Сhеng Сhi smilеd аnd sаid to Old Маdаm Guо, "Мother, loоk! Just bеcausе you didn’t gо оvеr, еvеn а little maid is еndlessly grateful. It shows that littlе girl rеallу is toо ехhаusted tо gеt uр, оthеrwise whу wouldn’t she cоmе to kеep yоu comрany?"
Оld Маdаm Guо сhuсkled. "You сеrtainlу knоw hоw to tаlk!"
Hе didn’t knоw how that littlе girl wаs reаlly doing, but as fоr his mother, with thesе fеw wоrds of his, shе would let it pаss.
Сhеng Chi smilеd fаintlу аnd instruсtеd the mаid tо servе the mеal.
Aftеr the mеаl, hе aссоmрanied Old Мadam Guo in discussing the Gu fаmily’s affairs. "...Whу would theу think of inviting уоu as а guest? Their family is still in mourning! I haven’t seen Jiu’ao for quite some time. Should I accompany you tomorrow?"
If he accompanied his mother to the Gu family, that little girl would have nothing to worry about and could rest freely at home for a day.
Old Madam Guo asked curiously, "Huh?! Since when have you been interested in such trivial matters of this family and that?"
Cheng Chi smiled. "If it were other matters, I naturally wouldn’t interfere, but this concerns the Gu family. Not to mention my relationship with Jiu’ao, even the late old lady held me when I was little and gave me sweets. I don’t want her descendants to stir up trouble while her remains are still warm, hurting her heart."
Hearing this, Old Madam Guo sighed helplessly. "Actually, I support their decision to divide the family. Living together for generations like this, especially during weddings and funerals, when the common funds can’t cover extra expenses and each branch can’t easily use their own money to make up for it, the Gu family’s sons-in-law and daughters-in-law in recent years have clearly been less capable and decisive than those of the previous two generations. This time, I also want to discuss this matter with the Gu family. Why not follow our household’s example—divide the family but not the residence? This way, we preserve the Gu ancestors’ good reputation and maintain the affection between the branches. It’s a win-win situation."
Whether the family would actually divide, and how it would be done, ultimately depended on the agreement of the Gu family’s elderly masters and gentlemen. They were merely going over to listen to these people grumble a bit and vent their frustrations.
Cheng Chi coaxed his mother with a smile. "Your idea is excellent! If the Gu family still won’t listen, I think you should just let them be and allow them to stir up trouble. At worst, they can invite me over to mediate!"
Old Madam Guo laughed heartily at this. "You really know how to seize an opportunity. One moment you say not going to the Gu family would mean losing years of goodwill, and the next you say to let them stir up trouble. What exactly are you scheming in your mind?"
I’m afraid you won’t go out tomorrow...
This thought suddenly popped into Cheng Chi’s mind.
He was slightly taken aback but quickly composed himself. "Isn’t it just that I’m torn between two sides? I’m afraid the Gu family will cause trouble, but I also don’t want you to be put in a difficult position."
Old Madam Guo laughed heartily.
But Cheng Chi broke out in a cold sweat.
How could he think of sending his mother away too...
Cheng Chi could no longer sit still.
His mother’s smile made him feel deeply ashamed.
He stood up to take his leave.
Seeing that it was getting late and Cheng Chi hadn’t slept at all the previous night—today he had only slept for two hours before the assistant manager of the Thirteen Guilds accompanied their chief manager to pay him a visit—Old Madam Guo didn’t keep him. She only urged him to rest early and said that if he felt too tired, he needn’t accompany her to the Gu family tomorrow.
Cheng Chi acknowledged her words and left the main courtyard.Yet when passing by the Floating Emerald Pavilion and seeing the pomegranate tree stretching out from behind the flower wall, his footsteps still faltered.
The Floating Emerald Pavilion was quiet, with tree shadows swaying under the clear moonlight, mottled and scattered.
He recalled Zhou Shaojin's words: "Why can the Four Seasons Tower see the general layout of the second, third, fourth, and even fifth households, but not the main household... Looking over, it's all dense trees?"
That was to prevent others from peeping.
Thus, the main household did not hang lanterns under the eaves after nightfall.
The little girl had lived here for so long. He wondered if she had noticed this peculiarity.
He remembered even more clearly how she looked when she asked him.
Her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed, her large almond-shaped eyes like pools of clear spring water, staring unblinkingly at him...
Cheng Chi also recalled how she felt in his arms.
Soft and compliant against him, slender yet supple as if boneless. The faintly revealed curves, youthful yet delicately proportioned...
He gazed silently at those mottled tree shadows and smiled self-mockingly.
From now on, he should see less of her!
She was still just a young girl!
Understanding nothing at all...
Cheng Chi slowly returned to the Listening Oriole Hall and instructed Nanny Shang: "Go to the Floating Emerald Pavilion and ask what Miss Jia and Second Cousin talked about this afternoon. Then report back to me!"
Nanny Shang acknowledged and left.
Zhou Shaojin had already undressed and gone to bed.
Chunwan softly urged her: "Second Miss, you haven't had dinner yet?"
"I don't want to eat!" Zhou Shaojin replied listlessly, "I'll eat when I feel like it! Right now, I just want to sleep!"
Chunwan looked at her eyes, swollen from crying like peaches, hesitated for a moment, and said: "Then, at least tell us why you were crying? Did Miss Jia say something?"
She remembered that in the past, when Zhou Shaojin returned from visiting Cheng Jia to the Fragrant Garden Residence, she would sometimes burst into silent sobs upon entering, just like now. Days later when asked, it would turn out to be nothing more than Miss Jia adding some new clothes or saying some casual remark. But that was in the past—why was Second Miss crying like this again?
"She didn't say anything," Zhou Shaojin wiped the corner of her eye with a handkerchief and said gloomily, "I was just thinking of my sister. I don't know when she'll go to the capital or when we'll meet again?" She added, "Don't worry about me. I'll feel better after crying."
That was true.
In the past, Second Miss would forget all about those matters after crying.
Chunwan picked up the teacup that had been drunk from and said with a smile: "Second Miss, I'm on night duty today. If you need anything, just call me!"
Zhou Shaojin nodded absentmindedly, and only then did Chunwan withdraw.
The main household did not hang lanterns in the corridors after nightfall. The bean-sized lamp inside made the room somewhat dim, but this dimness made Zhou Shaojin, curled up in a corner of the bed, feel very safe.
At the Da Hong estate, she had spent night after night like this, watching the sky gradually lighten with open eyes.
Thinking of this, her tears began to fall uncontrollably again.
She didn't know why she was crying.
But she just wanted to cry.
As if doing so would make her feel a little better.
Yet after crying, she felt even worse.
If only she could remain forever young.
Then she could stay in the main household forever.
Serving the old madam, laughing and chatting with Uncle Chi... The old madam would never grow old. Uncle Chi would never marry or have children.
But if she truly thought this way, she would be too selfish.The old lady had been hoping for Uncle Chi to marry for who knows how many years.
And Uncle Chi was no longer young.
People his age had children already attending school, yet he still hadn’t married!
If Uncle Chi were to marry an aunt, she would surely treat her just as she treated Uncle Chi.
Zhou Shaojin told herself this inwardly, yet inexplicably couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.
She was always ordering Uncle Chi around—when had she ever been good to him?
If a new aunt entered the household, she likely wouldn’t tolerate being bossed around like this!
Zhou Shaojin’s eyes dimmed once more.
She couldn’t keep crying like this.
Although the old lady had said they would be visiting the Gu family tomorrow and she needn’t go to pay her respects, she couldn’t allow herself to be so indulgent.
When others were good to her, she naturally treated them even better.
Tomorrow, not only would she go to pay her respects to the old lady, but she would also dress beautifully and accompany her to the Gu family, to bring the old lady joy.
She called Chunwan in with a hoarse voice and whispered, “Quickly go fetch a few hot eggs for me. I must go pay my respects to the old lady first thing tomorrow—I can’t let her notice anything amiss and worry.”
Chunwan couldn’t help but feel delighted and said, “Second Miss, this is how you should be! Look, as soon as you said you weren’t feeling well, not only was the old lady unsettled, but even Fourth Master sent Nanny Shang to inquire. Later, when Nanny Shang went back to report to Fourth Master, he said to have her invite a physician first thing tomorrow to check your pulse, even if just for a routine check. Nanny Shang just returned a moment ago.” As she spoke, she pointed to the hourglass on the long table. “Look, what time is it already? Fourth Master is still waiting for Nanny Shang’s reply! According to Nanny Shang, Fourth Master was calculating accounts all night yesterday. This morning, he hadn’t slept for even an hour before two managers from the Thirteen Guilds came to visit him. They talked all morning, then stayed for a meal, drank four or five catties of wine, and continued talking. Finally, after seeing the two managers off, Chief Steward Qin returned from Algae Garden and spoke with him for a long while. Then he accompanied the old lady for dinner… and hasn’t closed his eyes even now!”
Zhou Shaojin felt both guilty and heartbroken, and hurriedly said, “Why didn’t you urge Fourth Master to rest earlier? What could possibly happen to me!”
Chunwan replied, “When have I ever been able to speak up in front of Fourth Master? Besides, even if you say you’re fine, both Fourth Master and the old lady care deeply about you. How could they rest easy without sending someone close to check on you?”
“It’s all my fault, all my fault!” Zhou Shaojin was filled with remorse.
How could she have been so foolish?
If Uncle Chi married a new aunt, she should respect and cherish her properly. How could she feel sad just because Uncle Chi would honor his new wife?
She couldn’t be that kind of selfish, petty person!
If Uncle Chi and his wife were happy, she should bless them!
Though she told herself she wouldn’t shed another tear, no matter how she tried to convince herself, Zhou Shaojin’s heart felt as if it were being sliced by a knife, and she couldn’t help but weep again.
Chunwan had said all this to help Zhou Shaojin completely break her habit of crying.
They were staying at Nine Prosperities Lane, and if she were seen secretly weeping by someone with ill intentions, all sorts of rumors could spread.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin crying again, she could only say, “Please, stop crying. It wouldn’t be good if Fourth Master or the old lady were disturbed!”Zhou Shaojin quickly stopped sobbing, tightly biting her lip, and obediently lay on the bed as Chunwan helped her soothe her eyes with warmth, not shedding another tear.
Cheng Chi received word that Zhou Shaojin had simply been moved by the scene and remembered Zhou Chujin.
He couldn’t help but smile.
This little girl really seems to be made of water.
And too delicate at that.
Should he wait until autumn to prepare some blood-nourishing and qi-boosting pills for her, or have her take a few doses of medicine first to build her up? He decided to wait until tomorrow when Lady Zhou enters the estate to examine her pulse before making a plan.
Cheng Chi rested at ease.
But as soon as his back touched the bed, it suddenly occurred to him.
Even if she was missing her sister, Zhou Shaojin wouldn’t have used exhaustion as an excuse, nor would she have skipped paying respects to her mother... as if she were afraid of seeing her.
This wasn’t like that little girl’s usual behavior!
Even if things didn’t work out with her mother, she would usually rush recklessly to him.
※
Sisters, here’s today’s update.
I have a meeting tomorrow, so updates will resume around 8 p.m.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (Want to know more exciting updates about "Jinling Spring"? Open WeChat now, click the "+" in the top right, choose "Add Friends" and then "Official Accounts," search for "Qidianzhongwenwang," follow the account, and never miss an update again!) (To be continued ~^~)
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