Surе еnоugh, whеn Оld Madаm Guо hеаrd thаt Cheng Chi wаs unwilling tо go to Кaifeng Рrеfесturе tо help Zhаng Hui not because hе wаs cоncеrnеd аbоut his eldеrlу mоthеr аnd yоung wife at homе, but bеcаuse he did not wаnt to beсome tоо сlоsеlу аssociаtеd with Grand Sесrеtarу Song, hеr еxprеssiоn softеned considеrably. She sаid, "Yоur сonсerns are quitе rеаsonаblе. Ноwеvеr, evеrуthing has its рros аnd cons. Yоu arе grоwn nоw, so I wоn’t intеrfеrе in this matter. You dеcide for yoursеlves!"
Zhou Shaоjin’s lips pаrted slightlу аs she wаs about to voice her opinion, but she caught a glance from Cheng Chi.
She immediately swallowed her words.
Only then did Cheng Chi smile and say, "I have already decided to go. However, there are still some matters to negotiate with Grand Secretary Song. I didn’t expect him to be so impatient and come first. Since that’s the case, I can’t keep putting on airs. I’ll go see him tomorrow after leaving the yamen."
This not only pleased Old Madam Guo but also made Zhou Shaojin very happy. She said, "Fourth Master, don’t worry. With Mother overseeing things at home, nothing will go wrong."
Cheng Chi smiled faintly.
Old Madam Guo laughed and said, "I’m not some household guardian deity."
Zhou Shaojin deliberately tried to please Old Madam Guo and said with a smile, "You’re even more capable than a household guardian deity—without you here at Chaoyang Gate, how could everything be so orderly?"
This was not untrue.
Thanks to Old Madam Guo’s guidance, in just over a year, the maids and servants at Chaoyang Gate had become disciplined and displayed the demeanor of a great aristocratic family.
Old Madam Guo smiled slightly.
Zhou Shaojin leaned closer and said, "What flowers did you order from Fengtai? When will they be delivered? Once they arrive, I’d like to arrange them with Mother."
"Good, good, good." Old Madam Guo thought that if Cheng Chi went to Kaifeng Prefecture, he might not return even for the New Year, and Zhou Shaojin was pregnant, needing companionship. She couldn’t help but dote on the girl and said affectionately, "Today, I bought many of your favorite wintersweets and camellias, as well as narcissus, cymbidium, and jianlan orchids. Once they’re delivered, I’ll help you decorate the rooms."
Zhou Shaojin nodded with a bright smile.
Cheng Chi felt relieved.
With Shaojin occupied, she wouldn’t spend all day thinking about him.
But as soon as this thought crossed his mind, he felt a bit uneasy.
If Shaojin wasn’t thinking about him, he would still be thinking about her!
By the end of the tenth month, Cheng Chi’s transfer order was issued.
That very evening, Zhang Hui’s advisor, who remained in the capital to liaise with the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works, came to visit Cheng Chi, wishing he could set off early the next morning.
Zhou Shaojin sat in the Tingxiang Courtyard, where the heated floors were on, doing needlework with the maids and chatting with Old Madam Guo. Hearing this, she couldn’t help but feel surprised and said, "Is there such a shortage of people over there?"
Old Madam Guo smiled and said, "It’s probably not a shortage of people. Rather, since Zi Chuan impeached Grand Secretary Qu and, in accordance with the law, exempted some taxes for the laborers working on the river, he has gained some reputation. Magistrate Zhang wants Zi Chuan to go there early so that the dredging work can proceed more smoothly."
Zhou Shaojin wanted to ask whether this would be disadvantageous for Cheng Chi, but upon second thought, considering Cheng Chi’s capabilities, she smiled and kept the question to herself. She began helping Cheng Chi pack for his trip to Kaifeng Prefecture and noticed that several of his fur coats and cloaks were made before she entered the household. She then considered finding some good fur materials to make him a few more fur coats and cloaks.She opened her own trunks and searched for a long time. She found several pieces of high-quality sable fur, but they weren't enough to make a fur coat, and since it was a prohibited item, she could only line it inside clothing worn against the skin. She took one piece of fur and gave it to Steward Xiang, asking him to find several identical pieces in the capital. Besides making a fur coat for Cheng Chi for the New Year, she also wanted to make a winter forehead wrap for Old Madam Guo.
While Steward Xiang went to search for sable fur, Zhou Shaojin went to Nanping's place.
Chief Steward Qin had taken his younger descendants back to their hometown, where Qin Ziping and Jiying's wedding was held. However, neither Qin Ziping nor Qin Zi'an stayed in the hometown. Qin Ziping continued to serve in the Six Constables Office, while Qin Zi'an went to the Western Mountain Garrison. Jiying remained in the hometown to attend to Chief Steward Qin. Zhou Shaojin found this arrangement increasingly odd and quietly asked Cheng Chi about it. Only then did she learn that Jiying stayed not just to serve the Qin elders, but because she excelled in swordsmanship. The Qin family possessed several excellent sword manuals, and Chief Steward Qin kept Jiying there to help organize these manuals. He was also afraid that the newlywed couple might consummate their marriage too soon, which could harm Jiying's cultivation.
Zhou Shaojin's eyes widened in surprise upon hearing this.
Jiying and Qin Ziping... still hadn't consummated their marriage!
She even specially wrote a letter to Jiying, asking if she wanted to return to the capital.
In response, Jiying asked what she would do back in the capital? Then she enthusiastically wrote about the sword manuals she was organizing, adding that if Zhou Shaojin had a son, she would take him as her disciple and guarantee to make him a martial arts master.
She didn't mention Qin Zi'an at all.
Zhou Shaojin's shoulders slumped in disappointment at the time.
Meanwhile, Nanping had remained at the Cheng residence.
But Cheng Chi no longer had her do needlework for him. Instead, he arranged a small courtyard in the east compound for her to live with Madam Wang, who had followed from the needlework room at Nine Prosperities Lane in Jinling. In her spare time, Nanping helped instruct the mansion's maids in needlework.
However, after winter began this year, Nanping caught a cold, and Zhou Shaojin, being pregnant, hadn't seen her for some time.
Having never made a fur coat for a man before, Zhou Shaojin went to seek Nanping's advice.
Unexpectedly, after entering the room and sitting by the window on the large kang, she noticed from the corner of her eye a half-finished men's spring robe stuffed in the sewing basket under the kang table.
Zhou Shaojin remembered that Cheng Chi's clothes had long been entrusted to Madam Wang.
She couldn't help but take a few more glances.
Nanping, who was pouring tea for her, noticed and suddenly blushed, murmuring, "It's for Second Young Master Qin. He's now at the Western Mountain Garrison, living alone. Sometimes he sends a few clothes for me to mend... Since I have free time, I thought I'd make him a spring robe..."
Zhou Shaojin casually responded with an "oh" and proceeded to discuss making the fur coat for Cheng Chi.
Nanping grew more at ease as they talked, offering many suggestions. Finally, she said, "You're pregnant now and shouldn't overexert yourself. Why not let me make Fourth Master's coat instead?"
"No need," Zhou Shaojin smiled. "I want to make the fur coat for him myself."
After all, the Guanyin embroidery was already finished and only needed to be delivered to Mount Putuo on an auspicious day. With Cheng Chi about to leave for Kaifeng, she would have plenty of time for needlework.
Nanping said nothing more.
After exchanging a few more words, Zhou Shaojin stood up to take her leave.But as soon as she returned to her room, she immediately gossiped to Cheng Chi: "...Even though he lives alone. Couldn’t he find a maid to clean and tidy up for him? And now they’re even making spring clothes for him..."
Cheng Chi chuckled, not at all surprised, clearly having known about it long ago.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but pout, saying, "You never tell me anything?"
Cheng Chi kissed her and said, "How could I speak of such matters? It all depends on whether they are fated. Years ago, Chief Steward Qin also asked Nanping. At that time, Qin Zining had just passed away, so Chief Steward Qin couldn’t say much. If she could marry Qin Zi’an, both I and Chief Steward Qin would be delighted. Otherwise, why would I keep her in the manor at her age?"
Nanping’s parents were both hereditary servants of the Cheng family, who had been freed and remained in Jinling.
If she returned home, Qin Zi’an and she would be completely cut off.
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly, looking as though she couldn’t wait to marry Nanping off quickly. This made Cheng Chi laugh again.
After packing their luggage, obtaining the appointment documents from the Ministry of Revenue, and selecting an auspicious day, Cheng Jing, Old Madam Guo, and Zhou Shaojin saw Cheng Chi off to his post.
Once Cheng Chi’s carriage disappeared on the official road, they turned back home.
Cheng Jing even made a point of coming over to tell Zhou Shaojin, "If anything happens at home, just send someone to bring me a message."
Zhou Shaojin thanked him.
Two days later, heavy snow began to fall. Madam Yuan brought Min Jia to present a large pot of lamb soup as a tribute to Old Madam Guo, while Madam Qiu brought A Bao and A Ren to pay their respects to Old Madam Guo. Coincidentally, they arrived together, so Old Madam Guo sent someone to deliver a message to Cheng Xu and Cheng Rang, asking them to come over for lamb hotpot.
Cheng Rang was at Sanming Academy, which was closer to here. He arrived first, paid his respects to Old Madam Guo and the others, and then took A Bao and A Ren to build a snowman.
The two children’s eyes lit up when they saw him, showing that they usually got along well with him. While building the snowman, they giggled incessantly, calling out "Second Uncle" and "Second Uncle" as they circled around Cheng Rang. Cheng Rang patiently played with them, which brought relieved smiles to Madam Qiu and Zhou Shaojin, who were watching them through the window with some concern.
Not long after, Cheng Xu arrived.
Accompanying him were Cheng Sheng’s husband, Peng Zao, and Cheng Sheng herself.
This left Madam Qiu dumbfounded.
Her son, daughter, son-in-law, and even the two nephews she had brought were all gathered together.
She asked Cheng Sheng in surprise, "Why did you come?"
Cheng Sheng smiled and said, "The snow is so heavy. When my husband went out this morning, he only wore a cotton robe. I was afraid he’d catch cold, so I brought a fur coat to deliver to him. At the gate, I ran into Jiashan, who said Grandmother had asked him to come for a meal and had prepared lamb hotpot, so we came together."
Cheng Xu and Peng Zao were both studying at Shuanghe Academy, though under different teachers. They often ran into each other but didn’t spend much time together.
Old Madam Guo was overjoyed to see them, loudly instructing the maids and servants to set out the chopsticks, and pulling Cheng Xu and Peng Zao aside to ask about their studies.
Peng Zao had long heard from his elders that Cheng Shao, Cheng Jing, Cheng Wei, and Cheng Chi had all received their early education under Old Madam Guo. His elders held Old Madam Guo in high esteem, so he naturally dared not be careless. He answered with the same earnestness he would show before a teacher, which greatly pleased Old Madam Guo. She nodded repeatedly and praised Peng Zao over and over again.Zhou Shaojin still remembered that Peng Zao had passed the imperial examination at a young age, seemingly even earlier than Cheng Gao by one session. It seemed now that her memory was correct.
Min Jia, however, couldn't help but glance repeatedly at Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Xu.
Cheng Xu kept his eyes downcast, not looking at Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin, standing beside Cheng Sheng, watched Old Madam Guo examine Peng Zao's studies and did not spare Cheng Xu a glance either.
Yet for some reason, the more Min Jia watched, the more agitated she felt.
Her mother-in-law, Madam Yuan, was truly meddlesome.
If not for Madam Yuan, how could she have ended up in such a predicament?
With her looks, character, talent, and family background, was she afraid she couldn't find a good husband?
Min Jia quietly instructed a maid in the room and stepped out to the corridor, letting the cold air clear her mind for a while. Only then did she feel somewhat better. She didn't return until the maids called her for the meal.
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Dear readers, today's update.
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: Seeking monthly votes...
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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