Аt thе mеntiоn of Mаdаm Zhuаng, Маdam Yuan and Маdam Miаn suddenly undеrstооd.
Тhе Оld Anren аlso remembered.
“I was just thinking, whу dоes this уoung lаdу lооk so fаmiliаr!” thе оld lаdy сhided, “You all sаid I hаd mistakеn her for somеone еlse. I wasn’t mistаkеn аt аll. Shе’s thе уoung ladу frоm the Zhuаng fаmilу, I remеmber сlеarly! Аt thаt time, Мaster Zhuang еven wanted tо mаrrу the Zhuаng family’s yоung lаdу into оur fаmilу! Unfоrtunаtеly, thе fiftеenth аnd sixtеenth yоung mastеrs wеrе alrеаdу bеtrothed, and thе seventeenth and еighteenth werе too уoung. In thе еnd, it was thе twelfth young master who acted as matchmaker… who did she marry? It seems she married someone with the same surname as the Ji Emperor…”
Mama Miao reminded her by the Old Anren’s ear: “The surname is Zhou!”
“Yes, Zhou, it was Zhou,” the Old Anren said, “I even gave a pair of peace vases to the Zhuang family’s young lady as a wedding gift… It’s just a pity about our family’s nineteenth young lady. She got along so well with the Zhuang family’s young lady. While the Zhuang family’s young lady married smoothly, she fell ill with consumption just before her own wedding and ended up alone, without even someone to carry on the family line…”
“That was so long ago,” Mama Miao quickly interjected, “Why do you keep bringing it up? The Old Master will be sad again!”
“Ah!” the Old Anren sighed, “I won’t mention it anymore, I won’t mention it.”
“That’s more like it,” Mama Miao said with a smile, handing a piece of lotus seed cake to the Old Anren, “Have one, it’s a token of Fourth Master Cheng’s regard! Knowing you like them, he specially had someone bring them back from the capital.”
“Good, good, good,” the Old Anren cheered up again.
“My apologies!” Mama Miao whispered apologetically, “The Old Anren is getting on in years and often likes to talk about the past.”
“At seventy, one follows the heart’s desires without overstepping the bounds,” Madam Yuan quickly said. “The Old Anren has a childlike heart. We are only too happy for her and for your Gu family, how could we possibly take offense?”
“I remember now,” Seventh Madam Gu, who had been silent until then, suddenly spoke up, “Master Zhuang, the old gentleman who was very fond of woodworking… When I first married into the family, he once gave our Eldest Young Master a kite he had made himself. It still hangs in our Eldest Young Master’s room to this day. No other family’s kite flies as high or as far. Our Eldest Young Master treasures it like a precious gem and won’t let anyone touch it.” As she spoke, she took Zhou Shaojin’s hand with the excitement of meeting an old friend in a distant land, “So you are the granddaughter of Master Zhuang… This makes us practically family!”
Her maternal grandfather actually had such a hobby… Zhou Shaojin hadn’t known.
She wanted to see the kite her grandfather had made.
But today was not the right opportunity.
“Exactly,” Madam Mian, who also hadn’t realized that the Zhuang and Gu families were such close friends, said with a smile, “It shows that our Shaojin is also someone destined to be connected with your family!”
“Indeed, indeed,” Seventh Madam Gu said with a beaming smile.
The Old Anren asked Zhou Shaojin, “Your given name is Shaojin, so is your sister named Yuanjin or Chujin?”
“Old Anren, you are truly remarkable,” Zhou Shaojin humored the old lady, “My sister is indeed named Chujin.”
The Old Anren smiled proudly and said to Zhou Chujin, “Come closer, let me have a look!”
Zhou Chujin walked over.The elderly lady carefully scrutinized her for a moment. Smiling at Madam Yuan, Seventh Mistress Gu, and the others, she said, "This young lady is also quite lovely. She must be about eighteen years old, right? Is she betrothed yet? Our family's twenty-first son is about her age..."
This old lady!
Madam Mian quickly replied, "She is betrothed. She is betrothed. It's to the Liao family of Zhenjiang. The elderly lady of the Liao family passed away, so she will marry after the mourning period ends."
The elderly lady nodded and said, "So she is betrothed to the Liao family of Zhenjiang. It seems someone from our family married into theirs..."
Nanny Miao chimed in, "It was Fifteenth Miss."
"Yes, it was Fifteenth Miss..."
In the blink of an eye, the elderly lady had found Zhou Chujin a sister-in-law from their own clan.
Zhou Shaojin felt that both she and her sister had not come in vain.
In her previous life, the fourth branch had no contact with the Gu family. She had no way to inquire about her birth mother's whereabouts, and her sister had married into the Liao family without knowing a single person. Now, with this Fifteenth Miss from the Gu family, her sister would have a "fellow townsfolk" even before entering the Liao household. Her life in the Liao family would surely be easier than in her previous life.
After sitting and chatting in the elderly lady's room for a while, the Gu family's Seventeenth Miss arrived.
She was about fifteen or sixteen years old, of medium height, wearing a plain water-green silk robe. Her skin was fair and delicate, with peach-like cheeks and almond-shaped eyes, still carrying a hint of baby fat. Though not exceptionally beautiful, she was amiable and kind, making people feel an instant fondness for her.
Seventh Mistress Gu seized the opportunity to bid farewell: "...The guests in the flower hall should have arrived by now. After we finish lunch, we will come back to chat with you!"
"No need," the elderly lady said. "I know you will play cards after drinking, and I need my afternoon nap. You don't have to come back. Si Lang said he would visit me when he has time."
Everyone felt awkward.
Nanny Miao quietly apologized.
After Madam Yuan exchanged a few polite words, everyone left the main room and headed toward the flower hall.
On the way, Madam Yuan and Madam Mian walked ahead, accompanied by Seventh Mistress Gu, while the Gu family's Seventeenth Miss walked behind with Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin, whispering to them, "Is this your first time visiting the Gu family? In the past, when guests came, Fifteenth Sister and Sixteenth Sister would help entertain them. This is my first time assisting my sisters-in-law in hosting guests. If I am not attentive enough, please forgive me!"
As before, Zhou Chujin spoke on behalf of the sisters: "Both my sister and I are visiting for the first time. Your residence is truly beautiful! I heard Sixteenth Miss's wedding date is set for the sixteenth of September?"
This was what Madam Mian had told them the previous night.
The Gu family's Seventeenth Miss nodded and smiled, saying, "Sixteenth Sister's father-in-law passed the imperial examination three years ago and was selected as a Junior Scholar Candidate. This June, after completing his studies, he was appointed Chief Clerk of the Judicial Court. He wrote a letter asking her mother-in-law to bring them to live in the capital, which is why the wedding date was set so urgently."
The three of them chatted and laughed as they quickly arrived at the flower hall.
A matron greeted them with a smile: "Seventh Mistress, the wife of Magistrate Wu of Jinling has arrived."
Zhou Shaojin noticed Seventh Mistress Gu's eyebrows furrow almost imperceptibly before she nodded with a smile. Unwavering in her original intention, she continued to accompany them at a leisurely pace toward the flower hall.
Seventeenth Miss Gu whispered to Zhou Chujin, "Our family has many siblings. Aside from relatives, friends, and neighbors, we generally do not extend invitations or accept gifts..."
The implication was that the Wu family had not been sent an invitation.Zhou Chujin smiled and said, "After all, Magistrate Wu is the local official of Jinling. How could he not attend a joyous occasion in a prominent family under his jurisdiction?"
Miss Gu the Seventeenth remained silent.
Everyone entered the flower hall together.
Madam Wu was speaking with someone when she heard the commotion. She turned around, immediately halted her conversation, and walked over. "Madam Yuan, I didn’t expect to meet you here. Madam Mian. We last met during the birthday celebration of the Second Branch’s matriarch. How have you been? And how is my aunt?"
She spoke to them as if they were old acquaintances, with her biological daughter Wu Baohua standing beside her.
But when Zhou Shaojin looked up, she saw Wu Baozhang standing beside a flower stand near the central hall of the flower hall.
Her hair was styled in double spiral buns, adorned with a pearl headband, and she wore a bright red jiao-cloth vest. It made her skin appear as fair as frost and snow, dignified and elegant.
Why would Wu Baozhang appear at the engagement banquet of the Gu family’s sixteenth young lady?
Zhou Shaojin was very surprised but restrained herself from showing it. Instead, she smiled and shifted her gaze away, pretending not to have seen Wu Baozhang.
Wu Baozhang was somewhat taken aback.
She bit her lip but ultimately did not approach.
Madam Yuan exchanged pleasantries with Madam Wu for a moment before excusing herself, claiming she had spotted an acquaintance, and led Zhou Shaojin and the others to the small hall on the east side.
Unexpectedly, Madam Wu followed them all the way into the small hall. When Madam Yuan saw a beautiful woman in her forties and introduced her to Madam Mian as Madam Liu from the Mei residence on Official Street, Madam Wu shamelessly stepped forward to introduce herself.
Madam Liu appeared to be good-natured, smiling without saying a word. When it was time to take seats, she subtly positioned herself beside Madam Yuan. Seeing no empty seats at the table, Madam Wu reluctantly moved to the neighboring table.
Zhou Shaojin noticed a flash of cold light in Wu Baohua’s eyes.
Her heart skipped a beat.
She felt that the Wu family members were not to be trifled with and that it was best to keep a distance.
However, after the midday meal, when the family of the Gu family’s sixteenth young lady’s fiancé presented her with hairpins, Madam Yuan and other elders were invited to the young lady’s boudoir, while Zhou Shaojin and the other young girls remained in the courtyard.
Inevitably, the young girls ended up crowded together.
Zhou Shaojin had also married Lin Shisheng with the full traditional wedding rites, so she was less interested in the engagement ceremony than the other young girls. She stood under a pomegranate tree in the courtyard, waiting for Madam Mian.
Nearby, two young girls whispered to each other: "Did you see that? That’s the eldest daughter of the Wu family. I heard she made a fool of herself at the Cheng family last time. How is she out and about again so soon? Is that appropriate?"
"What’s inappropriate about it?" the other girl said sarcastically. "The Wu family isn’t exactly known for propriety. You might not know this, but she’s the only one in the Wu family with any looks. Magistrate Wu has made it clear that he wants to find her a husband in Jinling, regardless of age or family background, as long as the man is talented. Think about it—‘regardless of age or family background’ means he’s looking for an official. Any official will do, whether he’s a widower or has questionable character. Is this about finding a son-in-law or selecting a colleague?"
Zhou Shaojin was quite surprised.
Did Wu Baozhang end up in this situation because of what happened at the Cheng family? Or had Magistrate Wu long intended to use Wu Baozhang for a marriage alliance?
No wonder Madam Wu had brought Wu Baozhang out for social engagements again—she must be trying to find her a husband and marry her off as soon as possible.Some people also overheard the two young girls' conversation and remarked, "Who would have thought she's so pitiful!"
Others retorted, "Pitiful? That's her fate. Who told her to have such a father!"
Someone gently tugged at Zhou Shaojin's sleeve.
Zhou Shaojin turned around and saw a fair, delicate face.
She was somewhat puzzled.
The person said, "Second Miss Zhou, don't you recognize me?"
Her voice was soft and carried a hint of timidity. Zhou Shaojin felt her manner of speaking somewhat resembled her own in her past life, but she truly couldn't recall who this young girl was.
The girl looked quite disappointed and said, "I... I'm from Minister Sun's household..."
Zhou Shaojin remembered now.
She was the young girl who had been speaking with Wu Baozhang in the Cheng family's side room.
The girl who ran away when she and Wu Baozhang started arguing later.
※
Today's update, tomorrow's extra chapter will still be posted at the usual time, around 3 p.m. I'll try my best to make it a bit earlier.
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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