chen and Lin make up half the world, Huang and Zheng fill the streets." The Lin family also comes from the prominent local Lin family, and Miaozhen entrusted this matter to her.
Hearing her say that, Miaozhen smiled and said, "You pick out the posts, but make sure no one blames you. I'll write another post later, just indicating when it will be over."
Madam Lin said, “Aunt, I have an older sister from my main branch of the family who will be marrying into the Yun Jian Marquis family in the capital next year. She has sores on her face. A woman’s appearance is very important. Please help her treat them.”
Unexpectedly, the Lin family was related to Minister Lin in the capital. Miaozhen nodded and said, "Pick out those who are seriously ill for me first. As for those with sores on their faces, they need to be treated carefully."
Mr. Lin agreed.
After recovering from several serious illnesses, Miaozhen went to the Lin family. The Lin family's daughter was named Shan. She was extremely beautiful, with fair skin like gilded porcelain and a gorgeous appearance. She was a little spoiled, but this spoiledness only added to her beauty and made her even more charming.
However, her face was covered in red pimples and blackheads, a minor blemish on her otherwise flawless complexion. Miaozhen couldn't help but ask, "Miss Lin, is your mouth dry most of the time?"
Lin Shan nodded quickly: "That's exactly the case. I tried taking Coptis chinensis decoction before, but it didn't work."
“Your problem is wind-heat in the lung meridian, so you need to use medicine to clear the lungs and dissipate heat. I will prescribe loquat lung-clearing decoction for you first. In addition, you need to do moxibustion three times within seven days. I’m coming over this time, so you can come to my residence then.” Miaozhen also mentioned the external medicine.
"Thank you very much." Lin Shan quickly expressed her gratitude.
After Miaozhen treated her for more than a month, the acne on her face subsided considerably, and the papules also shrunk. The Lin family specially sent her a generous gift.
Miaozhen was quite famous in Fujian. Even local merchants would come to her door seeking her out, offering two bolts of Western cloth and two hairpins inlaid with jewels.
This alerted one person: Master Zhisheng. Lin Shan was initially treated by her aunt, Master Zhisheng, but the treatment became less and less effective. Later, Lin recommended Miaozhen, who cured Lin Shan's acne and subsequently treated several other patients she had tried but failed to cure.
How could she possibly bear this?
You should know that although Master Zhisheng is not short of money now, who in the world doesn't want more money? Even if she works hard to perform a few religious ceremonies, she can only earn a hundred taels of silver. But if she helps women who are seeking children with their medical treatment, she can easily earn a hundred taels of silver.
So, Abbess Zhisheng went to Lin Shan to inquire, "Who is this Physician Xu? How come she's become so famous lately?"
"Aunt, she can't really be called a rising star. She was quite famous before, but not very well-known in Fujian. She used to go to the palace to treat the Empress. Now, because her husband has taken office, she's treating local people." Lin Shan had asked Madam Lin, so she knew more about her.
Master Zhisheng originally thought she was just an ordinary female doctor, but she didn't expect her to be the wife of a provincial inspector. This made her difficult to deal with, as she was an official's wife.
This is also why Miaozhen is not afraid. With the official's wife protecting her, things are much better, and no one dares to mess with her.
After the New Year, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month was Miaozhen's birthday, and Xiao Jingshi specially took them out to see the lanterns along the way. Zhengge'er felt unsatisfied: "It's so much better at Aoshan in the capital, but there aren't any here, and there aren't as many lanterns as in Suzhou."
"You're so young, yet you remember things from the capital and Suzhou so clearly," Xiao Jingshi said with a smile.
Zheng Ge'er laughed and wanted Miao Zhen to hold his hand. He acted coquettishly, even pushing his father to the back. Xiao Jingshi couldn't say anything because Zheng Ge'er had a bad temper, and he would really get angry if the child scolded him.
Unexpectedly, Miaozhen turned around and looked at him: "Jingshi, come here, I have something to say to you."
As if hearing a sacred chant, Xiao Jingshi immediately stepped forward, and Miaozhen took his hand from beneath her wide sleeves: "My birthday should naturally be celebrated with my husband."
"Okay." Xiao Jingshi felt his mood suddenly brighten.
The children chattered excitedly about what little trinkets they wanted to buy, while only the couple walked behind them. Miaozhen said to him, "Do you remember when we were at Xuanda University? I even sang for you back then."
"I remember, it was 'The Mountain Spirit,' wasn't it?" Xiao Jingshi recalled the incident as if it were yesterday.
He felt that life was peaceful as long as he was with his wife.
Looking up at the largest restaurant on the street, where the sons of officials were drinking and chatting, Xiao Jingshi quickly spotted several noble sons and then lowered his eyes again.
"I heard that Minister Lin's daughter is going to the capital?" Xiao Jingshi asked.
Miaozhen nodded: "After the lake thaws this spring, she will go to the capital. She will get married after arriving in the capital. I think we have a house in the capital. Although we have two old servants there, I am always afraid that they will not be satisfied and the house will be overgrown with weeds."
Xiao Jingshi seemed a little flustered. After listening to Miaozhen's explanation, he said after a while, "We will go back as soon as possible."
Miao Zhen was stunned for a moment, but quickly understood what Xiao Jingshi meant. In February, in his capacity as the Inspector General of Fuzhou Military Circuit, he submitted a memorial impeaching the Marquis of Nanping and the Marquis of Yunjian for killing innocent people and claiming credit for their crimes. He even accused the Marquis of Nanping of colluding with Japanese pirates.
He handed over almost all of this evidence. Xiao Jingshi expected a bloody battle to break out. Apart from telling Miaozhen, he hadn't told anyone else.
“If I hadn’t encountered this matter, it would have been fine, but since I did, I naturally reported it and let the Emperor decide. Speaking of which, the Marquis of Nanping is not surprising; he wasn’t exactly a good person. But the Marquis of Yunjian has a good reputation and is known for loving the people like his own children. How come he has done something like this?” Xiao Jingshi said.
Miaozhen was only worried about her husband: "Are you alright?"
"It's alright. Although Yan Dang doesn't like me, these two have nothing to do with Yan Dang. Besides, there are also—" He paused here and didn't finish his sentence.
Miao Zhen wondered who Xiao Jingshi's backer was. Why wouldn't he tell her, the man beside her?
In May, the Marquis of Nanping was stripped of his title and executed, and the Marquis of Yunjian was stripped of his title and exiled to the Lingnan Garrison.
Xiao Jingshi was promoted two ranks for this achievement, becoming a councilor of the provincial administration commissioner. Despite his promotion, Miaozhen noticed his worried expression and couldn't help but ask, "Jingshi, what's wrong?"
“I always felt there were some suspicious points about Marquis Yunjian’s affairs. I went to investigate in person, and I also mentioned it in my letter. But why doesn’t His Majesty send anyone to investigate?” Xiao Jingshi felt uneasy.
Miaozhen stroked his hand and said, "His Majesty is so wise. Since he has made this decision, there must be a reason for it. You don't need to think about it anymore."
Xiao Jingshi said, "Hmm, I understand."
Seeing that he was still frowning, Miaozhen changed the subject again: "Let me tell you, isn't that Lu Jie'er from the Fu family always unwilling to settle down? Back then, Madam Fu complained to me every day, and I suggested that we find a female tutor for her to try. With someone taking care of her, Lu Jie'er is learning better than before, but she secretly ran away from home the other day, and I was worried about her."
"What does this have to do with you? You were just offering a suggestion, not making the decision yourself. Besides, we don't even know why she ran away from home. Don't worry, if someone's causing you trouble, just wait for me to come back." Xiao Jingshi frowned.
Miao Zhen could handle any of this; she only said that because Xiao Jingshi was distracted.
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