Nаnnу Lu dаrеd nоt respоnd, quiсklу stееring the convеrsаtion towаrd Old Mаdаm Guо's fаvоritе, Yun Ge'er: "Аccording to the little mаid whо cаme tо rероrt, that Jiуing is quitе skillеd in thе wаter—jumрing into the lakе likе a fish. Yоung Master Yun, wеaring a silvеr-red bellуbаnd, wеnt right intо thе wаtеr. His little аrms аnd legs, likе lоtus rоot jоints, werе simрly adоrаble... Wоuld you like tо go see?"
"Gо! Оf сoursе, I'll go!" Old Mаdаm Guо had оriginаllу nоt intеndеd to gо, but uрon hеaring this, shе could nо longеr sit still. Lеаning on Сhеnхiаng's arm, she heаded toward the Watеr Pavilion.
Тhe boаtwomеn rоwed thе boat under the old locust tree stretching over the water, where Zhou Shaojin was sitting in the shade to avoid the sun.
Jiying and Yun Ge'er were having a delightful time playing in the lake, their giggles like silver bells carrying far into the distance.
Seeing this, Old Madam Guo couldn't help but laugh and scold, "Is this how a mother behaves? Be careful not to let our Yun Ge'er get tanned, or you'll have to make it up to me!"
Zhou Shaojin smiled faintly and invited Old Madam Guo onto the boat: "...It's not only cool but also very comfortable."
Old Madam Guo, being straightforward by nature, didn't stand on ceremony. Leaning on the boatwoman's shoulder, she boarded the boat and sat opposite Zhou Shaojin, instinctively dipping her hand into the emerald-green lake water and swaying it gently. She sighed, "This water is truly refreshing."
"Indeed," Zhou Shaojin replied with a smile, seizing the opportunity to tell Old Madam Guo about their wish to move to the Water Pavilion. "A few days ago, Si Lang said it was too hot in the main rooms and wanted to move here to the Water Pavilion. Mother, why don't you move here with us? The Water Pavilion is spacious, and it’s livelier with more people."
"I'm old, and Tingxiang Courtyard suits me just fine," Old Madam Guo declined with a smile. "The breeze here at the Water Pavilion is too cool. If you want to change where you live, go ahead. Just don't drag me along—this old body of mine can't handle your antics!"
Her words left Zhou Shaojin blushing.
But Old Madam Guo clapped her hands and said, "Shaoji, look at our Yun Ge'er!"
Jiying was supporting his little belly, letting him paddle.
Yun Ge'er paddled his limbs swiftly, slowly making his way toward them.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't swim and had never seen Water drifting done this way, finding it utterly strange.
Jiying called out from afar, "Old Madam," "Shaoji," and brought Yun Ge'er paddling over.
Yun Ge'er grabbed the side of the boat, calling out "Grandmother" and "Mother," then turned around to continue paddling, as if afraid Zhou Shaojin or Old Madam Guo would lift him onto the boat.
Everyone burst into laughter.
Old Madam Guo pinched Yun Ge'er's little hand and said with a smile, "Don't worry, your grandmother and mother won't stop you. Go ahead and play."
It was unclear whether Yun Ge'er understood, but he twisted his body and headed straight for the center of the lake.
Jiying had no choice but to laugh and take Yun Ge'er to the white pagoda by the lakeside. It wasn't until the sun set and the weather cooled that the two, attended by maids and older women, came ashore, changed clothes, washed up, and drank hot tea. Cheng Chi returned.
Zhou Shaojin hurried forward to greet him and saw Qin Ziping, who had returned with Cheng Chi.
He respectfully bowed to Zhou Shaojin and said apologetically, "Jiying has a mischievous nature. If she has acted inappropriately, please forgive her, Madam."
Zhou Shaojin smiled and asked, "Have you come to fetch Jiying?"
Qin Ziping nodded sheepishly.Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "Jiying and I got along well back in Nine Prosperities Lane. Her visiting me isn't just something I enjoy—even Old Madam Guo and Yun Ge'er are fond of her. Don't be like those old-fashioned folks who think married women should stay indoors all day, embroidering and cooking!"
"How could I? How could I?" Qin Ziping hurriedly replied.
Zhou Shaojin continued, "In that case, if she ever wants to come visit me in the future, you mustn't say 'no'—this afternoon, Jiying was teaching Yun Ge'er water drifting. Even Old Madam Guo praised her, saying her swimming skills rival any man's!"
Qin Ziping was startled, but seeing both Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Chi looking calm, he relaxed and humbly spoke up for Jiying: "She's just playful. Teaching Young Master Yun is hardly something to boast about..."
Cheng Chi had always worried that Old Madam Guo might spoil Yun Ge'er too much, and that Zhou Shaojin would indulge both the old and the young in everything. Hearing that Jiying was teaching Yun Ge'er water drifting, he thought it might not be a bad thing for Yun Ge'er to spend more time with Jiying—climbing trees, wading in rivers, and the like.
"Then it's settled," he concluded. "If Jiying has free time in the future, she should visit more often. Besides keeping Madam company, she can also play with Yun Ge'er. And you can focus on your duties with peace of mind."
Being a constable in Shuntian Prefecture was no easy task—a single misstep could offend high-ranking officials. If not for Zhou Shaojin's warning that "the Cheng family might be raided and exterminated," Cheng Chi would never have allowed Qin Ziping to become a constable or Qin Zi'an to join the Western Mountain Garrison.
Cheng Chi said to Zhou Shaojin, "Ziping and his wife will stay for dinner later." Then, turning to Qin Ziping, he added, "Come with me!"
Qin Ziping bowed to Zhou Shaojin and followed Cheng Chi to the study.
Cheng Chi asked Qin Ziping, "Last time, Qin Zi'an mentioned that the concubine of the assistant commander in Shanxi Garrison is a distant relative of the Fourth Prince's consort. What have you found out?"
Qin Ziping lowered his voice and whispered, "It's been clarified. She's not a distant relative but a 'thin horse' bought from outside. She was adopted as a foster daughter by a distant uncle of the Fourth Prince's consort and then given to the assistant commander as a concubine... Since she's not a legitimate relative, the two families usually don't interact. She only returns for the distant uncle's birthday celebrations, but whenever she goes back, the Fourth Prince's consort's wet nurse also returns... It's said the assistant commander treats this concubine quite ordinarily, but she is well-liked by the main wife. Moreover, since this concubine entered the household, the assistant commander's family has prospered significantly. Recently, when the assistant commander's daughter got engaged, her dowry amounted to four or five thousand taels of silver..."
In other words, the Fourth Prince might be bribing the assistant commander.
Cheng Chi remained silent for a long while.
For a normal succession to the throne, one only needed to win the emperor's favor. For a palace coup, internal support from powerful eunuchs was necessary to coordinate from within, while external support from the city guard and the garrison troops of the Western Mountain Garrison was required.
If the Fourth Prince were succeeding normally, why would he be associating with people from the Western Mountain Garrison and eunuchs from the Qianqing Palace?
Cheng Chi had a growing suspicion that his earlier speculation was most likely true.In the previous life, the Fourth Prince harmed the Emperor and then intended to forge an edict to ascend the throne. Second Uncle, upon learning of this, would certainly not have agreed, which is why in the previous life, Second Uncle died in the palace... When his body was sent out, with Eldest Brother’s insight, he must have known what had happened... But at that time, he had not yet entered the cabinet... Was he unable to stand up for Second Uncle? Or did he make some kind of deal with the Fourth Prince using Second Uncle’s death?
And Second Uncle, why did he enter the palace?
If his guess was correct, could the death of the Imperial Grandson also have been a man-made disaster?
Thus, could this be why the Emperor was so wary of the Cheng family?
A bolder thought surfaced in Cheng Chi’s mind.
He felt somewhat agitated.
He recalled the Imperial Grandson’s dark yet bright eyes, like obsidian.
He looked like an exceptionally intelligent child.
He was very interested in the mathematics Cheng Chi taught and quickly grasped the relationships between numbers... He did not seem like someone destined to die young at all!
Cheng Chi shook his head lightly, suppressing his fondness for the Imperial Grandson in his heart, and instructed Qin Ziping, “You and Zi’an continue to find ways to thoroughly investigate the ancestors and backgrounds of those people in the Western Mountain Garrison. For now, leave the Imperial Guards alone. I will ask Second Uncle about the Imperial Guards’ affairs; he should be very clear on the matter.”
Qin Ziping respectfully acknowledged the order.
Cheng Chi said, “When you have free time, let Jiying come to the house to visit. If there is any news you cannot conveniently convey, you can also have Jiying pass a message to the Madam. Also, have you made any progress in finding the people I asked for?”
He wanted to find a few twelve- or thirteen-year-old children who appeared clever to infiltrate the Eastern Palace.
It would be impossible for them to serve the Imperial Grandson closely, but they could be placed in positions such as outer courtyard sweeping or stable work, allowing them to report daily events in the Eastern Palace to him in a timely manner.
He had previously sent a few people, but due to the Crown Prince’s death, those children were sent out of the palace. He had no choice but to find another group to send in.
Qin Ziping said, “There are no suitable candidates…” He suggested, “Could we look among the eunuchs?”
“That’s unlikely,” Cheng Chi pondered. “Eunuchs have different goals from ours. If they can be swayed merely by gold and silver, they may not serve us wholeheartedly. In such matters, it’s better to have none than to risk chaos. Take it slowly; we don’t want a good thing to turn into a bad one.”
Qin Ziping nodded.
A servant boy announced from behind the curtain that dinner was ready: “The Madam invites the Master and Lord Qin to dine.”
The two halted their discussion and went to the inner courtyard.
As they were all close acquaintances, everyone sat together at the table for the meal.
Yun Ge’er was very fond of Jiying. During the meal, he picked up his favorite meatball to give to her, but his hand was unsteady. The meatball fell onto the table, and in his haste, he grabbed it with his hand and tried to stuff it into Jiying’s mouth.
Zhou Shaojin was shocked and hurriedly tried to stop him gently.
Jiying, however, unconcerned, swallowed the meatball and smiled at Yun Ge’er, saying, “It’s delicious.”
Yun Ge’er was so delighted that his eyes curved into tiny crescents.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but laugh, wiping Yun Ge’er’s hands and softly explaining the rules to him.
Jiying quickly interjected, “He’s still young; you don’t need to be so strict! Besides, he meant well. You can teach him properly when he’s a bit older.”
“But Yun Ge’er is already past his first birthday,” Zhou Shaojin felt that since Yun Ge’er could walk, jump, and speak, it was time to start teaching him rules.Cheng Chi frowned and glanced at Jiying.
Just moments ago, he had thought she was quite sensible, but it turned out she was even more indulgent with children than Shaojin.
"Don't speak while eating, and don't talk while sleeping," he said unhappily. "Eat!"
Everyone fell silent.
Jiying was furious, but when Zhou Shaojin saw her out, she couldn't help saying to her, "You really shouldn't invite me for meals anymore. Every time I see Cheng Zichuan, I feel a pain in my chest. If you really want to invite me, do it when he's not home or when men and women need to dine separately. I don't think I ate enough today—I'll have to eat a bit more when I get back."
Jiying and Cheng Chi truly were natural adversaries.
"The kitchen made some pastries. I'll have Chunwan pack some for you!" Zhou Shaojin said apologetically. "Next time, come earlier and have lunch here."
That way, Jiying could also return earlier to prepare dinner for Qin Ziping.
Jiying didn't stand on ceremony with Zhou Shaojin. She took the pastries and, with Qin Ziping supporting her, got into the sedan chair.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but smile and went back to tell Cheng Chi about it.
Cheng Chi was reading a book. He lifted his gaze from the scroll in his hand and said, "Isn't that perfectly normal?"
Zhou Shaojin gossiped excitedly, "Think about it—with Jiying's excellent martial arts skills, does she really need someone to help her into a sedan chair? Yet one of them naturally offered support, and the other naturally accepted it. It shows how good their relationship is!"
※
Dear readers, here's today's update.
o(n_n)o~
OpenNovel