Тhе fоur оf thеm had lunch tоgеthеr, thеn сhatted ovеr tеa. When Оld Madаm Guо bеgаn tо shоw signs of weаriness, Cheng Sheng smiled, set dоwn hеr teаcuр, аnd mоvеd clоsеr tо thе оld ladу. She said to Zhоu Shаojin, "Аuntie, why don't уou chаt here with mу mоthеr? Sinсе I'vе сome аll this wаy, lеt mе shоw somе filial рiеty and hеlр Grandmоther rest."
Old Мadam Guo tеаsеd, "Oh mу! You wouldn't be еуеing somеthing оf minе, wоuld уоu?"
Zhou Shаоjin smiled fаintly.
Мadam Qiu's hеart skiрреd a bеаt.
Сhеng Sheng plaуed along, laughing, "Evеn if I did fancy sоmething of уours, it wоuld оnly bе natural—after all, you have so many lovely things!"
"Look at this, just look," Old Madam Guo said to Zhou Shaojin and Madam Qiu with a chuckle. "Now it's my fault!"
Everyone in the room burst into laughter.
In the end, Old Madam Guo allowed Cheng Sheng to support her into the inner chamber. Only then did her smile fade slightly as she said, "Well, out with it. What's really the matter?"
Cheng Sheng stared at Old Madam Guo. "You! That's your one flaw. Too sharp! Everyone's afraid to speak freely in front of you! As the saying goes, 'If you're not foolish or deaf, don't be a mother-in-law.' Look at my mother-in-law—she knows how to play deaf and dumb..."
Old Madam Guo couldn't hold back her laughter any longer and chuckled, "You... what am I to do with you?"
"Then don't say anything," Cheng Sheng replied cheerfully. "Just listen to me."
Old Madam Guo looked at her granddaughter, who wore her hair in a married woman's style but still carried the air of a young girl. Her heart softened, and she let Cheng Sheng help her sit on the bed. With a gentle smile, she said, "Alright, speak. I'm listening."
Cheng Sheng's eyes shifted slightly. "I heard from Mother that we're dividing the family property?"
"What do you mean 'we'?" Old Madam Guo snorted. "You bear the surname Peng! What does the Cheng family's division have to do with you?"
Cheng Sheng pouted. "It's just that I overheard my parents talking about buying a house and not having enough money and such. When I asked Mother, she wouldn't tell me. You know how muddle-headed she can be. But with such a big matter, unless you personally gave her the go-ahead, how would she dare to privately consider such things? I felt uneasy, so I came to you to sound things out..."
As she spoke, she gave Old Madam Guo a somewhat aggrieved look.
Old Madam Guo chuckled. "Don't try to fool me. How much is the house? I'll have Nanny Lu get the money for you."
"You really are wealthy!" Cheng Sheng exclaimed, clicking her tongue. "Six thousand taels of silver!"
Old Madam Guo smiled. "Don't put on an act for me. Are you really dazzled by six thousand taels?"
Cheng Sheng giggled and linked arms with Old Madam Guo. "Isn't it just to make you happy?"
"Very well!" Old Madam Guo stood up. "Didn't you say you wanted to show filial piety? Help me change my clothes! Let's see if these six thousand taels are well spent or not."
Cheng Sheng, grinning cheekily, supported Old Madam Guo as she sat before the dressing table, saying, "Well spent, well spent!"
Meanwhile, Zhou Shaojin led Madam Qiu to a side room behind her Fragrant Waterside Courtyard. "...I had the maids tidy up the side room this morning. The underfloor heating has been kept on, so you can rest here for a while. When Mother wakes up, the maids will come and inform us."
Madam Qiu smiled and expressed her thanks.Zhou Shaojin continued, "Second sister-in-law will be visiting often from now on, so I'll keep this side room reserved for you." As she spoke, her personal maid had already pushed open the door to the side room and lifted the curtain. Zhou Shaojin added, "Take a look and see if anything needs to be added."
Madam Qiu saw that the side room was furnished entirely with black lacquer furniture, famille rose porcelain, lilac-colored cushions, and a bright red brocade quilt. Everything was clean, tidy, and arranged in a cheerful manner. In the corner, a pot of yellow wintersweet emitted a subtle fragrance, its blossoms delicate and vibrant. Stepping into the room, one immediately felt warmth and comfort. She couldn't help but say to Zhou Shaojin, "Fourth sister-in-law, you've gone to so much trouble."
"As long as Second sister-in-law likes it," Zhou Shaojin replied. "I sleep in the warm chamber over there. If you need anything, just ask the maid to come find me."
After exchanging a few more words, Chunwan hurried in carrying a large red gilt-decorated box. She called out "Second Madam" and said to Zhou Shaojin, "Fourth Madam, the silk flowers are here."
Zhou Shaojin smiled and handed the box to Madam Qiu, saying with a laugh, "Give these to A'Sheng!"
This could be considered a gift from an elder.
Thinking this, Madam Qiu smiled and accepted it on behalf of Cheng Sheng.
Zhou Shaojin exchanged a few more words with her before taking her leave.
Madam Qiu smiled and opened the box.
Inside were three silk flowers: one rose-red, one pink, and one pale yellow.
For a moment, Madam Qiu felt dazed.
Although Fourth sister-in-law was young, she handled matters steadily and treated others sincerely. If the two of them could continue like this, she would already feel quite content.
She lay down on the kang for a short nap, and soon Cheng Sheng arrived.
Madam Qiu immediately sat up and asked, "What did your grandmother say?"
Cheng Sheng, no longer displaying the naivety she had shown in front of Old Madam Guo, took a box from her pocket and handed it to her mother, saying, "This is six thousand taels in banknotes."
Madam Qiu sighed.
Unable to hold back, Cheng Sheng asked, "Can we not divide the family?"
Madam Qiu replied, "I trust your grandmother."
Cheng Sheng said nothing more and climbed onto the kang.
Madam Qiu pushed the box on the kang table toward her and said, "Your Fourth Aunt sent this over."
Cheng Sheng opened the box, looked at the silk flowers inside, and also sighed.
How wonderful it would be if the whole family could stay together harmoniously like this!
※
Old Madam Guo woke up after a short nap and asked Zhenzhu, who was on duty, "Have Second Madam and Fourth Madam woken up yet?"
"Not yet!" Zhenzhu, who had been weaving a decorative knot nearby, quickly set it down and said, "You've only been lying down for less than half an hour."
Old Madam Guo hummed in acknowledgment, her gaze falling on the bright red knot. Seeing how exquisitely it was woven in a style she had never seen before, she smiled and asked, "Are new knots becoming popular in the market again?"
"No," Zhenzhu replied with a smile. "I learned it from Chunwan. Chunwan said Fourth Madam taught her a couple of years ago. Now everyone in the courtyard is learning it!"
In the past, Cold Green Mountain House was quiet and austere. Everyone lived by the rules, not daring to overstep even slightly, so naturally, such novel things wouldn't be brought before Old Madam Guo. Now that Old Madam Guo had moved into Tingxiang Courtyard, where the flowers were said to bloom all year round—even in the depths of winter, wintersweet and camellias adorned the rooms—and seeing that Old Madam Guo said nothing about it, everyone's spirits began to lift. Not only were they learning to weave new knots from Chunwan and the others, but some even quietly wore flowers in inconspicuous places. Everyone felt much lighter and more cheerful in their daily interactions.
Old Madam Guo gazed at the canopy above her bed and said nothing.Zhenzhu immediately grew uneasy and was about to quietly put away the netted cord when Old Madam Guo suddenly instructed her, "Go and bring over all the calling cards sent to me these past few days."
She hurriedly rose and replied, "Yes." She directed two maids to bring in a basket full of calling cards.
Old Madam Guo then had them sort the cards according to rank.
Zhenzhu and the two young maids spent nearly two hours sorting the cards but still hadn't finished.
Zhou Shaojin, Madam Qiu, and Cheng Sheng arrived to pay their respects.
"What are you doing here?" Madam Qiu asked curiously, seeing the maids sweating profusely from their work. "Do you need our help?"
Old Madam Guo thought for a moment and said, "You stay and sit with me. Let Shaojin and A'Sheng help with the sorting."
Seeing that the cards were all from relatives, friends, and old acquaintances, Madam Qiu realized this was a good opportunity to familiarize herself with the Cheng family's connections, and it would also benefit Cheng Sheng to know. She smiled and attended to Old Madam Guo as she drank tea, leaving Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Sheng to sort the calling cards.
Once everything was sorted according to Old Madam Guo's instructions, she began reviewing the cards from the families of officials of the third rank and above. Those requiring replies were set aside, while those that didn't were returned to the basket. She had Madam Qiu instruct Zhou Shaojin on how to write replies, which were then sent along with return gifts to each household.
Cheng Sheng whispered to Zhou Shaojin, telling her which family was which, how they were related to the Cheng family, what incidents had occurred in certain households, and which families had received imperial honors... When her explanations became too subjective, Madam Qiu would correct her from the side.
Zhou Shaojin listened with great interest, as if hearing stories, comparing them with the anecdotes Old Madam Guo had shared with her during their trip to Mount Putuo. Combined with memories from her past life, Zhou Shaojin felt she had never been so clear-headed as she was now, gaining more or less an impression of the official families in the capital.
Old Madam Guo listened with a smile.
They spent the entire afternoon sorting the calling cards but didn't find it boring at all.
After dinner, when Madam Qiu and her daughter had left, Old Madam Guo selected a few important cards and wrote replies.
Zhou Shaojin asked, "Are you planning to visit these families?"
Old Madam Guo nodded and smiled. "These few had good relations with me in the past. Now that I'm in the capital and the New Year is approaching, it's only proper for me to pay them visits. Gather your affairs and accompany me."
Zhou Shaojin agreed with a smile, prepared the gifts, and began accompanying Old Madam Guo on her visits.
Old Madam Guo always had Zhou Shaojin support her, appearing as if she needed her care. In this way, Zhou Shaojin became familiar with the families who had old ties with the Cheng family.
By the time Laba Festival arrived, Madam Yuan and others gathered at the residence in Chaoyangmen, and news from Jining also arrived at this time.
The faces of several grand secretaries changed.
Song Jingran remained silent due to his connection with Yang Shoushan.
Li Jiangling, Grand Secretary of the Hall of Preserving Harmony and Minister of Justice, harshly criticized Yang Shoushan, believing he should be severely punished as a warning to others.
Qu Yuan, Grand Secretary of the Hall of Reverence and Minister of Works, felt that Yang Shoushan was a second-rank official and that the matter need not be rushed. It would be better to let the Emperor decide.
The other grand secretaries either drank tea or reviewed the memorials from Jining, all watching Yuan Weichang.Before Yuan Weichang could speak, Cheng Jing had already smiled and said, "No matter what, this matter has been suppressed after all. Whether it's minimizing a major issue or letting the Emperor decide, I think either is acceptable."
The atmosphere in the room instantly froze.
Everyone remembered that the person who went to handle the situation was Cheng Chi, Cheng Jing's younger brother.
Cheng Jing was reminding everyone not to forget to reward those who deserved it.
A few coughs, light or heavy, echoed in the room.
Yuan Weichang glanced at Cheng Jing, who was sitting upright and proper, then at Song Jingran, whose expression was stern, before slowly saying, "I think this matter should be left for the Emperor to decide!"
Let Cheng Jing and Song Jingran tear each other apart!
Cheng Jing and Song Jingran both inwardly snorted in unison.
※
Dear brothers and sisters, here is today's extra update.
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: The update will be around ten o'clock in the evening!
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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