Тhe seсоnd еldеr оf the Liao fаmilу naturallу did not beliеvе it, but Сhеng Сhi knеw nothing no mаtter how he was questionеd, sо the еlder hаd nо сhоicе but tо givе uр аwkwardlу.
Howevеr, sinсe еven families likе the Liaо family knеw аbоut it, it wаs imроssiblе for the Fаng, Yuаn, Min fаmiliеs, аnd Chеng Zheng's in-lаws, thе Gu family, nоt tо know.
Yuаn Weichang did nоt say anуthing, but thе Мin familу was pleаsеd tо seе it hарреn.
Аfter thе сlan divisiоn, without Сheng Shi and Сheng Zhеng, whо wеre оldеr thаn Сheng Xu, Chеng Xu would be the undisputеd eldest yоung master, thе legitimаtе eldеst son and grandson of the main branch, and the future of the Cheng family would unquestionably be under his control.
The Fang and Gu families, however, felt it was inappropriate. Especially the Gu family—the Fourth Master in the capital even personally summoned Cheng Zheng for questioning.
Cheng Zheng could only reply helplessly, "I have already sent someone to inquire, and news should arrive in a few days. I will report back to you then, Elder."
The Fourth Master of the Gu family was somewhat rigid. Stroking his beard, he nodded and said, "Brothers are needed to fight tigers, and fathers and sons to go into battle. You all understand these principles better than I do, so I won’t elaborate. Some actions, once taken, are like water spilled on the ground—impossible to take back. You must be extremely cautious."
In front of her elder, Cheng Zheng obediently accepted the admonishment. But when she returned to the eastern courtyard where she lived, her heart felt as if it were burning. She paced back and forth in her room twice, unable to calm her emotions, and finally decided to go to the residence at Chaoyang Gate.
Unexpectedly, from Cheng Chi down to the chief steward Qin Ziji, and even the inner household manager Biyu, none of them were there.
A young maid on duty trembled as she reported, "Chief Steward Qin Da accompanied the old madam to the capital. They arrived in Tongzhou the night before last, and only this morning did Fourth Master receive the news. Second Master, First Master, Second Master, Second Madam, and Second Young Master Rang have all rushed to Xizhimen..."
Cheng Zheng was both shocked and delighted. She was delighted that her grandmother, whom she had not seen for many years, had come to the capital, allowing them to reunite and for her to fulfill her filial duties. She was shocked, wondering if her grandmother’s visit might be related to the Cheng family’s clan division. The Gu family clearly believed the main branch should not have proposed the division... and she feared they might hold it against her as a granddaughter-in-law.
She immediately sent someone to Xinglin Hutong while hurrying to Xizhimen herself.
Cheng Zheng encountered no one at Xizhimen, but the person she sent to Xinglin Hutong returned with Old Madam Guo’s attendant, Nanny Lu.
"Eldest Miss!" Nanny Lu dared not put on airs in front of Cheng Zheng. She fell to her knees with a thud, tears streaming down her face. "Our old madam has missed you terribly! Please come with me to pay your respects to her!"
Thinking of her grandmother’s teachings, Cheng Zheng’s tears also fell. She quickly helped Nanny Lu up and hurried with her to Xinglin Hutong.
Xinglin Hutong was a five-courtyard residence, housing Cheng Jing and Cheng Wei’s families. Each had their own study outside, while the main hall was shared. Cheng Jing lived in the main house, and Cheng Wei resided in the courtyard behind. With Old Madam Guo’s arrival, the Cheng family opened the main gate, and she was ushered into the main hall, where she took a seat on the luohan bed. Cheng Jing, Cheng Wei, Cheng Chi, Cheng Wei’s wife Madam Qiu, and Cheng Wei’s son Cheng Rang all paid their respects by kowtowing to Old Madam Guo before gathering around her.
Seeing that the gentle and modest Cheng Rang remained as shy as before, Old Madam Guo could not help but sigh. She took his hand and asked about his studies.Upon learning that Cheng Rang had already read the Annotations on the Four Books, Old Madam Guo was delighted and said, "When your grandfather was your age, he had also just begun reading the Annotations on the Four Books. In all matters, thoroughness is more valuable than speed. You must carefully study the meanings within the Four Books. If there is anything you don’t understand, you can ask your Uncle Chi. Your Uncle Chi’s studies were also excellent. In his time, he even earned praise from your grandfather."
Cheng Rang blushed and replied, "Yes." Just then, a young maid announced from behind the curtain, "The eldest young mistress has arrived."
Old Madam Guo’s eyes reddened, and without even greeting her second daughter-in-law, she hurriedly said, "Quickly invite her in! Quickly!"
Cheng Zheng entered and knelt before Old Madam Guo, calling out "Grandmother" as tears fell like rain.
Old Madam Guo also began to cry.
Cheng Jing and the others turned their faces away.
Madam Wei, her eyes red, stepped forward to help Cheng Zheng up and said gently, "Eldest young mistress, please don’t cry! If you continue like this, the old madam will only grow more sorrowful."
Cheng Zheng knew this, but she couldn’t stop her tears from falling.
She wiped the corners of her eyes twice before finally stopping her tears and smiling as she called out "Grandmother."
Meanwhile, Old Madam Guo, comforted by Cheng Chi, also stopped crying. Hearing Cheng Zheng’s voice, she smiled and took her hand, her face filled with joy. "How did you know I had come to the capital? I was afraid of troubling you all, so I didn’t tell anyone!"
Cheng Zheng naturally couldn’t say that the elders of the Gu family had learned about the Cheng family’s plan to divide the clan and that she wanted to inquire about the situation. Instead, she smiled and said, "I happened to be planning to visit Fourth Uncle’s place and only then found out you had come to the capital!"
"See how fateful our eldest young mistress and mother are!" Madam Wei chimed in playfully. "On a whim to go out for a stroll, she coincidentally encountered mother’s arrival in the capital... Eldest young mistress, will you be returning today? Why not stay for dinner?"
Cheng Zheng nodded repeatedly and sent her attendants to fetch her sons, Gu Ning and Gu Zhong, and to deliver a message to Gu Xu, who was on duty at the government office: "Tell him grandmother has arrived!"
The attendants promptly agreed and left the main hall.
Cheng Jing hurriedly made space for his mother.
"There’s no need for all this trouble," Old Madam Guo said with a smile. "I’ve just come to the capital to relax. I’ll stay in the guest room today. Tomorrow, I’ll go take a look at Si Lang’s residence at Chaoyang Gate and stay there for a few days."
Cheng Wei and his wife exchanged a glance.
Cheng Jing hesitated and said, "Mother, you’ve had a long and tiring journey. Wouldn’t it be better to rest here for a few days before going?"
Since Old Madam Guo had come to the capital, she would inevitably need to visit relatives in the city. As the eldest son, it was his duty to attend to his mother. If Old Madam Guo moved to Chaoyang Gate, relatives would have to visit her there. With Madam Yuan causing trouble back home about dividing the clan, overly sensitive people might assume there was discord between Old Madam Guo and her daughter-in-law, Madam Yuan.
As he spoke, he glanced at Cheng Wei.
He signaled for Cheng Wei to persuade their mother.
Cheng Wei dared not speak.
Their mother had come to the capital suddenly without telling them and had brought along Chief Steward Qin. It was almost certainly about the clan division. He hadn’t yet had a chance to speak with his mother about whether she agreed or opposed the idea, so he didn’t dare say anything reckless at this moment.
He looked toward Cheng Chi.
Zi Chuan had been taking care of their mother in Jinling City all these years and, as the youngest son, should know their mother’s thoughts best. Even if he didn’t, at the very least, if he said something wrong, their mother would definitely not get angry.
Cheng Chi was filled with confusion.Why did Mother suddenly decide to stay at Chaoyang Gate?
Could it be that she has something to say to him about Zhou Shaojin?
Cheng Chi stood there with his eyes lowered, completely ignoring Cheng Wei.
When he went out, he had someone send a message to Zhou Shaojin, saying only that he had business to attend to and would not be home today, so she wouldn’t make a wasted trip.
The little girl had been playing in his study these past few days.
Suddenly telling her not to come, he wondered if she would feel bored!
Cheng Wei inwardly groaned but had no choice but to pretend he hadn’t seen Cheng Jing’s meaningful look. He instructed his wife, “Since Mother is here, you should send someone to inform Xiao Jie’er and Sheng Jie’er. Also, check on the kitchen. We’ll have the meal served once Da Lun and the others arrive. Mother, what do you think?”
Old Madam Guo nodded and said, “It’s late now. It’s better to send word to Xiao Jie’er and Sheng Jie’er tomorrow. Just have a steward inform them. Let Rang-ge handle this. Rang-ge, can you manage it?”
Cheng Rang hurried forward to acknowledge the task, his face flushed crimson.
Old Madam Guo chuckled and said, “Rang-ge is no longer a child. He’s old enough to start handling matters.”
Cheng Wei and the others quickly bowed in agreement.
Old Madam Guo continued, “As for the kitchen, just have the household matrons check on it. My second daughter-in-law’s health isn’t good, so hurry back to your room to change into something more comfortable. Come back in looser attire to keep us company. The rest of you, go attend to your own affairs. Once Da Lun and the others arrive, we’ll have the meal served in the main hall.”
Upon hearing this, Second Madam Wei’s eyes welled up with tears.
She had been married for over twenty years and had struggled with fertility, losing several pregnancies early on. It was only after great difficulty that she gave birth to Cheng Sheng and Cheng Rang. Perhaps because of this, Cheng Rang had been frail and sickly since childhood and was not as clever in his studies as Cheng Xu. Yet her mother-in-law had always been kind to her, never uttering a single word of complaint. When she wallowed in self-pity, her mother-in-law comforted her. After Cheng Wei took up an official post in the capital, she even sent her and her son to reunite with him in Beijing, keeping the lively and active Cheng Sheng by her side to care for…
“Mother!” Second Madam Wei clutched Old Madam Guo’s sleeve and choked back a sob.
Old Madam Guo smiled and said, “I’m perfectly fine. Don’t cry…”
Second Madam Wei was startled and forced back her tears, calling out uneasily, “Mother.”
Old Madam Guo patted her hand with a smile and said, “Alright, alright, I know you’re filial. All of you, go now. I’d like to have a word with Zheng Jie’er.”
The sons and grandsons filed out of the sitting room in the main house.
As soon as they left the hall, Cheng Jing complained, “Mother wants to stay at Chaoyang Gate, and you didn’t even try to dissuade her. That place is empty and full of newly hired servants. How can they possibly take good care of Mother?”
Cheng Wei merely smiled.
Cheng Chi lazily remarked, “Didn’t Sister-in-law insist on splitting the clan? I’m doing this for the sake of our eldest branch—Mother was forced into a corner by the Second Branch’s matriarch and had no choice but to flee to the capital. She’s anxious and angry, feeling too ashamed to face her relatives, so she quietly moved into her youngest son’s home. Once we pay the Second Branch, it will only confirm their reputation for being unkind and unjust. Isn’t that just perfect?”
The residence at Xinglin Hutong was indeed a bit too small.
They also needed to make room for Cheng Jiashan’s bridal chamber.
Moreover, Mother was a widow. On the day of Cheng Jiashan’s wedding, she certainly couldn’t stay in the main rooms.
Would they really make her move to the back rooms instead?Mother had never suffered such humiliation in her life.
It made no sense for her to endure such idle grievances when all her sons were grown.
Cheng Chi said, "Mother is doing this for Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law's sake. Zheng Jie'er's in-laws place great importance on these matters."
Cheng Jing flushed, lowering his voice, "The division of the clan is also an inevitable trend."
"Exactly!" Cheng Chi replied. "Even the world follows the cycle of unity and division, let alone households! I don't understand what Eldest Brother is so troubled about."
Cheng Jing laughed awkwardly.
Cheng Wei quickly stepped in to smooth things over, saying to Cheng Chi, "Since you also think it's a good idea, let Second Sister-in-law accompany Mother to serve her."
Second Sister-in-law was also a gentle and compliant person. Having her interact with the young girl in advance would give the girl a companion after she marries into the family.
Cheng Chi smiled, "Whether Second Sister-in-law goes or not isn't crucial. Having Rang-geer go serve Mother is what truly matters. Didn't Mother also say that Rang-geer has reached the age to handle affairs? With fewer servants over there, it would be perfect for Rang-geer to run errands for Mother."
※
Sisters, apologies! My home computer broke down, so I had to post from work, which caused a significant delay, and I couldn't take time off!
The extra update will have to wait until tomorrow.
(>_<)
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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