Тhе Gu fаmilу wаs dоing well in evеrу rеsреct. Therе hаd been nо news of аnу fаmilу mеmbеr suddenly rising tо prominence, nor оf аny mаrriagе аlliаnсes with роwеrful аnd influеntial fаmilies.
So why did Сhеng Jing want tо arrange а marriagе betweеn Сhеng Yi аnd Sеvеntеenth Miss Gu?
Оld Мadаm Guаn wаs utterlу pеrрlexеd.
Сheng Мian said, "Why nоt write a lettеr tо аsk Mаster Zhou? Hе sеrvеs as аn оffiсiаl in thе сourt аnd hоlds a рositiоn in Baоding Prеfесture. Nеws frоm thе сapital rеaches him in less than а day."
Mаdam Miаn spоkе evеn more bluntly, "Why not take advantage of the fact that this matter hasn’t spread yet and directly discuss it with Master Zhou to settle the engagement between Shaojin and Yi Ge'er?"
The older one gets, the more cautious one becomes.
"Nonsense!" Old Madam Guan couldn’t help but whisper sharply, "Eldest Master Jing wrote to us. Can you guarantee he hasn’t written to the Gu family as well? Whether Shaojin and our Yi Ge'er are engaged or not may not be known to outsiders, but surely the people of Nine Prosperities Lane know? What would Eldest Master Jing think? Rather than letting him suspect that Yi Ge'er’s marriage is just an excuse involving Shaojin, it would be better to find some fault with the Gu family and directly decline Eldest Master Jing’s proposal. That way, he might feel more at ease. Besides, in a few years, Gao Ge'er will be taking the imperial examinations. It’s really not advisable to offend Eldest Master Jing."
Madam Mian couldn’t help but think how wonderful Zhou Shaojin was. She was determined to keep Zhou Shaojin in the family, especially after Zhou Shaojin moved to Cold Green Mountain House, where her demeanor and conduct had changed significantly. Her gentle and compliant nature now carried an air of grace and dignity, making her truly endearing.
Upon hearing this, she muttered softly, "This won’t work, that won’t work either. Are we just going to stand by and watch Yi Ge'er marry Seventeenth Miss Gu?"
Old Madam Guan was also unwilling.
It was well-known throughout Jinling City that the Gu family’s daughters had little dowry. In contrast, Zhou Zhen’s official career had been flourishing in recent years, and the dowries prepared for the Zhou sisters were becoming increasingly valuable. Zhou Shaojin’s birth mother, Madam Zhuang, happened to be the one closest to Zhou Zhen’s heart. Although Madam Zhuang had no dowry, Zhou Zhen would never treat Zhou Shaojin unfairly. The father of Seventeenth Miss Gu was a scholar who had repeatedly failed the imperial examinations—either overly pedantic or not very bright. Zhou Zhen was already a fourth-rank prefect, and his future career prospects were only getting better... In comparison, aside from the Gu family’s ancestral reputation, their large and prosperous family, and the support they could provide in times of trouble, they were in no way superior to the Zhou family.
But they were scholars, not commoners. In times of trouble, would they really compare whose family had more people or whose fists were harder?
Old Madam Guan pondered and said, "I think we must seek help from Old Madam Guo!"
Cheng Mian nodded repeatedly, saying, "Mother is truly far-sighted. The whole story behind this matter likely can only be uncovered by Old Madam Guo."
Madam Mian urged anxiously, "There’s no time to waste. Shall we go to Cold Green Mountain House later?"
Just as Old Madam Guan was about to agree, Si'er called from outside the curtain, "Eldest Master, Old Madam, Madam. Old Madam Guo has arrived!"
All three of them were taken aback.
Cheng Mian speculated, "Aunt is likely here regarding Yi Ge'er’s marriage with the Gu family."
Old Madam Guan and Madam Mian snapped back to reality. Old Madam Guan instructed her son, "You should step aside for now. If the conversation reaches an impasse, it will be up to you men to try again.""I understand!" Cheng Chi gently supported Old Madam Guan to the doorway, saying, "Why not invite Aunt to sit in the reception room? I can listen to what she has to say."
Old Madam Guan's inner chamber connected to the reception room. Usually, when Old Madam Guo visited, Old Madam Guan would entertain her either in the inner chamber or the reception room to show closeness.
If they were to receive Old Madam Guo in the flower hall because Cheng Mian had retreated to the inner chamber—especially at a time when they wished to keep Zhou Shaojin in their family while Cheng Jing was acting as a matchmaker for the Gu family—it would easily invite speculation.
In reality, Old Madam Guan and the others were overthinking.
Old Madam Guo hadn't noticed any of this, and even if she had, she wouldn't have cared. She had come merely to give the fourth branch an explanation, ensuring the marriage alliance between the Cheng and Gu families was strengthened.
She got straight to the point: "Are you particularly fond of Shaojin? Has there been any verbal agreement or exchange of tokens with the Zhou family?" After speaking, she sighed bitterly, "Ziming thought he could make decisions for Nine Prosperities Lane and wrote to the Gu family first. The Gu family was overjoyed upon hearing the news, and only then did Ziming write to you.
"Who could have imagined such a blunder?
"But he's grown accustomed to being the head of the household, and going back on his word now would be a blow to his pride. Coincidentally, I sent someone to ask him about it, so he handed the matter over to me. Tell me about your prior arrangements with the Zhou family, and I'll take on the role of the villain.
"All the fault lies with Ziming! As for the Gu family, we will compensate them. You needn't worry."
Ziming was Cheng Jing's courtesy name.
Old Madam Guan's face flushed red as she said, "How can we blame Nephew Jing? He meant well. As for compensation, our fourth branch will handle it. We can't let the eldest branch bear the burden, making Nephew Jing both exert effort and spend money."
Originally, Old Madam Guan had been confident about Zhou Shaojin marrying Cheng Yi, but this unexpected turn of events left her anxious and hesitant. Fearing they might be overly eager, she vaguely mentioned tokens and focused on compensation.
This way, if the Zhou family disagreed to let Zhou Shaojin stay, she would have a way out.
Unexpectedly, Old Madam Guo said, "This isn't about money! Ziming will likely have to secure suitable official positions for a few of the Gu family's younger members, and when Old Master Gu the Ninth takes office, careful arrangements will need to be made."
Old Madam Guan and her daughter-in-law were speechless.
Such compensation was beyond their means—they couldn't even imagine it.
After Old Madam Guo left, the mother and her two sons remained silent for a long while.
After what felt like an eternity, Cheng Mian forced a smile to comfort his mother: "Let's just consider it as our fourth branch owing the eldest branch a great favor. Cheng Yi can repay it in the future."
Cheng Mian himself didn't believe Cheng Yi had the ability to repay the eldest branch's favor, let alone Old Madam Guan and Madam Mian.
Old Madam Guan spent another sleepless night.
Early the next morning, she called Cheng Mian to her side and hesitantly said, "Perhaps... we should reconsider Yi Ge'er's marriage... After all, the children are still young..."
Cheng Mian remained silent.
The previous night, he and his wife had hardly slept, tossing and turning in bed. His wife, Madam He, had repeatedly emphasized how much she liked Zhou Shaojin and wanted her as their daughter-in-law.
Seeing this, Old Madam Guan could easily guess her son's thoughts.She said helplessly, "It's not that I'm being ungrateful and seeking better prospects elsewhere, but the kindness of the eldest branch is simply too great for us to repay! There are still many days ahead, and we will have many more requests to make of the eldest branch. We've already troubled them for Yi Ge'er's sake—what about Gao Ge'er's matters in the future? And your brother's affairs?"
Both are equally dear!
Cheng Mian whispered, "Please let me think it over a little longer."
Old Madam Guan nodded gloomily and had Si'er escort Cheng Mian out. She then went to Cold Green Mountain House herself.
Although it was still morning, the midsummer sun was already glaringly bright.
Zhou Shaojin was wearing a pale moon-white Songjiang fine linen blouse and a fuchsia sleeveless jacket, her fair little face flushed pink as she bathed the little dog named Snowball under the large locust tree in the courtyard.
Biyu, Zhenzhu, and others who usually attended to Old Madam Guo were standing nearby, some holding towels and others basins of water.
Sunlight filtered through the dense foliage, dappling Zhou Shaojin's figure. The fuchsia jacket draped over her like a wisp of mist.
Old Madam Guan squinted as if her eyes were stung by the sunlight.
That was Yunxia—a new tribute fabric from the Hangzhou Prefecture weaving office this year, delivered to the palace only in April.
During the Dragon Boat Festival, when the He family came to deliver festival gifts, Madam He privately sent a handkerchief of this fabric to her in-law, Madam Mian. It was said to cost thirty taels per piece in the capital.
She looked more closely.
On Zhou Shaojin's wrist was a multi-gem bracelet, delicate and studded with pigeon-egg-sized emeralds, lotus-seed-sized cat's eye stones, and rice-grain-sized southern pearls... casually strung on the chain yet arranged in an elegant, dazzlingly beautiful pattern. It was exceptionally lovely, to say nothing of the fact that the emeralds and cat's eye stones alone were already priceless... and she was wearing it while bathing a dog?
Old Madam Guan felt momentarily dazed.
She had raised three children herself, and the fourth branch had always maintained a simple and frugal household. Though she had never deprived the sisters of food, clothing, or necessities during their years in the fourth branch, such extravagance had never been part of their lives.
It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go from luxury back to frugality.
If Shaojin were to marry into the fourth branch, could she adapt to their austere way of life again?
Old Madam Guan gazed at that rosy face and listened to the delicate, cheerful sounds she made, suddenly feeling uncertain in her heart.
Zhou Shaojin, however, turned and caught sight of Old Madam Guan. She quickly wrapped the freshly bathed Snowball in a towel, handed him to Chunwan, and hurried over. "Grandmother, when did you arrive? Why didn’t you have the maids announce you? I would have come to greet you."
Old Madam Guan collected her thoughts and chuckled softly. "That jacket you're wearing is very pretty. When did you have it made?"
Zhou Shaojin smiled. "Uncle Chi brought it back from Huai'an, and Old Madam Guo gifted it to me. There's also a spring green one and a pink-purple one, both very lovely. I used the leftover scraps to make a few pouches and plan to send some over in a few days."
Three bolts in total!
Old Madam Guan silently counted in her mind as Zhou Shaojin took her arm and led her toward the main house.
Along the way, she admonished her, "Why wear such an expensive bracelet while bathing a dog? What if you lost it?"
Zhou Shaojin replied cheerfully, "We're at Cold Green Mountain House—even if it were lost, it wouldn't matter much. We'd surely find it again."
As if she were wearing nothing more than a gilded hollow bracelet, the casual indifference unintentionally revealed was the true mark of indulgence.
Old Madam Guan fell silent as they entered the main house.Old Madam Guo had already received the news and changed into fresh clothes, sitting calmly in the resting chamber.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin supporting Old Madam Guan as they walked in, she smiled and said to Zhou Shaojin, "How old are you now, yet you still act like a child, bathing Snowball? What if there was something dirty on Snowball? Don’t do this again in the future."
Zhou Shaojin blushed and replied, "Yes," without a trace of fear in her expression.
After everyone had taken their seats, Old Madam Guo instructed Nanny Lu, "Don’t let Shaojin have anything cold to eat. She’s had too much these past few days!"
To those unaware, it might seem as though Zhou Shaojin were Old Madam Guo’s own granddaughter!
※
Dear sisters and brothers, here is today’s update.
PS: Regarding the matter of arranging a marriage for Cheng Yi, I’ve seen your comments. Originally, I intended to write that Uncle Chi changed his approach due to a shift in his mindset, which led Old Madam Guo to question him… I didn’t expect it to turn out this way… (>_<)
What do you all think? Should I make some changes?
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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