Whilе Zhоu Shаojin was busy сhаnging her maidsеrvants, Mаdаm Zhеng, thе wifе оf Cheng Shi, sаt upright before her dressing tаblе, her fаcе еtсhеd with weаrinеss.
Ноngrui brоught in a bоwl of fermentеd riсe with рoachеd eggs and sоftly advisеd Маdаm Zhеng: "Тhе young mаstеr is onlу ninе mоnths old. If уou kееp eхhаusting yоurself like this, yоur health will suffer! Веsidеs, the Оld Ancestоr аnd thе Old Маdаmе bоth hоpе уou сan сontinue tо eхраnd the Сhеng fаmilу lineage. Yоu must take good cаre of yоurself!"
Mаdam Zhеng smilеd bitterlу.
Gazing at her plump, fair face in the mirror, clad in a somewhat dated crimson silk vest, she sighed helplessly: "I have no choice. The tasks assigned by the Old Madame must be carried out." Turning around and seeing no one else in the room, she lowered her voice: "In my opinion, this really isn't the time to provoke the Eldest Branch. But the Old Madame also has a point. If we don't take the chance to break one of the Eldest Branch's arms while the Old Ancestor is still here, once Cheng Jiashan gains influence and the Eldest Branch fully supports him, where will that leave our master? If our master wants to establish himself in the Cheng family, he'll have no choice but to support Cheng Jiashan like a green leaf. Think about it—our master is such a proud man. Asking him to assist Cheng Jiashan would be worse than killing him!"
"When that time comes, the only path left for our master will be a life of melancholy and unfulfilled ambitions."
"So I think, since things have already come to this, it can't get much worse anyway. The Old Madame has experienced countless trials. Listening to her might just lead us to a way out!"
"Besides, we still have the Old Ancestor backing us. If things really go wrong, the Old Ancestor just needs to step in and call it 'nonsense,' and that will settle it. What I'm afraid of now is..." She abruptly stopped speaking.
Hongrui asked in confusion: "What are you afraid of?"
Madam Zheng feared that when the time came, all the blame would fall on her.
Although she and Cheng Shi were husband and wife, she wasn't confident that Cheng Shi would defy his parents for her sake.
Fortunately, she had two sons, both of whom held the status of legitimate eldest sons. If her reputation were tarnished, her sons' standing and futures would also be affected. She could only hope that the Old Madame, for the sake of the two children, would clear her name when the time came... or at least protect her.
But she couldn't say this to Hongrui.
Madam Zheng paused, then said: "I'm afraid of angering the Eldest Branch so much that they turn against us."
Hongrui breathed a sigh of relief and said: "But you can't disobey the Old Madame either!"
"Exactly!" Madam Zheng sighed. "It's a pity I don't even know why we're at odds with the Eldest Branch. Otherwise, I'd be willing to make concessions and apologize for the sake of my two sons."
The reason the Third Branch had never been able to shake off its merchant reputation was because of the combined suppression by the Eldest and Second Branches.
If the Eldest Branch repeated its old tactics, that would be troublesome.
But these were all long-standing grievances. Even if she tried to investigate, she wouldn't find anything conclusive. Perhaps the truth would only be revealed by the Old Ancestor on her deathbed.
Hongrui naturally didn't dare ask any further questions.
She said: "Madam, please drink this fermented rice quickly. It won't taste good if it gets cold."
Madam Zheng nodded, picked up the bowl and took a few sips, then absentmindedly set it down again. "Has the master written any letters?"
"Not yet," Hongrui replied with a smile. "Didn't you just receive a letter from the master a couple of days ago? I doubt there will be another one so soon!"
Madam Zheng's spirits sank even further.Hongrui advised, "Didn't the Old Ancestor say? She has already entrusted her former good friend to take care of the young master. The young master will be fine, you needn't worry."
Madam Shi, however, frowned. "I just can't shake this feeling of unease. Logically, we should be keeping an eye on Cheng Jiashan, but why do I feel the Old Ancestor is more concerned about Fourth Master Chi? It's as if... as if controlling Fourth Master Chi means the main branch is hardly worth fearing... I don't know if this feeling is right or not... I wish I could discuss it with the young master. Initially, I just wanted Old Anren to embarrass the main branch, and since Cold Green Mountain House has been favoring the second young lady from the fourth branch lately, I thought I'd casually slight her to make the main branch lose face. But I never expected the Old Ancestor to find out and send Aunt Liang to inquire about the poetry gathering... If I had done wrong, the Old Ancestor might not scold me directly, but she would have gently hinted at it; if I had done right, she should have hinted at that too. Yet she said nothing at all. Could it be she's afraid I might leak information? I'm quite confused now and don't know what the right thing to do is!"
Hongrui hesitated, "Perhaps... you could write another letter to the young master and see what he says?"
Madam Shi remained silent for a long time.
She had tried sounding out Old Anren, but Old Anren only evaded her questions, and she couldn't press too urgently. After all these years, even if her mother-in-law was somewhat muddled, she should know at least a little about the grievances between the two families. And since her husband always respected Old Anren, rather than risk alerting Old Anren by writing to her husband, she might as well try to coax some information out of her mother-in-law.
Having made up her mind, her mood lightened, and she instructed Hongrui, "Don't worry about this matter anymore. I have my own plans."
Hongrui breathed a sigh of relief.
She had served Madam Shi since childhood, and their bond was naturally special, but when it came to family secrets like this, the less she knew, the better.
※
In Jia Shu Hall, Old Madam Guan, Madam Mian, and Cheng Mian sat facing each other in silence, the atmosphere heavy.
After pondering for a moment, Old Madam Guan said to her son and daughter-in-law, "I think we should discuss this with Shaojin. That child is thoughtful. If not for her words reminding us, we wouldn't have realized how serious the situation has become."
Cheng Mian quickly stood up. "Then I'll return to my study first."
As the head of the household, his presence would carry a different meaning if his mother wanted to speak with Zhou Shaojin.
Old Madam Guan nodded.
Madam Mian saw her husband out and immediately ordered a young maid to summon the Zhou sisters.
Old Madam Guan closed her eyes to rest, slowly counting the beads of her eighteen-piece agarwood prayer bracelet. Only when Zhou Shaojin and her sister arrived did Old Madam Guan open her eyes, signaling Madam Mian to close the door. She spoke plainly, "Shao Jin, I had the household steward investigate the main branch's public income. According to one of the accountants, the public income from Nine Prosperities Lane is two thousand taels of silver per year, with only five hundred taels from the ancestral fields. The rest of the income comes from a lacquerware shop on Dashi Street outside Tianjie Temple. This shop was acquired when the main, second, and third branches divided the family assets. After Fourth Master took charge of affairs, the main branch became a major shareholder of Yutai Bank and began dealing in salt certificates and maritime shipping. That's when their fortunes gradually improved."
Zhou Shaojin looked puzzled.Old Madam Guan now held Zhou Shaojin's words in high regard, saying, "There are no outsiders here, so speak your mind freely."
Only then did Zhou Shaojin ask, "Then do you know how much the annual dividend from Yutai Bank is?"
"Your eldest uncle has gone to investigate," Old Madam Guan replied. "Our branch receives five thousand taels each year, while the eldest branch receives ten thousand taels annually."
"That's impossible!" Zhou Shaojin thought of the furnishings in Cold Green Mountain House. "The Guo family also suffered losses back then. When Old Madam Guo married into the family, the Guo family couldn't have provided her with a large dowry, and Uncle Chi couldn't have used Madam Yuan's dowry either. Even if the eldest branch's annual income is twelve thousand taels of silver, just look at their daily expenses—it doesn't seem like they've become wealthy only in recent years... Not to mention anything else, just consider the few pieces of jewelry Old Madam Guo rewarded me with. Each one is a masterpiece, something ordinary families could pass down as heirlooms. Even with money, such items couldn't be bought at any time; they must have been preserved or acquired long ago."
Madam Mian couldn't help but nod repeatedly, her gaze toward Zhou Shaojin filled with even more admiration. "Your eldest uncle shares your suspicion—that the eldest branch has another source of income. But this income simply cannot be traced. If we assume it came from assets acquired after the eldest branch's old master entered official service, how much silver would he have had to embezzle to accumulate such wealth? Yet the eldest branch's old master was famously incorruptible, a fact acknowledged by all officials who served alongside him. If someone embezzles, there must be evidence, right? You might deceive one person, but not everyone."
"That's why your eldest uncle also investigated the second and third branches' assets."
"The second branch, apart from the estates and shops received during the division of the family, hasn't acquired any other properties over the years. Yet they are the biggest client of Yongfusheng, the largest silver shop in the capital. Every year, Yongfusheng sends its head manager to pay respects to the family matriarch. Even when a steward from the second branch goes to the capital on business, Yongfusheng dispatches a manager-level person to accompany them."
"The third branch is the complete opposite. Not only have they expanded the pharmacy they received during the division into a large chain with thirteen branches, but they also own restaurants, pawnshops, oil presses, pastry shops... It's quite a mix, covering almost every profitable industry."
"Your eldest uncle believes that if such income truly exists, it must be shared between the eldest and second branches, with no share for the third branch. Moreover, this income is almost certainly controlled by Fourth Master Chi, who manages the family's affairs."
"Now, with the second branch declining and the eldest branch flourishing like flowers adorned with brocade, and with both Youyi and Jiashan reaching the age where substantial funds are needed, the second branch likely fears the eldest branch will monopolize this income. That's probably why conflicts have arisen between them."
"Since this income cannot be traced, we don't know whether the eldest branch has done something to cause the second branch's suspicions or if the second branch is simply being overly anxious and speculating wildly..."
As Madam Mian's lips moved, Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin were left utterly stunned, unable to regain their composure for a long time. Especially Zhou Shaojin, whose heart surged with turmoil, unable to calm down for quite some time.
What other secrets did the Cheng family hold?
Was the Cheng family's confiscation related to these secrets?
The five families of Nine Prosperities Lane were supposed to be united in voice and spirit—why would the eldest and second branches hide things from the other three?
Suddenly, Zhou Shaojin felt a surge of discontent.When it's time to enjoy blessings, the eldest and second branches only think of themselves, but when hardship strikes, the fourth branch has to suffer alongside them—how can things be so convenient!
This time, she must ensure the fourth branch is spared.
Otherwise, everyone will end up in trouble together!
Moreover, saving just the fourth branch is much easier than saving the entire Nine Prosperities Lane.
She said, "Grandmother, since that's the case, why don't we move out? Nine Prosperities Lane is too complicated—I’m afraid our fourth branch will suffer!"
※
Sisters, here’s today’s extra update.
PS: I went to work today, and a colleague asked if I’d made Laba porridge. Only then did I realize Laba Festival had already passed… Writing feels like living as a caveman—I celebrate holidays with the characters in the book… 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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