Оld Маdаm Guо beckоnеd Zhоu Shаоjin and Fang Xuаn оver, taking Shаojin’s hand in оnе оf hеrs аnd Fаng Xuan’s in thе other. With a gentle and аffеctiоnatе smilе, shе lоokеd аt Shаоjin, thеn at Fаng Xuan, and sаid tо the рeoplе in the roоm, "Look аt thеsе twо уоung lаdies, like mоrning dеw and bright реаrls—just seеing them brings jоу to the hеаrt."
Seсond Madаm Fang’s exрrеssiоn immediаtely stiffenеd.
Zhоu Shаojin wаs fаmоuslу bеаutiful; anуоne sеeing hеr for the first timе cоuldn’t hеlр but loоk twiсе. Fаng Xuan was аlso quite pretty, but stаnding next to Shаojin, her bеautу sеemеd rather forced.
Was the old madam praising Fang Xuan or belittling her?
Second Madam Fang couldn’t help but wonder inwardly.
Fang Xuan’s expression also darkened.
If the old madam wanted to praise Zhou Shaojin, why drag her in to serve as a foil?
Everyone in the room was sharp-witted.
Given Old Madam Guo’s esteemed status, who would be tactless enough to correct her?
Everyone chuckled and praised Shaojin and Fang Xuan’s beauty, but their gazes lingered on Shaojin for a few moments longer.
Shaojin felt somewhat uncomfortable under such scrutiny, but she had always been well-behaved and sensible. Regardless of Old Madam Guo’s reasons for doing this, she would accept it quietly. So when everyone’s eyes fell on her, she tried to keep her smile natural and sweet, her demeanor graceful and dignified, and her words gentle and refined, living up to the reputation Old Madam Guo had once helped cultivate for her.
Several ladies watching nodded subtly, and some even quietly asked Madam Yuan whether Shaojin was already betrothed.
Madam Yuan was pleased to see this and praised Shaojin lavishly, as if, had Cheng Xu not already been engaged to the eldest daughter of the Min family, she would have sought Shaojin’s hand for him. Moreover, seeing that Shaojin was indeed as gentle and compliant as Madam Yuan described, the ladies took note and struck up conversations with Zhou Chujin.
Chujin was eager to find a suitable match for Shaojin as soon as their father’s letter arrived, so she was especially patient with them.
Everyone present was perceptive, and seeing this, they grew even more enthusiastic, making Shaojin feel thoroughly uncomfortable. She hid behind Chujin and remained silent, which only made everyone think her even more gentle and virtuous. Fang Xuan watched, fuming, and as soon as they had finished offering birthday wishes to Old Madam Guo, she tugged at her mother’s sleeve, wanting to go home.
Second Madam Fang also felt uneasy, but how could they just leave like that?
She patiently advised her daughter, "You’re a grown young lady now. You should understand that in this world, even the sun has stars revolving around it. How can you clamor to go home over such a trivial matter? This is Old Madam Guo’s birthday banquet. When you marry and have a husband’s family, will you seek a divorce just because your mother-in-law says something you don’t like?"
Her daughter had truly been spoiled by her. She would have to find another opportunity to have a good talk with her.
Fang Xuan had no choice but to grit her teeth and stay, watching as Madam Li smiled broadly and couldn’t stop looking at Zhou Shaojin.
A young maid entered and announced, "Old Madam, the young masters have come to offer their birthday wishes!"
Old Madam Guo smiled and took her seat on the luohan bed in the hall. Except for a few elderly ladies and madams, the other female relatives discreetly withdrew.
Cheng Chi then entered with his two elder brothers.Perhaps because it was Old Madam Guo's birthday celebration, he wore a dark red robe patterned with bamboo leaves. His jet-black hair was tied up with a white jade hairpin, and the golden threads on the apricot-colored double-fish embroidered pouch at his waist occasionally glimmered. His demeanor was dignified and graceful, his bearing handsome and elegant.
Zhou Shaojin found herself unable to look away for a moment.
It had been a long time since she had seen Uncle Chi.
He was still the same as ever.
No, he was even more handsome... more attractive than before...
Zhou Shaojin gazed at Cheng Chi with such infatuation that it seemed as if everyone else in the hall had vanished. She could only see him, she could only focus on him. She completely failed to notice Cheng Xu, who had followed Cheng Chi into the room.
Zhou Chujin was both anxious and annoyed.
Fortunately, she had been cautious enough to stand beside the floor-length curtain, though she had forgotten that by gently lifting the curtain, one could see into the hall.
She quietly pinched Zhou Shaojin's arm and whispered a warning, "You need to restrain yourself a little, be careful not to let others notice anything." Then she took a few steps forward, shielding Zhou Shaojin behind her.
Zhou Shaojin flushed with embarrassment, withdrawing her gaze but unable to resist stealing glances outward.
Zhou Chujin, however, noticed that Second Madam Fang and Fang Xuan were standing near a screen not far from them. With just a slight tilt of their heads, they could see those who had come to offer birthday wishes to Old Madam Guo. Fang Xuan’s eyes were wide with surprise, as if she had seen something astonishing.
Unable to help herself, Zhou Chujin stood on tiptoe and craned her neck to follow Fang Xuan’s line of sight.
Zhou Chujin saw Cheng Chi... and Cheng Xu.
Cheng Xu seemed much more subdued. The once dazzling brilliance about him had suddenly turned into a quiet, introspective demeanor, as if he had experienced the trials of the world and matured significantly.
Zhou Chujin had originally hated him to the core, but seeing him like this, she felt an inexplicable twinge of sympathy.
She sighed inwardly.
Who had Fang Xuan seen? And why was she so surprised... If only she had taken a liking to Cheng Chi. Given the friendship between the Cheng and Fang families, that would be a well-matched marriage.
Why hadn’t Father replied to her letter yet?
Could it be that the letter hadn’t been delivered?
Or had something unexpected happened?
Zhou Chujin felt uneasy.
Fang Xuan was looking at Cheng Chi.
This was the second time she had seen him.
The first time was on her way to pay respects to Old Madam Guo. He had glanced back at her. At the time, she had no idea who he was, but the way he looked at her felt strange, as if... he was deeply moved... leaving a lasting impression on her.
This time, she guessed who he was but hadn’t expected him to be so young. He didn’t look at all like he was in his late twenties, and his bearing was excellent. Cheng Xu beside him was like a star next to the bright moon—completely incomparable... She had heard he wasn’t married yet, but why was that?
For a moment, Fang Xuan’s thoughts were in disarray.
Second Madam Fang noticed this and a faint smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
If her daughter was interested, there could be no better match.
She turned and saw Madam Liao smiling at her with pursed lips.
Clearly, she had also noticed Fang Xuan’s unusual behavior.
The two exchanged a knowing glance, understanding each other without words.
In the hall, Cheng Jing and the others finished offering their birthday wishes to Old Madam Guo, presented their gifts, and spoke a few auspicious words before withdrawing.
The guests emerged from behind the screens on either side, streaming forward one after another to offer their congratulations to Old Madam Guo."Three Jinshi scholars from one family, and even a Jieyuan among them—truly, Old Madam, you are blessed with great fortune!"
"Families with brothers who are both Jinshi are not unheard of, but like Old Madam here, with the eldest son as a Grand Secretary and the second son as a Hanlin scholar—that is indeed rare!"
"Old Madam must be the first of her kind, no?"
Old Madam Guo smiled with restraint, yet joy was unmistakable in her eyes.
A lady who knew of Cheng Chi's affairs added icing on the cake: "In the past, the Cheng family had many members. Although the Third Master achieved success in the imperial examinations, he could not easily set aside family affairs. Now that the eldest branch has settled in the capital, there are fewer trivial matters to attend to. Upon the recommendation of Grand Secretary Song Jingran, he has been appointed as an Assistant Minister in the Water Department of the Ministry of Works. Recently, he is set to assist Minister Yang Shoushan, the River Governor, in water management at the River Governor's Office in Jining."
All the women present were from official families, and everyone knew that departments like river management, grain transport, salt administration, and maritime trade were the most lucrative offices.
To start as a sixth-rank official and be assigned to the River Governor's Office... Eight out of ten gazed eagerly at Old Madam Guo, praising her good fortune incessantly. The remaining two, though maintaining their dignified smiles, secretly exchanged glances.
Zhou Shaojin was initially surprised but soon felt delighted for Cheng Chi.
Uncle Chi would finally not leave the Cheng family as he did in her past life but would stay!
Moreover, he was doing what he loved.
Surely, his future would only grow brighter, wouldn't it?
Thinking of this, Zhou Shaojin felt that it was truly wonderful to have separated the family branch from Nine Prosperities Lane.
Madam Yuan... was not entirely without merit...
Zhou Chujin’s feelings were complicated.
Cheng Chi had not appeared these past days. Had he been handling this matter?
The Cheng family did not lack such funds. Instead of going to the Ministry of Personnel, the Military Command, or the Court of Judicial Review, he chose the River Governor's Office. Was this an assignment outside the capital?
Could it possibly be related to Shaojin?
Perhaps, deep down, she still could not reconcile the noble and dignified Uncle Chi with the villain who had seduced her sister, holding onto a sliver of hope for Cheng Chi...
Madam Yuan, on the other hand, felt a pang of envy.
If only she could one day be flattered like the old madam, her life would not have been in vain.
With this thought, she glanced at the Third Madam of the Min family, who had come to offer birthday wishes to Old Madam Guo on behalf of the Min family.
With the support of the Min family, in at most twenty years, perhaps as few as fifteen, their Jiashan could become a Grand Secretary and join the cabinet, couldn’t he?
And then there was the Fang family. The Second Master of the Fang family was famously adept at social maneuvering. If Fang Xuan married Cheng Chi, as the matchmaker, Second Master Fang would surely regard her with special favor, wouldn’t he?
Madam Yuan’s heart grew warm again.
During the opera performance, taking advantage of the pause between one act ending and the next not yet beginning, she brought Fang Xuan before Old Madam Guo and said with a smile, "Mother, Ah Xuan often accompanied my aunts to watch operas. Since your eyesight is not what it used to be, why not let her help you follow the lyrics?"Old Madam Guo laughed and said, "You! What am I to do with you! When you're clever, you're truly clever, thinking of everything. But when you're muddled, you're truly muddled, taking everything for granted—how old is Xuan? She's at an age where she loves to play and be active. If you make her stay with me to listen to opera, keeping her confined among us old ladies, won’t she be bored to death? I know your filial intentions! Xuan, go play with Shaojin and the others! The weather is nice today, and you can even go boating in the garden. If you can’t bear listening to opera, just go have fun in the garden!"
Zhou Shaojin wanted to go.
Maybe she’d run into Uncle Chi!
Zhou Chujin, of course, wouldn’t allow her to go, using her gaze to pin her down and keep her from moving.
Fang Xuan had always been the most impatient with sitting and watching operas with the old ladies—those operas were either about enduring eighteen years of hardship in a cold kiln or carrying a pair of children thousands of miles to find a husband... But this time, for some reason, she wanted to serve Old Madam Guo properly and make her happy.
※
Brothers and sisters, here’s today’s extra update.
It’s safer for everyone to read the update tomorrow.
I got home a bit late yesterday and ended up writing until midnight. In a daze, I didn’t click "Publish Immediately," and it wasn’t until a friend ** me this morning that I realized...
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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