Сhеng Сhi соuldn't hеlp but laugh, "Whаt's gоing оn hеrе?"
Zhou Shaojin's fасe flushed сrimson, and shе immеdiаtеlу stоod up frоm beside Old Madam Guо, murmuring, "Unсle Сhi."
Old Маdаm Guо chuсklеd sоftlу.
Вiyu сhimed in from the sidе, "Sеcоnd Cousin lost mоney рlaying саrds!"
"Оh!" Сhеng Сhi rаised an еуebrоw, "Ноw much did уou lоsе? I'll covеr it fоr yоu."
"No need, nо need," Zhou Shаоjin's fаcе turned so red it sееmеd as if it соuld driр blооd.
Оld Mаdаm Guo tоok Zhоu Shaojin's hаnd and shоt Сhеng Chi а rерrоachful loоk, saying, "Let's ignore him аnd go wash up fоr dinner!"
Zhou Shаojin lоwеred hеr head and followed Old Madam Guo into the inner room.
Cheng Chi was utterly bewildered.
Biyu and the others pressed their lips together, not daring to laugh.
Cheng Chi felt embarrassed.
Was offering money also a mistake...
After seeing Zhou Shaojin off, Old Madam Guo couldn't help but chide her youngest son, "You're usually quite resourceful in your actions, so why are you being so foolish today? How much money could a young girl lose playing cards? Did you have to act like a nouveau riche and boast about covering it?"
Cheng Chi had already figured it out during dinner and could only smile awkwardly.
Old Madam Guo said, "Speaking of this, I have something else to ask you."
Cheng Chi straightened his expression, "Please go ahead."
Old Madam Guo pondered for a moment, "Is there something else between you and Zhou Zhen?"
Cheng Chi was taken aback, "Why would you think that?"
Old Madam Guo replied, "I see you treat Shaojin differently... You rarely paid attention to the people around me before."
Because her son was unwilling to marry, she had once invited the daughters of some old friends she thought were suitable to stay at their home, but Cheng Chi couldn't even tell them apart.
"Is that so?" Cheng Chi looked somewhat surprised upon hearing this and hesitated before saying, "It seems... not too different, right?"
He used to dislike his nephews and nieces at home, especially the naive Cheng Jiashan and the lively, likable Cheng Sheng. He always felt that they were all from the same family, sharing the same bloodline. Why was his life confined to one path while they could bask in the sunshine and do whatever they pleased? So for a time, he found everything displeasing and acted recklessly outside. Yet the more willful and domineering he became, the more others feared him, and the more he could do as he pleased. This kind of life both fascinated and perplexed him. He even took the imperial examinations—after all, no one said that someone managing the family's affairs couldn't take the exams, right?
But this also exposed his identity.
Many people guessed he was from the Jiangnan region, and though they were wary, they constantly probed, annoying him endlessly.
His mother's words made him reflect on his behavior.
Was he particularly good to Shaojin?
Cheng Chi thought it over but didn't feel he had treated Zhou Shaojin especially well.
He hinted meaningfully, "Perhaps it's because she's the neighbor's child?"
Old Madam Guo fell silent.
How could she not understand her youngest son's grievances with the family?
This large family only knew how to eat well, use fine things, enjoy themselves, and indulge in pleasure, but never considered where the money came from.
If Si Lang hadn't earned a jinshi degree, they wouldn't even have given him a proper glance. Even her eldest and youngest sons would have pretended not to notice.
Her Si Lang was such a proud person. How could he not harbor resentment? How could he not feel bitterness? How could he possibly like his nephews and nieces, who were around his own age?
Old Madam Guo suddenly couldn't hold back anymore.Her tears fell instantly as she grasped Cheng Chi's hand and wept softly, "Zi Chuan, it's your mother who has let you down!"
Cheng Chi's tears also couldn't help but fall.
His resilient and strong mother was shedding tears before him for his sake for the first time.
He couldn't help but hold his mother tightly, choking back sobs as he said, "Mother, I'm doing fine. Don't worry about me. Only when you are well can my heart be at peace."
Old Madam Guo felt even more heartbroken upon hearing this and said, "It's us who have burdened you. If not for your elder brother, sister-in-law, nephews, and this whole big family, with your abilities, where couldn't you go?" At this point, Old Madam Guo stopped sobbing, raised her head to wipe away her tears, and said, "Zi Chuan, why don't you still marry a wife and bring her home?"
This matter had already been discussed many times between mother and son.
Each time could be said to have ended unhappily.
Seeing his mother's tears, Cheng Chi didn't want to upset her, but he was even less willing to change his mind.
He patiently said, "Mother, I don't want my son to follow my old path! But I also promise you that I will marry and have children. Give me some time to sort out matters outside. So you must take good care of your health—I'm counting on you to help me raise my children in the future! You've already helped elder brother and second brother discipline their daughters, so you must help me discipline my daughter too!"
These words made Old Madam Guo's heart blossom with joy, her eyebrows lifting in delight as she repeatedly said "good" and chuckled, "You just go ahead and have children, and I'll help you raise them. I promise to teach them just like I taught the three of you, raising scholars, officials, and titled ladies."
Cheng Zheng's husband, Gu Xu, had originally served as a supervising secretary in the Ministry of Rites. He was a Junior Scholar Candidate by background. Although he later transferred to the Court of Judicial Review as a Right Court Magistrate, a sixth-rank position, to avoid suspicion after Cheng Jing became Minister of Rites, no one could deny that it was only a matter of time before he earned a "Lady" title for Cheng Zheng.
Seeing his mother's mood improve, Cheng Chi felt relieved.
But Old Madam Guo went further down this path, envisioning, "Zi Chuan, why don't you hold the wedding this year? Quietly marry her and bring her home."
Was this something that could be done quietly?
Cheng Chi felt both amused and exasperated.
He hadn't expected his usually rational and calm mother to say such unreasonable things for the sake of his marriage.
Warmed in his heart, he smiled and said, "Mother, wouldn't that be unfair to the other person?"
"That's true!" Old Madam Guo said disappointedly, but images of Cheng Chi as a pink and tender child surfaced in her mind, making it hard to restrain her emotions. She said, "How about this—if you have a child, raise it under your elder brother's name? Your elder brother wouldn't refuse."
"I'll raise my own son," Cheng Chi said, going along with his mother's words. "What kind of arrangement would it be to raise him under elder brother's name? Have my son call me 'uncle' and elder brother 'father'? Even if I agreed, sister-in-law probably wouldn't. Don't let your thoughts run wild. When have I ever failed to keep my promises? Just focus on taking good care of your health. Otherwise, by the time I marry, you might not even be able to walk, let alone help me raise children."
Old Madam Guo chuckled.
This moment was truly one of genuine joy.
But when Cheng Chi left the main room, he couldn't help but pause under the corridor eaves.
Rain began to fall from the sky again.
In the night, it seemed continuous and endless.
A sudden restlessness rose in Cheng Chi's heart.The conflict between him and his mother, the rift between him and his family. It was like this rain, going round and round, never-ending.
Huaishan sensed Cheng Chi's mood and carefully opened an umbrella over his head.
Cheng Chi strolled out of the upper courtyard, lost in thought as he wandered aimlessly through Cold Green Mountain House.
Huaishan held his breath, afraid of disturbing Cheng Chi.
When Taoist Priest Zhongnan heard that Fourth Master had asked for his help, he felt greatly honored and quickly contacted the head of the Northern Beggars' Sect.
After explaining the purpose, the head of the Northern Beggars' Sect was very pleased and went back to discuss it with several elders below. However, most of the elders were unwilling. They felt that those who followed Fourth Master eventually became a dish on his plate; rather than taking money and being at someone's beck and call, it was better to live as freely as they did now—after all, their Beggars' Sect originally made a living by begging. Supporters and opponents were evenly matched, and no conclusion had been reached yet.
Given Fourth Master's temperament, he would surely go personally to "talk" with the Northern Beggars' Sect in a few days.
Perhaps Fourth Master was considering this matter right now?
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but wonder in his heart: would Fourth Master negotiate with them civilly or forcefully?
But Cheng Chi was not in such a mood.
He just wanted to wander aimlessly, to dispel the unhappiness in his heart.
Yet when his mood calmed down and he stopped walking, he found himself standing before the moon gate of Floating Emerald Pavilion.
Cheng Chi was stunned.
How had he ended up here?
But Huaishan said, "Fourth Master, do you have something to discuss with Second Cousin? At this hour, I'm afraid Second Cousin has already retired. Shall I go knock on the door?"
Although he didn't know about Zhou Shaojin's rebirth, as Cheng Chi's personal attendant, he vaguely sensed that Zhou Shaojin had a secret, and this secret was very important to Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi let out an "oh," his expression somewhat dazed as he said, "In that case, let's come back tomorrow!"
Huaishan held the umbrella and attended Cheng Chi back to the Listening Oriole Pavilion.
By the time Cheng Chi came to his senses, he had already washed up, changed clothes, and gotten into bed.
Was he really so unusual toward Shaojin?
Cheng Chi recalled Zhou Shaojin's charming naivety, her playful wit, her optimistic and cheerful nature... and her gentle thoughtfulness.
Wouldn't everyone like such a young girl?
But his mother wouldn't make baseless claims, saying he treated Zhou Shaojin better than anyone else!
Could it be because Zhou Shaojin was important to him?
That didn't seem right either... She had already told him everything she knew, and he only needed to verify it carefully... So how had he handled such matters in the past?
Offering money?
Promising high positions and wealth?
Cheng Chi felt his thoughts were a bit muddled.
But after pondering for a long time, he couldn't make sense of it. Instead, he lay lazily in bed, unable to muster any energy.
Maybe he should find someone to help him sort it out?
As soon as this thought emerged, he suppressed it.
This was his private matter—why should he tell others about it?
The very idea made him uncomfortable.
Then forget it!
He would think about it carefully after he was less busy.
Cheng Chi's mind settled, and he quietly drifted into sleep.
When Zhou Shaojin heard from the night patrol matron that Cheng Chi had been right outside her door, she felt both startled and delighted.She was startled that Cheng Chi would come to see her so late, surely for something very urgent; yet she was also delighted at the chance to have a good talk with him—two heads were better than one, especially when one of them was Uncle Chi. With him, she felt there was nothing in the world that couldn’t be accomplished!
She had already gone to bed and hurriedly instructed Chunwan to help her dress.
Chunwan chuckled, “Could it be that Fourth Master has come specifically to deliver silver to Second Young Miss?”
Zhou Shaojin chided her, “Don’t ever joke about this again, or Uncle Chi might be displeased. He meant well. Didn’t I quietly make up for your losses when you lost silver?”
Chunwan said, “I just never expected someone as stern and serious as Fourth Master to say such a thing.”
Zhou Shaojin shot Chunwan an unhappy glare.
Chunwan quickly replied, “I won’t say it again, never again,” as she deftly helped her change.
But before she could even put on her robe, the night patrol woman came to report that Cheng Chi had already left.
※
Dear sisters, here’s the update.
PS: Please vote with pink tickets…
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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