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"Father!" Su Yuntang cried out, wanting to rush to her father's side, but was stopped by two soldiers.
To this day, Su Yuntang clearly remembers how her father looked that night. He remained remarkably calm as he reassured his wife and daughters, stating that he had always been an honest official and had never engaged in any illegal or corrupt activities. He believed that the Emperor would surely uncover the truth and restore his innocence.
Before being taken away, Su Jingwen urged his wife, Lu Yaohua, to take good care of their daughter, and he held Su Yuntang's hand, whispering, "Tang'er, don't be afraid. Father will be back soon." That was the last time Su Yuntang saw her father.
Three months later, the devastating news arrived—her father had "taken his own life out of fear of punishment" in the imperial prison. Their mother, Lu Yaohua, could not bear the blow and fell ill; within half a month, she also passed away. The Su family was raided, all their possessions confiscated, and the servants were dismissed.
Fortunately, Su Jingwen had maintained a good reputation during his lifetime. Several high-ranking officials in the court interceded on behalf of the Su family, which spared the women from being sent to the brothel.
Though Su Yuntang became an orphan overnight, she was not entirely without support. She still had her sister, Su Yunyan. Before the family was raided, Su Yunyan had anticipated this outcome. She secretly took out part of her dowry to purchase a small courtyard and arranged for her most trusted servant, Zhang Mama, to bring Su Yuntang there.
Additionally, her sister transferred two shops from her dowry to Su Yuntang—one was a medical clinic named Yan Gui Tang, and the other was a tea house called Tang Yu Zhai. The income from these two establishments would be enough to ensure that Su Yuntang would not have to worry about food and clothing.
Su Yuntang understood that although the Long Family was wealthy and powerful, her sister had no children after all these years and her position was not secure. For her sister to provide such substantial support meant she was taking a risk.
Her sister also entrusted Zhang Mama with a letter for her. The words in the letter were filled with sorrow and concern. Holding the letter tightly in her hands, tears streamed down Su Yuntang's face uncontrollably. Her sister Su Yunyan was her only remaining family; although they both lived in Yangzhou, even seeing each other was a luxury.
"Mama, how is my sister?"
Zhang Mama sighed. "The young lady has been worried day and night since learning of our family's misfortune; she has lost quite a bit of weight. Although the Long Family is prominent, there are many affairs within their household, and the young lady's situation is not easy either..."
After sending off Zhang Mama, Su Yuntang sat by the stove, staring blankly at the glowing charcoal. She never believed that her father would engage in corrupt practices, and she was determined to uncover the truth and restore his reputation.
In the days that followed, Su Yuntang took charge of everything herself. She tidied up the small courtyard meticulously and set aside a corner on the south side to create a medicinal herb garden. Every day, she went to Yan Gui Tang to learn from the old physician Zhu Daifu who was seeing patients. With the medical knowledge and skills passed down from her mother, she quickly became adept at her work. Particularly in treating women's ailments, she gained considerable insight. The women who were shy about seeking medical help trusted this female doctor who was willing to make house calls.
Gradually, Su Yuntang gained some fame in the neighborhood. Time flowed like water, and two years passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, Zhang Mama would visit every month or two, always bringing letters from her sister along with a few homemade treats—delicacies that Su Yuntang had loved since childhood. Each time, Su Yuntang would ask Zhang Mama to take back some health-preserving pills she had prepared for her sister.
In her letters, she never mentioned her hardships, only stating that life was good to reassure her sister. Su Yuntang often thought that once she saved enough money, she would return these two shops to her sister so that she could have more confidence and support within the Long Family. However, plans are often disrupted by unforeseen changes. Just half a year ago, an unexpected event occurred...
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