“Вut Jiаshаn still has his heаrt sеt оn Shаоjin.” Old Madаm Guо did not want tо listen to Маdаm Yuаn’s ехcuses аny longer and went straight tо thе pоint, “And in оrdеr tо lеt Jiashаn studу with реаcе of mind, you dесeivеd him, saying that аs long as hе studied hard fоr thе imреriаl ехaminatiоns аnd aсhiеvеd goоd results, уоu would seеk Shаojin’s hаnd in marriage fоr him, isn’t that so?”
Thаt wаs whу Jiashаn had pestеrеd Shаojin аftеr bесоming а prоvinсial tоp sсholar…
Мadаm Yuаn hеmmed аnd hаwеd, still trуing to justify her аctions: “I originally intеnded to seеk Zhou Shaоjin’s hand fоr Jiаshan, but thе marriage arrangement with the Min family has been longstanding. Before, the Min family kept delaying, but who would have thought that after Jiashan became the provincial top scholar, the Min family took the initiative to visit, lowering their stance so much. I was afraid the Min family would think Jiashan had become arrogant after becoming the top scholar and look down on them, needlessly offending them. I couldn’t outright refuse at the time and wanted to put the matter aside until I returned to the capital. Unexpectedly, the Min family’s third master directly approached our Eldest Young Master about this matter. Eldest Young Master is busy with court affairs all day, how would he know about matters in the inner courtyard? Thinking that the two families had previously had an understanding, he agreed without hesitation. I was in Jinling City, and by the time I received the news, it was already too late, so I didn’t dare tell Mother…”
Old Madam Guo slapped Madam Yuan across the face.
“Mother!” Madam Yuan never dreamed she would receive a second slap from Old Madam Guo.
She covered her face, staring blankly at Old Madam Guo, her eyes glistening with tears.
“A person without integrity cannot stand. Even merchants in the marketplace know this, let alone someone like you who can read and write.” Old Madam Guo was furious, saying, “All your learning has gone to the dogs! Even now you’re still trying to deceive me with your words. Do you think everyone else is a fool and only you are clever? I truly don’t know who taught you to read and write! If you look down on Zhou Shaojin, then just say so openly. Why deceive Jiashan! Even if he is momentarily displeased, he is still young. If he doesn’t pass this examination, there’s always the next. Yet you were so impatient, resorting to such despicable means just to ensure your son’s name appears on the list. Jiashan is your son, not a tool for you to achieve your goals! You keep saying you love your son, but is this how you show it? You are a person, with emotions and desires. Is your son not a person too? Must he like whomever you tell him to like, marry whomever you tell him to marry? Why didn’t I force you and Eldest Young Master? Now that others have taken advantage of the situation, you still blame Shaojin.
“How could you utter such humiliating words about Shaojin?
“The karma you created, must Shaojin bear it for you?
“You are also a woman, don’t you know what such words and actions would bring upon that young girl?”"I had no idea that Jiashan had been deceived in all this. Had I known, I should have slapped you right there in the cave. But then again, even if I had slapped you, I doubt it would have woken you up. Even now, you still refuse to admit you were wrong..." Old Madam Guo spoke with a weary tone, her voice faint. "Say no more. As I said before, from now on, you are not to interfere in Jiashan’s affairs. Otherwise, I will personally go to Tongxiang and make things clear with your brother. Although our Cheng family has never divorced a wife, there are precedents for sending an unreasonable clan matriarch to a temple for reflection."
Madam Yuan fell to her knees with a thud before Old Madam Guo.
She remembered it clearly. It was not long after she had married into the family. Over some matter, Cheng Jing and Old Madam Guo had argued. Old Madam Guo made Cheng Jing kneel in the courtyard to reflect. Goose-feather snowflakes drifted down, accumulating two inches high, but Cheng Jing refused to admit his mistake, and Old Madam Guo refused to let him rise... Even now, whenever the weather changed abruptly, Cheng Jing’s knees would ache faintly.
Old Madam Guo was a woman of her word!
Even her own son, she had the heart to punish, let alone a daughter-in-law like her.
"Mother, I know I was wrong! I won’t dare do it again. Please forgive me this once!" She clung to Old Madam Guo’s legs, pleading desperately. "From now on, I’ll listen to you in everything... Jiashan is already a Provincial Graduate. With a little more effort, given his age, he could at least become a Third-Ranked Scholar. If luck is on his side, he might even become the Top Graduate. To achieve the Triple Crown—no one in our dynasty has ever attained such glory since its founding. Mother, just this one thing, let me handle this one thing, and I will be grateful to you for the rest of my life..."
Old Madam Guo kicked Madam Yuan squarely in the chest.
"Get out! Get out of here!" the old lady said calmly, though the veins on her hand, pressed against the tea table, bulged. "Don’t ever let me see you again!"
"Mother!" Madam Yuan dared not loosen her grip on Old Madam Guo’s leg, even as the kick sent a sharp pain through her chest.
Old Madam Guo erupted in fury, shouting for Nanny Lu, "Drag her out of here!"
"Mother!" Madam Yuan refused to let go, tears streaming down her face. "I ask for nothing else, just this one thing..."
Old Madam Guo laughed in extreme anger. "What if I arrange a concubine for Eldest Young Master, have him father a son, and raise the child in my quarters? Would you agree to that?"
Madam Yuan froze.
Old Madam Guo raised her voice. "This son is yours! But I cannot let the eldest branch’s lineage be cut off. If Eldest Young Master were to raise another son for the Cheng family, would you agree to that?"
"No, no, no..." Madam Yuan shook her head, her mind a tangled mess, unsure of what to say or not to say. "You can’t do this... I won’t allow it..."
Old Madam Guo’s expression softened slightly, and she whispered, "If you leave with Nanny Lu now, you’ll still retain some dignity. If I call the rough-handed maids to drag you out, don’t say I didn’t spare you any face..."
But I cannot give my son to you!
He is on the verge of making something of himself.
I cannot simply let go of the son I’ve raised with such hardship for over a decade!Madam Yuan still wanted to argue with Old Madam Guo, but Nanny Lu supported her, half-guiding and half-dragging her out while whispering in her ear, "The old madam is in a fit of anger right now, so why not say less for now, madam? Whatever the matter is, wait until the old madam's temper cools before discussing it. You've been married into this family for nearly thirty years—don't you already know what her temper is like? Besides, isn't there still the elder master to rely on?"
Yes!
The more you yield to the old madam, the more tolerant she becomes; the more you oppose her, the more stubborn she turns.
The elder master—only the elder master could save her...
Madam Yuan stumbled out of the inner room with Nanny Lu.
Old Madam Guo sat alone in the silent room for a moment, then sighed helplessly.
Turning around to tuck Cheng Xu's blanket, she found his eyes wide open—he had woken up at some point without her noticing.
Her grandson might have witnessed her reprimanding his mother. Old Madam Guo worried whether Madam Yuan would lose her authority in front of her son from now on.
"You're awake!" she said, sparing Madam Yuan's dignity. "I've just spoken with your mother. You'll stay with me for a while. Your mother... still has to manage the household affairs..."
"I heard everything!" Cheng Xu interrupted Old Madam Guo, gazing at her eagerly. "You don’t want me to marry the eldest daughter of the Min family either, do you? Then please help me! I want to marry Shaojin—the one I love is Shaojin... Shaojin grew up in your household, so you know her temperament best... Not only is she gentle, kind, well-educated, and reasonable, but she’s also skilled in all kinds of needlework and embroidery. I want to marry a wife like her... I don’t want to marry a woman who constantly watches over my scholarly pursuits and official career... Grandmother, please help me! No one but you can help me with this! I’ll surely honor and care for you in the future..."
Old Madam Guo smiled.
How similar his tone was to Madam Yuan’s just moments ago!
This was the future clan heir of their Nine Prosperities Lane!
This was the future reliance of their Cheng family!
Disappointed to the extreme, even losing her temper felt like a waste of energy.
Old Madam Guo said gently, "Jiashan. I won’t help you."
Cheng Xu widened his eyes.
Old Madam Guo was suddenly reminded of his childhood—when the weather was too hot, he would clamor for chilled mung bean soup, and she would forbid his wet nurse from giving it to him. He would stare at her with eyes just like this.
He was still a child!
Old Madam Guo’s heart softened, and she couldn’t help saying, "Jiashan. Once, Shaojin complained to me that you often pestered her. Did you know your mother would seek her hand in marriage for you, and that’s why you sought her out?"
Cheng Xu could sense his grandmother’s softening attitude. Eager to seize the opportunity, he quickly replied, "No. It was after I learned that Mother intended to arrange a marriage between me and the eldest daughter of the Min family that I went to find Shaojin. I wanted to know if she liked me too. If she did, I would surely have pleaded with Mother to let us be together. If Mother refused, I would have begged the old madam of the fourth branch, begged you, begged Lord Zhou..."
Old Madam Guo said gently, "But now, even though Shaojin beat you up, you still like her and still want to marry her, don’t you?"
If Grandmother thought Zhou Shaojin had beaten him, even if Zhou Shaojin married into the family one day, Grandmother would never like her.Cheng Xu did not want Zhou Shaojin to suffer any injustice, so he quickly said, "Grandmother, it's not like that. I drank too much and said things I shouldn't have. It was Shaojin's attendants who hit me..."
Old Madam Guo interrupted Cheng Xu and patiently asked again, "Even so, you still want to marry Shaojin, don't you?"
Cheng Xu replied, "Yes."
Old Madam Guo said, "But if I were you, so deeply in love with someone, what does it matter whether she likes me or not? Why must I wait for her consent before seeking the elders' approval? My affairs are mine alone to handle! I would make it clear to my mother that I will never marry anyone other than Zhou Shaojin. If she insists on arranging a marriage with the Min family for me, I will absolutely not appear at the wedding ceremony. Then I would go to my father and reiterate my resolve. If he also refuses, I would personally go to the Zhou family to propose... Whether the Zhou family agrees or not, whether my mother consents or not, I would disregard it all. What I love, I must have. If I am wrong, then it is my fault. If I become a laughingstock, others will only laugh at me. I would simply show sincerity and tell that person: I love you, and for you, I am willing to make every effort, even if I am ridiculed, even if it is untimely... Whether I succeed or fail, when I grow old and look back on this matter, I will know I gave my all. Even if there are regrets, I will have no remorse.
"Jiashan, have you done this?
"For the things you are obsessed with, can you do this?"
Cheng Xu's eyes lit up with delight as he said, "Grandmother, are you telling me to go and seek Lord Zhou?"
※
Dear brothers and sisters, here is today's update.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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