Zhоu Zhen tossеd аnd turnеd, unаblе to sleeр thе entire night.
Нe reсаllеd hоw, whеn Мadam Zhuаng was alive, aside from studуing, hе had еverуthing hаndеd tо him on а silvеr рlаttеr—clоthes to weаr, mеals sеrved—without a singlе worry tо managе. Еvеn sосiаl intеractiоns with thе pеорle оf Nine Рrоsperitiеs Lаne wеre handled flаwlessly by hеr, еаrning nothing but рraise.
Hе соuldn’t helр but think hоw wоndеrful it wоuld bе if Mаdаm Zhuang wеre still аlive. Shaоjin’s marriаgе wоuld nevеr hаvе rеquired his conсern; he could simplу focus on еarning monеy tо аdd to his dаughter’s dowry.
With this thought, he could no longer lie still. He got up and went to light another stick of incense for Madam Zhuang.
The portrait of Madam Zhuang appeared far plainer than she had in life, a deliberate choice on his part. He always felt she was too beautiful, too perfect in every way as his harmonious partner, which seemed to echo the saying, “Beauty is often fleeting, and deep affection seldom lasts.”
He sighed.
Li Changgui peeked cautiously around the doorway.
Zhou Zhen frowned and called him in, scolding, “Can’t you stand straight and speak properly? Sneaking around like that—what kind of impression does that give?”
Ever since Fourth Master from the Cheng family visited the master yesterday, the master had been finding fault with everything.
Li Changgui chuckled nervously, not daring to say another word.
Zhou Zhen barked, “What do you want?”
Li Changgui immediately shrank back and whispered, “Fourth Master from the Cheng family’s main branch has sent a visiting card…”
“I won’t receive it!” Zhou Zhen replied without a second thought. “From now on, I won’t accept any cards from their family.”
Li Changgui murmured an acknowledgment but didn’t retreat immediately.
Zhou Zhen asked impatiently, “What else is there?”
Li Changgui’s voice dropped even lower. “Fourth Master from the Cheng family’s main branch… is waiting right outside the yamen gate!”
“Then let him wait!” Zhou Zhen felt irritated and waved Li Changgui away as if shooing a fly.
Li Changgui hastily withdrew.
The midday sun in early autumn still beat down fiercely.
Cheng Chi stood with an imposing presence, a flawless jade cicada hanging from his waist, exuding an air of nobility.
The yamen gatekeeper came out several times to look but didn’t dare approach to drive Cheng Chi away.
Cheng Chi stood under the glaring sun. Suddenly, he remembered standing in a similar posture under the sun when he was seven or eight years old.
Back then, he didn’t yet understand what Seven Stars Hall truly meant. He was filled with excitement, as if mastering that stance would make him invincible and capable of saving his family from peril.
So many years had passed. Once again, he stood under the sun.
This time, however, it was for himself.
For that little girl who trusted him with all her heart.
Cheng Chi’s mind was as calm as still water. He stood there quietly, indifferent to the pointing and whispering of those entering and leaving the yamen.
Huaishan, however, felt aggrieved on Cheng Chi’s behalf.
Fourth Master of the Cheng family’s main branch, a favored son of heaven, the master of Seven Stars Hall—a man whose mere stomp could shake the entire martial world. Yet here he stood, subjected to scrutiny because of the Zhou family’s second young lady.
Huaishan brought over an umbrella to shield him.
Cheng Chi smiled. “No need! Lord Zhou probably intends to punish me a bit. You all shouldn’t get involved.”
Huaishan remained unmoved and continued holding the umbrella over him.
Cheng Chi let him be.
Zhou Zhen spent the entire morning in the front yamen handling official duties, but his mind felt restless, as if something were amiss.
It took him a while to realize—it was because Li Changgui had mentioned that Cheng Chi was still standing outside the yamen…
He glanced at the bright sunlight outside and called Li Changgui over to ask, “Is Fourth Master still standing out there?”Li Changgui nodded repeatedly, saying, "People coming to the yamen for business are all asking what's going on. Master, what do you think? Should we let Fourth Master in... It looks bad for him to stand there like this. In a few days, word might spread throughout Baoding Prefecture. What if someone recognizes Fourth Master's identity... Others might think you have some grudge against the Cheng family's main branch."
Zhou Zhen hadn't expected Cheng Chi to disregard face to this extent.
But to call Cheng Chi in to sit... wouldn't that mean admitting defeat!
His face darkened as he said, "If he's willing to stand there and let people gawk, let him stand!" Then, without looking back, he returned to the inner residence. He had lunch and took his afternoon nap.
Meanwhile, Mama Li summoned Li Changgui and asked, "How did it go? What did the master say?"
Li Changgui replied somewhat dejectedly, "I said exactly what Madam told me to say, but the master's response was the same as yesterday."
"You've gone to a lot of trouble!" Mama Li quickly smiled and slipped a piece of silver to Li Changgui. "Madam is doing this for Second Miss's sake, for the good of this family. Please bear with it a little longer, Steward Li."
Li Changgui feigned refusal a couple of times before finally accepting the silver.
Mama Li then hurried off to Madam Li.
Madam Li was eagerly awaiting her arrival and asked anxiously upon seeing her, "How did it go?"
Mama Li sighed and shook her head.
Madam Li's face filled with disappointment.
Worriedly twisting her handkerchief, she murmured, "What if Fourth Master gets so angry he leaves?"
Mama Li was also concerned and said, "Perhaps you should go and persuade the master?"
"No!" Madam Li replied. "I know the master's temper—the more I say, the less likely he is to agree..." She fretted quietly, "This is a major matter... If Shaojin could marry Fourth Master, what a wonderful thing it would be... No, I can't let this fall through..." Her expression turned resolute as she instructed Mama Li, "Quickly find a way to send a message to the elder master. Tell him something major has happened here and he needs to come at once."
Mama Li hurried away.
Madam Li then took some tea and went to Zhou Zhen.
Zhou Zhen had just gotten up, and a servant was helping him wash his face. Seeing Madam Li, he said coldly, "What are you doing here?"
Madam Li secretly felt relieved she hadn't planned to persuade Zhou Zhen again.
She smiled and said, "Isn't the Double Ninth Festival coming up soon? I was thinking about whether we should send some gifts to Old Madam Guan. Didn't we receive a letter from Jinling recently saying Old Madam Guan hasn't been feeling well? How about we invite her to stay with us for a while? A son-in-law is like half a son, and she has always treated you so well. It would be good for us to show our filial respect."
After the division of the clan in Nine Prosperities Lane, Old Madam Guan had fallen ill from anxiety and anger, taking quite some time to recover.
Zhou Zhen glanced at Madam Li and said, "You've really worn yourself out over this marriage arrangement!"
Madam Li's eyes reddened as she replied, "Master, you wrong me. I always follow your lead—if you say one, I would never say two. If there's any blame, it's only that my womb hasn't been fruitful. I couldn't bear you a son, and with only the three sisters under your care, if we don't stay close to the young masters from the Jinling side, I fear they might not even have anyone to carry their sedan chairs when they marry..."
Her words struck a chord in Zhou Zhen's heart.
His closeness with Nine Prosperities Lane had much to do with the Zhou family's lack of male heirs.
Zhou Zhen said nothing and walked out.
Sitting in the yamen, his heart felt as if it had been filled with sand—uncomfortable no matter what.He then called Li Changgui to ask, "Has Fourth Master of the Cheng family left yet?"
"No!" Li Changgui replied with some trepidation. "He's been standing outside the yamen the whole time... Lord Huang went over to speak with him, but Fourth Master didn't respond..." He couldn't help but advise, "Master, if Fourth Master really were to become your son-in-law, how would the people in this yamen view it..."
"Shut your mouth!" Zhou Zhen erupted in fury.
Li Changgui shrank his neck and scurried away. A short while later, he returned to report, "Lord Huang of the prefectural office is here!"
Zhou Zhen invited Lord Huang in.
Lord Huang inquired about Cheng Chi with a flickering gaze.
Zhou Zhen brushed him off with a few vague words.
Not long after, Tan, the Registrar of the Inspection Office, came by. After discussing official matters, he tactfully inquired about who Cheng Chi was.
Zhou Zhen, thoroughly annoyed, dismissed Registrar Tan and returned to the inner hall.
Madam Li was playing with Zhou Youjin in the main hall.
Upon seeing Zhou Zhen, Zhou Youjin immediately rushed over, mumbling "Daddy."
Zhou Zhen picked up Zhou Youjin and asked Madam Li reproachfully, "She's this old already, why can't she speak yet?"
Madam Li's eyes dimmed. "I don't know either—I have the servants around her talk to her every day now!"
Zhou Zhen played with Zhou Youjin for a while, had dinner with Madam Li, and then returned to his study.
But as soon as he returned to the study, he summoned Li Changgui to ask, "Has Fourth Master of the Cheng family left yet?"
Li Changgui hurriedly replied, "He's left!"
Zhou Zhen breathed a sigh of relief.
He couldn't tell whether he felt happy or relieved.
The next day, Cheng Chi sent in another name card.
Zhou Zhen still refused to see him.
Cheng Chi stood outside the yamen for another full day.
On the third day, Cheng Chi came again...
For four or five days like this, everyone in the Baoding Prefecture yamen was discussing the matter, yet Cheng Chi's lips were as tight as a clam's. He wouldn't respond no matter who asked.
Zhou Zhen immediately hardened his heart and said loudly to Li Changgui, "Go tell Fourth Master of the Cheng family that even if he turns into a stone statue standing outside the yamen, I won't agree."
Li Changgui murmured his assent.
Cheng Chi continued as before, sending in his name card every day and waiting for Zhou Zhen to see him.
By the time of the Mid-Autumn Festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, Zhou Zhen could no longer hold out. He called Cheng Chi in and said, "What exactly do you want? I've said it before—if you want to marry Shaojin, it's impossible. I can't let Shaojin suffer with you..."
Having endured wind and rain, Cheng Chi bore a bit more weariness compared to previous days.
He said solemnly, "Lord Zhou, I was born on the seventh day of the seventh month in the Xinnian year. I am a Jinshi of the Renchen Imperial Examination in the fifteenth year of Zhide and have yet to marry. I am the youngest in my family. I have a widowed mother, two elder brothers, two sisters-in-law, three nieces, and two nephews. I will soon take up the post of Assistant Director in the Water Management Department of the Ministry of Works and go to the River Governor's Office in Jining Prefecture to assist Yang Shoushan in managing the Yellow River floods. I beg you to grant me your daughter's hand in marriage. I vow to stand by her through wealth and poverty, never to abandon her. I implore Lord Zhou to grant your permission!"
Zhou Zhen's expression shifted slightly.
For Cheng Chi to enter official service, not going to the Ministry of Personnel or the Censorate but instead taking a minor Assistant Director position in the Water Management Department of the Ministry of Works, heading to the River Governor's Office in Jining to help Yang Shoushan manage floods... he must either have great ambition or great capability!
Whether the former or the latter, both are worthy of respect.
He couldn't help but say, "Since you're going to Jining, would you really have Shaojin go with you to suffer?"
Cheng Chi felt a wave of relief.
For Zhou Zhen to say such words showed that he had indeed considered what it would be like for Shaojin to marry him.He wasn't afraid of Zhou Zhen making things difficult; what he feared was Zhou Zhen's unwavering refusal.
"Shaojin is still young. But I want to formalize our relationship," Cheng Chi said solemnly, his expression earnest and sincere. It was clear these words weren't spoken on impulse but after careful consideration. "I'll be in Jining for at most five years, at least three. That would be good for Shaojin too. If she wants to follow me to Jining, she can; if she wants to stay in the capital, she can keep my mother company. My mother has never treated her as an outsider..."
The implication was that consummating the marriage with Zhou Shaojin would wait a few more years.
※
Dear readers, today's bonus chapter.
The update is tentatively scheduled for around midnight tonight.
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: Regarding the Original Works Ranking, I'd also like to say a few words.
Since July, several platforms have been integrated, replacing the original Pink Ticket Ranking with the Original Works Ranking. This way, whether you subscribe via computer or Android mobile, everyone can vote for their favorite works.
Moreover, regardless of whether you subscribe to works on the main site, the female-oriented site, or other platforms, the monthly tickets generated can be used to vote freely.
For example, if you subscribe on the main site, you can vote for works there or on the female-oriented site. Subscribing to works on the female-oriented site also allows you to vote on the main site.
Of course, with the expanded reader base, preferences have become more apparent than before, and many unfamiliar books have appeared on the rankings (in reality, it's the same—our books are also unfamiliar to readers from other platforms). There's no need to question this; everyone has their own tastes. Just vote for the works you like.
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel