Lаdу Реngcheng tооk Оld Маdam Guo’s hand аs sоon as thеy met, sighing, “Lооk аt уоu, сoming to thе capital and not еvеn stoрping bу mу рlаcе. Ноw mаnу of оur old sisters arе still аlive? Yоu’re still too stubbоrn, too рroud—evеn drinking а bоwl оf sоmеоne elsе’s wаter mаkеs уou think оf waуs tо repау it. Thеre’s a saуing, wasn’t it Confuсius whо sаid it? Thаt when a pеrsоn rеaсhеs sеvеntу, thеy саn do whаtevеr they wаnt without оvеrstеpрing bоundаriеs... How did it go аgain? My memorу isn’t what it used to bе…”
As she рondеrеd, a wоman dressed in a pink robe and wearing a married woman’s hairstyle stepped forward and said, “At seventy, one can follow the heart’s desires without transgressing what is right.”
The woman’s voice was soft and graceful, and Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but glance at her.
The woman was only seventeen or eighteen years old, tall and full-figured, with an oval face, phoenix eyes, a straight nose, full red lips, and fair, delicate skin. Though her demeanor was humble, her eyes were bright and piercing, occasionally flashing with a sharpness like a sword hidden in its sheath, making others wary.
Zhou Shaojin’s heart trembled.
In her previous life, she had seen this woman.
Back then, she was already in the prime of her youth, often dressed in bold colors like bright red or deep purple. She walked with an upright posture, her gaze fixed straight ahead, exuding an imposing presence that always sparked whispers among the noblewomen whenever she appeared.
Her maiden name was Qiu, and her family was quite prestigious in their hometown of Taiyuan. She was the legitimate wife of the heir to the Earl of Pengcheng’s household and the daughter of a former Assistant Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud. In the twenty-fourth year of the Zhide era, the Earl of Pengcheng passed away, and the heir succeeded to the title, whereupon she was granted the title of Lady of the Heir. Within a few months, her mother-in-law also died. Her father-in-law favored a concubine in the household and decided not to remarry, entrusting the management of the Earl of Pengcheng’s household to her. The following year, her father-in-law passed away, and the concubine was caught in an affair. Fearing that the scandal would tarnish the family’s reputation, the Earl of Pengcheng’s household sent the concubine to the authorities, where she died suddenly shortly after. The two sons she had borne also fell ill and died not long after.
Noblewomen in the capital whispered privately that this was Madam Qiu’s doing, claiming that the concubine had often whispered in her father-in-law’s ear while he was alive. If her father-in-law hadn’t died early, it was uncertain who would have inherited the heir’s position!
But the concubine’s two children were still young and knew nothing. Her actions were too ruthless.
Everyone was wary of her and avoided interacting with her too much.
Zhou Shaojin had heard this rumor during the few times she entered the palace to offer congratulations.
She never expected to meet this Madam Qiu on her first encounter with the Earl of Pengcheng’s household.
These thoughts swirled in Zhou Shaojin’s mind as Lady Pengcheng laughed heartily and said, “That’s it, that’s the saying! My granddaughter-in-law is clever indeed—she’s truly a well-read person.” Then, introducing her to Old Madam Guo, she said, “This is my eldest grandson’s wife. Her surname is Qiu, like the autumn season. Her father was a scholar who passed the imperial examinations, and her family is quite renowned in Taiyuan, with ancestors who were great Confucian scholars. She has an elder brother who is already a provincial scholar!”
It was clear that she took pride in Madam Qiu’s scholarly family background.
Madam Qiu hurriedly stepped forward to greet Old Madam Guo, saying gently, “My grandmother flatters me. I hope the old madam doesn’t find it amusing.”
Her words and demeanor were impeccable.
Old Madam Guo’s eyes showed appreciation. She then introduced Zhou Shaojin to the Peng family.Lady Pengcheng looked Zhou Shaojin up and down, saying to Old Madam Guo, "A Shen. Your daughter-in-law is truly beautiful, but her figure is too delicate—I fear she may not be easy to bear children... However, scholarly families like yours always prefer such daughters-in-law. Look at the wives of your Eldest Young Master and Second Young Master—they are also delicate, which is why they have few offspring..."
Zhou Shaojin flushed bright red, only then learning that Old Madam Guo's maiden name was "Shen."
Old Madam Guo chuckled, taking Zhou Shaojin's hand and patting the back of it, her tone full of comfort as she said, "This is all a matter of fate. It cannot be forced."
Lady Pengcheng was unconvinced and was about to say more, but Madam Qiu, quick-witted, spoke before her: "Grandmother, it's getting late. We should hurry to the palace! Perhaps Lady Chengenhou has already arrived."
The current Empress was not the Emperor's first wife.
The Emperor's first wife was surnamed Xu and was the Crown Prince's birth mother. She passed away from illness when the Crown Prince was seven. The Xu family was granted the title of Marquis Chengen. The current Empress, née Peng, was promoted by Consort Yi. While she was still a consort, she gave birth to a daughter who died before reaching one year of age. After that, she never had another child, which was one of the key reasons she could become Empress.
Lady Pengcheng always felt somewhat uneasy in front of the Xu family and asked, "Did Her Majesty the Empress also invite the Chengenhou family?"
Madam Qiu reminded her, "Tomorrow is the Crown Prince's birthday."
Lady Pengcheng suddenly understood, feeling a bit guilty as she said, "I... I forgot about that for a moment."
Madam Qiu smiled without replying.
Zhou Shaojin committed this date to memory.
Since Old Madam Guo had already told her about palace matters before entering, she was not worried that Zhou Shaojin would say anything wrong. The group chatted softly as they made their way to the palace.
It was, after all, the depths of winter, and the wind cut to the bone. Fortunately, they were all draped in fur cloaks with fur-lined sleeves, so they were not too cold. After walking for a while, they even began to feel warm.
Thankfully, everyone was experienced and did not walk too hurriedly. By the time they reached the Changchun Palace where the Empress resided, they were comfortably warm without sweating or feeling unkempt.
The aunt who came to greet them was someone Zhou Shaojin recognized—Aunt Song, a highly respected attendant by the Empress's side. In her previous life, when she had entered the palace for celebrations, she had seen her from afar. However, while she recognized Aunt Song, Aunt Song did not know her. Back then, Aunt Song had looked solemn, unlike now, where she smiled warmly, appearing kind and approachable. She gazed affectionately at Zhou Shaojin and said to Old Madam Guo, "This must be the new daughter-in-law you've married? She is truly beautiful! You are truly blessed, Old Madam."
"You flatter her, Aunt!" Old Madam Guo replied humbly, exchanging pleasantries with Aunt Song as they entered the rear hall of Changchun Palace.
The Empress, now in her fifties, had jet-black hair, a round and fair face, and a gentle demeanor. She wore a casual sapphire-blue embroidered robe, her hair styled in a bun adorned with kingfisher-feather hairpins, emerald earrings, and mutton-fat jade bracelets. Her hands, when extended, were as delicate and smooth as a young girl's.
She sat alone on the large kang by the window, with no one else in sight except her attendants.
After watching Zhou Shaojin and Madam Qiu pay their respects with a smile, she instructed the palace maids to bring in cotton stools for them.
Old Madam Guo hurriedly said, "She is young and knows nothing. She does not deserve such favor from Your Majesty.""It's quite all right. Quite all right," the Empress said with a smile. "She's only two or three years older than the Crown Prince's son—still a budding flower, and so exquisitely lovely. I find her quite delightful."
Zhou Shaojin blushed and offered her thanks.
The Empress liked her even more upon seeing this.
Surrounded as she was by shrewd and calculating people, Shaojin's shyness felt refreshingly genuine and approachable.
Everyone gathered and sat around the large kang by the window.
The Empress smiled and asked about Shaojin, "I had only heard you had taken a wife. I hadn't expected her to be so young, and yet so beautifully grown."
"Your Majesty flatters her!" Old Madam Guo replied respectfully with a smile. "This little girl grew up under my watch. Originally, she was a relative by marriage from the fourth branch over at Nine Prosperities Lane, and she's even a generation younger than our Si Lang! Seeing how sweet and charming she was, I kept her by my side to help copy scriptures and do some needlework. Back then, I often thought, 'I wonder which family will be fortunate enough to marry her.' Who could have guessed that after our family separated from the Jinling branch, her elder sister married into the capital, and she came with her stepmother to care for her sister during confinement—and that's how they met. I thought to myself, rather than letting a child I've painstakingly raised go to another family as a daughter-in-law, why not keep her in our own family? That's how the idea came about, to have Si Lang marry her..."
Shaojin was stunned.
Old Madam Guo was clearly vindicating her reputation!
And this was in front of the Empress herself!
Shaojin felt so guilty she didn't dare lift her head.
But the Empress chuckled warmly, showing great interest. "I heard from Lady Pengcheng that your Si Lang is now at the River Control Governor's Office?"
Old Madam Guo nodded, apologetically adding, "There was a mishap some time ago. Fortunately, His Majesty is benevolent and allowed him to atone through merit. My heart has finally settled."
The Empress smiled. "What sort of mishap is that? The Crown Prince has said, 'Those who do nothing make no mistakes; it is those who do more who are more prone to error.'"
"Thank you for the Crown Prince and Your Majesty's gracious regard," Old Madam Guo expressed her gratitude.
The Empress then reminisced with Old Madam Guo about old times: "...Back then, Lady Fengsheng was very fond of you, often saying you were steady, dignified, and decisive. I had long wanted to meet you. Later, when Lady Fengsheng's brother-in-law favored a concubine over his wife, everyone was clamoring for punishment. Only you, with gentle words, advised Lady Fengsheng's sister on how to deal with that concubine. I admired you greatly at the time... What a pity that Lord Cheng passed away so early. Otherwise, you could have often come to the palace to chat with me!"
Mentioning the late Cheng Xun, Old Madam Guo's eyes grew slightly moist, and she took out a handkerchief to dab the corners.
Seeing this, the Empress quickly changed the subject, speaking of Cheng Jing: "...Now he is already a Grand Secretary, fulfilling Lord Cheng's wishes."
"Exactly so!" Old Madam Guo laughed. "That child is quite filial. I'm currently living at Si Lang's home—Si Lang is away, and Zhou-shi and Si Lang are newlyweds, so I must keep an eye on them. The Eldest Young Master and his wife have to come every day to pay their respects. If I didn't stop them, braving such fierce winds and heavy snow, getting up so early to greet me before going to court—they'd surely freeze! He's about to take a wife himself!"
Old Madam, she certainly knows how to talk!
And she certainly dares to talk!
But this way, Old Madam Guo won't have to fear censure from the censors for living at Chaoyang Gate anymore, will she?Zhou Shaojin thought about what Old Madam Guo had just said about her own affairs and vaguely felt that Old Madam Guo’s visit to the palace this time was not simply for reminiscing.
She admired Old Madam Guo immensely!
“That’s good!” The Empress, however, believed Old Madam Guo’s words without a doubt and began discussing the Cheng family’s affairs: “…I heard they split from the clan and even took money out. What exactly happened?”
Old Madam Guo sighed and said, “It takes two to tango! The second branch’s patriarch was eager for Si Lang to help manage the family’s affairs, but Si Lang has loved studying since childhood. His father passed away early, and he was determined to follow in the footsteps of his father and elder brother by achieving success in the imperial examinations. Driven by ambition, he passed the imperial examination in the fifteenth year of Zhide. How could he be willing to help manage the family’s affairs? Yet our family line is thin, and I couldn’t bear to see this child confined to the household. In the end, I gritted my teeth and split from the second branch!”
※
Dear readers, it’s a bit late today. Typos might not be fixed until tomorrow, so please bear with it for now. The extra update is tentatively scheduled for around noon.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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