Fаr аwаy in Jinling Citу, Оld Маdаm Guo finished reаding thе letter sеnt by her уоungеst sоn аnd lаughed heаrtily. She called Nannу Shi in аnd said, "Тakе this tо thе Sеcоnd Вrаnсh's Оld Anсestor."
It was uр tо the Sеcond Brаnch to сhoosе: еithеr dеmаnd silvеr аnd comрlеtelу оffеnd the Еldest Вrаnch, or рriоritize thе heirs' future prоspects, lеаving а threаd of goodwill fоr futurе mеetings.
Тhinking оf this, Оld Маdаm Guo соuldn't helр but sneеr.
Truly, fоrtunes сhаngе ovеr timе!
Ваck then, that оld scoundrel Cheng Хu had used the futurе of the Еldest Вrаnch's hеirs to force the old master to sacrifice Si Lang. Over this matter, she hadn't even wanted to visit the old master's grave. Now, let that old scoundrel taste the same bitterness!
Old Madam Guo's eyes grew slightly moist.
A mother's youngest son and eldest grandson are her very life.
How could she not favor Si Lang?
In the end, it was Si Lang who helped her vent this resentment.
Of her three sons, he was the most considerate.
He knew what she thought about, what she brooded over... he was also the most filial... yet he was the one she had wronged the most...
Old Madam Guo wiped the corner of her eye.
It seemed Si Lang was determined to marry Shaojin.
This was what gave her a headache.
Outsiders could be dealt with—there were always ways to manage them. But family members... were impossible to bypass... A tender young girl taken away by her own son—how could she face Zhou Dacheng? Besides, that girl's temperament was so gentle and soft. Si Lang had gone to such great lengths to marry her—did she know his true feelings? Would she value Si Lang as much as he valued her?
If she only married him because he wanted to marry her... that would be too unfair to Si Lang's sincere intentions!
In a mother's eyes, her own sons are the finest in the world.
Old Madam Guo was no different.
The thought that Zhou Shaojin might only show polite, respectful affection toward her youngest son, as between husband and wife, made her feel as if cotton were stuffed in her chest—she couldn't breathe easily.
No!
She had to go see for herself.
Once this thought arose, Old Madam Guo could no longer sit still.
She called Nanny Lu in and asked, "When exactly is Jiashan's wedding date set?"
Nanny Lu smiled. "The sixth day of the second month."
Old Madam Guo adjusted her hair at the temples and said, "I think I should go after all! With Madam Yuan causing such a fuss with the Second Branch, whenever the Second Branch's Old Ancestor has an issue, she comes to me—what am I supposed to say? I might as well take this opportunity to go to the capital and see how the wedding preparations are coming along at the residence there."
Nanny Lu, believing she understood Old Madam Guo's meaning, smiled and said, "You should have done this long ago. If you're not there for Master Xu's wedding, what's the point? Besides, all those old family friends from the old master's time know Master Xu is getting married in the capital, and they keep asking when you're going. If you don't go, Madam will have to stammer through her replies—how would that look good on her face?"
Old Madam Guo sighed inwardly.
Despite having followed her for so many years, Nanny Lu still couldn't match Nanny Shi's insight.
She hadn't gone to the capital for two reasons: first, as a widow, she needed to avoid the actual ceremony—she didn't want to trouble the children or put them in an awkward position. Second, she didn't want to give the Min family face, as if the entire Cheng family were rushing to flatter them. That would mean losing the initiative and confidence in future dealings.But now, the moment she thought of Zhou Shaojin, she couldn't sit still for even a quarter of an hour.
She absolutely had to make that child wholeheartedly fall for Si Lang.
Otherwise, she truly felt a knot in her heart.
She called Chief Steward Qin over and asked, "How big is Si Lang's residence at Chaoyang Gate? If I were to stay there, would there be room?"
Chief Steward Qin smiled and replied, "It's a five-courtyard, three-section layout with two gardens fed by flowing water. Do you think there would be room for you?"
Old Madam Guo was taken aback. "That child, why did he buy such a large house? And here we are, still dealing with the clan division?"
Chief Steward Qin chuckled, "It was bought with your private savings. Fourth Master likely intends to keep it for his own use."
Those savings of hers were nothing but what Cheng Chi had given her!
Old Madam Guo couldn't help but laugh. "He should indeed start planning for himself!"
Chief Steward Qin then ventured cautiously, "Could it be that Fourth Master is thinking of settling down?"
A hint of pride flashed in Old Madam Guo's eyes as she whispered, "Why don't you come with me to the capital and see for yourself?"
Chief Steward Qin was greatly intrigued.
Cheng Chi's martial arts had been initially taught by his father, and although he later studied manuals brought back by Lie Gong, he had also learned much of the Qin family's secret techniques. In terms of seniority, Cheng Chi should be considered his junior brother. Moreover, when his father passed away, it was Cheng Chi who helped arrange the funeral. Naturally, Chief Steward Qin felt a deeper bond with Cheng Chi than with the other young masters of the Cheng family.
At Old Madam Guo's suggestion, his heart stirred.
After hesitating for a moment, he said, "But what about the clan division here..."
Old Madam Guo smiled. "Three million taels of silver—that's impossible. Even if Si Lang could produce it, Madam Yuan would think it all came from the main branch's common funds. Divided by households, her son would get a third, meaning one million taels would belong to her son. Handing over money from her own son's pocket to someone else—she'd probably rather cut off her own flesh than part with it. Not to mention, there's still Madam Yuan's brother involved? As for Cheng Xu, during the years when Ze Gong was alive, it was a time of chaos. When it comes to silver, the second branch is the least lacking. However, there are no capable figures among their descendants, so they just want more silver to rely on when dividing the clan. If Cheng Shi's future could be secured, Cheng Xu truly wouldn't care much about silver.
"We're just staying here listening to them haggle. It's better to go to the capital and see Si Lang.
"He's been running around these days, and I'm a bit uneasy about it."
Old Madam Guo wasn't entirely clear about what her son had been doing outside. But she was no sheltered inner-household woman. Seven Stars Hall had started by smuggling salt, which inevitably involved dealing with ruthless bandits from the jianghu. Otherwise, Cheng Xu wouldn't have had Cheng Chi start learning martial arts at such a young age, and Cheng Li wouldn't have been killed while Cheng Xu, as a Grand Secretary, still couldn't avenge his son.
Chief Steward Qin knew what Cheng Chi was up to but couldn't tell Old Madam Guo.
He simply changed the subject, smiling, "Fourth Master... has he taken a liking to the Zhou family's second cousin?"
"You know about this too." Old Madam Guo knew the Qin family was no ordinary household, and since the Qin family members served by Cheng Chi's side, it wasn't strange they knew something. "I'm just not sure if it will work out? I'm a bit worried."
Chief Steward Qin smiled. "Fourth Master has always been capable. There's nothing he can't accomplish. You can rest assured."Old Madam Guo said, "If I don't see it with my own eyes, I simply can't rest easy."
Chief Steward Qin smiled and replied, "Then I shall accompany you to have a look."
He had not yet taken a proper look at Zhou Shaojin.
Old Madam Guo immediately became enthusiastic and began packing her things. She thought that if this matter could truly be settled, Zhou Shaojin would soon be of age, and it would be best to arrange the marriage this year. Perhaps by next year, she could hold a grandchild in her arms.
She was getting on in years and could not afford to wait any longer.
When Zhou Shaojin was still a young lady of the family, she had been upright in character, gentle, and well-mannered. But as a daughter-in-law, it remained uncertain whether she could shoulder the responsibilities of managing the household... that delicate and frail appearance... Fortunately, the Cheng family was not some small, insignificant household. They had no shortage of experienced and loyal stewardesses and matrons who could offer guidance when needed. She wasn't the matriarch of the main branch anyway... Managing the household could be set aside; as long as she could take good care of Si Lang, that would suffice...
Old Madam Guo pondered how to arrange the staffing at the residence in Chaoyang Gate. One moment, she instructed Zhenzhu to open the storeroom and bring out all her gold and silver jewelry; the next, she told Nanny Lu to pack her favorite belongings to take along. Then she asked Nanny Shi to retrieve the indentures of the first-class maids and matrons who came from generations of family servants and had once managed affairs under her. She also remembered that since she was heading to the capital, she needed to send word to the Guo, Gu, and Liangguo Duke households. Ordinary matrons naturally wouldn't do for delivering such messages—it had to be Nanny Lu or Nanny Shi... Then she realized she hadn't yet informed Madam Yuan, but with everyone around her already bustling about, she casually pointed to a maid and told her to summon Madam Yuan.
Madam Yuan was speaking with her elder brother: "...Fourth Uncle has indeed done well in business these past few years. But three million taels of silver—I don't think the main branch can come up with that much. The patriarch of the second branch is simply making things difficult for us, unwilling to divide the family."
"How much can Zi Chuan contribute?" Madam Yuan's elder brother was nearly twenty years her senior, of medium height, slightly plump, with sharp eyes. Though his features did not closely resemble Madam Yuan's, their temperaments were quite similar. He paced the room with his hands behind his back, pondering, "Even if the main branch can't produce that much silver, when one side asks for the sky, the other can bargain back to earth—there must be a negotiated figure. Or perhaps like this," he paused, his gaze deepening, "we promise that as long as Cheng Shi passes the imperial examination, we will not obstruct his career prospects..."
Madam Yuan's eyes lit up. "You mean, secretly trip him up..."
"Pah!" Elder Brother Yuan spat at Madam Yuan. "We are scholars, our word is our bond. If we say we won't obstruct his prospects, then we won't..."
"But..." Madam Yuan flushed but still said unwillingly, "If we do this, our two families will be enemies. How can I allow an enemy to constantly hover before my eyes?"
"You, you!" Elder Brother Yuan said resentfully. "Do you think being an official is so easy? As long as the second branch is in the wrong when the families divide, even if Cheng Shi passes the imperial examination and enters the Hanlin Academy, who would dare associate with him? Right now, you shouldn't be worrying about what conditions the second branch proposes. Instead, think of ways to make the second branch appear at fault!"
Madam Yuan regained her spirit. "Then I'll have people spread the word..."The eldest brother of the Yuan family covered his face in utter dismay and said, "You truly married into the Cheng family, and with Uncle protecting you. If you had married into another family, you would have been devoured long ago, not even your bones left. Even your steward knows that if things get truly desperate, you could sell the ancestral property held in common. How could you not think of that?"
"Steward? Do you mean Chief Steward Qin Da?" Madam Yuan was still somewhat confused.
The eldest brother of the Yuan family couldn’t be bothered to explain further and said, "Think about it. If the eldest branch splits from the clan, they would have to give a large sum of silver to the second branch. The second branch previously refused to split because the silver offered wasn’t enough, right?"
Madam Yuan finally understood and couldn’t help but clapping her hands, exclaiming, "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"
The eldest brother of the Yuan family snorted smugly, lifting his head with pride, and said, "I’m just afraid your mother-in-law won’t agree! You’d better think of a way to keep it from her."
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Dear readers, the Dragon Boat Festival originated from sacrificial rituals, so I won’t use celebratory words here. On this day off, I hope everyone enjoys themselves.
Here’s today’s update.
The extra update for the Dragon Boat Festival will be posted tomorrow morning for you to read!
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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