Оld Madаm Guan thought fоr а mоmеnt аnd sаid, "Gao Gе'er's wedding is set for the tenth dау of thе ninth month nехt уеar. Frоm whаt thе Liао familу has hinted, Unclе Liаo рlans to takе the autumn imрerial ехаminаtiоn аnd wаnts to chооse а dаtе betwеen thе third, fоurth, and fifth months оf nеxt уear. Thеy will send somеоnе in a fеw days to finаlizе thе eхасt dаtе. Аlthough it’s gооd to hаve twо weddings in onе yеаr, with оne рrесеding the other, I think it wоuld be better to wait until аfter Gao Gе'er’s wedding is sеttled. Ву then, Shаojin will be a year older, and we can sit down with Uncle to properly discuss the matter of Shaojin and Yi Ge'er."
Madam Mian, who always respected her mother-in-law’s decisions, smiled and said, "By then, we’ll have most of our tasks wrapped up and can devote our attention to it. You’ve thought this through carefully."
Old Madam Guan smiled faintly and was about to say more when the Zhou sisters arrived, having changed their clothes. She quickly signaled her daughter-in-law with a glance, and the two stopped their conversation with a smile, leading the Zhou sisters to the Listening Rain Pavilion.
The members of the second and third branches had already gathered and were chatting with Madam Song.
Zhou Shaojin noticed that Madam Jiang appeared calm and composed, showing no signs of regret or anxiety over her daughter’s situation. She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
She wondered whether Madam Jiang was unaware of the seriousness of the matter or had already devised a perfect plan to handle Cheng Jia’s marriage. In contrast, Cheng Jia looked as wilted as a frostbitten eggplant, trailing listlessly beside her mother. Even when she smiled, her eyes betrayed a hint of sorrow, making Zhou Shaojin feel deeply sorry for her.
Once the banquet began, Zhou Shaojin was seated at the same table as Old Madam Guo and Madam Song. With elders like Old Madam Tang and Old Madam Li also present, Zhou Shaojin barely ate anything, spending most of her time attending to them. Even so, Madam Zheng, the wife of the eldest grandson, felt uneasy watching this.
She had thought that with Cheng Sheng away in the capital, she would naturally take the lead among the younger generation. Yet Old Madam Guo had brought Zhou Shaojin into the spotlight instead. Was Old Madam Guo doing this intentionally or unintentionally?
After lunch and tea, Old Madam Guo took Madam Song on a tour of Nine Prosperities Lane.
Zhou Shaojin accompanied them.
The first branch’s simple elegance, the second branch’s refined beauty, the third branch’s opulent grandeur, the fourth branch’s plain simplicity, and the fifth branch’s dazzling splendor all drew praise from Madam Song, who now truly appreciated the depth of the Cheng family’s heritage.
For dinner, Zhou Shaojin once again attended the main table.
After the meal, they went to the Four Seasons Pavilion to enjoy an evening opera.
Though it was winter, warm curtains hung everywhere, and lanterns illuminated the surroundings. Pink oleanders, white jade hairpin flowers, and bright red pomegranate blossoms bloomed in abundance, making it feel as though spring had arrived.
Madam Song couldn’t help but remark, "They say the noble families of Jiangnan are like oil fueling a blazing fire, or flowers adorned with brocade. Seeing it with my own eyes today, I finally believe it."
Old Madam Guo chuckled and said, "We owe this to you. If you hadn’t come, we wouldn’t have had an excuse to gather like this."
"It seems I should visit more often," Madam Song joked.
Madam Jiang chimed in, "This is winter. If you come in spring, you’ll see spring scenery; if you come in summer, you’ll see summer scenery. We only worry you won’t come."
"If I have the time, I’ll certainly come to visit you, Old Madam," Madam Song replied with a smile as everyone took their seats in the armchairs.
Biyu brought the opera program and invited Madam Song to choose a performance.Madam Song declined several times but ultimately could not refuse. She selected "A Dream in the Garden," while Old Madam Guo chose "Si Lang Visits His Mother." With these two operas alone, the performance was likely to last until midnight. Old Madam Tang and Old Madam Li, among others, tactfully refrained from making further selections.
On the stage, the gongs and drums began to clang and crash.
Zhou Shaojin arranged the tea and snacks brought by the maidservant on the small table beside Madam Song. At first, she explained to Madam Song which troupe was performing, who played the female lead, who played the supporting female roles, what other operas they had performed, and their standing in the theatrical circles of Jinling. As the opera gradually reached its climax and Madam Song became utterly captivated, Shaojin quietly replaced the tea and snacks, exchanged a glance with Cheng Jia, who was sitting nearby playing with her nails, and slipped downstairs.
Shortly after, Cheng Jia also came downstairs.
With a stern expression, she asked Zhou Shaojin, "What is it?"
She was likely still upset about Shaojin brushing her off the other day.
Zhou Shaojin gently tugged her hand.
Cheng Jia’s expression softened slightly, and she said, "Just say what you have to say. If you’re trying to comfort me, don’t bother. Anyway, I’m already like this—things can’t get any worse than they are now, and I’m not afraid of you laughing at me..." Her tone, however, had softened considerably.
Zhou Shaojin smiled.
Cheng Jia was always sharp-tongued but soft-hearted.
Shaojin said gently, "So, what are your plans for the future?"
Cheng Jia’s expression darkened. She lowered her head and said, "I don’t know. Mother says that after a while, people will forget. But being talked about like this... it’s really upsetting!"
Zhou Shaojin understood.
She patted Cheng Jia’s hand lightly and said, "Come to my room tonight! I’ve brought many things for you."
Cheng Jia nodded absentmindedly and returned upstairs.
But when she saw the gifts Zhou Shaojin had bought for her at Fragrant Garden Residence, she suddenly perked up: "Shao Jin, where did you buy these things? They’re so beautiful! Why didn’t you bring back more? And this set of combs—they’re actually painted with scenes from 'A Dream in the Garden'... How daring of them!" She pressed Shaojin, "You must have bought gifts for A Zhu and the Gu family’s seventeenth sister too. Show them to me quickly—I want to see what patterns you chose for them."
Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to take out the gifts she had prepared for A Zhu and the others to show Cheng Jia.
Cheng Jia picked up the glass hairpins to examine them, then looked at the combs, and finally asked Zhou Shaojin, "Could you just give them the hairpins and give all these sets of combs to me?"
"Of course not!" Zhou Shaojin laughed. "I didn’t know you liked combs so much. If I had known, I would have brought back more sets. But I heard from Uncle Chi’s attendants that there’s a shop in Jinling called 'Hua Xiang Rong' that specializes in selling Changzhou combs—we just didn’t know about it. Let’s go there and browse someday."
Cheng Jia reluctantly let it go.
Nevertheless, compared to before, her spirits had improved significantly.
In the following days, under the guidance of Old Madam Guo, Zhou Shaojin and her elder sister Zhou Chujin accompanied Madam Song on tours of Jinling’s scenic landscapes. Although the Zhou sisters were natives of Jinling, strict family rules had kept them confined to the inner quarters, and they had never had the opportunity to travel like this before. Experiencing firsthand the sights they had only read about in books was, in a way, thanks to Madam Song.But going out to enjoy the scenery every day was also tiring. When Madam Song began to show signs of fatigue, Old Madam Guo suggested hosting a tea party at home to introduce Madam Song to the noble ladies of Jinling City: "...This is a perfect opportunity for you to meet some people."
Madam Song felt Old Madam Guo's arrangements were extremely thoughtful and considerate, and repeatedly agreed, saying "Good."
Old Madam Guo then asked Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin to help organize the tea party.
Under Madam Mian's guidance, Zhou Chujin was already capable of independently managing the household affairs of the Fourth Branch, so such matters were naturally no trouble for her. Compared to the Fourth Branch's banquets, the Long Branch's events were merely on a slightly grander scale. However, with the Long Branch's ample funds, Zhou Chujin faced no constraints and thus encountered no difficulties.
Zhou Shaojin, however, seized an opportunity to visit the Listening Oriole Pavilion.
Neither Cheng Chi nor Jiying were there; Nanping was busy sewing spring clothes for Cheng Chi.
Zhou Shaojin was quite disappointed.
Nanping smiled and asked Zhou Shaojin, "Is there something Second Cousin needs?"
Zhou Shaojin replied, "Nothing in particular, I just came to visit. Where have Uncle Chi and Miss Jiying gone?"
Nanping smiled and had a young maid serve tea to Zhou Shaojin. She said, "They said someone is celebrating a birthday, so Fourth Master took Miss Jiying to offer congratulations. Should I send a maid to ask Steward Qin to find out who Fourth Master went to congratulate..."
Zhou Shaojin felt embarrassed to inquire further and quickly said, "No need, no need. I was just asking casually."
Nanping didn't suspect anything and instead smiled, saying, "Second Cousin has come at just the right time. I was thinking of adding a trim to Fourth Master's robe but couldn't decide on the color. Please help me take a look, Second Cousin."
Zhou Shaojin gladly agreed.
Nanping was making a light gray Songjiang fine linen robe for Cheng Chi and was considering whether to trim it with white or brown.
Zhou Shaojin said, "What about using dark gray for the trim?"
"Dark gray?" Nanping was taken aback. After pondering for a while, she couldn't help but clap her hands, her face filled with delight. "What a brilliant idea, Second Cousin! I never thought of using a matching color. I'll go find a darker shade of fine cloth to match."
Zhou Shaojin smiled gently.
This trimming method wouldn't become popular in Yangzhou until seven or eight years later.
The two of them compared colors for a long time and finally decided to use dark gray fine gauze for a subtle trim.
"It will definitely look beautiful," Nanping said contentedly. "I think this could also be used on women's clothing."
Zhou Shaojin really liked this kind of trim and replied with a smile, "Then I'll give it a try too."
Nanping was very interested. "When Second Cousin's clothes are ready, please let me have a look as well."
Zhou Shaojin laughed. "It's not difficult at all. You can come and see whenever you like."
As they were talking, there was a slight commotion outside, and a young maid ran in, saying, "Miss Nanping, Second Cousin, Fourth Master has returned."
Zhou Shaojin and Nanping went out to greet him.
The weather had turned quite cold, but Cheng Chi was still wearing autumn clothes. Although the cloth belt tied tightly around his waist accentuated his good figure, it made him look somewhat chilly.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but say, "Why aren't you wearing more clothes? The north wind has been blowing since this morning!"
Cheng Chi was somewhat surprised and asked, "What brings you here? Don't you need to accompany Madam Song today?"Zhou Shaojin said sheepishly, "The old madam said she wants to hold a tea party and asked my sister and me to help organize it. My sister has always been capable, and I couldn't be of much help, so I came over... planning to play a few games of chess with you, Uncle Chi..."
This little girl, what scheme is she plotting again!
Others might not know what she's thinking, but she herself should understand perfectly well—is that really playing chess? It's just putting on a show for Mother. Now that Mother is busy entertaining Madam Song, where would she have time to pay attention to him? Why would they need to play chess together again?
Cheng Chi said to Zhou Shaojin, "Come with me!"
He led the way toward the study.
Seeing his stern and cold expression, Zhou Shaojin felt a bit nervous and quietly asked Jiying, who had followed him back, "Did he get upset outside?"
Jiying rolled her eyes and said, "I've only ever seen him upset others, never seen anyone upset him."
"Oh!" Zhou Shaojin followed Cheng Chi to the study with unease.
Cheng Chi casually settled into the armchair behind the large desk and asked Zhou Shaojin, "Speak up! What is it this time?"
※
Sisters, an extra chapter for Tianwaixianxian's spirit beast egg.
o(n_n)o~
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to...)
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