Chapter 28: Evening Meal

The words were spoken seemingly without intent, yet they were loud enough to be heard clearly. Madam Cheng made to turn back, but Su Yunqing gently urged her toward the room.

"Madam, please do not be angry; I will not take such things to heart."

Nanny Jin said indignantly, "Ever since the Master and the eldest young master fell ill, this Concubine Zhang has become increasingly unruly. She never dared to be so disrespectful in your presence before."

Su Yunqing’s expression remained calm, and her voice was gentle as she replied, "Nanny Jin, do let go of your anger. As a concubine, the Master is her only pillar of support. With Uncle Cheng ill, she is anxious, and one can understand her speaking without thinking."

Hearing this, the lingering rage on Madam Cheng’s face instantly melted into a smile of relief. She turned to Nanny Jin and said, "Look at that, just look. This is the quality of a daughter from the Su family. My Ji’er must have cultivated such immense good fortune over many lifetimes to deserve her."

She then looked at Su Yunqing, adding, "Good child, you are wiser than I am. With you here, I truly... I am so happy!"

Master Cheng showed no outward signs of injury, yet he remained in a deep, unresponsive coma. Su Yunqing knew that such a condition was far more grave than any physical wound.

Madam Cheng called out to him softly, "Yitang, the young lady of the Su family is here; she is right beside us. Can you hear me?"

"Yitang..."

Master Cheng was not so fortunate. No matter what Madam Cheng said to him, he remained indifferent, showing not the slightest reaction.

It was not until Nanny Jin pulled her away that she spoke. "Madam, that is enough. Dinner has been prepared in the kitchen to welcome Miss Su. Please, let the Master rest."

Watching the clouded, tear-filled eyes of Madam Cheng, Su Yunqing spoke up, "The world is vast, and there is no shortage of gifted individuals. As long as Uncle Cheng is still with us, we will find a way to wake him, even if it takes some time."

Although the renowned local physicians had already declared that Master Cheng was unlikely to regain consciousness, Madam Cheng seemed to see a glimmer of hope after hearing Su Yunqing’s words. Her emotions had fluctuated so wildly in these few moments that she began to wheeze and cough.

A maid hurried over with a cup of water. "Madam, please, drink some warm water."

Water could not solve the underlying issue. Moments later, a rattling sound began to emanate from Madam Cheng’s throat as she struggled to breathe. It was not a common cough, but a chronic wheezing condition.

Su Yunqing patted her back gently and asked, "Has the doctor prescribed any medicine for your condition?"

Nanny Jin replied, "How could he not? She has seen many physicians and consumed countless precious herbs, but nothing helps. Since the trouble befell the Master and the eldest young master, the attacks have only become more frequent."

Su Yunqing frowned. "Wheezing is difficult to cure entirely, but as far as I know, with the right medication, one can recover seven or eight tenths of their health. One must avoid overexertion and steer clear of inflammatory foods. It would be best for you to get at least eight hours of sleep every night and avoid dairy and eggs."

"The Madam has always strictly followed the doctor’s advice and rarely eats those things. But tell me, Miss Su, how is it that you know all this?"

Su Yunqing’s thoughts drifted for a moment before she pulled herself back, offering a wry smile. "I simply enjoy reading in my spare time, and that includes medical texts."

In truth, she read everything except what her grandfather insisted she study, hiding those miscellaneous books behind her Confucian classics to escape his notice. The result was that she would always fail the tests on the books he actually assigned, leading to punishments like drawing water from the Ganlu Well.

Madam Cheng recovered slightly and wheezed, "As expected of a young lady from a scholarly family."

A thought suddenly occurred to Su Yunqing. She said to Madam Cheng, "Please wait a moment, Madam. I have something for you."

She remembered that the medicine Imperial Physician Ma had given her included a remedy for coughing and wheezing. Though it could not cure the root cause, it would surely provide some relief.

After Madam Cheng took the medicine, the rattling in her throat eased significantly within half an hour.

Dinner was served. As it was her first day at the Cheng household, the three younger siblings were all present, save for the bedridden Cheng Ji. The small round table was full, yet the atmosphere was stiflingly quiet.

Madam Cheng introduced them one by one.

"This is the second brother, Cheng Xiao. With the Master and Ji’er ill, he has been managing everything in the household. Xiao’er, quickly greet Miss Su."

Cheng Xiao smiled and nodded. "Greetings, Miss Su. I was too occupied to come earlier, otherwise, I truly should have gone to welcome you on behalf of my eldest brother. It was a grave discourtesy, so I shall punish myself with a cup of wine."

With that, he drained his cup in one go, bringing a genuine smile to Madam Cheng’s face. "Look at you, so rigid, just like your father. Miss Su is not an outsider; she is family. Everyone, be at ease."

Cheng Xiao smiled shyly and set down his cup. "Mother is right."

Madam Cheng pointed to a young boy. "This is the third brother, Cheng Cong. He is good for nothing, a little rascal. Cong’er, hurry and greet your Elder Sister Su!"

The boy remained silent, his face turned away as if he hadn't heard a word.

Su Yunqing noticed the change in atmosphere; Madam Cheng’s brow was already furrowing with displeasure. Since the Madam had just taken her medicine, she could not afford to get angry.

Su Yunqing immediately looked at Cheng Cong with a forced smile. "I already met the third young master when I entered the courtyard. He has already greeted me, haven't you, Third Young Master?"

She gave him a knowing look as she spoke.

Though Cheng Cong was young, he was not stupid. He caught the look on Madam Cheng’s face and immediately rolled his eyes, albeit reluctantly. "Greetings, Elder Sister Su."

Seeing his behavior, Madam Cheng still looked annoyed and was about to scold him when the young girl beside her spoke up.

"Greetings, Elder Sister Su. I am Cheng Yuan, the fourth in line. Welcome. I offer you this tea in place of wine."

The girl’s smile was as sweet as her voice. Like a grown-up, she finished her tea and tipped the cup upside down to show it was empty.

With Cheng Yuan’s intervention, the atmosphere at the table softened instantly, and a smile returned to Madam Cheng’s face.

"Eat, eat, or the food will get cold. Miss Su, try our Cen Prefecture cuisine and see if it suits your palate. If not, I shall have someone bring a chef from Yi Prefecture."

As she spoke, she used the serving chopsticks to place food in Su Yunqing’s bowl.

Su Yunqing hurriedly replied, "No need for such trouble. I have never been a picky eater since childhood; I am accustomed to all kinds of food. I remember when I lived in the capital as a child, the food was much the same as this."

Cheng Xiao remarked, "That is true. The capital is only four hundred miles from Cen Prefecture, and the dietary habits are similar. As long as you are comfortable, Miss Su, that is for the best. I have already had your courtyard prepared. For now, please stay in the Coral Pavilion next to my parents' quarters. I will have Zhuhua take you there later, and she shall attend to you from now on. If there is anything you are unsatisfied with, do not hesitate to tell me."

Su Yunqing smiled. "Thank you for your trouble, Second Young Master."

Madam Cheng added a shrimp to her bowl. "Do not think of yourself as an outsider. Xiao’er is always steady in his dealings, and I trust his arrangements completely."

"Come, come, eat."

...

With Cheng Yuan and Cheng Xiao there, the meal was relatively relaxed, even though Cheng Cong wore a sour expression throughout.

After dinner, Madam Cheng insisted on personally escorting her back to the Coral Pavilion. It had only been a few hours, yet she held Su Yunqing’s hand, clearly reluctant to let go.

Once they reached the room, she continued to sing Cheng Xiao’s praises, calling him thoughtful and far superior to that blockhead Cheng Cong.

When everyone had finally left, Zhuhua stepped forward, looking somewhat nervous. "Would you like to wash up now, Miss? The hot water is already prepared."

Su Yunqing asked calmly, "Your name is Zhuhua?"

Zhuhua nodded.

Su Yunqing asked again, "Why was Concubine Zhang not at the dinner table today?"