Uроn hеаring Zhоu Shaojin's wоrds, Сhеng Хiаo covеrеd her mouth with а handkerсhiеf аnd bеgаn wеeping silеntly again.
Zhou Shaojin аnd Мadаm Qiu eхсhаngеd a glаnсе, bоth sеeing hеlplessness in еаch оther's eyеs.
Originallу, Cheng Хiао hаd bееn thе best-marriеd аmong thе Сhеng sisters.
Нer husbаnd wаs her own соusin, her mоther-in-law her оwn aunt, and the соuрle hаd met beforе mаrriаge, bоth fоnd оf еасh othеr. Аlthough thе Yuan fаmily was а prоminеnt сlan, shе hаd nоt suffеred the slightest hаrdship since marrying intо it.
But now... cаught in the middle, shе had bесomе the most distressed one.
"If you want to cry, just have a good cry," Zhou Shaojin gently patted Cheng Xiao's back and said softly, "After crying, you must pull yourself together. Although the Cheng family is your natal home, and a married woman can only stand firm in her husband's family if her natal home is strong, you cannot turn against your husband's family because of your natal home—after all, that is where you will spend your life. You also have children; you cannot simply ignore them, can you? When you return, it's best not to say anything. Privately, try to sound out your husband Yuan Ming's attitude. If Yuan Ming shows no concern for you at all, then act as if he doesn't exist and live well, focusing on raising your children. Your eldest uncle may have gotten into trouble this time, but that doesn't necessarily mean he will fall. Besides, there are still your second uncle and fourth uncle. Even if your second and fourth uncles are unreliable, hasn't your younger brother also entered officialdom? As long as the Cheng family has someone capable of upholding the family's reputation, the Yuan family won't dare to mistreat you. If Yuan Ming cares for you but is powerless to resist under the weight of 'filial piety,' you should still talk to him properly. Even if he cannot stand up and speak for you when you are in difficulty, he should at least understand your predicament and show concern for you..."
As she spoke these heartfelt words, Cheng Xiao, who had been crying, stopped weeping. She opened her bright eyes, cleansed by tears, and stared at Zhou Shaojin, her face full of astonishment.
Zhou Shaojin paused slightly in her tone, puzzled, and asked, "What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"
A trace of unease flickered in her voice.
"No, no," Cheng Xiao hurriedly replied, "I just didn't expect Auntie to advise me like this... I thought Auntie would..." She struggled to say, "tell me to just endure it..."
Isn't that how many women have lived their lives?
In her past life, Zhou Shaojin might have chosen to endure, but now that she knew endurance was futile, she hoped Cheng Xiao could choose a path that would make her life more comfortable.
She smiled somewhat sheepishly and explained gently, "Although we women are delicate, we also help men bear and raise children and take care of their daily lives. We shouldn't have to endure everything in silence because of that, should we?"
Cheng Xiao nodded repeatedly and said, "Auntie, you've spoken what's in my heart. I'm just angry that Shiliang didn't stand up for me. Now, thinking back, he was also in a difficult position... When we came, he even tried to talk to me, but I ignored him..." As she spoke, her eyes began to moisten again.
Shiliang was the courtesy name of Cheng Xiao's husband, Yuan Ming.
How could one simply let go of one's beloved husband?
Zhou Shaojin comforted her, "Then it's even more important to clarify things. Otherwise, if the couple grows distant because of this, how unfortunate would that be!"
Cheng Xiao nodded and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes."Younger Aunt is right," said Madam Qiu, who had been listening all along, with a long sigh. "We women should follow our husbands, but we must not place ourselves in dire straits. This matter was originally the Yuan family's fault. You should go and speak with your husband. If he sides with the Yuan family, your Second Uncle will certainly support you. He won’t let you be bullied by the Yuan family."
Hearing Madam Qiu say such things, everyone was somewhat surprised.
"What are you all looking at?" Madam Qiu laughed. "Am I not a woman? Can’t I stand by your side?"
"Second Aunt!" Cheng Xiao said gratefully to Madam Qiu.
"Second Sister-in-law!" Zhou Shaojin felt a bit embarrassed.
Cheng Sheng, however, stepped forward and hugged her mother, resting her head on her mother’s shoulder. She said sweetly, "Mother, you’re so good!"
"Would I not be good if I didn’t stand by your Second Cousin?" Madam Qiu teased, giving Cheng Sheng a gentle push. "Sit properly now. You’re already a mother yourself, yet you still lack manners."
Cheng Sheng sat up straight with a smile.
Madam Qiu then advised Cheng Xiao, "Don’t be sad anymore. I believe your husband isn’t the kind of unreasonable person..."
Before she could finish her sentence, a young maid announced from behind the curtain, "Second Madam, Fourth Madam, Second Young Miss, Third Young Miss, Second Young Master has come to pick up Second Young Miss."
The people in the room exchanged surprised glances.
Madam Qiu’s face was already beaming with a smile. She nudged Cheng Xiao and said happily, "Look, your husband has come in person to fetch you. He must still care about you. Hurry back now."
Cheng Xiao’s face flushed red, caught in a dilemma of whether to leave or stay.
Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Sheng quickly chimed in with Madam Qiu’s words, urging with smiles, "Hurry back now. When Yi Ge’er’s full-month celebration comes in a few days, you must come early."
Only then did Cheng Xiao, her face flushed, rise and leave, escorted by Madam Qiu and the others.
Yuan Ming was not as cheerful as before, his smile appearing somewhat awkward. He stepped forward to greet Madam Qiu and the others, then said softly to Cheng Xiao, "I saw you hadn’t returned and was afraid something might have happened, so I came over." His tone carried a hint of caution.
Zhou Shaojin and the others sighed inwardly, smiling as they saw the couple off into their sedan chairs. Watching the sedan chairs disappear beyond the main gate, Cheng Sheng whispered, "I hope Second Sister can overcome this difficulty."
"Even teeth and tongues clash sometimes, let alone two people living together," Madam Qiu said in the tone of someone who had been through it all. "A Xiao may seem quiet, but she has her own thoughts. She’ll know how to handle the days ahead."
Let’s hope so!
The three of them felt somewhat heavy-hearted as they parted ways at the Moon Gate, each returning to their own residence.
No one knew whether Old Madam Guo was aware of the situation. Worried that Cheng Jing and the others might have intentionally kept it from Old Madam Guo but inadvertently revealed it in their presence, Zhou Shaojin made an excuse to stay behind and help Madam Qiu clean up. Old Madam Guo had already returned to Chaoyang Gate early in the morning with Yun Ge’er. By now, it was late in the evening. Cheng Chi had already returned from his duties and finished dinner, and Old Madam Guo was tired after a long day. Only Yun Ge’er remained lively and energetic, unwilling to sleep. Seeing that it wasn’t yet his usual bedtime, Cheng Chi indulged him, holding him as they sat at the long desk in the study, teaching him how to draw little chicks.
As father and son drew and chatted, Yun Ge’er’s clear, bright voice could be heard from afar.Zhou Shaojin's lips curved upward as she stopped the maid from announcing her arrival. She tiptoed inside.
The soft glow from the floor lamp beside the desk illuminated the faces of Cheng Chi and Yun Ge'er, father and son, as if glazed with a layer of porcelain, exuding an elegant, jade-like refinement that made her unable to look away.
Perhaps due to the innate bond between mother and child, Cheng Chi's attention was entirely focused on Yun Ge'er and he didn't notice Zhou Shaojin's return. Yun Ge'er, however, suddenly looked up and called out loudly, "Mother!" Holding a brush still dipped in ink, he stretched out his arms toward Zhou Shaojin, asking to be held.
Zhou Shaojin's heart instantly melted into a puddle of tenderness.
She hurried forward in quick steps and planted two loud kisses on Yun Ge'er's cheeks.
Cheng Chi chuckled softly and said, "Your mother is carrying your little sister now and can't lift you. Let Daddy hold you instead."
Yun Ge'er nodded understandingly and pointed to the rice paper on the desk. "Mother, look! I drew a little chick."
"You drew it so well," Zhou Shaojin praised him.
He raised his eyebrows and smiled, looking exactly like Cheng Chi when he was happy.
Zhou Shaojin adored him beyond words. She hugged her son and showered him with several more kisses before setting him down.
Cheng Chi then coaxed him with a smile to go to bed.
Yun Ge'er wanted to sleep with Zhou Shaojin.
Because of her pregnancy, Zhou Shaojin had rarely held Yun Ge'er or played with him these days.
Zhou Shaojin cast a pleading glance at Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi explained that Yun Ge'er was older now and no longer slept with the maids or nannies, but had his own bed. The maids and nannies on night duty slept beside his bed.
He smiled wryly and said, "Perhaps because you've spent less time with him lately, he's become especially clingy to you. He asked about you several times before you returned. Although I hope he can become independent sooner, I can't just ignore him and leave him aside."
In other words, he agreed to let Yun Ge'er sleep with them tonight.
Zhou Shaojin happily took Yun Ge'er's hand and said, "Let Mother help you wash your face, okay?"
Yun Ge'er followed Zhou Shaojin joyfully to the side room.
After washing up, he lay down between Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Chi.
Zhou Shaojin told him the story of Jingwei Filling the Sea, which she had recounted almost fifty times before.
Holding his mother's hand with one hand and his father's with the other, Yun Ge'er drifted into dreamland to the sound of Zhou Shaojin's sweet, gentle voice.
Only then did Zhou Shaojin have a chance to ask Cheng Chi about Cheng Jing's matter.
Cheng Chi quickly asked, "Does Mother know about this?"
"No," Zhou Shaojin replied. "We had Mother return early."
Cheng Chi felt relieved and said, "It wasn't originally a big matter, but since it involved the Yuan family, we were afraid Mother would feel uncomfortable if she found out. After discussing it with Second Uncle, we decided to keep it from Mother for now and find an opportunity to tell her after the Emperor's punishment was issued. That's why we kept it from all of you too. We didn't expect Sister Sheng to tell you about it. Now that the Emperor's punishment has been issued, Eldest Brother is fine. He will come personally in a few days to explain the matter to Mother, so we shouldn't interfere."
Zhou Shaojin thought this was for the best and smiled. "After something like this, Eldest Brother must be feeling terrible. Should we invite him to stay at our home for a day when he comes?"
"Let's see how it goes," Cheng Chi sighed.
Zhou Shaojin asked in confusion, "Why would the Yuan family act like this? Eldest Brother is their son-in-law. How will others view the Yuan family once this spreads?"Cheng Chi said, "The reason the Yuan family is unwilling to help Eldest Brother is that they still hope to produce another Grand Secretary from among their outstanding descendants. But they fail to consider this: if their family produces another Grand Secretary, that would make three in total. How could the Emperor allow one family to produce three Grand Secretaries? It’s not as if there are no other candidates."
There was another point he did not mention.
Previously, he had not entered officialdom. Cheng Xu was still young, and after Cheng Jing retired, Cheng Xu could not immediately take over. It was inevitable that a path would need to be left for Cheng Xu. Meanwhile, the Yuan family already had candidates who could strive to enter the Grand Secretariat. After Yuan Weichang retired, the Yuan family could fully support Cheng Jing. By the time Cheng Jing retired, they could then wholeheartedly assist the Yuan family’s descendants. And when the Yuan family’s descendants grew old, Cheng Xu would be ready to take over...
Now, this balance has been broken.
The Cheng family has Cheng Chi.
If Cheng Chi also aspires to enter the Grand Secretariat, he could directly succeed Cheng Jing. By the time Cheng Chi is ready to retire, Cheng Xu would have gained sufficient seniority.
For the Yuan family, the Cheng family is no longer an ally but a rival.
※
Dear readers, here is today’s update.
I noticed that this month’s votes have placed me in third place. The works previously ranked ahead this month have performed rather modestly and may not last until the end of the month. Still, I feel greatly encouraged and will strive to secure votes for this month.
Please cast a vote for "Jinling Spring"!
Thank you.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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