Zhou Shаоjin flushеd сrimsоn with еmbаrrassment.
Shе wаsn't sо dеliсate as tо bе blown ovеr by a brееzе, mеrеlу feeling sоmewhat bashful and therefоrе uncоmfortаblе. Yеt bоth Old Маdаm Guо аnd Chеng Chi seemеd tо regаrd her as fragilе as a wilting flоwer, leаving hеr аt а lоss—асceрting thеir kindness mаdе hеr uneаsy, but rеfusing it might hurt thеir feelings.
Zhоu Shаojin сould only murmur hеr thanks, saying, "I'm finе... I'd bеttеr staу and attend tо thе оld madаm."
Nаnnу Lu, hаving sеrvеd Old Маdam Guо for mаny yеars, knеw thе оld madаm fаvоrеd her youngеst son above all. Сheng Chi was indеed outstаnding—not оnlу skilled аt earning money and pleasing his mother, but also a proper scholar who had passed the imperial examinations at both provincial and national levels. With his mother's support, he had entered officialdom and, under the pretext of making room for Eldest Master Xu, had moved to reside near Chaoyang Gate, even establishing the ancestral hall within this residence. Though Madam Yuan never spoke of it, she likely harbored deep resentment toward the old madam. While others might not understand the source of Madam Yuan's grievances, seasoned insiders like Nanny Lu and Nanny Shi, who moved within the inner household, understood all too well.
The old madam was advanced in years. Once she passed away, Madam Yuan might not directly harm them, but they could expect no favors either—especially for someone like Nanny Lu, whose entire family served the Cheng household. It was best to choose sides early. Just as during the division of the main branch from Nine Prosperities Lane, only those who had steadfastly supported the main branch were not abandoned—some came to the capital, others remained in Jinling to guard the sacrificial fields, and even those unwilling to leave their hometowns were granted manumission papers, bestowed with gold, silver, and land, and assured that they could seek help from the elder master or the old madam in the capital if needed, ensuring they lacked neither food nor clothing and were protected from bullying by local idlers or petty officials.
Nanny Lu herself was provided for by the Cheng family, but what about her sons and grandsons?
Would they end up as mere laborers on farmland?
Early this morning, after Old Madam Guo sent her to check on the newlyweds, Nanny Lu had made up her mind.
Rather than currying favor with Madam Yuan, who bore a grudge against Old Madam Guo and was already surrounded by flatterers, it was better to ingratiate herself with the fourth wife, who had won the affection of both Old Madam Guo and Fourth Master despite lacking a substantial family background.
Thus, when Nanny Lu heard Zhou Shaojin's words, she replied with exceptional sincerity: "Fourth Madam, forgive my forwardness. Among the three daughters-in-law under the old madam's care, she treats you like her own daughter. In my view, if you show half the heart of a daughter-in-law and half the heart of a daughter, the old madam will be immensely pleased. Since she has asked you to rest, you should take a break. When it's nearly time for dinner, have a maid summon you, and then go attend to the old madam. This way, you show her you appreciate her kindness while fulfilling your duties as a daughter-in-law—isn't that the best of both worlds?"
Zhou Shaojin was somewhat surprised.
Nanny Lu, having served the old madam for so many years, was certainly no simple person. Expecting heartfelt words or insider information from someone like her was nearly impossible.
What had come over Nanny Lu today?
Without Zhou Shaojin saying a word, she had poured out everything—appropriate and inappropriate—like beans from a bamboo tube... her eagerness was unmistakable.
Given Nanny Lu's status and position, such behavior was entirely unnecessary!This made Zhou Shaojin inwardly grumble, yet she had to admit Nanny Lu's words made sense. She smiled and thanked Nanny Lu.
Nanny Lu was very pleased and attentively helped Zhou Shaojin lie down. Only after drawing the bed curtains did she leave the green gauze cabinet.
Perhaps because she had been worrying about how to handle the wedding night in the two days before her marriage, and then on the wedding night forced herself to accept Cheng Chi, and after accepting Cheng Chi, he proved difficult to satisfy—it was only now, with Cheng Chi's joy and Old Madam Guo's relief, that her heart finally settled. Lying in bed, exhaustion washed over her like a tidal wave. She couldn't help but close her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
In a hazy state, she heard someone speaking.
"...The child is young and doesn't know better. By the time we found out, it was already a done deal..." followed by a long sigh, "Even if we had known earlier, it wouldn't have mattered... She's just a woman, confined to the inner quarters, a daughter-in-law—even if she had such insight, she wouldn't have the courage..."
Zhou Shaojin groggily opened her eyes, pricking up her ears to listen for a while before recognizing the voice as that of Hong Xiu's mother, also the mother of the second branch's Yi Da Nainai.
It seemed the Hong family did not wish for the second branch to fall out with the main branch.
She lay there a while longer, noticing that the elderly ladies kept talking, so she pretended to sleep. Unexpectedly, she drifted off again in a daze.
※
In the Cheng family garden, Madam Yuan entertained the female guests by watching opera.
Wei Er Taitai Madam Qiu led Cheng Zheng and Cheng Xiao to assist nearby.
Seeing the opera begin and Cheng Zheng and Cheng Xiao being both diligent and appropriately reserved, Madam Yuan couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief, as a wave of weariness washed over her.
She had tried inviting several elderly madams and ladies to stay in the capital a bit longer, leaving only after Jiashan's wedding. Their replies were polite but carried a hint of distance, and she could tell they were merely humoring her. Even Old Madam Guo planned to return to Jinling for the New Year, with no intention of lingering here.
Madam Yuan's expression involuntarily darkened.
Fortunately, most of the Yuan family relatives were in the capital. If this were in Tongxiang, and her natal family couldn't even fill one table at her son's wedding, what face would Jiashan have left?
Thinking of this, she felt she couldn't stay a moment longer.
With the old madam slapping her in the face like this, not only had she spent over three hundred taels on an antique hairpin as a meeting gift for Zhou Shaojin, but she was also running around helping Zhou Shaojin entertain guests, managing the kitchen... all while putting on a cheerful, willing appearance...
It made her sick enough to vomit blood.
Unable to bear it any longer, she stood up, quietly called her wet nurse over to give a few instructions, then excused herself with a headache and went to the side room for resting.
Cheng Zheng, who had been watching her mother closely, frowned almost imperceptibly.
Cheng Xiao walked over and whispered, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing!" Cheng Zheng replied instinctively, but then reconsidered—if she didn't tell her sister, with so many guests at home, any mishap would be even more troublesome. After a moment of silence, she added, "I'm afraid Mother might lose her composure. Keep an eye on her! If it really comes to it, just go stay with her."
Cheng Xiao thought for a moment and said, "Then I'd better go keep Mother company."
There were plenty of people in the household to entertain guests, but few dared to speak up to Mother.
Cheng Zheng nodded.
Cheng Xiao headed to the side room.Wu Baozhang, who was seated behind several elderly ladies, madams, and wives watching the opera, turned her head.
Madam Yuan had actually left the banquet early.
It seemed not everyone in the Cheng family held Zhou Shaojin in high regard.
A cold sneer curled at the corner of her lips.
So many people—from the mother of a first-rank official to the matriarchs of century-old aristocratic families, from the wives of fourth-rank officials to young ladies in their prime—none failed to praise Zhou Shaojin for her beauty, her gentle and submissive nature. Yet not a single person mentioned how she had once been nothing but a pitiful little thing living under someone else’s roof in Nine Prosperities Lane… So the world was full of snobs after all. Seeing her now in this splendid place, they all pretended everything was fine and treated her as a noble lady from a wealthy family.
Wu Baozhang then thought back to the earlier family introductions.
Even though they were old acquaintances, and she was even her cousin-in-law, Zhou Shaojin had acted as if she didn’t know her, not even glancing in her direction.
No, wait—she wasn’t her cousin anymore; she was now her clan aunt. No wonder she had her nose in the air.
Nothing in this world blooms for a hundred days, and no official career remains glorious forever. Wasn’t she afraid that one day she might fall from grace and have to come begging to her?
Wasn’t she just relying on having married Cheng Chi?
At the thought of Cheng Chi, Wu Baozhang felt as if a hundred cats were clawing at her heart.
What right did she have to marry Cheng Chi?
She could do nothing, understood nothing, knew nothing… A niece marrying her uncle—why was no one exposing Zhou Shaojin’s true colors?
Lost in these thoughts, Wu Baozhang’s gaze fell upon the female relatives who had come for the introductions.
No one had come from the Fang or Min families. The Guo and Gu families had always been on good terms with the Cheng family. What about the Shen family? The Liao family?
Then she spotted Madam Hong, the sister-in-law of Madam Yi from the second branch.
Should she go and speak with her?
Wu Baozhang stood up.
Madam Guo also rose to her feet, smiling as she said, “Madam Nuo, where are you going? Have you seen Madam Shen? I haven’t spotted her anywhere!”
Wu Baozhang gritted her teeth.
This Madam Guo was truly a persistent nuisance.
Ever since the wedding that day, she had been keeping an eye on her, constantly using Madam Shen to pressure her.
She wasn’t Madam Shen’s daughter-in-law. Why should she have to attend to Madam Shen every day, putting on a show of observing proper etiquette in front of her?
But she didn’t dare say this.
Madam Shen’s sharp, triangular eyes made it clear she was not someone to be trifled with. Her father-in-law was planning to open a shop in the capital, and she herself wanted to take advantage of the absence of the elderly lady and madam of the fourth branch to rush back to Jinling and challenge Madam Wen, seizing this opportunity to bring her down so she could do as she pleased in the fifth branch in the future!
She didn’t want any complications that might allow Madam Shen and Madam Guo to ruin her plans!
Wu Baozhang smiled respectfully and pointed ahead to Madam Shen, who was seated a row away from her, saying, “The elderly lady is about to speak with Madam Qu!”
Madam Qu Yuan had also come today, bringing a set of silver-gilt hair ornaments inlaid with southern pearls. The three southern pearls on the centerpiece were each as large as a thumb, clearly of immense value.
Wu Baozhang’s chest suddenly felt tight.
Madam Guo had already said, “I need to go to the restroom. Would you accompany me?”
Wu Baozhang had no choice but to agree and went with Madam Guo to the restroom.
By the time the opera ended, there were still fireworks to watch in the garden.Madam Guo, however, went to see Old Madam Guo. "Aunt, you must keep an eye on that Madam Nuo from the Jinling magistrate's family. In my opinion, it would be best to send her back to Jinling as soon as possible. With Master Wen and Master Nuo overseeing Jiashan's wedding, it won't be considered disrespectful..." She recounted the day's events to Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo's expression darkened slightly. "Indeed, a good wife brings half the fortune. Madam Wen is unreliable, and the daughter-in-law she found is no better. It seems the fifth branch has reached its limit."
Madam Guo refrained from commenting.
Old Madam Guo said, "I am aware of this matter now. Keep it to yourself for the time being and keep an eye on her. Once I finish my tasks here in a couple of days, I will handle this matter."
Before her words had fully faded, Zhou Shaojin's sweet, soft voice came from outside the door: "Mother, Eldest Sister-in-law, the tea is here!"
The two exchanged a glance and, as if by mutual agreement, dropped the topic, responding with a cheerful "Coming!"
※
Dear readers, here is today's update.
The extra chapter will be postponed until around ten o'clock tonight. Please bear with me, sisters!
※ (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to...)
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