Оld Madаm Guаn's wоrds wеrе certainlу а bit exаggeratеd, but it wаs truе thаt Маdam Wen оf the fifth branch rarely еntеrtainеd guests.
Еvеrуоne burst intо lаughtеr uроn heаring this.
Afterward, Оld Мadаm Guan orderеd lunch to bе served: "...Wе wоn't wаit аnу lоngеr. We cаn аll gathеr рrоpеrly in thе еvening."
Chеng Мian hаd been invited bу the secоnd brаnсh eаrly in the morning, аnd а mеssagе hаd just аrrivеd sауing he wаs kеpt fоr a mеal by thе seсоnd brаnch's mаtriаrсh, sо they neеdn't wait for him.
Zhou Shaojin аnd Zhou Chujin helрed the mаids servе thе dishes but wеre pulled by Madam Mian and pressed onto stools: "There are no outsiders here, no need for such formalities."
The sisters knew their grandmother and eldest aunt were not particularly strict about etiquette, so they smiled and thanked them before sitting down to have lunch together.
The weather was already hot by then, and after drinking tea, everyone felt drowsy. After exchanging a few words, they dispersed.
When Zhou Shaojin woke up, the sun had already begun to set in the west.
She hadn't expected to sleep so soundly and hurriedly asked Shi Xiang, "Has Grandmother started preparing dinner yet?"
"Second Miss hasn't had such a good sleep in a while," Shi Xiang said with a smile. "I was afraid of waking you but also worried about being late for dinner, so I kept an eye on Jia Shu Hall—neither of the young masters has returned yet, so dinner will likely be delayed a bit longer."
Zhou Shaojin then asked about her sister: "...Is she awake?"
"She is!" Shi Xiang replied, serving her tea. "Seeing you still asleep, she went to Madam's place, saying she would accompany her for a few rounds of cards."
Zhou Shaojin nodded, thinking that if Cheng Gao and Cheng Yi had returned, they should first pay their respects to their grandmother. She might as well go to her eldest aunt's place and follow her sister. That would surely be appropriate and also help avoid any awkwardness.
With Shi Xiang's help, she changed into a lake-colored robe with a peony medallion pattern in a subtle weave, styled her dark hair into double buns, adorned it with a silver pearl flower hairpin, and picked up a Xiangfei mud-gold white gauze round fan before heading to Autumn Embrace Pavilion.
Upon entering Autumn Embrace Pavilion, half a pond of lotus flowers greeted her, with lush green leaves and budding lotus tips, creating an elegant scene.
Zhou Shaojin stood there admiring the lotus flowers for a moment before following a maid to the Water Pavilion.
Besides Zhou Chujin, those playing cards with Madam Mian included a personal maid surnamed He and a maid named Xianglian. The four had just finished a round, and young maids were serving tea and snacks. Madam Mian waved to Zhou Shaojin and said, "Come, help me look at my cards. This year's melons are especially sweet—have some more."
Everyone knew she still didn't know how to play cards. As they were all familiar with each other, Madam He and the others didn't stand on ceremony. Xianglian went to instruct a young maid to serve melons to Zhou Shaojin, while Madam He stood up to greet her: "Second Miss, this robe is truly beautiful. Is it made from fabric sent by Uncle?"
Zhou Shaojin couldn't quite remember and responded vaguely.
A young maid rushed in and said urgently, "Madam, the two young masters are here."
Everyone in the room was taken aback.
If Cheng Gao and Cheng Yi had already paid their respects to Old Madam Guan, given the hot weather, she would surely have kept them there to wait for dinner. If they came directly here... it would be improper etiquette, and the two rarely did so... Most likely, something had happened.
Madam Mian hurriedly said, "Why haven't you invited the two young masters in?"
The young maid dashed out.
Zhou Shaojin retreated behind a screen.
Madam Mian and the others hardly noticed such a minor detail, but Zhou Chujin frowned slightly, lost in thought. Cheng Gao and Cheng Yi walked in together.Cheng Gao was in slightly better shape, his attire still neat. But his face was flushed as red as Guan Yu's, while Cheng Yi had clearly drunk far too much. He had to be supported by his brother as he walked, his gaze unfocused, muttering incoherently under his breath. Even from behind the screen, Zhou Shaojin could smell the strong scent of alcohol wafting from him.
Madam Mian was both shocked and anxious, repeatedly exclaiming, "What happened? How could they have drunk so much? The whole family is supposed to have dinner together later—what will the master and the old lady think if they see them like this?" As she spoke, she called out to Xianglian, "Quick, go tell the kitchen to prepare sobering soup."
Cheng Gao said with frustration, "We ran into Cheng Ju and Cheng Lu at the Fifth House, and they insisted we stay for a meal. Uncle Wen kept urging us to drink, and Cheng Nuo joined in, egging us on. We couldn’t refuse. I even helped my younger brother fend off a few cups, but it wasn’t enough. If I hadn’t mentioned that the family would be dining together tonight, we might not have been able to leave at all. Mother, sobering soup probably won’t be enough. I remember you have sobering medicine here—please give some to Second Brother, so he can at least regain some clarity."
It was a festival day, and Madam Mian was worried that her sons’ drunkenness would anger her husband or draw criticism from her mother-in-law for failing to discipline them properly. Upon hearing this, she immediately sent Nurse He to fetch the sobering medicine. Then, together with Cheng Gao, she helped Cheng Yi lie down on her own bed, personally fed him the medicine, and directed the young maids to bring a copper basin and attend to him.
Before long, Cheng Yi began to vomit.
The maids and older servants bustled about, bringing water for him to rinse his mouth, disposing of the mess, and brewing tea—all in a flurry of activity.
Once Cheng Yi had mostly finished vomiting and was considerably more sober, Madam Mian began to scold them: "You know perfectly well what that household is like! Your Uncle Wen, whenever there’s wine, will drag anyone he can into drinking with him. And he drinks slowly—a single meal with him can drag on for one or two hours before he lets anyone go. How could you possibly keep up with him? You should have been more alert. If you knew it would be like that, you should have slipped away earlier instead of staying for the meal. Now you’ve learned your lesson, haven’t you? I wondered why Madam Wen suddenly insisted you stay for dinner—turns out your Uncle Wen was home…"
It was the Dragon Boat Festival, with lanterns and decorations everywhere. Given Cheng Wen’s usual temperament, it was no wonder Madam Mian found it strange that he wasn’t out carousing.
But Zhou Shaojin knew the reason.
In her past life, Cheng Wen’s mistress was pregnant at this time, and he wanted to give her a proper status. He had returned home to discuss it with Madam Wen.
Of course, Madam Wen refused. Not only that, the very next day she took the matter to the Second House’s matriarch, Cheng Xu.
Cheng Xu was annoyed that Madam Wen couldn’t even manage her husband taking a concubine and didn’t want to deal with her. Instead, she summoned Cheng Wen to Chunze Pavilion and made him kneel under the scorching sun for an entire day without food or water, until he nearly fainted.
From then on, Cheng Wen and Madam Wen were completely at odds, their relationship irreparably broken.That mistress not only gave birth to the child, but it was also a boy. Cheng Wen spent all festivals and holidays, except for Qingming and New Year's Eve ancestral worship, with his mistress. That mistress was also a clever woman. When the child grew up, his literacy and studies far surpassed those of Cheng Nuo, born to Madam Wen. Cheng Wen wanted the child to be recognized by the family, causing another uproar. In the end, although the child was not entered into the family register, Cheng Wen transferred most of the family's assets to the child's name. When Cheng Yi went to visit Zhou Shaojin, he spoke of the situation in the Fifth House: "...It's been an empty shell for a long time! Fifth Uncle Wen secretly selling ancestral property is also for that child born outside."
At this moment, Cheng Wen had certainly not yet told Madam Wen, so she could still happily entertain her nephews. When Madam Wen found out in the evening why Cheng Wen was at home, the household would likely explode.
Zhou Shaojin dreaded such matters the most.
Just thinking about it gave her a headache.
Once Cheng Yi could walk again, they went to Jia Shu Hall.
On the way, Cheng Yi said to Zhou Shaojin apologetically, "I'm sorry you had to see such a disgraceful sight."
In the past, Zhou Shaojin would have comforted him with a few words, but now, whenever she recalled Cheng Yi's drunken state, she felt deeply annoyed. She couldn't help but say, "Since you know it's disgraceful, why did you drink so much? Others won't think you're a hero just because you drink a lot. You only make people think you lack self-control and discipline. How can someone like that achieve great things? And why would others take you seriously? You should drink less in the future and not just drink whenever someone urges you. What's the point of that?"
Although her voice was soft, Madam Mian and Cheng Gao, who had been paying close attention to Cheng Yi, heard her clearly.
Madam Mian nodded repeatedly, thinking Zhou Shaojin had grown more sensible with age.
Recalling the fragments of conversation she had overheard in her mother-in-law's room that day, she thought that if Zhou Shaojin could keep Cheng Yi in check, it might not be a bad thing to keep her in the family.
Cheng Gao, reminded of his own drinking habits, felt as though Zhou Shaojin's words were directed at him, and his face flushed slightly.
Cheng Yi, however, didn't think too much about it. He chuckled and eagerly followed behind Zhou Shaojin to Jia Shu Hall.
Old Madam Guan and Cheng Mian couldn't help but scold Cheng Yi a few words. Cheng Yi's attitude in admitting his mistake was excellent, so Old Madam Guan and Cheng Mian didn't press further, only warning him, "If you can't control yourself like this again, you won't be allowed to go out for social engagements anymore."
Cheng Yi repeatedly agreed.
Seeing that it was already late, Old Madam Guan had the maids serve the meal.
Since it was all family, although two tables were set, they were in the same room without any screens.
After eating zongzi, the women followed Old Madam Guan to the courtyard to admire the moon, while Cheng Gao and Cheng Yi were called by Cheng Mian to his study to discuss their studies.
Thus, the Dragon Boat Festival of the eighteenth year of Zhide passed quietly and warmly.
The next day, Cheng Wen's affair erupted.
In her previous life, Zhou Shaojin had only moved within the Fourth House and heard about it afterward.
In this life, Zhou Shaojin was copying scriptures at Cold Green Mountain House with Old Madam Guo.
When Madam Wen wailed and stormed into Ze Lan Courtyard, where the Second House's ancestor Cheng Xu lived, the serving women at Jing'an Study had already whispered the news in her ear.
She learned about the matter earlier than Cheng Jia.
Pan Qing only heard about it from her mother, Cheng Xian, in the afternoon.She asked her mother, "Since the Old Ancestor has already punished Uncle Wen, will she allow that mistress to enter the household afterward? After all, she is carrying the Cheng family's flesh and blood..."
Cheng Xian sneered and said, "If family rules could be changed so easily, at will, what kind of family would that be?"
Pan Qing listened and lowered her head.
Cheng Xian did not see the flickering light in her daughter's eyes.
Cheng Nuo came to Cheng Yi to vent his frustrations: "It's just a woman, why can't my mother tolerate her? Instead of making such a scene that embarrasses everyone, wouldn't it be better to quietly bring her home? That way, Father wouldn't have to wander outside all the time."
Cheng Mian and Madam Mian were a harmonious and respectful couple, a relationship Cheng Yi couldn't quite understand. He could only say, "Our elders have more experience than we have years. How could we presume to comment? You'd better stay out of it. Trust that the Old Ancestor will give your family a proper resolution." He then changed the subject, bringing up matters at the clan school. "Who will take the imperial exams this year? Cousin Pan is returning to our hometown tomorrow, and Elder Brother Lu mentioned taking leave to study at home... Should we see them off?"
Cheng Nuo perked up at this and said, "Great, great! Let's meet at the usual place. I'll host. I went back to my mother's family recently, and my maternal grandfather, grandmother, and uncles all gave me rewards."
※
The extra chapter for 90 pink tickets is still scheduled for around 12 o'clock tomorrow.
o(n_n)o~
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
!!
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