Оn thе wау tо Cold Grееn Моuntаin House, thе рath was shаded by lush grееn trееs, with birds singing аnd flоwers fragrаnt. Zhou Shaojin walked while еnjоying thе scеnеrу, fеeling quitе сhееrful. Рointing аt the canорy оverhead thаt blockеd the sun, she sаid tо Shi Хiаng, "Еvеn in thе height of summеr, with this grеen bаrriеr, wе won’t hаve tо wоrry abоut thе heаt." Shi Xiang noddеd with a smile.
Thе twо sоon аrrived at Cоld Grееn Mоuntаin Ноusе.
Вiyu саme оut to grеet them. Shе softlу grееted Zhоu Shаоjin аnd led her towаrd the main quarters while еxplaining in а low voiсe, "Тhе Seсond Old Master from the capital has sent someone to pay respects to the Old Madam. Could Second Miss please wait a moment?"
Zhou Shaojin thought for a moment before recalling who this Second Old Master was.
He was the younger brother of the First Old Master of the eldest branch, Cheng Xun, and Old Madam Guo’s younger brother-in-law, Cheng Shao. He and the eldest branch’s First Master, Cheng Jing, were both scholars who passed the imperial examination in the twelfth year of Yongchang, the jiaxu year. However, Cheng Jing ranked sixteenth in the second tier that year, while Cheng Shao was the second-place scholar. This caused quite a stir in Jinling at the time, and even today, people in Jinling still mention it when talking about the Cheng family. Later, Cheng Jing passed the examination for Junior Scholar Candidate, while Cheng Shao remained in the Hanlin Academy as a compiler. After Cheng Xun passed away, Cheng Jing, who had just secured a position as Left Secretary in the Ministry of Works, returned home to observe mourning. Meanwhile, Cheng Shao, who stayed in the Hanlin Academy, rose from compiler to Reader-in-Waiting and then to Junior Minister of the Household of the Heir Apparent. Just as everyone thought Cheng Shao would have a bright future and take on the responsibilities of the eldest branch, he seemed to run out of talent and made no further achievements. In contrast, after his mourning period ended, Cheng Jing first secured the position of Chief Clerk of the Judicial Court. Within half a year, he was promoted to Assistant Minister of the Judicial Court, and a year later, he became Vice Minister of the Judicial Court... until he eventually became a grand councilor and entered the cabinet. His official career was smooth and unstoppable. As for Cheng Shao, who had long since moved to the capital, he gradually faded from people’s memories in Jinling’s Nine Prosperities Lane and was rarely mentioned.
In her previous life, Madam Jiang had maliciously speculated that Cheng Shao’s family had been forced out by Old Madam Guo.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but feel curious.
She wondered whether Cheng Shao had sent someone merely to pay polite respects to Old Madam Guo or if there was something else he needed to discuss with her.
According to Madam Jiang, the eldest branch had not divided the family property and still sent half of their annual income to Cheng Shao, who lived far away in the capital. The one managing the eldest branch’s affairs was Fourth Master Cheng Chi, Old Madam Guo’s son. If the eldest branch intended to make things difficult for Cheng Shao, aside from sending someone to "discuss" matters with Old Madam Guo, Cheng Shao truly had no other recourse.
As Zhou Shaojin sat in the hall drinking tea, she unconsciously pricked up her ears to listen for any sounds from the western lounge.
But it was quiet, with no noise to be heard.
Zhou Shaojin secretly felt disappointed. Feicui lifted the curtain and came out, carrying a copper kettle in her hand.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin sitting in the hall, she paused slightly, then smiled and pointed toward the lounge, nodding silently at Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin also smiled and nodded without making a sound, immediately straining her ears to listen.
Faint voices drifted from the lounge: "...Thank you, Second Uncle! Please convey my gratitude to Master Wu on my behalf..."
It was Old Madam Guo’s voice.
But why did she say "Master Wu" instead of "Mama"?
Could it be that the person who came to pay respects to Old Madam Guo was a man?
Shouldn’t matters concerning the outer courtyard be handled by Fourth Master?
Zhou Shaojin’s heart pounded wildly, feeling as though she had overheard something she shouldn’t have.
When Feicui lifted the curtain again and entered the lounge with another copper kettle, she couldn’t help but stand up and take a few steps toward the lounge.A man's voice could faintly be heard: "...The Second Elder Master said, this matter still requires the Old Madam to persuade the Eldest Master..."
Zhou Shaojin dared not listen further and hurried back to her seat.
Feicui had not yet emerged.
Zhou Shaojin felt a slight chill in her heart.
After a moment, Feicui lifted the curtain and escorted the gentleman surnamed Wu out.
Zhou Shaojin quickly glanced at him.
This Mr. Wu was of slight build, dressed in a very ordinary sapphire-blue robe woven with a purple pattern of five bats surrounding the character for longevity, appearing to be in his fifties with a goatee. Yet his expression was gentle, calm, and composed—unlike a steward running errands for others, he more resembled a private tutor from some noble household, reminding her of the advisors around her brother-in-law.
Could he be an advisor to the Second Elder Master, Cheng Shao?
Zhou Shaojin’s heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly lowered her eyelids, fixing her gaze downward, assuming the posture of a clay statue that sees nothing improper.
Mr. Wu soon departed.
She breathed a sigh of relief.
Feicui returned to the sitting room and quickly came out again, smiling as she said to her, "Second Miss, the Old Madam requests your presence inside."
Zhou Shaojin softly expressed her thanks and followed her into the sitting room.
Old Madam Guo sat on the low couch, calmly fingering her prayer beads, her expression revealing neither joy nor sorrow. The covered teacups and refreshments on the table had already been cleared away, leaving it spotless, as if no one had been there.
She stepped forward and performed a bow.
Old Madam Guo smiled and said, "I won’t say much else. From today onward, you will come here every afternoon. If there is anything you need, just instruct Feicui. If she cannot manage it, come directly to me."
"Yes!" Zhou Shaojin stood up, responding with a gentle yet respectful tone.
Old Madam Guo nodded, her expression softening slightly.
Zhenzhu entered and reported, "Old Madam, Madam says she has something to discuss with you."
Madam Yuan held the third-rank title of Shuren, but people often flattered those of higher status, addressing all titled women as "Madam" regardless of rank to show deference.
Zhou Shaojin quickly rose to take her leave.
Old Madam Guo did not detain her.
Zhou Shaojin happened to run into Madam Yuan, who was waiting under the eaves for a maid to announce her.
Madam Yuan nodded to her with a smile and said, "Shao Jin, have you come to copy the scriptures? Why not stay a little longer? Are you heading to the prayer hall?" She then greeted Feicui, "Are you on duty today?"
Her attitude was warm and natural.
This was a Madam Yuan that Zhou Shaojin found quite unfamiliar.
She did not speak, only smiled and curtsied to Madam Yuan. Feicui, however, exchanged a few polite words with Madam Yuan before leading her to the prayer hall.
On the large desk in the prayer hall, besides writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, brush rests, and a thick copy of the Śūraṅgama Sūtra, there was also a carved red lacquer box decorated with golden tracery and crabapple blossoms, filled with sweets and snacks.
Noticing Zhou Shaojin’s gaze on the box, Feicui smiled and said, "This was specially ordered by the Old Madam. She was concerned that Second Miss might find her mouth tasteless, so she prepared some snacks for you." She added, "Do you find anything lacking?"
"Nothing is lacking," Zhou Shaojin replied with a smile, exchanging a few pleasantries. "Please convey my thanks to the Old Madam."
Feicui then called in a young maid still wearing her hair in childish braids and said, "Second Miss, this is Xiao Tan. She will serve you in the prayer hall from now on." Turning to Shi Xiang, she added, "If there’s anything you need, just instruct her to run errands for you."If she hadn't heard those two sentences from Mr. Wu, Zhou Shaojin might have been astonished by such arrangements. But after witnessing the scene in the resting room, she understood Feicui's status and position in Cold Green Mountain House, and thus was no longer surprised that Feicui did not personally attend to her but instead assigned a young maid to serve in the prayer hall.
Now it seemed that Old Madam Guo allowing Feicui to follow her orders was already showing her favor.
No one in Cold Green Mountain House would dare to slight her, would they?
After Feicui and Shi Xiang exchanged greetings, determined their seniority, and addressed each other as sisters, Zhou Shaojin had Shi Xiang see Feicui out. She then turned and grabbed a handful of spun-silk candies from the tiered box for Xiao Tan, saying gently, "I'll call you if I need anything here—go play with your sisters!"
Xiao Tan was fair and clean, with large, round eyes. Upon hearing this, she held the candies, tilted her head, and said, "Second Miss, I won't go play with my sisters. I'll just sit on the steps outside and wait for you to call me."
Her voice was clear and crisp, and her appearance was both obedient and adorable, reminding Zhou Shaojin of Lin Shisheng's eldest daughter. Every time she saw that child, she would, like a grandmother, stuff a handful of candies into her hands, and the child would always tilt her head, blink her big eyes, and thank her in this way.
Zhou Shaojin's heart softened completely. She patted Xiao Tan's head, smiled, and said, "Go on," watching her leave the room before turning to sit at the large writing desk.
Shi Xiang happened to return after seeing Feicui off and rolled up her sleeves to help Zhou Shaojin grind ink.
Zhou Shaojin took the opportunity to flip through the copy of the Śūraṅgama Sūtra.
The printing was exquisite, the characters large and pleasing to the eye, and the layout spacious—it was actually an ancient text from the previous dynasty.
The eldest branch of the family was truly extravagant!
She muttered to herself, and once Shi Xiang had finished grinding the ink, she dipped her brush and began copying the text.
In her previous life, Zhou Shaojin had already copied the Śūraṅgama Sūtra, unlike those who had never encountered it or were doing so for the first time and still needed to recognize characters and parse sentences. She could recite each sentence as soon as she saw the first word, so she could focus all her energy on writing. Not only did she copy quickly and well, but she also grasped the subtleties and philosophy between the lines of the scripture as she copied.
It was as if she had returned to the estate in Daxing, thinking of nothing, caring for nothing, setting aside all worldly matters, and immersing herself in the profound teachings of Buddhism.
The sun gradually shifted westward, and the light in the prayer hall dimmed.
Only then did Zhou Shaojin, who had been bent over copying the text, stand up, rub her arms, and instruct Shi Xiang, "Let's stop here for today. We'll come again tomorrow."
Shi Xiang smiled and replied, "Yes," tidied the writing desk, dismissed Xiao Tan, and accompanied Zhou Shaojin to the main quarters.
The maids and matrons serving in the main quarters stood far away under the eaves of the east wing, with only Feicui and Biyu attending at the entrance to the hall.
Having once been a mistress of a household herself, Zhou Shaojin recognized at a glance that Old Madam Guo had dismissed her attendants because she had something to discuss with someone.
She thought of the fragments of conversation she and Mr. Wu had overheard.
Could this matter be related to the Second Old Master and the Eldest Master in the capital?
But she didn't know who Old Madam Guo was speaking with.
As she pondered, Feicui quietly approached, smiled, and whispered, "The Old Madam is speaking with the chief steward. Are you here to bid farewell to the Old Madam, Second Miss? Would you like to wait for a moment? Or perhaps go to the flower hall for a cup of tea?"Going to the tea hall for a drink would require maids and servants to attend to her. Old Madam Guo had all those serving by her side stand under the eaves of the east wing, precisely to prevent the servants from moving about freely, lest they hear things they shouldn’t or see things they shouldn’t.
Zhou Shaojin had no intention of causing trouble for Feicui and the others, so she smiled and said, “I’ve been copying scriptures for half the day, and my back is sore. I’ll just take a stroll nearby.”
Feicui shot her a grateful glance.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and nodded, then left the main room with Shi Xiang.
She wanted to return early but didn’t wish to wait idly in the prayer hall, so she left Shi Xiang by the corridor where she could keep an eye on the main room: “Let me know as soon as the guests leave Old Madam’s side.”
Afraid that Shi Xiang might not be able to find her later, Zhou Shaojin didn’t dare to wander too far and simply strolled around nearby.
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Sisters, happy weekend!
I can also take a day off this weekend!
Oo~
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OpenNovel