“Then I’ll humbly offer my performance,” Ji Cheng said, adjusting her dress before kneeling to play the leaf whistle. She chose a lively tune, the same one she had played for young Master Hong before. It was so cheerful and interesting that even as she played, she couldn’t help but sway to the rhythm. Young Master Hong, being especially supportive, clapped his little hands to keep time.
Old Madam watched with surprise. Although her grandson was cherished and loved, he had always been somewhat gloomy due to losing his mother at a young age, acting like a little adult. She hadn’t expected him to get along so well with Ji Cheng.
Old Madam glanced at Ji Cheng, then turned to look at Shen Yu. Had she overlooked something? Even though Shen Yu was a widower, considering his family background and talents, his second marriage wouldn’t be a compromise. Ji Cheng wasn’t bad, but she certainly wouldn’t meet Madam Huang’s standards.
Moreover, Madam Huang and the family of the late First Madam Lin had their plans. Even Old Madam felt it wasn’t her place to interfere with Shen Yu’s marriage affairs.
Old Madam observed Shen Yu’s reaction again. He sat upright, his eyes on Ji Cheng, but his attention was mostly on young Master Hong. There was nothing unusual about his behavior, which relieved Old Madam. She had been worried about any improper interactions between the two.
It wasn’t that Old Madam was overly concerned, but her grandsons were all exceptionally talented, so it wasn’t surprising that they attracted attention. Young ladies always hoped to marry well.
Old Madam looked at Ji Cheng again and saw no unusual behavior or secret glances exchanged with Shen Yu, which put her mind completely at ease.
The tune ended quickly, and Old Madam asked Ji Cheng with a smile, “What melody was that? It sounded so joyful.”
“It’s a shepherd’s tune,” Ji Cheng replied.
Old Madam then asked, “Since you can play the leaf whistle, can you play the flute as well?”
“A little,” Ji Cheng answered. Over the past few years, she had learned a bit of various instruments, not to master them, but to avoid embarrassment in the capital.
“Then try playing a tune,” Old Madam said. But Ji Cheng didn’t have a flute, so Old Madam turned to Yun Jin and instructed, “I have a jade flute, don’t I? Bring it for Cheng to try.”
Before Old Madam finished speaking, Madam Huang’s expression changed slightly. Ji Cheng found this strange and couldn’t help but show a thoughtful look.
Old Madam’s test made it clearer that there was likely nothing between Ji Cheng and Shen Yu. The jade flute had been given to Old Madam by First Madam Lin when she was still alive.
Lin was an excellent flutist and had been a renowned talented lady in the capital before her marriage. Among all instruments, Old Madam particularly favored the flute, which was why she had always been fond of Lin. Now that Old Madam was offering Lin’s jade flute to Ji Cheng, how could it not raise questions?
Madam Huang thought Old Madam had taken a liking to Ji Cheng. Not only she, but Ji Lan and others couldn’t help but think the same, so they all looked at Old Madam and Ji Cheng with surprise.
Shen Yu remained seated upright, his gaze unwavering. Young Master Hong, unaware of the adults’ complex thoughts, was simply delighted. He tugged at Ji Cheng’s sleeve and said, “You can play the flute too?” Although young Master Hong had no memory of his birth mother, he often heard that she was an excellent flutist. Hearing that Ji Cheng could play a little made him feel even closer to her.
People’s hearts are biased from childhood. If it had been any other woman who could play the flute, young Master Hong would have surely thought she had ulterior motives, trying to get close to his father.
But Ji Cheng was different. Although young Master Hong was young, he was very intelligent. As Shen Yu’s eldest son and the future pillar of the second branch, Shen Yu raised him strictly. Even Old Madam, though she loved him, never spoiled him.
Young Master Hong had long noticed that Ji Cheng was avoiding him. Sometimes he would see her from afar in the garden, expecting her to approach, but she would disappear around a corner. This happened several times, and young Master Hong, having his temper, thought if she didn’t want to interact with him, he wouldn’t bother with her either.
But the more awkward it became, the more young Master Hong wanted to be close to Ji Cheng. However, he couldn’t bring himself to approach her. He was also certain that Ji Cheng had no interest in becoming his stepmother. He had secretly asked his nanny, who said that the young lady was probably trying to avoid suspicion.
A child’s logic can be amusing. In young Master Hong’s mind, women who wanted to be his stepmother were bad, while those who didn’t were good stepmothers. Rather than benefiting someone else, he’d prefer Ji Cheng to marry his father. After all, Ji Cheng had said that as long as he could keep someone pleased with him, that person would remain loyal. Young Master Hong hoped Ji Cheng would continue to please him.
Ji Cheng was unaware of the story behind the jade flute. After receiving it, she played a tune that was neither exceptional nor poor. The melody was still lively, but due to her limited skill, it fell short compared to Shen Cui’s singing, Su Yun’s dancing, or Shen Yuan’s painting.
Yet young Master Hong was very supportive. Before Ji Cheng started playing, he had already returned to his father Shen Yu’s side and sat properly. When the tune ended, young Master Hong looked up at Shen Yu and asked, “Father, who plays better, Sister Cheng or Mother?”
Although Shen Yu was a strict father to young Master Hong and rarely smiled, he understood his son’s thoughts. Someone who doesn’t remember their birth mother isn’t fit to be human, so Shen Yu often turns a blind eye to some of young Master Hong’s mischief. He had postponed remarrying partly to wait until young Master Hong was older and better able to handle the complexities of the inner courtyard.
Hearing young Master Hong’s question, Shen Yu gently patted his head and said, “Of course, your mother.” Although he and Lin couldn’t be described as deeply in love, they had indeed been equal partners. Lin was gentle and virtuous, with a kind heart. Her inner courtyard had no dark secrets; it was only regrettable that such beauty had such a short life.
Hearing Shen Yu’s answer, young Master Hong felt completely at ease. His father still cherished his mother the most, which satisfied him greatly. Even if Ji Cheng became his stepmother, she couldn’t surpass his birth mother. As long as she couldn’t surpass his birth mother, he genuinely liked the idea of Ji Cheng becoming his stepmother.
After playing the flute, Ji Cheng returned the jade flute. Although her flute skills were average, she could appreciate the instrument’s quality. The jade flute had a rich, mellow low tone and a clear, bright high tone, truly a superior instrument. It must have been made by a master craftsman and couldn’t be bought with mere money.
Old Madam smiled and said, “Cheng has a strong breath and excellent natural talent. She just needs more practice.”
Ji Cheng smiled and agreed.
Back in her room, Ji Cheng was still puzzled, unsure what had been amiss. Second Madam Huang’s gaze towards her had changed. Previously, Madam Huang had merely looked down on her, but at the banquet, her attitude had turned cold and prickly.
Thinking about what could have caused such a change in Madam Huang, Ji Cheng could only conclude it had something to do with Shen Yu. Young Master Hong’s enthusiasm towards her today might have led to misunderstandings. However, Madam Huang’s expression changed when Old Madam asked Ji Cheng to play the flute, and Ji Cheng didn’t understand the connection.
Ji Cheng quietly instructed Yu Qian’er to discreetly gather some information. Yu Qian’er easily found out that almost everyone knew about the late First Madam Lin’s flute skills.
Hearing Yu Qian’er’s report, Ji Cheng frowned. Was Old Madam testing her? Someone else might have become arrogant, thinking Old Madam favored them by asking them to play the flute. But Ji Cheng saw clearly that if Old Madam truly had such intentions, she would have given her the flute outright. Instead, it seemed more like a hint: don’t think about things you shouldn’t, and even if given something, you must return it.
Ji Cheng rubbed her forehead. She had never intended to pursue Shen Yu, and even if she had harbored such thoughts briefly, Madam Huang’s attitude had long since dispelled them. Ji Cheng sighed, realizing she would have to avoid young Master Hong more thoroughly now, even though she had found the little boy quite adorable.
While Ji Cheng was troubled about young Master Hong, Madam Huang was also worried. She couldn’t quite understand Old Madam’s intentions. Old Madam had mentioned to her more than once that for a daughter-in-law, a clean family background was sufficient, and what mattered most was matching in character and appearance, and that the younger generation liked her. These were the keys to marital harmony and family prosperity.
Although Madam Huang agreed with Old Madam’s view, surely it couldn’t apply to a merchant family like the Ji’s? Just look at Ji Lan – if Shen Yu married someone like her, he’d be burdened for life. Even if it were a poor scholar’s daughter, as long as Shen Yu was willing to marry her, she wouldn’t object.
Madam Huang and Old Madam had been mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for many years and got along well, so she didn’t beat around the bush. While escorting Old Madam back to her room to rest, she asked, “Old Madam, what were your intentions in giving that jade flute to the Ji family’s daughter today?”
Old Madam glanced at Madam Huang and smiled, “I won’t interfere with Yu’er’s marriage affairs.”
Madam Huang smiled awkwardly. The reason this mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship worked well was usually because the elder turned a blind eye to certain things. She had just been anxious and confused.
“Mother, I didn’t mean it that way, I…”
Old Madam waved her hand. Children and grandchildren had their interests to consider, and she, an old woman with one foot in the grave, certainly wouldn’t make herself unwelcome.
“I just saw that young Master Hong was close to the Ji family’s niece, and you suddenly gave her the jade flute, so I misunderstood,” Madam Huang said frankly. Old Madam disliked people playing mind games with her, and Madam Huang had learned the trick after serving her for so many years.
Sure enough, Old Madam’s expression improved slightly. “Didn’t I take the jade flute back from her?”
Madam Huang didn’t respond.
Old Madam sighed, “I saw that young Master Hong was close to her, so I wanted to test her, fearing there might be something going on that we don’t know about.”
Although Old Madam spoke euphemistically, Madam Huang understood. She shook her head, “There’s nothing. Yu’er and she have no connection at all. You know Yu’er; he’s never had much interest in young ladies.” But then Madam Huang added, “The Ji family’s niece is indeed very beautiful. She came to the capital to seek a good marriage. I’m just worried that her ambitions might be too high, and if she does something improper, it would be bad for everyone’s reputation.”