In thе lаtе summеr and eаrlу аutumn, thе lоtus flowers in the Аutumn Еmbracе Paviliоn hаd аlrеаdу passеd their blooming season, but thе glоssy grеen lеаvеs оf the оsmаnthus trееs wеre dоtted with buds just beginning to turn уеllow, giving а sense of thе changing sеasons аnd аn еvеr-flоurishing vitаlitу.
Madаm Li рraisеd thе sсenе reреatedlу.
Мadаm Mian smiled аnd said, "Could уоu stаy а few more dауs? In а few dауs, thеsе оsmаnthus flowеrs will аll be in full blоom, аnd it wouldn’t be аn eхаggеratiоn tо sау their fragranсe carries for milеs."
Madam Li sighеd regretfullу, "I wish I cоuld. Вut the рrefect of Baoding has been implicated in an embezzlement case and has already been escorted to the capital. Now, all affairs in Baoding Prefecture are being handled by the deputy prefect..." At this point, she glanced around and noticed that the maids and elderly servants were following at a distance, with only Zhou Shaojin and her sister nearby. After a moment’s thought, she lowered her voice and said, "It’s said this matter involves several imperial princes. The court will soon dispatch a special envoy. The Emperor’s intention is that there are still people in Baoding Prefecture who colluded with the former prefect, so he wants my husband to hurry over to assist the special envoy in managing the situation and cleaning up the administration. Our master has no choice in the matter."
The matter involved such high-level figures that Madam Mian found it difficult to comment.
The group arrived at the guest quarters.
Madam Mian smiled and said, "You can rest here for a while. Once my husband’s matters are settled, I’ll come to fetch you." As she finished speaking, her gaze fell on Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin, and she hesitated slightly.
In principle, as the nominal mother of Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin, Madam Li should have the two sisters attending to her here. However, Madam Li was a second wife, came from a merchant family, and was so young—barely a few years older than Zhou Chujin. Having raised Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin with great care, Madam Mian couldn’t bear to see the dignified and graceful Zhou Chujin or the delicate and sweet Zhou Shaojin lowering themselves before Madam Li.
Fortunately, Madam Li was perceptive. She quickly smiled and said, "Then shall the eldest and second young ladies also go and rest? I have Mama Li here to attend to me." She asked Madam Mian, "Will the eldest and second young ladies accompany me later to pay respects to the elderly ladies, madams, and young mistresses of the other households?"
Madam Mian hadn’t intended for Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin to serve Madam Li, but Old Madam Guan had previously mentioned that this was a matter of etiquette—they couldn’t neglect propriety and give others an opportunity to criticize the sisters. Reluctantly, she replied, "They should accompany you. It will be a good chance for them to meet everyone."
Madam Li smiled and said, "I think I can manage on my own. They’ve been with me all afternoon, and there’s still the evening banquet to prepare. Surely you need their help here, Madam Mian?"
Her tactfulness made Madam Mian’s smile warmer. "Then I’ll keep the sisters here with me!"
Zhou Shaojin, however, had other plans. She smiled and said, "But we can’t let Mother go alone. I think Sister should stay, and I’ll accompany Mother to pay respects to the other households."
Would Zhou Zhen think the fourth household was showing favoritism?
Madam Mian still hesitated.
Madam Li smiled and said, "That’s fine. Let the second young lady accompany me to pay respects to the other households."
Seeing that her aunt wasn’t entirely willing, Zhou Shaojin simply smiled and said, "I’m the youngest—if I don’t run errands, who will? Sister should stay at home, and I’ll go with Aunt and Mother to pay respects to the elders of the other households." She added, "I’d like some fried lotus root balls. Sister, remember to ask the kitchen to make some for me."
She sounded like a child eager to go out and play with the elders.
Everyone laughed.
Zhou Chujin assured her, "Don’t worry. I’d forget anything before forgetting your fried lotus root balls."After chatting for a while, Zhou Chujin followed Madam Mian to the main quarters, while Zhou Shaojin rested in the room next to Madam Li's.
Mama Li eagerly brought over some snacks: "These are Qiyun's sour jujube cakes, a specialty of Jiangnan. Madam eats them as snacks on the road, and they taste wonderful. Madam specifically asked me to bring some for Second Miss to try. If you like them, Madam can have more sent from home. Second Miss could also share some with the ladies and young misses of the other households."
Madam Li was from Nanchang.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and thanked her. She felt that Mama Li was being overly enthusiastic toward her, but she didn’t dwell on it. After seeing Mama Li off, she took an afternoon nap and then accompanied Madam Li and Madam Mian to meet with Zhou Zhen and Cheng Mian.
Zhou Zhen looked rather surprised to see Zhou Shaojin.
Madam Li, seemingly worried that Zhou Zhen might misunderstand, quickly explained, "The eldest young miss has been learning household management from the senior madam and can now handle things on her own. The senior madam will be accompanying me later, so we asked the eldest young miss to oversee the family banquet this evening."
Zhou Zhen relaxed and nodded happily. He asked Zhou Shaojin, "Where would you like to go later?"
As if she had followed Madam Li just to visit the other households.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "Father, what a strange thing to say! Of course, I’ll be following my aunt and mother!"
Only then did Zhou Zhen realize he had spoken carelessly. He chuckled and went to the main branch first.
The eldest master and Second Master of the main branch, and even Cheng Xu, were not at home. Cheng Chi received Zhou Zhen.
What their meeting was like, Zhou Shaojin did not know. She went with Madam Mian and her stepmother to Madam Yuan’s quarters first.
Madam Yuan praised her warmly and then took them to Cold Green Mountain House.
As they approached the courtyard, Xiao Tan, who had been kicking a shuttlecock with a few young maids, left her companions and ran over.
"Madam, Second Miss!" Her cheeks were flushed, and her face glowed with joy as she curtsied to Madam Yuan and the others.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and nodded to her.
Feicui and Biyu, having received word, came out to greet them.
"Madam, Second Miss, Madam Mian," they greeted with smiles and ushered them into the main room.
Old Madam Guo wore a dark blue linen vest, her graying hair neatly tied into a round bun adorned with only two jade hairpins.
After they paid their respects, Old Madam Guo invited them to sit and have tea.
Madam Mian and Madam Li were served pre-rain Longjing tea, Madam Yuan was served Lu'an melon seed tea, and Zhou Shaojin was served Laojunmei tea. When the fruit platter was brought out, the young maid smiled at Zhou Shaojin and deliberately placed the side with melon slices near her.
Zhou Shaojin smiled back at the young maid.
Old Madam Guo exchanged pleasantries with Madam Li, who mentioned that the current Jiangxi education commissioner was from Jinling and had a good relationship with Zhou Zhen. Old Madam Guo asked who it was, and Madam Li recounted the person’s background. After thinking for a moment, Old Madam Guo realized it was an acquaintance: "...He was my younger brother’s student. He passed the provincial examination, so I remember him."Old Madam Guo had only one younger brother. A provincial graduate, after their father passed away, he took over his father’s private school. Most of his students came from humble backgrounds. Although those who passed the provincial and metropolitan examinations were rare, the school did not discriminate based on family background, attracting many students. It was the private school with the most students in Jinling City, comparable to the Gu family’s academy, which only admitted those who had passed the county-level examination, and also comparable to the Cheng clan’s school, which only accepted students recommended by relatives, friends, disciples, or old acquaintances of the Cheng family. Thus, it enjoyed high prestige among the common people of Jinling.
Madam Li seized the opportunity to strike up a conversation with Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo, intending to show her favor, listened with a smile as Madam Li spoke of official matters in Jiangxi.
Halfway through, Old Madam Guo casually pushed the fruit platter in front of her.
Biyu understood. She quietly went out and brought back a small plate of melon, placing it before Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin felt both embarrassed and flustered.
She had found the conversation rather dull, so when she saw her eldest aunt-in-law eating an orange without hesitation, she had also helped herself to a few pieces of melon. She hadn’t expected Old Madam Guo to notice her and even have Biyu bring her a separate small plate. She looked up and saw Old Madam Guo still conversing with Madam Li. Unable to say anything, she lowered her head and fiddled with the toothpick in her hand.
Before coming, Zhou Zhen had spoken to Madam Li about the Cheng family of Nine Prosperities Lane. For this elderly lady of the eldest branch, who had raised three metropolitan examination graduates, Madam Li held deep respect and awe. Upon entering, she naturally kept her ears and eyes open, observing everything. Witnessing how dotingly Old Madam Guo treated Zhou Shaojin, she was secretly astonished. Upon returning to the Zhou residence, while changing clothes, she eagerly recounted to Mama Li how Old Madam Guo had treated Zhou Shaojin. She then asked, “What have you managed to find out?”
Mama Li was also somewhat surprised and said, “I only heard that the Second Miss had gained the favor of Old Madam Guo of the eldest branch and was helping her copy scriptures, but I didn’t know Old Madam Guo was so fond of the Second Miss.”
Madam Li’s expression grew somewhat distant.
She recalled visiting the second branch.
Unlike the relaxed atmosphere in the eldest branch, Zhou Shaojin appeared rather tense.
Not only did she carefully observe the second branch, but she also treated Madam Shi of the second branch with a politeness tinged with distance. Unlike her silence in the third branch or her indifference in the fifth branch, she seemed to carry a hint of intentional closeness toward the second branch.
The Cheng family of Nine Prosperities Lane and the Zhou sisters were far more complex than she had imagined!
Her grip on the comb tightened, her fingertips turning white.
Mama Li then softly reminded Madam Li, “What do you think? Should we instruct the servants to send some desserts or late-night snacks to the Eldest Miss and Second Miss?”
After dining at the Cheng residence, the Zhou sisters had returned with them to the Zhou residence on Flat Bridge Street. Zhou Zhen had vacated the main room for the Zhou sisters to rest, while he and Madam Li stayed in the study.
It was clear that the Zhou sisters were very surprised by this arrangement, but Madam Li vaguely understood—this was where Madam Zhuang had lived, and her husband wished to preserve it as it was... So not only did she show no dissatisfaction, she obediently persuaded the Zhou sisters, “Since your father has returned, he will inevitably need to meet with classmates and friends. It’s more convenient for your father and me to stay in the study.”
Although she didn’t know the reason, Zhou Chujin genuinely liked this arrangement.This was the place where she and Madam Zhuang, along with her younger sister, had lived. The furnishings in the house were also kept exactly as they were when Madam Zhuang was alive. She still remembered when Madam Zhuang first fell ill, her father rested in the study, while she and her younger sister stayed here to accompany their mother. Her father's arrangement felt as if their mother were still alive, merely delayed by some matter, and she had to take her younger sister to rest first.
She smiled and bid her father and Madam Li goodnight, then took Zhou Shaojin to the upper courtyard, directing the maids and servants to open the trunks and arrange the furnishings.
Zhou Zhen shook his head with a smile, then looked at Madam Li, his gaze noticeably gentler than usual. Softly, he said, "You've also worked hard these past few days. Rest early. I'll come over after speaking with Ma Fushan and Li Changgui."
Madam Li, quiet and virtuous, smiled and replied, "Yes," then allowed Mama Li to support her to the study.
Mama Li felt wronged on behalf of her young lady but dared not show it in the slightest.
When the marriage with the Zhou family was arranged, Zhou Zhen had made it clear: he had been married before, and his reasons for remarrying were, first, to have heirs, and second, in the hope that his new wife would treat his two daughters from his previous marriage well. At the time, her own master and mistress had both agreed, even prepared to bring the two Zhou young ladies to their official residence and treat them with the utmost respect. Unexpectedly, the Cheng family refused to let them go, so her young lady did not have to become a stepmother before even entering the household. However, if Zhou Zhen's previous wife had left behind two sons, or even one son, her own master and mistress might not have agreed so readily to marry their daughter into the family.
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Sisters, today's update.
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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