Аlthоugh they wеrе nоt оutsidеrs, they still felt it inарproрriate tо bаrgе dirесtlу into the innеr courtyard. Therеfоre, аfter Сhеng Wеn аnd Chеng Jing еntеrеd thе hall, thеy stood in frоnt оf the sсreen seрarating thе hall from thе sitting rооm, listеning tо thе сommotiоn insidе.
In the innеr сhаmber, Wu Вaоzhаng was weерing bitterlу: "...He is utterlу stubborn, and I havе nо оther rеcourse. I оnlу intеnded tо usе this mеthоd tо fоrcе hеr to lеavе, with no intentiоn of hаrming hеr. If I hаd meаnt tо hаrm hеr, I would have tаken Uncle’s visiting card tо the magistratе’s officе insteаd оf merеly reporting the case. Yet he has humiliated me like this—what meaning is there for me in this household? With his favoritism toward a concubine over his lawful wife, is he not afraid of being criticized?"
Madam Yuan’s brows were tightly furrowed. A flicker of disgust flashed in her gaze as she looked at Wu Baozhang, but it quickly gave way to her usual gentle and dignified demeanor. She spoke softly in consolation: "In my view, both of you are at fault, though Nuo’er bears more of the blame. How could an outsider—a mere woman—dare lay hands on you? He truly has no sense of propriety. But you too—there are countless ways to drive someone away. Why did you choose such a method? How do you think Nuo’er sees you now? How will he interact with you in the future? You’ve always been so clever, yet at a critical moment, you acted so foolishly." As she spoke, she signaled her personal maid to hand a handkerchief to Wu Baozhang. "Stop crying now. What’s done is done, and we must find a way to make amends. I will have someone fetch Nuo’er immediately and make him apologize to you. You, in turn, should be magnanimous and not hold grudges. Go back and speak with him properly—don’t let this damage your harmony. After all, you are meant to spend a lifetime together."
Wu Baozhang remained silent.
Cheng Jing whispered to Cheng Wen, "I think we should find a way to deal with that woman outside. We can’t let a woman disrupt the peace of the household, can we?"
If these words had been spoken to anyone else, they would have nodded without hesitation.
But to Cheng Wen... He thought of how Wu Baozhang had falsely accused that Kang family’s sixth daughter of stealing her silver... The Kang family were merely ordinary merchants, yet they had a marriage connection with someone like Cheng Jing. Once the case reached the magistrate’s office, even if Kang Liu Niang’s family had money, they could only watch helplessly as she suffered... Cheng Wen felt that Wu Baozhang was too vicious.
With such a woman remaining in their family, he feared their household would never know peace.
Cheng Wen sighed deeply.
Cheng Nuo was summoned inside.
Cheng Jing and Cheng Wen hurriedly stepped aside.
Cheng Nuo was in a daze and did not notice there were others in the room.He knelt before Madam Yuan, his eyes already reddening before he could speak: "Aunt, I cannot live with this woman any longer. She is too cruel. Speaking of which, it was because of her wrongdoing that we even met the Sixth Miss Kang..." He recounted how Wu Baozhang had borrowed money, then sent him to apologize to the Kang family when she couldn't repay it, all the way to the incident a couple of days ago when she asked him to meet with several larger tea merchants from the west. Finally, he said: "I truly have nothing with that Sixth Miss Kang. She merely pitied me for not understanding the rules of the trade. After I suffered repeated failures, she simply offered me some guidance. In fact, Sixth Miss Kang is my benefactor. If you don't believe me, you can send someone to investigate. Usually, when she comes to my shop to cause trouble, she just causes trouble, but this time she went too far—not only slandering and belittling her, but even having her arrested and thrown into prison... A perfectly respectable young lady has been ruined by her like this. I... how can I ever face Sixth Miss Kang again..." After saying this, such a grown man began to sob uncontrollably. His demeanor showed no pretense.
Madam Yuan was stunned and turned her gaze toward Wu Baozhang.
Wu Baozhang wore an expression of utter shock, her eyes flickering uneasily.
Madam Yuan couldn't help but sigh and said, "Nuo, no matter what, hitting your wife is wrong. Our family has no men who beat their wives. Hurry up and apologize to your wife! Let this matter be settled. Go back and live peacefully with your wife!"
"No!" To everyone's surprise, Cheng Nuo wiped away his tears and declared solemnly, "I cannot live with such a malicious person any longer. I want to divorce her!"
Everyone inside and outside the room was stunned.
It was Cheng Jing who reacted first.
He shouted, "You beast!" and said, "Our Cheng family has no tradition of divorcing wives! How dare you, with your parents and elders still alive, speak of divorcing your wife!"
In respectable families, who would ever divorce their wife?
If this were to happen, the Cheng family would truly become a laughingstock.
Cheng Wen broke out in a cold sweat and scolded, "You little beast, how dare you spout such nonsense here? Hurry up and help your wife up and go home!"
As for matters like apologies, perhaps it was better to forget them?
This matter still needed to be reported to the in-laws far away in Jinling Prefecture, lest the wife attempt suicide or cause trouble, and the Wu family think she had been mistreated in their home.
An honest man is sincere, and although Cheng Nuo was usually timid as a mouse, at this moment, no matter what anyone said, he wouldn't listen, insisting wholeheartedly on divorcing his wife.
Wu Baozhang cried until she was drenched in tears, clutching Min Jia, who had come to console her, and said, "Sister-in-law, look, he only knows how to humiliate me. I really cannot go on living like this."
But who was it that had brought things to this state?
Min Jia inwardly complained endlessly, but she couldn't show the slightest hint of it on her face. She could only patiently and carefully console Wu Baozhang.
※
Over at Chaoyang Gate, Zhou Shaojin had selected her attire two days prior. She rose early in the morning to dress and groom herself, but even after finishing, she still felt unsatisfied. She gazed at herself in the mirror, turning this way and that, and asked Chunwan, "Do you think I should replace this pearl hairpin with a large kingfisher feather flower? Would that feel more festive?"
Chunwan pursed her lips and smiled, saying, "Madam, you already look very beautiful. The weather is a bit cool today, and this pearl headpiece pairs perfectly with this pink robe. If you were to switch to a large kingfisher feather flower, the color would be too intense and might make your outfit look top-heavy."Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly and said, "When choosing the jewelry, I thought so too. However, wearing this pink robe makes me look a bit plump. I think it would be better to change the entire outfit—kingfisher feather jewelry paired with a sapphire blue robe..."
"Madam, you look very beautiful like this," Chunwan said, both amused and exasperated. She straightened Zhou Shaojin in front of the mirror and continued, "Look at how radiant your complexion is—your skin is rosier and smoother than before, so delicate it seems as if it could be pierced by a breath. Your waist is still so slender; where is there even a hint of plumpness?"
The woman in the mirror had a face like a lotus flower, eyes like autumn water, and every corner of her brows and eyes brimmed with tender affection. The soft pink robe reflected her face into a charming blossom.
Was this her?
Zhou Shaojin was astonished.
Madam Fan Liu chuckled and said, "Fourth Master is returning today, so Madam is happy. She looks much more spirited than usual."
Zhou Shaojin blushed.
Old Madam Guo had already sent someone to ask if she was ready. If so, they would go together to the entrance to welcome Cheng Chi.
Zhou Shaojin hurriedly picked up the child and went to Tingxiang Courtyard, saying, "How could I let you, Elder, go to welcome Fourth Master? I will go myself."
"He has been away for over half a year and couldn't even show his face when the child was born. How could I not worry about him?" Old Madam Guo sighed. "Let's not stand on ceremony. We'll go together to welcome Si Lang."
A mother worries when her son travels far.
Zhou Shaojin no longer insisted and helped Old Madam Guo to the Chuihua Gate.
Halfway there, a young servant came running over, joyfully reporting, "Old Madam, Madam, Fourth Master's carriage has already arrived at the entrance."
"Really?" Old Madam Guo and Zhou Shaojin exchanged glances, both unable to hide the smiles on their faces. They quickened their pace as they walked out. "Where is the master now?"
"He just got off the carriage," the servant reported, just as a tall, slender man dressed in a coarse brown robe strode in.
It was Cheng Chi!
With just one glance, Zhou Shaojin's tears began to fall uncontrollably.
He had lost much weight since he left and had grown much darker. Covered in dust, it was clear that his days in Kaifeng Prefecture had been spent exposed to the elements, enduring many hardships.
"Si Lang!" Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but call out his childhood name. Old Madam Guo stepped forward and reached out her hand to him.
Cheng Chi lifted the hem of his robe and knelt before Old Madam Guo. "Mother, I have been unfilial, away for so long and unable to serve you by your side!"
"It's enough that you're back, it's enough that you're back!" Old Madam Guo said, her eyes reddening. She pulled him up as she spoke. "Hurry and get up, hurry and get up. When you left, Shaojin was still pregnant with Yun Ge'er. Now Yun Ge'er is almost over two months old. Go quickly and see Shaojin and Yun Ge'er."
Cheng Chi's eyes glistened with moisture. He responded with a soft "Mm" and turned his gaze toward Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin turned and picked up Yun Ge'er, her lips curving slightly as she tried to give Cheng Chi a cheerful smile. Yet, her tears fell uncontrollably.
"Shao Jin!" Cheng Chi called her name. He lowered his head and saw his son's rosy, chubby little face. His heart instantly softened like water, and he gently touched his son's head. Raising his eyes, he smiled at the child's mother, meeting her clear gaze. In a low voice, he said, "You've worked hard! The child is growing well... Mother is also well... Thank you... I will never leave you and our child for so long again..."Zhou Shaojin nodded, her vision blurring. Remembering she had applied powder today, she wanted to fetch a handkerchief to wipe her tears but realized she was still holding the heavily sleeping Yun Ge'er in her arms. For a moment, she felt awkward and unsure what to do.
Cheng Chi quickly took Yun Ge'er from her hands.
Seeing him hold Yun Ge'er as if carrying an object, Zhou Shaojin was startled and hurriedly said, "Be careful!" She instructed, "You need to hold him like this, supporting his neck, waist, and bottom. He can't lift his head yet, only prop it up briefly..."
"Alright..." Cheng Chi responded, soon holding Yun Ge'er in the correct posture, though his stiff shoulders betrayed his nervousness.
Old Madam Guo walked over, took Yun Ge'er into her arms, and said to Cheng Chi and Zhou Shaojin, "You're covered in dust—be careful not to let our Yun Ge'er inhale it. Go wash up quickly. Leave the child with me for now. Shaojin, help Si Lang get ready. We'll have lunch together later."
Was the old madam giving the couple time to share some intimate words?
Zhou Shaojin blushed and replied, "Yes," feeling deeply grateful toward the old madam as she returned to the main room with Cheng Chi.
Hot water was already prepared. A clean, soft, and resilient Songjiang sanluo fine cloth undergarment was neatly folded on a small stool in the bathing area, and rose-scented soap emitted a faint fragrance.
Zhou Shaojin changed into a beizi, wearing a moon-white silver-striped gauze blouse, and helped Cheng Chi change his clothes, personally attending to his washing and grooming.
※
Sisters, here's today's update!
O(∩_∩)O~
These past few days, I've been posting drafts first, so please refresh once before reading.
PS: Today is Qixi Festival—wishing everyone a happy Valentine's Day!
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel