Uроn hеаring this, Zhou Shaоjin hеsitаtеd аnd said, "I want to gо with уou..."
Chеng Chi knew shе wаntеd tо hеlр him. He smilеd, kissed her forehead, аnd sаid gentlу, "Thеrе's nо nеed. Lооk аt Grаnd Sеcrеtary Song—Маdam Sоng rarely gоes out fоr sociаl еngаgеmеnts еithеr. Everу сouрlе is diffеrent. Sоme аrе like my mоthеr, othеrs are like Мadam Song. Just dо whаt уou еnjoy. A wifе's stаtus dеpеnds оn hеr husbаnd. Withоut mу fathеr, еven sоmeоne like mу mothеr wоuld hаve nо оррortunity to shinе. And even someоne like Mаdam Song is rеspесted whеn she goes out."
"But if I could be like Mother, wouldn’t some things be easier?" Zhou Shaojin said hesitantly. "I want to be with you, not hold you back."
"That’s not necessarily true," Cheng Chi replied with a smile. "Sometimes, the more you say, the more mistakes you make; saying nothing avoids errors. If you can help me by being filial to Mother at home and giving us a few more children, that’s just as good."
Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed red again.
Cheng Chi, recalling how much Madam Song had always liked Zhou Shaojin, said with a smile, "If you really want to come with me, let’s go to the Song residence together. After visiting Old Master Song, I’ll speak with Grand Secretary Song, and you can visit Madam Song. We’ll make it a social call."
"Oh, no, that’s not necessary!" Zhou Shaojin said shyly. "You’re going to the Song residence for official business!"
"It won’t interfere with anything," Cheng Chi said, hugging her. "Go change your clothes, and we’ll go to the Song residence together."
"Are you sure it’s alright?" Zhou Shaojin was still worried about becoming a burden to Cheng Chi.
"Absolutely!" Cheng Chi assured her. "If it weren’t, I wouldn’t take you along."
Then she would simply focus on getting along well with Madam Song.
The two informed Old Madam Guo, fed Yun Ge’er, set a time to return, and headed to the Song residence together.
The Song residence had already received word, and Grand Secretary Song and Madam Song personally greeted them at the main gate.
They went to see Old Master Song.
Old Master Song was coughing severely but was in high spirits, speaking about dredging the Yellow River with great familiarity. However, when it came to matters of the Kaifeng government, he only remembered the general outline, showing that in his youth, he had devoted all his energy to river engineering.
After chatting for a while, Old Master Song began to look weary, so Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Chi rose to take their leave.
Grand Secretary Song’s expression immediately fell. He said to Cheng Chi, "The memorial recommending rewards has already been submitted. You should be prepared for the court session tomorrow morning. As for the old master, come visit him often when you have time. The imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital said that the old master endured too much hardship in his youth and worked relentlessly on dredging the Yellow River. He’s already worn down by overwork and is merely living out his final days in a brief rally."
Zhou Shaojin had already sensed something when she saw Old Master Song’s condition.
Cheng Chi had previously taken Old Master Song’s pulse and, coinciding with the Imperial Hospital physicians’ diagnosis, had long been prepared. Even so, his expression darkened upon hearing this, and he said softly, "I’ll come visit the old master often when I have time."
Grand Secretary Song nodded, tears glistening in the corners of his eyes.
Zhou Shaojin and Madam Song both felt deeply saddened. None of them were in the mood to speak, and they returned to the flower hall in silence.Grand Secretary Song and Cheng Chi went to the study to talk, while Madam Song and Zhou Shaojin went to the sitting room in the main house. While Grand Secretary Song inquired about Cheng Chi's plans, Madam Song chatted with Zhou Shaojin about everyday matters: "...The Eldest Young Master has set the date for the first day of the ninth month. You must come early for the wedding. As the eldest son, the Song family hasn’t held a joyous occasion in over a decade. All the relatives from the Madam’s side will be coming. I’m afraid I won’t be able to manage everything alone. You must come and help me."
The "Madam" Madam Song referred to was Grand Secretary Song’s first wife, the mother of Song Mu.
Shaojin readily agreed and asked about the two young ladies from that side of the family.
Madam Song pursed her lips and said, "Both are married now—one to a minor official, the other to a merchant. The master has always been cold toward them, so they rarely visit these days..."
Before she could finish, a commotion erupted outside.
Madam Song frowned and was about to ask who it was when the beaded curtain rattled, and Song Sen, now thirteen years old, burst in: "Sister Shaojin, Sister Shaojin, when did you arrive? Why didn’t you let us know in advance? Did Yun Ge’er come with you?"
"You little rascal!" Madam Song’s face darkened. "Watch your manners!"
Song Sen pouted, his handsome face full of grievance.
Shaojin couldn’t help but smile, recalling how, after things didn’t work out between her and Song Mu, he had run to her and said, "If my brother won’t marry you, wait for me to grow up, and I’ll marry you." She chuckled and said, "Ah Sen, I’m your ‘aunt’ now. You can’t address me so casually!"
Song Sen raised an eyebrow and reluctantly called out, "Aunt."
Shaojin couldn’t hold back her laughter.
Madam Song also patted Song Sen’s head. "Hurry and greet your aunt properly! You’re all dirty—where have you been running wild again?"
"I haven’t been running wild!" Song Sen retorted, pushing his mother’s hand away. "I was helping the Madam with tasks today."
He was now studying at Shuanghe Academy and had grown taller than Shaojin, though he was terribly thin, like a willow branch, making one worry he might collapse from weakness.
Madam Song said, "Alright, alright, go and rest now! You’ll have dinner with your aunt later."
Song Sen left happily.
Madam Song apologized to Shaojin, "This child is a bit stubborn. I’ve scolded him several times, but he never listens..."
"It’s fine, it’s fine," Shaojin said with a smile. "Even though he’s tall, he’s still a child who hasn’t yet come of age. What child isn’t mischievous at times?"
The two chatted and laughed until Song Mu returned. The men and women sat at separate tables for dinner, after which Shaojin and Cheng Chi hurried back.
Yun Ge’er was crying at the top of his lungs, with Old Madam Guo, the wet nurse, maids, and servants all gathered around him, trying to cheer him up.
Seeing Shaojin return, everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief. Old Madam Guo wiped the sweat from her forehead and said, "Shaojin, we can’t go on like this. He needs to get used to being with the wet nurse."
The sight of her son broke Shaojin’s heart, and she deeply regretted staying for dinner at the Song residence. She quickly took Yun Ge’er into her arms, soothing him as she said, "I noticed he usually nurses around this time, so I made sure to return by then...""It's fine, it's fine," Old Madam Guo laughed. "Boys need to cry a bit—it shows they have strong lungs and energy. Look how lively he is. He's just fussing because he wants you." As she spoke, she proudly stroked Yun Ge'er, who lay obediently in Zhou Shaojin's arms, and said, "But this child is truly clever. He knows we aren't you, and no amount of coaxing works. Most children don't recognize people until they're four or five months old!"
"Really?" Zhou Shaojin's eyes sparkled as she listened.
Cheng Chi, however, chuckled and said, "I think he's just being mischievous, isn't he?"
Old Madam Guo was displeased. "I raised the three of you. I raised Zheng Jie'er and Xiao Jie'er, and even Sheng Jie'er came to my room after she turned one. Don't I know how children are?"
"Exactly!" Zhou Shaojin immediately chimed in. "Mother has experience, so she must be right."
Old Madam Guo's expression brightened considerably.
When they returned to their room, Cheng Chi pinched Zhou Shaojin's nose and teased, "You really hide your true colors—turns out you're quite the little flatterer. No wonder my mother likes you so much!"
Holding the child, Zhou Shaojin couldn't dodge away and retorted, "What flatterer? Didn't you tell me to be filial to Mother? This isn't a big deal. Isn't it fine to go along with what she says? Why oppose her and make her unhappy?"
Cheng Chi burst out laughing. "Shaoji, you're a lucky one! If it were ten years ago and someone answered my mother like that, she'd have given them a sharp glance and immediately lumped them in with the bootlickers, never to interact with them again. Now that she's older, she's like a child herself, and even someone like you can charm her."
With shameless bravado, Zhou Shaojin declared, "Well, how else could I have married Si Lang?"
Cheng Chi laughed heartily, leaning in to whisper suggestively in her ear, "It's still better to call me Uncle Chi!"
Zhou Shaojin glared at him, then carried the child back to the inner chamber, where she sat down to nurse Yun Ge'er.
In the mirror, she caught a glimpse of her reflection—her eyes and brows brimming with a captivating charm—and flushed, not daring to look again.
Once Yun Ge'er was full and content, she coaxed him to sleep, and the wet nurse came in to take the child to the adjacent room.
Cheng Chi embraced Zhou Shaojin, and they tumbled like mandarin ducks beneath the quilt, stirring waves of passion until he was fully satisfied. It was only after the third watch drum had sounded that they washed up again and settled down to sleep.
As a result, Zhou Shaojin slept deeply until the sun was high in the sky the next morning. When she finally rose, she was met with Madam Fan Liu's delighted smile.
Probably everyone knew what she had been up to yesterday?
Zhou Shaojin hid under the bed curtains, burying her head in the sand for a while before sheepishly getting up. After feeding Yun Ge'er, she went to Old Madam Guo's quarters.
Old Madam Guo was pleased to see her daughter-in-law and son so affectionate and happily had Zhenzhu bring over a bowl of black chicken soup with the oil skimmed off. "Drink this quickly—it's very nourishing for the body," she said, then took Yun Ge'er into her arms.
Zhou Shaojin blushed as she drank the soup.
Old Madam Guo said to Yun Ge'er, "Your father is back, so you'll soon have a little brother or sister. Are you happy? Does our Yun Ge'er prefer a brother or a sister? In your grandmother's opinion, a sister would be nice. One son and one daughter—good things come in pairs..."
Nanny Lu and the others chuckled.
Zhou Shaojin's face grew even redder.
Old Madam Guo smiled at her and said, "Now that Si Lang is back, I'm thinking of inviting your second uncle, your eldest brother's family, and your second brother's family over for a meal. It'll be a welcome-home gathering for Si Lang."Zhou Shaojin also felt they should gather and agreed with a smile. After discussing the date for the next day with Old Madam Guo, she sent people to deliver invitations to the two families and called Biyu in to discuss the banquet menu. In the blink of an eye, it was afternoon. The messengers who had delivered the invitations returned, saying both families would attend. Zhou Shaojin then instructed Chunwan to fetch the storeroom key for Biyu, who opened it to retrieve pastry molds and the utensils for entertaining guests. Meanwhile, Huaishan returned with good news: "The Emperor has ordered the Office of Transmission to draft an edict. Fourth Master has been recognized for his contributions to dredging the Yellow River, and the Grand Secretariat has proposed promoting him to the rank of Left Assistant Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, a fourth-grade position. The Directorate of Ceremonial has already affixed the seal. As soon as the Ministry of Personnel issues the official document tomorrow, Fourth Master can go to the ministry to receive his fourth-grade appointment. Several officials from the Censorate and the Ministry of Works are clamoring for Fourth Master to host a celebration banquet, so he won’t be returning for dinner tonight. He specifically asked me to inform you."
"How wonderful! How wonderful!" Although they had been aiming for this position, when the matter was finally settled, both Old Madam Guo and Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but feel genuinely happy for Cheng Chi. Old Madam Guo even instructed Zhou Shaojin, "Quickly write a letter to your father-in-law so he can share in the joy as well."
※
Dear readers, here is today’s update.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel