Оld Маdam Guan сhuсklеd аnd sаid, "Since the sесond branсh has pеорlе tо tаke cаre of it, we won’t add to thе еxсitemеnt. Whеn thе timе cоmеs, I’ll bring mу dаughtеr-in-law, grаndson, and granddаughtеrs alоng." Old Madаm Guo smiled аnd began disсussing thе аrrаngеmеnts fоr the Bаthing Вuddha Fеstivаl with Оld Mаdam Guаn.
Zhоu Shaojin, hоwеver, fеlt rather gloоmy.
Could shе find аn еxсuse not to gо?
Вut if shе reаllу mаdе uр аn eхсuse, wоuld Old Мadam Guо suspесt thаt the fоurth brаnсh, likе the third branch, wаs playing both sides?
Shе felt a heаdachе cоming оn.
Thе Cheng family was truly complicated!
If she ever married in the future, she would never marry into a family like the Cheng family.
Thinking of this, she grew somewhat dazed.
What would become of her in the future?
If she met Madam Yuan later, should she greet her or simply smile and stand quietly behind her grandmother?
Zhou Shaojin listened absentmindedly as the two elderly ladies chatted, but even by the time lunch was served, Madam Yuan had not appeared.
Hadn’t Madam Yuan told her before that even in her forties, she still had to follow etiquette in front of her mother-in-law?
Could it be that she had been fooling her back then?
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but give a bitter smile.
Returning to Jia Shu Hall, her grandmother reminded her a few more times to "be obedient" and "be good" before being attended by Si’er for her afternoon rest. Zhou Shaojin went back to Fragrant Garden Residence, and when Zhou Chujin returned, she naturally asked about her visit to Cold Green Mountain House. Zhou Shaojin answered each question in detail. Zhou Chujin exclaimed, "Even the maids are raised like young ladies. Old Madam Guo truly spares no expense!" She then teased Shi Xiang, "You’ll be going there to serve Shaojin later. Aren’t you afraid?"
"Why should I be afraid?" Shi Xiang brewed a pot of Maojian tea for the Zhou sisters. "I’m going to serve the second young lady, not to compete with the sisters at Cold Green Mountain House. If they have good qualities, I’ll learn from them. If they have flaws, I’ll simply pretend not to see them."
"Oh!" Zhou Chujin laughed. "I never expected you, little girl, to have such insight."
Shi Xiang giggled.
They chatted for a while before dispersing.
The next day, Zhou Chujin continued learning household management with Madam Mian, while Zhou Shaojin stayed home to help her sister finish making summer clothes.
A few days passed like this, and soon it was the eighth day of the fourth lunar month.
In the end, she couldn’t find an excuse not to go. Before dawn, she got up with her sister, washed and dressed, and headed to Jia Shu Hall.
Old Madam Guan was already awake, and the entire main room was brightly lit. Madam Mian was in the hall checking the utensils and refreshments for the outing. Seeing the Zhou sisters enter, she took a moment to greet them: "Have you had breakfast yet? The old lady is having hers now. Would you two like something extra?" "We’ve already eaten," the sisters replied. After paying their respects to Old Madam Guan, Zhou Chujin went to the hall and skillfully helped Madam Mian inventory the items for the outing. Seeing she couldn’t be of much help, Zhou Shaojin stayed in the room with Si’er and others to assist Old Madam Guan with her hair.
Since Old Madam Guan had chosen a lake-blue silk robe with a roundel pattern of five bats holding the character for longevity to wear for the Buddhist ceremony, Zhou Shaojin helped her pick a sapphire-blue forehead band inlaid with white chalcedony and a double-stranded gold hairpin inlaid with kingfisher feathers, engraved with the phrase "May All Your Wishes Come True."
Old Madam Guan praised her choices, saying "Excellent," and sent a young maid to check the west side gate—as per Old Madam Guo’s suggestion, they had agreed to meet at the west side gate at mao hour and then proceed together to Ganquan Temple.
The young maid hurried off to the west side gate.
Madam Mian seized the time to finish packing.By the time the little maid returned, Madam Mian had also finished preparing.
"Everyone else hasn't arrived yet," the little maid said breathlessly, "but I saw the Third Branch's sedan chair on my way back."
That meant the Third Branch had arrived first.
Old Madam Guan smiled and said, "We're neither the earliest nor the latest, so let's go now!"
There were still three quarters of an hour left until the mao hour (5-7 a.m.).
Everyone responded with "Yes."
Zhou Chujin helped Old Madam Guan into the sedan chair. Zhou Shaojin, being thoughtful, followed her sister's example and went to assist Madam Mian.
Madam Mian was quite surprised, then showed a touch of emotion, quickly saying, "No need, no need. I can manage on my own."
Zhou Chujin hadn't expected this either, but she was pleased to see her sister gaining favor with the elders. She smiled and spoke up for Shaojin: "Aunt, please don't be polite. As a junior, it's only right for her to assist you."
Zhou Shaojin nodded with a smile, her expression very sincere.
Madam Mian nodded cheerfully, clearly delighted.
Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin followed the sedan chairs of Old Madam Guan and Madam Mian to the west side gate.
Indeed, the Third Branch had already arrived.
Old Madam Li of the Third Branch was sitting in the side hall next to the west gate, drinking tea. She wore a sapphire-blue robe with a roundel pattern of "ten thousand things as you wish" made of Hu silk, and her hair was adorned with a gold-inlaid "auspicious clouds embracing blessings" hairpin adorned with various jewels.
The morning sunlight shone upon her, dazzlingly brilliant, almost too bright for the eyes.
Zhou Shaojin's gaze, however, fell on Cheng Jia, who sat idly beside Old Madam Li, twisting her handkerchief.
Just like the girl in her memories, Cheng Jia pouted, her face full of displeasure, as if this brief wait had already exhausted all her patience.
Zhou Shaojin's heart ached slightly.
Cheng Jia was the cherished pearl of the Third Branch, never one to endure the slightest grievance. Even Cheng Sheng of the Eldest Branch would yield to her. In the years after her marriage, how had she managed to get by?
Could her early death be related to this?
Zhou Shaojin thought of the letter Cui Huan had sent her in her previous life.
Though it contained only a brief line—"Shao Jin, please forgive me"—it seemed to convey all her regret and sorrow.
Zhou Shaojin's eyes grew slightly moist.
Suddenly, the girl in the side hall turned her head.
Her eyes were bright, her teeth white, her skin and bones radiant. Dressed in a brocade-red robe woven with gold, she was like the blazing sun—fiery and brilliant.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but murmur softly, "Cheng Jia!"
But Cheng Jia snorted coldly, her nose in the air, and turned away angrily.
Just like in many past days and nights, when Zhou Shaojin had offended her.
For no apparent reason, Zhou Shaojin felt a weight lift from her heart. The vows she had once made—"keep a distance from Cheng Jia" and "interact less with Cheng Jia in the future"—were all forgotten. She couldn't help but smile.
As if sensing Zhou Shaojin's amusement, Cheng Jia turned her head back.
Then she glared fiercely at Zhou Shaojin.
In her previous life, Zhou Shaojin would have anxiously apologized without asking for a reason, inquiring why she was angry. But now, Zhou Shaojin remained calm, viewing Cheng Jia like a child unaware of the ways of the world, with a tolerance she herself hadn't realized she possessed.
She simply followed behind the elders with a smile.
Aside from Zhou Chujin, no one noticed the turbulent undercurrents between Cheng Jia and Zhou Shaojin. And Zhou Shaojin's unscathed demeanor kept Zhou Chujin silent.
The elders exchanged pleasantries with smiles and called the younger generation over to pay their respects.
Madam Wen of the Fifth Branch, née Sun, arrived.She wore a crimson robe woven with golden phoenix-tail medallions, a hair ornament of gold inlaid with a jadeite Guanyin, and large feathered flowers, all brilliantly embroidered and dazzling, making her powdered face appear even more haggard and pallid.
The fifth branch’s elderly master and mistress had passed away a few years earlier, one after the other, and now the fifth branch was managed by Cheng Wen and his wife, Madam Sun.
Supported by her maid as she stepped down from the sedan chair, she had not yet steadied herself before wearily massaging her temples. "Are we still going to Ganquan Temple this year?" she said. "That place is always noisy and chaotic, never giving anyone a moment of peace. Can’t we just choose somewhere else to worship?" Then, raising her voice, she called for her personal maid: "Xiang’er, quickly bring the rose-scented dew—I feel dizzy." She added with a complaint, "Why hasn’t the second branch arrived yet? Do we wait for them every year? If I’d known, I would have slept a little longer!"
Ever since she learned of Cheng Wen’s carousing outside, there had hardly been a moment when she wasn’t complaining.
The fourth branch pretended not to hear.
The third branch’s Old Madam Li had obeyed her mother-in-law when she was young. After her mother-in-law passed away, she had barely taken charge for a few days before being sidelined by her daughter-in-law, Madam Jiang, who brought a generous dowry and was both shrewd and capable. After several rounds of contention between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, each ended with Old Madam Li utterly defeated. Fortunately, Old Madam Li was clever; gritting her teeth, she simply let go, handing all internal affairs of the third branch over to Madam Jiang and never again involving herself in such trivial household matters, retreating instead to her widow’s residence, Siyongzhai, to live her own quiet life.
Hearing this, she narrowed her eyes and smiled, her plump, fair appearance resembling that of a Maitreya Buddha.
Cheng Jia, however, raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching slightly.
Zhou Shaojin could easily guess what she was muttering to herself.
In her previous life, Cheng Jia had more than once privately scorned Madam Wen: "Doesn’t she even look at her own background? Nothing pleases her, and everything falls short. If she were a young lady from a noble family, she’d probably even complain that the water in the Cheng family chokes her."
Madam Wen’s father had only served one term as a county deputy before falling ill and dying in office. It was said that when she married, her family exhausted every means to assemble only twenty-four chests of dowry. It was only because the fifth branch’s old mistress secretly sent two thousand taels of silver to pad her dowry that she was able to marry into the Cheng family with dignity.
In the past, Zhou Shaojin had also viewed Madam Wen this way. But her experiences across two lifetimes made her look back at Madam Wen now and feel only pity—if Cheng Wen had treated her well and lived harmoniously with her, how could she have become like this?
As Zhou Shaojin pondered, the first branch arrived.
Old Madam Guo wore a dark blue robe woven with silver crane-pattern medallions, her jet-black hair neatly coiled into a round bun, adorned with a dark blue forehead band set with a pigeon-egg-sized red coral.
She walked over unhurriedly, her straight back like a birch tree on the northern plateau, her chin slightly raised with an air of haughty disdain for the world.
Everyone in the flower hall hurried out to greet her, even Madam Wen of the fifth branch setting aside her look of discontent.
Old Madam Guo swept her gaze over those present. "Is everyone here?" Without waiting for an answer, she turned to ask Biyu beside her, "What time is it now?"
Biyu’s voice was soft and steady. "It is already the hour of mao."
"Since the time has come, let us depart," Old Madam Guo said indifferently, extending a hand maintained to be exquisitely fair and delicate, no less than that of a young woman.
Someone nearby stepped forward to support Old Madam Guo.Indigo phoenix-tail patterned sleeves, slender and delicate hands with distinct knuckles, pink nails shimmering with a pearlescent luster in the sunlight.
Zhou Shaojin lowered her head.
She would never forget these hands.
When they clutched an emerald handkerchief and pointed directly at her… when they slapped against the famille rose teacup on the rosewood table, making it clatter… when they struck her face, leaving her ears ringing… Those were the hands of Cheng Xu’s mother, Madam Yuan.
She would never mistake them!
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Dear sisters, regarding typos affecting readability—since I find it difficult to spot errors myself, I’ve asked fellow reader Xingxing Bing to help proofread. Due to time zone differences, sometimes only drafts can be posted first. I’ll try to save up a chapter in the coming days to resolve this issue.
Thank you all for your support and understanding.
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OpenNovel