“Jinfeng, Father and Mother are gone. As elder brothers, we must hold this household together.”
“I know you suffer too. Don’t worry, Jinfeng. I will strive to make achievements and bring you all a good life.”
“While I fight outside, the younger siblings at home will be entrusted to you.”
Chen Jinfeng was drifting in a haze when suddenly, a low, hoarse voice came from outside the door: “My lord.”
His closed eyes snapped open, cold light flashing outward, erasing any trace of his earlier weariness. He sat upright, looking toward the shadow cast upon the door curtain. “What is it?”
“My lord, just now Fourth Young Master and Chief Fang were discussing the future arrangements for the concubines in the rear courtyard. Lady Wen overheard them.”
Chen Jinfeng tapped his fingers lightly on the desk. “She deliberately eavesdropped?”
“Not exactly…” Heiying coughed softly. “From the situation, Lady Wen seemed to have lost her way and heard it by accident…”
Lost? Chen Jinfeng raised his brows. “Very well. Keep watching her.”
As he spoke, he suddenly recalled the woman’s innocent yet lively eyes. In rare idleness, he wondered: she had acted so devoted and affectionate toward him—what expression would she wear upon hearing Chen Jinbai’s words?
Heiying answered, “Yes.”
Chen Jinfeng asked again: “How is Lü Yiwen?”
Lü Yiwen was the rebel leader he had brought back from Minzhou.
Heiying hesitated. “Still the same. After being struck by an arrow, he hovered at death’s door. His body has remained weak ever since.”
Chen Jinfeng frowned. “Keep a closer watch. He must not die.”
“Yes.”
Meanwhile, Lady Wen—so devoted in appearance—returned to her room and immediately began rummaging through boxes, ignoring Chunxi’s joyful relief.
Chunxi had spent the night in fear, finally seeing her mistress return. But before she could express her concern, Wen Ning’s frantic movements startled her. “Mistress, what are you… doing?”
Tearing the house apart in the middle of the night?
Wen Ning didn’t bother explaining. She first pulled out several medical books left by the original owner’s grandfather, long buried under dust, and carefully cleaned them before placing them prominently on the shelf. Then she gathered all their remaining silver and counted it. Her face fell instantly.
Though the concubines in the Protector’s household were unofficial, easily dismissed at any time, the household treated them decently—food, clothing, and lodging provided, plus two taels of silver each month. So why, after two years, did the original Wen Ning have only twelve taels saved?
By calculation, she should have received forty‑eight taels in income. And each month, the household also allocated two taels per person for cosmetics, clothing, and jewelry.
The original Wen Ning had not been extravagant. Even with some spending, she should not have been left with so little.
Wen Ning was a practical woman. She believed only silver could give her true security. In this devouring world, she already lacked power and influence—how could she also lack money?
Chunxi, watching nervously, seemed to guess her thoughts. “Mistress, you forget—the Wen family often deducts Madam Zhao’s monthly allowance and supplies. You often had to help Madam Zhao and the Sixth Young Master. Last winter, Madam Zhao caught a chill. The First Madam carelessly hired a quack, worsening her illness. Madam Zhao had to hire another doctor herself, spending much silver…”
Chunxi spoke with indignation.
Years ago, Master had met Madam Zhao while posted in Xuzhou. He fell in love at first sight and quickly took her as a concubine.
At that time, the First Madam remained in Fenglin, leaving Madam Zhao alone with Master. They lived like an ordinary married couple, and both Madam Zhao and Sixth Young Master were conceived then. But the deeper their love in those four years, the more resentful the First Madam became back in Fenglin. When Master was reassigned to the capital, Madam Zhao’s good days ended.
By then, Master had grown weary of her. The First Madam, eager to win his heart back, immediately brought him two new concubines and played the role of a virtuous wife. Master quickly forgot Madam Zhao—perhaps even her face. Yet hatred lasts longer than love. Master forgot her, but the First Madam did not. For years, she had mistreated and neglected Madam Zhao.
Wen Ning had only recently absorbed the original’s memories, not all the details yet. Chunxi’s reminder made her recall her mother and younger brother’s awkward situation in the Wen household. Her face fell further.
Still, the memories showed that her mother and brother had loved the original dearly. Now that she occupied this body, she could not abandon them. The burden on her shoulders suddenly felt heavier.
Wen Ning comforted herself silently, carefully putting away the silver. “Speaking of which, I haven’t visited Mother and Yu’er in a long time. In a few days, let’s find time to go back.”
Chunxi froze, then lit up with joy. “Mistress, you’re willing to return?”
No wonder her reaction was so strong.
The original Wen Ning had not abandoned her mother and brother, but over time, she grew resentful. Seeing other concubines—especially Madam Luo—backed by their families, she felt even more bitter.
For example, when she accidentally discovered Madam Cheng’s secret tryst, other concubines could have sought support from their families. The original Wen Ning dared not even think of it. Thus, she had not returned home for nearly half a year.
Wen Ning understood. When burdens exceed one’s strength, avoidance is natural. But that does not mean she didn’t care.
Chunxi continued happily: “The other day, Sister Lan You delivered clothes and shoes from Madam Zhao. She secretly asked when you would visit. Madam Zhao misses you dearly. If not for fear of causing you trouble, Madam Zhao would have come herself. And Sixth Young Master—though he doesn’t say it, he misses you too…”
In her past life, Wen Ning’s parents had died early. Her grandfather raised her, but he passed away soon after she entered university. She had always longed for family warmth. Hearing Chunxi’s words stirred her heart. “Enough for now. I fell into the water just days ago, and my body is still weak. Let me recover, then we’ll visit the Wen family.”
Chunxi blinked, finally voicing the question she had held back all night.
“Mistress, when did you learn medicine? You said you often read medical texts. How did I never know?”