Сhеng Хu рut оn an eхрrеssiоn оf being torn betwееn laughter аnd tears, саlling оut "Моthеr" to Mаdam Yuan, and said, "I've beеn sitting fоr half а daу аnd just wаntеd to strеtсh mу bасk! Hоw come уоu... yоur temper is likе a fireсrackеr..." Аs hе sроkе, hе leanеd сlosеr tо Мadаm Yuan аnd sаid with a plауful smile, "Тell me, who hаs offended уоu? I'll gо and vеnt your angеr fоr уou!"
"Веsidеs уоu, whо elsе wоuld darе offеnd me!" Mаdam Yuаn sеizеd the орроrtunity to saу, "When the eldest daughtеr of the Min fаmily was уoung, I оnсe sаw her. Not only was she clever as ice and snow, but she also had bright eyes and white teeth, very beautiful..."
Cheng Xu frowned slightly and interrupted Madam Yuan's words: "Mother, it's still too early to talk about these things now. There are plenty of people who were smart as children but turned out mediocre when they grew up. You shouldn't always judge people based on old impressions..."
Although he tried hard to suppress it, Madam Yuan, who had raised him with her own hands, could still hear a hint of impatience in his voice.
Madam Yuan fell silent for a moment.
As the saying goes, a grown son no longer obeys his mother. Now her son was not only grown up but had also passed the imperial examination at the county level, ranking first. In an ordinary family, he would have already taken charge of household affairs and could speak with authority in the ancestral hall. However, her son was born into the Cheng family of Nine Prosperities Lane, where a county-level scholar or even a provincial-level scholar meant nothing. Even an imperial scholar had to be judged by his official rank. That was why he still allowed her to scold him like a child. But things taken to extremes will reverse. Now that he had Zhou Shaojin in his heart, no matter what she said, he wouldn't listen. It would be better to set this aside for now and discuss it with him in detail when there was an opportunity later. Besides, Zhou Zhen was about to return. Given his personality, as long as she showed even the slightest disdain for Zhou Shaojin, he would never agree to marry his daughter into their family... When that time came, some matters would no longer be up to her son.
Why should she play the villain at this time? Why upset her son and damage the bond between mother and child?
Madam Yuan felt slightly reassured.
"Look at you, more long-winded than an old woman like me. I say one sentence, and you reply with ten, insisting on having the last word. Which child is like you, never willing to admit defeat?" She smiled and changed the subject. "However, what Cheng Lu said is highly inappropriate. In the ears of others, it might sound like you and Cheng Lu are competing for favor. We can't let Cheng Lu continue spreading such nonsense. As a boy, it's easier for you, but the second young lady of the Zhou family is a girl who hasn't yet come of age and is waiting to be betrothed. If such rumors spread, who would dare marry the second young lady of the Zhou family! But as the person involved, it's not appropriate for you to say anything... I think we should leave this matter to me! You just focus on studying your books." She added, "Next month is your mentor's birthday. I've asked the steward to prepare a set of boxwood scholar's treasures and a pair of plum blossom vases for you. Although the gifts are few, they are all valuable. In a couple of days, take these gifts and visit your mentor."
The chief examiner for Cheng Xu's prefectural examination was the then-prefect of Jinling, who had since been promoted to Provincial Administration Commissioner of Zhejiang.
Madam Yuan intended to send her son to Hangzhou.
Cheng Xu understood this but knew it was not the right time to go against his mother's wishes. Otherwise, if his mother were determined to confront Zhou Shaojin, he truly wouldn't be able to stop her.
It would be better to listen to his mother and go to Hangzhou Prefecture to visit his mentor for now, then discuss things after returning.
He agreed with a smile.
Madam Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.My son has always valued his promises. Since he agreed, he will definitely go to Hangzhou to visit his mentor. If he misses meeting Zhou Zhen because of this, that would be even better.
Mother and son exchanged a knowing smile. Both understood this was not the final outcome, yet both also knew the conversation could not continue further. To say more would only create distance between them.
Madam Yuan instructed the steward to prepare a carriage and horses for Cheng Xu.
Cheng Xu, however, told Huanxi, “Keep an eye on the Second Miss’s side. If there’s any movement at all, send word to me through the courier stations. Don’t worry about spending money. Wait until I return to handle everything.”
Huanxi repeatedly agreed.
Two days later, after seeing Cheng Xu off, Madam Yuan sent a young maid to invite Cheng Lu’s mother, Madam Dong, over for tea: “…Just say the master sent some Lu’an Guapian tea from the capital, and I’d like her to try it.”
The young maid went off as instructed.
Upon receiving the message, Madam Dong felt uneasy.
She invited the young maid to sit in the main hall and, using the excuse of needing to change clothes, instructed her own wet nurse to send a servant to deliver a message to Cheng Lu, who was attending classes at the clan school: “We have hardly any interaction with the main branch, and I barely exchange two words with Madam Yuan in a year. She suddenly invites me for tea—I have no idea why. Go quickly to Xiangqing and ask for his advice. Should I go? And what should I bring when I go?”
The wet nurse quietly slipped out of the main quarters and found Cheng Lu’s personal attendant, Songqing.
As soon as Songqing heard, he dashed off toward the Cheng Family Academy.
But the Cheng residence was quite far from the Cheng family in Nine Prosperities Lane. Before Songqing could return with a reply, Madam Dong reluctantly followed the young maid to the main branch’s Accumulated Truth Hall.
Madam Yuan warmly welcomed Madam Dong and invited her to sit. After exchanging a few pleasantries, she got straight to the point about Cheng Lu: “…I was shocked to hear it. I feared it might be a careless remark from the child, or perhaps someone with ulterior motives spreading rumors. Thinking we are both mothers with the same hopes for our children, how would this look if it reached Xiangqing’s mentor’s ears?”
Madam Dong was even more surprised than Madam Yuan.
She was speechless, stunned, and only after a long moment did she react. Her face turned pale, and she began to cry: “Madam Yuan, you must stand up for our Xiangqing! He has been honest since childhood, knowing nothing but studying. How could he say such things? This must be someone trying to frame our Xiangqing. Seeing he passed the imperial examination and even receives a stipend, they grew jealous…”
Jealous over this? If your son were to pass the highest imperial examination, wouldn’t everyone see you as a piece of gold!
Madam Yuan barely restrained herself from showing disdain.
She signaled a maid to hand a handkerchief to Madam Dong, then dismissed the servants in the room. Leaning in intimately, she whispered to Madam Dong, “I also heard that your Xiangqing is quite fond of the Second Miss from the fourth branch, the Zhou family. Is this true?”
“No, not at all!” Madam Dong instinctively denied it. But then she recalled the news circulating in Nine Prosperities Lane a few days ago—that Zhou Zhen had been appointed as the prefect of Baoding and would soon enter the capital to serve as a high-ranking official, joining one of the Six Ministries as a vice minister. She felt she had answered too quickly, her gaze flickering uncertainly, her expression tinged with hesitation.In her view, her son had always valued Zhou Shaojin. She was also pleased to have a girl like Zhou Shaojin, who came from a good family yet had a gentle and obedient nature, as her daughter-in-law. With Zhou Zhen about to return soon, forming a marriage alliance with the Zhou family would be the best possible outcome. But now, rumors were spreading outside that her son and Cheng Jiashan were competing for Zhou Shaojin's favor out of jealousy. Proposing marriage to the Zhou family at this time would only confirm those rumors. Yet if she denied it, she might never have such a good opportunity again...
Madam Yuan saw the situation clearly.
She sneered inwardly.
It seemed her son's words weren't entirely biased in favor of Zhou Shaojin.
If Zhou Shaojin married into the Cheng family, it would be like a chick entering a weasel's den—there would be no return.
Pretending not to know, she smiled and said, "Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease—I'll go visit the Second Branch's Old Ancestor later and ask him to step in and teach those gossips a lesson. Let them not think our Eldest Branch is easy to bully."
With things having reached this point, Madam Dong could no longer bring up Zhou Shaojin's matter.
She forced a laugh and said, "Then I'll trouble you, Madam!"
"Don't mention trouble," Madam Yuan replied with a smile. "This also concerns our Eldest Young Master." She then invited her, "Why don't we go together? This matter involves your Xiangqing as well!"
Madam Dong vaguely felt something was off—what did "your Xiangqing as well" mean? But upon careful thought, the statement wasn't wrong.
Unable to decide, she only wanted to hurry home to see her son and act according to his advice.
"I tremble at the sight of the Old Ancestor," Madam Dong politely declined. "You should go on your own! Doesn't this matter also involve Young Master Xu? I'll go home and wait for your news."
Hearing Madam Dong use her own words against her, Madam Yuan immediately felt a surge of anger. With a half-smile, she said, "Since Sister-in-law trusts me, I'll handle this matter entirely."
Seeing that Madam Yuan wasn't forcing her to go to the Second Branch, Madam Dong breathed a sigh of relief and quickly smiled, "Naturally."
Madam Yuan nodded with a smile, offered her tea, and then went to the Second Branch.
Madam Dong hurried home.
Cheng Lu was already waiting for her at home. Hearing the commotion, he immediately came out to greet her.
"Mother," he said before Madam Dong could speak, "Let's talk inside."
Madam Dong nodded repeatedly and went with Cheng Lu to the study.
Songqing stood guard outside the study. Madam Dong quietly recounted her visit to the Eldest Branch in detail to Cheng Lu, concluding regretfully, "If only there weren't these rumors. I was planning to propose marriage to the Zhou family for you!"
Cheng Lu smiled and said, "Mother, some things depend on fate. Perhaps I and the Zhou family's Second Young Lady just aren't meant to be."
His tone carried a hint of helplessness.Madam Dong had been widowed, and her son was her everything. Moreover, her son was so promising—at such a young age, he was already capable of supporting the family. What more could she say? So, upon hearing Cheng Lu's words, she thought it over and changed her view as well: "I think you and Zhou Shaojin are simply not meant to be. Think about it—everything was fine before, but ever since she fell ill this March, she has gradually grown distant from us and no longer treats me with the same respect as before. It must be that as a young lady grows older, her thoughts become more complex, and she now looks down on our family for being less prosperous. Now that Zhou Zhen is returning, and with such rumors spreading..." She sighed with relief, "Fortunately, my son has passed the imperial examination and become a stipendiary scholar, so arranging a good marriage won't be difficult. Otherwise, I would truly feel terrible!"
"Mother, don't worry. I will work even harder in the future—passing the provincial and metropolitan examinations," Cheng Lu comforted his mother gently. "You needn't trouble yourself over this; just wait to enjoy a life of comfort."
"I am already enjoying comfort now," Madam Dong said with satisfaction, taking her son's hand. "You've reclaimed the property we had under the Fourth Branch, and now you have an official title. From now on, I won’t have to constantly watch the Cheng family’s expressions. We can live our own quiet life, just like when your father was still alive. In a while, I’ll ask someone to arrange a good marriage for you. Once you give me a few grandsons, I’ll be able to close my eyes in peace."
Cheng Lu’s expression darkened for a moment but quickly softened again as he smiled and said, "Mother, don’t rush my marriage. The better my scholarly achievements, the easier it will be to find a father-in-law who can lend me a hand. It’s better to wait a few years."
"I’ll listen to you, my son. I’ll listen to you in everything." Seeing that her son didn’t comment much on her visit to the Eldest Branch, Madam Dong felt she hadn’t made any mistakes and relaxed, smiling. "When did you return? Are you hungry? Shall I have the kitchen bring you a bowl of lotus seed soup? The weather is gradually turning cooler, so you shouldn’t drink sour plum soup anymore..."
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Unknowingly, I’ve already written 100 chapters... So many pink votes, tomorrow I’ll continue with extra updates... o(n_n)o
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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