Chapter 8: A New Mind Makes All the Difference

The patient was sitting right before him, and all Doctor Jia could think of was the dazzling scene he had just witnessed of Song Ruozhao saving a life.

He decided to take a desperate gamble.

“Madam, are you ready? I am about to treat your illness.”

The old woman nodded furiously, faintly curious why this famed physician was dragging things out even when treating a simple ailment.

That right palm settled steadily against her, and strangely, it moved with a sweeping grace, like falling petals turning in the air, drifting softly down between heaven and earth.

The woman sprang up in outrage, mortified beyond endurance, and swung her arms, cursing as she struck: “You shameless wretch! I came to you for treatment, and you dare insult me like this!”

When the case was brought before the magistrate, he refused to believe such absurd and baseless methods of medicine and immediately sentenced Doctor Jia to compensate her with ten strings of cash.

More wronged than any innocent soul in the world, he cried, “What? This old woman could be my mother. Why would I make advances on her? Am I sick in the head?”

“......”

While Doctor Jia was crying injustice and unable to defend himself, Song Ruozhao and her “family of three” were enjoying fine food with relish.

The little darling held up a bowl of mutton soup with flatbread, puffing away as half his face nearly disappeared into it.

Song Ruozhao ordered herself a Goulouzi flatbread, and only after tasting that rustic taste from her homeland did she realize that the so-called historical tradition trumpeted by modern gourmet districts was nothing more than a branded invention.

Her little husband was swallowing his saliva beside them, not knowing why there was nothing for him, and too afraid to ask.

Song Ruozhao asked, though she already knew the answer: “Aren’t you hungry?”

“If the belly is full of spirit, it surpasses wine and meat passing through the gut.”

“Speak like a human.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Good then.”

The cold northwest wind mocked them mercilessly, while Jiusi Fu reflected that he must have slipped up to say he was not hungry.

The little darling said in a sing-song voice, “I’m full, thank you, Mama.”

Being called “Mama” by a crown prince’s grandson made Song Ruozhao feel as if the head atop her neck might fall off at any moment. “You can call me Zhaozhao, or Little Song, anything you like, but not Mama.”

Yet at home, he had always heard that “the one who is best to you is your mother,” and the first word he ever learned was “Mama.” The person who was best to him ought to be called Mama.

Denied the right to use that name, the little darling did not understand why Song Ruozhao suddenly did not want to be kind to him anymore. He tightened his little face and followed behind her in a sulky huff.

First they came to buy roof tiles, for this was the most important task of all.

The secret to saving money lay in choosing the colors wisely. It was best to buy half old tiles and half new ones; at first glance the colors would seem the same, yet on closer inspection one could still tell light from dark.

That would save the expense of hiring craftsmen.

Then they bought two beds, which must not be forgotten.

They had to be identical, or else money would be wasted.

Everything was ordered delivered to their door.

Jiusi Fu, who had been forced to sleep in the kitchen all night, was flattered beyond belief. “I have a new bed to sleep in?”

Song Ruozhao rolled her eyes at him. “This is for the elder son.”

Then he saw her buy a packet of rat trouble, even rats had something to eat.

Jiusi Fu frowned. “Then what are you buying for me?”

“A washboard.”

“I don’t know how to do laundry.”

“It’s not for you to use for washing clothes.”

“That’s a relief.”

“......”

The family of three arrived at the market, and the familiar fishmonger greeted them first.

“Second Lady Song, you’re out early today to buy fish? The stock is still lively and kicking. Come back later.”

Clearly, there was a hint of mockery in the greeting, and rightly so; in the past, when the original owner was strapped for cash, she could only afford to buy dead fish.

She took out a pouch of copper coins, letting them clink and jingle, and said with a smile, “You’ve been so busy selling fish you’ve gone dazed. What kind of merchant drives customers away?”

The fishmonger also felt as though he had gone dazed. How had the foolish girl from before become so pretty, clever, and rich? It was not until his own wife jabbed him painfully that he realized he was not dreaming.

His eyes lighting up at the sight of money, he practically grinned from ear to ear. “Yellow croaker makes fine sliced raw fish, crucian carp is fragrant in fish soup, and bream is tender when steamed. How would Madam Song like it prepared?”

Song Ruozhao picked up the fattest one. “How much for the yellow croaker?”

“Twenty coins apiece.”

“This fish won’t live much longer. Fifteen, then.”

The fishmonger’s face fell at once. “Even if I have to sell my undershirt at a loss, it still has to be twenty.”

Song Ruozhao lifted a foot, ready to go browse elsewhere.

The fishmonger knew full well the fish would not last long, and besides, he had always cheated Song Ruozhao in the past; finding a balance in his conscience, he relented. “Come, come, I’ll sell it to you at a loss.”

The departing customer waved a hand. “Too expensive. I don’t want it.”

The fishmonger: “??”

You set the price yourself and still think it’s expensive?

This shopping trip, with a silver tongue and eyes keen enough to read hearts, brought rice with a stove, chicken with rabbit, and when buying meat they even carried the butcher’s axe home with them.

Jiusi Fu was the perfect errand boy, carrying grain, rice, oil, and flour on his back, meat in his left hand, vegetables in his right, a string of pork hanging from his neck over here, lamb over there.

The little darling held food in his right hand and drink in his left, with a string of candied sweets hanging around his neck. If he had no hand free to hold his mother’s hand, what then?

No fear—there was a little topknot on his head.

The family of three paraded through the streets with great swagger.

The whole Western Market now knew that Song Ruozhao’s mind had become sharp. Today she had come to show off: her husband was handsome and hardworking, and the adorable child was obedient and lovable. Most importantly, they could now solve the problem of food and clothing and had set out on the road to a comfortable life.

Passing the original fish stall, the fishmonger beamed. “Second Lady Song, that fish is fourteen coins for you.”

The overworked Jiusi Fu was quite annoyed. “Can’t you see there’s already one hanging at my waist?”

The fishmonger was at a loss for words, then glanced at the yellow croaker, still thrashing about.

“Mother bought it for twelve coins,” the little darling said proudly, driving the knife in deeper. “It even came with scallions.”

Song Ruozhao frowned. “Call me Zhaozhao. You are not allowed to call me Mama.”

His little face fell. “Got it, Mama.”

“......”

Passing by a luxurious cosmetics shop, Song Ruozhao lost her soul and her spirit all at once. Without caring whether the person behind her had followed, she slipped into Seven Treasures Incense like a kite whose string had snapped.

This was the most expensive treasure-and-incense shop in the Western Market, specializing in foreign goods and exotic styles. Gems from the Western Regions, rouge from the Qilian Mountains, rare perfumes from Persia... Seven Treasures Incense took its name from the seven great border kingdoms of the Tang, hence “seven treasures.” Merchants and travelers from afar had blond hair, blue eyes, high brows, and deep noses, their foreign charm rich and alluring.

Upscale shops inevitably judged people by appearance. The shopkeeper took one look at Song Ruozhao’s plain clothing and had meant to slight her, but then he noticed the silver-patterned sachet at her waist, a style from the palace, and the refined Suhe incense burning within it. At once he hurried to serve her, smiling so hard his cheeks ached.

“Shopkeeper—”

Before long, a wealthy lady called out. It was Miss Chen, come to collect the rose jade she had ordered earlier, and he rushed over to curry favor once more.

With the salesman finally gone, Song Ruozhao was delighted to admire the goods herself. Every item was a museum-grade treasure; just a tiny piece of jade would have been enough to make her rich in the modern world. She decided that one day she would bring back several such things to modern times.

Just thinking about it made her happy. Lost in her private amusement, Song Ruozhao accidentally bumped into someone.

The rose jade Madam Chen had just obtained was knocked to the ground. Heartbroken, she picked it up, thankful that it had been wrapped in felt; otherwise, who knew when she would ever again encounter such a treasure from the land of the Rakshasas.

She turned to see who had been so blind, and recognized someone from the Song family, that pathetic Song fool who was easy to bully.

Another glance, and she saw that the fool was actually wearing an imperial gift. That only deepened Chen Madam’s envy atop her old hatred.

She cried out at once, “Thief! Catch her!”

“Chen Yan, what is it?” asked Xiao Jiahe, who had been walking with her, as she came over in concern.

Chen Yan groped at her waist and said miserably, “Someone just bumped into me, and in the process they stole my sachet. The thief must still be in the shop!”

“A sachet?” asked a servant.

“The silver sachet with grape-and-bird patterns, bestowed by His Majesty last year when Princess Xian’an selected her study companion.”

The shopkeeper drew in a cold breath. Chen Yan was the wife of a general, and Xiao Jiahe was the crown princess; neither could be offended. With a matter so serious, Seven Treasures Incense could only let no culprit escape and seize the thief with the stolen goods.

Song Ruozhao, who delighted in a good spectacle, was instantly promoted from bystander to lead player.

The sachet was ruthlessly torn from her waist. The onlookers immediately remembered that this Song fool had indeed bumped into Madam Chen just now, and perhaps in that instant...

Chen Yan sighed, her heart so soft it might have been twisted into a strand of dough. “Second Lady, I sympathize with your impaired mind. Your mother passed away early, your father serves away from home, and your sisters at home may not be able to look after you properly. You have struggled to survive, and I often heard Doctor Jia say you stole his money, yet I even spoke up for you. Please return the sachet to me now. After all, it is an imperial gift, and must not be profaned.”

A speech full of praise on the surface and hidden slander beneath, designed to confuse and sway the crowd. Prejudice in human hearts is a mountain; many stood atop it, looking down at Song Ruozhao with cold disdain.

“Chen Yan, she seems rather innocent and pitiful. We should not falsely accuse the girl.”

When Xiao Jiahe spoke, her gentleness was genuine and kind. Though she had come with Chen Yan, she was still a woman of fairness and principle.

Then she addressed the crowd again: “Second Lady Song’s elder sister, Song Ruohua, serves in the palace as a female official. She also possesses this sort of sachet. It is not impossible that she gave one to her own younger sister.”

Chen Yan’s mind turned quickly. “An imperial gift cannot be given to others. Since she is a palace female official, she would not knowingly commit such an offense.”

Xiao Jiahe was stumped, and could only advise her, “Second Lady Song, think carefully. Is there anyone who can prove your innocence?”

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Song Ruozhao’s lips as her gaze brushed over the shopkeeper’s timid face.

“Madam Chen accuses me of stealing this sachet, but the sachet was something I had just purchased in this very shop.”

“Shopkeeper, what do you say?”