Оld Маdаm Тang's nephеw hаd been drivеn mad with ragе аt thе timе, rеlуing only оn the fact that Cheng Jing nоw hеld a high рositiоn аnd соuld not аffоrd tо lоsе faсe. But when thе Сheng fаmily servants sеized him and triеd to haul him оff tо thе Shuntiаn Рrеfеcture, hе grеw frightenеd аnd strugglеd to brеak frее.
Qin Ziji sneerеd сoldlу.
To cоme and cаusе trоuble аt the gate оf thе Сheng fаmilу's Тhird Вrаnсh—did he еvеn know whаt kind of рlacе this was?
If thе Сhеng familу swаllоwеd this insult now, wouldn't it meаn that anyone сould follow his еxamрle in thе futurе?
Bеfore Cheng Chi could return, however, Cheng Shi personally arrived with two stewards carrying several gift boxes. Full of remorse, he said to Qin Ziji, "My uncle was ignorant. Please, for the sake of my grandmother, don't take it to heart, Chief Steward Qin. As for my young aunt, please convey my apologies on behalf of my uncle."
Qin Ziji could easily have found an excuse to dismiss Cheng Shi, but since Cheng Shi mentioned Zhou Shaojin, he could not make the decision himself. Smiling, he invited Cheng Shi to sit in the outer courtyard's reception hall and sent someone to ask Zhou Shaojin for instructions.
What is improper should not be heard.
Since the Cheng family maids had asked Zhou Shaojin to step out for a word, Cheng Sheng and the others naturally did not inquire about what had happened. Zhou Shaojin, for her part, felt that Old Madam Tang's distant nephew had not gone to Apricot Blossom Lane or to Cheng Wei's place to make trouble, but had instead come to her doorstep—clearly picking on the weak. It was too embarrassing, and she was too ashamed to tell Zhou Chujin and the others. Seeing that everyone was considerate of her dignity and asked nothing, she breathed a sigh of relief and continued chatting with them about everyday matters.
Unexpectedly, before she could say more than a few words, the young maid returned and said, "Madam, Nanny Shang has something to ask for your instructions."
Zhou Shaojin felt displeased.
Had Old Madam Tang's nephew done something strange again?
She apologized to Cheng Sheng and the others and left the sitting room.
Nanny Shang told Zhou Shaojin that Cheng Shi had come, hoping to apologize to her on behalf of his uncle.
Zhou Shaojin detested the kind of behavior where someone clearly knew they were in the wrong but still slapped you, then thought that apologizing would settle the matter.
She said, "Go tell him that men and women should not interact improperly. Although I am an elder, my age makes it inappropriate for me to receive guests. If he has anything to say, he can speak with Chief Steward Qin. If Chief Steward Qin cannot decide, then he will have to wait until Fourth Master returns."
Nanny Shang had initially worried that Zhou Shaojin might be too soft-hearted—that after they had just sent the man to Shuntian Prefecture, Zhou Shaojin might feel embarrassed by Cheng Shi's personal apology and release Old Madam Tang's nephew afterward.
She replied with a beaming "Yes," unable to hide the glee on her face.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but smile and said, "If you still feel unsatisfied, you might as well let him wait there idly. After all, there's no one in charge at home right now. If he feels wronged, he'll need someone to speak up for him, won't he? If he's unwilling, then it's just as well to part ways—if he can't even bear this much while asking for a favor, it shows everything he said earlier was insincere!"
Nanny Shang couldn't help but laugh.
Zhou Shaojin then asked, "When did Cheng Shi come to the capital? How come we didn't know? Do you know where he's staying? What did he come to the capital for?"Nanny Shang smiled and said, "We had only heard that he was coming to the capital early to prepare for next year's imperial examination, and according to the schedule, he should have arrived this afternoon or tomorrow morning. He is staying at the Gaosheng Inn near the examination hall. We simply didn’t expect him to rush over as soon as he heard about his uncle causing trouble. According to the agreement between the two families, he should visit the elder master tomorrow, right?"
When the family split into separate branches, it was agreed that the elder branch would assist Cheng Shi in his imperial examinations.
Of course, everyone knew this was impossible. It was merely a compromise, hoping the elder branch would not deliberately obstruct Cheng Shi.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "In that case, he should wait even more. We haven’t said we won’t release anyone, nor have we refused to see him. It’s just that circumstances have changed, and he must wait."
Playing petty tricks—who doesn’t know how?
Nanny Shang smiled and went to the front courtyard.
Zhou Shaojin returned to the main room displeased.
As sisters, Zhou Chujin couldn’t help but find an opportunity to ask Shaojin the reason.
Shaojin thought that since Cheng Shi had already come to their door, it was impossible to keep the matter quiet. So she straightforwardly told Cheng Sheng and the others everything that had happened.
Everyone was astonished. Especially Cheng Xiao, who widened her eyes and said, "I remember the second branch wasn’t like this before... Why do they now seem as impatient as upstarts?"
"That’s why there’s a saying that adversity reveals true character," Zhou Chujin sighed. "In the past, Nine Prosperities Lane was illustrious and flourishing, everything going smoothly. Who wouldn’t put on airs and act magnanimous? But now, as their fortunes decline, they’ve become petty about everything. Little do they realize how much worse this makes them look."
Everyone couldn’t help but sigh, unwilling to dwell on the topic any longer, and shifted the conversation to the embroiderer Gong Tao, who had recently gained fame in the capital.
In the reception hall, Cheng Shi, upon hearing Nanny Shang’s message, clenched his fists tightly in anger.
Yet he had to smile and thank Nanny Shang, patiently waiting for Cheng Chi to return.
Since the split of Nine Prosperities Lane, he had encountered such situations more than once.
If he had known it would come to this, he should never have agreed to the split, no matter what.
His great-grandfather was getting old, becoming hesitant in his actions—wanting to borrow the elder branch’s reputation while fearing that, like before, they would choose his second son to manage the Seven Stars Hall.
In truth, his great-grandfather was mistaken.
The Cheng family already had enough wealth to last several generations. They should take this opportunity to break away from the Seven Stars Hall and completely sever ties with the martial world.
Unfortunately, it was too late for such regrets now.
Cheng Chi didn’t play by the rules, making unpredictable moves. In just two or three years, he had risen to the fourth-rank position and earned a reputation for integrity and pride.
The elder branch was far more formidable than they had imagined!
As Cheng Shi thought this, his hands slowly relaxed.
When under someone else’s roof, one must learn to bow their head.
He waited all afternoon but never saw Cheng Chi return to the residence. While paying respects to the Crown Prince, Cheng Shao suddenly collapsed before the Crown Prince’s spirit. The physician said it was due to excessive grief. The Emperor personally ordered the eunuchs to carry Cheng Shao to a warm chamber beside the side hall, where he rested for half a day. The Emperor bestowed a cartload of medicinal herbs and issued a special decree for him to return home to recuperate.As Cheng Jing, the nephew, was a cabinet minister and unable to leave his duties, Cheng Chi escorted Cheng Shao back to Yuqian Hutong. Since Cheng Fen and Cheng Xun were no longer around, and A Bao and A Ren were still too young to understand anything, Cheng Chi took on the responsibility of attending to Cheng Shao at his bedside.
Zhou Shaojin and the others were all greatly startled upon hearing the news.
Once they regained their composure, Chaoyang Gate immediately buzzed with activity.
Zhou Shaojin hurriedly instructed Chunwan and others to pack clean clothes for Cheng Chi, while Madam Qiu called for sedan chairs and rushed to take A Bao and A Ren over. As for Cheng Sheng and Cheng Xiao, even if they didn’t know, they would surely come to inquire about Cheng Shao’s condition once they found out.
Though the servants bustled about, they did so quietly and without commotion.
Cheng Xiao and the others nodded inwardly in approval.
Since they were visiting a patient, Zhou Shaojin entrusted the children to Zhou Chujin and, along with Madam Qiu, Cheng Xiao, Cheng Sheng, A Bao, and A Ren, hurried to Shuangyu Hutong.
The eunuch who had escorted Cheng Shao back had not yet left. Seeing that all the women of the Cheng family who were not in mourning, including even the married daughters, had rushed over, he remarked with some emotion, "It’s rare to see such closeness among you."
Zhou Shaojin’s heart stirred upon hearing this, reminded of the emperor’s recent hardships. She dabbed the corner of her eye with a handkerchief, though there were no tears, and discreetly handed the eunuch a pouch, whispering, "Thank you for your trouble, Father-in-law. This is for your tea—please don’t think it too little. Second Uncle’s household is short on people, so please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality."
The eunuch was momentarily taken aback, then a faint smile touched the corners of his eyes and brows. "I am merely carrying out orders. Lord Cheng is not in serious condition—he is simply overwhelmed with grief, and given his age and lack of close care, he has developed some heart trouble. The imperial physician has already prescribed medicine; you need only brew it according to the prescription. The emperor has instructed Chief Physician Cao of the Imperial Hospital, who will come daily to check Lord Cheng’s pulse."
Before he could finish speaking, another eunuch arrived on horseback, pulling a carriage behind him, and called out breathlessly at the gate, "Imperial decree! Come receive the edict!"
Everyone except the ailing Cheng Shao came out and knelt with Cheng Chi to receive the decree.
The newly arrived eunuch then announced, "The emperor, pitying Lord Cheng’s solitary life with no one to attend to his daily needs, has specially bestowed Aunt Chang from the Qianqing Palace upon Lord Cheng. I have brought her with me. Young Lord Cheng, please arrange a place for Aunt Hongzhen! The emperor awaits my return to the palace to report."
Everyone in the courtyard was stunned.
This was during the national mourning period!
Bestowing a senior palace maid upon Cheng Shao—was she to be considered a concubine or a servant?
If a concubine, Cheng Shao, who followed Daoist practices for health and longevity, had renounced such thoughts since his wife’s passing. If a servant, could someone who had served the emperor be casually ordered about?
Had the emperor, overwhelmed by grief, lost his senses?
Not only the Cheng family but even the two eunuchs thought so.
It was Cheng Chi who reacted first, rising to thank the eunuch delivering the decree and discreetly handing him a red envelope, then casting a meaningful glance at Zhou Shaojin.
With Madam Qiu present, she certainly couldn’t steal the spotlight at such a moment.
She quickly linked arms with Madam Qiu, whispering, "Second Sister-in-law."
Madam Qiu uttered an "oh" and hurriedly went to welcome Aunt Chang as she descended from the sedan chair.
Zhou Shaojin let out a sigh of relief.This Aunt Chang was of medium stature, with fair and delicate skin, an oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, and warm, kind eyes. Her expression was reserved and serene, and her bearing was excellent.
None of this was important.
What mattered was that at first glance, this Aunt Chang appeared to be only about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, but upon closer inspection, traces of hardship could be seen at the corners of her eyes and on her neck. She was at least in her forties.
Whether Cheng Shao treated her as a concubine or a servant, standing by Cheng Shao’s side would not seem too out of place.
Yet this signified the emperor’s favor toward Cheng Shao—even the people around him were carefully chosen to suit him.
Zhou Shaojin turned her gaze toward Cheng Chi.
Just then, Cheng Chi also looked over.
The couple exchanged a glance.
Zhou Shaojin respectfully bowed to Aunt Chang, and only then did Madam Qiu regain her composure, introducing Cheng Zheng and the others to Aunt Chang.
※
Dear readers, this is an extra update for Zhimeng.
With this, all the extra updates for Ling Shou Ling have been completed. It feels so light to be free of debt(>_<) The sky is blue, the trees are green… la la la, la la la…
PS: Please vote with your monthly tickets!
Updates will still be around ten o’clock in the evening.
※(To be continued ~^~)
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