As previously mentioned, the Ninth Prince missed his kick and tumbled straight into the lake. Yin Zhuli stood frozen by the shore for a long moment as the manor’s servants began to swarm toward them, screaming in a frenzy. Shen Tingjiao actually knew how to swim, but it was the dead of winter; the lake water was bone-chillingly cold. No matter how good a swimmer one was, the sudden plunge was enough to leave anyone dazed and disoriented.
Seeing that he was truly struggling, Yin Zhuli sighed. "I thought I came today to watch the Prince throw himself into the lake. I truly didn't expect to be the one jumping in myself."
She knit her brows, looked at the water where thin sheets of ice still clung to the banks, gritted her teeth, and leaped in.
Seeing Yin Zhuli dive in, He Jian hurriedly directed the servants to prepare a change of clothes for Shen Tingjiao. He also ordered the kitchen to quickly stir-fry salt for a compress and gather warm ashes from the stove for emergency first aid. Knowing the gravity of the situation, the servants didn't even wait for He Jian’s orders to prepare ginger soup for Yin Zhuli to ward off the cold, and they even summoned the manor’s physician to stand by.
Yin Zhuli hauled Shen Tingjiao back to the shore. Seeing his deathly pale face, she didn't dare be careless and quickly carried him into the bedroom. He Jian moved swiftly to strip off his wet clothes. After drying him completely, he used cloth bags filled with the hot salt to warm the Prince’s navel and ordered others to spread the warm ashes beneath the bedding.
Seeing that He Jian was handling things competently, Yin Zhuli felt at ease. The servants, knowing she was to be the future mistress of the manor, did not dare neglect her either, hurriedly inviting her to change her clothes. By the time Yin Zhuli had finished two bowls of ginger soup, Shen Tingjiao had regained consciousness. He hadn't actually swallowed much water; he was simply severely chilled.
Yin Zhuli sat by the bed holding a hand warmer, watching him. Once a bit of color finally returned to his face, she let out a regretful sigh. "I fear the Ninth Prince will never consider jumping into a lake again. What a pity, what a pity."
Shen Tingjiao shot her a fierce glare, but he was exhausted and said nothing more.
After all that commotion, the sky had grown dark. Seeing that the Prince was out of danger, He Jian finally relaxed and turned his attention to Yin Zhuli. "Chief Yin, should I ask the physician to check on you as well?"
Yin Zhuli was still feeling the chill despite the hand warmer, but her constitution had always been robust, so she didn't take it to heart. "It’s fine. I’ll have Ke Tingfeng write me a prescription tomorrow."
He Jian knew of the Ghost Doctor Ke Tingfeng’s skills, so he didn't insist. "I have prepared a guest room for you, Chief. Why not rest here for the night?"
Yin Zhuli nodded and retired to the guest room to sleep.
The next morning, the Chief of the Yin family woke up feeling unwell, likely having caught a chill from the lake. She gave He Jian a brief word of departure and, without going to see Shen Tingjiao, headed straight back to the Yin estate.
The moment she stepped through the door, Head Steward Hao Jian met her with a dark expression. "Chief, where did you stay last night?"
Yin Zhuli had an ominous premonition. "Did Mother send someone to Yun Tianyi’s place?"
Hao Jian nodded sorrowfully. "The Persian, Nalu, arrived today. Everyone thinks you truly spent the night at Yun Tianyi’s. The Old Madam is furious... Chief, stay strong. In twenty years, you'll be a hero again!"
Yin Zhuli kicked him and whispered, "Where is my Master?"
Hao Jian looked utterly despondent. "It is the birthday of Master’s younger brother, Tang Jin. Master went to offer his congratulations."
Yin Zhuli felt a wave of despair. She had no choice but to head to the ancestral hall. Old Madam Yin’s face was already livid. Upon seeing her daughter, she slammed her cane against the floor so hard it nearly cracked the tiles. "You beast! Since you were a child, you have done nothing but disgrace the Yin family name! I raised you for nothing! Yin Qi, strike her!"
The Chief was well-practiced in this; she lay down on the long bench, feeling a twinge of regret—had she known, she would have worn a thicker padded jacket underneath.
The hundred lashes were delivered with full force. Yin Zhuli’s head was already swimming from her fever, and after such a flogging, half her life seemed to drain away. It wasn't that she hadn't thought of protecting herself—for instance, by biting her tongue to spit out a mouthful of blood to look more pathetic—but then she figured her back already hurt so much, why make her tongue suffer too?
She endured until the hundred lashes were finished. Her head was no longer dizzy, but her body felt numb, and she could no longer tell exactly where the pain was coming from.
Hao Jian couldn't help but step forward to support her. Yin Zhuli leaned more than half her weight on him, her voice raspy. "Hao Jian, is Nalu here today to purchase silk and porcelain for the Persian royal family?"
Seeing that the blood on her back was beginning to congeal against her clothes, Hao Jian didn't dare touch her too firmly. "Let Doctor Ke look at your wounds first. As for Nalu... I will go handle it."
He tried to lead her toward Danfeng Pavilion, but Yin Zhuli shook her head. "I heard the Fei family also wants this contract?"
Hao Jian nodded. "It’s a massive order. Silk, porcelain, tea, and even embroidery. If we land it, it’ll keep Yun Tianyi and the others busy for over half a year. That old fox Fei Guanshan is certainly salivating over it."
A wicked smile touched the corners of Yin Zhuli’s lips. "This beating came at the perfect time. If you go alone, Nalu will think Fugui City lacks sincerity. But if the Chief herself arrives heavily injured and ill, he will surely be moved to tears. Fei Guanshan won't stand a chance."
For the first time, Hao Jian showed genuine worry. "But Chief, your injuries..."
Yin Zhuli shook her head. "It doesn't matter. I caught a chill earlier, so when we get there, you do all the talking. I’ll just be there for show."
Hao Jian saw that her complexion was off and reached out to touch her forehead. He grew frantic. "Chief, you have a fever."
Yin Zhuli brushed his hand away. "The sicker I am, the better. We are taking this contract. When we get there, remember to make a grand show of the fact that I am attending despite my grave injuries and illness."
Hao Jian couldn't win against her, so he prepared the carriage. She changed her clothes and threw on a blue fox-fur cloak; the white fur tinged with pale ice-blue served only to emphasize her sickly appearance. Hao Jian rode in the carriage with her, watching her furrowed brows and worrying she wouldn't hold up. Yin Zhuli knew what he was thinking, but her mind was a chaotic mess. She simply closed her eyes to rest, remaining silent the whole way.
The carriage stopped at Guangling Pavilion. Hao Jian helped Yin Zhuli down. Inside, Nalu had been waiting for a long time. Fei Guanshan had also arrived early, and the two were sitting at the same table, chatting quite pleasantly.
Seeing his business rival arrive, Fei Guanshan’s expression turned malicious. The Fei family had also been wealthy merchants during the previous dynasty, once standing on equal footing with the Yin family. However, their business had declined over the years, leaving them a step behind Fugui City in everything. Old Master Fei had tried several times to arrange a marriage alliance with the Yin family. He had calculated shrewdly: since Yin Zhuli was a woman, once she was married into his family, wouldn't the vast Yin industry eventually change its surname to Fei?
Unexpectedly, Yin Zhuli was even shrewder. She immediately put out word that if the young master of the Fei family agreed to marry into the Yin family as a resident son-in-law, and if all future children took the Yin surname, she would agree to the marriage instantly.
Because of this, while the Fei and Yin families hadn't openly feuded, a great deal of unpleasantness had accumulated between them.
Now that there was only one contract on the table, he viewed Yin Zhuli as a thorn in his side that he couldn't wait to pluck out. "Chief Yin, leaving your guest waiting here for over an hour—is this the hospitality of the Yin family?"
A maid came forward to take Yin Zhuli’s cloak. Her face bore a sickly flush, but her smile did not fade. "Master Nalu, Zhuli has kept you waiting. It is truly impolite of me."
Nalu stood up to greet her. He had slightly curly hair, a long beard, and wore a blue robe with a cross-collar. Large gemstone earrings hung from his ears. He spoke a somewhat stiff Mandarin, and his expression currently held a hint of displeasure. "Chief Yin, I heard that Fugui City is the most powerful merchant house in the entire Great Xing Empire. But in business, the most important thing is one's word. If you cannot even be punctual, I cannot believe in your sincerity."
Seeing Fei Guanshan’s smug look, Yin Zhuli allowed her body to sway just the right amount. Head Steward Hao immediately supported her. "Master Nalu’s reproach is justified." He led her toward the table. "Master, you do not know. Yesterday, our Chief caught a slight chill. Coincidentally, this morning she learned that a tavern had been purchasing wine from the Fugui City distillery and diluting it with water before sale. The Chief immediately terminated the contract with that tavern. But as a merchant’s foundation is their word, the Chief felt that such an action was ultimately a breach of promise, and thus she subjected herself to the family punishment."
He spoke with such brazen confidence that Yin Zhuli glanced at him sideways, feeling quite ashamed. The thickness of Head Steward Hao’s skin was truly extraordinary; he completely ignored the Chief’s gaze. "Just now, upon hearing that Master Nalu had arrived, our Chief disregarded her heavy injuries and came despite her illness, yet she still managed to miss the hour."
Nalu was stunned by this. Fei Guanshan let out a cold laugh. "Chief Yin is truly extraordinary, even resorting to the 'self-injury ruse'."
Hao Jian remained smiling. "Manager Fei, our Chief does not allow us to discuss the flaws of our peers. Regardless of what you say today, I would never dare speak ill of the Fei establishment."
Yin Zhuli gave a symbolic scolding. "Hao Jian!"
The Head Steward stopped talking and hurriedly helped Yin Zhuli sit. The chair had a backrest, and though it was covered with a silk cushion, Yin Zhuli absolutely could not lean against it. The wounds on her back had not been treated, and by now, blood had soaked through her plain inner robe.
Nalu’s expression changed drastically when he noticed the blood, and seeing the deep flush on her cheeks—clearly a high fever—he was moved. "Chief, please forgive my misspeaking. You are truly a merchant of a great nation. I have traveled far and wide, but only now do I know that there are heavens beyond heavens and people beyond people. Chief, please rest and recover in peace. I will sign this deal with Head Steward Hao immediately; there will be no further changes."
Yin Zhuli naturally wanted to leave, but she still demurred politely. "Master Nalu has come from afar. Not only did I fail to welcome you, but I also kept you waiting. My heart is ill at ease; how can I deserve such high praise?"
Nalu insisted on helping her up. Seeing the shocking bloodstains on her back, he was even more moved. "Chief, please return. This matter is settled. Once you have recovered, I will certainly share a few cups of wine with you."
Yin Zhuli went along with the flow, gave Hao Jian a few more instructions, and then boarded the carriage to return.
Only Fei Guanshan remained in Guangling Pavilion, his face livid and his gaze full of hate.
When Yin Zhuli returned to Danfeng Pavilion, Ke Tingfeng had been waiting for a long time with a grim face. Seeing her return, he said nothing, stepping forward to examine the wounds on her back. Because so much time had passed, the blood and her clothes had congealed together. He found a pair of scissors, heated them over a candle flame, and began to cut the fabric away from her flesh.
Yin Zhuli lay prone on the bed, letting him work his knives and tools. Ke Tingfeng didn't care if she was in pain; he treated her like a mule or a horse—as long as he didn't kill her, it was fine.
Later that evening, Tang Yin returned and heard about the day's events. He hurried to Danfeng Pavilion to find Yin Zhuli in a deep, unconscious sleep. Ke Tingfeng was tending to her by the bed, never leaving her side.
The injuries on her back were severe; the medicinal gauze was wrapped in thick layers, yet blood still seeped through. Tang Yin sat on a low stool by the bed and took her hand. She didn't open her eyes, but a faint smile appeared on her face. "Master," she whispered.
"Mm." Tang Yin sat a bit closer, his other hand testing her forehead. "Why did you make your mother angry again?"
She didn't answer. Only then did Tang Yin realize she wasn't actually awake.
He sat quietly by the bed, having nothing to say to Ke Tingfeng. Ke Tingfeng had already written three different prescriptions to break her fever, yet her temperature continued to rise. After a long while, she suddenly gave a light laugh and murmured, "Mother... actually... you've always hated me, haven't you? Because my father killed your own sister."
Tang Yin froze. He looked down at her, only then realizing she was completely lost in the delirium of her fever.
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
殷氏 (Yīn Shì) | Old Madam Yin | Yin Zhuli's mother.
郝剑 (Hǎo Jiàn) | Hao Jian | Head Steward of the Yin family; his name is a pun on "very cheap/shameless."
柯停风 (Kē Tíngfēng) | Ke Tingfeng | Known as the "Ghost Doctor."
那鲁 (Nà Lǔ) | Nalu | A Persian merchant.
斐关山 (Fěi Guānshān) | Fei Guanshan | Head of the rival Fei merchant family.
广陵阁 (Guǎnglíng Gé) | Guangling Pavilion | A high-end meeting place or restaurant.
丹枫阁 (Dānfēng Gé) | Danfeng Pavilion | Yin Zhuli's personal residence within the Yin estate.
苦肉计 (Kǔròujì) | Self-injury ruse | A strategy of harming oneself to gain the enemy's trust or sympathy.
天外有天，人外有人 (Tiān wài yǒu tiān, rén wài yǒu rén) | Heavens beyond heavens, people beyond people | An idiom meaning there is always someone more skilled or something greater.
