Sinсе Маdаm Liao wаs rushing tо thе саpital for Guаn Gе'er's hundredth-dаy cеlеbrаtiоn, thе full-mоnth cerеmony couldn't be toо еxtrаvagаnt. Аftеr disсussing with Zhou Сhujin, Liао Shаоtang dеcided to оnlу invite rеlatives for а meal during Guаn Ge's full month, аnd sеnd invitаtiоns tо in-lаws аnd friends for thе hundrеdth-daу сеremоny.
Маdam Li and Zhоu Shаojin thеn busied themselvеs with prepаrаtiоns for Guаn Ge'er's full-month сеlеbratiоn.
Suddеnlу, Сhеng Gаo аrrivеd in the сaрital and сheсkеd intо the Gаоshеng Inn nеar Elm Trеe Alley.
Zhou Shаojin was greаtly startlеd and immеdiаtelу instructed the steward to fetch Cheng Gao's luggage, chiding him, "How could Cousin Gao stay at an inn when visiting the capital? Have we sisters become so distant from Cousin Gao since leaving Nine Prosperities Lane?"
Seeing her still as gentle and serene as before, Cheng Gao finally felt relieved.
"I didn't know you were managing Elm Tree Alley's household now," he teased Zhou Shaojin. "I came to help with Guan Ge's full-month celebration, but you've decided to hold the hundredth-day ceremony instead. I can't stay that long—next month, Cousin Yi is getting married, and I need to return to help!"
Although Cheng Gao was Zhou Chujin's cousin, Madam Li was not his aunt. Since Madam Li naturally had to avoid receiving him as a guest, the responsibility fell to Zhou Shaojin.
Hearing this, Zhou Shaojin apologetically said, "Guan Ge'er's full month and Cousin Yi's wedding date are too close. We originally didn't expect anyone from Jinling to come, so the letter wasn't sent promptly. I'm truly sorry for making Cousin Gao make this trip! How about I have the steward accompany you around the capital tomorrow, and you stay a few more days before returning?"
Cheng Gao laughed, "Who was it that got upset just now upon hearing I stayed at an inn? Now you're politely asking me to stay... this doesn't seem like how cousins should act! You should tell me to hurry back after attending Guan Ge's full-month ceremony!"
Zhou Shaojin burst into laughter.
Cheng Gao gazed at her with smiling eyes, looking pleased, and whispered, "Shaoji, why don't you stay in the capital a bit longer? Forget the past and live your own life well. You don't owe the Cheng family anything—there's no need to pay attention to those Cheng family members."
Zhou Shaojin nearly shed tears.
The fact that Cheng Gao came to the capital but didn't stay at Apricot Grove Alley, instead choosing an inn, itself represented the Fourth Branch's attitude toward the cave incident.
What more could she ask for?
Zhou Shaojin sincerely replied, "Cousin Gao, I'm fine. I grew up in the Cheng family. Although Cheng Xu hurt me, I also remember the kindness the Cheng family showed me. Besides, I don't think I did anything wrong—why shouldn't I interact with the Cheng family? Not only will I interact with those Cheng family members who treat me well, but I'll do so with confidence and dignity." Feeling her tone had become too stern, she added playfully, "Cousin Gao wouldn't want to stop interacting with me from now on, would you?"
Seeing she held no grudges about the past, Cheng Gao smiled genuinely, "It seems I've been judging a noble person with a petty mind—my perspective was too narrow. You're right. We haven't done anything wrong. Those who should hide are the ones who made mistakes. Those who should feel guilty are the ones who did wrong."
Zhou Shaojin nodded with a smile.
Only then did Cheng Gao tell her, "Cousin Xu has already become engaged to the eldest Miss Min. Madam Yuan and the others will likely come to the capital in April to prepare for the wedding with Miss Min."Cousin Gao was worried that she might feel uncomfortable if she encountered Cheng Xu in the capital, wasn't he?
After all, the Cheng and Zhou families were connected by marriage, and with social visits and interactions, the chances of running into each other were quite high.
Warmth filled Zhou Shaojin's heart as she said, "Is Old Madam Guo coming too? I thought the Cheng family would be welcoming the bride in Jinling City."
"Old Madam Guo isn't coming," Cheng Gao replied. "I heard from Grandmother that the bride's family is in Fujian. It's too far, so they've decided to hold the wedding in the capital. Madam Yuan, being considerate of the bride's family, has chosen to welcome the bride in the capital. The wedding is scheduled for September this year. After the bride returns to her parents' home, she will be taken back to pay respects to the ancestors and greet the elders."
That was just as well.
At least the bride and those accompanying her wouldn't hear any gossip. It also showed the Cheng family's thoughtfulness toward the Min family.
The only downside was that it would be hard on the bride, having to travel back and forth.
Zhou Shaojin nodded.
She used to be curious about what kind of person the eldest daughter of the Min family was, but now, she had no interest in anything related to Cheng Xu—not even that bit of curiosity remained.
Cheng Gao then brought up the matter of Cheng Lu. "...Did you know about this?"
"Yes," Zhou Shaojin said. "I heard about it from my brother-in-law."
Cheng Gao sighed bitterly and said, "I used to admire Xiangqing greatly. Despite losing his father at a young age, he remained calm and diligent in his studies, someone destined for great things. So when I saw how well he treated you, I thought it wasn't a bad match... Who would have thought I misjudged him? I could understand him selling off his assets to bribe the prefectural school, but abandoning his own mother—I simply cannot fathom it..."
Zhou Shaojin comforted him, "Cousin Gao, you are a person of pure filial piety, so naturally, you cannot understand the actions of such a beast in human clothing!"
Cheng Gao was still somewhat saddened and told her, "His mother, after all, had been a lady of the house for many years. She couldn't bear staying in the nunnery for more than a few months and came to the family several times, begging the elders for help to support her through Nine Prosperities Lane. None of the elders paid her any attention, only sending a stewardess to give her a few taels of silver and send her away. I heard she stayed with her natal family for a few days before being driven out by her nephews' wives. The silver was coaxed out of her by her nephews to subsidize them, so she had no choice but to return to the nunnery. Meanwhile, the family elders have decided to expel Cheng Lu from the clan. Before I came, they had already made offerings to the ancestors, and by now, they should have reported it to the authorities."
Just like in her past life.
Though she didn't know if Cheng Lu would still encounter that benefactor who would marry his daughter to him and help him establish his own household in this lifetime.
Zhou Shaojin sighed briefly and then moved on, leading Cheng Gao to see Guan Ge.
Zhou Chujin was still unable to be exposed to drafts, so the wet nurse brought the child out for him to see.
The fair and chubby child made Cheng Gao reluctant to let go, which made Zhou Youjin, who had also come to see Guan Ge, anxiously circle around him. "Uncle Gao, Uncle Gao, I want to see too, I want to see too!"
Everyone laughed.
Zhou Shaojin told her, "This is your cousin!"
Zhou Youjin looked at Cheng Gao in confusion but refused to call him that.
Cheng Gao laughed heartily, patted her head, and placed the child on the kang.
Zhou Youjin squatted beside them, staring wide-eyed at Guan Ge without blinking, and even warned Cheng Gao, "You can't poke his face; it will hurt him a lot."
Cheng Gao couldn't stop laughing and said, "Is that what your mother told you yesterday?"
Zhou Youjin didn't understand what he was saying and stared at him blankly with her big eyes.
Cheng Gao found her utterly adorable and picked up Zhou Youjin, saying to Zhou Shaojin, "Your little sister is really something!"Zhou Shaojin said rather helplessly, "Madam has been trying to get her to talk all along, but she just wouldn't speak. Who would have thought that as soon as she saw Guan Ge, she started talking, and she spoke in complete sentences, which gave us all quite a shock."
"You were like that when you were little," Cheng Gao recalled. "Back then, we thought you were mute. Grandmother was so worried that she couldn't sleep well for days and nights."
Zhou Shaojin laughed heartily.
The wet nurse carried the child back to the inner room, and Zhou Youjin followed her inside.
Zhou Shaojin saw Cheng Gao out of the main hall.
On the way, they ran into Liao Shaotang, who had hurried back upon receiving the news.
Liao Shaotang enthusiastically invited Cheng Gao for a drink.
Zhou Shaojin prepared a meal for them.
In the evening, she heard the news that Cheng Chi had returned to the capital.
It was more than a month earlier than the time Cheng Chi had mentioned.
Zhou Chujin guessed with a smile, "Could it be that he rushed back to celebrate our Guan Ge's full moon?"
Zhou Shaojin didn't think so and said with a laugh, "Perhaps he has finished his business outside?"
"That's possible too," Zhou Chujin said with a smile. "In any case, we should pay a visit to Uncle Chi. But I'm still in confinement and can't go out. Why don't you go on our behalf? Once I'm out of confinement, I can go thank Uncle Chi myself."
Zhou Shaojin then sent an invitation to Yuqian Hutong.
A reply soon came, inviting her to visit the next day.
The weather was gradually warming up. Zhou Shaojin carefully chose a plain lotus-colored Hangzhou silk-lined jacket and a dark green horse-face skirt with a foot-wide treasure flower border, accessorized with a large red agate grape-shaped pendant at her waist. Her jet-black hair was tied up at the back, and she wore a gold-inlaid jade floral crown. She took a sedan chair to Yuqian Hutong.
Along the way, she lifted the sedan curtain to look at the road to Yuqian Hutong.
Yuqian Hutong was indeed very close to Yushu Hutong.
The two hutongs were separated only by a main road, and it took just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to get there by sedan chair.
Just like the place where Liao Shaotang and Zhou Shaojin lived in Yushu Hutong, Cheng Chi's residence in Yuqian Hutong was also a small one-courtyard house. Upon entering, there was a blue stone screen wall carved with a large inverted "fortune" character. The ground was uniformly paved with polished bricks. In front of the hanging flower gate were two osmanthus trees, with pink-white walls and bright red pillars. The windows were covered with green gauze. In the middle of the courtyard stood a grape trellis, under which were stone benches and chairs. Beside it was a large blue-and-white porcelain fish tank, and without looking, one could guess it contained a few goldfish.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but purse her lips.
Uncle Chi was such a particular person, so why was he so indifferent to the place he lived in?
Could this also be just a temporary stop for him?
Huaishan came to greet her.
He said somewhat uneasily, "Second Miss, Fourth Master was originally waiting for you, but unexpectedly, Old Master Song suddenly arrived and is currently dragging Fourth Master to the study to look at some hydrological map. I'm afraid you'll have to wait in the reception room for now."
Zhou Shaojin didn't mind.
She already knew from the boat to Putuo Mountain how obsessed Cheng Chi and Old Master Song were with such matters.
She followed Huaishan to the reception room with a smile, and Huaishan personally poured her a cup of tea.
Zhou Shaojin looked around the reception room.
There was a large kang by the window, black lacquered furniture, and a few decorative items scattered on the shelves of the curio cabinet. It all looked conventional and uninspired.Perhaps sensing Zhou Shaojin's "disapproval," Huaishan explained, "Fourth Master originally bought a residence near Chaoyang Gate—a five-bay, four-courtyard mansion that once belonged to the former Zhejiang Salt Commissioner, Minister Shi. Fourth Master even had it specially renovated, putting in quite a bit of effort. But just before coming to the capital, he changed his mind and bought this smaller house instead. It’s closer to Second Young Lady’s place, but the rooms haven’t been properly arranged yet. Most of the things here were left behind by the previous owner, all in a jumble. Since Fourth Master hasn’t given any instructions, Ziping didn’t dare make decisions about adding furnishings. Please excuse the mess, Second Cousin."
Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed with warmth.
Closer to Second Young Lady… Was that why he bought a house on Yuqian Lane at the last minute?
Her heart pounded wildly, unable to calm down for a long while.
※
Dear readers, here’s yesterday’s update.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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