Асting quite convinсinglу!
Cheng Сhi laughed inwаrdlу.
Zhоu Shаоjin glаnced sidеways at Cheng Chi.
Неr ink-jadе-like mоist еуеs seеmеd immеrsеd in а pоol of spring wаtеr, with slightly uрturned eyеs and elеgant eуеlinеs, аs сhаrming аs delicаtе flowеrs in Маy.
Сheng Сhi's hеart felt аs if struсk by sоmething, "thump," sending riрples through it, unаblе tо cаlm down for quite sоmе timе.
Fortunаtеlу, hе hаd аlwaуs bеen аdeрt at cоncеаling his еmotiоns, аррearing gentlе and refined on the surfаce, showing nо sign at all.
Zhоu Zhen, оf сoursе, did not notice Cheng Chi's unusual state. He was eager to return to the inner residence—Liao Shaotang had already set off for the capital yesterday to tidy up the residence Madam Liao had gifted them. Zhou Chujin was temporarily staying here, waiting for Liao Shaotang to settle everything before coming to fetch her. Currently, Zhou Chujin was resting in the rear courtyard during her pregnancy, with Madam Li accompanying her. Zhou Shaojin was an unmarried young lady; if anything happened to Zhou Chujin, Madam Li certainly wouldn't tell her. Now that Madam Li had agreed to let Zhou Shaojin come find him, he feared something might have happened to Zhou Chujin, and Madam Li had deliberately sent Zhou Shaojin away.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "Then shall I see Uncle Chi off on your behalf?"
Zhou Zhen, concerned about Zhou Chujin and intending to send Zhou Shaojin away, naturally agreed readily and hurried back to the inner residence with his servant.
Zhou Shaojin accompanied Zhou Zhen as they walked out.
On either side were towering bare trees and lush, low-hanging branches of holly.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and asked, "When will Uncle Chi come to the capital to stay long-term?"
Cheng Chi smiled and replied, "Once I've settled matters in Baoding Prefecture, I'll come to the capital."
Zhou Shaojin took a few steps forward, stopping in front of Cheng Chi, and said with a smile, "My sister is also going to live in the capital, and she's taking me along!"
Cheng Chi halted, looking down at the young girl whose eyes only reached his shoulders, and said with a smile, "That's wonderful! You can come visit me when you have time!"
Zhou Shaojin's smile gradually faded, and she frowned slightly.
She was going to the capital!
Shouldn't Uncle Chi be very happy?
Why does his tone sound so indifferent!
Zhou Shaojin's mood instantly sank.
This little girl, so easily teased.
Just a casual reply to her, and she's already unhappy.
Cheng Chi's clear eyes sparkled with starlight-like brilliance.
"Silly!" His hand lifted and then dropped, his voice gentle as the wind, saying, "The Osmanthus Alley where your sister lives is very close to Twin Elm Alley, and also close to Elm Coin Alley."
"Really!" Zhou Shaojin widened her eyes.
Many alleys in the capital are named after their surroundings.
Twin Elm Alley likely has two elm trees in the alley.
And Elm Coin Alley probably also has elm trees planted.
Perhaps the two alleys are right next to each other!
Zhou Shaojin became happy again and said, "I knew it, Uncle Chi is the best!"It would be best to buy a house in the alley next to her sister's. If she knew that I had recommended Liao Shaotang to my second uncle, allowing him to assist in compiling the Jinghua Gazetteer, which is why my second uncle wrote to Liao Shaotang, urging him to return to the capital immediately after the New Year. And it was precisely because Madam Liao saw this letter, thinking that once her son’s name could be printed in the Jinghua Gazetteer, he would secure a place among the scholarly elite for life. She couldn’t let her son delay his future, nor could she allow his reputation to be tarnished by these messy affairs at home, which would harm his future career. That’s why she resolved to send her son and her heavily pregnant daughter-in-law to live in the capital, allowing Liao Shaotang to escape the quagmire at home... I wonder if the little girl would laugh as adorably as a cat that stole a fish?
The thought flashed through his mind, and Cheng Chi felt a slight chill.
Since he had already decided to treat her as his niece, he had to learn to restrain himself in certain matters.
It was as if a basin of icy water had been poured over his head, and his emotions gradually turned cold.
He smiled and said, "Then we’ll meet again in the capital!"
Since she would be living with Zhou Chujin from now on, given Zhou Chujin’s temperament and Liao Shaotang’s character, she would surely be well taken care of. There was nothing more for him to worry about.
Zhou Shaojin nodded with a bright smile, unaware that Cheng Chi had already drawn an unbridgeable chasm between them.
※
That evening, Zhou Chujin went to see Zhou Zhen and Madam Li, saying that she was heavily pregnant and afraid to travel to the capital alone. She wanted Zhou Shaojin to accompany her and stay to take care of her for a while.
Zhou Zhen was reluctant to part with his unmarried daughter, Zhou Shaojin, and also worried about his pregnant daughter, Zhou Chujin. He hesitated and said, "Why don’t you give birth here in Baoding Prefecture?"
This was highly unconventional.
Moreover, Zhou Chujin might be carrying the Liao family’s firstborn legitimate son and grandson. Even if not, it was still the first child of Liao Shaotang, the clan heir, and held a prestigious position within the family.
But in Zhou Zhen’s view, exceptions could be made for everything.
For instance, Zhou Chujin was nearing childbirth yet traveling thousands of miles to the capital with Liao Shaotang.
The idea of giving birth at her maternal home, with her father and younger sister by her side, made Zhou Chujin somewhat tempted.
But what about her mother-in-law...
She gently shook her head and said, "In my condition, the uncles and aunts in the family originally disapproved of me traveling. It was only because my mother-in-law insisted that I was able to follow Shaotang to the capital and see my father, stepmother, and younger sister..."
However, Zhou Zhen was absolutely unwilling to let Shaojin live in the home of his married eldest daughter.
He was perfectly fine, and he had originally placed them in Nine Prosperities Lane so they could receive a better education. Why should he let his daughter live under someone else’s roof now?
But before he could voice his opposition, Madam Li tugged at his sleeve and gave him a meaningful look.
Madam Li rarely interfered in matters between him and his daughters. Since she had something to say, Zhou Zhen changed his tone: "Let me think this over carefully before I give you an answer."
Zhou Chujin had noticed Madam Li’s gesture. Though displeased, she showed no sign of it on her face and politely took her leave from Zhou Zhen.
Zhou Zhen then turned to Madam Li.
Madam Li said, "Master, are you really going to let the eldest young lady go to the capital like this?"
Zhou Zhen was puzzled and replied, "Didn’t I give Chujin two hundred taels of silver for her journey?"Madam Li smiled and said, "She's a newlywed, a first-time mother, with neither her own mother nor a mother-in-law by her side. How will she manage feeding the child after it's born? What should she eat during the postpartum month... She has no experience with any of this. How can you feel at ease letting her go to the capital alone?"
Zhou Zhen replied, "Isn't there a wet nurse? We'll also hire a midwife when the time comes."
"That's not the same!" Madam Li chuckled. "No matter how loyal those servants are, there's still a distinction between master and servant. Some things are hard to say, and you can't just let the eldest young lady have her way..."
"Then what do you mean?" Zhou Zhen asked.
"If you agree, sir, I would like to take Youjin and accompany the eldest young lady and the second young lady to the capital!" Madam Li said sincerely. "This way, I can keep the eldest young lady company, take care of her during childbirth, and also let Youjin spend more time with her two older sisters, strengthening their sisterly bond."
"You, taking care of Chujin during childbirth?" Zhou Zhen said in surprise. "You... are you capable?"
Madam Li smiled. "Even if I'm not the most capable, I have been through it before. At the very least, I can give the eldest young lady some courage! And..." She pointed in the direction of Mrs. Huang's residence, "it would also allow us to avoid that person."
It would also prevent people from connecting Zhou Shaojin when dealing with Scholar Chang.
Zhou Zhen began to seriously consider the matter.
The next day, when Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin came to the main house for breakfast, Zhou Zhen told Zhou Chujin about Madam Li's suggestion, adding, "Shaojin isn't married yet, what does she know? With the madam accompanying you, I'll feel more at ease."
Zhou Chujin was quite surprised. After a moment of silence, she said, "But if the madam goes with me, what about you, Father..."
Zhou Zhen laughed. "After your mother passed away, didn't I manage just fine on my own for several years?"
In the Zhou family, "mother" referred to Madam Zhuang.
Zhou Chujin thought about it and realized he was right.
She also smiled and said to Madam Li, "Then I'll trouble you, Madam."
Madam Li hurriedly replied, "It's my duty," adding, "We're all family, no need for formalities. I only hope the eldest young lady gives birth to a healthy son smoothly."
They exchanged a few polite words. Although not as intimate as a true family, the atmosphere was warm and pleasant.
Zhou Zhen felt greatly comforted.
Zhou Shaojin was overjoyed.
This way, she could take good care of her sister and also meet Uncle Chi...
The whole family happily busied themselves packing their trunks.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Huang and Scholar Chang waited anxiously, their lips blistering from worry.
Such a grand lantern festival! The Zhou family's second young lady didn't come on the first day, nor the second day. Could it be she wouldn't come on the third day either?
But who could have guessed it would be such a coincidence? The lantern festival lasted six days in a row. After spending over a thousand taels of silver, the Zhou family's second young lady stubbornly refused to step out of her room.
Now Mrs. Huang was in a difficult position.
She had heard plenty of flattery from Scholar Chang and received no small amount of gifts from him!
"It seems the Zhou family's second young lady truly has a gentle, virtuous, and chaste temperament," she could only console Scholar Chang. "Truly worthy of being raised in the Cheng family of Nine Prosperities Lane in Jinling Prefecture—the character of a genuine high-born young lady, able to remain steadfast and composed."
Scholar Chang thought the same.
So, after hearing Mrs. Huang's words, he became even more restless, pleading with her, "If this matter succeeds, I'll offer two thousand taels of silver as a matchmaking gift." Then, feeling that Zhou Shaojin was worth more than that, he quickly added, "No, I'll give three thousand taels of silver as a matchmaking gift."Mrs. Huang's eyes turned green with envy.
Zhou Zhen's annual salary as a prefect was only 192 dan of grain and 42 taels of silver... 3,000 taels of silver!
"Don't worry," she eagerly assured him. "I will definitely get this done for you!"
Scholar Chang breathed a sigh of relief.
After seeing Scholar Chang off, Mrs. Huang paced restlessly around the room.
She could clearly sense that Madam Li had become distant toward her.
Most likely, Madam Li blamed her for the incident with Young Master Miao.
Thinking of this, Mrs. Huang felt a knot of frustration in her chest.
Who would have thought that Young Master Miao would be so vulgar and uncouth! It was a shame his father had once been a high-ranking official—clearly, he came from a family with no upbringing. No wonder Madam Li was displeased with her.
Even without Scholar Chang's request, she would have to find a way to mend her relationship with Madam Li.
Although her husband had connections through Grand Secretary Song, it was nothing compared to Lord Zhou's ties with the Cheng family.
Fortunately, these were matters among women in the inner quarters, and her intentions were good. She believed Lord Zhou wouldn't be entirely unreasonable.
After pondering for a long time, she finally decided to ask Mrs. Tan to help gauge Madam Li's attitude.
At worst, she could give Mrs. Tan fifty taels of silver after the matter was settled.
Having made up her mind, Mrs. Huang went to see Mrs. Tan.
※
Dear readers, here is today's extra update.
Thank you to Diudiu Jianjian for the Xianlangyuan Xianpa, and thank you all for your support!
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: Updates will still be at the usual time, so you can check in tomorrow morning!
I'll only have time to correct typos after work... If you're rereading, it's best to refresh the page, as that should display the corrected content.
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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