Frоm thаt dау оn, Оld Madаm Guо suddеnlу grеw indifferent towаrd Сheng Xu's wеdding. The sеlесtеd сlоthes and jеwelry were left untouсhеd, no lоnger givеn а sесond glаnсе. Instеаd, she sаw Cheng Chi fоrmаlly tаke up his pоst at the Сensorаtе, rising еаrlу еаch daу tо attеnd соurt. Zhou Shаojin fоllоwed suit, waking еаrly еvery morning, but bу the hour of Сhеn whеn she wаs supposеd tо rеcitе sсriрturеs with thе оld madаm, shе cоuld hardlу keeр her еуеs oреn аnd bеgan yawning unсontrollably. Old Мadam Guo, smiling kindlу, exеmptеd hеr from thе morning lessons and changed them to practicing calligraphy for one hour in the afternoon.
Zhou Shaojin felt somewhat ashamed.
Her greatest wish since her rebirth had been to publish a copybook like Liao Zhangying, the returned-to-her-parents aunt of Liao Shaotang. Yet now that she had married Cheng Chi, she spent her days merely eating and drinking. Even when she occasionally remembered her goal and felt uneasy, she would make excuses for herself—too many things to do, too busy—and hadn't seriously practiced calligraphy for quite some time.
Not daring to slack off, Zhou Shaojin applied the same diligence she had once used to copy scriptures for Old Madam Guo and began learning calligraphy under her guidance.
Old Madam Guo was very pleased and, in addition to calligraphy, started teaching her painting.
Zhou Shaojin studied even more earnestly.
She had heard others say that many master embroiderers were also skilled in painting.
By the time February arrived, the wind carried no chill, and the elegance of Tingxiang Courtyard became fully apparent.
Opening the window revealed a lake, with layers of green peaks in the distance. Looking up, one saw peach branches stretching across, and looking down, clusters of flowers and plants just beginning to sprout tender buds.
Not only Zhou Shaojin but even Old Madam Guo thought the courtyard was exquisitely arranged. Smiling, she asked Cheng Chi whose handiwork it was and added, "Now that spring has come, the plants, flowers, and trees in the garden on the east side need some tidying up."
Cheng Chi laughed and said, "This side was arranged by my people. As for that side, let Shaojin handle it."
"Me?!" Zhou Shaojin exclaimed in surprise.
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "Don't you grow flowers quite well? This shouldn't be too difficult for you. Besides, plants and trees wither and flourish with the seasons. If you feel something is lacking this year, you can always make up for it next year. Try a few times, and you'll naturally get the hang of it."
Zhou Shaojin grew eager to give it a try.
In the mornings, she led several maids and elderly servants to the back garden to plant trees and transplant grass. In the afternoons, she accompanied Old Madam Guo practicing calligraphy and painting. Her days were busy yet filled with enthusiasm, and she seemed as vibrant as a willow tree sprouting new shoots—full of energy and spirit.
Over at Madam Yuan's side, things were so hectic she felt dizzy. As Cheng Xu's wedding day approached, she suddenly realized that Zhou Shaojin hadn't been seen since the day she came to take Old Madam Guo home. She couldn't help but frown, though she also felt somewhat relieved.
Her wet nurse couldn't bear to see it and reminded her, "No matter what, that Zhou woman is the Fourth Madam of the Cheng family. If she doesn't come, people might gossip."
Madam Yuan didn't think much of it. "When others asked me, I already put out word that the old madam kept her there to serve." After saying this, she herself felt a bit uneasy and added, "Her birth mother died not long after she was born. I always felt it was rather inauspicious. It's just as well that she and the old madam stay over at Chaoyang Gate."
Her wet nurse hesitated, wanting to say more but holding back.
Madam Yuan then brought up the matter of Cheng Xu's wedding and ancestral worship: "...I've already discussed it with the master. After they are married, we'll move the portraits of the ancestors to Daxing for worship."Moving the remains was a very complicated matter, so the bones of Cheng Xun and others remained in the ancestral graves in Jinling. Moreover, Cheng Shao had left instructions that after his death, he should still be buried beside his parents and eldest brother Cheng Xun. As for Cheng Jing and the others, to spare their children from traveling back and forth, they mostly chose to be buried in the capital. This meant the ancestral graves in Jinling still had to be kept. The three brothers Cheng Jing selected a sacrificial field in Daxing and designated a geomantically auspicious site as the Cheng family burial ground. The ancestral portraits originally kept at Chaoyang Gate were also moved to Xinglin Hutong after the three brothers divided the household.
Her wet nurse knew that Madam Yuan, seeing Cheng Chi and Zhou Shaojin offering sacrifices to the ancestors at home, felt heartache for her son and daughter-in-law who had to go to Daxing early in the morning, and had come up with this method.
She had already displeased Madam Yuan earlier, so now it was not appropriate to say much. She could only tactfully remark, "The First Master treats you so well. You should yield to him in matters to maintain marital harmony."
Madam Yuan did not deny this.
She smiled and said, "I know. The new daughter-in-law will soon enter the household, and as the mother-in-law, I must set an example, right?"
Back in the day, Old Madam Guo and Cheng Xun were famously devoted to each other.
Her wet nurse saw that her words made sense and praised her a few times before leaving to attend to her own tasks.
Seeing that no one was around, Madam Yuan’s expression turned cold.
This Zhou Shaojin truly lacked propriety. She told her not to come, and she really didn’t come—what respect did she have for her as the elder sister-in-law? As for Madam Qiu, although the household had been divided, she still handled matters of courtesy as well as ever. She had just moved and had many things to attend to, yet she could put aside her own affairs to come and help. When Jiashan’s wife entered the household, she must properly honor this second aunt.
This would also serve to elevate the second branch and suppress Cheng Chi and Zhou Shaojin’s influence—these days, wherever she went, she heard people talking about the impeachment of Minister Qu. Cheng Chi had now become quite famous among scholars. As a censor, he had brought down a grand secretary—surely this would leave his name in history?
Madam Yuan was calculating her own little schemes.
Meanwhile, Zhou Shaojin went to Yuqian Hutong.
The fourth branch of the family had arrived in the capital.
Everyone first gathered joyously at Yuqian Hutong for a day, then went to Chaoyang Gate to drink, listen to opera, play pitch-pot, and go boating, happily spending another day. Soon after, it was time for Cheng Xu’s wedding, and everyone went together to Xinglin Hutong.
As Gu Shiqigu put it, "Even New Year’s celebrations aren’t this lively!"
But Zhou Shaojin was only concerned about her belly: "You’re not even three months along yet. Should you stay in the capital a bit longer?"
After Gu Shiqigu went to Baoding, she discovered she was pregnant. Because it was still early, she was kept at Chaoyang Gate to accompany Zhou Shaojin, fearing any disturbance to the child.
"No need," Gu Shiqigu laughed, biting into an apple with a crisp crunch. "The physician your lady hired examined my pulse and said I’m perfectly fine. Once the three months are up, we’ll set off back to Jinling." She added, "Your apples here are truly delicious. I’ll take a basket with me when I leave."
Zhou Shaojin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "How about I give you ten baskets to take back?"
Gu Shiqigu giggled. "If you dare give them, I dare take them."
Zhou Shaojin could only shake her head with a smile.Gu Shiqigu comforted her, "Look, the three of us who went to Hongluo Temple to offer incense have all received good news. You will have good news too. Don’t worry. Didn’t the fortune stick also say 'difficult first, easy later'?"
"I hope so!" Zhou Shaojin felt somewhat helpless whenever this topic came up.
Cheng Chi was perfect in every way, except his self-control was too strong.
Even if she took the initiative in their marital affairs, it was useless.
But how could she speak of such things to others?
She could only hope that Si Lang would be better once he was less busy.
Gu Shiqigu, however, sighed that once they left, she didn’t know when they would meet again.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "Then raise a son who becomes a scholar. Wouldn’t you be able to follow him to the capital for the autumn and spring imperial examinations?"
"Do you think I lack such ambition? But even if that happens, it would be my daughter-in-law following him to the capital, not me." Gu Shiqigu joked with her, and they chatted and laughed until evening.
Cheng Chi and the others had gone to Xinglin Hutong, and it was uncertain whether they would return. After attending to Old Madam Guo until she retired for the night, Zhou Shaojin and Gu Shiqigu lay in bed, whispering secrets. "A Zhu is now expecting her second child... She wants to become in-laws with us in the future... Her sister-in-law gave the Zhu family their eldest grandson... She originally wanted to take this opportunity to return to Jinling for a visit, but now she can’t... Her husband treats her extremely well, accommodating her every wish, but the Fan family has too many rules, too restrictive..."
"It seems nothing in this world is perfect..."
The two sighed as they talked.
Gu Shiqigu invited Zhou Shaojin to stay the night.
Who would have thought that as soon as Zhou Shaojin lay down, Cheng Chi returned.
Gu Shiqigu covered her mouth and laughed, urging Zhou Shaojin to return to her room. "My mother-in-law, at her age, hasn’t even returned yet. But him, as the closest uncle, he’s the first to come back."
Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed crimson like a piece of cloth. "He must have returned for some reason."
Gu Shiqigu laughed like silver bells.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t stay another moment and hurried back to the main room.
As she stepped into the inner chamber, a figure flashed past in the mirror.
Zhou Shaojin paused and saw in the mirror a woman with eyes curved like crescent moons, smiling brightly.
She lowered her head in embarrassment, walked around the screen, and entered.
Cheng Chi had already changed his clothes and was being helped by Yuanyuan and Manman to fasten his belt.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin, his expression softened, and he whispered with a smile, "You’re back!"
Zhou Shaojin nodded hastily. "Mother has already retired for the night."
"I know!" Cheng Chi waved his hand, and the maids attending in the room filed out one by one.
He stepped forward and embraced Zhou Shaojin, whispering, "What did you do today? Did you miss me? I thought of you all day today..."
His lowered voice carried a rich, deep tone, like the resonant sound of a zither, mingling with his warm breath as it lingered around her ear.
Zhou Shaojin’s heart melted, and it took her a long moment to manage a reply. "It’s so late, why did you come back? Weren’t you invited over there to entertain guests? Didn’t they arrange accommodations for you?"
The capital enforced a curfew at night.
Cheng Chi nibbled her ear and said, "I didn’t want to sleep alone in a cold bed... I found an opportunity and came back..."
Zhou Shaojin held Cheng Chi tightly, her gaze as tender as autumn water.
※
The next day, when she opened her eyes, Cheng Chi was already gone.
Zhou Shaojin recalled what had happened the night before, blushed, rolled over in bed a few times, and finally got up.Her heart felt as if it held a little bird, keeping her in high spirits all day. She went to the garden to check on the flowers and plants she had planted some days ago, and even discovered a patch of wild shepherd's purse at the foot of the southern slope.
Chunwan exclaimed in surprise, "How could this be here?"
Zhou Shaojin, still in high spirits, smiled and said, "Let's dig it up and make shepherd's purse dumplings."
"Great! Great!" Everyone agreed and helped dig up the wild vegetables.
Zhou Shaojin asked them to set up a fence here: "Don't disturb the soil here. We can come every spring to pick shepherd's purse."
The maids and servants all agreed in unison.
At noon, everyone enjoyed shepherd's purse dumplings.
Old Madam Guo ate over a dozen dumplings in one go. It was only when Zhou Shaojin, worried she might overeat, stopped her that she finally relented, saying, "This is the most delicious dumpling I've had since coming to the capital."
Even Gu Shiqigu, who was accustomed to eating plain rice, had seven or eight dumplings.
Old Madam Guo decided to take a walk in the garden in the afternoon to see what else was there. (To be continued ~^~)
PS: Dear readers, here's today's update. O(∩_∩)O~ PS: Please continue to support, fellow readers! If you have monthly votes, please cast them to boost the popularity. If you don't, please read the official version and subscribe. I'm counting on you! The rankings aren't rising, and it's really worrying...
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