Chapter 113: The Beginning

Before nightfall, a faint restlessness stirred throughout the grand Su family mansion, both inside and out, a palpable unease. The shadows of the hall lamps flickered, soft light spilling through the windows. In Su Tan’er’s bedroom, the maids Chan’er and Juan’er stood vigil by her bedside, pressing warm towels to her forehead, while the elderly physician with snow-white hair sat nearby, taking her pulse. Ning Yi stood at the door, arms crossed, deep in thought. Outside in the courtyard, only the medicine boy following Doctor Sun had entered; no one else had come in.

The diagnosis was brief. The old doctor released Su Tan’er’s wrist and rose to leave, with Juan’er hastening to follow him. At the main entrance, Apricot, her eyes reddened, approached as well.

“Second Miss has caught a cold,” the doctor explained. “From the symptoms, it seems she’s been ill for several days. On top of that, other complications have arisen. Yes, the cold has led to a condition called ‘Kui Shui’—some kind of phlegmatic stagnation. These combined have worsened the cold. If it were just this, it wouldn’t be serious; a few doses of medicine to bring down the fever would suffice for a near-complete recovery. However, beyond this... Second Miss has likely overexerted herself, probably due to the shock from Master’s incident. The emotional toll has left her mentally and physically exhausted. These factors combined mean she won’t recover in just a few days.”

“Mentally and physically exhausted?” Ning Yi furrowed his brow and asked.

The old doctor nodded. “Yes. This time, it’s less about the cold and more about long-term fatigue and stress. She’s worn out in body and soul, but the heart is the most critical. The cold only brought it all to a head. This cannot be taken lightly. I will prescribe medicine to reduce the fever, but ultimately, the cure depends on Second Miss being able to ease her mind... sigh.”

The doctor sighed deeply. As Su family’s appointed physician, responsible also for treating Su Boyong, he fully understood the current family turmoil. To help Su Tan’er ease her mind was no easy task. He shook his head, wrote the prescription in the parlor, gave some final instructions, and took his leave, followed by Chan’er to collect the medicine. Juan’er and Apricot returned to Su Tan’er’s bedside, their voices trembling with tears as they looked toward Ning Yi. “What should we do?” Their words were both a plea for help and a quiet lament. Normally, the three maids managed many affairs of the main household with firm resolve, but now, with Su Boyong down and Su Tan’er unconscious, they were at a loss.

Ning Yi held the prescription in his hand, pondering for a moment before asking, “What exactly happened these past few days?”

Su Tan’er likely caught the cold after falling into the bath that afternoon. The symptoms had appeared early on but were mild. After Su Boyong’s assassination attempt, she faced enormous challenges but showed no signs of retreat or collapse. Just days ago, at dawn, she had confidently declared her intention to handle the imperial merchants, her spirit and confidence at their peak, her responses flawless.

Like a great corporation facing numerous blows and conspiracies of varying severity, it was natural to adapt and respond. The assassination attempt was a sudden blow. If Su Tan’er had simply collapsed without resistance, she wouldn’t have reached this point. Those only suited to smooth sailing would struggle to lead the Su family.

Su Tan’er was not of that nature. Ning Yi knew well that the mental blow was not from previous events; if more schemes or attacks had come, they should have been...

The bedroom was usually tidy but had become slightly disordered these past busy days. As Ning Yi walked over to the table piled with ledgers, he noticed something fallen near the foot of the bed. Picking it up, he found a small triangular piece of pale yellow cloth with a simple pattern.

The cloth had likely fallen there only in the last two days, as it bore no dust. Bringing it closer to the oil lamp, memories stirred. One day on the second floor of the opposite building, Su Tan’er had shown him a piece of cloth, smiling radiantly, delighted: “Husband, do you think this color is pretty?”

“Oh... pretty it is, but ordinary families wouldn’t dare use such a color...”

The bright yellow cloth—Su Tan’er had not dwelled on the topic, but Ning Yi remembered it vividly. Now, this cloth had faded to a pale yellow...

Outside, Manager Liao mentioned Ning Yi’s name. With a sigh, Ning Yi slipped the cloth into his sleeve. Now that both Su Boyong and Su Tan’er were incapacitated, it was impossible to call upon the second and third branches for solutions. Although Ning Yi usually stayed detached from such affairs, he still held a position of authority in the Su household. Manager Liao spoke briefly, likely seeking some assurance from Ning Yi, who nodded in response.

“There’s nothing major. Everything continues as usual—meet force with force, and adapt as circumstances require. Just keep Second Miss’s condition quiet; don’t let too many people know she’s ill for now. That’s all.”

“I understand that she needs rest and peace of mind. But if anything changes and decisions are needed, I don’t know...”

“Then bring it to me. I’ll find a way. The rest... I’ll leave it to Manager Liao and the others.”

“Yes. Even if there are changes, everyone is experienced enough to handle them after so many years in the fabric trade. Please, Master-in-law, help Miss keep her mind at ease.”

Manager Liao’s words were meant to comfort. If it were only the Jiangning region, any manager could handle things, but if the business faced nationwide shifts and shocks, a central figure was essential. For now, there was no other choice.

After Manager Liao left, Chan’er returned with the medicine. Soon after, the elderly patriarch hurried back home. Seeing Su Tan’er still unconscious dealt him a heavy blow as well. Yet there was no use dwelling on it now. He offered some words of comfort to Ning Yi and the three maids before departing with heavy steps.

With the patriarch gone, quiet finally settled over the courtyard—the flickering lamp light, the scent of herbal medicine simmering. Such still nights had occurred many times before, when the household gathered to chat, play chess, and laugh—a family. The four young women who had lived here before Ning Yi’s arrival could almost be called a family. But now, the atmosphere was unbearably silent. Little Chan carried in the medicine bowl; everyone waited in solemn silence. Juan’er choked back tears and whispered, “What should we do, Master?”

With Su Boyong down and Su Tan’er unconscious, even if she awoke, her body would not heal quickly. The patriarch might have to entrust the main household affairs to others temporarily. The future suddenly felt empty and terrifyingly unpredictable. No one knew why it had come to this. The only support lay with those close at hand. If Ning Yi were the bookish outsider he once was, perhaps he would be left out as well. But after more than a year together, at least in times like these, Ning Yi had been accepted as part of the family... Of course, Juan’er’s question stemmed only from helplessness. Ning Yi was a man, unlike them, but if there were a way to solve this, it certainly wouldn’t be easy.

At that moment, Ning Yi stood by the window, tidying the cluttered desk. He moved slowly but steadily, putting things away and placing some out of sight on a shelf. He didn’t turn around but folded a sheet of uncut rice paper on the table a few times, then opened it again. He poured some water into the inkstone and began grinding ink slowly.

“Didn’t anyone teach you how to handle these things before?” Ning Yi murmured.

The three young women shook their heads.

He picked up the brush, paused, then said, “Next, I want the Su family’s account books from the past seven to ten years, all business records, correspondence with managers in various regions. I want to know every incident, the response methods, the outcomes, and the reasons behind them... Also, I need more rice paper, ink, some fine thread, prepare some pastries—not too sweet for the stomach—and a large pot of tea... That should be all for now.”

Silence followed. The three maids looked bewildered, unsure what he intended. Ning Yi turned back.

“No hope from my father-in-law. The patriarch might call someone to help, but it won’t work,” he said, lightly gesturing toward the sleeping Su Tan’er. “Your mistress won’t accept it. When she wakes up, the first thing she’ll want isn’t medicine but to get out of bed. No one can replace her... So the outcome is simple.”

He smiled faintly, a mix of helplessness and boredom, no different from when they played chess and told stories. “I’ll give it a try.”

Juan’er and Apricot hesitated. Chan’er took a deep breath, tears still glistening, then managed a faint smile, wiping her eyes as she turned to leave. “I’ll go get the account books and records...” The Su family had a central ledger room, but the main household kept separate records, one of which was right next door. The three maids usually managed these affairs and had the authority to retrieve them.

After Chan’er left, Juan’er thought a moment and followed, then Apricot wiped her tears and whispered softly as she stepped out, “Master... is it really here?”

“Otherwise, what if your mistress wakes up?”

The thought of Ning Yi helping Miss with the family affairs was difficult for Juan’er and Apricot to judge as good or bad, uncertain of the outcome. But they knew well that if Miss woke, she would immediately want to get up and handle matters herself. Keeping her in bed was essential—and perhaps only Ning Yi could manage that.

Apricot smiled awkwardly and left. Alone with the unconscious Su Tan’er, Ning Yi finally sat down, sighed at the rice paper and brush.

“You people are too much... even a son-in-law can’t find peace here...” he murmured, a faint complaint directed at unseen forces behind the scenes.

After the hour of the Ox, in the early dawn, Su Tan’er awoke...

Prepared mentally, Ning Yi knew something far more important must have happened in these past four days.

When she asked, Juan’er looked puzzled and glanced at Apricot, who had spent most of these days beside Miss. Apricot, still tearful, looked at both Juan’er and Ning Yi for a moment, then choked out, “Miss said not to tell...”

Ning Yi thought for a moment, then sat on a nearby chair, sighing deeply. He rubbed his forehead and murmured, “Mentally exhausted... the imperial merchants, their affairs have hit a snag. Problems that can’t be solved... Whether external or internal, if external, it means offending some high official in the weaving bureau. But these past days, the visits to officials have been handled by the managers; it hasn’t come to a full break. So it must be an internal problem, one that can’t be resolved. I’m not very interested in the technical details, so I’ll leave that aside for now...”

The two maids listened quietly as he muttered. Apricot then sobbed harder, “Actually… actually, a few days ago…”

Before she could finish, footsteps sounded outside. Juan’er and Apricot hurried out to meet Manager Liao, the most senior steward of the main household, who had learned the situation from Doctor Sun and came to inquire. The elderly patriarch had not yet returned, so Juan’er and Apricot could not make decisions, conferring briefly in whispers with Manager Liao. Ning Yi sat inside, speculating on the possible causes, then rose and paced a few steps, gazing at the sleeping Su Tan’er.

Page end.