Qing Yanci Chapter Six

Old Zhang is not only the Sun family’s coachman but has now effectively become the butler. The previous butler, Old Chen, resigned and returned to the countryside a few days ago. Having grown old and finding the household’s affairs increasingly numerous and complex, he felt he could no longer manage, so he simply retired.

Sun Pengcheng had intended for Old Zhang to take over from Old Chen. After all, Old Zhang was as devoted to Sun Pengcheng as if he were his own son, and he handled matters with great order. Having learned much from Old Chen over the years, he was well-prepared for the position.

As soon as Su Xiu entered the house, Sun Pengcheng embraced her, and Old Zhang took the opportunity to close the door.

"Where did you go? I thought you had run off," Sun Pengcheng said happily upon seeing her. "Then I figured Lu Yiran must have called you away, so I sent Old Zhang to look for you."

"There was no need to search; it wasn't as if I were going through fire and water. Don't worry! I was just here in the Sun estate, not going anywhere," Su Xiu said with a guilty conscience. She knew that Lu Yiran looked at her like a cat eyeing a mouse, but she said this to keep Sun Pengcheng from worrying about domestic trifles.

"Enough, don't be stubborn. I am your husband; would I ever harm you? I intend to cherish you for the rest of my life," he said, kissing her forehead.

"You didn't sleep well last night, did you? I had Old Zhang prepare breakfast for you. You haven't eaten yet, have you?" Sun Pengcheng murmured, looking at her with affection as if coaxing a child.

"Then let's eat together. I won't eat if you don't," Su Xiu teased, snuggling into his arms.

"Who said your husband isn't eating? I came back specifically to eat with you. I thought you would be awake by now, so I snuck back. Father wanted me to go to the southern shop to take inventory, but I was thinking of you, so I returned first and had Old Zhang bring the meal," Sun Pengcheng said, gazing at her lovingly.

"Why are you so good to me? Will you always treat me this way? Will you never leave me?" Su Xiu felt overwhelmed by his tenderness.

"Of course! If I’m not good to you, who would I be good to? Rest assured, I will cherish you for a lifetime," Sun Pengcheng declared firmly.

"Then, what about... Lu...?" Su Xiu began, wanting to ask about Lu Yiran.

"Don't worry about this or that. Come, let's eat; I'm starving," Sun Pengcheng said, intentionally changing the subject.

"It's sweet potato and millet porridge—my favorite!" Su Xiu said happily.

"Millet porridge is good for the stomach in the morning. Have some side dishes, too." They ate together, chatting and laughing in high spirits.

"After we finish, I'll have Old Zhang show you and Hong around the house to get familiar with things. If you need anything, just tell him. He’s our butler now, and he’s a very good man..." Sun Pengcheng chatted as they ate.

After the meal, Sun Pengcheng prepared to go out to buy gifts for her parents for their return visit, though he kept this from Su Xiu, fearing she would insist on accompanying him, which was not yet appropriate.

"Wait for me at home. Don't wander off. I really hate being apart from you; even a moment away makes me miss you. I think I’ve been poisoned by your love!" He touched her cheek gently.

"You're annoying! Stop saying such things. Go and come back soon," Su Xiu said with a coy pout.

After breakfast, Old Zhang guided Su Xiu through the estate. When they had gone to pay respects to Sun Pengcheng’s mother earlier, his grandmother had been absent. Old Zhang explained that ever since Sun Yu took over household management, the matriarch had devoted herself to a life of vegetarianism and scripture recitation. She worshipped the Taiyi Savior of Suffering and spent her mornings in the prayer hall before eating. She preferred peace and quiet and was not to be disturbed.

"Second Young Mistress, I will take you to pay your respects to the Matriarch now," Old Zhang said.

"Uncle Zhang, please come in with me. I’m a bit..." Su Xiu hesitated, feeling nervous. She didn't know what to expect from the grandmother.

"Don't worry, Mistress. I will accompany you this time, but you will have to go alone in the future. The Matriarch is very kind, especially to the younger generation. Since she dotes on the Young Master, she will naturally favor someone he likes." Reassured, Su Xiu felt a little braver.

"Matriarch, your granddaughter-in-law, Su Xiu, is here to pay her respects. I am showing her the way. I wish you health and longevity..." Old Zhang offered pleasantries. Su Xiu was unsure how to begin until Old Zhang signaled her.

"Oh, Grandmother, greetings to you," she said, performing a traditional bow as the maid opened the door.

"Is this Xiu'er? My dear, come here to me. Old Zhang, thank you for bringing her. If you have duties, go ahead; I won't keep you from the household affairs," the Matriarch said with a kindly expression.

"Yes, Matriarch," Old Zhang said, giving Su Xiu a reassuring look before departing.

"Xiu'er, my dear, are you settling in well? If anyone bullies you, tell Peng'er or tell me, and we will help you. If Peng'er bullies you, I shall strike him with my cane!"

"Thank you, Grandmother. No one is bullying me; everyone is very kind," Su Xiu replied. Much to her surprise, the Matriarch was exceptionally warm, and the two spent a lively time together.

"When I first saw you at the Su family home, I thought you were delicate and gentle—very pleasing to the eye..."

"Xiu'er, Xiu'er..." Sun Pengcheng returned and immediately looked for her. Not finding her, he grew anxious.

"Old Zhang, where is she?" he asked urgently.

"She is likely still with the Matriarch," Old Zhang replied.

"I told her not to wander off!" Sun Pengcheng grumbled. He was always worried about Lu Yiran bullying her.

Approaching the Matriarch's room, he heard laughter from within. "When Peng'er was small, he was so mischievous! Once, he hid in the wardrobe and fell asleep, causing the whole family to search for him for a day and night. The next day, his father gave him a good thrashing, haha..."

"He was that mischievous?" Su Xiu laughed. "He doesn't look like it at all now."

"He's pretending! He was disciplined strictly by his father, so he puts on that act for you," the Matriarch teased.

Sun Pengcheng, listening at the door, muttered, "Grandmother, you're telling her all my embarrassing childhood stories!" He knocked loudly on the door. "Grandmother, Xiu'er, open up!"

Su Xiu hurried to open the door. "Pengcheng, you're back!"

"Xiu'er, you're here! Grandmother, don't tell her about my childhood!" he complained playfully.

"I’m just helping her understand you better," the Matriarch laughed.

"Fine, but tell her about my virtues instead!" Sun Pengcheng began acting like a pampered child, which made Su Xiu feel a bit awkward.

"Don't mind him, Xiu'er. He was so naughty that he always came to me to beg for mercy when his father punished him. That's why he acts this way in front of me," the Matriarch explained.

After lunch, they walked together, with Sun Pengcheng and Su Xiu each holding one of the Matriarch's arms. This scene was witnessed by Lu Yiran, who was consumed with jealousy.

"Ungrateful wretch," Lu Yiran whispered to her maid, Huan'er. "When you were ill, I was the one who cared for you day and night. Now that you're well, you've forgotten me entirely." Huan'er whispered something back, and Lu Yiran smiled knowingly.

"Huan'er, your plan is good. Su Xiu, we shall see how things turn out," Lu Yiran said viciously.

At the table, Sun Pengcheng kept piling food onto Su Xiu's plate, making her blush. Liu Shi, Sun Pengcheng's mother, signaled him with her eyes to remember Lu Yiran. Reluctantly, Sun Pengcheng gave Lu Yiran a piece of food.

"Husband, don't bother. I have no appetite these past two days. Please excuse me, I feel unwell," Lu Yiran said, coughing, and let Huan'er lead her away.

The family was confused, as she had seemed fine that morning. "Don't mind her, she's definitely faking it," Sun Pengcheng said dismissively, having long since seen through her tricks.

"Peng'er, how can you say that? If not for Ran'er's care when you were ill, you wouldn't be married to Xiu'er now," Liu Shi chided.

Su Xiu looked at Sun Pengcheng, shocked. She hadn't realized he had been so ill on their wedding day. "If you were ill, you should have postponed the wedding. Go see her; no one fakes illness for no reason," Su Xiu said, though the word "sister" still felt foreign on her tongue.

"Fine, fine, I'll go," Sun Pengcheng said reluctantly. "Xiu'er, wait for me in our room."

Seeing them together, the Matriarch remarked, "Peng'er really listens to Xiu'er. That is for the best." This comment left Liu Shi feeling deeply uncomfortable. She felt that her son was slipping away from her, and she cast a glare at Su Xiu that went unnoticed.

"Who is right is who you should listen to, don't be stubborn," the Matriarch continued, further upsetting Liu Shi, who soon found an excuse to leave.

In Lu Yiran's room, Huan'er helped her into bed. "Will this work? Will he see through it?" Lu Yiran asked nervously.

"Don't worry, just lie there," Huan'er comforted her.

When Sun Pengcheng arrived, Lu Yiran started her act. "She has had no appetite for days, Young Master. I fear her health will collapse," Huan'er said.

Sun Pengcheng, half-believing, asked, "Have you seen a doctor?"

"Not yet, the physician is away today."

"I'll go find one," Sun Pengcheng said, getting worried.

"No, don't bother," Lu Yiran pleaded. "Go back to your bride. I just need sleep."

Sun Pengcheng checked her forehead. "You don't have a fever, but I'll find a doctor anyway."

Once he left, Lu Yiran panicked. "If he brings a doctor, the ruse will be exposed!"

"Then we must make it real," Huan'er suggested. Lu Yiran decided to soak in cold water to induce a genuine chill. Despite Huan'er's protests, she insisted, fearing the doctor's diagnosis.

Sun Pengcheng, meanwhile, checked on Su Xiu before leaving the estate. "Wait for me, don't wander off," he told her.

Lu Yiran soaked in the cold water until her lips turned purple and her body shook. When Huan'er helped her out, she was shivering violently. Shortly after, she began sneezing and coughing, and soon fell into a feverish sleep.

When she woke, she found Sun Pengcheng and Su Xiu by her side. Sun Pengcheng, seeing her truly ill, was filled with concern and began feeding her medicine. Su Xiu felt a pang of jealousy and confusion. She retreated to her room, feeling like an outsider in her own new home.

That night, Sun Pengcheng returned to find Su Xiu in tears. "I feel like I've stolen the happiness that belonged to her," Su Xiu confessed.

"Don't be silly," Sun Pengcheng comforted her. "I only care for her out of gratitude for her past help. My heart belongs only to you. You are the only one I want to spend my life with."

As they prepared to rest, Liu Shi arrived, claiming Lu Yiran was crying for Sun Pengcheng again. Sun Pengcheng was annoyed, but Su Xiu, ever understanding, urged him to go. "She has no family here but you, go comfort her."

Sun Pengcheng returned late that night, exhausted. He pulled Su Xiu into his arms, and they fell asleep, leaving the troubles of the day behind as they prepared for the return visit to Su Xiu's parents the next morning.