Chapter 3: Settling One's Affairs

Su Yunxi woke up with a start and looked at Madam Wei on the bed. "Mother, you're awake."

Madam Wei nodded with a smile and gently stroked Su Yunxi's hair. "You've worked hard, Yunxi."

"It is no hardship for your daughter. Do you feel a little better, Mother?" Su Yunxi asked cautiously.

Madam Wei sighed inwardly. Ever since she fell ill, it was as if Yunxi had grown up overnight. She had begun to shoulder the responsibilities that should have been hers and started learning to manage the affairs of the Third Branch. Thinking of this, Madam Wei felt both comforted and heartbroken. "Yunxi, I heard you brought Yuan-ge'er back from the Old Madam's place. Did the Old Madam blame you for it?"

"Don't worry, Mother, it's fine." Meeting Madam Wei's gaze, Su Yunxi smiled bitterly to herself; as expected, she couldn't hide anything from her. "Mother, at dinnertime, the Old Madam sent people to fetch the Seventh Brother. But I refused. I told them that since you are currently unwell and the Seventh Brother is the legitimate eldest son of our Third Branch, he should be by your side to fulfill his filial duties. Those people had no choice but to return. However, I suspect they might send someone again later. Don't worry, Mother, I have already thought of a way to deal with the Old Madam; nothing will go wrong."

"I'm not worried about that." Madam Wei smiled, her spirits seeming to lift slightly. Su Yunxi, however, grew increasingly worried—could this be a final burst of energy before the end? *Pah, pah, pah,* she thought, it must be that Madam Wei’s health was truly improving.

She heard Madam Wei continue: "Yunxi, these past few days I have watched you manage the affairs of our courtyard in such an orderly fashion, and I am very comforted. Even if I am no longer here, I won't have to worry about you being deceived by those below."

"Mother, you will definitely get better," Su Yunxi said firmly.

Madam Wei shook her head with a bitter smile. "I know my own body best; I fear I won't make it through this summer. What I cannot let go of now is you and Yuan-ge'er. You are better off, as you have become sensible and know how to manage the inner household, but it is a great regret that I cannot personally look for a marriage match for you. Your marriage will likely have to be planned by your father in the future. Yunxi, your father is a man who... he is very strict; you must never go against him. As for the Old Madam, just follow the rules, and as for anything else, just pretend you didn't hear it."

Having said this, Madam Wei caught her breath. "I have already written to your father. You are grown now, and after I am gone, your father being in the capital is not a long-term solution. Once my funeral arrangements are settled, you should take Yuan-ge'er to the capital."

"Mother, I won't go. I won't go anywhere. You are not allowed to say such things; you will be fine and live a long, healthy life." Su Yunxi burst into tears, collapsing onto Madam Wei, her heart aching uncontrollably.

"Silly child." Madam Wei gently stroked Su Yunxi's back. "I know my own body best; it has reached the point of exhaustion, and I am merely dragging out the days now. Don't be too sad; I am very happy to see you so sensible. As for your marriage, sigh, never mind, I cannot help you now. Also, regarding the Yang family, I have already declined them to the Old Madam, so don't worry about them. In short, once you go to the capital, listen to your father and be a good daughter." Madam Wei smiled and stroked Su Yunxi's cheek. "My daughter is so beautiful, clever, sensible, and knows how to conduct herself; your father will surely seek a good marriage for you."

"Mother..." At this moment, Su Yunxi did not know what to say.

Madam Wei’s expression was very calm. "Yuan-ge'er is still so young; he is the one I worry about most. I am terrified he might be led astray."

"Don't worry, Mother, I will take good care of the Seventh Brother and won't let him learn bad habits."

Madam Wei nodded happily. "Good Yunxi, my good daughter." Then, she said with extreme calmness: "Your father is still young. After I am gone, the Old Madam will surely arrange for him to remarry. Do not say anything about this; just watch. As for when the new wife enters, do you know what you should do?"

Su Yunxi’s eyes were filled with tears, but she forced them back and nodded desperately. "I know, Mother. I won't let anyone find an opening to harm Yuan-ge'er."

"Good daughter, you are indeed wise. A stepmother is always a stepmother; her children can never, under any circumstances, surpass you and Yuan-ge'er, so there is no need to be overly nervous. However, one must always be on guard; you cannot lack caution, do you understand?" Madam Wei urged, still uneasy.

"I understand, Mother. I will take good care of myself and Yuan-ge'er, and I won't let you worry."

"That is good." Madam Wei sighed inwardly and forced herself to sit up. She took a wooden box from inside the bed and placed it in Su Yunxi's hands. "Take this."

Su Yunxi was puzzled.

Madam Wei coughed for a while before saying, "Inside are the private savings I have accumulated over the years, all exchanged into bank notes from the Hengtong Bank in the capital. The other part is my dowry. The deeds for the farms, shops, maids, and servants are all inside. Keep them well. From now on, you will manage my dowry."

"Me?" Su Yunxi suddenly made a decision. "Don't worry, Mother, I will manage everything well. I will leave all of this to Yuan-ge'er in the future. He is a boy and will have many needs for money. He cannot be unprepared."

"It is right to leave it to him, but you must not be left out. I have already made arrangements; you and Yuan-ge'er will each have half. If you marry in the capital in the future, then the portion in the capital will be left to you. If not, then the portion here will be left to you. In short, you are both my children; I cannot favor one over the other." After saying this, Madam Wei began to cough again.

Su Yunxi felt a heavy weight in her heart. "I will do as you say, Mother."

"I have no worries about you. Also, I have placed twenty thousand taels of silver with your maternal grandmother. No one knows about this except your father. That money was pieced together from my dowry back then. After all these years, that money should have earned some interest. I have written a letter to your grandmother; once you arrive in the capital, give it to her. I told her in the letter to let you manage that money. As for the interest, we won't take it; consider it my filial offering to your grandmother."

"I will listen to you, Mother." Su Yunxi lowered her head, suppressing her grief.

"Good child. You are familiar with the people around me; keep those old servants. Otherwise, they will have nowhere to go. As for those maids, let them decide whether to stay or go; we won't force them. If someone says you have too many maids and it's against the rules, you don't need to pay them any mind. At worst, we will pay their monthly wages ourselves instead of using the public funds."

"Yes, I understand. Mother, you are tired. There is still plenty of time; let's talk about the rest later, shall we?"

Madam Wei shook her head. "It is rare to be this clear-headed today; let's take the opportunity to finish everything at once. As for the First Branch..."

Madam Wei told Su Yunxi almost everything she knew, and Su Yunxi took it all to heart. By the end, Madam Wei was exhausted, but she kept forcing herself to finish her final words, fearing that if she didn't say them now, she wouldn't have another chance.

"Yunxi, you must remember: the tree that stands above the forest will be destroyed by the wind. You are good in every way, but sometimes your methods are a bit too intense. You must learn to overcome hardness with softness, to balance strength and flexibility, and to learn to remain calm in all things, planning before you act. Only then will there be room for maneuver, and you won't drive yourself into a dead end."

Su Yunxi nodded solemnly. "I will remember, Mother. I will not forget your teachings."

"You must not only remember, but constantly remind yourself. From now on, practice calligraphy for two hours every day to cultivate your character. One day, you will understand my painstaking efforts."

"I will listen to you, Mother. From now on, I will practice calligraphy for two hours every day."

"Good child." Madam Wei smiled and fell into a deep sleep.