Zhоu Shaojin аnd Wu Ваоzhаng naturally раrted on bаd terms.
Hоwеvеr, Zhоu Shаоjin quickly рut the matter out of her mind, whilе Wu Вaоzhang grеw sоmеwhаt uneаsу. Shе dесided tо spend the Nеw Yеar in thе capitаl, and aftеr the festivitiеs, shе wоuld find а wау tо persuаdе her fаthеr-in-lаw, Chеng Wen, tо аllow her tо rеturn to Jinling. Shе could no lоnger bear stауing in thаt rentеd small house еvеrу daу, dеаling with mundаnе сhorеs likе firewоod, riсe, oil, sаlt, vinegаr, аnd tеa. Аftеr аll, hеr father was а fourth-rank prefeсt, and she had mаrried into thе Chеng fаmily nоt to engage in merchant-like affairs.
Meanwhile, Zhou Shaojin helped Old Madam Guo pack while worrying about why Cheng Chi had not yet returned.
Finally, at the second watch, Cheng Chi returned covered in snow.
Zhou Shaojin hurriedly went to greet him, helping him remove his cloak while observing his expression. "Have you had dinner yet? Did everything go smoothly at Grand Secretary Song's place?"
Cheng Chi's expression appeared somewhat stern. At her words, his face softened slightly, though it could not be described as cheerful. He let out a long sigh and, without changing his clothes, embraced Zhou Shaojin. "I'm fine. Has Mother retired for the night?"
If she hadn't, etiquette required him to go and pay his respects.
Zhou Shaojin said, "When I came over, Mother was leaning against the window on the heated kang playing chess. She was probably waiting for you."
Cheng Chi nodded. "I’ll go see her."
Zhou Shaojin acknowledged this, helped Cheng Chi change his clothes, and accompanied him to pay respects to Old Madam Guo.
Upon seeing Cheng Chi, Old Madam Guo smiled, her eyes filled with unmistakable affection. She asked with a laugh, "Why are you back so late? Your elder brother and the others have been waiting for you for a long time. Shaojin has also been looking forward to your return, sending someone to check at the gatehouse every now and then..."
Zhou Shaojin hadn’t expected her actions to be so clearly noticed by Old Madam Guo. Blushing, she dared not raise her head.
Cheng Chi’s gaze upon her, however, was gentle.
"Some matters delayed me," he said with a smile. "I might be a bit busy these next few days. If I return late in the future, you should eat first. Don’t wait for me."
Zhou Shaojin wasn’t sure whether he was speaking to her or to Old Madam Guo and didn’t dare to respond. Old Madam Guo, however, chuckled and said, "You two should go and rest now. I’ll be moving to Apricot Grove Lane tomorrow."
"Then we’ll see you off tomorrow!" Cheng Chi exchanged a few more words with his mother with a smile before leading Zhou Shaojin out of Tingxiang Courtyard.
Watching his tall, graceful figure walking ahead, Zhou Shaojin felt an inexplicable sense of pride and honor, as if she shared in his glory. Unconsciously, her steps slowed.
Unexpectedly, Cheng Chi walked faster and faster, soon putting a distance between them.
Zhou Shaojin was taken aback.
In the past, when she followed Cheng Chi, such a situation had never occurred.
What had happened?
Zhou Shaojin jogged to catch up with Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi turned around, as if only then realizing he had left Zhou Shaojin behind.
He sighed and took Zhou Shaojin’s hand.
Even then, Zhou Shaojin still had to jog to keep up with his pace.
Unable to hold back, she said, "Si Lang, don’t be angry! Would you like me to accompany you for a walk in the garden?"
Although a few snowflakes still drifted down from the sky occasionally and the garden was quite desolate, for someone who was upset, perhaps the cold air might help calm his mood.
In her previous life, whenever she encountered troubles she couldn’t resolve, she would walk along the fields on cold nights accompanied by her maids and elderly servants. Sometimes, her mood would improve.Cheng Chi suddenly stopped in his tracks and smiled, "You can tell I'm in a bad mood?"
He raised an eyebrow as he said this, looking somewhat disbelieving!
Zhou Shaojin said curiously, "Isn't it obvious? When you're angry, your movements become larger than usual. When you're happy, your movements are gentler than at other times. When you're extremely angry, you smile very warmly, but your eyes are icy cold..."
Before she could finish, Cheng Chi burst into laughter.
He hugged Zhou Shaojin, kissed her temple, and said, "How can you be so adorable!"
Cheng Chi felt he had mastered keeping his emotions from showing on his face, but in the eyes of someone who wholeheartedly cares for you, every move you make is as clear as daylight.
Zhou Shaojin was bewildered, not understanding where Cheng Chi's words came from.
Cheng Chi laughed even more heartily, so much so that even the maidservants following behind them couldn't help but sneak glances at the couple.
※
Back in the inner chamber, Zhou Shaojin fetched water for Cheng Chi to wash his feet.
Cheng Chi pointed to the embroidered stool beside him for her to sit down. Soaking his feet, he said to her, "I went to Minister Yang's house today... in Chongyi Lane in the northern part of the city. Half a courtyard, nothing there, completely destitute. Lunch was porridge with two dishes of homemade pickles..."
Zhou Shaojin widened her eyes.
Chongyi Lane in the northern part of the city was notoriously poor.
Yang Shoushan—he was a scholar who passed both imperial examinations, a River Governor!
Cheng Chi nodded, "He comes from a poor background, grew up relying on the kindness of others, and married his childhood sweetheart from the same village. His official salary was already insufficient, yet he still took half of it back to aid the poor in his village. Two daughters are already married off, with one son and one daughter still at home... When Madam Yang came out to receive guests, she wore a half-new, half-old sapphire blue Hangzhou silk robe, with only a peachwood hairpin in her hair."
Zhou Shaojin added a bit of hot water to the foot basin and said, "How about you help them a little?"
Cheng Chi smiled bitterly, "After much persuasion, Madam Yang only accepted fifty taels of silver, and that was only because Minister Yang is imprisoned in the Imperial Prison and needs money for arrangements."
But that shouldn't be enough to make Cheng Chi angry!
Zhou Shaojin thought for a moment and said, "Is there something else that doesn't seem right?"
Cheng Chi glanced at Zhou Shaojin, remained silent for a while, and then said, "Actually, I've always thought Minister Yang was rigid, harsh, and stubborn, very unlikable. Regarding the dredging of the Yellow River, both Grand Secretary Song and I felt it wasn't the best time, yet he insisted on going ahead. At the time, Grand Secretary Song angrily told me he only cared about political achievements and ignored the suffering of the people. I agreed completely. That's why I found excuses to stay in the capital. After he got into trouble, I sent someone to check the accounts of the river administration..." He paused slightly, "and found the river administration's accounts full of holes... many places couldn't withstand scrutiny... I immediately suspected him of embezzlement. I went to the Yang family to see if I could discover something... and to speak frankly with Grand Secretary Song, to test whether this matter was related to him and if he knew about the problems with the river administration's accounts..."
But when I went to the Yang family, I saw such a scene.
Zhou Shaojin, of course, believed Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi was very skilled at examining accounts.
Otherwise, why would people say that if he entered the cabinet, he would be suited to be a Finance Minister?She said, "Could it be that he hid the silver somewhere? Didn't you say his accounts were problematic? Even if it's not immediately apparent, wouldn't it come to light when the new River Control Governor takes over? Then others would surely suspect him. If I were him, I might hide the silver and then pretend to be impoverished..."
"No! Shaojin!" Cheng Chi sighed. "At the time, I thought the same as you, which made me even more reluctant to deal with the Yang family. I planned to hand the account matter over to Grand Secretary Song and let him handle it. Who would have thought that when Grand Secretary Song saw the accounts, he was even more shocked than I was. He asked me many questions, and by the time lamps were lit, he sent me away without even inviting me to stay for dinner."
"I felt there was something strange about this, so I sent someone to keep an eye on the Song family, intending to return home first and then see."
"But halfway back, Huaishan came running to tell me that Grand Secretary Song had gone to Grand Secretary Qu's residence..."
Zhou Shaojin suddenly exclaimed, "Ah!" and sprang to her feet, interrupting Cheng Chi.
"What's wrong?" Cheng Chi, remembering she was reborn, felt his heart skip a beat. "Did you recall something?"
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly. "I hadn't thought of it at all until you mentioned it. Grand Secretary Qu was impeached and thrown into the imperial prison in the twenty-third year of Zhide. That was my third year of marriage into the Lin family. Miss Mu had already entered the household and given birth to Lin Shisheng's eldest son. Lin Shisheng brought the child to show me and spoke of court affairs, mentioning Grand Secretary Qu... He said Grand Secretary Qu had interfered in border matters, accepted bribes from the Xuantong Commander... There were many charges... One of them seemed to be embezzling river project funds. Since interfering in border affairs and accepting bribes were the main charges, the river project matter didn't attract much attention. The reason I remember it is because that year, the estate needed to repair irrigation channels..."
Cheng Chi felt a pang in his heart as he listened.
All of Shaojin's memories of her past life were tinged with the shadow of the Lin family.
It showed just how lonely and bleak her life had been.
In this life, he must wash away these memories from her mind no matter what.
Cheng Chi pondered, "Yet Grand Secretary Song went to find Grand Secretary Qu..."
That meant Grand Secretary Song might know the truth of the matter!
Cheng Chi frowned deeply.
Zhou Shaojin quickly said, "I didn't pay much attention at the time. Perhaps you should investigate further?"
If it really was related to the River Control Governor's office, it would surely come to light.
Otherwise, how could Grand Secretary Qu have been charged with such a crime back then?
Cheng Chi nodded absentmindedly.
Zhou Shaojin attended to him as he washed his feet, changed clothes, and went to bed, but he still wore a doubtful expression.
She didn't disturb him. She extinguished two lamp wicks, tucked him in, and quietly watched him, keeping him company in his reverie. She had no idea when she fell asleep, but when she woke, Cheng Chi was no longer in bed. She was wrapped in the quilt, sleeping soundly.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but smile and asked Chunwan, "Where is Fourth Master?"
Chunwan, while helping her tie up the bed curtains, replied, "Fourth Master rose at the hour of Yin and has been in the study ever since, not coming out."
Was the matter that troublesome?
Zhou Shaojin hurriedly climbed out of bed, washed up, and went to the study.
The study was warmed by underfloor heating. Cheng Chi, wearing a blue fine-cloth lined robe, was practicing calligraphy with large characters.He appeared calm and no different from usual, yet Zhou Shaojin felt there was something about him that had changed. Standing at the doorway, she gazed at him, momentarily forgetting to greet him.
Cheng Chi, however, looked up and smiled, saying, "Why are you up so early? It's only just dawn!"
Zhou Shaojin quickly replied, "I have to accompany the elderly lady to Apricot Grove Alley later..."
Cheng Chi paused for a moment, then chuckled, "I completely forgot about that!"
How could he have forgotten about it?
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but step forward and wrap her arms around his, affectionately nuzzling against his sleeve.
Cheng Chi's gaze softened as he looked at her, tender enough to melt.
He gently ruffled her hair and said, "For the first time in my life, I feel that perhaps I can do something else!"
Was he going to break ties with Grand Secretary Song and Grand Secretary Qu?
Was it not about his own future, setting aside his wealth and status to do something for the enslaved river workers and the suffering people?
Zhou Shaojin said, "Si Lang, wherever you go, I will follow. Just don't leave me behind!"
※
Dear readers, today's bonus update!
The update will be around 10 p.m.
PS: And I have some good news to share. Thanks to everyone's support, in the recent Sina selection, "Jinling Spring" ranked fifth in the New Books category of the China Online Novel Rankings for the first and second quarters.
Here is the link: ../news/2015/2015-07-31/
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel