Late at night, Jiang Yan returned from the county yamen. Seeing the light still on in the inner room, he pushed the door open and walked in.
Beside their living quarters was a small study. Madam Qian sat at the desk with a brush in hand, while Jin Sui held up a newly made garment for her to inspect. Open chests lay scattered on the floor, filled with clothes and jewelry in disarray.
Yinzhu bowed. “My lord has returned,” she called inside, lifting the curtain.
Jiang Yan sat beside Madam Qian. “Is there honeyed water? Bring me a bowl.”
Jin Sui set down the garment, poured a bowl, placed it beside him, then withdrew with Yinzhu.
Jiang Yan drank it in one go. He had never been fond of honeyed water before, but these days he found its benefits—quenching thirst and easing dizziness.
Setting the bowl aside, the couple moved into the inner room.
A basin of hot water had already been prepared, along with a change of clothes.
Jiang Yan extended a hand, and Madam Qian responded instinctively—taking his robe, hanging it up, wringing out a cloth for him to wipe his face, then kneeling to remove his boots and place his bare feet into the basin.
He exhaled in comfort. “Hotter water. Soak them thoroughly, or tomorrow they’ll ache before I’ve even begun my rounds.”
Seven days had passed since the Buddhist gathering.
Most officials in the county yamen had been imprisoned. Clerks were lined up for interrogation. The prison was full, guarded by soldiers. Even the Yamen Runners had been detained.
Yet the work remained.
Urgent matters could not be delayed.
The burden of keeping the county running fell entirely on Jiang Yan. He worked until his feet barely touched the ground, often returning after midnight, collapsing into sleep, only to be summoned again before dawn.
This was the first time in days the couple spoke face to face.
“I came back specially,” Jiang Yan said. “Have you made any progress with the cloth shop?”
Madam Qian looked up.
Seeing her hesitation, he continued, “It’s normal not to know where to start. When I first became an official, I didn’t know how to handle anything. You must learn from others. But colleagues are not always willing to teach sincerely.”
He shifted tone. “But you are different. Your father and brothers are experienced merchants. They will surely teach you everything.”
Madam Qian said quietly, “They don’t understand the cloth trade.”
Jiang Yan frowned, then suggested, “Then have them introduce experienced shop managers. Pay them well—they can revive the business.”
She hesitated, then gathered her courage. “Husband, I don’t want to run the shop.”
Jiang Yan pulled his feet from the basin and sat beside her on the bed. “The County Magistrate has guaranteed that this will not affect our status or our children.”
Her voice trembled. “But an official’s wife engaging in trade will invite criticism.”
His expression darkened. “I know it’s unfair to you. But whether the shop earns ten thousand taels determines my career. I promised it myself. There is no turning back.”
Madam Qian suddenly raised her head. “Then why didn’t you discuss it with me before agreeing?”
Jiang Yan stared, surprised. It was the first time she had raised her voice at him.
“This concerns the dam—official business. I can decide on my own. You don’t need to know.”
She stood, staring at him.
“What kind of look is that?” he snapped. “Have you suddenly forgotten who I am? Men handle affairs outside, women manage within—this is natural order—”
Before he finished, she turned and left.
“The shop still needs arranging. You should rest.”
Jiang Yan was left behind, anger rising. “Difficult to raise women and petty people alike.”
He chased after her, stopping at the study door.
“You don’t understand official matters,” he said. “But you’ve seen what happened to those imprisoned families. If you don’t run the shop properly, we’ll end up the same… Even if we can’t earn enough, we can borrow—pass it to our daughter—it’s just moving money from one hand to the other…”
His voice blended with the cicadas outside.
Inside, Madam Qian drifted into thought.
Was I like him before? Avoiding the point… evading the truth?
She no longer wished to listen.
With a glance, Jin Sui opened the door. “My lord, the Madam still has much to do. You should return and rest.”
Yinzhu even brought a lantern to escort him.
Jiang Yan stood stiffly, then left in silence.
…
The next morning, Miss Player woke in the east wing of Yinian Hall.
That night, Madam Sun had been drunk. Taking advantage, she had secured separate quarters—one living room, one storage room, one study.
Spacious at last.
As for Madam Sun’s complaints about her growing distant, Miss Player ignored them completely.
“Miss, Mister Lu has arrived,” Taozi announced.
In the study, Lu Wumou sat by the window, calmly admiring the courtyard. Hearing footsteps, he turned.
Even prepared, he stared at her for a long moment before forcing himself to recover.
“The old madam’s routine looks quite effective.”
Madam Sun was exercising outside.
“Learned from Grandmother Huang,” Miss Player said casually. “Finished with your work?”
“Not yet. The budget is done, but funds are not in place. It’s a transitional stage—that’s why I was allowed to return and report to you.”
She nodded, uninterested in the dam. “You’ve fulfilled the three-day agreement.”
Lu Wumou began to praise her insight, but she cut him off.
“The ten thousand taels will be deposited on time. Wen Yan has already told me. Is there anything else?”
He sensed her change in temperament but thought little of it.
“The reinforcement begins soon. If you wish to observe—”
“No need.”
He left.
…
At breakfast, Madam Sun asked, “Going out today?”
“Yes. Fishing with my cousin.”
Madam Sun said, “Won’t you invite me?”
“No.”
She glared, then softened.
“You only remember me when your mother scolds you.”
Miss Player glanced up. “Grandmother, perhaps you should see a physician.”
“What for?”
“Your expression just now looked abnormal. Possibly a stroke precursor.”
Madam Sun: “…”
“It was just a facial twitch!”
Miss Player frowned thoughtfully. She was healthy last run…
She hugged her arm. “Take care. Don’t suddenly die.”
Madam Sun: “…”
“Finish eating and go.”
…
By the river, fishing went poorly—too many cousins crowding around.
She drove them away.
Fishing was a skill. At ten percent proficiency, a fish would bite every half hour.
Wen Yan handled the rod.
At lunch, however, no side quest triggered.
Until—
At the city gate.
A notification appeared:
【Side Quest (1): Lychees of Lingnan are famed under heaven. In fifty days, when the Baitanghong lychees of Yongzhou ripen, taste this delicacy from afar.】
Miss Player lifted the curtain.
“Take me there.”
…
At the gate, despair filled the air.
Zhang Kang stood in shackles.
Jiang Jingxing tried to comfort him.
But both knew—
Exile to Lingnan was nearly a death sentence.
“Take care,” Zhang Kang said at last, clasping his fists.
A farewell—likely their last.