On the day that Madam Song went to Jiyun Alley, the weather was excellent. Madam Qin had come to the estate to change Song Tangning's medicine. In the courtyard, the roses had begun to bud, and the green vines had climbed up the bamboo trellis. Hua Wu and Nanny Jiang were outside, directing a few maids as they set up a swing. Tangning rested her chin in her hand, leaning by the window, chatting and laughing with Madam Qin as she listened to her recount amusing stories from her time practicing medicine in Shu.
“You wouldn’t believe the strange people I’ve encountered. Just last year, I came across a person covered entirely in thick black hair, even his face was hidden except for his eyes. He was so afraid of being seen during the day that he snuck into my clinic late at night and stood at my door. It was such a dark, hulking figure—I almost thought it was a bear spirit and my soul nearly left my body from fright.”
“There was another time when I was treating a patient and was missing an herb that grew on the edge of a cliff in the deep mountains. Just as I was tied to a rope, lowering myself to gather the herb, someone above me decided it was a good time to relieve themselves. You can’t imagine the fury I felt—I wanted to climb up and beat him to death. I could still smell that stench after washing up ten times.”
Tangning laughed so hard that her body shook, her dimples deepening as she spoke with great admiration, “Sister Qin, you’ve traveled to so many places.”
“It’s not that many, but unfortunately, the borders haven’t been peaceful in recent years. Otherwise, I’d have liked to visit Beijie. I’ve heard there’s a tribe there skilled in witchcraft, and their shamanic medicine is quite extraordinary. It would be fulfilling to see it in person.”
“Sister Qin, you live such a free life.”
Tangning’s eyes were filled with envy. Unlike anyone she had known before, Madam Qin was over thirty but had never married or had children. She traveled extensively, collecting the essence of medical knowledge from various places, applying it in practice, and further developing her own skills. She never hoarded her knowledge and had exchanged medical insights with people all over the Wei Kingdom. Though she was a woman, many physicians across the land regarded her as a teacher, and even the imperial physicians in the capital treated her with great respect.
Even when Tangning was young, she was at most more wilful and bold than other noble girls. But she knew her life was forever confined within a predetermined circle. No matter how noble her birth or how prominent her family, she could never step beyond the traditional boundaries. She could indulge herself for a few years, but once she came of age, she would have to restrain her nature and, like other noblewomen in the capital, marry, bear children, and follow the path set for her since birth.
Madam Qin’s life was something Tangning had never seen before, but it was a life she deeply longed for, as someone who had been confined her entire life and would ultimately die within that narrow space.
“I’m so envious that Sister Qin can travel freely and see the beauty of the mountains and rivers.”
“You can do it too. You’re still young, with plenty of time to pursue what you love.”
Tangning was momentarily stunned. Could she really?
As the atmosphere inside was warm and Tangning’s thoughts were stirred by Madam Qin’s words, someone suddenly entered from outside. After Nanny Jiang spoke with the person, her expression turned grim.
“Young Lady, someone from the Song family has arrived.”
Tangning’s smile froze. Her brother had already instructed that no one from the Song family was to enter Tang’s residence. Yet, someone still came to report: “Is it the old madam?”
Nanny Jiang nodded, “She’s brought the eldest madam of the Song family with her, and they’re waiting outside.”
If it had been anyone else from the Song family, whether it was Song Hong or Song Jinxiu, they could have been thrown out just like that retainer from the Lu family. But it was Madam Song, Tangning’s grandmother. It wouldn’t be easy to turn her away. Even blocking her from the door for too long could easily lead to rumors of Tangning being unfilial.
The title of "elder" weighed heavily on Tangning, like a mountain pressing down, leaving her immobile.
Nanny Jiang, full of concern, suggested, “Young Lady, I heard that the Song family father and sons were reprimanded before the Emperor during court yesterday. Now that Madam Song has suddenly come, it doesn’t seem like she’s here with good intentions. Maybe I should ask the princess to come over, and you can avoid them for now...”
If she couldn’t turn them away, she could at least pretend to be ill and avoid them.
Tangning shook her head, “Distant water can’t put out a nearby fire. The Prince's residence is far from Jiyun Alley. Even if Aunt hears about it, she won’t be able to make it in time. Besides, since they’ve come specifically for me, even if I were on my deathbed, Grandmother would still insist on seeing me.”
“But you…”
Nanny Jiang feared Tangning would suffer in the confrontation with the two women.
Tangning was indeed somewhat afraid of Madam Song, but there were things she had to face herself. She couldn’t always rely on Xiao Yan and her aunt. She instructed Nanny Jiang, “Please have someone lead them to the front hall and tell them I’ll come after taking my medicine.”
Seeing Tangning had made up her mind, Nanny Jiang had no choice but to leave. However, she was still worried and quietly sent someone out through the side gate to the Prince's residence to inform them.
Tangning then turned to Madam Qin, “Sister Qin, do you have any way to make me look worse? Preferably pale and sickly, and make the wounds on my face look more severe.”
“How severe?”
“Enough to scare people.”
“That’s easy.”
Madam Qin reached into her waist sash, revealing several small compartments hidden within the seemingly ordinary belt. Each compartment held a tiny box, each the size of a thumb.
Madam Qin took out a few of them and asked Huawu to fetch some water. She then mixed some powder from two of the boxes with water and began applying it to Tangning’s face. In no time, Tangning, who had just been rosy-cheeked, turned pale.
She added another layer of medicine to the wounds on Tangning’s face, mixing in something unknown. When Madam Qin finally stepped back, even Huawu, standing nearby, was startled.
Madam Qin said, “I couldn’t make it too extreme, or it might infect the wounds and cause festering. But this appearance should be convincing enough for your grandmother.”
“I’ve heard from Canglang that the Song family has treated you poorly. I have a little something here. If they try to bully you, slip this into your mouth, and I guarantee no one will dare trouble you.”
Song Tangning curiously took the wax-sealed pill and asked, "What is this?"
"It's something good. You'll see when you try it later," Madam Qin replied with a mysterious smile, as if to say, "Trust me." Tangning, seeing her enigmatic expression, decided to trust her and put the pill away, thanking her.
Madam Qin gently pinched the uninjured side of Tangning's face and said, "Go quickly." She then turned to Huawu, who was standing nearby. "Little girl, be alert. If things start to go wrong, cry out loudly, or come and find me."
Huawu quickly nodded, "I understand, Mistress."
...
Before Old Madam Song and the others arrived at Jiyun Alley, Madame Zou had worried they might be blocked outside the residence. However, when she saw the Tang family's servants respectfully invite them in, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Mother, you always have a way. It seems Tangning still respects you," Madame Zou remarked.
"She's always been obedient and sensible," Old Madam Song replied casually, glancing around the surroundings with a gleam in her eyes.
She had heard before that the residence at Jiyun Alley was exquisite, and that Xiao Yan’s mansion was the finest among them. She had assumed he had merely given Song Tangning a place to stay, but now, seeing the opulence of the residence, which rivaled even that of their own Duke's household, and noticing the elite guards at the entrance, she realized this was no ordinary place.
Old Madam Song had originally thought Xiao Yan's decision to take Tangning in was a whim, but now it seemed that the eunuch might genuinely care for his "sworn sister." This realization made her more eager to build a good relationship with Tangning. Though the eunuch's reputation was unsavory, his power was real. The Song family had been stuck in a stagnant position for years, and the title of Duke had remained unclaimed for a long time. If they could gain the eunuch's support, and have Tangning persuade him to speak favorably of them before the emperor, then Song Hong's succession to the title would no longer be a difficult matter.
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You can read ahead to chapterr 60 here
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