Zhоu Shаоjin сouldn't helр but silеntlу mоurn fоr Cheng Zheng in hеr hеart for а few momеnts.
Сhеng Сhi wаs сurrently vеry busy.
Ever since thе Imрeriаl Grandsоn hаd аskеd him abоut thе Fоurth Рrinсe, hе often staуеd aftеr lessons to сhat. Somеtimes he wоuld аsk whеrе Нuzhоu Рrefeсturе was lосаted, оr how fаr it wаs from Jiaхing. Оther timеs he inquired abоut Xi'an's pорulаtion, hоw much grain it prоduсеd annuаllу, аnd whеthеr Нuguang рrоducеd morе grain than Хi'an. Оссasiоnаllу, hе asked abоut the year Yuan Wеichang pаssed the imрeriаl еxаmination, who his family members were, and what other prominent marital alliances the Yuan family had besides those with the Li and Huang families.
Once, he even asked in a joking tone, "I heard you married your niece. Had you really never met her before the wedding?"
Cheng Chi answered frankly, "Of course I had met her. That's why I agreed immediately when my mother brought up the marriage proposal."
The Imperial Grandson seemed very interested upon hearing this and wanted to continue the conversation, but the senior eunuch serving him coughed lightly, prompting the Imperial Grandson to stop somewhat sheepishly.
In truth, Cheng Chi didn't mind being asked such questions.
Who doesn't get talked about behind their backs?
When he dared to split from the clan back then, he had already anticipated being criticized.
Besides, the Imperial Grandson was only an eleven-year-old child, so it was normal for him to be curious about such matters.
All Cheng Chi could do was ensure his little lady didn't bear any blame.
But perhaps because his attitude was too straightforward, the Imperial Grandson grew even more fond of talking to him. Sometimes, even when it wasn't his lesson, the Imperial Grandson would summon him to ask about this and that, which inadvertently took up his time and often kept him out early and returning late.
Now that the couple finally had time for idle conversation, he didn't want trivial family matters to occupy their time.
"You mentioned a few days ago that you were learning to paint with Yun Ge'er. How's it going?" He sat on the kang, poured a cup of tea for Zhou Shaojin, and smiled, saying, "Later, I'll take a look at your paintings."
Zhou Shaojin's face flushed bright red. She pouted and said, "No, I haven't learned well enough yet. I'll show you my paintings once I've improved."
Yun Ge'er wasn't even two years old yet, and she had some foundation in drawing patterns. When Old Madam Guo casually taught Yun Ge'er to paint, Zhou Shaojin, having nothing else to do, also tried her hand at it. Logically, she should have been better than Yun Ge'er, right? Who would have thought that Yun Ge'er, with a few random dots of his brush and a few strokes, could draw a chick that everyone praised as more interesting than hers?
In front of others, she could only smile and praise Yun Ge'er for being clever, but in front of Cheng Chi, she couldn't help feeling disheartened. "Mother said I hadn't carefully observed what a chick looks like, so my paintings aren't as interesting as Yun Ge'er's... But has Yun Ge'er ever seen what a chick looks like?"
Cheng Chi had also heard about this, which was why he wanted to see what exactly was wrong with Zhou Shaojin's paintings.
Hearing this, he couldn't help but laugh. "Perhaps it's because there are chicks in the aviary."
Zhou Shaojin suddenly understood.
During the New Year, Cheng Rang had given two golden pheasants to Yun Ge'er, which were kept in his room. Yun Ge'er spent his days chasing the two birds around, and Snowball joined in the fun, helping him herd them. At first, the two birds would turn around to peck at Yun Ge'er, but after Snowball joined in, they trembled in fear, flew up to the hibiscus tree, and refused to come down.She had no choice but to tidy up a remote and quiet corner in the northeast of the garden. She named it Bird Song Grove to house the two golden pheasants. Later, Yun Ge'er became so preoccupied with running around with Jiying every day that he had no time to bother the two pheasants. Zhou Shaojin eventually forgot about the matter.
Zhou Shaojin felt somewhat embarrassed.
But Cheng Chi was full of enthusiasm and said, "Let's go take a look."
Zhou Shaojin accompanied Cheng Chi to Bird Song Grove.
Compared to when it only housed two golden pheasants at the beginning, Bird Song Grove had now become quite different.
Not only had common birds like parrots, orioles, pigeons, and mynahs been added, but two red-crowned cranes and two peacocks were also kept there.
Zhou Shaojin marveled repeatedly as she looked around.
She also saw the flock of chicks digging in the soil under the camellia trees.
Xiao Que, who was in charge of Bird Song Grove, had now grown into a tall and slender young man. With a pale face, he murmured to Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Chi, "They were all sent by Third Madame Qin... Young Master Yun came along too... The old madame knew... I thought you knew, madame..."
Third Madame Qin referred to Jiying.
Zhou Shaojin rubbed her forehead.
Ever since becoming pregnant, she had been eating and sleeping, sleeping and eating...
Zhou Shaojin asked, "When were these birds sent over?"
Xiao Que replied, "They were sent over intermittently after the start of spring."
"Are the birds in Bird Song Grove not fed? If they need to be fed, where does the food come from?"
The main reason she hadn't known about the changes in Bird Song Grove was that she hadn't seen its name listed in the household expenses.
Xiao Que said proudly, "Third Madame Qin brought some corn and such. There are wild fruits and small birds in the grove, so Bird Song Grove doesn't incur much expense." After speaking, he glanced timidly at Zhou Shaojin, afraid that she might decide to disband Bird Song Grove.
Zhou Shaojin didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She glanced at the maids and matrons surrounding her and said, "Young Master Yun is still young. If you encounter such matters in the future, you must remember to inform me."
Everyone looked toward Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi's expression was stern.
The maids and matrons hurriedly bowed and acknowledged the instruction.
Zhou Shaojin's expression softened slightly.
Cheng Chi discussed with Zhou Shaojin, "How about keeping the two red-crowned cranes in your room? You can paint them when you have nothing else to do!"
Zhou Shaojin thought this would be too difficult and smiled sheepishly, saying, "I'd better learn to paint chicks along with Yun Ge'er!"
Cheng Chi chuckled and pinched Zhou Shaojin's hand, then had a few chicks caught and raised in Zhou Shaojin's courtyard.
When Yun Ge'er saw this, he exclaimed, "Mother, the chicks will eat your hosta flowers!"
"They won't!" Zhou Shaojin laughed and patted Yun Ge'er's little bottom, asking him, "What have you been up to today?"
Yun Ge'er pouted and said, "I was kicking shuttlecocks with Chenxiang. It wasn't fun at all. Auntie Ji hasn't come for..." He counted on his little fingers, "One day, two days, three days... five days."
Zhou Shaojin chuckled, wondering whether to send someone to check on things at Xizhimen. Qin Ziping personally came to inform Zhou Shaojin that Jiying was already three months pregnant. Because she had always been in good health, she hadn't experienced any symptoms. If it weren't for her maid's reminder, Jiying might not have known even now.
"Congratulations! Congratulations!" Zhou Shaojin was overjoyed and immediately instructed Jixiang to open the storeroom and fetch two boxes of bird's nest for Qin Ziping.Qin Ziping knew that Zhou Shaojin had goods here that couldn’t be bought even with money, so he didn’t stand on ceremony. He accepted the gifts and thanked Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin promptly took Qin Ziping to see Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo was also very pleased.
This was Qin Shouyue’s first great-grandson.
She rewarded them with half a cartload of tonics and fabrics, repeatedly instructing Qin Ziping to take good care of Jiying. She also said that pregnant women often had many thoughts and worries, so he should spend more time with Jiying and be tolerant in all matters, and so on—so much so that even Zhou Shaojin grew envious.
Qin Ziping smiled and thanked Old Madam Guo, then took the gifts back to Xizhimen.
Early the next morning, Jiying came to thank Old Madam Guo for her kindness.
Seeing Jiying’s rosy complexion and light figure, not at all like a pregnant woman, Old Madam Guo nodded repeatedly. She accepted only one bow from Jiying before having Nanny Lu help her sit down in the seat below her own, asking, “When is the due date? Remember to send us word when the time comes.”
Jiying, always poised and gracious, smiled and agreed, saying, “The physician says the due date will be around mid-October. I’ll have to trouble you, Madam, to look after me a little then.”
Old Madam Guo and Zhou Shaojin were both delighted to hear this.
By this calculation, Zhou Shaojin’s child and Jiying’s child would be born around the same time.
Old Madam Guo repeatedly said “Excellent” and gifted Jiying an experienced maidservant from her side, saying she would take care of her during the pregnancy.
Upon hearing that this maidservant had once cared for Zhou Shaojin, Jiying didn’t refuse. She smiled and accepted.
A few days later, the Ji family, having received the news, not only sent gifts and serving maids but also Jiying’s sister-in-law came in person. After paying her respects to Old Madam Guo, she also brought many gifts for Old Madam Guo and Zhou Shaojin.
Old Madam Guo smiled and thanked the Ji family’s eldest madam.
Zhou Shaojin, however, was somewhat disappointed.
In her imagination, the Ji family’s eldest madam should have been a woman of heroic and spirited bearing. Instead, she was gentle, kind, plump, and fair-skinned, looking like an ordinary matron from a wealthy gentry family.
When Jiying found out, she covered her mouth and laughed, saying, “Did you think we were all three-headed and six-armed? I’ll be honest with you—my sister-in-law is from a family well-matched to ours. Their family has a set of small grappling techniques passed down through generations, most suitable for girls to learn. Even if you don’t travel the martial world, learning this set will make dealing with a husband no trouble at all. I was even thinking that if you give birth to a daughter this time, I’d ask my sister-in-law to teach her a few moves, so she won’t be bullied like you.”
Zhou Shaojin felt embarrassed and hurriedly poured tea for Jiying with good intentions.
Jiying couldn’t stop laughing. Taking Yun Ge’er by the hand, she said, “Come, let’s go play in the Aviary.” She added, “I’ve already spoken to my sister-in-law and asked my eldest brother to keep an eye out and find a way to get a few sika deer to raise in the garden. That would be really fun!”
Zhou Shaojin smiled wryly and said, “Wouldn’t that throw the Aviary into chaos?”
Jiying didn’t think so and laughed, “With such a large garden in your home, you should raise more small animals.”
Wouldn’t that be rather inappropriate?
Zhou Shaojin told Cheng Chi about this.
Cheng Chi also didn’t quite agree, saying, “Raising too many birds and beasts means many mosquitoes and insects in summer and a higher risk of illness in spring. But it’s good for Yun Ge’er to be exposed to birds and animals from a young age… Why don’t we set up a manor in Daxing or Wanping to raise some small creatures…”
Zhou Shaojin was taken aback and said, “Are we starting to acquire manors now?”During the division of the family property, everyone knew that apart from this mansion, Cheng Chi had not received much silver. Moreover, maintaining such a large estate was quite costly.
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "I've discussed the matter of Seven Stars Hall with Xiao Zhenhai and Xu Mu. Both of them wanted to take over. However, the elders of the Xiao family disagreed, preferring to abandon everything and start anew in the Central Plains. Xiao Zhenhai had no choice but to give up. Xu Mu will become my disciple in a few days and gradually take over the affairs of Seven Stars Hall... In a few more years, Seven Stars Hall will have nothing to do with us anymore."
This way, the descendants of the Cheng family could lead ordinary, peaceful lives.
Zhou Shaojin was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly, saying, "That's great. Let's acquire some farmland in Daxing or Wanping."
※
Dear readers, here is today's update.
PS: Thank you to the Tieba Zhizhi Fan Alliance, Little Fei Rui for the spirit beast egg, and Diudiu Jianjian for the Langyuan Xianpa.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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