Watching Xu Jie oversee everything in perfect order, cart after cart of tangerines making their way from the docks toward the estate, the mistress and her maid took their leave.

“Go to the Chu Family’s medical hall.”

“Yes, miss.” Nianqiu gave word to the coachman, then, noticing the smell on her young mistress had faded considerably, settled into a more relaxed expression and took up her young mistress’s right hand, kneading it with gentle, measured pressure.

In the past, even the young mistress’s knuckles had been barely visible. But since she took over managing the household, she spent so much time holding a brush that her right hand had become noticeably rougher than her left, and the knuckle joints had grown more pronounced. All their careful efforts at upkeep had been rendered nearly useless since the young mistress began teaching as well.

Thinking of how the young mistress used to spend her days — reading, practicing calligraphy, playing chess or painting when the mood struck her, or coming up with ideas for Fudong to make something delicious — and comparing that to the endless worries demanding her attention now, Nianqiu’s nose stung sharply. She quickly lowered her gaze, afraid her young mistress might notice.

Doctor Chu Shi-tang was somewhat surprised when he saw Hua Zhi arrive. He finished examining the patient before him, handed things off to one of the other physicians at the clinic, and invited her into the inner room.

“I have troubled Doctor Chu.”

Doctor Chu looked at her outfit and at the subtle changes to her appearance — so different from usual — and his eyelids gave a slight twitch. He maintained his propriety and asked no unnecessary questions. “Did the eldest young miss come today to collect the medicines ordered previously?”

“That is one reason. I also came to ask about my grandmother’s condition — it is not always convenient to speak freely at home.”

Doctor Chu nodded in understanding. “I have been treating the Hua Family for many years. If my memory serves me correctly, the Old Madam has in fact rarely suffered from illness over the years.”

“Yes, she is seldom sick even once in a year.”

Doctor Chu stroked his beard and chose his words with care. “I wonder if you are aware that the Old Madam once lost a child at eight months — some years after the Fourth Young Master was born?”

Hua Zhi shook her head, mildly surprised. “I have never heard of this.”

“Then this old physician has spoken out of turn.”

“Please don’t say that. It is not truly any kind of secret — elders simply tend not to let the younger generation know of such things. I ask that Doctor Chu speak more fully, so that I may be better prepared.”

Doctor Chu considered briefly, then saw no reason to keep the matter concealed. “Indeed, it is no great secret. The Old Madam was taking an afternoon rest when she rolled off a chaise lounge and disrupted the pregnancy. The child was still breathing when delivered, but did not survive. The Old Madam was no longer young at the time and suffered greatly from it — she was bedridden for six months before she could get up and about. After that, she rarely fell ill, but the body keeps its old debts, and when the time comes, it always comes back to collect. That is why this illness has struck her so severely.”

Hua Zhi’s heart tightened. She had a growing sense that Doctor Chu was saying more than his words let on. “Please speak plainly — I can bear it.”

“The day before last, when I came to examine her, you were not present, so I could not say it to anyone else. The Old Madam’s condition has worsened.”

“Very seriously?”

“If things continue as they are, the Old Madam does not have much time.”

But before the Hua Family’s troubles began, her grandmother had been so vigorous and hale! In such a short time, how could it have come to this…

Hua Zhi dug her thumbnail into the web of her hand. “Is there truly nothing that can be done?”

“If the Hua Family’s circumstances were not what they are, and the Old Madam had no grief weighing on her heart, things might not have deteriorated to this degree. Each time I come to examine her, I tell her to take things more gently and keep her heart at ease — but you must understand, eldest young miss, that what has befallen her is not something anyone passes through easily. What the Old Madam has endured, outsiders will never know. And furthermore…”

“What is it?”

“This old physician suspects that the Old Madam may not be entirely unaware of her own condition.”

Hua Zhi thought back over her grandmother’s behavior during this period. She had seemed no different from usual. But if her grandmother truly knew something…

Hua Zhi rose and bowed deeply. “I ask Doctor Chu to spare no effort. As for any precious medicines that may be required — do not hold back for my sake. I will find a way.”

“The eldest young miss’s bow is too much for this old physician to receive.” Doctor Chu stepped aside. “I will write out another prescription immediately. In the meantime, it would not hurt for the young miss to have the brothers and sisters of the household spend more time with the Old Madam. Seeing her children and grandchildren around her — perhaps that might help her let go of whatever is weighing on her heart.”

“Doctor Chu is right. I will make arrangements when I return.”

Coming out of the clinic, Nianqiu carried a bundle of bottles and vials to the carriage to stow them away. Hua Zhi followed behind at a slow pace, her heart sinking steadily downward.

Now she truly understood what it meant when it was said that when the roof leaks, the rain never stops. No matter how steady she felt inside, no matter how certain she was that she could hold the Hua Family together — none of that meant the Hua Family’s founding matriarch could simply go on living.

She breathed out slowly, and looked up — and saw, standing beside the clinic, a figure. He was very tall, dressed in black, the scar across his face lending his features a harsh, forbidding air. His arm hung at his side, blood dripping from his fingertips onto the ground below. People passing near him skirted a wide path around him.

Hua Zhi found herself unexpectedly thinking of Shaoyao, whom she had not seen in some time. One single scar, and she already had to endure such looks — how had she managed, all those years before?

Her heart gave a soft, unexpected pang. Hua Zhi walked to the carriage and said a few words to Nianqiu. Nianqiu glanced at the man, gave a small nod, and walked toward him.

Drawing out roughly four or five taels of loose silver, Nianqiu held it out toward the man and said softly: “My mistress has a kind heart and has sent me over with this silver for you. Chu’s medical hall is very well regarded — please go inside and let a physician have a look.”

When he did not respond, Nianqiu pressed the silver into the front of his robes and turned and hurried back. Hua Zhi lowered the curtain on the carriage window, signaling the coachman to return home.

“Shizi…” Chen Qing led his horse silently out from the alley entrance. Watching the departing carriage, he thought to himself that the eldest young miss of the Hua Family and his Shizi truly had a strange sort of fate binding them together. Still — not many people would dare approach the Shizi when he looked like that.

The Shizi closed his hand around the silver. “Is it handled?”

“Yes. Xiao Wu is wrapping up loose ends. Shizi, let us head back — your wound needs to be attended to.”

The Shizi raised his head to look at the sign above the clinic, then took the reins and swung up onto his horse.

Upon returning home, Hua Zhi washed and changed her clothes before going to pay her respects to her grandmother. She discussed the arrangements for the workshop, then, as if it were nothing in particular, mentioned that she had gone to Chu’s medical hall that day.

The Old Madam’s expression revealed nothing. She asked with apparent concern, “Why the sudden visit there? Is something wrong? Why not have him come to the house?”

“Please don’t worry — your granddaughter is not ill. I had previously arranged with Doctor Chu to collect some medicines; we agreed I would come once a month, but with everything keeping me busy, it was put off until today.” Hua Zhi observed her grandmother with quiet, unhurried attention, and continued: “There is another matter — in about a month, the household’s affairs should largely be running on their own. I am planning to make a trip to the northern territories, sometime in late October or November.”

“To the northern territories?” The surprise was such that the words came out slightly broken. The Old Madam coughed a few times, waved away the teacup Nanny Su pressed toward her, and fixed her gaze on Hua Zhi. “You are planning to go to the northern territories?”

“I had originally intended to wait until after the New Year — by then I would have accumulated more funds, and would be in a better position to do whatever needs doing. But on further reflection, I think I must go before the year’s end. The winters there are harsh, and each of them has only one set of warm clothing. Though they may have some silver in hand, Grandfather will certainly not sit by and watch the other branches of the Hua Family suffer — he will have to spend money building connections and managing various relationships. Little may be left over. If any of them should fall ill, they would have nothing to do but endure it. Thinking of this, I truly cannot rest easy — I must go.”