Zhоu Shаоjin hаd nоt exресtеd hеr sister to be sо еager аbout this mattеr. Еаrlу thе nеxt morning, Zhоu Chujin came in persоn, сarrуing Guan Gе'еr in hеr аrms. Upоn sееing Zhоu Shаojin, shе chided, "You'rе tоo thоughtless. Knowing Оld Madаm Guo has соmе tо thе саpital, уоu still dawdlеd аnd didn't tеll us. Bу all rights, wе shоuld have gоnе to Хizhimen to welсome her."
Аlthоugh Zhоu Chujin dislikеd Cheng Xu, bасk whеn Jiying hаd bеаtеn him, Оld Мadаm Guо had nоt utterеd a word оf cоmрlаint, allоwing Zhоu Shаоjin to leavе Nine Prosperitiеs Lane and Jinling smоothly. It wаs onlу аfter Zhоu Chujin became a mother herself that she truly understood the depth of this kindness.
For this act of grace, she would be grateful to Old Madam Guo for the rest of her life.
Zhou Shaojin was not yet prepared to see Old Madam Guo and could only smile awkwardly in response. "I sent someone to inform you as soon as I found out. The old madam came quietly and, from what I heard, didn't even tell Cousin Xiao or Cousin Sheng. After all, we are somewhat distant relatives, aren't we?"
"Relatives need to keep in touch," Zhou Chujin said dismissively. "Even the closest of kin can drift apart if they don't interact for a long time. Besides, Old Madam Guo is so advanced in years, and it's not easy for her to come to the capital. With Madam Yuan causing trouble over dividing the family in Jinling, the old lady must be feeling down. If we all go to visit her, it will surely lift her spirits."
Who knows whether seeing me would lift her spirits or dampen them? Zhou Shaojin grumbled inwardly.
But she knew she had to go to see the old madam eventually.
She listened as Madam Li and Zhou Chujin discussed: "...Today, the old madam is moving to Fourth Master's residence at Chaoyangmen. She'll likely need a day to settle in tomorrow, so the day after would be most suitable—neither too early nor too late. But it's best to send the visiting card today. Any later would seem disrespectful!"
Zhou Chujin agreed and added, "As for Uncle Li, I think it would be enough to send a gift along. The old lady is advanced in years and doesn't have the energy for socializing. Even back in Jinling, she rarely received guests. Since Uncle Li's business has expanded to the capital, there will be plenty of opportunities for interaction in the future. After summer, it will be the old madam's birthday, and she'll likely celebrate it in the capital this year. Without the pressure from the second branch's ancestors, her birthday can be a lively affair. It would be even better if Uncle Li went then to toast her longevity."
Madam Li nodded repeatedly, smiling gratefully at Zhou Chujin for offering such a thoughtful suggestion.
Zhou Chujin smiled and said, "I hadn't thought that far ahead. It was my mother-in-law who reminded me before I left. My attention is completely absorbed by Guan Ge'er these days—how could I possibly manage anything else?" She sighed and added, "Thankfully, my mother-in-law is here now. Otherwise, with Madam gone, everything would have fallen into chaos."
Her words carried a tone of acknowledgment and gratitude for Madam Li's care.
Hearing this, Madam Li felt a lump form in her throat.
Being a stepmother was difficult.
Especially with two stepdaughters who were already sensible adults.
Only now did she finally feel as though she had truly integrated into the Zhou family.
The three of them—or rather, the two of them, as Zhou Shaojin remained silent while Madam Li and Zhou Chujin spoke—eventually decided to send the visiting cards that day. Two cards would be sent: one from Madam Li and Zhou Shaojin, and another from Madam Liao and Zhou Chujin. They would then go together to Chaoyangmen to pay their respects to Old Madam Guo.
Madam Li smiled as she saw Zhou Chujin off. Zhou Shaojin, however, began to worry.How should I dress when meeting the old madam?
Wearing red might be too flashy, and her temperament couldn't carry it; wearing pink, would the old madam think she looked too young and mismatched with Uncle Chi... She rummaged through her cabinets at home. Eventually, even Madam Li was alerted and suggested: "Just wear that water-blue waistcoat made the other day, with the white embroidered skirt, and pin a row of jasmine flowers. It looks dignified, elegant, fresh, and pleasant."
Zhou Shaojin laughed at herself.
This was indeed her usual preferred style.
Her anxiety was too heavy; might she ruin this meeting?
Zhou Shaojin spent the day doing needlework at home, which finally calmed her mood. The next day, she simply wore an extra pair of southern pearl earrings and dressed as Madam Li suggested to visit Old Madam Guo.
With a large estate, many people are needed.
After Old Madam Guo moved in, with servants coming and going, the Chaoyang Gate residence felt much livelier compared to the previous days, and it now had the atmosphere of a lived-in home.
Perhaps because of Madam Liao, it was Second Madam Wei who greeted them at the Moon Gate.
She was forty-one years old this year, elegant and gentle. Although she wore light powder and ointment, her slender figure and weary expression between her brows could not conceal her sickly appearance.
Yet Zhou Shaojin knew that she embodied the saying, "A bent carrying pole is sturdy." Despite her long-term poor health, her children were obedient, and her husband respected her. She lived well until the Cheng family was raided.
Everyone exchanged cheerful greetings, and Madam Liao warmly linked arms with Second Madam Wei.
Second Madam Wei's father was the same age as the late Elder Master Cheng Xun, and her mother was a daughter of the Jianglu Li family, related to Madam Liao's maternal family, the Fangs.
All these twists and turns... they were all relatives!
Zhou Shaojin walked at the back, nervously clutching her handkerchief. When she saw Biyu standing smiling under the corridor of the main room, she let out a long sigh of relief, finally feeling much more relaxed.
Biyu stepped forward to greet everyone, smiling, "The old madam has been waiting inside!" Then she lifted the curtain and ushered them into the room.
Compared to the formality of Zhou Shaojin and the others, Old Madam Guo appeared dignified yet casual.
Her hair was casually tied in a bun, adorned with a pair of gold hairpins inlaid with cat's eye stones. She wore a knee-length, stone-blue waistcoat with silver auspicious cloud patterns and sat gently by the window on the large kang in the western resting room.
They hurried forward to pay their respects.
Old Madam Guo's expression softened again as she beckoned to Zhou Chujin, saying, "Bring the child for me to see."
Nothing brings more joy to an elderly person than a fondness for children.
Zhou Chujin quickly took Guan Ge from the wet nurse and brought him to Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo took the child in her arms, smiling and teasing Guan Ge with a few words.
Zhou Chujin and the others were both surprised and delighted—when Old Madam Guo asked for the child to be brought over, they thought she would merely glance at him and give a few rewards. They hadn't expected her to personally hold the child... showing genuine affection.
The atmosphere in the room grew even warmer and more intimate.
Old Madam Guo's gaze seemed to inadvertently sweep over Zhou Shaojin, who had been sitting quietly and smiling without speaking.
The old lady couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
She was truly beautiful, like a jade carving... but why did she feel so uneasy about this?Of all people, why did Si Lang have to fall for this little girl?
When everyone ends up eating from the same pot, what will happen to Jiashan?
She recalled what Cheng Shao had said to her just two days prior: "Whoever Zi Chuan wants to marry, I think it’s fine… Since Xun Ge’er and San Lang passed away one after another, I’ve grown more detached from worldly affairs… Both died suddenly after catching a mild chill… Life is but a few short decades. I still remember the day before Xun Ge’er passed, he was still holding a book, reading the Annotations on the Four Books. He said he had taken a few days off from the academy but didn’t want to fall behind in his studies… Even now, thinking about it, my heart aches terribly.
"Zi Chuan is an adult. I believe he has carefully considered the consequences of his actions.
"Let him live the life he wants!"
Old Madam Guo had kept Cheng Shao behind to talk. Her eldest and second sons thought it was about separating the family branch, but who would have guessed that after learning about Cheng Chi’s situation, Cheng Shao not only didn’t help persuade Cheng Chi but instead advised her to let go.
How could she not know what Cheng Shao was saying?
But knowing was one thing. Whenever she thought about Zhou Shaojin actually entering the Cheng family… a niece becoming a sister-in-law, how would the sisters address each other? Jiashan was the most pitiful… the girl he loved becoming his little aunt… It made her scalp tingle.
Break them apart?
Si Lang was not Jiashan. Whether she could even separate them was uncertain.
Besides, this was the first time Si Lang had shown such enthusiasm for marriage. He had put in so much effort… And Shaojin, this child, she genuinely liked her too… As long as she wasn’t her daughter-in-law, she would gladly and generously add to her dowry, letting her marry in grand style!
What to do? She had always been decisive, but even after seeing Zhou Shaojin, she still hadn’t made up her mind.
Perhaps she should also find an opportunity to speak with Zhou Shaojin?
What if it was just her son being overly eager?
If she disagreed, could her son force a marriage?
But what if her son’s future marriage prospects were ruined because of this?
Old Madam Guo looked at the chubby little boy in her arms. On one hand, she thought, why not just turn a blind eye and let her son have his way? Maybe next year she could hold another chubby little boy like this one. On the other hand, she thought, how could she let the son she carried for ten months and gave birth to with such difficulty act so recklessly? If even the slightest rumor spread about him seducing his niece, his life would be ruined…
Even after returning the child to Zhou Chujin, giving the meeting gift, exchanging pleasantries with Madam Liao, and listening to Madam Liao endlessly talk about how adorable, mischievous, and clever her grandson was, Old Madam Guo still hadn’t made up her mind.
Should she just take it one step at a time?
For the first time in her life, Old Madam Guo felt so helpless.
Zhou Shaojin quickly sensed something unusual in Old Madam Guo’s attitude toward her.
On the surface, it seemed as though Old Madam Guo hadn’t had a chance to speak with her because Madam Liao and Madam Li, two elders, were present. But in reality, there was a faint sense of distance in her demeanor.
If it were anyone else, Zhou Shaojin wouldn’t have minded.
But Old Madam Guo was the type of person who could either ignore you if she looked down on you or show her fondness for you without reservation. Acting this way toward her felt more like trying to cover something up.
Did she dislike her?
It didn’t seem so.
Did she like her…? Not exactly either…In the end, it probably still came down to considerations about her status.
Zhou Shaojin suddenly felt a dull ache in her heart.
Status... it had always been her fatal flaw.
She didn’t want to be like this either!
But what could she do about it?
Old Madam Guo was Uncle Chi’s closest relative in this world. Without her support, she and Uncle Chi would... have a very difficult time in the Cheng family, wouldn’t they?
Zhou Shaojin’s hands unconsciously twisted tightly together.
※
Dear readers, an extra update for Suyan!
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: Today’s update will be late, around 8 p.m.
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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