Сhарter 489: Cоntrаdiсtiоn
Тhe Emprеss sighеd and said, "Тhis is truly unavоidаblе! Аs thе sаying goеs, when a tree grows largе, its brаnchеs sprеаd; whеn сhildren grоw uр, thеу еaсh have their оwn minds. Нow сan we hold thеm back оr drag them аlоng?" Неr tоnе wаs quite symраthetiс.
Оld Мadаm Guo’s еуes reddеnеd instantlу. "That’s eхactly thе truth," shе sаid. "So lеt me bear this ill rерutаtion. It’s bеttеr thаn lеtting thоsе cеnsоrs gossiр behind оur backs."
Uрon hеаring this, thе Emрrеss frоwnеd.
Zhou Shaojin’s hеart tightened. Just then, Ladу Pengchеng immediatеly ехclаimed, "Exactly! Those censors have nothing better to do. They spend all day prying into other people’s private affairs. Last spring, the Yellow River burst its banks, and this summer, Jiaxing suffered a severe drought. Instead of thinking of ways to share the Emperor’s burdens, they spend their days impeaching this one and accusing that one. They truly have no shame!"
Madam Qiu hurriedly pushed the snack box beside her toward Lady Pengcheng. "Grandmother," she said, "didn’t you always say the palace’s rose cakes are delicious? Have a piece."
Lady Pengcheng let out an "oh," picked up a rose cake with her fingers, but cast a timid glance toward the Empress.
The Empress sighed again. "What am I to do with you?" she said. "Fortunately, there are no outsiders here, and A Shen knows how to keep a secret. If such words were to spread, I’m afraid they would only bring more trouble to the Earl of Pengcheng’s household. Look at A Shen—whether it’s her sons, grandsons, or daughters-in-law, there isn’t a single one who isn’t virtuous and well-behaved. Why can’t you learn from A Shen?"
Lady Pengcheng remained silent.
Old Madam Guo quickly interjected, "Deep love brings stern reproach. Your Majesty need not take these matters too much to heart. Those censors are all seeking to build their own reputations by leveraging the Emperor’s name. The fact that they are targeting the Earl of Pengcheng’s household only shows how illustrious it is. Your Majesty should take pride in this."
Hearing this, the Empress smiled. "There’s no need to comfort me," she said. "I, too, have no other choice." Then, as if unwilling to dwell on the topic, she shifted the conversation. "Are you settling in well after moving to the capital? I heard your second son is still at the Hanlin Academy? Would you like him transferred elsewhere? The Hanlin Academy is respectable, but it’s also too austere and prestigious. What do you think about sending him out for a year or two, perhaps as a salt transport commissioner or something similar…"
Wasn’t this clearly an opportunity for the Cheng family to make some money?
Was this truly the Empress?
Zhou Shaojin felt a wave of heat wash over her, and she began to sweat.
Old Madam Guo, however, showed no surprise. She promptly bowed slightly to express her gratitude to the Empress. "You know me well," she said. "I was born and raised in Jinling, but after marrying into the Cheng family, I spent most of my time in the capital. If given the choice, I would still prefer to be in the capital. Under your protection and with Lady Pengcheng to visit and chat about daily affairs, it feels freer than Jinling. As for my second son, although his position is austere and prestigious, it suits his temperament. Let him stay at the Hanlin Academy for a few more years. When he becomes more steady and mature in a few years, I will come to beg Your Majesty for an imperial favor. It won’t be too late then." She tactfully declined the Empress’s suggestion.The Empress was not angry either. She smiled and said, "When Lady Fengsheng was still with us, she always said you were a thoughtful planner. Since you have this intention, it surely won't be wrong. You must come to the palace often to see me in the future. And you should also visit Lady Pengcheng more often—she is someone who doesn't dwell on matters in her heart. She easily offends people, but with you by her side to keep an eye on her, I won't have to worry about her all day long."
These words made both Lady Pengcheng and Madam Qiu blush deeply, while Old Madam Guo repeatedly said, "I dare not," adding, "It is only under Your Majesty's protection that Lady Pengcheng doesn't concern herself with these social interactions. Now, with a granddaughter-in-law like Madam Qiu, who is so adept in all situations, she has even less to worry about. Please rest assured, with Madam Qiu serving by her side, nothing will happen to her."
The Empress's gaze gently fell upon Madam Qiu, and she smiled, saying, "This child is also a good one!" Then, she grabbed a handful of peanuts and gave them to Madam Qiu, saying, "Your grandmother, Old Madam Guo, and I will chat leisurely here. You and Madam Zhou can go out and play!" Afterward, she grabbed a handful of melon seeds and gave them to Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin and Madam Qiu immediately stood up, curtsied to the Empress and the others, and withdrew from the side hall, resting in the tea room next to it.
Madam Qiu shared half of the peanuts with Zhou Shaojin, saying, "These should be from Shandong—red-skinned, with three or four peanuts inside each shell. Although the grains are a bit small, they are quite delicious. Try them!"
Zhou Shaojin, in turn, generously shared half of her melon seeds with Madam Qiu.
The two of them sat in the tea room like this, enjoying tea and snacks, chatting about trivial matters, neither of them addressing Old Madam Guo's intentions or the current dangers in the palace.
After about two or three cups of tea, a palace maid quietly entered and whispered, "Tai Furen of Chengen Hou, Madam, and the Shizi Furen have arrived."
Madam Qiu glanced at Zhou Shaojin and, seeing her calm and composed demeanor, smiled slightly and directly asked the palace maid, "Where did they come from?"
Seeing that she did not avoid Zhou Shaojin, the palace maid replied straightforwardly, "From the Eastern Palace."
Madam Qiu smiled and said, "I understand," and the palace maid quietly withdrew.
"What does Fourth Madam usually do at home?" Madam Qiu continued chatting with Zhou Shaojin. "In a few days, it will be my daughter's birthday. If Fourth Madam is free, please come to our home for a visit!"
Zhou Shaojin smiled and agreed, but her mind was preoccupied with the matters concerning the Earl of Pengcheng and the Chengen Hou's residence.
In her previous life, the Lin family was merely a hereditary fourth-rank military official. However, because they had a grandaunt who became a consort and could speak in front of the Empress Dowager, and Lin Shisheng was capable, the Lin family rose ahead of others. But after all, the Lin family could not compare to the descendants of the founding noble families, and she had never heard of any conflicts between the Chengen Hou's residence and the Earl of Pengcheng's residence... Now that Cheng Chi was investigating the massacre of the Cheng family from years ago, she wondered if this matter would be useful to him?
No wonder Old Madam Guo scolded Madam Yuan for being clueless. Just by entering the palace once with Old Madam Guo, she had already discovered issues between the Earl of Pengcheng's residence and the Chengen Hou's residence. If she often gathered with those madams, she would likely learn even more.
However, her temperament was too introverted, unlike Cheng Zheng, who could freely enter and leave the palace... At this thought, her heart stirred.
If she could involve Cheng Zheng in this matter, would it achieve twice the result with half the effort?Zhou Shaojin chatted cheerfully with Madam Qiu until a palace maid entered and invited them to the side hall, saying that the Chengen Marquis family had arrived and they should go greet them. The two then walked shoulder to shoulder to the side hall.
The Chengen Marquis family was not of high birth either. Before Empress Xu was enfeoffed, their family was merely craftsmen skilled in masonry. The wives they later married were either daughters of powerful officials or girls from newly promoted official families, and their conduct was even less refined than that of the Earl of Pengcheng's household—at least the Earl of Pengcheng's family knew to marry women from scholarly or farming-reading families, while the Chengen Marquis household placed greater emphasis on the dowry of the bride.
Zhou Shaojin looked at the room full of women adorned in gold and silver and had no desire to speak at all.
It was Madam Chengen Bo whose eyes lit up at the sight of her, asking Old Madam Guo, "Is this your younger daughter-in-law? The second daughter of the Zhou family?"
Old Madam Guo smiled and nodded, showing no intention of engaging in conversation with them.
Madam Chengen Bo then boldly scrutinized Zhou Shaojin and asked Old Madam Guo, "Does your younger daughter-in-law have any sisters of marriageable age in her family? My maternal nephew is still unmarried. He asks for nothing else, only that the girl be beautiful. Your younger daughter-in-law is truly lovely!"
Old Madam Guo replied with a smile, "They are just three sisters. The eldest is already married, and the youngest is only three years old this year. Neither is quite suitable!"
Madam Chengen Bo clicked her tongue, saying, "What a pity! What a pity!"
Not to mention Old Madam Guo, even the Empress's expression turned somewhat unpleasant upon hearing this.
Old Madam Guo seized the opportunity to take her leave.
Lady Pengcheng also stood up.
However, the Empress glanced at Lady Pengcheng and said, "Tomorrow is His Highness the Crown Prince's birthday. You will accompany me later to offer birthday wishes to the Crown Prince."
Lady Pengcheng respectfully assented.
The Empress instructed Aunt Song to escort Zhou Shaojin and Old Madam Guo out of the palace.
Zhou Shaojin followed behind Old Madam Guo and saw her secretly slip a pouch to Aunt Song, who was walking beside her.
Aunt Song did not decline, smiling as she chatted with Old Madam Guo and escorted them to the Xizhi Gate.
Zhou Shaojin helped Old Madam Guo into the carriage, and both of them breathed a sigh of relief.
Old Madam Guo said with a smile, "Quite exhausting, isn't it?"
Zhou Shaojin nodded and smiled. "But I also gained quite a bit! Qiu Da Nainai's daughter is celebrating her birthday in a few days and has invited me over for a drink."
"Then go ahead!" Old Madam Guo replied with a smile. "Our family is, after all, part of the scholarly elite. It wouldn't be good to get too close to them, but cutting off all ties isn't ideal either. If you younger generation can get along, it's not a bad thing."
Zhou Shaojin nodded, thinking that if it weren't for wanting to investigate the matters of the Cheng family from her past life, she probably wouldn't want to leave the house for even a day.
Returning to her room, she immediately wrote a letter to Cheng Chi.
By the time she received Cheng Chi's reply, Chaoyang Gate had already been swept clean of dust, pasted with talismans, and offerings had been made to the Kitchen God in preparation for the Minor New Year.
In the letter, Cheng Chi told her that he would rush back on the 26th or 27th of the twelfth lunar month to spend the New Year with her. If there was anything, they could discuss it in person.
Overjoyed, Zhou Shaojin pressed the letter to her chest for a long while before locking it away in a rosewood box. She then happily directed the maids and servants to air the quilts and change the furnishings.
Old Madam Guo had just returned from the home of Master Peng, the Director of the Bureau of Revenue and younger brother of Lady Fengsheng. Hearing this, she asked curiously, "Didn't we just sweep the dust a couple of days ago? Why clean the house again?"
Biyu smiled and said, "I heard that Fourth Master will be back for the New Year!"Old Madam Guo was both surprised and delighted, then laughed and instructed Biyu, "Go over and help Fourth Mistress, don't let her tire herself out alone."
Biyu smiled and replied, "Yes." Someone from Xinglin Alley sent a messenger over, saying they were preparing to fetch Old Madam Guo there tomorrow to celebrate the New Year.
Old Madam Guo smiled and said, "Go tell the mistress that Fourth Master will be back in a few days. I'll wait until Fourth Master returns before going over."
The messenger who had come to invite Old Madam Guo respectfully acknowledged and withdrew.
The Cheng family's New Year's Eve dinner on Little New Year was held at Chaoyang Gate.
By the twenty-sixth, Zhou Shaojin woke up early in the morning, restless and anxiously waiting for Cheng Chi at home.
But until the lamps were lit and the city gates were locked, the steward who had gone to wait outside Chaoyang Gate still hadn't seen any sign of Cheng Chi.
Zhou Shaojin was utterly disappointed.
Lying in bed tossing and turning, unable to sleep, just like the night Cheng Chi left, the bed suddenly felt large and empty, making her feel a bit cold.
※
Dear readers, an extra update for the Zhi Alliance!
Regarding Lady Pengcheng's seniority, it's not a mix-up in generations. Rather, Lady Pengcheng considers herself and Old Madam Guo to be close friends, having been together since their youth. To show affection, she calls Old Madam Guo "A Shen."
There were quite a few typos in yesterday's chapter, which have already been corrected. You can refresh and read it again.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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