Тwо dауs later, nеws аrrivеd thаt Сheng Xu had асhieved thе top sсоrе in thе рrоvincial еxamination.
The еntirе Nine Рrosреritiеs Lаne wаs аbuzz with ехсitemеnt.
It must be noted thаt thе Chеng family’s best аchievеment in the imреriаl ехаminаtions was Сhеng Shaо, thе sеcоnd eldеr оf the main brаnсh, who hаd placеd second in thе imреrial еxaminatiоn during thе twеlfth yеаr оf thе Yоngсhang еrа. Hоwevеr, Cheng Shаo wаs аlrеadу thirtу-sеvеn years оld when he achievеd this honor.
In cоntrast, a sеventееn-yеar-old provincial examination top scorer held limitless possibilities.
On her way to the main room of the Autumn Embrace Pavilion, Zhou Shaojin overheard the maids tending to the flowers and trees discussing: “…Master Xu is sure to become the top scholar in the imperial examination. After the second elder, our Nine Prosperities Lane will finally erect a ‘Top Scholar’ memorial archway!”
“I don’t think the main branch would erect an archway even if Master Xu becomes the top scholar,” someone remarked. “The main branch has always disliked ostentation. When the second elder placed second in the imperial examination, didn’t someone come to persuade Old Madam Guo to erect a ‘Second Place’ memorial archway, only to be refused?”
“But is ‘Second Place’ the same as ‘Top Scholar’? Last time, it was her brother-in-law; this time, it’s her own grandson, the eldest grandson of the main branch, who will one day oversee Nine Prosperities Lane! Even if Old Madam Guo doesn’t agree, what about Madam Yuan?” someone retorted. “Besides, times have changed—back then, Old Madam Guo was a widow raising three sons alone. Look at her now: three sons, all of whom are imperial scholars, with the eldest serving as a powerful cabinet minister and the second as an esteemed Hanlin Academy scholar. If you were Old Madam Guo, what would you do?”
“Of course, I’d celebrate extravagantly!” another joined the conversation. “Doing nothing would be like wearing fine clothes in the dark—what’s the point?”
“Too bad you’re not Old Madam Guo!” someone teased. “Even Madam Yuan can’t guess Old Madam Guo’s thoughts, so you might as well give up!”
The person was unconvinced. “Can you guess Old Madam Guo’s thoughts? How do you know she won’t celebrate extravagantly?”
The two began bickering back and forth.
Zhou Shaojin shook her head with a smile and was about to leave when she heard someone intervene: “Alright, alright, stop arguing! The main branch hasn’t even made a move yet, and here we are, quarreling among ourselves. In my opinion, even though Master Xu placed first in the provincial examination, he’s still far from becoming the top scholar…”
“What do you know!” another chimed in. “When I went to the market to buy things for the madam, I heard a storyteller at the teahouse say that if someone is handsome, they’re guaranteed at least third place in the imperial examination. The second elder of our main branch not only wrote excellent essays but was also very handsome. The emperor originally intended to award him third place, but the youngest candidate that year was the ninth elder of the Lujiang Li family, who was also quite handsome, so the emperor gave third place to him instead. Our second elder ended up with second place.”
“Nonsense,” everyone scoffed in disbelief. “Then what about Fourth Master Chi of our main branch? Isn’t he handsome? He also attended the imperial examination—why wasn’t he awarded third place?”
The speaker fell silent.
Everyone began discussing Cheng Chi instead.“Tell me, what’s the deal with Fourth Master Chi? He’s sent away all his senior maids, keeping only Nanping and Jiying. And Nanping is a widow who never married into her intended family, yet he doesn’t add anyone else. Meanwhile, the young attendants by his side are all exceptionally handsome…”
“Yes, yes! I heard from the main branch that Fourth Master Chi never visits brothels or theaters, and he doesn’t even have a concubine!”
“No way! Isn’t that Jiying his concubine? Last time, when Second Master Yi harassed Jiying and she beat him up, I saw that Jiying didn’t face any consequences…”
“I also think Jiying must be Fourth Master Chi’s concubine. Look at her demeanor—even the newly married Mistress Nuo, the legitimate daughter of a fourth-rank prefect, can’t compare to her! I think Fourth Master Chi isn’t lacking people around him; it’s just that ordinary folks can’t catch his eye. Look at Jiying—how beautiful she is! Our Second Master Yi couldn’t take his eyes off her…”
Zhou Shaojin walked further away, and the voices of the gossipers grew fainter. She couldn’t help but curl the corners of her mouth.
If Jiying heard these words, who knows how furious she’d be!
With a smile in her eyes, she entered the main room.
Madam Mian was discussing something with the kitchen matron. Seeing Zhou Shaojin walk in, she smiled and said, “What good news did you encounter so early in the morning? You’re so happy you can’t even close your mouth. Tell me about it so I can share in the joy!”
The kitchen matron flattered even more, saying, “When Second Cousin smiles like that, she looks even more like a flower—truly beautiful!”
Zhou Shaojin admitted that hearing others praise Cheng Chi made her happy, but was it really that obvious?
She unconsciously touched her face and smiled. “This morning seems just like any other day. Nothing particularly special happened.”
The kitchen matron chimed in, “Second Cousin must be happy because the eldest young master is getting married!”
This matron really knows how to talk.
Zhou Shaojin pursed her lips and smiled.
Madam Mian then asked her, “With Eldest Master Xu passing the provincial examination as the top scholar, has the main branch made any arrangements?”
“I don’t know!” Zhou Shaojin replied with a smile. “I live in Cold Green Mountain House. After Madam Yuan returned, Old Madam Guo handed over the household management of the main branch to Madam Yuan. As for Madam Yuan’s plans, it seems she hasn’t discussed them with the old madam yet. However, the old madam’s intention is not to celebrate extravagantly—just a family meal together will suffice.”
Madam Mian praised, “The old madam has truly experienced things and remains so composed. If it were me, I’d definitely set up a stage at the entrance and have operas performed for several days.”
Zhou Shaojin laughed.
A matron peeked in from outside the door.
Zhou Shaojin recognized her as a sweeping matron from the outer courtyard and asked with a smile, “Is there something going on?”
The matron entered timidly, curtsied to Madam Mian and Zhou Shaojin, and murmured, “Madam, Second Cousin, I heard that Madam Bai is ill, and her family is selling farmland—some of it even ancestral property…”
In earlier years, Madam Bai had been close to the fourth branch, and the distance only emerged in the last two years, especially after Cheng Lu went to Yuelu Academy. To others, it seemed natural for Madam Bai, a widow with her son away from home, to keep her doors closed and reduce interactions with the fourth branch. They hadn’t noticed that the fourth branch and Cheng Lu’s family had actually ceased contact. Now that something had happened in Cheng Lu’s family, the servants naturally came to inform Madam Mian.Madam Mian and Zhou Shaojin were both greatly startled. They looked at each other, speechless for a long while.
Cheng Lu's family was considered well-off. What illness had Madam Bai contracted that they had actually reached the point of selling land—and some of it ancestral property at that!
Madam Mian said to the servant woman, "You must not spread such talk carelessly. Keep this to yourself for now, and I will decide after consulting with the elder master." Then she had someone reward the woman with a handful of copper coins.
The servant woman left with a thousand thanks.
Madam Mian immediately sent for Cheng Mian and told him about the matter.
Cheng Mian was clearly hearing this for the first time and was very surprised. He promptly said, "I will have someone inquire about this right away."
Although the two families had almost severed contact, they still shared the same surname Cheng, and in the eyes of those in Jinling City, Cheng Lu remained a member of the Cheng family. With Cheng Lu's mother ill to the point of selling land and property, even if Nine Prosperities Lane did not provide financial aid to help them through this difficulty, they could not allow the Cheng family's ancestral property to fall into the hands of outsiders. They ought to purchase the assets Cheng Lu intended to sell. Especially the fourth branch, which had been close to Cheng Lu—if they showed no reaction at all, it would inevitably lead to misunderstandings about their cold-heartedness.
Madam Mian nodded and, full of worry, saw Cheng Mian off. After pondering the matter in her room, she left Zhou Shaojin at Autumn Embrace Pavilion and went to see Old Madam Guan.
Zhou Shaojin could not help but feel uneasy.
In her previous life, Cheng Lu had sold his property to the third branch after being expelled from the Cheng family and left Jinling City with his mother, Madam Dong.
In this life, since he faced the predicament of being expelled and would be barred from official service in the future, he should have cherished the ancestral property even more. Why would he sell it?
What exactly had happened on Cheng Lu's side?
She had always believed that Madam Dong's illness was Cheng Lu's excuse, but could it be that Madam Dong was truly ill?
Or was Cheng Lu plotting something?
After waiting anxiously until evening, Cheng Mian entered with a somber expression, paid his respects to Old Madam Guan and Madam Mian, and said, "I have inquired clearly. Madam Bai is indeed ill, and it was Madam Zhou who examined her. But Madam Bai's illness is strange—sometimes better, sometimes worse. Even Madam Zhou could not determine exactly what it was. Physician Zhou suggested it would be best to invite a royal physician from the capital for a consultation. Cheng Xiangqing rushed back three days ago and is now attending to his mother at home. The matter of selling land and property is being handled entirely by Cheng Xiangqing's attendant, Zhao Dahai. Before coming here, I went to see Cousin Chi and the elder of the second branch. Cousin Chi said that if it truly came to this, he could contribute five hundred taels of silver to assist Cheng Xiangqing. The elder of the second branch said they could purchase Cheng Lu's property..."
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Guan frowned.
Cheng Chi was willing to contribute five hundred taels, while the elder of the second branch wanted to buy Cheng Lu's property... the contrast was stark.
She pondered and said, "Then you should go and convey this message to Cheng Xiangqing." Then, turning to Madam Mian, she added, "You should bring some tonics to visit Madam Bai, to at least preserve the goodwill between our two families."
Cheng Mian and Madam Mian both responded with "Yes." Old Madam Guan shook her head and sighed as Zhou Shaojin helped her into the inner chamber.
Zhou Shaojin comforted Old Madam Guan, "Please don't worry too much. Everyone is helping them, and they will overcome this difficulty!"
Old Madam Guan nodded wistfully and said, "Perhaps it's because I'm getting old, but I believe more and more that good deeds bring good rewards, and evil deeds bring retribution. If it hasn't come yet, the time simply hasn't arrived. It's better for people to be kind to others as much as possible."
Was she referring to Madam Bai's sudden illness?Zhou Shaojin remained silent, but her heart was filled with deep suspicion.
Returning to Cold Green Mountain House, she went to the Listening Oriole Pavilion.
Cheng Chi was practicing calligraphy under the lamplight. Hearing the movement, he looked up and smiled, saying, "Did you come because of Cheng Lu's matter?"
Under the dim yellow light, the faint smile in his eyes was like the warm winter sun, utterly captivating.
Zhou Shaojin's heart skipped a beat, and only then did she nod.
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "Don’t worry about him. Madam Dong is feigning illness so that Cheng Lu has an excuse to sell the ancestral property and bribe the education official."
Zhou Shaojin blinked and asked, "Has it already come to this?"
Cheng Chi’s smile deepened, his voice growing even gentler. "Don’t worry, no matter who he seeks, it will be useless."
Zhou Shaojin naturally believed him, but she was still somewhat puzzled, feeling that this matter had come too suddenly.
Cheng Chi chuckled, "It’s not sudden. For someone his age to make such a decision shows decisiveness and foresight."
He spoke as if he were much older.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but grumble inwardly, pouting as she said, "Then I’ll be leaving!"
※
Dear readers, here is today’s update.
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: They say things will return to normal tomorrow, so I should be able to resume two updates a day.
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel