Сhеng Сhi gаzеd at Zhou Shаоjin's fасе, which apреared sоmewhat уоuthful duе tо dееp sleеp, lost in thought.
Early thе nеxt mоrning, when thеу wеnt tо pау thеir rеsрeсts to Old Mаdаm Guo, hе half-suppоrted Zhou Shаojin.
Zhou Shаоjin аskеd сuriоuslу with a smile, "Whаt's thе mattеr with уоu?"
Chеng Chi rерlied cаlmlу, "It seеms like you'rе about to fаll аslеeр while walking. If I don't suрроrt yоu likе this, I'm аfrаid уоu might stumble intо а ditch."
Zhоu Shaоjin couldn't hеlp but уаwn аnd said, "I dоn't knоw whу, but I just fеel very slеepy. I just got up..."
"Тhen go baсk and havе a рrоpеr nap," Cheng Chi said with a smile. "Mother happens to be going out to visit."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Shaojin giggled.
A few days earlier, Mrs. Peng from the Ministry of War's Military Selection Department had invited Old Madam Guo to her home to watch a play. Old Madam Guo, being elderly and particular, and having no shortage of lively companions around her, wasn't keen on going out. Although she hadn't said anything when the Peng family's invitation arrived, it seemed she had no intention of attending.
Wasn't Cheng Chi's remark practically urging Old Madam Guo to go out and socialize?
And how could Old Madam Guo be someone easily manipulated by others?
But to her surprise, after they had paid their respects to Old Madam Guo, chatted for a while, and were about to take their leave, Old Madam Guo suddenly told Zhou Shaojin that she would be visiting the Peng family later. Since it would mostly be elderly ladies, she wouldn't take Zhou Shaojin along and instructed her to stay home quietly, adding that she would return after having dinner at the Pengs'.
Zhou Shaojin widened her eyes in surprise.
She had been with Cheng Chi the whole time, and he hadn't avoided speaking in front of her... So how did Cheng Chi know that Old Madam Guo would be visiting the Peng family?
But Cheng Chi was about to leave for his office, and she couldn't ask him at that moment. So she first saw Cheng Chi off and then helped Old Madam Guo prepare to go out.
Old Madam Guo was still selecting her outfit for the outing.
Usually, such matters were prepared a day in advance.
Clearly, Old Madam Guo had made the decision to go out on the spur of the moment.
But asking Old Madam Guo why she was visiting the Peng family was even more inappropriate. If she asked, it might imply that Old Madam Guo acted without proper planning. As a daughter-in-law, how could she question her mother-in-law's decisions?
Baffled, Zhou Shaojin saw Old Madam Guo off, and drowsiness washed over her once again.
She collapsed onto the bed and closed her eyes, feeling vaguely relieved—with the old madam not at home, she indeed felt much more at ease...
Meanwhile, Old Madam Guo, who had left the house, couldn't stop smiling all the way.
Nanny Lu, recalling Cheng Chi's earlier hints, couldn't help but say, "Old Madam, if Fourth Mistress is truly with child, we should have a physician examine her. Avoiding her like this..."
Is it appropriate?
It's not as if their horoscopes have been compared and found incompatible—Old Madam and the child in Fourth Mistress's womb?
Does this mean Old Madam will have to keep avoiding Fourth Mistress from now on?Old Madam Guo chuckled, not taking offense at Nanny Lu's words, and said with a smile, "Didn't Si Lang say? He just suspects Shaojin might be with child. You know, that girl has been hoping for a child for almost a year now. If I were to call a physician for her, firstly, it’s still early, and it’s uncertain whether it could even be diagnosed. If she felt I was pressuring her to quickly bear a child for the Cheng family, it might create a knot in her heart, which wouldn’t be good. Secondly, if she truly is with child, wouldn’t that child be treated as a treasure? Haven’t we seen enough of those who lie still and indulge in reckless eating and drinking? Yet, the more they do that, the harder the delivery becomes. It’s better to treat it with a normal mindset and let things take their course!"
In that case, why are you, old madam, avoiding going out?
Nanny Lu laughed inwardly but didn’t expose it, accompanying Old Madam Guo to Madam Peng’s place.
When Old Madam Guo returned in the evening, she saw Zhou Shaojin yawning as she spoke. Surprised, she couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope. She simply said to Cheng Chi, "The weather has been cool these days. I’d like to take advantage of it and visit the second branch’s home for a few days!"
Zhou Shaojin was greatly alarmed, her drowsiness vanishing instantly. She hurriedly said, "Mother, you’ve been living so well here. Why suddenly think of going to Second Uncle’s home…"
Old Madam Guo didn’t wait for her to finish before interrupting with a smile, "You silly child, I haven’t said anything, yet look how frightened you are! Come, sit by me. Didn’t Rang-ge get engaged to the third daughter of the Xie family? I promised to provide twenty thousand taels for Rang-ge’s wedding. Coincidentally, your second sister-in-law has been helping Rang-ge look at farm estates these days. Since I’m free, I’ll go over there to help and find something to do."
When a daughter marries, her natal family provides a dowry, and more particular families also prepare some private assets for the groom to ensure the new couple can live comfortably.
The farm estate Old Madam Guo mentioned was likely the private assets Madam Qiu was preparing for Rang-ge.
During Old Master Xun’s lifetime, Old Madam Guo had managed the household affairs of the entire estate. After returning to Nine Prosperities Lane, she had also helped oversee the Cheng family’s miscellaneous affairs. Even while living at Cold Green Mountain House, when major matters arose, Madam Yuan would come to seek her advice. Unlike now, with the simple household at Chaoyang Gate, even if she wanted to find something for Old Madam Guo to do, there was nothing… If the old madam was willing, finding something to do might not be a bad thing!
Thinking this, Zhou Shaojin volunteered, "Then let me accompany you!"
"No need, no need," Old Madam Guo waved her hand with a smile. "I’m just going for a visit. If you come with me, who will take care of Si Lang?"
That was true.
Cheng Chi was only a fifth-rank official and not yet qualified to attend morning court. He returned home before 5 p.m. It wouldn’t do for him to come back to an empty, cold house with no one there. Nor could Old Madam Guo always rush back before 5 p.m.
Zhou Shaojin relaxed and said, "Then come back early if you feel tired. When the time comes, Fourth Master and I will come to fetch you together!"
Old Madam Guo nodded with relief, thinking that by then, whether Zhou Shaojin was with child would likely be confirmed. Perhaps by then, the Cheng family would have another joyous occasion to celebrate!
Zhou Shaojin then helped Old Madam Guo pack her luggage.
When Madam Qiu heard about it, she came with Cheng Rang in person to fetch Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo said, "Invite Sheng-yatou and her Rui-ge back as well. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Rui-ge."Madam Qiu smiled and repeatedly agreed, "Good, good." Zhou Shaojin could almost imagine the liveliness at Cheng Wei's home, and her heart couldn't help but yearn for it. Yet her body felt utterly exhausted, and in the end, weariness prevailed, forcing her to abandon the idea of visiting Cheng Wei's household. While the maids and servants were moving the trunks, she quietly whispered to Madam Qiu about Old Madam Guo's taboos. After Cheng Chi returned and they finished dinner, they escorted Old Madam Guo to Cheng Wei's place.
Upon hearing the news, Madam Yuan immediately brought Min Jia to pay respects to Old Madam Guo. With a smile, she asked, "The autumn heat is still lingering these days. Why have you moved to Second Brother's side so soon?"
The implication was whether Zhou Shaojin had been unfilial or had displeased Old Madam Guo in some way, causing her to move to Cheng Wei's home before the weather cooled.
Min Jia barely restrained herself from curling her lip.
Her mother-in-law. She rarely used her head when speaking. Even if she wanted to sow discord, couldn't she be a little less obvious about it?
Old Madam Guo was also somewhat annoyed and replied bluntly, "Your second sister-in-law isn't like you. You have your own ideas and can manage everything yourself, so naturally you don't need me meddling by your side. Your second sister-in-law hasn't handled major matters before—how could I not keep an eye on things?"
Seeing her mother-in-law clashing with her sister-in-law again, and being someone who always respected her mother-in-law, Madam Qiu hurriedly said, "Yes, yes! I used to shelter under Eldest Sister-in-law's wing, but now that we're living separately, this is the first time I'm handling such a big matter. If I hadn't invited Mother to oversee things, I wouldn't have felt confident at all!"
Hearing this, Madam Yuan's expression stiffened.
This Madam Qiu—there was never a time when she didn't try to smooth things over!
But she also knew that was just Madam Qiu's nature. Even if she wanted to say something, she didn't know where to begin.
Madam Yuan lowered her head to drink tea.
Madam Qiu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly urged everyone to try the fresh pears that had just arrived from the market.
※
Zhou Shaojin, of course, knew nothing about what had happened at Cheng Wei's place. After seeing off Old Madam Guo, she slept day and night for several days, completely reversing her schedule, before finally going to Cheng Wei's home to pay her respects to Old Madam Guo.
As it turned out, Old Madam Guo and Madam Qiu had just returned from inspecting the farmlands and were happily discussing what they had seen. When they spotted Zhou Shaojin, they waved her over enthusiastically. Old Madam Guo even gave her a bag of peanuts to take home, either to roast or boil, saying they were a gift from the landowner during their visit.
Seeing Old Madam Guo in high spirits, Zhou Shaojin felt relieved. She mustered her energy to have dinner at Cheng Wei's home, then returned to her own house and fell into a deep sleep once more. It wasn't until Cheng Chi told her that everyone would be going to Apricot Grove Lane to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month that she realized the festival had already arrived.
"So soon!" she murmured weakly, leaning against Cheng Chi. "I don't know why, but I always feel so tired."
She didn’t want to go to Apricot Grove Lane for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Cheng Chi didn’t press her, gently stroking her cheek and kissing her forehead before saying with a smile, "It might be because the weather is turning cooler. You’ll feel better in a few days."
Even Cheng Chi said so, so Zhou Shaojin set her mind at ease and went back to sleep. It wasn’t until Mid-Autumn Festival that she belatedly realized her monthly cycle was long overdue.
Zhou Shaojin pressed a hand to her belly, both startled and overjoyed. Excited, she wanted to get out of bed and walk around, but feared the pregnancy wasn’t stable yet. She wanted to send someone to inform Cheng Chi immediately, but worried she might be mistaken and end up disappointed. For a moment, she felt torn, unsure what to do.Until Cheng Chi returned from his official duties, she wanted to rush over but forcefully held herself back...
She should still clarify the matter first. What if it was just a misunderstanding? How disappointed the old lady and Cheng Chi would be!
Zhou Shaojin kept telling herself to wait a little longer, yet the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but curl upward. Even seeing a teacup or teapot filled her heart with joy.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin like this, how could Cheng Chi not understand!
He said, "Should I call a physician to examine you?"
Why suddenly call a physician for her?
Zhou Shaojin looked at Cheng Chi in confusion, meeting his knowing gaze... and remembered that her intimate garments were all washed by designated servants...
She couldn’t help but pout coquettishly, "So you already knew!"
Cheng Chi smiled faintly and pulled her into his embrace.
Recalling what Cheng Chi had said earlier, Zhou Shaojin began to feel anxious and uncertain. Hesitantly, she asked, "Then... do you like it?"
Cheng Chi gently patted her bottom and said, "What do you think?"
His casual tone left Zhou Shaojin dissatisfied. Pouting, she said, "Didn’t you say earlier that we should wait until next year? You definitely don’t like it!"
※
Dear readers, here’s yesterday’s update.
I won’t be able to add an extra update today.
The next update will be around 10 p.m.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel