Тhе family bаnquеt hоstеd bу Madam Qiu, muсh likе her own сharaсtеr, wаs lоw-kеу, simple, аnd restrained, inviting only thosе frоm Aрricоt Grоvе Lаne аnd Сhаоуang Gаte.
Old Mаdаm Guo wаs quite satisfied thаt Madаm Qiu opеrаtеd within hеr mеаns. Nоt only did shе bring Zhоu Shaоjin аlоng, but she аlso brоught а stack оf Сhengхin papеr, two Duan inkstonеs, аnd а boх of Huzhou brushеs аs gifts fоr Chеng Rаng.
Ноwеvеr, when Zhоu Shаojin hеlpеd Old Mаdam Guо аlight frоm the sеdаn сhаir at the Chuihuа Gate and saw Wu Bаozhang aрproаching with Маdam Yuаn, Cheng Zheng, Min Jia, and others, she couldn’t help but pause in surprise.
Min Jia, noticing her reaction, explained with a smile, “I invited Sister-in-law Wu to join us—she’s been quite lonely in the capital all by herself.”
Had their relationship grown so close in just a few days?
Zhou Shaojin smiled faintly but said nothing.
This was Madam Qiu’s banquet, and she naturally had no intention of stealing the hostess’s spotlight.
After exchanging greetings, the group entered the sitting room for tea. Old Madam Guo then asked Zhou Shaojin to present the gifts for Cheng Rang to Madam Qiu.
Delighted to receive Old Madam Guo’s gifts, Madam Qiu promptly handed the menu to her, saying, “Please see if there’s anything to add or remove.”
Zhou Shaojin quickly fetched Old Madam Guo’s reading glasses.
But Old Madam Guo had no interest in reviewing it herself. She passed the menu to Zhou Shaojin, saying, “You take a look—you know what to avoid.”
Having been married into the Cheng family for over twenty years, if a daughter-in-law didn’t even know her mother-in-law’s preferences, what kind of daughter-in-law was she? Besides, Madam Qiu had already quietly discussed the menu with Zhou Shaojin beforehand.
Smiling, Zhou Shaojin reviewed the dishes on the menu and, finding them exactly as they had agreed upon, handed it back to Madam Qiu, saying, “Thank you for your efforts, Second Sister-in-law. Everything prepared is to Mother’s liking.”
Old Madam Guo chuckled upon hearing this.
Madam Qiu was also pleased. She handed the menu to the stewardess behind her and joined Madam Yuan and the others in gathering around Old Madam Guo to chat. “Second Master has always been in the capital and never left. I wasn’t sure what to pack for him. I asked Sister-in-law, and she gave me a list—otherwise, I’d have been completely lost!”
Madam Yuan laughed, “I was just following a template. Back in the day, I didn’t know these things either—it was Mother who taught me.”
Older people often enjoy reminiscing.
Listening to this, Old Madam Guo began recounting stories from when Cheng Xun and Cheng Jing first entered officialdom.
Min Jia couldn’t help but view Old Madam Guo in a new light.
Given Madam Yuan’s somewhat unreliable demeanor, she had assumed the Cheng family might be exaggerating their reputation. To her surprise, the old madam turned out to be shrewd and formidable.
The weather was quite warm. After lunch, everyone rested for a while before the hall performance began.
Cheng Zheng and Old Madam Guo critiqued the actors’ skills, while Cheng Xiao, Madam Yuan, Min Jia, and Wu Baozhang listened with great interest. Madam Yuan and Min Jia occasionally offered their own insightful comments, clearly showing their fondness for opera.
Zhou Shaojin had no desire to join the lively discussion and sat quietly listening. Seeing her mother, Madam Qiu, busy preparing for the evening meal, Cheng Sheng struck up a conversation with Zhou Shaojin about needlework. “…Cousin Xiao found the swaddling cloth pattern you designed for their family’s Ruige and gave it to me. I had someone embroider one based on it. I’ll show it to you later!”
“Really?” Zhou Shaojin had almost forgotten about this. She smiled and said, “That’s wonderful. I’d like to see what color combinations you used.”
A pattern may be beautiful, but it’s the color coordination that truly brings it to life.Cheng Sheng smiled and said, "Do you still have any embroidery patterns for children's clothing? I'll have my maids copy a few to bring back later."
"What kind are you looking for?" Zhou Shaojin still liked Cheng Sheng very much. "Shall I draw a few for you? These patterns are updated every year. I do have some from before, but I don't know if they'll catch your eye."
"Aunt's embroidery skills have always been praised by everyone. Those you've kept must surely be good ones," Cheng Sheng replied warmly. "Then it's settled—I'll bring people over to your place tomorrow to take a look."
Zhou Shaojin nodded.
Suddenly, someone laughed and asked, "What's been settled?"
Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Sheng looked up to see Wu Baozhang had approached them at some point.
Cheng Sheng was unaware of Wu Baozhang's affairs. As her maternal cousin's wife and a guest in her maternal home, she naturally observed the etiquette of hospitality. Cheng Sheng smilingly recounted the conversation.
Wu Baozhang pinched her handkerchief and chuckled, saying, "Third Aunt, you've found the right person. Aunt Chi was quite shy even as a young lady—either reading and writing at home or doing needlework. We often asked Aunt Chi to help draw embroidery patterns."
Zhou Shaojin had no desire to associate with Wu Baozhang and feigned confusion, saying, "It's true that people often asked me to draw embroidery patterns when I was at home, but did I draw any for my niece-in-law Nuo? I don't recall. I mostly stayed at home and only seem to have met my niece-in-law Nuo two or three times when she visited..." She pondered, "What pattern did I draw for my niece-in-law Nuo? Could you remind me?"
Seeing that Zhou Shaojin remained unappreciative despite her repeated attempts to ingratiate herself, Wu Baozhang felt a hidden anger. She muttered a few vague words, turned away to listen to Cheng Zheng's commentary on the opera, and paid no further attention to Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin finally had some peace and quiet.
Cheng Sheng stood up to go to the restroom.
Noticing how she supported her waist and moved slowly—quite unlike her usual agility—Zhou Shaojin grew concerned. She rose to assist her and accompanied her to the restroom.
Min Jia, who had been attentively listening to Old Madam Guo discuss the opera, suddenly turned around and whispered to Wu Baozhang with a smile, "I didn't realize you and our young aunt here are quite close?"
Recalling the earlier incident, Wu Baozhang's expression turned somewhat cold. "Not exactly close—we just know each other, that's all!"
Min Jia smiled and said, "That's still better than me, at least you're acquainted. You have no idea—when I first saw her, I thought she was some uncle's or father-in-law's young second wife. I never imagined she was Uncle Chi's wife. How did Uncle Chi end up marrying such a young aunt? Sometimes I feel awkward even addressing her."
Hearing Min Jia describe Zhou Shaojin as resembling some uncle's or father-in-law's young second wife, Wu Baozhang felt a surge of satisfaction and couldn't help saying, "Exactly! She used to call me sister! Now I have to call her aunt instead..."
Min Jia pursed her lips and smiled. "I see this young aunt has a very gentle temperament. Surely she wouldn't hold anything against you."
In the past, Zhou Shaojin wouldn't even dare speak loudly in front of her, but now that she had married Cheng Chi, she put on airs as an elder, treating her with indifference.
At this thought, Wu Baozhang felt a stifling frustration.
Min Jia, however, shifted her gaze and said to Wu Baozhang with a smile, "I should also go to the restroom."Wu Baozhang thought of Min Jia's inexplicable intimacy during their initial meeting and her enthusiastic invitation afterward, sneering inwardly.
Although she wanted to step on Zhou Shaojin a few times, she wasn't without brains. Who did Min Jia think she was? Did she believe a few sweet words and flatteries could fool her into being used at will?
Wu Baozhang decided to accompany Min Jia to the washroom to see what she was really up to.
Arm in arm, the two walked out affectionately through the back door of the hall.
In the corner of the backyard, several peonies were planted, blooming luxuriantly in vibrant colors.
They slowly made their way toward the washroom.
Just a few steps away from the washroom, they ran into Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Sheng. After exchanging greetings, they went their separate ways.
Min Jia couldn't help but glance back at Zhou Shaojin and said, "You mentioned that the Cheng brothers used to dote on their little aunt?"
"Yes!" Wu Baozhang was eager to see the expression on Min Jia's composed face when it cracked. "Brothers Cheng Gao and Cheng Yi from the fourth branch need no explanation—they treated her like a treasure, afraid she might fall if held in their hands or melt if kept in their mouths. Even Cheng Lu—a collateral relative of the Cheng family but the most scholarly among the brothers—would send her gifts every now and then... At the time, we thought she would stay with the Cheng family. And she did, but not by marrying... well... she married Uncle Chi... However, Uncle Chi also protected her back then..."
Min Jia’s heart skipped a beat.
When Wu Baozhang spoke of Zhou Shaojin’s marriage, she didn’t say she "married into" the Cheng family but "stayed" with them. If Zhou Shaojin had been involved with that collateral relative named Cheng Lu, Wu Baozhang wouldn’t have used the word "stay."
Could it be, as she suspected, that there was something between Cheng Xu and Zhou Shaojin?
But if that were the case, how could Zhou Shaojin have married Cheng Chi?
Or perhaps it was a secret affair?
Min Jia sensed Wu Baozhang’s malice.
Yet she couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Her heart pounding, she smiled and said, "Is she beautiful? People tend to protect beautiful girls—it’s only natural."
"Exactly!" Wu Baozhang laughed. "Even if she made mistakes, everyone would forgive her quickly."
Min Jia’s eyelids twitched.
She knew Wu Baozhang was setting a trap for her, but she couldn’t help stepping into it. Over the past few days, she had exhausted herself trying to find out about Zhou Shaojin’s character but learned nothing. Instead, she managed to glean some information from a servant by Second Madam Fang’s side.
Aside from her beauty, what did Zhou Shaojin have compared to Fang Xuan?
But which family chooses a daughter-in-law based on looks?
The fact that the Cheng family chose Zhou Shaojin over Fang Xuan was unusual in itself.
"Mistakes?" Min Jia feigned surprise. "What mistakes did she make?"
Wu Baozhang hemmed and hawed, changing the subject and refusing to say another word about it.
Min Jia’s curiosity was piqued, but Wu Baozhang’s lips were sealed tight like a clam, and she couldn’t extract any more information.
She had no choice but to inquire among the people of Xinglin Alley, but even when Cheng Sheng sent news of joy—the birth of a healthy baby boy—there was still no progress on the matter.
On a night when the moon hung high in the sky, Min Jia gazed at the dim yellow lamplight shining through the window of Cheng Xu’s tightly shut study and clenched her fists.
Either Cheng Xu had someone in his heart, or he was naturally cold toward others.
They had been married for so long, yet the days they shared a bed could be counted on one hand.Her mother-in-law had been hinting that she should bring Cheng Xu into her chambers as soon as possible, to help the Cheng family flourish with descendants. Cheng Xu had not taken the imperial examinations last spring, but he would definitely try in the next round. After the New Year, he would need to focus wholeheartedly on his studies, and she had better not "disturb" him.
So she simply sent Suyue to serve Cheng Xu in his study.
But Cheng Xu remained proper and never once glanced at Suyue more than necessary.
If she still didn’t understand that Cheng Xu had someone hidden in his heart, she would have lived all these years in vain.
But how could she break this deadlock?
Min Jia felt that apart from Wu Baozhang, she truly couldn’t think of a second person.
Though it was like making a pact with a tiger, if she didn’t even have the courage, she would never get the tiger’s skin!
※
Dear readers, today’s update.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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