In late summer and early autumn, the lotus flowers at Hanqiu Pavilion had passed their blooming season, but the oil-green leaves of the osmanthus trees were studded with flower buds just beginning to show yellow, giving a sense of thriving prosperity as the seasons changed with flowers constantly blooming.
Li Shi praised it continuously.
Madam Mian smiled. “Could you stay a few more days? In a few days, all these osmanthus flowers will bloom. To say their fragrance travels ten li wouldn’t be an exaggeration.”
Li Shi said regretfully, “I’d like to. But the Baoding prefect was involved in a corruption case and has been escorted to the capital. Currently, all matters large and small in Baoding Prefecture are being handled by the vice prefect…” At this point, her gaze shifted slightly. Seeing that the serving maids and matrons were all following at a distance with only the Zhou sisters beside them, she thought for a moment, then lowered her voice. “It’s said this matter involves several imperial princes. The court will shortly dispatch a special envoy. The Emperor’s meaning is that there are still people in Baoding Prefecture who colluded with the former prefect. He wants Master to hurry there to cooperate with the special envoy in managing the overall situation and cleaning up government affairs. Our Master had no choice.”
The matter involved too high a level for Madam Mian to comment on.
The group arrived at the guest room.
Madam Mian smiled. “You can rest here. When Master finishes his business, I’ll come call you.” Having said this, her gaze fell on Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin, and she immediately became somewhat hesitant.
By rights, Li Shi was Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin’s nominal mother, and the two sisters should be here serving Li Shi. But Li Shi was a second wife, of merchant origin, and so young—only a few years older than Zhou Chujin. She had raised Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin with her own hands and truly couldn’t bear to see the dignified and gracious Zhou Chujin and delicate Zhou Shaojin humble themselves before Li Shi.
Fortunately, Li Shi was clever. She quickly smiled. “Then Elder Miss and Second Miss should go rest as well. Having Nanny Li to serve me is enough.” She asked Madam Mian, “Will Elder Miss and Second Miss also accompany me later to visit the Old Madams, Madams, and young mistresses of each branch?”
Madam Mian hadn’t planned to have Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin serve Li Shi, but Old Madam Guan had said before that this was proper etiquette. They couldn’t lack in etiquette and give others opportunities to take advantage of the sisters. She could only say, “They need to go along—it’s a good chance to help you recognize people.”
Li Shi smiled. “I think I can go by myself. They accompanied me all through lunch, and there’s still the evening banquet to prepare. First Madam’s side needs help too, doesn’t it?”
Her tactfulness made Madam Mian’s smile even warmer. “Then I’ll keep the sisters here!”
But Zhou Shaojin had other plans after hearing this. She smiled. “But we can’t let Mother go alone. I think Elder Sister should stay behind while I accompany Mother to pay respects at each branch.”
Would Zhou Zhen think the Fourth Branch was showing favoritism?
Madam Mian was still somewhat hesitant.
Li Shi smiled. “That’s fine. Then I’ll ask Second Miss to accompany me to pay respects at each branch.”
Seeing that her eldest aunt wasn’t entirely willing, Zhou Shaojin simply smiled. “I’m the youngest. If I don’t run errands, who will? Elder Sister should stay home. I’ll follow Eldest Aunt and Mother to pay respects to the elders of each branch.” She added, “I want to eat fried lotus root balls. Elder Sister, remember to have the kitchen make me a portion.”
Looking like a child who wanted to go out and play with the adults.
Everyone laughed.
Zhou Chujin promised, “Rest assured, I’ll forget everything else before I forget your fried lotus root balls.”
Everyone chatted a while longer. Zhou Chujin followed Madam Mian to the main room, while Zhou Shaojin rested in the room next to Li Shi’s.
Nanny Li very attentively brought over some food. “This is jujube cake from Qiyun, a Jiangnan specialty. Madam ate it as a snack on the road. It tastes very good. Madam specifically had this servant bring some for Second Miss to try. If you like it, Madam will have the family bring you more. Second Miss can also give some to the madams and young ladies of each branch.”
Li Shi was from Nanchang.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and thanked her, feeling that Nanny Li was being somewhat too enthusiastic toward her, though she didn’t take it to heart. After seeing Nanny Li off, she took an afternoon nap, then accompanied Li Shi and Madam Mian to meet up with Zhou Zhen and Cheng Mian.
Zhou Zhen seemed rather surprised to see Zhou Shaojin.
Li Shi, looking as if afraid Zhou Zhen would misunderstand, quickly said, “Elder Miss is following First Madam to learn household management and can now handle things on her own. First Madam will be accompanying me shortly, so we asked Elder Miss to stay behind and oversee this evening’s family banquet.”
Zhou Zhen felt relieved, nodded happily, and asked Zhou Shaojin, “Where do you want to go play later?”
As if she was following Li Shi just to visit the various branches.
Zhou Shaojin smiled. “Father, that’s such an odd thing to say. Naturally I’m following Eldest Aunt and Mother!”
Only then did Zhou Zhen realize he’d said the wrong thing. He laughed awkwardly and went first to the First Branch.
First Master, Second Master, and even Cheng Xu weren’t home. Zhou Zhen was received by Cheng Chi.
Zhou Shaojin didn’t know what their meeting was like. She first went with Madam Mian and her stepmother to Yuan Shi’s place.
Yuan Shi gave her thorough praise, then led them to Hanbi Mountain Lodge.
Just as they approached the courtyard, Xiao Tan, who had been kicking a shuttlecock with several young maids, dropped her companions and ran over.
“Madam, Second Miss!” Her face was flushed, her face glowing with pleasure as she curtsied to Yuan Shi and the others.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and nodded at her.
Feicui and Biyu had already received word and came to greet them.
“Madam, Second Miss, Madam Mian.” The two smiled and greeted them, serving them into the main room.
Old Madam Guo wore a dark blue jute vest. Her graying hair was neatly coiled in a round bun, adorned only with two jade hairpins.
After they had performed their courtesies, Old Madam Guo invited them to sit and have tea.
Madam Mian and Li Shi were served pre-Qingming Longjing tea, Yuan Shi received Lu’an Guapian tea, and Zhou Shaojin was served Laojun Mei tea. When the fruit platter was brought out, the young maid smiled at Zhou Shaojin and deliberately placed the side with the melons beside Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin smiled at the young maid.
Old Madam Guo exchanged pleasantries with Li Shi. Li Shi mentioned that the current Jiangxi education commissioner was from Jinling and had a very good relationship with Zhou Zhen. Old Madam Guo asked who it was. Li Shi recounted his background. After thinking for a moment, Old Madam Guo realized it was an acquaintance. “…My younger brother’s student. He passed the provincial examination, so I remember him.”
Old Madam Guo had only one younger brother who had passed the provincial examination. After Master Guo passed away, he took over Master Guo’s private school, teaching mostly students from humble families. Though those who passed the provincial or metropolitan examinations were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, because he didn’t emphasize family background, many students enrolled. It was the private school with the most students in Jinling City—not like the Gu family’s academy that only accepted xiucai, nor like the Cheng clan school that only accepted students recommended by Cheng family relatives, friends, former students, and old acquaintances. Thus it enjoyed high prestige among the common people of Jinling City.
Li Shi took the opportunity to chat with Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo deliberately elevated her status, smiling as she listened to her talk about officialdom in Jiangxi.
Halfway through, she casually pushed the fruit platter in front of her.
Biyu understood and quietly went out, then brought in a small dish of melon and placed it before Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin felt both shy and embarrassed.
She was listening and finding it truly boring. So seeing that her eldest aunt had eaten a piece of tangerine without hesitation, she also picked up several pieces of melon with her fork. She hadn’t expected Old Madam Guo to actually be watching her and have Biyu specially bring in another small dish just for her. She looked up and saw Old Madam Guo talking with Li Shi. Not knowing what to say, she could only lower her head and fidget with the toothpick in her hand.
Before coming, Zhou Zhen had told Li Shi about the Cheng family of Jiuru Alley. Toward this old lady from the First Branch who had raised three jinshi who passed both levels of examinations, she held reverence. After entering, she naturally listened carefully and observed closely. Personally witnessing how Old Madam Guo doted on Zhou Shaojin, she was secretly astonished. When they returned to the Zhou residence, while changing clothes she couldn’t wait to tell Nanny Li about how Old Madam Guo treated Zhou Shaojin, and said, “What did you manage to find out?”
Nanny Li was also somewhat surprised. “I only heard that Second Miss gained the favor of Old Madam Guo from the First Branch and helps Old Madam Guo copy scriptures. I didn’t know Old Madam Guo liked Second Miss so much.”
Li Shi’s expression became somewhat dazed.
She thought back to visiting the Second Branch.
Unlike the relaxed atmosphere at the First Branch, Zhou Shaojin had seemed somewhat nervous.
Not only did she carefully observe the Second Branch, but she was polite yet somewhat distant toward the second young mistress of the Second Branch—unlike her silence at the Third Branch and indifference at the Fifth Branch. She seemed to have some intention of deliberately getting close to the Second Branch.
The Cheng family of Jiuru Alley and the two Zhou sisters were far more complicated than she had imagined!
She gripped the comb with some force, her fingertips turning white.
Nanny Li quietly reminded Li Shi, “Should we have the servants send some desserts and late-night snacks to Elder Miss and Second Miss?”
After having dinner at the Cheng residence, the Zhou sisters returned with them to the Zhou home on Pingqiao Street. Zhou Zhen gave up the main room for the Zhou sisters to rest in, while he and Li Shi stayed in the study.
It was obvious that the Zhou sisters were very surprised by this arrangement. But Li Shi vaguely understood—this was where Lady Zhuang had lived, and her husband wanted to continue preserving it… So not only did she show no dissatisfaction, she obediently persuaded the Zhou sisters, “Since your father has returned, he’ll inevitably gather with classmates and friends. It’s more convenient for your father and me to stay in the study.”
Though she didn’t know exactly why, Zhou Chujin truly liked this arrangement from her heart.
This was where she, Lady Zhuang, and her sister had lived. The furnishings in the house were all kept as they were when Lady Zhuang was alive. She still remembered that when Lady Zhuang first fell ill, Father rested in the study while she and her sister stayed here accompanying Mother. Father’s arrangement made it seem as if Mother were still alive, just temporarily detained by some matter, and she was to take her sister to rest first.
She smiled and bid her father and Li Shi good night, then pulled Zhou Shaojin to the upper courtyard and directed the maids and matrons to open trunks and arrange the furnishings.
Zhou Zhen smiled and shook his head. Looking at Li Shi again, his gaze held more warmth than usual as he said gently, “You’ve worked hard these past few days too. Rest early. I’ll come after I say a few words to Ma Fushan and Li Changgui.”
Li Shi quietly and virtuously smiled and said, “Yes.” Supported by Nanny Li, she went to the study.
Nanny Li felt wronged on behalf of her young mistress, but she didn’t dare show it at all.
When the marriage to the Zhou family was arranged, Zhou Zhen had said that he was someone who had been married before. He was taking a wife first for heirs, and second, he hoped she could treat his two daughters well. At the time, both her master and mistress had nodded in agreement, even prepared to bring the two young ladies of the Zhou family to his post and support them. Unexpectedly, the Cheng family wouldn’t release them, so her young mistress didn’t have to become a mother right after marrying in. However, if Zhou Zhen’s former wife had left behind two sons, or if one of them had been a son, her master and mistress probably wouldn’t have so readily married their young lady to him.