Madаm Li did nоt саrе what Mrs. Huаng thоught.
In her view, аs long as shе rеmаinеd truе tо herself, frеe from greed and resеntmеnt, she wоuld not саusе trоuble fоr Zhоu Zhеn, аnd hе would rеspect hеr еven mоre.
With a smile, Мadam Li sаw Mrs. Huаng оff, sеttlеd Zhоu Shаоjin and her vаriоus plаnts, аnd thеn begаn prерaring loсаl gifts for thе guards who had еscorted Shаоjin оver.
Мrs. Huang watсhеd in аstonishmеnt аnd sаid, "Маdаm, yоu аre tоo рolite."
Мadаm Li rерlied with а smilе, "Тhеse are thе Cheng family's guards. Wе can't let thеm make thе trip fоr nоthing."
Mrs. Нuang’s eyes darted around thoughtfully.
Madam Li then asked, "What brings you here today? Is there something you need?"
They had already arranged to visit the Daci Temple for Buddhist prayers the day after tomorrow.
Mrs. Huang smiled and lifted the food box in her hand, saying, "I made some snacks today and brought them over."
Zhou Shaojin usually did not eat food given by strangers.
Madam Li accepted it graciously and tactfully explained, "Everyone has different tastes. I quite enjoy your snacks, but our Second Young Miss isn’t used to them—she grew up in the south and prefers sweet things."
Undeterred, Mrs. Huang smiled and said, "It’s good that you like them, Madam! After Second Young Miss returns, I’ll make them especially for you. But what are Second Young Miss’s plans? Does she intend to stay here long-term, or will she return to Jinling after the New Year?"
Madam Li immediately grew wary.
Living in the same courtyard, with Zhou Zhen as her superior, it was impossible to avoid gossip. Yet Zhou Zhen disliked being talked about the most, so Madam Li was always careful in this regard, keeping a low profile and preventing others from prying into her family’s affairs.
"She’ll definitely stay until after the New Year," she said vaguely. "Even if Second Young Miss wanted to return, our master wouldn’t allow it."
Wasn’t this as good as saying nothing?
Just as Mrs. Huang was about to press further, Mrs. Tan, the wife of the Registrar from the Inspection Office, arrived.
She also carried several boxes of pastries and greeted Madam Li and Mrs. Huang with a smile, saying she had come to see Zhou Shaojin.
Madam Li went to fetch Shaojin, who came out to greet Mrs. Tan.
Mrs. Tan’s eyes immediately widened in surprise.
Zhou Shaojin wore a sapphire-blue plain silk vest with carved patterns, her jet-black hair tied in a bun. Beside her snow-white cheeks hung yellow amber earrings, and perhaps due to the warmth of the heated room, her face was slightly flushed. She looked radiant and strikingly beautiful.
"Is this your Second Young Miss?" Mrs. Tan asked Madam Li in disbelief. "She’s truly beautiful! Is she betrothed yet? What time did she arrive yesterday? Did she disembark at Tianjin or travel overland the whole way…" She fired off questions one after another and even tried to take off a jade bracelet she was wearing to give to Shaojin as a meeting gift.
Shaojin declined repeatedly until Madam Li urged her to accept, and only then did she take it.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Huang kept staring at the yellow amber beads in Shaojin’s ears.
Even Madam Li noticed.
Mrs. Huang explained with a smile, "It seems Second Young Miss’s earrings aren’t plain, are they?"
Shaojin smiled and replied, "You’re right! One of the beads is carved with Magu Offering Longevity, and the other with Four Seasons of Peace."
Mrs. Huang exclaimed in surprise, "Why carve such designs? On such large beads, it’s such a pity!"Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "These were originally beads from Old Madam Guo's prayer beads in Nine Prosperities Lane. She wore them for many years. Later, when I caught a chill once, the Cheng family's physician prescribed several doses of medicine that didn't seem to help. Old Madam Guo then had two amber beads taken from her prayer beads to make this pair of earrings for me. Coincidentally, my illness recovered just a few days after I started wearing them. This time when I came to Baoding Prefecture, the old madam repeatedly urged me to wear these earrings on the journey. I also like them very much, so I haven't taken them off." As she spoke, she was about to remove them to show Mrs. Huang.
Mrs. Huang quickly said, "No need, no need. It's better for Second Miss to keep wearing them."
Since she was no longer curious, Zhou Shaojin didn't trouble herself further.
Mrs. Tan immediately became interested and asked eagerly, "What is Old Madam Guo like? I heard she gave birth to three sons, all of whom became imperial scholars, with the eldest even serving as a Grand Secretary?"
Thinking of Old Madam Guo's appearance, Zhou Shaojin smiled and nodded, "All three uncles are highly learned individuals."
Not to be outdone, Mrs. Huang also inquired about matters concerning Nine Prosperities Lane.
Zhou Shaojin answered what she could speak about and skillfully evaded what she couldn't.
Nanny Shang entered and said, "Second Miss, those guards will soon depart to return to Jinling. Their leader, Qin Yang, requests to come in and kowtow to you."
Qin Yang was a distant grandnephew of Chief Steward Qin Da, and he had led the team escorting her to Baoding.
Zhou Shaojin smiled, "That's unnecessary. He has worked hard throughout the journey. He may come in, and I have rewards for him."
Nanny Shang left with a smile.
Zhou Shaojin apologized to Mrs. Huang and Mrs. Tan and went to the main hall.
Both Mrs. Tan and Mrs. Huang couldn't help but feel a chill in their hearts.
Zhou Shaojin was merely a delicate young lady from the inner chambers. Even if the Cheng family was concerned about her and sent people to escort her to Baoding Prefecture, when they were about to leave, they should bid farewell to Zhou Shaojin's father or brothers, not come to kowtow to her as if she were their master...
Mrs. Huang craned her neck to look outside.
She saw the guard respectfully bowing to Zhou Shaojin from behind the screen before standing up, accepting the rewards from Nanny Shang, softly bidding farewell to Zhou Shaojin, and then withdrawing.
Mrs. Huang tightly clenched her hands hidden within her sleeves.
Within a couple of days, rumors began circulating throughout the Baoding Prefecture government office about how favored Zhou Shaojin was in Nine Prosperities Lane and how close the relationship was between the Zhou and Cheng families...
When Zhou Zhen heard this, he smiled.
Unexpectedly, after these rumors spread like wildfire throughout the entire government office, his colleagues treated him with even greater respect, and his work became smoother.
Zhou Zhen couldn't help but laugh heartily, feeling exceptionally pleased.
When Zhou Shaojin and Madam Li went to the Great Compassion Pavilion to worship Buddha, Zhou Zhen gave Zhou Shaojin twenty taels of silver as pocket money, telling her, "Buy whatever you want, eat whatever you wish, don't deprive yourself."
Zhou Shaojin accepted it with a smile but linked arms with Madam Li, saying, "Madam will buy me whatever I need."
Madam Li was overjoyed and quickly said, "Yes, yes, I will buy things for Second Miss."
Zhou Zhen laughed, "Then why did you still take the silver I gave you?"
"If you give it to me, naturally it becomes mine," Zhou Shaojin replied with a suppressed smile.
Zhou Zhen and Madam Li joined in the laughter.
The atmosphere was warm and affectionate.While helping Zhou Zhen change into his court robes, Madam Li heard him whisper, "I'd like to keep Shaojin at home for a few more years." Madam Li was also fond of Zhou Shaojin and smiled, saying, "I too wish for Second Miss to stay home a couple more years, but matchmaking cannot be delayed. Why not arrange an engagement first, then slowly set the wedding date?"
Zhou Zhen thought this a good idea and went to the front hall with a slight smile on his lips.
Madam Li and Zhou Shaojin went to Dabeige after Mrs. Huang arrived.
Dabeige was built in the previous dynasty, grand and imposing, with thriving incense offerings. Yet it could not compare to Nanjing's Jiming Temple or Ganquan Temple. Though Zhou Shaojin liked it, she still felt Jiming Temple and Ganquan Temple were better.
After offering incense and having vegetarian food at Dabeige, Mrs. Huang said, "Dabeige's pickles are also famous; we might as well bring some back."
Madam Li readily agreed and had someone buy them.
The pickle shop was packed three layers deep inside and out, and they waited nearly half an hour before finally getting their purchase.
Back in her room, Zhou Shaojin tasted them. They were indeed delicious.
She couldn't help sighing, "If only we could send some to Old Madam Guo. This is the flavor she likes."
Nanny Shang laughed, "What's so difficult about that? Just have the escort agency deliver them along the way. It's winter now, so they won't spoil."
Zhou Shaojin smiled, "Nanny Shang is always so thoughtful."
The next day, she sent someone to buy a large batch of pickles. Besides Old Madam Guo, Old Madam Guan, Madam Mian, and even the newly wedded Madam Cheng Yi received her pickles. She also wrote letters to Old Madam Guo and Old Madam Guan, describing her life in Baoding Prefecture.
When she visited Kuilou, she found the baked cakes nearby delicious and had someone bring a pile back.
Madam Fan Liu teased her, "Second Miss is trying to move all of Baoding Prefecture to Jinling City!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Soon, it was the twelfth lunar month, and every household began preparing Laba porridge. Gifts arrived from Jinling City sent by Old Madam Guo and Old Madam Guan.
Old Madam Guo sent jewelry. Old Madam Guan sent silks and satins.
The one delivering the gifts was Nanny Lu, who told Zhou Shaojin that the fourth branch had begun preparing for Cheng Yi's wedding. After Cheng Xu's facial injuries healed, he did not return to Duojiage but stayed in Old Madam Guo's green gauze cabinet, studying diligently every day: "...the marriage between the Min and Cheng families has also been settled. They will wed next September. Madam has asked Young Master Xu several times to return to Duojiage, but he has refused."
Meanwhile, Xiao Tan learned from a young maid who came with Nanny Lu that Cheng Xu was in a poor state. Though young, he seemed weary and gloomy as if having endured much suffering. Madam Yuan had argued with Old Madam Guo several times over this, wanting Cheng Xu to return to Duojiage. But each time she returned defeated, only daring to complain quietly.
Zhou Shaojin listened without a ripple of emotion.
She was only somewhat frustrated that there was no news of Cheng Chi.
Would he suddenly get engaged like Cheng Xu?
Lying in bed, her thoughts wandered, when Chunwan hurried in and said, "Second Miss, the eldest son-in-law is here. He's shut in the study talking with the master!"
Zhou Shaojin was startled, "Isn't he studying at the Imperial College? What does he want with Father?"
Chunwan shook her head, "I only heard that the eldest son-in-law originally planned to take a boat back to Zhenjiang, but somehow he came to Baoding first."In her previous life, her brother-in-law was studying diligently in the capital at this time. Why had he suddenly come to Baoding Prefecture in this life?
She sent Nanny Shang to eavesdrop.
Nanny Shang soon returned, smiling as she said, "Second Miss, it's good news. The eldest son-in-law has been studying with the Second Elder of the main branch for several days now. From what I gathered from Master Liao, it was Fourth Master Cheng Chi who helped arrange this. Master Liao came specifically to inform us, lest Lord Zhou remain unaware and fail to express his gratitude when encountering Fourth Master."
Zhou Shaojin was very surprised and said, "Why didn’t Uncle Chi mention anything about this before?"
He had quietly resolved the matter that troubled her.
This meant her sister had firmly established her footing in the Liao family!
She owed Cheng Chi even more now.
※
Dear readers, here is today's update.
PS: The typos from this morning have been corrected. The typos in this chapter will be fixed tomorrow at noon.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel