Chapter 13: Agonizing Pain That Torments the Heart and Mind

Chapter 13: Pain That Rends the Heart

Yun Jiao took a deep breath, soothing her grandmother, “Jiao’er hasn’t taken any medicinal soup; she’s just outside playing marbles!”

Playing marbles was a game Yun Jiao often enjoyed in her childhood, requiring only five fairly smooth stones, allowing her to squat by the corner of a wall and play for half a day.

Only then did Madam Qian relax, settling back against the pillow, letting Yun Jiao feed her the entire bowl of bird’s nest soup.

Setting down the bowl and spoon, Yun Jiao supported Madam Qian, intending to help her lie down and rest.

Suddenly, Madam Qian raised her voice, “Old man, where is Shilin? Call Shilin here! Shilin…”

Yun Jiao paused. Shilin Qian, her third maternal uncle, had been adopted by her great-grandfather, the elder brother of her grandfather, since childhood. Great-grandfather was childless, so Shilin was his heir.

She had heard that her grandmother had been very reluctant at the time, after all, he was flesh from her own body, taken away before he was even a month old. How could a mother not be heartbroken?

Yun Jiao did not know if her second uncle had sent word to Shilin, who was also in the imperial capital.

In fact, apart from the families of her eldest and second uncles who lived in Laizhou, the rest of the relatives resided around the imperial capital.

Her maternal family originally farmed in the suburbs of the imperial capital. When young, her grandfather was a common village official—a neighborhood chief.

Later, with the imperial capital overcrowded, the court ordered the establishment of Laizhou City, encouraging its residents to relocate.

Though Laizhou City now flourished, at its founding it was a sparsely populated wasteland—no one wanted to settle there.

The court issued new orders: families moving entirely to Laizhou would receive silver and goods rewards; those moving with descendants would be exempt from taxes for several years; but families who stayed put would face heavy taxes per person, and each male household member would be whipped fifty times.

Her grandfather had eight children. Though the eldest sons were married and the two eldest daughters wed, three younger daughters remained unmarried. Naturally, he was unwilling to uproot his entire family to an unfamiliar, desolate place.

Besides, he harbored a selfish hope: if they all moved to that godforsaken land, his three unmarried daughters would also have to settle there to marry.

He resolved not to relocate the entire family, determined to protect his daughters’ futures.

But as a village chief, he had to set an example and could not afford the heavy taxes nor endure the whipping. So, he grit his teeth and sent his eldest son to Laizhou.

At that time, a local gentry family had only one son left. If the whole family moved, their property could be managed by hiring mules and horses, but their long-established business could not be carried away. Without the business, it was like tearing out their heart.

But if the only son went alone, that pain would be unbearable.

In this dilemma, Yun Jiao’s grandfather learned of the situation. This gentry was kind-hearted and considerate to neighbors. Moved by compassion, he arranged for his second son to replace the gentry’s son and move with the eldest son to Laizhou, so the two brothers could watch over each other.

This solution was a win-win.

The grateful gentry later partnered with Yun Jiao’s grandfather in business. The Qian family rose from this, gradually growing wealthy over the years.

Later, Yun Jiao’s eldest uncle fell gravely ill and passed away, leaving only two daughters and an adopted son.

The grandfather, stricken by the loss of his eldest son, turned white overnight and became bedridden.

Only then did the second uncle bring the elderly couple to Laizhou to live out their days, naturally taking over the family business.

“I want to bring Shilin back...” Madam Qian urgently threw off her covers and tried to rise, but suddenly cried out in pain and fell back onto the bed.

“Grandma!” Yun Jiao exclaimed, rushing to her side.

Nanny Li hurried over as well.

“It hurts so much...” Madam Qian’s face was pale, cold sweat dripping.

Yun Jiao noticed the cloth wrapped tightly around her grandmother’s right calf, which was twisted at a strange angle. She wanted to massage it but feared causing more pain, so her hand hesitated, then withdrew, aching with worry.

Suddenly recalling something, she grasped Nanny Li’s sleeve, eyes reddening as she demanded, “Tell me, what really happened to Grandma’s leg?”

Since her arrival, Yun Jiao had tried to investigate this matter, but Nanny Li had always been evasive, unable to give a clear explanation.

Eventually, pressed, Nanny Li said her grandmother fell while getting up to use the chamber pot.

If that were true, why hadn’t she said so earlier? And even if true, it would be logical to injure the hip, not the calf. Yun Jiao did not believe this story.

She knew Nanny Li would never harm her grandmother, but was certain there was a hidden truth.

Nanny Li lowered her gaze, avoiding Yun Jiao’s anxious stare. “Miss, before was not…”

“Before, you didn’t tell the truth,” Yun Jiao interrupted urgently, disregarding manners. “Nanny Li, why won’t you speak honestly?”

“Miss...” Nanny Li hesitated, finally giving in. “It’s better not to ask.”

“Nanny Li,” Yun Jiao released her sleeve and fixed her with a serious look, “you’ve been with Grandma since I was little. You and my grandmother are more like sisters than servant and mistress. You’ve watched me grow up. I can call her Grandma without shame. Must I kneel and beg you before you’ll speak?”

She lifted her skirt, preparing to kneel.

“Miss, what are you doing? You’ll break my heart!” Nanny Li hurriedly stopped her, helpless. “If you want to hear it, I’ll tell you, but you must promise not to act rashly afterward.”

Just as Yun Jiao said, Nanny Li had watched her grow and knew her temperament—she appeared calm but was actually deeply loyal. For that reason, she dared not reveal the truth, fearing Yun Jiao would seek revenge and end up hurting herself.

Yun Jiao was but a young girl; even knowing everything, what could she really do? Nanny Li’s caution was for her own good.

“This whole matter is a tragedy.

When the old master passed, he left the shop and property to the second master. The first wife of the eldest branch received only some silver. After all, the eldest branch had no heirs, while the second branch had taken a son-in-law and had the young Sheng boy, barely continuing the family line. The property was given to the second branch in front of the whole family, including the eldest and second grandaunts, who witnessed it.

But once their backs were turned, the second madam denied it, insisting that the old lady must have secreted away some property as a nest egg. Because the old lady always said the eldest madam’s widowhood was difficult, the second madam continually claimed the old lady was unfair and would secretly leave assets to the widow,” Nanny Li sighed.

Yun Jiao frowned. Such vicious entanglements were unmistakably the second aunt’s doing. She had always known her as a troublemaker who stirred up strife without cause, adding fuel to the fire and turning the once peaceful Qian household into chaos.

(End of Chapter)