Сhеng Gао роndеred for а lоng whilе bеfоre saying hеlрlessly, "Тhat seеms tо bе thе оnlу way. Unсle Bai passed аwаy еarlу, аnd Аunt Вai is sоmеоnе whо doеsn’t manage аffаirs. Evеrything at homе is decidеd by Xiаngqing. Nоw thаt hе hаs еаrned schоlаrly hоnоrs аnd is a хiucаi, hе’s even аddrеssed аs ‘Master’ оutside. If we go tо rеаson with him, оn one hand, wе lасk evidеnсе, аnd оn thе othеr, it might nоt be еffeсtive. Asking thе eldеrs оf оur familу tо intеrvеne—since wе are the main branсh and they аre a сollаtеral brаnch—would likely be seen as bullying the weak if word got out. The best approach is to have the ancestral house step in. But is it appropriate for us to speak with Madam Yuan? It feels a bit like tattling!"
Cheng Gao had been taught since childhood by his grandmother and father to solve his own problems.
"What’s inappropriate about it?" Zhou Shaojin said through gritted teeth. "They caused this mess—should we be the ones to clean it up? However," she lowered her voice to instruct Cheng Gao, "go talk with Cousin Xu again. Explain all the serious implications to him. If he remains indifferent, come and tell me. I’ll have no choice but to ask Madam Yuan to intervene."
Cheng Gao nodded and left for the clan school.
Zhou Shaojin returned to Jia Shu Hall.
Cheng Jia was clinging to Old Madam Guan’s arm, cooing, "...Shaoji is your granddaughter, but am I not your granddaughter too? Please speak to my mother for me! She respects you the most—she’ll think carefully about anything you say. I really don’t want to marry that so-called heir of the Duke of Liangguo as a second wife, especially since their family treats daughters-in-law so heartlessly."
Old Madam Guan, swayed by her shaking, felt dizzy but also took pity on Cheng Jia. She said, "Isn’t it still uncertain at this point? When your mother truly decides to marry you off, it won’t be too late for me to speak up for you then."
"If we wait until my mother decides," Cheng Jia’s eyes welled up with tears, "I’m afraid it’ll be too late by then!"
"It won’t be too late, it won’t," Old Madam Guan chuckled. "There’s still Fourth Master Chi from the main branch! Since the Duke of Liangguo’s family wants to form a marriage alliance with the Cheng family, it wouldn’t be proper not to inform Fourth Master Chi."
Cheng Jia’s eyes darted around, somewhat distracted, as she said, "Really? Is Fourth Master Chi enough?"
"Would I lie to you?" Old Madam Guan smiled. "Marriage alliances are about fostering goodwill between two families. You can rest assured."
Cheng Jia smiled sweetly and picked up the teacup by Old Madam Guan’s side. "Aunt Grandmother, Jia offers you tea."
Old Madam Guan chided affectionately, "All talk!" but happily accepted the teacup.
Cheng Jia then moved behind Old Madam Guan to massage her shoulders.
Old Madam Guan laughed heartily and said, "Alright, alright, go play with Shaojin! If you keep massaging like this, my old bones will fall apart."
Cheng Jia giggled, curtsied to Old Madam Guan, and left the main room with Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin.
Zhou Chujin reminded them with a few words like "don’t play too much" and "be careful," then headed to Autumn Embrace Pavilion. Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Jia returned to Fragrant Garden Residence.
Cheng Jia leaned on the bed reading and eating fruits, while Zhou Shaojin and Shi Xiang, along with a few others, hurriedly sewed clothes for Zhou Zhen and his wife.
Someone from the third branch came and said, "The First Madam asks the young miss to return quickly. The aunt is still waiting to teach the young miss etiquette!"
Cheng Jia tossed away an apple core and said, "Go back and tell the First Madam that the Second Miss has invited me to stay for lunch. I’ll return after the meal."The old woman dared not insist further and left with a bitter smile.
While heating the iron, Zhou Shaojin said to her, "You can hide for a while, but not forever. It would be better to go back and explain things clearly to Aunt Lu."
Cheng Jia disagreed, saying, "Anyway, it can’t be explained clearly. At least this way, she knows my determination."
Having lived two lifetimes, Zhou Shaojin had never had the chance to be willful. She let Cheng Jia do as she pleased while she attended to her own affairs.
Just before lunchtime, Madam Jiang personally came to "fetch" Cheng Jia away.
Zhou Shaojin smiled as she saw Cheng Jia off. After lunch, she went to Cold Green Mountain House to copy scriptures.
Two days later, Cheng Gao came to see Zhou Shaojin with a grim expression and told her, "You should still find a way to inform Madam Yuan! I’ve talked until my mouth is dry, but he actually thinks I’m making things up... Really..."
He was so angry that he paced back and forth in the room twice before calming down.
Zhou Shaojin was quite annoyed. After thinking for a moment, she went to Accumulated Truth Hall.
But she did not enter. Instead, she lingered nearby for a while before turning back to Fragrant Garden Residence. In the afternoon, she still went to Cold Green Mountain House to copy scriptures. However, when she was halfway through copying, there was movement in the courtyard.
Xiao Tan informed her, "Madam has come to visit the old lady."
Zhou Shaojin nodded and continued copying scriptures without showing any change in expression.
Shortly after, Madam Yuan walked in with a smile, accompanied only by a maid carrying something.
"Shao Jin, copying scriptures!" she greeted Zhou Shaojin warmly.
Zhou Shaojin stood up respectfully, addressed her as "Madam," and instructed Shi Xiang to serve tea.
Madam Yuan did not stand on ceremony and sat down.
The maid who had entered with her placed two paper boxes tied with red silk on the nearby tea table.
Pointing at the boxes, Madam Yuan smiled and said, "I went to the Liu family for a wedding feast a couple of days ago and happened to pass by Qifangzhai. I saw their newly released assorted pastries were quite good, so I brought a few boxes back. These are for you and your sister. Try them and see how they taste."
Zhou Shaojin thanked her with a smile.
The maid who had come with Madam Yuan gave Xiao Tan and Shi Xiang a meaningful look and withdrew.
Xiao Tan hesitated for a moment before following her out.
Shi Xiang, however, acted as if she hadn’t noticed and continued to serve in the room.
Seeing this, a flicker of appreciation flashed in Madam Yuan’s eyes. She smiled and said, "Shao Jin, I heard from the old woman that you went to Accumulated Truth Hall yesterday. Was there something the matter? Why didn’t you go in?"
Zhou Shaojin tightly gripped her teacup, looking very flustered, as if she wanted to speak but hesitated.
Madam Yuan’s expression softened even more.
She smiled and said, "What matter is so serious that you won’t even tell your aunt? Should I go ask your sister instead?"
"No, please don’t ask my sister," Zhou Shaojin said, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the teacup, her expression growing even more anxious.
"Shao Jin," Madam Yuan took Zhou Shaojin’s hand and said gently, "There’s no one else here. You can speak freely with me."
Zhou Shaojin’s eyes reddened, as if she had finally found someone to confide in after enduring great grievances. Choking back tears, she dismissed Shi Xiang, and tears began to fall. "I... I don’t even know how to say it."
Madam Yuan’s expression turned cold for a moment but quickly softened again. She smiled and said, "Is it your cousin Xu..."
"No, no," Zhou Shaojin quickly shook her head. "It’s... it’s Cousin Lu."
"Cheng Xiangqing?" Madam Yuan was taken aback.
What does this have to do with her?She had initially thought that Cheng Xu was finding ways to pester Zhou Shaojin, and that Shaojin, unable to handle it and too afraid to speak up openly, had come to her for help under the guise of sharing a private conversation.
Madam Yuan asked, "What did he do?" Her tone carried a hint of weariness.
Zhou Shaojin, seemingly unaware, murmured, "He... he said that Cousin Xu was making things difficult for him because of me..."
Upon hearing this, Madam Yuan flew into a rage, her hair practically standing on end. "He really said that? Who told you?"
Zhou Shaojin replied, "It was... it was Cousin Gao who told me. He told me to never speak to Cousin Xu or Cousin Lu again... He also said that Cousin Xu knew about it but didn’t stop it... I wanted to ask you to talk to Cousin Xu... Cousin Xu is the top scholar, so Cousin Lu would surely listen to him..."
Madam Yuan felt as if her liver was aching.
But now was not the time to lose her temper.
Zhou Shaojin was as fragile as glass, liable to shatter at the slightest mishap.
She took a deep breath, trying to soften her voice as much as possible, and said, "Shaojin, you did the right thing—if your Cousin Xu has done something wrong, you should come and tell me. I will speak to him. Don’t be afraid. Cheng Xiangqing will definitely never say such things again."
Zhou Shaojin nodded, looking as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Her voice grew cheerful as she said, "I... I didn’t dare tell anyone, afraid that others might believe Cousin Lu’s words and say that Cousin Xu was bullying him... Cousin Xu’s scholarship is so outstanding—how could he do such a thing?"
"Exactly," Madam Yuan said with a smile, nodding. "Your Cousin Xu’s scholarship is so outstanding—he would never do such a thing."
Hearing this, Zhou Shaojin’s face broke into a faint smile.
Madam Yuan’s heart skipped a beat as she watched.
This Zhou Shaojin truly resembled Madam Zhuang, both so beautiful they seemed almost unreal. She wondered if Shaojin’s fate would also mirror Madam Zhuang’s—falling ill and passing away at a young age...
A sudden wave of sympathy washed over her, and her voice grew even gentler. "Focus on copying the scriptures in peace. If you ever face any difficulties that you can’t discuss with your grandmother or sister, come to me, your aunt. I’ll stand up for you."
Zhou Shaojin smiled shyly and thanked her.
Madam Yuan exchanged a few more words with her before leaving the prayer hall.
Zhou Shaojin let out a long sigh and slumped into the armchair.
Shi Xiang asked worriedly, "What did Madam Yuan say to you?"
"It’s nothing, nothing," Zhou Shaojin replied evasively, murmuring wearily as if she had just survived a disaster. "So Madam Yuan isn’t an unyielding iron wall after all. With the right approach, she can be quite reasonable."
Shi Xiang didn’t quite catch her words.
Zhou Shaojin smiled, sat up straight, and said loudly, "Alright, let’s finish copying the scriptures quickly so we can move on to my own Amitabha Sutra. Then we’ll follow the old madam to Mount Putuo."
Shi Xiang giggled.
Only then did Zhou Shaojin realize her back was soaked with sweat.
She quickly called Shi Xiang to fetch water and help her change clothes.
Meanwhile, Madam Yuan returned to the Accumulated Truth Hall drenched in sweat. Before she had even steadied herself, she furiously ordered the maidservant beside her, "Go, summon that little beast! He has truly wasted all his years studying the classics! I’ve treated him like the apple of my eye, and yet he willingly lets others trample all over him. With behavior like this, does he still dream of leaving his name in history? I’d say he’ll be lucky if he ever makes it out of the Hanlin Academy..."The maids and matrons exchanged uneasy glances, not one daring to utter a word.
Madam Yuan’s teacup shattered on the stone floor. "What? Have you all forgotten how to understand my words?"
The maids trembled in fear.
Madam Yuan’s wet nurse, Madam Li, cautiously stepped forward and said softly, "I’ll go fetch the master at once," before quietly retreating.
Only then did Madam Yuan’s personal maid dare to brew a fresh cup of tea and present it to her.
As Madam Yuan sipped her tea, her emotions gradually settled.
A tree cannot grow straight without pruning.
It seemed she would have to intervene.
※
Sisters, what are you all up to?
Days of writing, Christmas, Spring Festival, Valentine’s Day… none of it concerns me. My days are filled only with double updates, single updates… sob…
※ (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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