Yan Changfeng’s so-called method was to tie the pulse-diagnosis thread around her own wrist.
A thin silk thread stretched from the window straight into Yan Changying’s bedroom. Yan Changfeng hid inside the window, holding one end of the thread in her hand while putting on a show for those outside: “Sister, Nanny Li is only thinking of your health. Let’s just tie a thread around your wrist—it won’t hurt or itch, and no one needs to come in.”
Yan Changying’s large eyes stared at her in confusion.
“Sister, be good. I promise it’ll only be for a little while. The two imperial physicians aren’t young anymore—let’s not keep them waiting too long under the sun, alright?”
Yan Changfeng coaxed her like this for a long while before finally tying the thread around her own wrist, pretending as if it were real: “Ah, that’s right, sister. Don’t be afraid—it’ll be over soon.”
Then she called out the window: “Nanny Li, I’m ready over here!”
Nanny Li had seen it all and had long anticipated this trick. She said, “Little Miss, come out first.”
Yan Changfeng pouted, thinking to herself, This old woman is even harder to fool than the tutors.
“Nanny, if I go out, Eldest Sister might cause a scene.”
Nanny Li replied, “Then stand at the doorway—no need to come out.”
Yan Changfeng estimated the length of the thread—it likely wouldn’t reach the doorway.
What to do? She couldn’t just tie it to a table leg, could she?
“Little Miss, hurry up!” Nanny Li, of course, gave her no time to dawdle and kept urging her from outside.
This old woman is so cunning!
Just as Yan Changfeng was scratching her head in frustration, Yan Changying, who had been watching her all along, spoke up: “Xueyi, give me the thread. Don’t let Nanny punish you.”
Yan Changfeng was taken aback, then realized that Eldest Sister was helping her, and a wave of joy surged in her heart.
Scenes like this—one causing trouble, the other helping—were part of the sisters’ daily routine. But ever since Eldest Sister had lost her mind, even normal conversation had become a luxury. Hearing such words now nearly brought tears to Yan Changfeng’s eyes.
Suppressing her excitement, she scurried over to Eldest Sister and fawned over her: “Sister, you’re my real sister! From now on, I’ll do whatever you say. Um, how about helping me copy a few more scriptures? Mother just punished me to copy them fifty times.”
Yan Changying raised a finger and poked her forehead. “You’re always causing trouble. Bring them over later, and I’ll do it.”
Yan Changfeng’s heart swelled with wild joy, as if ten thousand horses were galloping inside her. She almost wished she could cause ten or eight more disasters just to see this side of her sister again.
Eldest Sister’s improvement was more important than anything. But Nanny Li couldn’t find out—otherwise, Eldest Sister would never escape her fate of being sent to Beidu.
Thanks to Yan Changying’s cooperation, the pulse diagnosis was smoothly dealt with. No serious issues were detected—just the usual talk of liver stagnation and qi blockage.
The imperial physicians prescribed some bitter medicinal decoctions. Yan Changfeng didn’t want to upset Eldest Sister with medicine, but if she didn’t, Nanny Li would think Eldest Sister was cooperating well and wasn’t as ill as claimed. Reluctantly, she had no choice but to bring the medicine to her.
As expected, Yan Changying’s emotions spiraled out of control again. For some time now, regardless of whether her condition had improved, the sight of someone bringing her soup or liquid would trigger her. She would always spew the same words: “You vile woman, don’t you dare harm my child!”
Perhaps because what was brought today was actual medicinal decoction, and she smelled the medicine, her outburst was more severe than ever before. She uttered many terrifying words she had never spoken before, leaving Nanny Li utterly dumbfounded.
"I beg you, Pei Yu, don't make me drink that medicine, I really can't take it anymore, wuwuwu…"
"I'm begging you all, I've already lost several pregnancies, I can't drink any more medicine!"
"Help! Xueyi, where are you? Come save me! Father, Mother, take me with you too!"
Yan Changfeng, who could hear every word clearly from inside the room, could bear it no longer. In a fit of rage, she smashed the medicine bowl.
The shattering sound of porcelain silenced the entire courtyard. Even Nanny Li's heart, long accustomed to the filth of the inner chambers, trembled for a long while.
Although Lady Yao's letter had mentioned Pei Yu's favoritism toward his concubine and mistreatment of his wife, it had not described it in such detail. How could anyone reading those simple four words have glimpsed such a horrifying truth?
"From what I've heard, that Heir Apparent of the Pei family is nothing but a beast!" Nanny Li said in Lady Yao's room.
Upon hearing this, Lady Yao began wiping her tears, her handkerchief already soaked through. "Who says otherwise? I wanted to inform Mother of these matters in my letter, but I didn't know where to begin. I was afraid Mother would think I had gone mad too. Besides, without proof, I couldn't just slander someone recklessly. Fortunately, you've come, Nanny. Now that you've seen it with your own eyes, please speak on my behalf before Mother. This marriage absolutely must not go through."
Nanny Li was not optimistic. "I understand your heart, Madam. Hearing those heart-wrenching words today filled me with rage too. If it were my own daughter, I wouldn't want her to take such a risk either. But this still hasn't been confirmed. Even if the Grand Princess came and heard it herself, it would be difficult to say."
"What are we to do then?" Lady Yao felt trapped at every turn. She had thought that once Nanny Li witnessed and heard it firsthand, she would surely be able to persuade Mother. Who knew they would still face the inevitable outcome of having to marry?
"Don't worry, Madam," Nanny Li said. "I heard Miss Changfeng say something today about her parents taking her away. Could that also be some kind of prophecy?"
Lady Yao's sobbing paused. After hesitating for a moment, she sighed. "Well, since you already know, I might as well tell you everything."
She briefly explained how her husband had encountered bandits and how Yao Niang had seized the family's assets. "At first, I didn't want to air our family's dirty laundry, and I was afraid Mother would be furious and cause trouble for the Zhang family. Nanny, you don't know—business matters involve many connections. Pulling up one radish might bring up mud with it, leading to endless trouble. Revenge must be carefully planned."
Nanny Li nodded understandingly. "Now that you mention it, things are starting to connect. I was wondering where that harlot got such audacity! If all of this truly comes to pass, then Miss Changfeng's dream is no simple matter. But this is no trivial affair. A few words in a letter likely won't suffice. I'm afraid I'll have to wait until I return to the Marquis's residence to explain it to the Grand Princess."
Hearing that Nanny Li intended to leave soon, Lady Yao felt somewhat relieved. "I've troubled you to travel back and forth, Nanny."
Nanny Li quickly said it was her duty. "But we must wait for the abbot of Huguo Temple to come and assess the situation before making a decision. The Grand Princess likely still trusts the master's words more."
Lady Yao thought to herself, waiting was fine—just a few days. At least there was hope now.
Two days later, Abbot Fayin of Huguo Temple arrived with a handwritten letter from the Grand Princess.
A high monk from a royal monastery was not comparable to those wandering Taoists. Though his attire was simple, his demeanor was extraordinary.
Yan Changfeng felt like a wild monkey meeting the Buddha the moment she saw him. Though inwardly unimpressed, she instinctively tucked her tail and behaved with rare obedience, following her parents as they respectfully escorted the master to Eldest Sister’s courtyard.
Yan Chuanxing clasped his hands and apologized to Fayin, “Master Fayin, I fear my daughter may not be able to face outsiders. What do you think?”
Fayin returned the gesture with one hand, “It is of no concern. Simply describe her condition truthfully.”
Yan Chuanxing then recounted in detail how Yan Changying had fallen ill.
Fayin listened intently with closed eyes, his thin fingers lightly turning prayer beads. When Yan Chuanxing finished speaking, his fingers paused, and he opened his eyes, saying, “Your daughter’s rebirth after death is the will of heaven.”