Zhou Shaоjin fоund thе thоught rаther amusing.
Mаdаm Fan Liu, who wаs keeрing hеr соmраny with neеdlework, murmured, "We've alrеаdy еatеn Lаbа рorridgе. Соuld it bе thаt Fourth Мaster isn't going bасk for thе New Year?"
Оnly then did Zhоu Shaojin rеаlizе thаt in just оvеr twеnty daуs, it wоuld be thе Nеw Yеar, уet Сhеng Chi was still lеisurеly lingеring here!
She sеized the oрроrtunity whilе her father wаs аttеnding cоurt аnd Сhеng Сhi wаs alоnе in the guеst roоm praсticing саlligrаphу tо gо find him.
Тo her surprisе, before she cоuld even spеak, Chеng Chi smilеd аnd said, "Yоu've come at just the right time. The Fan family sent invitations to your father and me a few days ago. Coincidentally, your father has a day off tomorrow, so you can come with us to visit the Fan family tomorrow!"
This would be a perfect chance to see Zhuzhu.
Naturally, Zhou Shaojin was overjoyed. She chattered away, asking Cheng Chi, "Will Madam be going? I heard Zhuzhu married the second son. Who are the members of the Fan family? What gifts should I prepare?"
Cheng Chi smiled and replied, "Your mother will also be going tomorrow. She has already prepared the gifts, so you don't need to worry about that. If you have anything else you'd like to give Zhuzhu, you can give it to her separately later. What your mother is sending is the formal gift list." He then began talking about the various aunts and uncles of the Fan family.
Upon hearing that although the Fan family only had three branches, Zhuzhu's generation alone had twenty-four male cousins, Zhou Shaojin clicked her tongue in amazement and said, "If it were me, I probably wouldn't even be able to recognize everyone."
Cheng Chi chuckled, "You can't use yourself as a comparison."
As if she were somehow lacking.
Zhou Shaojin pouted and left.
Cheng Chi laughed heartily.
On the day of Zhou Zhen's day off, Zhou Shaojin dressed up carefully and went to the main hall.
Both Zhou Zhen and Madam Li were impressed, exclaiming, "Shao Jin looks absolutely beautiful today."
Zhou Shaojin smiled modestly and went with them to the sedan hall.
Cheng Chi was already waiting there.
He wore a plain, fine-cloth robe with a bamboo-green base underneath, casually draped over with a black sable cloak. His jet-black hair was loosely tied up with a bamboo hairpin, his features handsome and bright. His expression was gentle, and he stood tall and straight like a bamboo, exuding the low-key luxury, arrogance, and noble air of a scion from a prestigious family.
Truly worthy of being from the Cheng family of Nine Prosperities Lane!
Zhou Zhen sighed softly to himself.
Madam Li, however, whispered to Zhou Shaojin, "Fourth Master Chi is wearing plain cloth to the Fan family. Is that alright?"
Zhou Shaojin glanced at Cheng Chi and whispered back to her stepmother, "Just wait and see. Unless the Fan family has no scholars, as long as there is one, they will surely hold Uncle Chi in the highest regard."
Madam Li went to the Fan family with doubts.
The Fan family was located in the eastern part of Baoding Prefecture, occupying an extremely large area. Its foundation was no less impressive than that of Nine Prosperities Lane, but the houses were scattered here and there, neither resembling the winding, secluded paths of Jiangnan water towns nor the neat, orderly layout of northern architecture. It seemed as though the houses were built wherever there was space, without any clear plan.
Madam Li explained to Zhou Shaojin, "The Fan family has many descendants, so they had to keep building houses."
No wonder!
Zhou Shaojin thought of the splendor of the Liangguo Duke's residence.
She wondered if Zhuzhu was accustomed to living here.
The head of the Fan family personally greeted Zhou Zhen at the side gate.
Zhou Shaojin and the others were led directly by servants to the Chuihua Gate.
She quietly lifted the sedan curtain and took a distant glance, only able to tell that the leader of the Fan family was a short, stout man.
Entering the second gate, the one leading the welcome was the Fan family's eldest madam.
As soon as Zhou Shaojin stepped out of the sedan, she spotted Zhuzhu standing at the back of the crowd.She wore a very ordinary bean-green Hangzhou silk robe with a vase pattern, a white pleated skirt, and her hair was styled in a married woman's round bun, adorned only with two gilt hairpins inlaid with southern pearls. Aside from the southern pearls on the hairpins, which were as large as lotus seeds, she looked no different from the other women around her. Her attire was unremarkable, yet her face was radiant and dazzling, even more beautiful than when she was at the Duke of Liangguo's residence. Though she stood at the very back, she caught the eye at first glance.
Meeting Zhou Shaojin's gaze, she blinked playfully at her.
It was clear she was doing well in the Fan family.
Was it because she had married a wonderful husband, or because the Fan family treated her kindly?
Zhou Shaojin pondered this as she stepped forward to greet the eldest madam of the Fan family.
The eldest madam of the Fan family had deep nasolabial lines, which made her appear rather stern. But at that moment, she wore a smile and warmly invited Madam Li and Zhou Shaojin to sit in the flower hall, engaging them in friendly conversation: "...I heard the second young lady came from Jinling Prefecture. At the time, I thought to myself, what a coincidence—our second young mistress is also from Jinling Prefecture. When I asked the second young mistress about it, she actually said she knew the second young lady." As she spoke, her gaze fell upon A Zhu.
A Zhu stepped forward with a smile and curtsied to Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin quickly rose to return the courtesy, addressing her as "sister," and said, "When I heard we were coming to the Fan residence, I was so excited last night that I couldn't sleep until late. How have you been, sister?"
The two exchanged a few simple words, but anyone could tell that A Zhu and Zhou Shaojin were on very good terms.
Madam Fan smiled and said, "In that case, A Zhu, you must play the hostess today and keep the second young lady company."
A Zhu smiled and replied, "Yes."
But Zhou Shaojin felt a pang of sadness.
At the Duke of Liangguo's residence, A Zhu had lived so freely, yet here in the Fan family, she seemed restrained.
She found an opportunity to speak with A Zhu in the bamboo grove beside the Fan family's flower hall.
"How is the second young master of the Fan family treating you?"
"Mm!" A Zhu nodded with a hint of shyness. "He is a true gentleman, always putting me first. It's just that the Fan family's rules are particularly strict. When I first arrived, I struggled to adjust. He secretly bought me crispy duck oil pastries from outside, afraid they'd get cold and lose their flavor on the way home, so he tucked them inside his robe. His chest was even scalded red, but he didn't know I don't like pastries. And those so-called duck oil pastries weren't even made with duck oil—they were especially awful..." At this point, as if recalling the scene from that day, she chuckled and said, "A few days ago, when I caught a chill, he took care of me day and night without letting anyone else help... He's a very good man."
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but laugh along.
Someone who clearly didn't like crispy pastries yet knew the ones the second young master of the Fan family bought weren't made with duck oil and were especially awful... She no longer doubted whether A Zhu was doing well in the Fan family and began sharing heartfelt words with her.
The two chatted happily all morning. After lunch at the Fan residence, they listened to a female storyteller until dusk before heading home.
But as soon as they stepped into the Baoding Prefectural Office, they ran into Huang Futang seeing off a guest.
The two hurried forward to greet Zhou Zhen.
Zhou Zhen smiled and nodded to Huang Futang and his guest.Huang Futang introduced the man to Zhou Zhen, saying, "I wonder if the Prefect still remembers, this is Scholar Chang from the Apricot Garden in the east of the city."
Zhou Zhen smiled and said, "I remember, we met last time at Lord Miao's residence."
But anyone with a discerning eye could tell this was merely polite talk.
Scholar Chang stepped forward to pay his respects to Zhou Zhen and Cheng Chi.
Both gave a slight nod.
Unexpectedly, Huang Futang pointed to the sedan chair nearby and said with a smile, "You're quite lucky today to have encountered the Madam, so you should go over and greet her as well."
Scholar Chang readily complied, bowing toward the sedan chair to pay respects to Madam Li.
Madam Li hurriedly said, "No need for formalities." Leaving Zhou Zhen and Cheng Chi behind, she and Zhou Shaojin returned to the inner courtyard in the sedan chair.
When Zhou Zhen returned, Madam Li couldn't help but complain, "What was Huang Futang thinking, having an unrelated man pay respects to me?"
Zhou Zhen didn't take the matter to heart. While recalling the surprise in Lord Fan's eyes upon seeing Cheng Chi's attire and his subsequent inexplicable admiration for Cheng Chi, he absentmindedly replied, "That's why you need to be more cautious when dealing with these people. They go to all sorts of lengths to flatter others, sometimes to the point of being ridiculous. I've heard of that Scholar Chang—he passed the imperial examination at a young age, comes from a wealthy family, and is quite adept at social climbing. He's a frequent guest at Lord Miao and Lord Qian's homes. This time, he managed to persuade Huang Futang to intercept us at the entrance, likely to leave an impression on me. Even if he has no specific request, he probably wants to establish a connection. Don't worry. I'll handle it. Water that is too clear has no fish. Even as a high-ranking official, one cannot avoid dealing with people from all walks of life."
Madam Li had always trusted Zhou Zhen, and since he said it was fine, she put the matter out of her mind.
Unexpectedly, Mrs. Huang came the next day to apologize to Madam Li: "...I've already scolded my husband severely. If they happened to meet, he should have just gone over to greet you himself. Why did he send Scholar Chang to pay respects to you? What if it had startled the Second Young Lady?" After saying this, she leaned in mysteriously and whispered to Madam Li, "But, Madam, Scholar Chang is famously handsome and charming in our Baoding Prefecture. What do you think?"
Madam Li was taken aback, then flushed red and was about to rebuke Mrs. Huang.
Realizing the misunderstanding, Mrs. Huang quickly explained, "Scholar Chang isn't married yet, is he? I think he's about the same age as your Second Young Lady..."
Madam Li let out a sigh of relief, feeling embarrassed about her earlier misunderstanding, and said, "It was too dark last night, so I didn't get a good look. But he seemed quite tall..."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Huang laughed and said, "Not only is he tall, but he's also quite handsome. If you didn't see clearly, in a couple of days, Madam Miao is inviting everyone over to watch a play. Scholar Chang is sure to be there. I'll take you to have a discreet look then. It would be perfect to arrange a marriage for your Second Young Lady..."
Madam Li was startled and hurriedly said, "That won't do, that won't do. Our Second Young Lady grew up in Nine Prosperities Lane. Both Old Madam Guo from the main branch and Old Madam Guan from the fourth branch treasure her like a jewel. When it comes to her marriage, not even I, nor even my husband, can make a decision lightly. We must discuss it with the elders of both families."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Huang's eyes lit up, and she skillfully urged Madam Li to bring it up with Zhou Zhen.Madam Li shook her head like a rattle drum, refusing to agree no matter how she was persuaded.
Mrs. Huang had no choice but to report back to Scholar Chang.
Upon hearing this, Scholar Chang was overjoyed and didn’t know what to do with himself. He brought lavish gifts and hurried to the rear office of the prefectural yamen, where he whispered with Mrs. Huang for a long time before taking his leave.
Mrs. Huang then invited Madam Li to offer incense at the Great Compassion Pavilion, saying, "The New Year is approaching. Let’s also go and pray for peace and reassurance for our families."
Madam Li found it strange and asked, "Isn’t that something we do on the first day of the Lunar New Year?"
Mrs. Huang blushed and replied, "One can never be too polite, and I suppose the Bodhisattva feels the same way."
Madam Li dared not go.
The snowstorms had been heavy these past few days, and Zhou Shaojin had just arrived from Jinling. She was afraid Shaojin might catch a cold.
But Mrs. Huang persistently urged Madam Li to go along, adding, "Mrs. Tan and the others will also be joining us."
※
Dear readers, this should be considered yesterday’s update.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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