Chapter 58: Setting Out

Meinang sized up Madam Feng and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Qin Bo Qing, a frail scholar who seemed like he could be knocked over by a breeze, had married a woman as slender as a willow branch. She stood there pale, looking delicate and sickly, holding onto the back of a chair, gazing at Meinang timidly.

Then, she thought to herself, “Count your blessings. This engagement was arranged by Old Master Qin before he passed. With the Qin family’s current state, it’s already a wonder she agreed to come and suffer alongside us.”

She stepped forward quickly, took Madam Feng’s hand warmly, and said, “Sister in law!”

Madam Feng, clearly well-mannered and educated, was briefly taken aback by Meinang’s beauty and the noble air she exuded. She quickly regained her composure, gently withdrew her hand, stepped back, and said, “It would be proper for me to first greet the Marchioness.”

As she moved to curtsey, Meinang stopped her. “Mother told me that we’re the same age, so let’s skip the formalities, shall we?”

Madam Feng smiled softly, and as she looked up at Meinang, the latter noticed that this gentle, delicate woman had bright, intelligent eyes. She thought, “Perhaps she’s not as weak as she appears.”

Meinang led her to a chair near the brazier and asked, “You’ve traveled all the way from Yue Zhou while pregnant—are you feeling better now? And how is my brother?”

Madam Feng’s eyes reddened. “Thank you for your concern, Aunt. I’m managing. The bumpy journey made me feel unwell, and my belly ached a little, but the doctor who came last night prescribed some medicine to help stabilize my condition. Your brother, on the other hand, caught a chill, and he’s been feverish, coughing all night it was truly frightening.”

Meinang went to the bedside, lifted the bed curtains, and looked down at her brother, who was emaciated and frail. Feeling anxious, she turned to Madam Feng and said, “He must’ve caught this chill during those windy, snowy days. Couldn’t you have rested along the way? There was no need to rush back before the New Year and end up freezing him.”

Madam Feng wiped away her tears. “It was the soldiers escorting us… they pushed the carriage hard, almost traveling day and night. Only when I couldn’t bear it did we stop at an inn for a night, but we set off early the next day. Your brother gave me all the blankets to keep me warm, and as a result, he…”

She broke into sobs. Meinang’s eyes flashed with anger, thinking, “Damn Xu Jun Ying! Is this what he calls ‘helping’? Those men were supposed to protect my brother’s life, not jeopardize it! Fine, so he spent 500 taels for medicine there’s still a debt to pay!”

“Sister in law, has my brother eaten anything today?”

Madam Feng shook her head, tears in her eyes. “The doctor came last night, and he took some medicine, but he was coughing terribly through the night. He even coughed up blood this morning. I had more medicine prepared, but he’s so exhausted that he hasn’t woken up to eat. I don’t know what to do.”

Meinang glanced at Lier, who was serving tea and standing nearby with her head bowed. Madam Feng explained, “There aren’t many people left in the household, only the three maidservants I brought with me, two servant couples, and an old gatekeeper all very loyal. Lier has been with me since childhood, she’s trustworthy and won’t speak out of turn.”

Meinang nodded and turned to Madam Feng, “Would you like my brother to get better soon?”

Madam Feng was startled, then quickly replied, “Of course!”

“I know someone who could help, but I’ll need to go and invite them personally. The trip is far, and I fear Mother won’t let me go alone. If you’re willing to support me, I could set out this afternoon.”

Madam Feng shook her head firmly, “Go alone? You’re of noble status, if anything were to happen to you…”

“Oh, I wouldn’t be alone. You’d arrange for a trustworthy driver to take me.”

Madam Feng asked, “Where would you be going?”

“Thirty miles southeast of the city.”

Madam Feng gasped, “Outside the city? You can’t go!”

“Sister in law,” Meinang took her hand, “do you want my brother to suffer? His illness is serious, even the imperial doctors might not be able to cure him. If we delay, not only could he die, but he’ll miss the spring exam and lose his chance.”

Tearfully, Madam Feng replied, “We could just take our time with his treatment and skip the spring exam.”

Meinang let go of her hand. “Then stay by his side, watch him suffer, his ambitions stifled, and let him become miserable and unfulfilled.”

Madam Feng suddenly clutched Meinang’s hand. “I do want him to get better… but I can’t risk your safety! You’re here visiting family, and if something happened…”

“I wouldn’t make this decision if I hadn’t thought it through. Trust me, just arrange for someone reliable to drive me.”

After a long pause, Madam Feng looked at her husband lying on the bed, then nodded firmly, “Fine, we’ll try our luck together.”

She instructed Lier, “Go and discreetly have Lian Da prepare the carriage at the back gate, where no one can see. I’ll bring Aunt there soon.”

When Lier left, Madam Feng looked at Meinang, hesitated, then said seriously, “Meinang, you’re so beautiful. I can’t help but worry. It’s best if more people accompany you.”

Meinang replied, “A large group would draw attention. I just need one driver.”

Madam Feng objected, “No, you should at least take a couple of maids.”

Meinang clenched her fists slightly. After weeks of good food, rest, and exercise, she felt stronger. “Who is this Lian Da?”

“Lian Da is my old nurse’s son. I privately call him ‘brother’, he’s loyal and dependable. But if he can’t tend to your needs…”

“I don’t need tending; just having Brother Lian along will be fine.”

Madam Feng hesitated, then brightened, “What if his wife goes too? They’re both strong and capable. My family often sent them on errands outside the city, so they know the roads well.”

Meinang recalled the servant woman tending the fire. “Will she tell Mother?”

Madam Feng replied, “I’ll instruct her not to speak, and if she does, by then you’ll be back safe and sound, and Mother will have nothing to say.”

“Alright,” Meinang agreed. “I’ll go in disguise dressed as a man in my brother’s clothes.”

Madam Feng searched the wardrobe and brought out a new blue brocade robe embroidered with small flowers. “This is new, made by Mother for the New Year. Wear this.”

They removed her jewelry and restyled her hair, tying it back with a blue ribbon. Meinang looked at herself in the mirror, transformed into a handsome young man, even more dashing than her brother.

Lier returned and stood amazed. Madam Feng gave her further instructions before they both donned cloaks. Meinang approached the bed, touched her brother’s hand, and whispered, “Wait for me, I’ll bring back a doctor to cure you.”

Qin Bo Qing shifted slightly, as if sensing her words, and Meinang quickly backed away, fearing he’d wake and stop her from leaving.

She helped Madam Feng to the back gate, where Lian Da, dressed as a man, waited with the carriage. Lian Da jumped down, saying, “Madam, I’ll keep Master safe and bring him back soon.”

As Lian Da helped Meinang onto the carriage, she reminded Lier, “Take care of Madam, make sure she rests.”

Once the carriage disappeared around the corner, Madam Feng and Lier returned to the house, preparing their stories to cover Meinang’s absence.