Madam Ji only slept briefly before waking up. She feared she was still dreaming and her daughter was still at the Zhao residence. Despite the consolation from her two elderly maids, Li and Wu, and Xiang’er, whom Ji Yingying had sent from the main courtyard to help, Madam Ji still wanted to see both her children.

Propped up against three pillows on her bed, she noticed the distinctive smell of ginseng from the half-finished bowl of soup on the small table before her. “Call Ji Gui here. How much money do we have in our accounts? Why spend so much on ginseng for me?”

When the Ji siblings entered the room, Madam Ji beckoned to her daughter: “Yingying, come here.”

Ji Yingying glanced at the half-used ginseng root on the small table, where Ji Gui stood silently nearby. Her heart began to pound—how much did her mother know?

She sat beside the bed and said reproachfully, “Mother, why won’t you rest properly? Do you think your daughter isn’t managing the household well? You can take charge again once you’re fully recovered.”

Her eyes still bright, she pouted like a playful mountain sparrow, lively and adorable. Madam Ji embraced her and let out a long sigh of relief. “Now my heart is at ease. You’re grown up now, it’s time you learned to manage the household.”

Yingying secretly relaxed when she realized her mother didn’t know about the credit purchase of the ginseng.

Madam Ji’s gaze drifted to the ginseng on the table. “Your aunt hasn’t sent anyone to repay the money yet, and the storehouse burned down. I know you’re filial. My illness—well, seeing you safe has already cured half of it. You shouldn’t have used our account money. This ginseng is too expensive.”

Ji Yingying smiled, “Mother, this ginseng was sold to me at a discount by Young Master Sheng who rescued me. It’s a hundred-year-old root, but he only asked for six hundred guan.”

Two hundred guan had been spent on silk ordered by customers, waiting to be dyed and compensated. Another four hundred guans bought a batch of fine white ramie cloth. Once dyed and sold to Yizhou Prefecture, the family would have working capital again. Ji Yingying urged her mother to rest well, refusing to let her worry about household matters. This was partly to conceal the cloth-dyeing business from her mother.

Young Master Sheng… Madam Ji’s eyes remained calm as she followed her daughter’s words: “Young Master Sheng has shown our family great kindness. We mustn’t be remiss. Ji Gui, I’m ill and cannot thank him in person. Invite Young Master Sheng to dine with us.”

“Mother, why such hurry? You’re still ill—how can you host guests?” Ji Yingying instinctively objected.

But Ji Yaoting thought it was a good idea: “I’ve been wanting to thank him personally. If he’s free to come, I’ll make sure to host him well.”

Noticing Ji Yaoting’s visibly thinner face, Madam Ji felt distressed: “My son, we had set aside money for your wedding. But my useless body has become a burden. The celebration will have to be modest—Mother is sorry to disappoint you and Fourth Miss.”

“Not at all. The betrothal gifts are already prepared, and we’ve paid deposits for all the ceremonies, sedan chairs, and banquets. It won’t cost much more.”

As mother and son continued talking, the topic shifted. Ji Yingying, relieved from her false alarm, took her leave. Back in her room, she took out the contract to examine it again before carefully locking it in her vanity chest.

“Miss, I won’t tell anyone. But we can’t hide this from Uncle Ji Gui and Young Master. After all, you bought so many cloth,” Ling’er said worriedly.

Ji Yingying had already planned for this: “I’ll blame it all on Second Brother Zhu. The cloth and dyes were exchanged for silk thread from the shop. Brother will just think Second Brother Zhu was being generous and won’t be suspicious. Even if Uncle Ji Gui has doubts, he won’t tell Mother and worry her. Once we get through this period and gather enough money, we’ll pay back Young Master Sheng and retrieve the contract.”

The next day, Young Master Sheng arrived gladly.

Ji Yaoting invited him to sit in the front hall first, while someone went to inform Madam Ji.

Ji Yingying and Ling’er waited by the moon gate of the back courtyard. When they saw the gate keeper receive the message and enter to announce it, knowing Young Master Sheng had arrived, Yingying quickly nudged Ling’er.

Ling’er cleverly went to the front courtyard. Soon after, she led Ji Yaoting back, heading toward the side courtyard.

As they passed the flowering tree where Ji Yingying was hiding, she heard her brother muttering, “What’s so urgent? We still have a guest in front.” She stuck out her tongue and crouched down to run through the moon gate.

“Young Master Sheng!”

A-Sheng turned to see Ji Yingying poking her head out from the doorway. She wore a rose-red jacket and a white silk skirt. Her jet-black hair was styled in an elegant bun that accentuated her graceful, slender neck. She was as lovely as a blooming lotus. Her bright black eyes darted about mischievously.

Finding her amusing, he stood and walked over, also stretching his neck to look around: “What is it?”

“I’m watching for my brother,” Ji Yingying said anxiously, staring at the moon gate leading to the back courtyard. “I just came to tell you—please don’t let my mother know about our contract. I have to go. Mother will be suspicious if she can’t find me.”

She ran away as swiftly as a rabbit after speaking, one hand waving in the air.

“What an interesting girl,” he smiled.

When Ji Yaoting emerged confused from the side courtyard, Xiang’er went to meet him: “Young Master, Miss has gone to Madam’s room. Madam asks you to bring Young Master Sheng over.”

Ji Yaoting didn’t think much of it and hurried to invite his guest.

Inside the room, Madam Ji placed a gold hairpin in Ji Yingying’s bun and looked her up and down with appreciation: “Yingying is a young lady now. Come, help me out.”

Holding her daughter’s hand, Madam Ji walked slowly to the front hall.

As Ji Yingying helped her mother sit down, she couldn’t help but advise: “Mother, you haven’t fully recovered. Why trouble yourself with guests? Let brother handle the hosting.”

“Having invited Young Master Sheng, I must thank him in person,” Madam Ji said softly, reclining in her cushioned armchair.

Having taken her medicine in the morning and a small bowl of ginseng soup, Madam Ji appeared more energetic than the day before.

When Ji Yaoting accompanied A-Sheng into the room, the backlight only showed his modest yet luxurious black brocade clothing. It wasn’t until Young Master Sheng came forward to bow that Madam Ji could see him.

He had a lean face with distinct features and tanned skin. His deep-set eyes appeared particularly spirited.

Madam Ji’s gaze swept over him before she smiled and invited him to sit: “Your great kindness, sir—I felt I must thank you in person no matter what.”

A-Sheng smiled, “It was nothing but a small gesture.”

Madam Ji politely asked, “May I ask where you’re from, Young Master? Having invited you to dine, I worry about not knowing your preferences. Our cook knows both northern and southern cuisines. Please don’t be modest—tell us what you’d prefer.”

A-Sheng replied gracefully, “Having traveled north and south, I’m not picky. I’ll happily have whatever you serve.”

Madam Ji then instructed Ji Yingying: “Go check how the meal preparations are coming along.”

Ji Yingying complied, rose to bow, and left with Ling’er.

With her daughter gone, Madam Ji spoke more directly in front of her son: “Yaoting, I have matters to discuss with Young Master Sheng.”