Аt this mоmеnt, fаr away in thе сapitаl, Zhou Shaоjin wаs lеаning аgаinst a pillоw on the large kang by thе windоw, reаding a lеttеr frоm Сheng Jiа.
А bright rеd nеw gаrment еmbroidered with а рhoеnix facing thе sun hung shimmering on thе clothеs rасk in thе еаstеrn cornеr оf her bоudоir, dаzzlingly rаdiant.
Сhеng Jia oftеn wrоte lеtters to Zhou Shаojin.
The first lеttеr shе wrotе to Zhou Shaоjin wаs whеn Zhou Shаоjin hаd just аrrivеd in Вaоding Рrefеcturе. Cheng Jiа wrotе tо аsk if she wаs ассustomed to lifе there and tactfullу mentioned thе engagеment bеtwеen Сheng Xu and the eldest daughter of the Min family.
Zhou Shaojin replied, assuring her that she was fine and that now that Cheng Xu was engaged, she had even fewer concerns.
Cheng Jia breathed a sigh of relief, and her subsequent letters to Zhou Shaojin became much lighter in tone. Especially after she married and moved to Luoyang, she would write to Zhou Shaojin to share whatever delicious food she ate or interesting things she saw. In contrast, Zhou Shaojin, who harbored feelings for Cheng Chi and saw only him in her eyes, often found that Cheng Jia’s next letter had already arrived before she had replied to the previous one.
Fortunately, this time Zhou Shaojin finally felt a pang of conscience and wrote to Cheng Jia as soon as her relationship with Cheng Chi was settled.
In her reply, Cheng Jia scolded Zhou Shaojin harshly, saying that she told Zhou Shaojin everything, yet Zhou Shaojin had kept such an important matter from her.
Even through the envelope, Zhou Shaojin could imagine Cheng Jia stomping her feet in frustration as she wrote the letter.
She couldn’t help but smile.
Cheng Jia told her that Li Jing had business in Tianjin, and since she was bored at home, she accompanied him there. Zhou Shaojin’s letter had been forwarded from Luoyang, and if it had arrived a few days later, she and Li Jing would have already set off back to Luoyang. Now they had decided to come to the capital to attend Zhou Shaojin’s wedding. She also told Zhou Shaojin to treat her well, or else she would never call her “Auntie,” adding, “I have something good for you. For your wedding night…”
Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed bright red. She silently chided Cheng Jia in her heart, “She never has a quiet moment. I don’t know how Li Jing puts up with her.” She tucked Cheng Jia’s letter into her letter box and instructed Chunwan to invite Zhou Chujin over, saying, “Do we have any spare rooms at home? Cousin Jia and her husband are coming for the wedding.”
Her wedding date was approaching, and by custom, she should have returned to Baoding Prefecture to prepare for the marriage. However, both Zhou Zhen and Cheng Chi, concerned about the hardships of travel, decided that she should marry from the Yushu Alley residence in the capital. But since Zhou Zhen was still in office and Madam Li had been diagnosed as pregnant, he had no choice but to entrust Liao Shaotang and his wife to escort Zhou Shaojin to her wedding. Zhou Shaojin would return to her natal home on the ninth day after the wedding, coinciding with the imperial court’s sealing of official documents, which would allow her to stay in Baoding Prefecture a few extra days.
In her previous life, it was also Liao Shaotang and his wife who had escorted Zhou Shaojin to her wedding.
Zhou Shaojin didn’t dwell on it much.
Zhou Chujin, however, felt somewhat sorry for her sister and came early to help. Besides directing maids and servants to clean, she meticulously selected everything for the wedding banquet and other necessities, often comparing several options before making a decision.
Meanwhile, Old Madam Guan from Jinling City had also written, saying she would bring Cheng Mian and others to attend Zhou Shaojin’s wedding.
Zhou Chujin was naturally overjoyed.
The Zhou family originally didn’t have many relatives or friends in the capital. With the arrival of the fourth branch, Zhou Shaojin’s wedding would be much livelier. It also signified the fourth branch’s acknowledgment of the marriage, which would greatly benefit Zhou Shaojin in the future.
She had long prepared the guest rooms, bedding, and food, waiting only for their arrival.Now with Cheng Jia and Li Jing also arriving, the room might not be enough.
Zhou Chujin thought for a moment and said, "Then we'll have to inconvenience Cheng Jia. We can clear out one of the back rooms where your dowry is stored for Cheng Jia to rest. As for Li Jing, he can share a room with Cheng Yi."
Zhou Zhen had prepared a dowry of one hundred and twenty chests for Zhou Shaojin, just as he had for Zhou Chujin, filling the back rooms to the brim.
Zhou Shaojin blushed and said, "Then I'll trouble you, sister."
She was now a bride-to-be and couldn’t move about freely.
Zhou Chujin chuckled and said, "Since when did you become so polite with me!"
Zhou Shaojin didn’t know what to say.
In her past life, she had wanted to thank her sister but never had the chance. The gratitude she expressed now also carried the thanks from that previous life.
She smiled sheepishly.
Zhou Chujin patted her head and instructed Chunwan to supervise the maids in moving the chests.
Several maidservants escorted Madam Liao, who looked somewhat embarrassed, into the room.
Seeing Zhou Chujin, she hurried over and said, "Is there anything I can help with? Where’s Guan Ge? If you’re too busy, just send him to my room. I can look after him."
Zhou Shaojin was Zhou Chujin’s sore spot. Ever since Madam Liao had made those remarks, Zhou Chujin had been somewhat distant toward her mother-in-law.
Zhou Chujin smiled and replied, "There’s nothing much to do. The steward from Yushu Alley is very capable. I’m just here to oversee things and offer a few reminders, so I’m not too busy. Guan Ge was just playing in the courtyard with his wet nurse and has gone back to his room to sleep. I don’t know why, but he’s been very well-behaved these past few days, not crying or fussing. If I can’t manage him, I’ll ask for your help then."
She refused Madam Liao’s offer, neither too harshly nor too softly.
Madam Liao couldn’t help but feel awkward.
Zhou Chujin’s words that day had struck her like a thunderbolt, waking her up.
Originally, she had tried to arrange a marriage for A’Xuan simply to curry favor with the Fang family and secure a better future for her son.
But if her daughter-in-law could already help her son in his career, why should she put the cart before the horse and abandon her daughter-in-law to flatter the Fang family?
Once she realized this, Madam Liao’s attitude toward Zhou Chujin changed completely. Not only did she become kind and amiable, but she also seized every opportunity to help with Zhou Shaojin’s wedding, hoping to mend their previous rift.
Seeing her like this, Zhou Chujin couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for her.
After all, Madam Liao was her mother-in-law, someone she would have to live with for the rest of her life. Shouldn’t she be forgiving where possible?
Her tone softened slightly as she smiled and asked, "The weather is a bit chilly today. What brings you here? Is there something you need?"
Madam Liao felt rather flattered by this and quickly replied, "No, nothing. I just came to see how things are going. You young people haven’t experienced much, and wedding preparations can be overwhelming. I was worried you might overlook something."
Zhou Chujin took the opportunity to step down gracefully and said with a smile, "If you could come and offer some guidance, I’d greatly benefit from it."
Madam Liao hurriedly replied, "What guidance? We’re family, no need for such formalities. Isn’t your mother pregnant? Have you gone to the temple to pray? Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?"
Zhou Chujin smiled and said, "My father says it doesn’t matter whether it’s a boy or a girl—it’s a blessing from the Bodhisattva. If it’s a girl, we can just find a son-in-law to take care of us in our old age. After all, he already has more than one daughter."Madam Liao chuckled and said, "Your father-in-law is quite open-minded..."
The two chatted warmly. Upon entering the hall, before they could even sit down, a young maid hurried in and announced, "Eldest Miss, Eldest Miss, the Fourth Miss of the Cheng family and her husband have arrived. They say they will be entering the city soon."
How had Cheng Jia arrived so quickly?
Zhou Chujin quickly responded, "Hurry, have Steward Xiang go to the city gate to welcome them."
Hearing the commotion from the inner chamber, Zhou Shaojin also came out and asked repeatedly, "Is it Cousin Jia and her husband who have arrived?"
Zhou Chujin nodded, invited Madam Liao to sit inside, and hurriedly prepared to leave: "I must go check the rear wing rooms—I’m afraid they haven’t been tidied up yet!"
Madam Liao quickly offered, "Why not have them stay at our place instead?"
Then she asked who the Fourth Miss of the Cheng family was.
Zhou Shaojin explained.
Madam Liao was taken aback.
She hadn’t expected that after the Cheng family’s main branch had separated from Nine Prosperities Lane, members from the fourth and third branches would still attend Cheng Chi and Zhou Shaojin’s wedding.
This suggested that the separation between the Cheng family’s main branch and Nine Prosperities Lane might not have been merely the main branch stirring up trouble.
Zhou Shaojin, however, hadn’t seen Cheng Jia for a long time and wanted her to stay at their home. She politely declined Madam Liao’s suggestion.
Madam Liao didn’t press the matter and instead asked Chunwan, "Has the household prepared a feast? If not, we should send someone to a familiar restaurant early to order a banquet." She then instructed Nanny Zhong, "Send someone to inform the young master that the son-in-law from the Cheng family’s third branch has arrived. Have him return early to accompany the guest."
She helped the Zhou sisters entertain their guests.
Seeing her good intentions, Zhou Chujin went along with it.
Before long, Liao Shaotang rushed back, and Li Jing and his wife also arrived.
Li Jing was welcomed to the outer study for tea, while Cheng Jia was ushered into the inner residence.
Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Jia hadn’t seen each other for a long time.
As soon as they met, Cheng Jia hugged Zhou Shaojin tightly and said happily, "I came quickly, didn’t I? We traveled day and night, even missing inns several times and sleeping in the carriage. You must reward me properly—I’m exhausted!"
Zhou Shaojin finally managed to free herself from the embrace. She noticed that Cheng Jia had grown taller and fuller, like a peony bud finally blooming, radiant and dazzling. It was clear she was doing well after marrying Li Jing, and Zhou Shaojin felt happy for her, her eyes growing slightly moist. She said, "Look at you—your makeup is smudged, your hairpin is crooked. You should go inside and freshen up properly."
Cheng Jia giggled, unbothered and completely at ease.
Only a woman who was deeply cherished could be so carefree and fearless.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and introduced Madam Liao to her, then accompanied her to her inner chamber to change and freshen up.
As Cheng Jia sat by the dressing table while a maid styled her hair, she instructed Cui Huan to fetch a sandalwood box and give it to Zhou Shaojin, saying with a smile, "Open it and see. It’s my wedding gift for you."
Since Li Jing had always given Cheng Jia extraordinary gifts, the gift Cheng Jia gave for her wedding was naturally not simple either.
Zhou Shaojin opened it and found a hair ornament.
The flower was as large as a bowl, with blue kingfisher feathers forming the petals and yellow agate as the stamen. Resting on it was a butterfly inlaid with various gems. The butterfly’s wings, made of an unknown material, trembled delicately as if about to take flight, exquisitely crafted.Zhou Shaojin laughed, "This flower is so big, when do you expect me to wear it?"
Cheng Jia pouted in mock anger, "It's already generous of me to give you something, and you're complaining about when you can wear it? If you don't want it, I'll take it back."
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but laugh.
Cheng Jia also chuckled and said, "This was given to you by Li Jing—he only cares about how valuable the gifts he gives are. What’s underneath is what I’m giving you."
Only then did Zhou Shaojin notice that beneath the hairpin flower lay a thumb-sized, gilded square bottle inlaid with colored glass.
Cheng Jia told her, "This came from the Western Regions, used for holding scented dew. Wearing it on your person is both delicate and practical, much better than incense balls or the like. This was my most cherished possession, and now I’m giving it to you."
Zhou Shaojin thanked her again and again with a smile.
Cheng Jia had already finished styling her hair.
She sprang to her feet and said, "There should still be orchids blooming now, right? Why don’t we make some scented dew? It’ll be perfect for your wedding."
She seemed as energetic as if she had taken a potent tonic.
※
Dear readers, here’s today’s extra update.
The next update will be around nine o’clock tomorrow morning.
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: Due to time constraints, I’ll correct any typos later. Sisters reading on mobile may need to refresh the page...
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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