Zhоu Shаоjin smiled and sаid, "Nо, I bоught thеm frоm Fengtai."
This wаs trulу a cаse of flаttеrу missing its mаrk.
А fliсker of еmbarrassment crossed Wu Ваozhаng's eхрrеssiоn, but she quiсklу rеgаinеd her сomposurе аnd reрlied with a smile, "Еver sincе I married intо thе Сhеng fаmilу, I'vе often hеаrd the еldеrs mеntion уour skill in gаrdеning, so I thought уоu had grоwn them yoursеlf. I didn't expесt уou bоught them from Fengtаi. Аrе therе mаnу flоwеr fаrmers thеrе? Do уou оften visit, Shaоjin? It's a рitу уou'rе аbоut tо get married аnd won't be able to mоve around frеely, аnd I'm not surе hоw long I'll bе staying in the capital. Otherwise, we could have visited the flower market together. I also enjoy gardening very much."
But Zhou Shaojin had no intention of visiting any flower market with her!
She smiled and said, "Indeed! It's likely that when you have free time, I'll be busy, and when I'm free, you won't be. It's rare for our schedules to align."
Her words carried a hint of "when minds don't meet, even half a sentence is too much."
A young maid entered and announced, "Master Wen is about to leave."
Wu Baozhang stood up to take her leave.
Zhou Shaojin saw her out, but her mind was abuzz with thoughts: Uncle Chi said the matter of the garden had been fully investigated, yet Wu Baozhang remained unscathed. Did Uncle Chi show leniency because she was a woman and chose not to punish her? Or was her involvement insufficient to warrant punishment? Or perhaps there were significant differences between the past and present lives, and Wu Baozhang hadn't yet had the chance to act?
Her thoughts were a tangled mess.
However, the arrival of Old Madam Guan and the others soon brought liveliness to the room.
Madam Liao, Madam Qiu (the second wife of the Wei family), Cheng Zheng, and other relatives and friends in the capital came to visit Old Madam Guan.
Zhou Shaojin and Gu Shiqigu hid away in the room, sharing intimate conversations: "A Zhu has given birth to a son. Her husband is extremely attentive to her, but the Fan family's rules are strict, so she finds life somewhat difficult. Still, her husband is willing to humble himself before her, and now she's pregnant again, leaving her little time to dwell on melancholy thoughts. Who would have thought she'd be the first among us to become a mother? A while ago, when I heard our lady was pregnant, I sent some medicinal herbs over. I also specifically asked her to visit A Zhu. Although the Fan family has many descendants, A Zhu's branch is rather sparse. Now, her mother-in-law treats her like a precious treasure, afraid she might melt in her hands—she couldn't be kinder to her!"
Thinking of others led her to reflect on herself.
Gu Shiqigu couldn't help but sigh, "If only I could have children like A Zhu someday!" After saying this, she remembered that Zhou Shaojin was still unmarried and felt she had spoken out of turn, her face flushing like a rosy cloud.
Zhou Shaojin smiled faintly and told her, "Cousin Jia went to Hongluo Temple with Cousin Sheng a while ago. They say it's the most effective place for praying for children. You could go and offer incense there someday."
Though she said it casually, Gu Shiqigu truly took the idea to heart.
When Cheng Jia came to pay her respects to Old Madam Guan, Gu Shiqigu pulled her into Zhou Shaojin's room and asked about visiting Hongluo Temple.
Since both were married but hadn't yet conceived, the two quickly found common ground and even included Cheng Sheng. The three decided to visit a famous fortune-teller in the capital the next day to see if they had offended any petty individuals.
Hearing this, Zhou Shaojin laughed and said, "Don't act recklessly. The more you seek fortune-telling, the thinner your fate becomes."
She, who had once believed in such things the most, suddenly spoke these words.Gu Shiqigu, who was naturally mischievous, couldn't resist teasing her upon hearing this: "Did someone teach you that? I seem to recall someone who dismounts immediately upon encountering a Bodhisattva, even more blindly than I do!"
Zhou Shaojin flushed crimson and stammered, "Who said someone taught me? Can't I have thought of it myself?"
At this, not only Gu Shiqigu but even Cheng Jia began to sense something amiss.
Cheng Jia then whispered excitedly, "I knew it! The Old Madam chose you as her daughter-in-law, surely because Uncle Chi also favors you..."
Zhou Shaojin was momentarily stunned by the word "chose."
Cheng Jia laughed and said, "So you didn't know! It's already spread throughout the relatives' circle that Aunt Jing originally had her eye on the Fang family's sixth young lady, Ah Xuan, intending to matchmake her with Uncle Chi. But in the end, the Old Madam took a liking to you..."
Zhou Shaojin grew anxious and asked, "Has it really spread among all the relatives?"
Cheng Jia replied nonchalantly, "Probably many people know by now!"
Such matters would likely be brought up whenever Cheng Chi or Fang Xuan had weddings or funerals, passed down for a lifetime.
Zhou Shaojin fell silent.
Meanwhile, Gu Shiqigu thought to herself: Shaojin is someone who deeply reveres deities and Buddhas, yet now she advises against fortune-telling. These words were most likely spoken to her by Uncle Chi. Uncle Chi is probably afraid that someone might exploit Shaojin's reverence for deities to deceive her.
It shows that Uncle Chi doesn't merely favor her—he likely has his eye on Shaojin.
Life is truly unpredictable.
Who would have thought Shaojin would marry Uncle Chi?
With these reflections, Gu Shiqigu decided to go with Cheng Jia and Cheng Sheng to have their fortunes told.
Meanwhile, in the grand mansion at Chaoyang Gate, Cheng Wen, draped in a sapphire-blue cloak woven with auspicious clouds and vase patterns, strode contentedly into the courtyard of his guest quarters. Seeing his daughter-in-law directing several maids and servants to sweep the snow, he entered the room, where steaming tea and delicious pastries were promptly served. His son stood respectfully nearby, helping him change clothes. With no sharp words from Madam Wen in his ears and no resentful glances from his mistress, he felt as if he had shed a dusty old quilt. Satisfied, he nodded, took a sip of tea, and with a hint of joy in his expression, said to Cheng Nuo, "I've already found out. Your Uncle Chi might return to the capital tomorrow. I've decided to sell my shares in Yutai Bank and ask your Uncle Chi to find me something to do in the capital. I won't be returning to Jinling for now."
What's so good about that place?
It grows more decadent and outdated day by day, filled with nothing but quarrels.
Cheng Nuo was taken aback.
Cheng Wen continued, "I know Jinling is our hometown, and our elders are buried there. But it's not as if I'll never return—I'll go back once I've earned some silver in the capital! That way, I won't have to listen to your mother's nagging all day."
Cheng Nuo lowered his head.
His mother did talk too much, often repeating herself—saying something one moment and starting over the next. He always felt this wasn't quite right, but Dr. Zhou had said it was a mental ailment that could only be cured with the right remedy... He was at a loss.
At least there was a cousin staying with his mother to listen to her ramblings.
He hesitated and asked, "Will Uncle Chi help us?""How could he not help?" Cheng Wen said confidently. "Your Uncle Chi is a very good man. Otherwise, he wouldn't have contributed such a large sum of money for the main branch to separate from the clan. Although it was the clan's funds, didn't your Uncle Chi also contribute one-third of it?"
Cheng Nuo then asked his father how he planned to have Cheng Chi help him.
Cheng Wen smiled and said, "Back in Jinling, I was always constrained by the family's reputation and social status, so I didn't dare do anything. But this time, I've seen things clearly. In the south, we have nothing but silk and tea, so I plan to open a tea shop. After all, Nine Prosperities Lane is one of the top families in Jinling, and people are always watching. In the capital, there are many such families, and everyone with eyes is focused on the imperial palace. Who would have time to pay attention to us? This time, I've decided to do something I like. Once your Uncle Chi's wedding is over, you and your wife should return to Jinling to take care of your mother."
Cheng Nuo felt deeply conflicted.
If things went this way, would his father bring his mistress to the capital?
He lay in bed, motionless.
Wu Baozhang came in and out several times. At first, she didn't want to bother with him, but remembering that her father-in-law lived next door, she finally approached him with a smile and asked what was wrong.
Cheng Nuo disliked Wu Baozhang, and his dislike was growing stronger.
The subtle disdain she showed when they shared a room—she thought she hid it well, but he wasn’t a fool. How could he not notice? Moreover, the servants in the household were spreading rumors that Wu Baozhang had fallen for Cheng Lu before she married and had been somewhat ambiguous with him... He was also growing tired of dealing with her!
But Cheng Nuo had always been soft-hearted. Unable to resist Wu Baozhang’s gentle questioning, he told her about his worries.
Wu Baozhang couldn’t help but curse Cheng Nuo in her heart for being a fool.
It went without saying.
Her father-in-law was surely planning to bring his mistress to the capital.
Wu Baozhang said, "You should ask your Uncle Jing for help. He’s the only one who can control your father now."
"Ask Uncle Jing?" Cheng Nuo shrank back, feeling timid.
Such a good opportunity, and he was still afraid!
Wu Baozhang looked down on Cheng Nuo even more.
She said, "How about I go and ask Aunt Jing instead? I’ve heard she’s a very kind person."
Logically, it would be better to ask Old Madam Guo for help.
But Old Madam Guo’s gaze was as sharp as a blade, and Wu Baozhang always felt uneasy in her presence.
Besides, she had her own ulterior motives.
What exactly was going on with that Fang Xuan? If she could find out, she’d have something to talk about with Madam Shi when she returned.
It was Madam Shi who had arranged her marriage into the fifth branch. This was like officials in the court currying favor with the grand secretaries—whoever you pledged allegiance to first, that’s who you belonged to. Changing sides arbitrarily never ended well. Besides, her father was the prefect of Jinling. As long as her father’s career went smoothly, and the second branch didn’t have as many officials as the main branch, she had the means to maintain her dignity in front of Madam Shi. Why bother trying to warm up to the cold indifference of the main branch?
Cheng Nuo had never known what Wu Baozhang was thinking. Hearing her words, he felt she had solved a major problem for him and nodded eagerly.
Wu Baozhang walked out, her heart filled with contempt.As for Cheng Chi, who had been the subject of their discussion for half the day, he was sitting at a makeshift stall in a back alley near Chaoyang Gate. Under a rain shelter, a few tables and chairs were scattered haphazardly. There, he shared a bottle of crystal-clear grape wine, a plate of peanuts, and a dish of spiced beans with Shi Kuan as they talked: "At first, I only thought Brother Shi was eloquent and insightful, but I never expected you to be someone close to the Fourth Prince... It just goes to show that nine out of ten things in life don’t go as one wishes! Since Brother Shi cannot attend my wedding, let’s celebrate in advance. If there’s a chance in the future, I hope you’ll honor my humble home with your presence!"
Shi Kuan smiled reservedly.
He also felt that he and Cheng Chi were quite fated. Raising the glass Cheng Chi had brought, he downed the blood-red grape wine in one gulp and spoke of Cheng Chi’s residence: "Everyone says it’s quite magnificent. Brother Zi Chuan has a fine touch."
Cheng Chi smiled bitterly and said, "I built it with my mother’s savings, so it’s hardly a testament to my own abilities. Now that I’m also overseeing river engineering matters, I dare not take a single misstep. I only hope to be transferred back to the capital sooner rather than later. I’m not young anymore, and I look forward to letting my mother enjoy the pleasures of grandchildren!"
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Dear readers, here’s yesterday’s update.
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: The extra update will be around five in the afternoon.
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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