After leaving Old Lady Ye's Shou'an Hall, Ye Wanshu directly took Ye Cishu and followed Madam Li to Bishui Residence where Madam Li lived.
"Wanshu will follow me today to look over the account books.
Cishu, you stay here as well. When Doctor Liao arrives later, bring him directly to me.
However, Cishu, if you get tired, you can rest for a while in the warm pavilion.
Wanshu, take Cishu to look at the account books first. I need to go to the storeroom at the back." Madam Li instructed.
After saying this, Madam Li led a group of maids and serving women toward the rear of Bishui Residence.
Ye Cishu gently tugged at Ye Wanshu's sleeve.
"Eldest Sister, Second Sister doesn't seem very happy."
"She's not happy a single day out of the whole year.
Have you forgotten? She dislikes keeping company with us. She only loves studying. Her usual hobbies aren't managing household affairs and looking at account books like ours.
What she enjoys are the refined arts: music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, and tea.
When has her paying respects to the Old Lady ever been more than just going through the motions?" Ye Wanshu said with a laugh.
Ye Cishu remembered. Concubine Su came from an official's family. As for how high-ranking that official position was, not many people knew.
Also, when Concubine Su entered the Ye Family, the dowry she brought consisted of three large carts full of books.
For this reason, Second Master Ye specially allocated a large courtyard to Concubine Su just so she could store those books.
A daughter of an official's family, her family fortunes declined, forcing her to submit to a merchant, and even as a concubine.
There must be a lot of resentment in her heart, right?
No wonder Ye Ningshu looked down on the other Ye sisters, acting like an unattainable flower on a high peak!
But who made Second Master Ye just like that particular style!
Ye Cishu didn't say anything more and followed Ye Wanshu in looking over the account books sent by the steward.
Ah, the Ye Family's estate was vast, with a large number of people above and below. The monthly expenses were truly not small!
They had barely looked at two pages of the account books when Doctor Liao arrived.
Madam Li hurried back from the storeroom to watch Doctor Liao examine Ye Cishu's pulse.
Fortunately, Doctor Liao's diagnosis wasn't too bad.
"Fourth Miss's heart condition is congenital. She can only be carefully nursed back to health.
Continue taking the pills I prescribed before.
Remember one thing: avoid extreme joy or sorrow." Doctor Liao advised.
"So it means one should view life and death with detachment?" Ye Cishu interjected.
Doctor Liao…
"You could say that. Just don't brood over things. The Ye Family has a vast estate; Fourth Miss probably has nothing to worry about." Doctor Liao said with a smile.
Ye Cishu gave a dry laugh.
How could there be nothing to worry about?
The Su mother and son living in the Ye Manor's outer quarters were constantly scheming to ruin her reputation so they could break off the engagement honorably!
"Thank you, Doctor Liao!" Madam Li quickly said from the side.
Watching Doctor Liao leave with his consultation fee, Ye Cishu continued looking at the account books with Ye Wanshu.
…
Elsewhere, in a courtyard closer to the outer part of Ye Manor, a woman around forty years old was pacing back and forth anxiously in a room.
"I was still too careless. How could I not have thought that even though the Ye Family are merchants, the maids serving them have so many rules!
Even the colors of the clothes they wear are regulated.
I was so close."
This woman was precisely Su Xiaosheng's mother, Madam Su.
Su Xiaosheng had always used his mother's surname, Su, not his father's surname. However, in Dayu, such things were not uncommon.
Su Xiaosheng's public story had always been that his father died early, and he and his mother were driven out after their family's land and property were seized by the main branch.
It was his mother doing embroidery work that provided the silver for him to begin his studies.
So it was only right that he followed his mother's surname.
As for what Su Xiaosheng's original surname was, no one bothered to ask…
"Mother, what's done is done. Don't dwell on it anymore.
In the end, our calculations weren't precise enough.
That Xiaotao…" Su Xiaosheng looked at Madam Su.
"She was long ago found at fault and sold off. Who knows which black kiln she's stuck in now!
She might even be dead by now!" Madam Su said indifferently.
Su Xiaosheng nodded and said nothing more.
Madam Su sighed and also sat down in a chair.
"Sheng'er, it's your mother who's too useless, making you live under someone else's roof and forcing you to become engaged to a merchant's daughter.
But don't worry, Mother will definitely find a way to help you break off this engagement.
My son is now a Jieyuan. By this time next year, you might even be a Zhuangyuan.
How can Dayu's youngest Zhuangyuan marry a merchant's illegitimate daughter?
Absolutely not!" Madam Su said bitterly.
Su Xiaosheng thought for a moment, then still said, "Mother, don't act too hastily.
Fourth Sister has always had a weak heart and poor health. Perhaps she won't last much longer."
Madam Su shook her head.
"Sheng'er, you focus solely on your studies and don't understand enough about the affairs of noble households.
In the capital, marrying a wife follows the principle of marrying up and marrying daughters down. The better the family background of the wife you marry, the greater the support she can provide you.
You're walking the path of imperial examinations. An official career relies on riding the wind to rise.
That requires substantial support.
It's true that the Ye Family has money and holds the status of Imperial Merchants, but in the end, they are still merchants—the lowest class among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants.
If you marry a merchant's daughter, in the future when socializing among the nobility and aristocracy, she won't even be allowed through their doors.
Noble families have many rules. When arranging marriages, they investigate every last detail.
If that Ye Family girl were to die before the engagement is broken off, the rumors about you would be unfavorable.
Some would say you bring misfortune to your wives, others would say you were previously engaged.
These are things that top noble families are very wary of.
My son, if you had no prior engagement, you could even marry a princess, a noblewoman, or the daughter of a prime minister.
Don't worry, Mother will definitely break off this engagement before your Metropolitan Examination.
I guarantee your reputation won't suffer the slightest damage." Madam Su assured him.
Su Xiaosheng didn't speak, only nodded.
Seeing her son silent, Madam Su could only sigh again.
They had almost succeeded. If only the rumors had spread, she would have had an excuse to break off the engagement with the Ye Family.
Who would have thought that usually silent Fourth Miss would insist on reporting it to the authorities?
Such a disgraceful thing. A merchant's daughter truly has no vision—instead of hiding and covering up such matters, she wants to publicize them everywhere…
Ah, it ruined her plan.
According to her plan, the Ye Family should now feel guilty toward her and her son.
Not only would they take the initiative to break off the engagement, but they would also offer compensation in other ways…
That wretched girl ruined her grand scheme.
The more Madam Su thought about it, the angrier she became. If Ye Cishu were standing before her now, she'd want to scratch her face.
"Mother…" Seeing Madam Su's expression growing increasingly unpleasant, Su Xiaosheng hurriedly tried to comfort her.
At that moment, Su Asan, the servant who had grown up with Su Xiaosheng, entered.
"Young Master, I've found out," Su Asan whispered.
"Speak quickly! Who was in the private room on the third floor yesterday?" Su Xiaosheng immediately straightened up.
"It was Prince Ning's Son. He arrived suddenly in Gusu yesterday to watch the Chunbuwan Tea Competition.
I inquired around—Prince Ning's Son came quietly this time, without any ceremonial procession. I heard he plans to stay in Gusu for a while.
He is currently staying in Plum Garden behind the prefectural yamen, heavily guarded by troops," Su Asan reported.
Su Xiaosheng sprang to his feet.
"Prince Ning's Son? Mother, do you know anything about this Prince Ning's Son?" Su Xiaosheng looked at Madam Su.