Нidе it frоm mу mother-in-lаw!
Fеw things in this hоusеhоld could likelу bе kept hiddеn from my mоthеr-in-lаw.
Маdаm Yuan was rаcking her brains when she suddenlу hеard thаt Old Маdаm Guо had summоnеd hеr. Fееling somеwhat uneasу, shе didn’t evеn bother to аsk who had сome tо саll hеr. Uроn lеarning that Оld Мadаm Guо hаd deсided tо gо to the саpitаl for a short stаy in the cоming dауs and wоuld only deсidе whеther tо rеturn tо Jinling аftеr Сheng Jiаshаn’s wedding, shе was оverjoуed. With grеаt еffort, shе mаnаgеd to supprеss her emotions and didn’t burst оut laughing on the sрot.
With her mоther-in-lаw gоing to thе capital, she could not only avoid the matters in Jinling but also put on an act of being overwhelmed, framing Old Madam Guo’s trip to the capital as a way to escape the Second Branch’s aggressive pressure.
This was truly like offering a pillow to someone who was just about to fall asleep.
Naturally, Madam Yuan had no objections. Not only did she help Old Madam Guo pack her belongings, but she also proactively asked Old Madam Guo to oversee the wedding preparations for Cheng Xu at Xinglin Hutong in the capital.
Old Madam Guo smiled faintly and said, “I heard that Si Lang’s residence at Chaoyang Gate has been renovated. I plan to stay there. That way, when Jiashan gets married, the children won’t be put in an awkward position.”
Madam Yuan, shrewd as she was, was confused at this moment. She casually remarked, “Look at what you’re saying,” and then changed the subject, saying, “I’ve also heard about Fourth Uncle’s residence at Chaoyang Gate. He bought the neighboring mansions of several officials, making it one of the finest in the entire capital. Even my sixth cousin has heard about it. Fourth Uncle has always been filial. It’s good for you to stay there for a while and make Fourth Uncle happy.”
The sixth cousin she mentioned was none other than Yuan Weichang, the Chief Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat.
Old Madam Guo smiled and said, “Exactly.”
However, as soon as Madam Yuan left, her expression turned cold. She snorted to Nanny Shi, “You see, someone who didn’t come out of my womb is just different. I said I wanted to stay at Si Lang’s place for a while, and she immediately pushed me toward him, afraid that my presence as a widowed old woman would bring bad luck when her daughter-in-law enters the household.”
Nanny Shi could only console her, “You’re being a bit too harsh. Madam also wants you to be happy. She won’t be able to return to the capital for a while. Young Master Xu’s wedding date has already been set, and Second Madam is in poor health, unable to help much. With you there to oversee things, Madam will have a great advantage. How could she not feel relieved? Besides, Fourth Master has spent little time with you. If you go stay there, he’ll surely be delighted. What’s more, Fourth Master hasn’t married yet. With you there, you can urge him to marry sooner, and you can also hold a few more grandchildren sooner.”
Mentioning grandchildren brightened Old Madam Guo’s mood. She smiled and said, “A daughter-in-law naturally can’t compare to a son—I raised my son with my own hands, but my daughter-in-law was raised by her own mother. Even cats and dogs know who feeds them and become attached to that person, let alone humans. I never expected her to treat me particularly well. It’s just that when I think about how she stirred up trouble for Jiashan, insisting on dividing the clan, and even coaxed Si Lang into helping them with money, my heart aches. Seeing her makes me uncomfortable.” She sighed and added, “Perhaps it’s because she wasn’t the daughter-in-law I chose. I may not say it out loud, but deep down, I’m dissatisfied. That’s why I keep finding fault with her and picking on her. But I’m old now and don’t want to force myself anymore. Let’s just say she and I have no affinity.”Nanny Shi stood by with a respectful smile.
Old Madam Guo vaguely sensed that once she went to the capital this time, it would be rare to have another chance to return to Jinling. She instructed Nanny Shi, "I entrust the affairs of Cold Green Mountain House to you. If we separate from the second branch, this residence will most likely be given to them. I will take the valuables and fine belongings with me to the capital this time. As for the furniture, calligraphy and paintings, antiques, porcelain, and tinware in Cold Green Mountain House, I leave them all to you and Daman."
Daman was Nanny Shi's son.
Thinking of the five fully packed side rooms belonging to the old madam, Nanny Shi felt the weight of her responsibility and solemnly nodded.
After settling all matters, Old Madam Guo bid farewell to close family friends such as the Gu and Guo families, chose an auspicious day for travel, and set off by boat to the capital, accompanied by Chief Steward Qin Da.
Upon receiving the news, Cheng Chi was greatly startled and hurriedly asked, "Why has she suddenly decided to come to the capital?"
He did not believe for a moment that it was solely to attend Cheng Xu's wedding.
Qin Ziji smiled and said, "I don't know either. My granduncle sent a letter, only asking me to inform you and to prepare accommodations for the old madam as soon as possible."
Cheng Chi entrusted this matter to Qin Ziji.
Madam Li's elder brother had arrived. As there were no men in the household at Yuqian Hutong, he occasionally went over to keep them company. Master Li Sr. was a shrewd merchant with remarkable insight. In front of Cheng Chi, he spoke and acted with boldness yet caution, generosity without servility, clearly someone worth dealing with. For Zhou Shaojin's sake, Cheng Chi invited Liu Yong out, intending to introduce Master Li Sr. to him. While he couldn't promise much, securing a position as a royal merchant or something similar would not be a problem.
After giving a few instructions, Cheng Chi went to a private restaurant near Dongzhimen that served home-style dishes.
Meanwhile, Zhou Shaojin felt as if she were living in a dream these past few days.
Cheng Chi wrote her a letter every day. Sometimes he mentioned what he ate or drank, while other times he wrote nothing at all, simply enclosing a hand-painted bookmark or a half-bloomed flower in the envelope... Whenever this happened, her heart would flutter. She would solemnly store the letter and bookmark in a sandalwood box. As for the half-bloomed flowers, she dried them and placed them all in her jewelry box, taking them out to admire whenever she had free time.
Chunwan entered carrying a tea tray and saw Zhou Shaojin fiddling with the dried flowers again. She couldn't help but laugh and said, "Second Miss, we have a patch of jade hairpin flowers planted in the backyard. If you like them, I can pick some for you later. Why go through the trouble of drying them?"
She was unaware that Nanny Shang had been secretly delivering letters to Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin did not explain, smiling as she locked the box and placed it, along with the box containing the land deeds and documents, inside the headboard of her bed.
Chunwan then said, "Madam asked me to tell you that Master Li Sr. won't be back for dinner tonight. She wants to know if you'd like to go with her to Shuangyu Hutong to visit Eldest Miss."
Master Li Sr. had come specifically to celebrate the hundredth-day ceremony of Zhou Chujin's child. He had also prepared many gifts for Guan Ge. Even Zhou Shaojin received a set of writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, a set of red gold plum blossom hair ornaments, a pair of mutton-fat jade bracelets, a red gold hairband inlaid with various gems, a hairband inlaid with multicolored southern pearls, and several bolts of precious fabrics such as gold-woven and embroidered silk.
Madam Fan Liu calculated that these items were worth at least two hundred taels of silver.Not only her, but all the servants up and down Elm Coin Alley had received his arrangements.
Madam Fan Liu said, "He's doing this out of respect for the mistress. Putting yourself in her shoes, Second Miss should treat the mistress even better."
Zhou Shaojin thought Madam Fan Liu's words made sense, and she hadn't seen her sister for several days either. After dressing up, she went with Madam Li to Elm Tree Alley.
As Guan Ge's hundred-day celebration approached, relatives of the Liao family arrived one after another to present gifts.
When Zhou Shaojin and Madam Li arrived, they happened to encounter Fang Xuan and her mother.
Fang Xuan's mother was a very kind woman, while Fang Xuan appeared somewhat spoiled in comparison.
She only greeted Zhou Shaojin politely before following behind her mother, listening as Madam Fang and Madam Liao reminisced about old times. Madam Fang, however, looked at Zhou Shaojin and not only praised her beauty but also commended her gentle and quiet demeanor, urging Fang Xuan to get closer to her.
Fang Xuan glanced at Zhou Shaojin with a half-smile and gave a perfunctory response.
Even before her rebirth, Zhou Shaojin wouldn't have associated with relatives who looked down on her, let alone after being reborn.
She smiled and went with Madam Li to the inner chamber to visit Zhou Chujin.
Seeing this, Madam Fang couldn't help but scold Fang Xuan a few words: "We're all relatives by marriage. How can you be so rude? Even if you don't like her, when face-to-face, you should at least exchange a few pleasantries and keep your distance afterward. How can you show such a displeased expression to others?"
Fang Xuan was annoyed that her mother was siding with Zhou Shaojin and couldn't help but whisper, "I just don't like her—Sister Jia also said she grew up in Nine Prosperities Lane, so she should be very familiar with Cousin Xu. Yet she was quite cold toward Sister Jia. Maybe she once had feelings for Cousin Xu..."
Madam Fang immediately covered her daughter's mouth, her face frosty: "If you dare say another word, the first thing I'll do when we return is tell your father and have him punish you with the family rules!"
Fang Xuan had never seen her mother so stern with her before and nodded fearfully.
Madam Fang's expression softened slightly, and from then on, she held her daughter's hand and never let go.
Zhou Shaojin and Madam Li stayed for dinner at Elm Tree Alley before returning.
Not long after they returned, Madam Li's elder brother sent word that he wanted to see her.
Madam Li dismissed the maids and servants and invited her brother to the hall to talk.
Eldest Master Li had drunk too much and was tipsy, his words reeking of alcohol, but his thoughts were clear and coherent: "Guess what Fourth Master Cheng asked me to do? He introduced me to Liu Yong! Do you know who Liu Yong is? The most powerful eunuch in the palace right now! If we can get on his good side, not only can we expand our business to the capital, but even becoming a royal merchant would be as easy as lifting a finger... I was so happy today that I drank a few extra cups. Fourth Master is truly a good man. He doesn't say much, but every word hits the mark. If it weren't for him this time, I wouldn't have gotten this job. We must invite Fourth Master Chi out for drinks someday! By the way, is Fourth Master Cheng married? If he weren't a scholar who passed the imperial examinations, marrying our eldest daughter to him wouldn't be a bad idea either!"
Madam Li quickly waved her hands and said, "Elder Brother, you must not interfere in this matter. Regarding Fourth Master Chi's marriage, unless you want our eldest daughter to become a concubine, don't even mention a word of it!"
Eldest Master Li chuckled and said, "I was just thinking out loud. How could I really let our eldest daughter become someone's concubine?"Madam Li breathed a sigh of relief and persuaded her brother to return to his room to rest.
However, the eldest maternal uncle of the Li family was too excited to sleep and kept Madam Li talking for a long time before returning to the guest room.
Madam Li couldn't help but feel emotional: "I always thought Fourth Master Chi was cold and indifferent toward others, but I never expected him to be warm-hearted beneath his stern exterior."
Mama Li smiled and nodded repeatedly.
The next day, Madam Li told Zhou Shaojin about how Cheng Chi had helped her eldest maternal uncle make connections.
Zhou Shaojin was very surprised.
In her impression, Uncle Chi was not such an enthusiastic person.
However, perhaps in Jinling, with elders keeping him in check, even if he had the intention, he didn’t want to cause trouble.
"Shall we go thank Uncle Chi tomorrow?" Zhou Shaojin said, her face slightly flushed. "And let him know we remember his kindness?"
※
Dear readers, an extra update for the Dragon Boat Festival!
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: Updates will still be around five o’clock in the evening.
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel