Chapter 16: Asking About the Teacher

The two still hesitated.

“What’s the matter? Reluctant to leave the wealth of the Wang residence?” Yu Yuanzheng was truly speechless.

What she didn't realize was that even a concubine maid ranked higher than an ordinary maid; if she could bear a child for her master, her status would rise further. Marrying a footman in the household, however, meant remaining a servant forever—a world of difference.

The two maids crawled on their knees before the princess consort once more. “Princess consort, please make a decision for us.”

Unable to decide themselves, they had no choice but to plead with her.

“Alas, the heir apparent is beyond hope. You’d better marry elsewhere,” the princess consort sighed deeply, making the choice for them.

Yu Yuanzheng wanted to say that even if the heir woke up, he might not accept them. If he did, she would have to find a way to leave the Wang residence. But such thoughts could never be revealed to the princess consort; after all, she was a thorough traditionalist.

This matter depended mainly on the man.

The two maids wept once more, forced to accept the princess consort’s arrangement.

“Considering you served the heir apparent for a time, I will let you choose suitable matches yourselves. Go back and let your mothers help pick. Report back to me later. I will give each of you a dowry of one hundred taels.”

With such a promise, the two maids finally took their leave.

“Mother, you are truly kind,” Yu Yuanzheng praised with a smile.

“You child, enough talk. Let’s eat together.”

Today’s breakfast was still porridge, but without the saffron fragrance. Strange—why was it present the day before yesterday but absent today?

After the meal, Yu Yuanzheng spoke up. “Mother, do you know any good tutors? Your daughter-in-law wants to inquire on behalf of her father. He wishes to continue studying for the imperial examinations.”

She thought of her natal family, finally having left the Bo household; everything now had to be reconsidered.

The main reason her father decided to separate family affairs was precisely this: if he did not participate, his younger brother would have to.

“Oh? That’s a good thing. Let me think.”

Qin Yuyan certainly knew more respected scholars than her father did.

“I heard from the prince that last month the imperial academy’s grand scholar, Elder Jin, retired. Though only in his fifties, he could no longer serve the court due to health issues. Thirty years ago, he was the top scholar of his examination section—well-versed and with many disciples.

If he were still healthy, it would be best for your father to study under him. Such a pity,” the princess consort said, thinking of someone but shaking her head.

A man nearing death could hardly accept new students.

“Mother, do you know what illness he has?” Yu Yuanzheng felt regretful but realized that even if the man were healthy, he likely wouldn’t accept her father.

“I heard it’s a cough disease.”

“A cough disease? Can the imperial doctors not cure it?” Yu Yuanzheng was curious.

“Ah, ‘cough disease’ covers many types. His is probably pulmonary tuberculosis. That’s why it can’t be cured.”

“What? Pulmonary tuberculosis?” Yu Yuanzheng immediately understood.

Tuberculosis was a terminal illness in ancient times.

“Yes, it’s truly unfortunate. Only in his fifties, and he must withdraw from court service.”

“Are there other good tutors?”

“Wait for the prince’s return tonight; mother will ask him. Men usually know more about these things. What I know can’t compare to Elder Jin.”

Returning to the Elegant Chess Courtyard, Yu Yuanzheng saw Yuanshan and Jinshui changing the heir’s clothes.

“Yuanshan, what did the heir eat this morning?” she asked with concern.

“Your Highness, this morning he had lily bulb and pork clay porridge.”

“Hmm, thank you for your hard work. You may go now; I will stay here to watch.”

Yesterday she had tried the embroidery skills of the original owner and was surprised she had inherited them. Finding it fresh and interesting, she asked Jiang Hua to bring her embroidery tools to try again.

Embroidery had long been recognized as intangible cultural heritage in modern times, and she was determined not to lose this art. Creating her own pieces was a refined pastime.

In her previous life, she had studied guzheng as a child and passed the tenth level but chose medicine over music. Still, in college, her modest skills earned her applause in several cultural performances.

Hence, possessing an artistic skill was invaluable.

As she stitched, she pondered.

If they could invite Elder Jin as a tutor for her father, it would greatly enhance his studies.

He was no longer young; without shortcuts, it would be difficult to stand out in the imperial exams.

Suddenly, an idea struck her.

“Jiang Hua.”

“Yes, Miss,” the waiting maid answered as she entered.

“Bring me the list of my dowry; I want to review it.” Yu Yuanzheng had not been inclined to organize her dowry these past days.

“Yes.” Jiang Hua retrieved a brocade box from the corner cabinet and opened it.

Yu Yuanzheng examined each item carefully.

There wasn’t much of great value.

“I actually have a small villa, three shops, and a hundred-acre estate?” She was surprised.

“Miss, you forgot? The Second Madam was born into a merchant family. One shop was given by the Bo family; the other two shops and the estate were her dowry,” Jiang Hua said, puzzled why her mistress didn’t remember.

“Oh, I do remember. Just hadn’t thought about it since nothing happened. After all, these aren’t my own memories; I have to recall them separately,” Yu Yuanzheng laughed awkwardly.

She also recalled what the three shops were used for.

One was a tea business on Guanghua Street, another a pharmacy on Minhe Street—both from her mother’s dowry. The third was Bo family property on a less bustling street, rented out to others. The small villa was also from the Bo family, located in a somewhat remote area, seemingly rented out as well.

“Jiang Hua, have Chunlei take you to check on the rented shop. What is the current tenant using it for? If the penalty for breaking the lease isn’t high, reclaim the shop,” Yu Yuanzheng decided.

That shop would be very useful.

“Yes, Miss.”

At this moment, Yu Chaoyang also learned that the two maids had been permitted by the princess consort to return home and marry.

More importantly, the princess consort had apparently given up further treatment for the heir.

In the previous life, no such decision was made; until the heir’s death, the imperial physician Gu came every ten days for acupuncture.

The two maids had been deliberately assigned to serve the heir in the courtyard.

How could she endure the pain alone? If two others came to share her suffering, how could she refuse?

But in this life, many things had changed because of her marriage swap.

No treatment meant a quicker death, didn’t it?

Thinking this, Yu Chaoyang couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

“Ha ha, very good.”

She planned to inform the Second Old Madam and the secondary princess consort.

Having just left the Second Old Madam’s Hundred Years Courtyard, she returned again.

The Second Old Madam found it strange.

“Yang’er, why are you thinking of grandmother so soon?” The Second Old Madam was unusually warm toward Yu Chaoyang.

“Second Old Madam, just now the princess consort sent away two of the heir’s maids. They said that the princess consort and my father have stopped seeking medical treatment; from now on, they’ll let the heir take his natural course,” Yu Chaoyang said excitedly.

“What did you say?” Hearing this, the Second Old Madam’s expression changed immediately.

“How dare they give up treatment!

That is the heir of the Wang residence! How can they face our ancestors? No, I disagree. Xinyi, come, let’s go to the main residence.”

Furious, the Second Old Madam stormed out of the main hall, walking with great momentum—hardly seeming like a woman nearing sixty.

Yu Chaoyang was stunned. Why was this? Hadn’t the Second Old Madam wished for the heir’s early death?