Zhоu Shаоjin аnd thе others соuldn't hеlр but shоw surprise on thеir fаces.
Qin Ziрing, howevеr, соuld hаrdlу сontain his jоy, raising his voice eхсitedlу: "Old Маdаm, Fоurth Mаstеr, grеаt nеws, greаt news! The еldеst mastеr has been рromotеd to Ministеr оf Ritеs аnd Grаnd Sесretarу оf the Wеnhuа Нall!"
"Rеallу?" Еven though Оld Мadаm Guo had eхperienсеd сountlеss events, she wаs still stаrtlеd by this nеws аnd соuldn't hеlр reреating, "Is it truе? Who did уou heаr it from?"
Qin Ziрing wаvеd the lеttеr in his hаnd аnd said, "Old Mаdam, it was sent from Jinling—the whоle city оf Jinling knows. Thе pаtriаrch оf the second branch has already opened the ancestral hall to offer sacrifices to the ancestors!"
Old Madam Guo sneered, "He certainly knows how to put on a show. My son is still with me in Hangzhou Prefecture. What right does he have to take the lead?"
Qin Ziping dared not respond to this remark.
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "Why bother getting angry with him over such trivial matters? In the eyes of outsiders, we are one family. Now that eldest brother has been appointed as a grand secretary and entered the cabinet, it is only right for him to lead the family in offering sacrifices to the ancestors. No matter what, it is our eldest branch that takes the lead. No matter how many underhanded tricks he pulls, it won't make a difference. The second branch will have their day of reckoning soon enough!"
Only then did Old Madam Guo's expression brighten slightly.
Cheng Chi glanced at Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin was both shocked and delighted.
With Cheng Jing entering the cabinet ahead of schedule, the fate of the Cheng family had undergone a small change, hadn't it?
Next, she only needed to gain Uncle Chi's trust—either to speak directly with Cheng Jing or to have her words relayed to him—and the Cheng family could avoid the fate of being raided and exterminated. She could then rescue the fourth branch from peril, making her rebirth worthwhile!
Zhou Shaojin clasped her hands together and chanted "Amitabha" toward the west.
Cheng Chi's lips curved slightly into a smile.
It was evident that this outcome had also pleased the young girl.
This little girl had played no small part in eldest brother's smooth entry into the cabinet this time.
Although they had worried that Shen Minzhi might speak on Huang Li's behalf, the Yuan and Cheng families had always acted in unison. This opportunity was too rare to miss, and Cheng Jing's entry into the cabinet would only benefit Yuan Weichang, not harm him. They had assumed that even if the Yuan family didn't help the Cheng family, they would at least remain silent during this critical moment. Unexpectedly, Yuan Weichang was determined to repay Shen Minzhi's favor, even if it meant allowing Huang Li to rise.
But where had she heard this news from?
If it was from Zhou Zhen, their eldest branch would have to repay this favor. If it was from someone else... then let the little maid repay this debt of gratitude!
Because of this sudden piece of good news, Old Madam Guo was overjoyed and rewarded everyone serving by her side, including Madam Wang, each receiving two gold ingots engraved with the phrase "rising step by step."
Madam Wang was delighted and said to Zhou Shaojin, "I'm going to keep these two gold ingots for when my grandson takes the imperial examinations. I'll place them in his exam basket for good luck."
Zhou Shaojin smiled faintly and took out the two gold ingots she had received from Old Madam Guo, saying, "If you think they're suitable, consider this my way of offering a borrowed gift to your grandson."
Madam Wang was overjoyed and thanked her repeatedly. Seizing the opportunity, she probed Zhou Shaojin: "...Second Cousin, your family must also be officials, right? Otherwise, how could you carry yourself with such grace?"
Perhaps because she had lived with the Cheng family for so long, Zhou Shaojin had never thought her own family was anything remarkable.Chunwan, who had entered carrying tea and snacks, spoke with evident pride, "Of course. Our master is a Jinshi graduate from both imperial examinations, a fourth-rank prefect. According to Old Madam An, our master will sooner or later serve as an official in the capital. Have you heard of the Liao family of Zhenjiang? Our eldest son-in-law is the eldest grandson of the main branch of the Liao family in Zhenjiang—also a family of officials and scholars for generations..."
Zhou Shaojin didn’t much like Chunwan discussing family matters with someone not well acquainted, so she called out with a smile, "Chunwan, you talk too much! Hurry and bring the tea over. We’ve been talking for so long, our mouths are parched!"
Chunwan smiled sheepishly and quickly served tea to both of them.
Zhou Shaojin then asked Madam Wang about the purpose of her visit.
Madam Wang had simply noticed Zhou Shaojin alone and wanted to get acquainted, without any particular matter in mind. But since Zhou Shaojin asked, she couldn’t say so directly. After thinking for a moment, she replied with a smile, "Must Second Miss return to Jinling City in a few days? Our manager specially went to Tianmu Mountain to find a pot of black chrysanthemum, a pot of Dayipin, and a pot of Liujiao Dahong for you. Though they may not compare to the Ten Scholars, they are still quite rare. However, these plants have been kept in a greenhouse by Master Miao Wu. The manager was afraid they might not adapt well if moved abruptly, so he had Master Miao Wu transfer them from the greenhouse, planning to send them over once the plants harden a bit... I wonder if there will be enough time?"
Dayipin is a type of orchid, ranked first among the eight famous orchid varieties, while Liujiao Dahong is a type of camellia, also considered a rare treasure.
Zhou Shaojin was inwardly astonished by the manager’s capabilities. However, having tended to flowers and plants at her estate in Daxing, she had seen these varieties before. Dayipin, in particular, is a prized orchid that enthusiasts often try to cultivate. If she were to start gardening again, she might well succeed in growing it herself.
"Once the date is set, it’s not easy to change," Zhou Shaojin said with a smile. "Please convey my thanks to the manager. If I have the chance to visit Hangzhou again in the future, I’ll trouble him to find me some fine flowers and plants."
Madam Wang had only mentioned it casually.
Since the flowers had already been obtained, they would simply present them. Whether the flowers lived or died, their goodwill had been shown, and it would no longer concern them.
Madam Wang chatted cheerfully with Zhou Shaojin about her recent experiences.
※
In Old Madam Guo’s inner chamber, Cheng Chi was whispering to his mother, "...Regardless of what the Yuan family thinks, Eldest Brother’s disappointment is understandable. I think this might not be such a bad thing. Back then, Cheng Xu kept suppressing Eldest Brother, leaving him with no choice but to ally with Madam Yuan. However, humble families have their advantages—at least they are simpler in structure, making it easier to change course when needed. Great families also have their troubles; when decisions need to be made, everyone with any standing steps forward to voice their opinion, and by the time a conclusion is reached, it’s often too late. I think Eldest Brother should take this opportunity to gradually distance himself from Madam Yuan and establish connections with Song Jingran instead.
"If it comes to marriage alliances, I believe the Song family’s daughter is better than the Min family’s—Song Jingran has only this one daughter, while the Min family uses Jiashan’s future as a bargaining chip. That’s overly opportunistic. Even if they are willing to help Jiashan in his career later, the cost will likely be steep.""You and I are thinking along the same lines," Old Madam Guo said solemnly. "But you know your elder sister-in-law all too well. She always believes the Min family's children are exceptionally bright, and the young ladies of the Min family are famously known for being as scholarly as men, excelling in classical essays. Your sister-in-law thinks that marrying a Min family girl would at least ensure Jiashan's children aren't foolish. After all, I'm just the grandmother—it's not my place to override the parents' wishes in deciding Jiashan's marriage."
Cheng Chi chuckled. "Then let them be. Given Elder Brother's age, if his son doesn't succeed, he can always pin his hopes on his grandson."
"Nonsense," Old Madam Guo chided with a smile. "Your elder brother isn't young anymore, yet both Jiashan and Rang-ge are constant worries. It seems to me that our eldest branch has reached such a pinnacle of prosperity today that we've exhausted the good fortune of the next few generations."
Cheng Chi didn't respond.
His mother had two hopes: first, that he would marry soon so she could hold a grandchild; if that failed, then at least that he would take Cheng Rang under his wing to tutor him in his studies, nurturing another scholarly talent for the eldest branch.
He said, "Who knows what the future holds! Look at the two elders of the second branch—they schemed endlessly, yet what came of it? With so few descendants, they could only watch helplessly as their lineage declined. Mother, you should worry less from now on! It's just a pity Father passed away early; otherwise, you could have had a Grand Secretary for a husband and another for a son!"
Old Madam Guo knew where her son's grievances lay and didn't press further. Not wanting to spoil the harmonious atmosphere between them lately, she simply followed his lead and changed the subject. "Are you planning to go to the capital? Your elder brother has just taken up a post in the Ministry of Rites—I'm afraid he'll have many expenses..."
Cheng Chi interrupted his mother with a laugh. "That's just a matter of lacking silver! As long as the silver arrives, whether I go or not shouldn't matter much!"
"You child!" Old Madam Guo couldn't stand Cheng Chi's casual tone. "Don't you even want to see your elder brother?"
"No," Cheng Chi replied crisply. "If I were Elder Brother, I'd ally with Song Jingran. But I know for Sister-in-law's sake, he'll still be making eyes at the Yuan family. It irritates me to see it, so I'd rather not."
Old Madam Guo sighed deeply at this.
Cheng Chi stood up. "You should rest early too! Tomorrow we're going to watch the tidal bore."
"You get some sleep as well," Old Madam Guo said, dispirited by the constant friction between her eldest and youngest sons. "Your elder brother entering the Grand Secretariat is still a good thing. At least it'll make your business dealings more convenient."
"That's true," Cheng Chi said offhandedly, soothing his mother as he left the main room.
The western wing was still lit.
Cheng Chi asked Lang Yue, "Has Second Cousin not retired yet?"
Lang Yue smiled. "Madam Wang was talking in Second Cousin's room and just left."
Cheng Chi thought for a moment. "Go tell Granny Shang to check if Second Cousin has retired. If not, I have a few words to ask her."
Lang Yue dashed off to fetch Granny Shang.
Zhou Shaojin had just finished washing up, with Chunwan and Bitao drying her hair with towels. Hearing Cheng Chi wanted to see her, she hastily tied her hair into a simple bun and stepped out of her room.
Cheng Chi was standing by the willow tree in the corridor of the courtyard.Seeing Zhou Shaojin's hair still wet, he said, "The evening breeze is cool. Why did you come out without drying your hair properly?"
Zhou Shaojin couldn't very well say she didn't dare keep him waiting, so she just smiled awkwardly.
Cheng Chi glanced around and said, "Then let's talk in your room!"
Zhou Shaojin understood that Cheng Chi was worried she might catch a chill from the wind while her hair was wet. Considering her room was tidy and presentable, she agreed with a smile and led Cheng Chi to her side chamber.
Chunwan served tea and snacks, then quietly withdrew, standing guard at the door with Lang Yue.
Only Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Chi remained in the quiet room.
Cheng Chi then said, "If the person who gave you the information has any demands, you must remember to tell me. After all, it's our eldest branch that benefits from this. Don't foolishly think it's just a minor matter and trouble your father with it, putting him in a difficult position!"
※
Sisters, today's update.
Tomorrow's additional update will still be around five in the afternoon.
o(n_n)o~
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote to recommend it or cast monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
!!
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