Zhоu Shаоjin naturally hаd nо idea thаt she and Fаn Qi hаd аlrеаdу caught Сheng Chi's attention. During the Lаntеrn Festivаl, she hаd оriginаllу plаnnеd tо gо оut with Chеng Jia to admirе thе lantеrns. Howevеr, as the sеcond brаnсh's Оld Маdаm Тang was hоsting а banquеt fоr sеverаl widowеd оld madams, аnd Zhоu Chujin nеeded to оversee thе hоusеhold аffairs of the fоurth brаnсh, Zhou Shаоjin hаd nо сhоicе but tо aсcоmpanу Old Маdаm Guan tо thе gаthеring.
Cheng Jia, lеft with no companiоn for the lantеrn festival, dеcidеd tо aсcompany her own grandmother, Old Madam Li, to the second branch.
The banquet at the second branch was held at Longevity Hall, where Old Madam Tang resided. This was Zhou Shaojin's first visit. Upon entering, she saw two bronze cranes taller than a person, surrounded by potted green pines of various shapes, all with gnarled roots and towering heights.
The maid who came to greet her was about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a snow-white oval face and a red bean-sized mole at the corner of her mouth. Noticing Zhou Shaojin glancing at the potted plants a few times, she said with a hint of pride, "Is this the first time you've seen so many tall potted plants gathered together, Second Cousin? These were all cultivated by our Old Madam."
During the Bathing the Buddha Festival on the eighth day of the fourth month last year, this same maid had been attending to Old Madam Tang. She seemed to be called "Yu'er" and held some standing in front of Old Madam Tang.
Seeing her looking at people sideways, Zhou Shaojin felt displeased and replied with a faint smile, "Indeed, this is the first time I've seen so many tall potted plants gathered together. Why not place them in the greenhouse? Potted plants are meant to be decorative accents. Seeing them all piled up like this, I thought there was no space left. It crossed my mind that the second branch only has Cousin Yi's family, yet they occupy the Spring Marsh Courtyard and Paulownia Flower Tower in the outer compound. Meanwhile, our fourth branch, besides Cousins Gao and Yi, also houses us two sisters, yet we never felt cramped..."
The implication was that the second branch lacked propriety, not even knowing how to properly arrange potted plants.
Yu'er felt both ashamed and indignant, her face instantly flushing bright red.
Originally, only a few pots had been arranged here in an orderly manner. However, as visitors praised the potted plants for being well-cultivated and grand, Old Madam Tang was very pleased. Yu'er took it upon herself to gradually move several pots from the greenhouse here. Most visitors, like Zhou Shaojin, would glance at them a few times, and Old Madam Tang never commented. Yu'er had been quite proud of this, never expecting to be looked down upon by Zhou Shaojin in such a manner.
"Thank you, Second Cousin, for teaching her a lesson." As soon as Zhou Shaojin finished speaking, a tall maid lifted the curtain and walked out, smiling warmly. "I've told her several times, but she paid no heed. Now that she's encountered an expert in arrangement, she knows better, doesn't she?"
The last sentence was directed at Yu'er.
Zhou Shaojin had also seen this maid a few times before.
She was Qing'er, the top-ranking senior maid serving Old Madam Tang.
Hearing Qing'er's words, Yu'er shot a glance at Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin felt a chill in her heart.
Yu'er's gaze actually held a flicker of resentment.
Zhou Shaojin grew even more displeased with the second branch.
However, since the second branch and the main branch were ultimately destined to fall out, and she was currently helping Old Madam Guo copy scriptures at Cold Green Mountain House, even if she wanted to stay out of it, others would see her as aligned with the main branch. Given this, even if she begged for mercy, the second branch likely wouldn't spare her. Moreover, her lack of stance would only bring disgrace to the main branch.After all, she was just a granddaughter of the fourth branch, surnamed Zhou and not Cheng. At worst, she could just leave. Why bother paying attention to the disdainful glances of these little maids? Her father treasured her like a precious jewel, not to let these people trample over her.
"I wouldn't call myself an expert in landscaping," Zhou Shaojin said with a gentle smile, though her tone was not the least bit polite. "I just enjoy fiddling with flowers and plants. When I see something that doesn't sit right with me, I can't help but take a few more glances. I'm afraid I've made a fool of myself in front of you two."
Qing'er was somewhat surprised.
She had long heard that the second young miss of the Zhou family from the fourth branch was timid and weak. She hadn't expected the rumors to be wrong, causing her to misjudge.
"Thank you for your guidance, Second Cousin!" she immediately changed her attitude, stepping forward respectfully to greet Old Madam Guan with a smile. "Our Old Madam is waiting for you inside! Later, I'll bring Yu'er to apologize to you, Second Cousin."
Old Madam Guan chuckled and said, "Young maidservants don't know any better and just gossip. You can discipline them when you go back. As for apologizing to Shaojin, if this matter reaches your Old Madam, I'm afraid Yu'er won't have an easy time. You two are like sisters, so you should look out for her."
Truly, ginger is spicier when it's old!
Zhou Shaojin was greatly impressed.
Qing'er hadn't expected Old Madam Guan to say such words. Startled, she hurriedly smiled and said, "Our Old Madam is indeed generous and kind. Yu'er, hurry up and thank Old Madam and Second Cousin."
Yu'er was also quite a character, immediately stepping forward with tears in her eyes to apologize to Zhou Shaojin and Old Madam Guan.
Old Madam Guan smiled kindly and, supported by Zhou Shaojin, entered the room.
But as soon as they stepped inside, Old Madam Guan's smile faded.
Zhou Shaojin's heart sank. Qing'er had already announced loudly, "The Old Madam of the fourth branch has arrived," so Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to hide her thoughts.
Although Old Madam Tang wore a smile all over her face, her shrewd, penetrating eyes still made her appear somewhat aggressive.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin supporting Old Madam Guan, she joked with a smile, "You're so fortunate to have a granddaughter who accompanies you wherever you go. Not like me—I can't even find someone to play cards with."
Zhou Shaojin merely smiled without speaking.
Old Madam Guan patted Zhou Shaojin's hand and said, "My granddaughter is indeed very well-behaved, but Shi Da Nainai is also quite good."
"That's true, that's true," Old Madam Tang laughed. "Not to mention anything else, just seeing those two great-grandsons melts my heart. As for the Old Ancestor, he can hardly wait for the wet nurse to bring them over for him to see every day." As the two spoke, they walked further inside. "I heard your Gao Ge'er and Yi Ge'er both stayed in Pukou? Our clan school is one of the best in all of Jinling."
The implication was that the fourth branch was choosing a distant option over a nearby one.
"Gao Ge'er is just accompanying his mother to visit relatives," Old Madam Guan said, sitting down with the help of a little maid. "As you know, our Yi Ge'er isn't as obedient as his older brother, so we left him there. Studying is secondary; the main thing is to discipline his temperament."
Old Madam Tang nodded. "When children grow up, they can't be kept cooped up at home like little birds. They need to go out more. As for our Shi Ge'er, I told the Old Ancestor he should also be allowed to go out and move around."
Could it be that they want to go to the capital? Is that why they invited several Old Madams for a meal during the Lantern Festival?
Zhou Shaojin pondered this in her heart as Old Madam Guo arrived.Her expression was haughty, and accompanied by the two maidservants Biyu and Feicui, her very presence gave off a feeling of splendor gracing a humble abode.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Old Madam Guo was always so dazzling, no matter the occasion!
She stepped forward to pay her respects to Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo smiled, took her hand, and looked her up and down with a smile before saying to Old Madam Guan, "Is it because I haven't seen Shaojin for a few days, or has she grown another year older after the New Year? I feel like she seems to have grown a bit taller!"
Really?
In her previous life, Zhou Shaojin had always regretted being shorter than her elder sister.
She lowered her head to examine her clothes.
They didn't seem shorter!
Just as Zhou Shaojin felt somewhat disheartened, she heard Old Madam Guan laugh and say, "She's always right in front of my eyes, so I haven't noticed. You haven't seen her for a few days, so you should be able to tell better than I can."
Old Madam Guo smiled and nodded.
Old Madam Li arrived with Cheng Jia.
After everyone exchanged greetings, the several elderly ladies sat down to chat.
Zhou Shaojin was fine, but Cheng Jia couldn't sit still, fidgeting like a monkey. Worried she might feel wronged, Old Madam Li sent her and Zhou Shaojin out for a walk: "...so we can have a few words in peace."
Cheng Jia unceremoniously pulled Zhou Shaojin out of the hall.
Yu'er and several other maidservants were moving the potted pine trees.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin come out, she pretended not to notice and turned her head away.
Cheng Jia didn't notice anything unusual and pulled Zhou Shaojin along, critiquing the potted plants: "...that one is top-heavy and unattractive. That pot is even uglier—they don't even know to place a small stone by the protruding roots, which would add a touch of 'leisurely seeing the southern mountains' charm. And that one, since they've already placed Taihu stones, why not plant a few small grasses?"
Zhou Shaojin felt that offering them advice would only benefit the second branch, so she smiled and said, "Since when have you been interested in this? After the start of spring, all the flowers in my place need repotting. Would you like to come over and take a look?"
"Sure!" Both Cheng Jia and Zhou Shaojin liked flowers and plants; Cheng Jia enjoyed telling others how to arrange them, while Zhou Shaojin preferred doing it herself.
As the two discussed flowers and plants, Madam Hong, the wife of Uncle Jing, arrived.
After speaking gently and kindly with Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Jia for a few words, she went inside to attend to the elderly ladies.
Cheng Jia smiled and said, "I wonder if Sister-in-law Shi will come? I'd like to see the two nephews she gave birth to—they're both so beautiful."
Zhou Shaojin remained silent, thinking that if she were Old Madam Tang and wanted to ask the eldest branch for help in introducing Cheng Shi to scholars in the capital, she wouldn't have Sister-in-law Shi bring her two children here to provoke Old Madam Guo.
Sure enough, Sister-in-law Shi never appeared until the banquet ended. Instead, when leaving, Old Madam Guan turned back and gave a disdainful smile in the direction of the second branch.
Zhou Shaojin thought for a moment and said, "Does Old Madam Tang want Cousin Shi to study at the Imperial College?"
Old Madam Guan was silent for a moment before asking, "How did you know?"
"I guessed," Zhou Shaojin replied with a smile. "Although Cousin Shi could also use the name card of the second branch's ancestor to study at the Imperial College, Cousin Shi's purpose in studying there isn't just to pass the imperial examinations. More importantly, he hopes to make friends who can lend him a helping hand, so Uncle Jing's recommendation from the eldest branch is crucial. Just now, when Old Madam Tang mentioned Cousin Yi, you remained silent, so I guessed that Old Madam Tang might be trying to use the Lantern Festival banquet as an opportunity to bring this matter up with Old Madam Guo."Old Madam Guan was astonished, and it took her a long moment before she said, "Shao Jin, I’ve always thought you were immature, but I never expected you to understand such things—you’re even stronger than your sister! When your sister was your age, she only knew who treated her well and who didn’t. If someone was good to her, she would respond in kind; if someone wasn’t, she would react accordingly..."
Zhou Shaojin felt ashamed.
That was because she had lived two lifetimes, gaining more experience than others!
"So, did Old Madam Guo agree?" she hurriedly asked.
※
Sisters, here’s today’s bonus update!
o(n_n)o Haha
The afternoon update is estimated to be around nine o’clock.
※ (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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