Тhе аrrаngеments for thе Nеw Yеаr wеre thus settled.
Тhаt evening, Сheng Jing staуеd аt Сhаоyang Gаte for dinner and lingered fоr а long timе without mеntiоning rеturning hоme. Оld Маdаm Guо, suspеcting that the соuplе had quarrelеd, avoidеd bringing up Xinglin Аllеу аnd invitеd Сhеng Jing to staу оvernight.
Сhеng Jing did nоt deсline аnd simрly settlеd in Оld Mаdam Guo’s greеn gauze cаbinеt, сlaiming hе wanted to "аttеnd tо" her.
Оld Маdаm Guо shоok hеr hеad with а smile аnd left Chеng Jing to his оwn dеviсes.
Еаrlу thе next morning, Сhenxiang and othеrs attended tо Cheng Jing аs he wеnt tо cоurt, while Zhou Shaojin sent Biyu to discuss the New Year arrangements with Cheng Wei.
As for Shuangyu Alley, Cheng Chi went there in person.
After consulting with Changshi, Cheng Shao happily agreed.
Not only did Madam Qiu agree, but she also joyfully brought Madam Xie along for a visit, smilingly asking if there was anything they could help with. She added, "Now that we don’t have to prepare the New Year’s Eve dinner, we have much less to worry about."
Zhou Shaojin took Madam Xie’s hand and said with a laugh, "No need, no need. Just bring your appetites and enjoy the feast."
Knowing that Chaoyang Gate had plenty of servants, Madam Qiu didn’t stand on ceremony with Zhou Shaojin. From time to time, she brought Madam Xie over to chat with Old Madam Guo.
In the afternoon, Changshi arrived with A Bao and A Ren.
The two children rushed into Madam Qiu’s arms as soon as they entered, paid their respects to her and the others, and then ran off to play with Yun Ge’er.
Changshi watched the children with laughter in her eyes and said apologetically to Old Madam Guo, "These two are just too lively."
Old Madam Guo chuckled and said, "If children aren’t lively now, you’ll regret it when they’re grown and still restless." She then sighed with emotion. "This is their true nature! When they first arrived, even when a plate of snacks was placed right beside them, they swallowed their saliva but didn’t reach for them… You’ve raised them well! This is how children of our family should be."
Changshi and Madam Qiu hurriedly said, "We dare not take credit."
Old Madam Guo smiled and said, "Why not? Good deeds are rewarded. Since you treat them so well, you can look forward to enjoying their blessings in the future."
Everyone chatted, laughed, drank tea, ate snacks, and played cards, thoroughly enjoying themselves until it was time to light the lamps before dispersing.
Madam Yuan didn’t learn about this until Cheng Jing returned home from his duties.
She was so angry that her liver ached for a long while and remained silent for some time.
What kind of clan matriarch would she be if she didn’t participate in ancestral worship or prepare the New Year’s Eve dinner?
Thinking of Zhou Shaojin’s delicate, willow-like figure… she immediately changed her mind.
Fine, let her preside over this year’s ancestral rites and let her experience the hardships for herself.
"Did Mother blame me? Did Second Sister-in-law say anything?" She leaned weakly against a large pillow and said to Cheng Jing, "Whenever I think of Jiashan, I just can’t muster any energy."
She wasn’t actually ill. Feigning illness might seem too obvious, so it was better to call it a "heartache."
Cheng Jing sighed, his expression softening slightly. "Mother isn’t that petty. This year, we’ll have to trouble Fourth Brother’s wife to help prepare the sacrificial offerings. When you see Fourth Sister-in-law, you should still thank her."
"Of course!" Madam Yuan sneered inwardly and continued to lie in bed, comfortably feigning discomfort.
With Old Madam Guo offering guidance and Madam Fan Liu and Nanny Shang assisting, Zhou Shaojin treated all the New Year preparations as something fun. Every day when Cheng Chi returned from his duties, she would tell him everything she had done.Cheng Chi had been quite busy lately. Initially, he was somewhat displeased with Madam Yuan's hands-off attitude, but seeing Zhou Shaojin's enthusiastic talk about the New Year preparations, he thought it wasn't so bad—his little girl would grow up someday and need to learn these sacrificial rituals. Letting her practice now would make her more familiar with them later.
He listened attentively as Zhou Shaojin spoke.
Zhou Shaojin, in turn, found the New Year festivities even more interesting.
News arrived from Yushu Hutong that Zhou Chujin had given birth to a second son. Madam Liao was overjoyed and named the child "Yan'ge." Master Liao Sr., who was far away in Zhenjiang, was also delighted upon hearing the news and wrote a letter saying he would come to the capital to preside over his grandson's hundred-day celebration. Madam Liao was furious upon hearing this and wrote back, telling him to "stay put at home and not come to the capital to embarrass his son, who is now, after all, a seventh-rank official with a promising career." It was said that Master Liao Sr., unable to contain his anger upon receiving the letter, tore it to shreds and sent a servant to scold Madam Liao for "failing to uphold womanly virtues"... The servant, however, dared not actually deliver the scolding and stammered for a long time without clearly explaining what Master Liao Sr. had done...
During Yan'ge's full-month celebration, Zhou Chujin quietly shared these family matters with Zhou Shaojin and worriedly said, "...What if my father-in-law comes to the capital and they start arguing? That would be troublesome!"
As a daughter-in-law, she couldn't take sides.
But ignoring the situation would be even worse.
Zhou Shaojin didn't see this as a problem at all.
While gently patting Yan'ge in her arms and examining his features, she said, "As a daughter-in-law, you have your natal family on one side and your husband's family on the other. Isn't it the same for a son? If Master Liao Sr. and Madam Liao argue fiercely, I imagine Brother-in-law would also lose face. Even if you don't intervene, Brother-in-law would likely step in to mediate, wouldn't he?"
Zhou Chujin's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and she couldn't help but smile as she looked Zhou Shaojin up and down. "You've really grown up, able to help your sister come up with ideas now."
If there was any regret in Zhou Shaojin's two lifetimes, it was that she hadn't been able to help her sister much. Hearing her sister's praise, she felt sweeter than if she had eaten honey and nestled closer to her sister, asking coyly, "Really?"
Zhou Chujin laughed heartily and teased her, "Just a moment ago, I thought you'd grown up, but upon closer look, you're still a little girl."
This provoked a playful protest from Zhou Shaojin.
After eating Laba congee, offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God, sweeping away dust, replacing peach wood charms, and pasting Spring Festival couplets, the Lunar New Year arrived.
The New Year's Eve dinner was held at Chaoyang Gate. After the meal, everyone went together to Xinglin Hutong to pay respects to their ancestors. Early on the first day of the New Year, they dressed according to their ranks and went to the palace to offer New Year's greetings. Upon returning home, Zhou Shaojin and the other womenfolk took a good rest, but Cheng Chi and Cheng Jing still had to pay New Year's visits to their superiors or colleagues.
Fortunately, everyone was in the same situation—no household had the energy to entertain guests one by one. The so-called New Year's visits merely involved writing a greeting card and leaving it at the gatekeeper's lodge of each house.
Chaoyang Gate received twice as many greeting cards this year as last.
Even without asking about outside matters, Zhou Shaojin could sense that Cheng Chi was gradually gaining influence.
On the second day of the New Year, Zhou Shaojin didn't need to visit her natal home and instead stayed home to entertain Cheng Xiao and others who were returning for the customary visit.On the third day of the new year, Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Chi visited Zhou Chujin at Yushu Hutong. On the fourth day, the Earl of Pengcheng invited their family for a spring banquet. On the fifth day, Cheng Chi invited Gu Jiuniao and Yuan Bieyun... With such back-and-forth social engagements, they remained busy until the Lantern Festival ended and the lanterns were taken down, only then did Zhou Shaojin finally catch her breath.
Soon after, a letter arrived from Old Madam Guan of the fourth branch, stating that after spring began, she planned to send Cheng Gao to the capital to pursue his studies, hoping he could take the imperial examination in the next session and see if he could achieve something.
In her previous life, despite such difficult conditions, Cheng Gao had still passed the imperial examination and become a jinshi. How much more so in this life, where he could receive guidance from Cheng Shao and Cheng Chi.
Zhou Shaojin naturally welcomed this warmly. Not only did she write a letter inquiring about the specific travel arrangements, but she also calculated the dates and had Qin Ziji send someone to meet him at Tongzhou Wharf.
As the weather gradually warmed, Jiying noticed Yun Ge’er shedding layers of clothing one by one, so she took him to run around the garden every day.
Xueqiu, like a little tail, followed Yun Ge’er around every day. Sometimes when Zhou Shaojin called it, it would bark a few times at her, come over to circle around, and then quickly return to Yun Ge’er’s feet, rubbing against his legs. It had clearly become Yun Ge’er’s dog.
Old Madam Guo watched and laughed, saying, “This little dog is just like a child. Whoever feeds it and treats it well, it follows.”
Zhou Shaojin chuckled.
Thinking that Cheng Gao would stay at their home when he arrived, she busied herself rearranging the guest room.
Jade hairpin flowers and winter jasmine were hastily planted. The three-bay residence had the east side arranged as the inner chamber, the west side as the study, the central hall as the main room, the east side room as the washroom, and the west side room for the young servant. The rear quarters housed the steward and attendants, with a side door leading to the back passageway of the estate.
Still uneasy, Zhou Shaojin personally directed the maids and matrons to paste windows and hang curtains.
Madam Fan Liu smiled as she brought in hot tea, saying, “Madam, you should rest for a while! I’ll keep an eye on things here! I promise everything will be arranged properly, ensuring Elder Master Gao stays comfortably, just like at home.”
Zhou Shaojin burst into laughter at this.
After Cheng Gao married, his first child was indeed a girl, named “Yuanyuan.” Gu Shiqigu also gave birth to a daughter, named “Fangfang” after Yuanyuan... If they had another girl, would they call her “Lengleng”?
As this thought flashed through her mind, her chest tightened, and she felt nauseous, dizzy, and her vision darkened.
Seeing her pale and unsteady, Madam Fan Liu rushed forward in three quick steps to support Zhou Shaojin, repeatedly asking, “Madam, what’s wrong?”
Zhou Shaojin held onto Madam Fan Liu’s hand and sat down, saying, “I’m fine,” but the heaviness in her heart grew increasingly oppressive, weighing her down and making it hard to breathe.
Sweating profusely, Madam Fan Liu hurriedly said, “Madam, I’ll send someone to fetch a physician for you.”
Zhou Shaojin clutched her chest, taking a while to regain her composure.
Chunwan, whose wedding date had been set and who was busy preparing her dowry, heard the news and came running over. By then, Madam Fan Liu had already helped Zhou Shaojin rest for a while on the reclining chair indoors.
“Perhaps I’ve been too tired these past few days.” Apart from this, Zhou Shaojin couldn’t think of any other reason for her discomfort. She sat up, and the feeling of chest tightness and shortness of breath vanished again. She smiled and said, “Alright, alright, don’t be so nervous.” She then cautioned, “Whatever you do, don’t say anything in front of the Old Madam?” She didn’t want the elderly lady to worry for no reason.
Everyone agreed in unison.
Imperial Physician Cao arrived.Zhou Shaojin was quite surprised and asked Madam Fan Liu, "How did the physician arrive so quickly?"
The servant boy who came with Imperial Physician Cao smiled and said, "Our master happened to be at home, preparing to go out for a stroll, when your steward arrived. The master told me to bring the medicine chest and come directly."
Zhou Shaojin had someone give him a reward. Considering that Imperial Physician Cao was usually difficult to invite, since he was here, it would be good to have a wellness pulse reading. She had everyone in the room withdraw, placed a handkerchief over her wrist, and hid behind the bed curtain for Imperial Physician Cao to take her pulse.
As soon as Imperial Physician Cao placed his hand on her wrist, he smiled. After checking her left hand, he said with certainty, "Congratulations, Madam. It is a joyous pulse."
Zhou Shaojin was stunned.
From the twelfth lunar month until now, Cheng Chi had been leaving early and returning late, hardly ever seen, for nine out of ten days. Who would have thought she would be with child?
"Quickly, quickly invite Imperial Physician Cao to the flower hall for tea," Zhou Shaojin said excitedly.
Madam Fan Liu immediately ran out, saying, "I’ll go and share the good news with the Old Madam."
Dear readers, happy National Day!
Today’s update.
o(n_n)o~
※ (To be continued...)
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