Chapter 128: Crisis

Su Boyong collapsed, but the ensuing busyness wasn't confined to just the Su family's First Branch. As soon as the news arrived from the yamen, everyone understood that someone was targeting the Su family. From that afternoon, the entire Su family's operations within the city became hectic. Managers, stewards, and various employees offering advice began to rush to the Su residence, including those from the Second and Third Branches. The affairs of the First Branch became even more numerous.

Previously, Su Tan'er managed the First Branch's business, said to be half of it, but Su Boyong was still implicitly overseeing things. With his collapse, full control of the First Branch immediately fell onto Su Tan'er's shoulders. The Old Master might consciously share some of the burden, but he was elderly and had more important matters to attend to; he couldn't possibly shoulder the entire Su family's responsibilities alone.

After the Old Master left that afternoon, Su Zhongkan and Su Yunfang also departed anxiously. Su Tan'er began to summon everyone she could to the residence, including the managers who had previously reported directly to Su Boyong. Even if they had followed their usual routines, these managers could have sustained operations for a long time. However, if there was truly someone manipulating events from behind the scenes, the entire Su family's nationwide business would be in great peril. Furthermore, with the city gates now closed, transmitting information in and out would be incomparably slower than usual.

Upon hearing about Su Boyong's injury, Su Tan'er's mother fainted. Su Tan'er remained by her side in the room, while Ning Yi instructed Chan'er, Juan'er, and others to handle various errands. As dusk fell and lamps were lit, he briefly stepped out of the courtyard. When he returned, the room was already illuminated. Su Tan'er's mother had woken up. As he approached the room, he saw figures and heard voices. Su Tan'er's mother and two concubines were inside, weeping and speaking. Su Tan'er sat there in silence. Ning Yi listened for a few moments and understood the situation.

The three women were crying and complaining about Su Tan'er, specifically about her ambition and the recent imperial merchant affair.

"We've always said... why must a girl be so headstrong?""Who knows if Second Uncle or Third Uncle are involved in this matter?""They found out Tan'er was aiming to become an imperial merchant...""They were already talking about it a few days ago...""Perhaps it frightened them... if she actually succeeds, all their efforts will be in vain.""Even we women understand this principle."

Su Boyong himself was a very capable manager of the First Branch in all aspects. However, his wife—Su Tan'er's mother—was somewhat timid, primarily because she had only given birth to a daughter for Su Boyong, which left her with little confidence in a family like theirs. Later, she even helped Su Boyong acquire two concubines, but the First Branch still produced no male heir, leading everyone to suspect the problem might lie with Su Boyong. By this point, however, everyone's respective status and demeanor were largely established.

In earlier years, because Su Tan'er was a girl, her mother wasn't particularly affectionate, yearning instead for a male heir. This likely set the tone for their mother-daughter relationship, which was similar to the father-daughter one—not particularly close. When Su Tan'er first expressed interest in the family business, her mother voiced objections, but later stopped speaking against it. By now, even if they longed for a more normal mother-daughter relationship, they wouldn't know how to achieve it.

The two concubines usually had little say in front of Su Tan'er. At this moment, they only dared to weep and hint indirectly.

Few in the family knew about or could discern Su Tan'er's ambition to secure the imperial merchant status. Even if kept hidden, there would always come a day when it had to be made public, especially since officials were involved in managing imperial merchant affairs and the Jiangning Weaving matters. When things became serious, they would inevitably be exposed. A few days before the city gates closed, likely after her discussion with Xi Junyu, Su Tan'er had already formally met with relevant figures, laying out the connections she had cultivated over time. If she were to secure the imperial merchant status this year, it would happen within the next one or two months.

As soon as the matter became public, everyone, especially the other Su family members, took notice. They had originally intended to hinder Su Tan'er, hoping her female status would disqualify her from vying for the family headship. Who knew this woman's secret maneuvers would be so impactful? If the imperial merchant business could be executed flawlessly and profitably, there would be nothing left for them to contend over in the future.

For several days since the city gates closed, this matter continued to be discussed and spread by word of mouth. Then, the incident with Su Boyong occurred. Su Tan'er's mother and concubines usually only interacted with people within the household, and their feelings, whether benevolent or malicious, were directed at these family members. At this moment, they naturally suspected Su Zhongkan and Su Yunfang. They believed some of them might have taken extreme risks, thinking that even if it meant selling out the family, at least it would prevent Su Tan'er from taking everything... gaining something, however small, was better than nothing at all... Such were often the thoughts that preoccupied the minds of these women.

At this moment, Su Tan'er's mother was sobbing, and the two concubines were also weeping, their fragmented words full of complaints and veiled accusations. Reflected in the window's faint light, Su Tan'er sat there, head bowed in silence, neither speaking nor defending herself. Ning Yi knocked on the door and opened it. He saw Su Tan'er still wearing the blood-stained clothes, sitting on a small stool by the bed. Her hands were clenched into fists on her lap, and her gaze was fixed indifferently on a point on the floor, utterly unchanged.

Ning Yi greeted the two concubines and his mother-in-law, who was still on the bed. His mother-in-law continued weeping, ignoring him, her gaze filled with a mix of resentment and profound sadness. She resented Su Tan'er for being too headstrong, and likely harbored resentment towards Ning Yi, her son-in-law, as well as the family members from the Second and Third Branches—the two younger uncles who were vying for family property. Such situations were common in prominent households.

"...the managers have arrived, so I came to check. Manager Liao has something he needs to show Tan'er..."

After exchanging greetings, Ning Yi brought up these matters. Tan'er nodded, then wiped the corners of her eyes, softly apologizing and bidding farewell to her mother and the two concubines with a somewhat perfunctory formality. But at that moment, she couldn't afford to care. Once they were out of the room and then out of the courtyard, Su Tan'er and Ning Yi walked along the path. Under the starlight, she gazed indifferently at the surrounding scenery. As they silently reached the entrance of her living quarters, Xiao Chan was already waiting there, and she scurried over.

"Young Master-in-law, the hot water is ready," she said, glancing at her mistress beside him.

Su Tan'er frowned. "Manager Liao..."

"I just said that," Ning Yi replied. "You've been sitting all day. If you're still busy tonight, you should take a bath first."

Su Tan'er paused, turned to look at Ning Yi, and after a moment, nodded silently. "Husband, thank you..." Having said this, she turned and walked towards the courtyard. Only then did she raise a hand to wipe the corner of her eye, though there was little hesitation in her steps. Ning Yi gestured to Xiao Chan, indicating for her to follow.

The starry night hung high, the moon waning as if something had taken a bite out of it. Moonlight, starlight, and lamplight merged into a single glow across the Su family mansion, accompanied by various clamoring voices and footsteps. Ning Yi stood there, contemplating, and let out a soft sigh. It seemed this night would be sleepless.

For half the night, the lights in the adjacent courtyard remained on. Su Tan'er and the First Branch managers held an overnight meeting, predicting potential events, discussing countermeasures, estimating the hidden adversaries, and considering what assistance they might need to seek next. At present, they had few concrete leads, but everything that needed preparing was being set in motion.

The three maids—Chan'er, Juan'er, and Xing'er—were bustling about, each with her own tasks. In contrast, this courtyard was relatively quiet. Ning Yi was rather idle, as most people didn't consider this his concern, nor something he had the ability to participate in or change. He took half a bowl of peanuts and sat in the pavilion in the middle of the courtyard, slowly shelling them while sensing the atmosphere emanating from the entire mansion. He pondered the possible reasons for the current events and their potential future direction.

Of course, there were very few clues to grasp, and naturally, no real progress could be made. As Xiao Chan hurried through the corridor, seeing no one, she leaned in and gave him a quick hug. Releasing him, she pursed her lips slightly and whispered, "Young Master-in-law, are you worried?" She seemed to be trying to comfort Ning Yi. Ning Yi smiled and put a few peanuts into her hand. "I'm fine. Go on with your work, and keep an eye on Tan'er."

The young maid nodded, tucked the peanuts into her pocket, thought for a moment, then turned and walked away, saying, "Young Master-in-law, get some sleep soon..."

About an hour later, Juan'er glanced over while passing beneath the eaves, then came and quietly sat down. Ning Yi, bored, was arranging peanut shells on the table, using them to represent the various interested parties involved in the current situation. Juan'er likely didn't understand what he was doing. She sat quietly for a while, her gaze shifting from the bowl of peanuts to Ning Yi. Ning Yi gave her a sidelong glance and pushed the bowl towards her. "What is it?"

Juan'er smiled. "Just now, when I passed by, Xiao Chan took a peanut from her pocket, ate it, and then went back to work. When I asked her, she smiled and told me that Young Master-in-law had given her a few peanuts, and that way she could eat them until dawn..."

"Oh, how resourceful..."

"So I'll have one too," Juan'er said, taking a peanut from the bowl, shelling it, and eating it. Then she stood up and left. As she departed, she added, "Young Master-in-law, you should get some sleep soon..."

Ning Yi watched her retreating figure, shaking his head with a smile. It was difficult to say just how busy this night truly was. Su Tan'er and many of the managers were occupied with anxiety and discussions, but for now, there weren't many clear leads. Most of the staff were simply carried along by this atmosphere, waiting. If they weren't busy, they would likely be criticized for not fulfilling their duties. At present, the key to a breakthrough still lay with Chen Er at the yamen. If the true mastermind couldn't be found quickly, further developments would only occur once the antagonist made another move.

Having thought through everything he could, Ning Yi put away the peanut bowl and returned to his room to sleep. He slept for about an hour before waking up again. It was now the darkest and quietest period just before dawn, yet the unease and agitation throughout the Su family mansion were still clearly perceptible. He carried a cup of tea out. The adjacent courtyard had already gone dark, presumably meaning the attending managers had left, and Chan'er, Juan'er, and Xing'er had gone to rest. Su Tan'er's room, however, was still lit. As Ning Yi approached, he saw her holding a pen, staring blankly at the oil lamp's glow on the table. A half-written letter lay open, seemingly intended to be sent out of the city.

Ning Yi walked to the window and placed the teacup on the table. Only then did Su Tan'er, who was inside, react. She suddenly looked up at Ning Yi, her gaze slowly softening. She stared blankly at the teacup he had pushed towards her, then reached out, took it, and lowered her head.

"It's almost dawn," Ning Yi said.

Su Tan'er nodded but offered no reply. She remained silent for a long time before finally looking up, managing a faint smile that was both wistful and somewhat resigned. "Mother... and the concubines believe it's the exposure of the imperial merchant matter that prompted someone to take such a risk. Some of the managers... feel the same way, that people from the Second and Third Branches might also be involved..."

"The world isn't short of fools," Ning Yi nodded, "but fools can't accomplish great things."

"Heh..." Su Tan'er chuckled. "Even if they're involved, they couldn't be the masterminds. Besides, the Second and Third Branches only found out about the imperial merchant matter a few days ago; they're not that decisive. They couldn't possibly decide to sell out the family so quickly, nor do they have the capability. Those truly behind this must have been planning for a long time. But even so... I can't definitively say it has nothing to do with me."

Su Tan'er acted with independence and perseverance. Even after all these incidents, she remained calm tonight, beginning to handle everything, actively responding, and holding up the overall situation. With her father having collapsed, she absolutely could not fall. Her resolve was stronger than that of most men, truly the attitude needed to get things done. Yet, as she spoke of these matters, tears still welled in her eyes. The woman looked up, swallowing back some of her tears.

"But no matter what, once a decision is made and you commit to it, there will definitely be resistance. Any kind of resistance might arise. If you try to avoid everything, then nothing will ever get done. Husband... I will see this through... Once it's finished, everything will become clear."

Su Tan'er looked at him, offered a smile, and then sniffed. These words were more for herself than for Ning Yi. Ning Yi nodded, turned to leave, then looked back once more.

"The tea is freshly brewed... Finish up your work early and get some sleep."

"Thank you, Husband..."

They were, in essence, similar types of people. Ning Yi understood that a crisis was a crisis. This sudden blow might be overwhelming, but Su Tan'er didn't need excessive sympathy. For the entire Su family, this was simply a process of navigating a crisis. She knew clearly everything that needed to be done and everything that could be done, so he simply had to let her proceed.

However, over the next few days, perhaps due to certain unexpected developments, the entire situation took a sharp turn for the worse...

Ning Yi did not leave the house for the next few days.

The Su family's situation was chaotic. Ning Yi could only watch, unable to intervene. In these past few days, the Old Master Su Yu, Su Zhongkan, and Su Yunfang frequently went out to visit various people, but there was still no new progress regarding Chen Er at the yamen. Some managers from the First Branch repeatedly visited officials at the Weaving Bureau, openly demonstrating their unwavering determination to secure the imperial merchant status this time. Su Tan'er's chosen strategy was indeed the correct one; she had been preparing for over a year for these matters, and once her resolve was displayed, it left others utterly astounded.

Su Boyong's condition remained critical, hovering between life and death, and his ultimate fate was still uncertain. Everyone waited in silence. Su Tan'er visited him once daily, and her dedication to her work remained unwavering.

Ning Yi occasionally observed the managers coming and going from the second floor, and sometimes he would take dictation of the latest news updates. More often, he read books and wrote, mentally summarizing these developments.

It was unclear exactly when the situation quietly shifted. Four days after Su Boyong collapsed, likely on the morning of July 22nd, Ning Yi noticed a change in Su Tan'er's demeanor. She seemed to have caught a cold, but this alteration wasn't just physical; her overall spirit seemed different from when she had spoken to him in the previous nights.

After dusk that day, numerous managers were again summoned to the residence for discussions. While Chan'er, Juan'er, and Xing'er were busy with reception, Su Tan'er was asleep in her room, sprawled out. A few sheets of paper were blown out by the wind. Ning Yi picked them up and brought them inside, placing them on the table beside Su Tan'er, securing them with a paperweight. Su Tan'er suddenly woke up, stood, and bumped into Ning Yi. She then took two steps back, saw it was Ning Yi, and smiled weakly. "Ah, Husband."

Ning Yi looked at her for a few moments. "Are you running a fever?"

"Hm?" Su Tan'er paused, reached up to touch her forehead, and after a moment, smiled and shook her head. "No, I'm just a bit tired these past few days, as you know, Husband... I'll be fine once this is over."

After saying this, she turned to gather the letters on the table. Soon after, Juan'er came to announce that the managers had arrived. Su Tan'er gave Ning Yi an apologetic smile, exchanged a few words with him, and then left with Juan'er.

That night, Ning Yi stood by the second-floor window, observing the scene in the adjacent courtyard. Several servants and maids from the First Branch stood guard outside, while a meeting was taking place inside. People were discussing various disorganized matters. Su Tan'er's mental state still seemed good, and he saw her speaking. After watching for a while, Ning Yi sighed, turned, went downstairs, and then headed towards that courtyard.

Despite the ongoing meeting, Chan'er, Juan'er, and Xing'er were the leading maids there. Seeing Ning Yi's solemn expression, they naturally didn't stop him, though Xing'er followed, asking, "What's wrong, Young Master-in-law?"

"What exactly happened? How many days has your mistress been ill?"

"Mistress..." Xing'er paused, then almost burst into tears. "We... we also noticed it today, but, but..."

Ning Yi walked into the room. Su Tan'er had her back to the door, her left hand resting on the edge of the table, as she looked down and tapped the surface with her right hand, discussing something. Seeing Ning Yi enter, the managers all turned their gazes towards him. Ning Yi walked over and patted Su Tan'er's shoulder. She instinctively waved his hand away, but when he patted her again, she finally turned around, a little confused but still offering a faint smile. "Husband, you..."

The moment her left hand left the table, her body began to sway. Ning Yi placed his palm on her forehead; it was faintly hot. Su Tan'er lowered her head and gripped Ning Yi's palm with both hands.

"I'm fine, I'm fine..."

She murmured this, her body slumping down. Xi Junyu came from the side, intending to reach out, but Ning Yi had already lifted Su Tan'er into his arms.

"Mistress!" Chan'er, Juan'er, and Xing'er rushed in. The managers' eyes widened, and they stood up, their words a jumble. However, after a brief moment, a calm voice, not loud but clear to everyone, rose above the commotion.

"You all continue your discussion. Manager Liao, please take charge. Juan'er, go fetch Doctor Sun. Chan'er, come with me. Xing'er, you stay here and manage the situation. Everything is to proceed as usual."

Having said these simple words, Ning Yi, frowning, carried Su Tan'er and turned to leave.

The night sky was deep and somber, with thick rain clouds gathering on the horizon, casting a pall over the city. The night wind was cool, but the woman's body in Ning Yi's arms was burning hot. As he laid Su Tan'er on the bedroom bed, her lips were slightly parted, her face flushed crimson from the fever, and she was still unconsciously shaking her head.