Мin Jiа dеcided tо stаnd bу аnd dо nothing.
A yоung mаid hurriedly сame lооking fоr hеr, sауing, "Old Mаdam and Fourth Madam аrе herе."
Now it wаs imроssiblе to аvоid thеm!
Мin Jiа steеled herself аnd wеnt to thе second gаte to wеlcomе Оld Маdаm Guо аnd Zhou Shaоjin.
"Whаt eхасtly is gоing on?" Оld Мadam Guо shоt a shаrp glancе at Min Jia аnd аskеd, "Wherе is Eldest Young Маstеr? Wherе is Jiаshаn?"
Whо wоuld hаve thоught thаt Mаdam Yuаn, who dotеd on hеr sоn аs if he wеrе thе аpple оf her eye, would аctually rеsort to viоlenсе when Сheng Xu defied her!
Min Jia couldn't help but grumble inwardly, but she dared not show the slightest hint of it in front of Old Madam Guo. Instead, she lowered her head respectfully and said, "We've already sent word to Father-in-law, but he hasn't returned yet. My husband and mother-in-law are in the study... We didn't feel it was our place to say anything..."
Old Madam Guo nodded, feeling a chill in her heart.
Because her mother-in-law had lost her temper and argued with her husband, and not wanting to offend anyone while also recognizing the seriousness of the matter—unable to let the argument continue but fearing to get involved—she stood outside to avoid the storm... Although this was the wisest course of action, Old Madam Guo thought of how Zhou Shaojin would recklessly intervene whenever something involved Cheng Chi, and suddenly felt a surge of resentment toward such wisdom.
Meanwhile, Min Jia, recalling the earlier conversation between mother and son, hurriedly called out through the curtain, "Grandmother is here," and lifted the curtain.
Zhou Shaojin hesitated for a moment but did not enter.
Madam Yuan was so angry she didn't know what to say. The ruler lay discarded on the floor as she sat alone on a nearby armchair, her eyes red.
Cheng Xu knelt before Madam Yuan, his hair slightly disheveled, his expression cold. He wore a blue Hangzhou silk robe, and no external injuries were visible.
Old Madam Guo hurriedly went to help Cheng Xu up, her heart aching. Turning her head toward Madam Yuan, she said, "He is already a married man with scholarly achievements. Even if you must discipline him, you cannot beat him like a child who knows nothing of the world! Get up now. You are an educated man. Between heaven, earth, ruler, parents, and teacher, how could you anger your mother? Whatever needs to be said, say it properly! Cultivate oneself, regulate the family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world—if a man cannot even manage household affairs, how can he handle matters of the court? You are no longer a child. You should know what to say, what not to say, when to speak, and when to remain silent..."
Standing outside the room, Min Jia looked at Zhou Shaojin with surprise, unable to help but study her anew.
She wore a lake-blue plain robe, adorned only with treasure-flower patterns along the collar, cuffs, and hem. Her face was delicately powdered, her eyes bright and clear, more radiant than the spring sunlight.
What expression would she wear if she knew Cheng Xu had given up the Junior Scholar Candidate exam for her sake?
Min Jia wondered.
Zhou Shaojin, however, took a few steps back and whispered to her, "A man's dignity is important. I won't go in."
By convention, Zhou Shaojin was her aunt. If Zhou Shaojin didn't enter, someone should accompany her. As it happened, Min Jia also didn't want to go in—she had no desire to hear the unpleasantness between Cheng Xu and Madam Yuan. Lowering her voice, she said, "Aunt is right. Shall I accompany you to the tea room for a cup of tea?"
Zhou Shaojin nodded.
Whether Cheng Xu was resolutely refusing to take the Junior Scholar Candidate exam or had spoken rashly in a moment of anger, such a significant matter would surely draw Cheng Jing, Cheng Chi, and even Cheng Shao to persuade him. She had no intention of getting involved.The two went to the tea room, where Min Jia instructed her maid to bring out the tea set and personally brewed gongfu tea for Zhou Shaojin. "...The tea produced in our Fujian region is all large-leaf tea, and the tea leaves also grow on trees, unlike the tea in Jiangnan, which grows on low, short shrubs. That's why the tea from our area is more durable for multiple infusions—many can be brewed seven or eight times, and each infusion has a different flavor. Since Auntie rarely visits Apricot Grove Lane, why not try the tea I've brewed?"
"Thank you!" Zhou Shaojin smiled and exchanged pleasantries with her.
Soon, hurried footsteps and the loud announcements of servants echoed in the courtyard: "The Eldest Master has returned!"
"Second Elder Master has arrived!"
"Fourth Master has arrived!"
Min Jia smiled bitterly and apologized to Zhou Shaojin, "For my husband's sake, I've inconvenienced everyone!"
Zhou Shaojin smiled but said nothing.
Between her and Min Jia, the most they could discuss were trivial matters like food, clothing, and daily necessities. Topics like this were best avoided.
The matter dragged on until dusk. Cheng Jing, Cheng Chi, Cheng Shao, and Old Madam Guo took turns trying to persuade Cheng Xu, but no matter what they said, Cheng Xu only had two words in response: "I want to serve outside the capital."
All of them could not hide their disappointment.
Finally, Cheng Chi said, "Anyway, there are still a few days before the Junior Scholar Candidate exam. Let's register him first."
If he really didn't want to take the exam, they could find an excuse later.
But if they didn't register him now, it would be too late if he regretted it later.
Fortunately, the Cheng uncles, nephews, and brothers were all scholars who had passed the imperial examinations at both levels. In the court, they had connections—either fellow candidates, classmates, or friends of friends—so they could find a way to register Cheng Xu without him having to appear in person.
Unexpectedly, Cheng Xu, who had remained silent all along, suddenly flared up, veins bulging on his forehead and his eyes reddening. "I don't want to stay in the capital, I don't want to stay in this family. Why don't you understand? I don't want you to register for me, I don't want you to pull strings or use backdoor connections for me!"
The room fell silent.
Cheng Chi's expression turned stern as he said coldly, "Are you trying to tell us that you don't want to rely on the family's power and have decided to carve out your own path with nothing but your bare hands?"
What difference was there between that and renouncing the family?
"No, no," Cheng Xu said, tears glistening in the corners of his eyes. "How could I not repay my parents' nurturing kindness? How could I forget the family's cultivation? But I really don't want to stay in the capital anymore. I don't want to make my mother sad—she always dreams of me achieving the triple honors in the imperial examinations, of me becoming a grand councilor, of me leaving my name in history... If I can't do it, she becomes grief-stricken and desperate, weeping and sobbing, telling me to do this, telling me to do that, as if my entire existence is just for achieving the triple honors, for becoming a grand councilor, for leaving my name in history... Anything unrelated to these goals, she stops me from doing, forces me to give up... I don't want to live like this anymore." As he spoke, he looked pleadingly at Cheng Chi. "Uncle Chi, you once said that if I passed the imperial examinations, I could do many things! I don't ask for much—I only want to serve outside the capital! I want to leave this place so my mother won't look at me with sorrow every time she sees me. Rather than staying in the capital like this, I'd rather go far away. When she grows old, I can return to the capital to fulfill my filial duties or bring her to my post...""What did you say?" Madam Yuan covered her chest, her eyes wide open as she stared at her son in disbelief. "Are you saying that I forced you to grow up and become accomplished? Is this how a son speaks to his mother? How could you say such things? I urged you to strive for success, and you actually think I was coercing you?" Her voice grew louder and more agitated as she spoke. "Let's go to your uncle and have him judge this! I devoted myself to teaching you to become a proper person, and you think I was harming you... Are you even human?" She stepped forward, raising her hand to slap Cheng Xu.
Cheng Chi swiftly intercepted her, saying, "Eldest sister-in-law, is he still at an age where a slap will make him obedient?"
Madam Yuan froze for a moment before tears began to fall. She cried, "What sin have I committed? Who have I worked so hard for?"
Cheng Shao, Cheng Jing, and Old Madam Guo had already understood Cheng Xu's meaning.
Cheng Jing's face turned ashen.
Cheng Shao asked Cheng Xu, "Do you know what you are doing?"
Cheng Xu replied calmly and peacefully, "I do. If I don’t participate in the selection for Junior Scholar Candidate, I cannot enter the Hanlin Academy and will have no chance of joining the Grand Secretariat. Even so, I still wish to serve in a provincial post.
"Since childhood, Mother has told me to study—that studying would bring good food, that studying would make me a good child, that studying would be an act of filial piety. I just want to know whether I truly enjoy studying or not."
Cheng Jing glanced at Madam Yuan.
Madam Yuan, as if scalded by his gaze, became hysterical: "Why are you looking at me? Did I do something wrong by making him study..."
"Enough!" Cheng Jing shouted, cutting off Madam Yuan. Suppressing his anger, he glanced at Cheng Xu and said to Cheng Chi, "Tomorrow, go and register him for the Junior Scholar Candidate selection. Let him think it over carefully for a few days. If he truly decides not to take the exam, then let him be. Consider it as if I never had this son. Don’t talk about filial piety in my old age—just go live your own life. Without you, the Cheng family still has Cheng Rang, Yun Ge'er, A Bao... It won’t fall into ruin just because you’re gone!"
In the end, he still intended to force Cheng Xu to take the Junior Scholar Candidate exam.
Old Madam Guo sighed, feeling dizzy and unsteady on her feet.
Cheng Chi hurried forward to support Old Madam Guo, whispering, "Where is Shaojin? I’ll send someone to fetch her right away."
"Don’t bother," Old Madam Guo said wearily. "She is trying to preserve some dignity for Jiashan. Why go against her good intentions?"
Cheng Chi naturally understood, but with Old Madam Guo feeling unwell and Zhou Shaojin not by her side, he feared his mother might have thoughts, so he had asked first.
"Second Uncle," Old Madam Guo said, not looking at Cheng Chi but addressing Cheng Shao, "let’s go back. Jiashan is no longer a child; he can decide his own affairs."
Cheng Shao sighed helplessly and bowed to Old Madam Guo, indicating that he would follow her instructions.
Old Madam Guo walked out without another word.
Cheng Xu called out, "Grandmother."
Old Madam Guo replied indifferently, "Once you’ve made your decision, let me know." Then she walked out without looking back.
A maid waiting at the door had already informed Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin and Min Jia hurried out of the tea room.
Seeing Cheng Chi supporting Old Madam Guo and Cheng Shao following them out of the hall, Zhou Shaojin quickly stepped forward to assist Old Madam Guo.Min Jia saw them off.
Madam Yuan's sobbing came from inside the room: "How can you say that? Is all this my fault? You should speak with a clear conscience..."
Min Jia pretended not to hear and quietly quickened her pace.
After finally sending off Cheng Shao and the others, she was about to turn back with a sense of relief when a servant from the gate ran over and said, "Madam, Madam, someone has sent you an invitation."
Ever since Cheng Xu passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, more and more people had been sending her invitations specifically.
She casually had her maid take it, and it wasn't until she returned to her room in the evening that she remembered the invitation, fearing there might be something urgent, she hurriedly opened it.
The signature read "Cheng Xiangqing" Cheng Lu.
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Dear readers, today's update!
O(∩_∩)O~ (To be continued ~^~)
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