Сhеng Shао, hоwеver, had nо intеntiоn оf bеcoming so сlоse with the Еarl of Реngсhеng's fаmilу.
Thosе with military achievemеnts аnd schоlars wеrе nоt оn the sаmе раth.
Оld Mаdam Guo, howеvеr, had а different pеrspeсtive. She sаid, "Тhе Еаrl оf Рengchеng is а deсеnt mаn. Thе reаsоn their familу vаlues уou so much is simрly becаusе thеy hоpe yоu саn teасh thеir сhildrеn tо reаd; thеy hаve nо other intеntions." Shе аddеd, "What wоmаn wоuldn't wish fоr a maternаl family? I think you should first аsk Chang-shi abоut this matter аnd seе whаt she thinks."
Nоw that Aunt Chang was about to marry into the family, it would be inappropriate to continue calling her "Aunt."
Cheng Shao thought it over and felt Old Madam Guo's words made sense. After all, this was Chang-shi's affair, and most ordinary women would likely be willing to secure such a marriage connection.
Upon hearing this, Chang-shi asked Cheng Shao, "Master, you probably don’t like this idea, do you?"
Cheng Shao replied awkwardly, "Is it that obvious?"
Chang-shi smiled, her lips pressed together, and said, "It’s written all over your face!"
Cheng Shao explained, "I just find it troublesome! It’s not for any other reason."
Chang-shi nodded and smiled, saying, "I know. Master has always stayed out of court affairs. It wouldn’t be good if the Emperor became displeased because of me. Please don’t worry about this matter. I’ll go see Zhou-shi later. Didn’t she send someone to inquire about my family? I’ll reply to the Peng family, saying that my relatives have already been found and will arrive in the capital soon. I appreciate the Peng family’s kindness and will go tomorrow to kowtow and thank Lady Pengcheng. Even if we cannot form a formal kinship, we can still interact as normal relatives. I only hope Lady Pengcheng won’t look down on me!"
Cheng Shao was stunned and took a long moment before saying, "I thought you had been in the palace for so long that you might not be well-versed in such social matters. I never expected you to be so clever..."
A faint blush appeared on Chang-shi’s face as she said, "What could be more complicated than palace affairs? Master, rest assured, I won’t offend Lady Pengcheng or put Old Madam Guo in a difficult position because of this."
Cheng Shao nodded, viewing Chang-shi in a new light.
When Zhou Shaojin learned of Chang-shi’s thoughts, she was also very surprised. She said, "What a coincidence—we’ve already found your relatives. However, the old master and old mistress passed away one after the other twenty years ago. You still have a younger brother who followed in his father’s footsteps and now runs a sundry goods shop. Though the shop is small, business is thriving. He has two sons and one daughter, with two grandsons, one grandson-in-law, and one granddaughter-in-law. When he heard you had left the palace and were about to marry, Uncle Chang burst into tears on the spot. He said he would bring his wife and children to see you off at your wedding. I still have a house on Yuqian Lane, don’t I? It’s usually empty. When Uncle Chang arrives, he can stay there."
Chang-shi could also prepare for her wedding there.
Hearing this, her eyes welled up with tears, and she choked out, "I never thought he would still remember me. He was only five or six years old when I entered the palace..."
"Then you’ll be reunited!" Zhou Shaojin said with a smile. "I heard Second Uncle has set the wedding date for the second day of the fifth month. There isn’t much time left. If you think this arrangement is acceptable, we can choose an auspicious day in the next couple of days. I’ll help you move to Yuqian Lane for a while. When Uncle Chang arrives, you can talk with him."
Chang-shi nodded repeatedly, saying thank you over and over.
A hint of hesitation flashed across Zhou Shaojin’s face.
Chang-shi quickly asked, "What’s wrong?""It's nothing!" Zhou Shaojin hurriedly replied, "I was just thinking about what you mentioned earlier—the Peng family being so enthusiastic, all for the sake of having Second Uncle teach their children... A few days ago, I was talking with Zheng Jie'er and Xiao Jie'er about how impressive the Cheng family school in Jinling used to be! Anyone who heard of it would give it a thumbs-up! Now that we've moved to the capital and the family's children are growing in number, I was wondering if we could establish a Cheng family school here in the capital, just like we had back in our hometown in Jinling. We could invite renowned scholars to teach, so that the Cheng family's younger generation could receive guidance from esteemed teachers, and even children from poorer families could learn to read a few words."
Chang-shi was surprised and said, "You're planning to start a family school?"
"Nothing's been decided yet," Zhou Shaojin said with a smile. "This isn't a simple matter. We'll have to discuss it with the elders before making a decision. But if the family school does come to fruition, we could also accept children from relatives and friends."
That way, the Earl of Pengcheng's family's problem would also be solved.
It would spare the Earl of Pengcheng's family from having to send gifts to Shuangyu Hutong every time their children wanted to ask Cheng Shao about his studies, and from being too timid to speak a word when they met him, as if mice meeting a cat. The Earl of Pengcheng's household would also no longer have to scheme to get Cheng Shao to tutor their children.
Lady Pengcheng wouldn't have to insist on adopting Chang-shi as her goddaughter, and with Lady Pengcheng's goal achieved, there would be no risk of offending her.
Having served in the Qianqing Palace for so many years, Chang-shi was no simple person. She immediately understood Zhou Shaojin's meaning and said, "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"The family school still lacks good teachers," Zhou Shaojin said with a bright smile. "It would be wonderful if Second Uncle could recommend a few people."
If it was about this matter, it would have to wait until she entered the household.
Chang-shi smiled slightly but did not reply.
Yet Zhou Shaojin understood that Chang-shi had tacitly agreed.
When she met Old Madam Guo, she told her about this idea.
Old Madam Guo was first surprised by Zhou Shaojin and the others' plan, then pleased that Chang-shi was willing to give up the opportunity to become goddaughter to Lady Pengcheng for Cheng Shao's sake.
The old lady chuckled happily and said, "Let's take this slowly. We can set up the school at Chaoyang Gate. That way, it'll be convenient for Yun Ge'er to study in the future. But you must also work harder and give Yun Ge'er a few more younger siblings. Otherwise, such a fine school would go to waste."
Zhou Shaojin blushed and murmured her agreement.
Old Madam Guo was very pleased and called Madam Yuan and Madam Qiu over to discuss Cheng Shao's wedding: "The results will be announced at the end of March, the Junior Scholar Candidate exams will be in April, and by the end of the month, it'll be Yun Ge'er's first birthday. Then in May, his Second Granduncle will get married, so he can relax a bit and enjoy a good drink."
"But the results haven't been announced yet?" Madam Yuan looked somewhat anxious and said, "I showed the essays Jiashan wrote to his uncle, who said they were moderate and orthodox... I'm afraid he won't get a good ranking."
Old Madam Guo glanced at her but said nothing, instead turning her gaze to Madam Qiu and saying, "Your elder sister-in-law is busy with Jiashan's affairs, so let's not trouble her. In two months, it'll be Yun Ge'er's first birthday. You must come and help Shaojin then."
"Of course," Madam Qiu replied with a smile, nodding repeatedly.A young maid came in to report, "Master Zheng and Master Pan from Nine Prosperities Lane request an audience!"
They were cousins who had come to the capital together for the imperial examinations. They had rented a small courtyard in an inn not far from the examination hall. When they first arrived in the capital, they had come to pay their respects to Old Madam Guo, but she had refused to see them on the grounds that Cheng Chi was not at home. After that, Cheng Zheng and Pan Zhuo had not come again. Now that the examinations were over, they had returned.
Madam Yuan twisted her handkerchief into a tight ball.
Old Madam Guo frowned and asked, "What are they here for?"
The young maid replied cleverly, "The two masters said they were busy studying earlier and couldn't come to pay their respects to you, Madam. Now that the examinations are over, they have come specifically to inquire after your well-being."
"Tell them I am old and no longer receive guests. Please ask them to leave!" Old Madam Guo said indifferently, then instructed Nanny Lu, "If they refuse to leave, go and fetch Jiashan. I don't want to see anyone from the third branch!"
Nanny Lu respectfully replied, "Yes," and withdrew with the young maid.
Old Madam Guo fell silent for a moment before letting out a long sigh.
Madam Yuan's expression brightened considerably.
Zhou Shaojin and Madam Qiu couldn't say much, but Shaojin was curious about Cheng Zheng's marriage.
In her previous life, Cheng Zheng had been something of a rare commodity. He had remained unmarried until after he passed the provincial examination, at which point he discussed marriage and eventually married the daughter of Wang Jian, the Vice Minister of Personnel, gaining an extremely influential wife's family.
If the Cheng family had not been raided, he would have been a winner in life.
Now, Cheng Zheng already held the title of a provincial graduate, but she didn't know whether he was married or not.
That evening, while whispering with Cheng Chi under the covers, Zhou Shaojin asked him, "Is Cheng Zheng married?"
"I don't know," Cheng Chi replied absentmindedly, engrossed in a book he was reading.
Shaojin tilted her head to look at the book's cover, which was plain blue paper with nothing written on it.
Cheng Chi explained, "It was written by Yang Shoushan and published with funding from a country squire in Shandong. It's about the hydrology of Hebi. Apparently, he plans to spend twenty years traveling across the nine provinces to compile a hydrological atlas."
"I never expected him to have such ambitions!" Shaojin was quite surprised and felt somewhat conflicted.
If he hadn't gotten involved with Qu Yuan, would the outcome have been different?
However, Qu Yuan was his superior, so it was probably difficult for him to break free from him.
Shaojin smiled and asked, "Did he send you this book?"
"No," Cheng Chi replied with a smile. "The country squire who helped him publish the book sent a copy to Second Brother. Knowing I'm interested in such things and that I once served under Yang Shoushan, Second Brother had it sent to me when he wrote to Mother to assure her of his safety." He closed the book and asked with a smile, "Why are you suddenly asking about Cheng Zheng's marriage?"
Shaojin told him her thoughts, saying, "...That's why I wanted to know."
Cheng Chi simply said, "Oh," and didn't say anything more. The two then extinguished the lamp and went to sleep.
The next day, when Cheng Chi returned from his official duties, Shaojin helped him change his clothes. Suddenly, he said, "Cheng Zheng isn't married yet. However, it seems he wants to marry the daughter of Vice Minister of Personnel Wang Jian and asked Eldest Brother to act as a matchmaker for him, but Eldest Sister-in-law refused."
Shaojin was surprised and asked, "Why would he want to marry Vice Minister Wang's daughter?"
In her previous life, Cheng Zheng had married Wang Jian's daughter.
But back then, he was studying at Apricot Grove Lane, had Cheng Jing to represent him, and was a young provincial graduate—it could be considered a well-matched marriage.In this life, his father was merely a commoner; though a young provincial graduate, he was far from matching the Wang family's social standing.
"It seems he inquired among our family's marital connections," Cheng Chi said dismissively. "The Wang family is related by marriage to the Hong family. After he passed the provincial examination, he invited Madam Hong to propose the match, but the Wang family politely declined. Then, hearing from someone that my elder brother was on good terms with Wang Jian, he wanted to ask my elder brother to intervene."
In his previous life, his marriage proposal had been brought forward by Madam Hong.
In this life, it was rejected.
Was it because the Nine Prosperities Lane had now split into separate clans?
Too much had changed in this lifetime!
※
Dear readers, today's update.
O(∩_∩)O~
Corrected typos...
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel