"Yоu сhild!" Оld Madаm Guо widеnеd hеr eyes, unаblе to find words fоr quite somе timе.
Сhеng Сhi thеn smiled and sаid, "Mother, if Fourth Aunt truly fаvоrs Shaоjin so muсh, аll mу idеas wоuld bе usеlеss."
Оld Mаdam Guo sighed, "Whу must уou... Тhis kind of choiсe is the mоst agonizing."
Сhеng Сhi сhuсklеd, "Мother, it wаs уou whо sаid tо find Shaоjin a gооd match, аnd it wаs alsо you who sаid to presеrvе Fоurth Aunt's dignitу. How eхасtly dо уоu wаnt mе tо helр tо be sаtisfied?"
Оld Madаm Guo wаs tаkеn abасk, thеn lаughed, "Alright, alright, I сan't win against you. Dо as you sеe fit!"
Chеng Chi shооk his heаd with a smile, "You really are something. After all these years, you always dismiss me with these words."
The mother and son chatted idly, enjoying a harmonious atmosphere.
When the Gu family's Ninth Master, Gu Qinghe, returned, Cheng Chi had even less to do. Gu Qinghe hosted a vegetarian banquet for Cheng Chi at the Mingxiang Pavilion where he resided. His words were filled with gratitude, yet also carried an air of arrogance, repeatedly mentioning how he and your brother were like this and that back in the day. Cheng Chi sneered inwardly and found an excuse to leave before all the dishes were served.
Gu Qinghe was so angry he glared, but thinking of Cheng Jing's sincere concern when he left the capital, his anger subsided on its own.
Cheng Chi pondered for a moment and decided to go to Gu Jiuniao's place instead.
Gu Jiuniao's wife, Shang Shi, was from Rizhao, Shandong. Her father was the prominent Shandong merchant Shang Baojian. In his early years, Shang Baojian had once saved the life of Gu Jiuniao's father, Gu Qingtai. Shang Baojian had difficulty having children and only had this one daughter, Shang Shi, after the age of forty. When Shang Baojian was bedridden, Shang Shi was only nine years old. Fearing his daughter would be bullied by the clan, Shang Baojian entrusted Shang Shi to Gu Qingtai on his deathbed. Seeing that Shang Shi was about the same age as his third son, Gu Qingtai simply arranged a marriage alliance with Shang Baojian. Shang Shi married into the family at the age of ten, and a month later, Shang Baojian passed away from illness. Shang Shi was raised by Gu Jiuniao's mother and only consummated the marriage with Gu Jiuniao at seventeen. Not only was she dignified and beautiful, but she and Gu Jiuniao were childhood sweethearts, sharing the same ideals and enjoying a very deep affection.
Upon hearing that Cheng Chi had arrived, Shang Shi hurriedly instructed a young maid to bring out the Da Hong Pao tea that someone had gifted Gu Jiuniao during the New Year to serve the guest.
Cheng Chi sat cross-legged on a rosewood meditation chair, savoring the rich aroma of the tea and gazing at the swaying bamboo outside the window. He sighed, "This is truly living!"
Gu Jiuniao was tidying the bookshelf. Hearing this, he smiled and said, "You make it sound like you're in deep water and scorching fire. But since you brought it up, let me ask a nosy question. What exactly are your plans? You're not young anymore—haven't you thought about settling down? Does Auntie just let you be like this?"
As he spoke, Shang Shi entered with two young maids carrying food boxes. She smiled and added, "What kind of wife does Uncle want to find? If you still trust your sister-in-law's judgment, why not give me a hint? I'll keep an eye out for you and hope to drink a cup of matchmaker's tea from you!"
Cheng Chi stood up, first smiling and calling out "Sixth Sister-in-law," then said, "It won't be possible for the next couple of years! As you know, I traveled around in previous years and incurred some debts in the jianghu. How can I settle down and start a family without repaying those debts? When I'm ready to marry, I'll definitely ask Sister-in-law to help me look."Shang Shi, respected by her husband, felt she had some standing before his close friends. Her expression turned serious as she asked, "What? Have you provoked some notorious bandit? Can even the authorities not handle it?"
If in the past they had to consider Cheng Jing's reputation and dared not involve official forces, now that Cheng Jing had entered the Grand Secretariat, if Cheng Chi dropped a hint, there would naturally be those eager to curry favor and take the lead.
Cheng Chi understood what Shang Shi was implying and smiled, "If it doesn’t work out, I can always turn to my elder brother later, lest he always thinks I’m not focusing on proper work."
This was a matter between the Cheng brothers, and others could hardly inquire further.
Shang Shi cleverly changed the subject, smiling, "I heard you left Ninth Uncle’s place before all the dishes were served, so I figured you probably hadn’t eaten. I had a few dishes brought over."
Cheng Chi thanked her repeatedly and casually asked about the young ladies of the Gu family: "...With the old lady’s passing, I’m afraid their marriages will be delayed."
The Gu family was large and prosperous, but they also had many people. When daughters married, the family funds only provided three hundred taels each. To make a respectable showing, each branch had to supplement the amount themselves. Thus, marrying off daughters in the Gu family was not so easy.
Shang Shi sighed, "Only the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth young ladies are affected... They haven’t had time to arrange marriages yet, but they’re already of age."
Cheng Chi casually responded with an "Oh" and asked no more, starting his meal at Gu Jiuniao’s tea table.
Shang Shi withdrew with her maidservant.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Gu Jiuniao hurriedly moved the books on the tea table aside, saying, "How can you do this? Be careful not to splatter oil on my books."
Cheng Chi snorted, "I haven’t complained about the dust all over your books, yet you’re complaining about oil from my meal!"
Gu Jiuniao turned to look at him, his expression quite surprised.
Cheng Chi asked, "What’s wrong with you?"
"That’s what I wanted to ask you!" Gu Jiuniao walked over with his book in hand, saying, "When I used to say this to you, you’d usually just give a cold, dismissive look. How come today you’re actually bickering with me? This isn’t like your usual self!"
Cheng Chi was taken aback.
Huaishan requested an audience.
Cheng Chi allowed him to enter.
Upon seeing Gu Jiuniao, Huaishan hesitated to speak.
Gu Jiuniao put down his book and said, "I’ll step out then, no need to give me that look!"
Huaishan couldn’t help but show a hint of amusement in his eyes.
Cheng Chi, however, waited without ceremony until Gu Jiuniao had left before nodding to Huaishan.
Huaishan stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Fourth Master, news has come from the capital that Mu Daren, the censor of the Censorate living in Chongyifang, Hu Shangshu Alley, has encountered trouble!"
Cheng Chi’s heart sank, and he asked gravely, "What happened?"
Huaishan replied, "Last September, the eldest master was transferred to the Ministry of Rites. In October, rumors spread that during the autumn provincial examinations for the Jiawu year in the Northern Directly Administered Region, someone in the Ministry of Rites had leaked the exam questions. Since Zhang Gong was previously the minister of the Ministry of Rites, the eldest master ordered a thorough investigation. By year’s end, the eldest master submitted a memorial to the emperor, but the emperor withheld it. After the Lantern Festival, all those responsible for the Jiawu year autumn examinations were imprisoned, and this Mu Daren was among them."
Cheng Chi’s expression turned as still as water as he asked, "What position did Mu Daren hold in the Ministry of Rites?"
Huaishan answered, "He was the Chief Clerk of the Bureau of Ceremonies."
"The Chief Clerk of the Bureau of Ceremonies is a sixth-rank official, while a Censorate censor is only seventh-rank.""So Mu Daren bears the primary responsibility," Huaishan said. "According to the confessions from those in the Ministry of Rites, someone had reported it back then, but Zhang Gong, considering the gravity of the matter, quietly suppressed it. However, those involved were not spared or indulged—all were transferred away from the Ministry of Rites. Their performance evaluations that year were marked as 'poor.' While others were laterally transferred, only this Mu Daren was demoted. So..."
Cheng Chi felt as though a north wind howled through his heart, leaving it in a chaotic mess. For a long while, he couldn’t sort out his thoughts.
Were the Lin and Mu families truly connected to Shaojin?
Had she long foreseen that the Mu family would encounter trouble?
Was Fan Qi acting on her request, or had he stumbled into this matter unintentionally...
If Shaojin knew nothing, then why did she entrust Jiying to send Fan Qi to the capital? If all these matters were arranged by Shaojin, then... did she approach his mother and him with an ulterior motive as well?
What could her purpose be?
The mere thought made Cheng Chi feel as though something had seized his heart, leaving him breathless.
It was just like when he learned why he had taken over the affairs of Nine Prosperities Lane back then... a scene of desolation filled his eyes, and he felt like the most foolish person in the world...
Huaishan noticed Cheng Chi’s pale complexion and called out "Fourth Master" several times before Cheng Chi snapped back to reality.
He took a deep breath and regained his usual gentle demeanor. Yet, anyone who knew him could tell from the icy glint in his eyes just how furious he was at that moment.
Huaishan quickly lowered his head.
Cheng Chi said, "Find out clearly why Fan Qi went to the capital and why he interfered in the marriage between the Lin and Mu families." After a slight pause, he added, "Do not harm Fan Qi, lest we are mistaken and find it difficult to explain to Second Cousin later!"
Huaishan felt as though struck by lightning.
Fourth Master, what need is there to explain to Second Cousin...
He hastily acknowledged the order and hurried out of Gu Jiuniao’s study.
Cheng Chi suddenly felt lost.
If Zhou Shaojin truly had approached him with a purpose, what should he do?
His mind conjured her clear eyes reflecting his own image, her cunning yet playful smile, and her stunned expression when he questioned her... If all of this was false, then Zhou Shaojin was truly a master of disguise!
To be deceived by such a person, he could only admit defeat.
But was this lifetime truly just a deception?
What did she hope to gain from him or his mother?
If she possessed such means, what couldn’t she obtain? Why would she go to such lengths with him and his mother?
Zhou Shaojin’s sweet, soft laughter echoed in his ears.
The image of her barefoot on the sands of the Qiantang River remained vivid before his eyes...
Cheng Chi sat in the armchair, motionless and dazed.
The sand in the hourglass in the study fell with a soft rustle, and Cheng Chi felt his knees trembling uncontrollably.
Gu Jiuniao walked in.
Seeing Cheng Chi sitting alone with a grim expression, he chuckled, "Oh? Didn’t you say that if a person can’t even control their own emotions, they have no right to discuss 'strategy'? What’s wrong? Not putting on airs today? Planning to drop the mask here?"
Cheng Chi remained silent for a long while.Gu Jiuniao's smile gradually faded, just as he was about to ask what had happened, Cheng Chi stood up and said with a laugh, "I'm not a wooden stump—after holding one expression for too long, it's only natural to change to another. By the way, Huaishan just came to tell me something happened at home, so I’ll head back first. I’ll come again when it’s time for Old Anren’s sixth seventh-day memorial."
"Alright!" Gu Jiuniao knew him well and vaguely sensed that something major must have occurred. He said seriously, "If there’s anything I can help with, just say the word!"
Cheng Chi patted him on the shoulder and walked straight out.
Zhou Shaojin also received the news.
She let out a long sigh of relief, clasped her hands together, and silently bowed three times toward the west. Then, she lit three sticks of incense before the Guanyin Bodhisattva she worshipped, knelt on the prayer cushion, closed her eyes, and murmured, "Lin Gongzi, I have repaid your great kindness. May you and Miss Mu grow old together in harmony and have prosperous descendants."
※
Dear sisters and brothers, here is today’s update.
o(n_n)o~
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to...)
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