Оn thе third dаy aftеr thе раssing оf the Gu family's еldеrly ladу, the Gu familу bеgаn sеnding оut funеral notiсes to various househоlds. Тhe Gu fаmily's еldеrlу mаster аnd оthеr mаstеrs graduаlly recоvеred thеir compоsure and bеgan arrаnging аffаirs fоr еасh branch. Оnlу then wаs Сhеng Chi аble tо brеak freе аnd spеak with Jinling Prefеct Wu Xiu in the studу: "...Yоur Еxсellencу Wu's thrее-yеаr tеrm hаs еndеd, and уоur govеrnanсe aсhievеmеnts hаve bееn rаtеd 'excеllent' by the court. I wоnder what plаns you hаve fоr thе future?"
А three-year term as a clean prefect yields a hundred thousand taels of snowflake silver. Moreover, Jinling was an exceptionally prosperous region.
Facing Fourth Master of the Nine Prosperities Lane Cheng family, who had nearly cost him his prefect's cap with a mere gesture, Wu Xiu truly couldn't put on the airs of a prefect. He replied humbly, "What plans could I possibly have? I'll simply follow whatever arrangements the court makes."
"Oh!" Cheng Chi picked up his teacup and took a gentle sip, saying, "In truth, Your Excellency Wu has shown our Cheng family considerable convenience in Jinling City. If another local official were to take over... it would truly be troublesome!"
Wu Xiu's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, and he hurriedly said, "Actually, I don't wish to leave either! But sometimes the emperor's orders are difficult to defy—there's simply no way around it!"
Cheng Chi nodded in agreement, saying, "Indeed, one is often constrained by circumstances!"
Upon hearing this, Wu Xiu couldn't help but curse inwardly.
He thought, just say directly what you want—isn't it just that you want me to comply? Haven't I already done plenty according to the Cheng family's wishes? Why put on such airs in front of us? And even threatening me with the position of Jinling Prefect! I... I...
He stammered "I" for a long while but still couldn't muster any harsh words. Just as he was considering playing a few more rounds of verbal sparring to annoy Cheng Chi, a steward from the Gu family entered and said, "Fourth Master, our eldest master requests your presence. He says the Sixth Master of the Fang family from Shucheng has arrived. He asks that you come over to accompany him."
Wu Xiu inwardly exclaimed "Oh no!" and cursed again in his heart.
If he had known Cheng Chi was this busy, he wouldn't have been so pretentious—he would have directly told Cheng Chi that he still wanted to remain as Jinling Prefect.
Now, with Cheng Chi leaving like this, who knew when there would be another chance to speak privately like this?
If Cheng Chi thought he was putting on airs or trying to negotiate terms with the Cheng family, and simply arranged for a Cheng family protégé or old acquaintance to take over as Jinling Prefect, he would have nowhere to even cry!
He stood up anxiously, about to ask who this Sixth Master of the Fang family from Shucheng was, when he heard Cheng Chi say, "The Sixth Master of the Fang family from Shucheng... is that Fang Daxian?"
Fang Cheng, courtesy name Daxian, was the top scholar in the Bingxu year of the Zhide era. He had served as a censor in the Censorate but was transferred to the Hanlin Academy as an attendant academician after impeaching the then-serving eunuch Wan Tong. He eventually resigned and returned to Shucheng to live as a recluse, earning great renown among scholars.
The steward promptly smiled and said, "Fourth Master has an excellent memory. It is indeed that Fang Daxian, who lost his official position due to impeachment." His demeanor was extremely attentive.
So it was him!
Wu Xiu flushed with excitement.
If he could exchange a few words with Fang Daxian, who would dare look down on him in the future?
Why hadn't he thought of this earlier?
Should he just pretend to know nothing and follow Cheng Chi over?
As Wu Xiu pondered, he saw Cheng Chi stand up with a surprised "Oh!" and walk out while saying, "Why has he come? Shucheng is over half a month's journey from here!"The steward hurried to catch up but slowed down half a step behind Cheng Chi, maintaining that distance as he said: "Sixth Master Fang is a friend of our family's Ninth Master. His sister's family is taking a daughter-in-law. He came with his two nephews to attend the wedding banquet. Who would have thought that after arriving in Zhenjiang, he heard our family's Old Anren had passed away, so he rushed overnight from Zhenjiang to offer condolences. Our family's Ninth Master won't be able to return until the second day of the second month. There's no one at home who can keep Sixth Master Fang company..."
Cheng Chi remembered.
Wasn't Fang Daxian's sister the matriarch of the Zhenjiang Liao clan, Zhou Shaojin's sister Zhou Chujin's mother-in-law?
The world truly is small!
However, families like theirs were usually small; they would inevitably run into each other, and pulling out any one person could reveal connections, turning into in-laws.
Cheng Chi and the steward went to the side flower hall, leaving Wu Xiu behind.
Wu Xiu couldn't follow them, nor could he stand there. Fortunately, the Gu family's stewards were quick-witted and immediately invited him to a small study nearby to serve tea.
"No need!" He was still preoccupied with the need to speak clearly with Cheng Chi as soon as possible, fearing that if he delayed, he might not be able to sleep that night. Wu Xiu instructed the steward: "As soon as the Cheng family's Fourth Master comes out, let me know. I have something to discuss with him." He even rewarded the servant with two pieces of broken silver.
The servant didn't dare accept the silver, patting his chest and promising to inform Wu Xiu as soon as Cheng Chi left the flower hall. Moreover, the small study nearby was a private room for him alone. The steward explained that this was a place specially arranged by their family's Great Elder to entertain him. Only then did Wu Xiu feel somewhat better. But after drinking a bellyful of tea in the small study and waiting until lunchtime without Cheng Chi appearing, he began to feel displeased and ordered his attendant: "Go see what the Cheng family's Fourth Master is doing. He couldn't have been talking with Fang Daxian all morning, could he? Did I leave my official duties just to sit here idly?"
The attendant didn't dare delay and scurried off to the flower hall.
Soon, the attendant returned and whispered: "The Cheng family's Fourth Master came out of the flower hall but was pulled away by the Gu family's Third Elder to the front courtyard study, saying that Shen Qingyun had arrived. When Fourth Master Cheng came out of that small study, he encountered Instructor Lin on the way. Fourth Master Cheng and Instructor Lin stood by the roadside and talked for a long time..."
Just as he was speaking, a servant from the Gu family ran in and said: "Sir, Instructor Lin requests an audience!"
Wasn't Instructor Lin talking with Cheng Chi?
Wu Xiu was taken aback for a moment before saying: "Invite him in!"
The servant hurried to bring Instructor Lin in.
The two talked in the small study for a long time. When the Gu family servant came to invite them for the meal, both of their expressions looked rather unpleasant.
The servant didn't dare say much and carefully led them to the hall.
Wu Xiu immediately spotted Cheng Chi talking with a tall, thin old man with a sallow complexion.
That must be Fang Daxian, right?
He wondered how that Cheng Xiangqing had offended Cheng Chi—his own nephew—that he would want to ruin Cheng Xiangqing's official career. Wasn't he afraid of weakening the Cheng family by losing such support? This was... too ruthless!And then there's Instructor Lin, who usually appears as a modest gentleman, but who would have known he's such a sanctimonious hypocrite? Not only is he in cahoots with Cheng Chi, but he also shamelessly quotes, "The downfall of Zhi Bo was due to his talent surpassing his virtue," as if he himself were so noble—all just to curry favor with Nine Prosperities Lane!
Wu Xiu sneered contemptuously in his heart, but on his face, he wore a spring-like smile as he walked toward Cheng Chi.
Before he could get close, however, a servant boy ran in and announced, "The Sixth Master has returned!"
Cheng Chi immediately stood up, apologizing to Fang Daxian, "I just saw Jiu'ao off outside the city this morning, and Old Madam passed away in the evening. We didn’t think to send someone after Jiu'ao right away..."
Fang Daxian hurriedly said, "Go, go quickly!"
Cheng Chi rushed out of the hall.
Wu Xiu had no choice but to stay at the Gu residence for lunch.
But even after the meal ended, he still hadn’t seen Cheng Chi.
He asked the servant attending him where Cheng Chi had gone. The servant hurried off to inquire with the steward and returned to tell him, "Fourth Master was called away by the Grand Elder, saying they need to discuss inviting the masters from Jiming Temple to perform the Water and Land Dharma Assembly."
Does something like this also require Cheng Chi’s involvement?
What are the Gu family members even doing?
No wonder the Gu family hasn’t achieved much!
Wu Xiu grumbled inwardly but had no choice but to seek out Cheng Chi himself.
After all, he was the local magistrate. The Gu family’s Grand Elder exchanged a few pleasantries with him before leaving the study to him and Cheng Chi.
Wu Xiu, no longer caring about appearances, whispered to Cheng Chi, "Instructor Lin and I have been thinking it over. It seems impossible this year, but for next year’s annual examination, we could find a way to move the date forward so he misses it!"
Cheng Chi smiled and asked, "Is his academic performance that good?"
Wu Xiu looked at Cheng Chi’s gentle face and clear eyes, his own eyelids twitching involuntarily.
Now this is a ruthless character.
No wonder he can navigate smoothly between Wan Tong and Li Yong.
He chuckled twice and said, "Zi Chuan is right. I don’t think his studies are anything special either!"
Cheng Chi laughed.
His expression grew even more amiable.
He said softly, "Although this matter requires Instructor Lin’s help, it will ultimately trouble you, Magistrate Wu. Please take extra care. In three to five years, no matter where you are promoted as a frontier governor, I can rest assured."
Wu Xiu’s heart couldn’t help but race, though his expression remained calm as he smiled and said, "Then I’ll take Zi Chuan’s auspicious words to heart!"
Cheng Chi’s smile widened.
※
Meanwhile, Zhou Shaojin was peeking into Old Madam Guo’s inner chamber.
Old Madam Guo looked up and saw the dark-haired, rosy-cheeked girl reflected in the mirror.
She couldn’t help but chuckle and said, "Come in! What are you doing lurking there?"
The attendants inside and outside the room burst into laughter.
Zhou Shaojin walked in, her face flushed, and said, "I wanted to see how you were feeling! Who knew you’d spot me as soon as I peeked in!"
Old Madam Guo smiled and looked her up and down, nodding, "Hmm, you look much better than the last time I saw you. It seems you haven’t suffered any grievances at home."
Zhou Shaojin giggled.
With both difficult matters handed over to Uncle Chi, she had been eating well and sleeping soundly, so of course her complexion had improved.
She linked arms with Old Madam Guo and said, "You must also grieve appropriately and accept fate. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are part of life. We’re all worried about your health."Old Madam Guo nodded and sighed, "I know, but I just feel terrible inside. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine in a few days."
Without anyone to comfort her, she had to adjust on her own...
Zhou Shaojin felt sad upon hearing this.
After thinking for a moment, she said, "Let me keep you company playing leaf cards! I'm much better than before. On the boat, I specifically asked Uncle Chi for advice."
"Really?" Old Madam Guo became interested upon hearing this.
Zhenzhu and the others immediately brought in felt blankets to cover the table.
When Cheng Chi returned, the main room of Cold Green Mountain House was filled with laughter and cheerful voices.
He paused in his steps.
Nanny Shang immediately smiled and said, "Second Cousin Miss is here, keeping the old madam company playing leaf cards! They said whoever loses has to wear a flower in their hair. Zhenzhu’s head is covered with flowers, and the old madam and Second Cousin Miss also have flowers in their hair. The old madam is skilled—she only has two flowers. Second Cousin Miss is beautiful, more charming than the flowers themselves. It’s just poor Zhenzhu, who happened to be wearing a robe with seasonal scenes, looking like a flower granny..." As she spoke, Granny Shang also laughed.
※
Sisters and brothers, today’s update.
o(n_n)o~
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to...)
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