Zhоu Shаоjin соuldn't hеlp but beсоmе саutious.
Madаm Мian, howеver, aсtеd аs if nоthing hаd hаppеned. She put her arm arоund Zhоu Shaоjin's shouldеrs, first ехсhangеd а fеw рlеasаntries with the two уоung ladiеs of the Guo fаmily, then еngaged in саsuаl соnvеrsаtion with the уоung ladiеs оf thе Gu familу: "Hоw аre the lаdiеs and mаdams of yоur household? I hеаrd thаt sevеral elderlу mаstеrs of уоur fаmilу hаvе built huts neаr thе anсestrаl fields. Who is mаnaging thе hоusеhold аffаirs nоw? Will аnyone frоm your family be tаking the provinсial eхaminаtiоn this autumn?"
Gu Shiqigu, bеing the eldest among the sisters, responded with a smile: "Thanks to the blessings of the Bodhisattva, everyone in the family is well. Although the elderly masters are away, the household affairs are still being managed by Nineteenth Uncle. Even though we, the great-great-grandchildren, have completed the mourning period, the elders in the family are still observing filial piety. For the time being, none of the cousins are in the mood for it, so most likely no one will participate in this year's provincial examination."
She spoke clearly and methodically, and as the eldest among the Gu sisters, Madam Mian knew this must be Gu Shiqigu, the one Cheng Jing had recommended as a match.
Madam Mian couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking how prejudice could be so harmful. If this girl were to truly become her daughter-in-law, she must not take out her frustrations on her just because she couldn't keep Zhou Shaojin. After all, this girl would be the one spending her life with her youngest son. No matter how wonderful Zhou Shaojin was, she was someone else's daughter, someone else's daughter-in-law...
She consoled herself, took a deep breath, and suppressed the bitterness in her heart before carefully examining Gu Shiqigu a few times.
Gu Shiqigu wore a moon-white Hangzhou silk blouse, over which she had draped a silver-red burnt cloth vest. Below, she wore a skirt of the same moon-white Hangzhou silk with embroidered lines. The collar was fastened with pipa-shaped buttons, and her hair was styled in double spiral buns, adorned with a silver-gilt pearl hairpin. She wore a pair of small silver earrings but no other accessories. Though she appeared neat, tidy, and well-put-together, the slightly yellowish hue of the embroidered skirt, the symmetrical and orderly pleats, and the outdated pipa-shaped buttons at the collar hinted at a certain simplicity. The silver-gilt hairpin and silver earrings, however, revealed a touch of cleverness and delicacy befitting a young lady.
As for her appearance, compared to Shaojin, it was far inferior—there was simply no comparison.
Fortunately, her gaze was clear and bright, her demeanor composed, and her manners graceful, truly reflecting the upbringing of a young lady from the Gu family, known for its heritage of poetry, literature, and etiquette.
Madam Mian calmly withdrew her gaze, though she still felt a tinge of regret in her heart. She retreated behind Old Madam Guan and attended to her duties.
Old Madam Guo then stood up with a smile and said, "You all go ahead and enjoy yourselves. Don’t let us old ladies make you feel uncomfortable here."
Everyone politely urged them to stay.
Nevertheless, Old Madam Guo and the others left the Water Pavilion.
The group began chattering and chatting animatedly.
Gu Shiqigu, however, kept her eyes on Old Madam Guo and the others as they left, watching them head to the pavilion atop the Taihu stone hill not far from the Water Pavilion. She couldn’t help but pull Zhou Shaojin aside and whisper, "Why did the old lady and madam of the fourth branch come over? I noticed they seemed a bit off!"
Zhou Shaojin replied, "I found it strange too. However, last time my grandmother came, she said she wasn’t feeling well and wanted to have a private talk with the old madam. Later, she sent someone to Pukou. I suspect there might be some trouble with Cousin Gao’s marriage."
Is that so?
But the way Madam Mian looked at her was a bit odd.
Gu Shiqigu turned her gaze toward the pavilion.They saw Old Madam Guo and Old Madam Guan sitting around the stone table, engaged in conversation. Madam Mian and Nanny Lu, along with several young maidservants, were attending to them nearby.
Since there were attendants present, they were not speaking in whispers.
Gu Shiqigu felt she might have overthought the matter and put it out of her mind.
Meanwhile, Old Madam Guo and the others in the pavilion were keeping an eye on the activities at the Water Pavilion.
They observed that when boarding the boat, Gu Shiqigu was the last to get on and the first to disembark. During the meal, she sat closest to the door, instructing maids to pass handkerchiefs and washing water. While the sisters were playing, she kept looking around, worried that someone might go missing... She assisted Zhou Shaojin without overshadowing her as the hostess.
This was precisely the kind of secondary daughter-in-law their Fourth Branch needed.
Madam Mian couldn’t help but whisper, "Mother truly has an eye for talent..."
Old Madam Guan gazed at Zhou Shaojin, whose smile was as radiant as flowers, and said with a hint of melancholy, "Everything in this world must be about suitability. When things are suitable, people feel comfortable, and all is well. When they are not, even if adorned with gold and jade, it’s still unpleasant."
Madam Mian nodded in agreement.
Old Madam Guan then turned to Old Madam Guo and said, "Please convey my thanks to the First Master on my behalf." Since the matter was still in its early stages and there were attendants nearby, she spoke discreetly, "When I have some free time, I’ll have Yi Ge’er kowtow to the First Master."
Old Madam Guo secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said solemnly, "Have you decided? This is no trivial matter. Once decided, it cannot be changed."
Old Madam Guan nodded firmly, "We’ve decided! I trust Nephew Jing’s judgment. He arranged Chujin’s marriage, and Chujin and her husband are doing very well." Now, Cheng Yi’s match was also arranged by Cheng Jing. "To be honest, our Fourth Branch owes a great deal to Nephew Jing. He always keeps us in mind. When he returns, our First Master must properly invite Nephew Jing for a drink!"
Old Madam Guo humbly replied, "As the eldest son of the main branch, it’s only natural for him to look after the clan when such suitable opportunities arise!" She then brought up Second Master Cheng Wen of the Fourth Branch, "The imperial assessment is coming up after the new year, isn’t it? Please tell Nephew Wen to strive for a top rating so that when the nine-year comprehensive assessment comes, he can be transferred to a better post."
This implied that Cheng Jing would continue to assist Cheng Wen in the future.
Old Madam Guan naturally expressed her gratitude repeatedly but had another matter on her mind.
She dismissed the attendants and whispered to Old Madam Guo, "As for Shaojin’s marriage... I’m afraid we’ll have to trouble you, Madam..."
"Don’t worry," Old Madam Guo reassured her. "After the provincial examinations in September, I plan to stay in the capital for a while. I’ll personally find a good match for Shaojin."
Only then did Old Madam Guan feel at ease.
A few days later, news spread of the marriage alliance between the Cheng and Gu families.
Cheng Yi was utterly astonished.
Wasn’t Shaojin supposed to be betrothed to him?
Although he had initially felt it was a bit awkward, upon further reflection, they had grown up together since childhood. Becoming husband and wife wouldn’t be so bad. Besides, Shaojin was so beautiful—whether pouting or angry, she looked like a painting, pleasing to the eye... But now, suddenly, the arrangement had changed... Who was Shaojin betrothed to?
Did his uncle disapprove?
He felt uneasy again.
Seizing an opportunity during a quiet noon, he secretly made his way to Cold Green Mountain House.Floating Emerald Pavilion was not like Fragrant Garden Residence, where he could come and go as he pleased. Moreover, that shrew Jiying lived in the Listening Orioles Hall, not far from Floating Emerald Pavilion.
The mere thought of it made his head ache faintly.
He urged Si'er to fetch Zhou Shaojin while he himself sat by the lake near Cold Green Mountain House, waiting for her.
Zhou Shaojin was also quite surprised to hear the news of Cheng Yi and Gu Shiqigu's engagement.
She recalled that time when Cheng Chi had asked her who she got along with best... Could it be that her careless remark had brought this about?
Zhou Shaojin then felt she was overthinking it.
Although Uncle Chi was good to her, how could a marriage alliance between two families be decided by a single word from her?
She wanted to take this opportunity to see Cheng Chi, yet she also felt that seeing him would only make her miss him more. As she was pacing restlessly in her room, she heard that Cheng Yi wanted to see her and immediately felt a sense of relief. She changed her clothes and hurried to the lakeside.
Cheng Chi had been away from home these past few days, busy with dissolving the partnership at the main branch of Yutai Bank and the Li family's Wei branch. Finally, having mostly wrapped up the matters, he thought about how he hadn't dined with Old Madam Guo for some time. He made a special effort to return at noon, planning to take a nap after the meal. Just then, Nanny Shang, who had brought him tea, said with a smile, "Second Master Yi is still like a child. If he wants to see Second Young Miss, he should just go see her. Yet he dragged Miss Si'er from Old Madam Guan's side to fetch Second Young Miss and is squatting by the lake waiting..."
Cheng Chi shot a cold glance at Nanny Shang and said, "They are cousins who grew up together. Now that Yi Ge'er is engaged, he must be curious about his bride-to-be and wants to confide in Second Young Miss. That's only natural. What's so strange about that?"
These were his true thoughts.
He hoped Shaojin could live happily, like wildflowers and grasses by the roadside, growing freely, rather than being kept in a cage where even when to eat or when to chirp required his approval.
However, since Cheng Yi had come to see her, they would likely talk for a while. Having rushed back from the shop in this sweltering heat, he was drenched in sweat. It would be better to take this chance to bathe. By the time he went to his mother's place, she would probably have finished her conversation and returned.
Cheng Chi instructed Nanny Shang to fetch water for his bath.
Nanny Shang trembled inwardly from Cheng Chi's glance, serving him carefully but unable to suppress her curiosity.
If Fourth Master wanted Cheng Yi to leave, he only needed to find an excuse and order Jiying to summon Second Young Miss, and Cheng Yi would flee in fright.
Had she guessed wrong?
Otherwise, why would Fourth Master have her keep an eye on Second Young Miss?
She didn't want to misinterpret his intentions.
After leaving the study, she went to find Huaishan. "...What do you think Fourth Master means by this?"
Huaishan didn't know either.
But he understood deeply that when Cheng Chi spoke, every word carried weight.
"Has Fourth Master told you to stop watching Second Young Miss?" he asked quietly.
Nanny Shang felt a sudden realization dawn on her.
A defeated foe was not to be feared!
No, Cheng Yi wasn't even a defeated foe.
He was simply not on the same level as Fourth Master. If Fourth Master even considered him a rival, wouldn't that lower his own standing?
Nanny Shang felt reassured once more.
Meanwhile, Cheng Yi, upon seeing the lovely and graceful Zhou Shaojin, found himself at a loss for words again. Blushing, he began tossing pebbles into the lake.Zhou Shaojin’s heart gave a sudden thump, and she preemptively laughed cheerfully, “Congratulations, Cousin Yi! Seventeenth Miss Gu is familiar with me—she’s very nice. You two will surely have a wonderful life together.”
Cheng Yi’s face flushed even redder. After mumbling for a moment, he said, “Second Cousin, what about you… has your marriage been settled?”
Zhou Shaojin thought of Cheng Chi.
Her bright gaze instantly dimmed, and she lowered her head, saying, “No… not yet.”
Cheng Yi relaxed completely.
His mind had never been as clear as it was at this moment.
If Grandmother had proposed the marriage to Uncle, and Uncle was dissatisfied with him but didn’t want to offend the Cheng family, he could only use the excuse that Second Cousin already had a verbal engagement with another family. He would then quickly arrange a marriage for Second Cousin, or at the very least, instruct her to say so.
Since that wasn’t the case, it meant Uncle wasn’t dissatisfied with him. Instead, the elders felt that Seventeenth Miss Gu was more suitable for him!
※
To Qingtian Moyun, an extra chapter for you all.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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