Watching Xu Jie manage everything in perfect order, with carts of citrus fruits being transported from the docks to the estate, the mistress and her servant took their leave.
"To the Chu Clinic."
"Yes." Nian Qiu relayed the instruction to the coachman. Noticing the scent on the young lady had faded considerably, a smile touched her lips as she began massaging her mistress’s right hand with just the right pressure.
In the past, the joints of the young lady’s hands were barely visible. But since taking charge of the household, she had been writing more frequently, and her right hand had noticeably thickened compared to her left, with the finger joints now prominent. Despite their efforts to care for her hands, it had done little good once she resumed her role as a teacher.
Nian Qiu thought of how the young lady used to spend her days reading, practicing calligraphy, playing chess or painting when the mood struck, or occasionally coming up with ideas for Fu Dong to create delicious treats. Compared to now, when she had to worry about every little thing, Nian Qiu felt her nose sting sharply with emotion. She quickly lowered her gaze, afraid her mistress might notice.
Chu Shitang was somewhat surprised to see Hua Zhi. After finishing with his current patient, he had another physician from the clinic take over and invited her to the inner room for a private word.
"My apologies for disturbing you, Doctor Chu."
Chu Shitang’s eyelid twitched slightly at her attire and altered appearance, but he maintained his professional demeanor and refrained from asking questions. "Have you come today regarding the medicine previously ordered, Miss?"
"That is one reason. I also wish to inquire about Grandmother’s condition. It’s not so convenient to discuss such matters at home."
Chu Shitang nodded understandingly. "I have been treating the Hua family for many years. If I recall correctly, the Old Madam has rarely fallen ill over the years."
"Yes, she hardly ever falls ill—perhaps once a year at most."
Stroking his beard, Chu Shitang spoke cautiously, "I wonder if you are aware that after the Fourth Young Master, the Old Madam once lost a child at eight months?"
Hua Zhi shook her head with mild surprise. "I had not heard of this."
"Then I have spoken out of turn."
"Please, don’t say that. It’s not exactly a secret, but elders often prefer to keep such matters from the younger generation. I would appreciate it if you could elaborate, so I can have a clearer understanding."
After a moment’s consideration, Chu Shitang decided not to hold back. "Indeed, it isn’t much of a secret. The Old Madam fell from a daybed during an afternoon nap, which disturbed the fetus. The child was born alive but did not survive. The Old Madam was not young at the time and suffered greatly. It took her half a year to recover enough to leave her bed. Since then, she has rarely been ill, but physical ailments are like that—they come back to claim their due when the time is right. That is why her current illness has struck so severely."
Hua Zhi’s heart tightened. She sensed there was more to the doctor’s words. "Please speak plainly. I can handle it."
"When I visited the other day, you were not present, and I felt it inappropriate to discuss this with others. The Old Madam’s condition has worsened."
"Is it serious?"
"If things continue this way, she will not last long."
But before the Hua family’s troubles began, Grandmother had been so healthy! How could she deteriorate so quickly in such a short time?
Hua Zhi dug her fingernail into the fleshy part of her hand between thumb and forefinger. "Is there no way to help her?"
"If the Hua family had not encountered difficulties and the Old Madam did not have this burden on her mind, her condition might not have deteriorated to this extent. Every time I visit, I advise her to ease her heart. But you must understand, Miss—such a blow is not easy for anyone to bear. What the Old Madam has endured is known only to her. And…"
"And what?"
"I suspect the Old Madam is not entirely unaware of her own condition."Hua Zhi reflected on her grandmother's behavior in recent days—it was no different from usual. If her grandmother truly knew something...
Hua Zhi stood and bowed deeply. "Please do your utmost, Doctor Chu. Don't hesitate to use any rare medicinal ingredients—I will find a way to obtain them."
"I dare not accept such courtesy from the young lady." Doctor Chu stepped aside. "I shall prepare another prescription now. In daily life, you might consider having the family's younger generations spend more time with the Old Madam. Seeing her descendants around might help resolve the worries in her heart."
"Your advice is sound. I will make arrangements upon returning."
Leaving the clinic, Nian Qiu carried a bundle of bottles and jars to store in the carriage while Hua Zhi followed slowly, her heart sinking uncontrollably.
She now understood the saying "misfortunes never come singly." No matter how confident she felt internally, no matter how capable she believed herself to be of supporting the Hua family, it didn't mean the family's matriarch could be lost.
Taking a deep breath, Hua Zhi looked up and noticed a man standing beside the clinic. He was very tall, dressed in black, with a scar on his face that added a fierce quality to his appearance. His arms hung limply, blood dripping from his fingertips to the ground. Passersby gave him a wide berth.
Hua Zhi unexpectedly thought of Shaoyao, whom she hadn't seen for some time. With just one scar on her face, Shaoyao had to endure such stares—she wondered how Shaoyao had coped in the past.
Her heart softening abruptly, Hua Zhi approached the carriage and whispered instructions to Nian Qiu. Nian Qiu glanced at the man, nodded, and walked toward him.
Holding out four or five taels of scattered silver, Nian Qiu said softly, "My young lady is compassionate and sent me to give you this silver. The physicians at Chu's Clinic are highly reputed—please go inside and see a doctor quickly."
When he remained silent, Nian Qiu stuffed the silver into his arms and hurried back. Hua Zhi lowered the carriage window curtain and signaled the coachman to return home.
"Heir..." Chen Qing emerged silently from the alley leading a horse, watching the departing carriage and thinking that the Hua family's eldest young lady and his master indeed shared a peculiar connection. Still, it took an extraordinary person to approach someone like the Heir in such a state.
The Heir clasped the silver in his palm. "Is everything handled?"
"Yes, Xiao Wu is tidying up the loose ends. Heir, we should return—your injury needs immediate treatment."
The Heir glanced up at the clinic's signboard, took the reins, and mounted the horse.
After returning home, Hua Zhi bathed, changed clothes, and went to pay respects to her grandmother. After discussing arrangements for the workshop, she casually mentioned her visit to Chu's Clinic.
The Old Madam's expression remained unreadable as she asked with concern, "Why did you go there suddenly? Are you unwell? Why not summon the doctor to the residence?"
"Don't worry, Grandmother, I'm not ill. I previously ordered some medicines from Doctor Chu, agreeing to collect them monthly, but busyness delayed me until today." Hua Zhi observed subtly and continued, "In about a month, family matters should be on track. I plan to go to the northern regions in late October or November."
"To the northern regions?" The Old Madam's voice cracked with surprise. Coughing lightly, she pushed away the tea Su Momo offered and stared intently at Hua Zhi. "You plan to go to the northern regions?""I originally planned to go after the New Year, when I'd have saved more money to make things easier. But after thinking it over, I realized I must go before the year ends. Winters there are harsh - they each only have one set of warm clothes. Though they have some silver saved, Grandfather would never stand by watching the Hua family's collateral branches suffer. With all the connections that need maintaining, they probably have little left. If anyone falls ill, they'd just have to endure it. The mere thought of this makes me too uneasy - I simply must make this trip."
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