Seeing Zhou Chujin regain her usual composure, Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but feel secretly happy for her sister.
A newly married bride would inevitably face many critical gazes. The calmer her sister remained, the more composed she could be in facing them.
She felt relieved and began organizing her jewelry and valuables during her leisure time.
Chun Wan smiled and said, “Second Miss, what are you doing? The household has been rather busy these days, and we’re not familiar with the character of those serving us. If some scheming person sees this and takes it to heart, it will be troublesome. You should pack these things away quickly—not flaunting one’s wealth is the wisest course!”
Zhou Shaojin said, “After Sister marries, we’ll be following Madam to Baoding Prefecture. I’ll pack these important things first, so we won’t be flustered when it’s time to leave.”
Chun Wan was greatly startled.
When they had just returned, the Second Miss had still been hesitating between continuing to stay with the Cheng family or returning to the Zhou family. How had she suddenly decided to go to Baoding with Madam?
She said, “Second Miss, has there been some message from the Master…”
“No, no,” Zhou Shaojin smiled. “Now that Madam has entered the household, there’s someone to manage the household affairs. I have no reason to continue staying with the Cheng family, so naturally I should follow Madam to Baoding Prefecture!”
She had originally wanted to stay with the Cheng family because she wanted to warn Cheng Jing through Cheng Chi. Now that she had done what needed to be done, there was no point in remaining in Jinling. Moreover, according to her memories from her previous life, in this autumn’s provincial examination, Cheng Xu would achieve first place, and then shortly after, that incident would occur… If she left Jinling, she could avoid this matter entirely.
Chun Wan would definitely follow Zhou Shaojin, but having been born and raised in Jinling, suddenly hearing they would be living in Baoding Prefecture, she inevitably felt reluctant to leave.
But this wasn’t for her to decide.
She could only try her best to hide her dejected emotions and smile, saying, “Second Miss, have you set a date for leaving? I’d like to bid farewell to Sister Biyu and the others before we go.”
“Of course,” Zhou Shaojin smiled. “When we leave, we’ll definitely go say farewell to Old Madam Guo and Biyu and the others. As for when we’ll leave… I’ll discuss it with Madam first before deciding! Right now everyone is busy with Sister’s wedding!”
Chun Wan breathed a sigh of relief and silently began packing things.
Very soon, Madam Li caught wind of this.
However, the next day was when the Liao family would come to urge the wedding. As a young woman who had never experienced such things and was managing the Zhou family’s internal affairs as mistress for the first time, she wanted everything to be perfect. She was so busy every day her feet hardly touched the ground—how could she have time to sit down and discuss going to Baoding Prefecture with Zhou Shaojin in detail? But if she just let it be, what if her husband’s intention was to have Zhou Shaojin stay with the Cheng family? How would she explain to her husband then?
Zhou Shaojin would come of age at the end of next year—it was time to discuss marriage prospects. The Cheng family had many disciples and old friends, a great abundance of young masters. Wasn’t Zhou Chujin marrying into the Liao family of Zhenjiang as the principal wife precisely because of this?
But this matter couldn’t be explained in just a few words.
She worried until blisters appeared at the corners of her mouth.
Nanny Li asked Madam Li, “So do you ultimately hope the Second Miss will follow you to Baoding Prefecture or not?”
“Of course I hope she’ll come,” Madam Li glanced at Nanny Li with a look that said she was an idiot and said, “If I respectfully care for the Second Miss like a bodhisattva for two years, she’ll be ready to marry. I’ll have pleased the Master and gained a good reputation. Such an excellent arrangement—I’d have to be out of my mind to disregard her wishes and continue letting her stay with the Cheng family!”
Nanny Li remained unconcerned and smiled, “Why don’t you write a letter to the Master to ask his intentions?”
“You don’t need to tell me!” Madam Li said. “I sent a letter through the courier station first thing this morning.”
“Then what are you still worried about?” Nanny Li asked, puzzled.
Madam Li said, “You’re good in every way, just lacking in experience, which inevitably makes your actions a bit petty—if I don’t make my intentions clear to the Second Miss, and if the Master doesn’t agree to the Second Miss going to Baoding Prefecture, if the Second Miss suspects I interfered, I wouldn’t be able to clear my name even if I jumped into the Yellow River!”
Nanny Li looked embarrassed.
After thinking it over, Madam Li went to Zhou Shaojin’s room the next day after seeing off the Liao family’s people who had come to urge the wedding.
Zhou Shaojin was just discussing with Chun Wan whether to bring those potted plants to Baoding. Seeing Madam Li enter, Chun Wan quickly stood up to bring a brocade stool for Madam Li, then personally brought in tea and refreshments.
Madam Li smiled as she drank tea and asked Zhou Shaojin, “What is the Second Miss busy with? Tomorrow the Eldest Miss will leave the boudoir. Properly speaking, your brother should carry your elder sister out the door. But I am incompetent—I haven’t been able to give you a younger brother.” As she spoke, her eyes reddened. “After discussing with Old Madam Guan, I invited Gao from Jiuru Lane to carry your sister out. However, the Liao family also said that although you can only see your sister to the threshold of her chamber, you cannot be excluded from receiving a red envelope. One is specifically designated for you. Tomorrow when your sister waits in her room for the fully blessed woman to invite her out, you should support your sister. The Liao family’s people will know who you are. They’ll give you a red envelope—just accept it. When you have a niece, you can return it then.”
It seemed the Liao family was giving the Zhou family great face.
Zhou Shaojin was also pleased to hear this. Seeing Madam Li’s face full of exhaustion, yet after finishing speaking she didn’t leave but continued sitting in her room drinking tea, she knew Madam Li still had something to say to her. Her nature preferred quiet over activity, and normally, even if Madam Li sat facing her all day, she could calmly engage in pleasantries with her. But tomorrow was her sister’s wedding day, and she didn’t want any mishaps to occur. She decided to be direct with Madam Li: “Does Madam have anything else to instruct me?”
Madam Li was wondering how to begin when Zhou Shaojin offered her an opening. She quickly followed the topic: “Yesterday I heard the Second Miss wants to return to Baoding Prefecture with me. I was overjoyed. Since the Liao family came today to urge the wedding, I had no time to discuss this matter with the Second Miss in detail. You know, this is my first time managing such a major event. Today everything went smoothly, and I was so excited I couldn’t sleep, so I came to chat with the Second Miss. I wonder if the Second Miss…”
Zhou Shaojin wasn’t one to make things difficult for others. Hearing this, she smiled and said, “That’s what I was thinking. I was just afraid Madam and Father had other arrangements. I was planning to discuss this with Madam after Sister’s wedding, but I didn’t expect Madam to be so considerate and ask before I could bring it up.”
Madam Li said joyfully, “So the Second Miss is planning to return to Baoding Prefecture with me? This is wonderful. I’ll have someone to talk to, and your third sister Youjin will have a companion. Your father will surely be happy when he finds out.”
Zhou Shaojin smiled.
Father was destined to have a son.
Once Madam Li bore a son, this household would truly feel like a home.
Never again would it be like in her previous life, with the family torn apart and everyone suffering individually.
Thinking of this, she stood up and said, “Madam, please wait a moment. I have something to give you.”
Zhou Shaojin turned and brought out the brick wrapped in yellow cloth that she had taken from Leifeng Pagoda, handing it to Madam Li: “I got this from Leifeng Pagoda when I passed through Hangzhou while following Old Madam Guo to Mount Putuo. There were two blocks—I gave one to Sister to take to the Liao family, and this one is for you, Madam. They say if you place it at the feet of Guanyin, it’s extremely efficacious!”
Madam Li immediately understood what it was.
Her eyes filled with tears.
Not being able to bear a son was a constant worry for her.
Though she treated the Zhou sisters well, rather than calling it kindness, it was more like keeping them at a respectful distance.
But she hadn’t expected Zhou Shaojin to be so sincere toward her.
Some unease arose in her heart.
Zhou Shaojin didn’t need Madam Li’s gratitude.
She did this for her father.
Whether it was her sister or herself, when they reached the proper age they would marry and have their own lives to live. The one who could accompany Father, care for him in his old age, and look after his daily life was Madam Li. She hoped Madam Li would sense her goodwill and thus treat Father even better.
Zhou Shaojin handed a handkerchief to Madam Li and comforted her: “Madam is still young—don’t worry. I heard from my wet nurse that someone in their village was married for over ten years without children, then suddenly one day conceived. Madam treats us so well—good people receive good fortune.”
Madam Li nodded bashfully, but couldn’t say much more to Zhou Shaojin, who was after all an unmarried young lady.
After chatting briefly, Madam Li rose to take her leave.
Zhou Shaojin saw Madam Li out.
But she ran into Nanny Li coming toward her.
Nanny Li smiled and curtsied to Zhou Shaojin, then said to Madam Li, “The First Madam from the Mian family has come out from the Eldest Miss’s room.”
Madam Li smiled at Zhou Shaojin and said, “Second Miss, please go back quickly. The night wind is cool—be careful not to catch cold, Second Miss.”
Zhou Shaojin asked curiously, “Elder Aunt is still here so late—is there some matter?”
Madam Li smiled, “Nothing, nothing! Your elder aunt just had some things to say to your sister.” Her tone was rather perfunctory.
Zhou Shaojin felt displeased. After seeing Madam Li off, she went to her sister’s room.
But unexpectedly, her sister had locked the inner chamber. Chi Xiang and Dong Wan were nowhere to be seen. Only a few young maids were whispering in the corridor hung with bright red lanterns.
She knocked on the door. Her sister said “Coming, coming,” but it took quite a while before she opened the door. When the door opened, her face was completely flushed, looking very embarrassed.
Zhou Shaojin was quite puzzled and said, “Sister, what’s wrong?”
Zhou Chujin touched her flushed face and said, “I just fell asleep without changing clothes. I’m a bit hot.”
Zhou Shaojin was very suspicious.
Nanny Li had just said Elder Aunt was in her room!
Zhou Shaojin said, “Sister, let me sleep with you tonight!”
“All right!” Zhou Chujin answered somewhat uncomfortably and said, “You go back to your room to wash up first. I’ll tidy the room and then you can come over.”
Zhou Shaojin was full of doubts.
This wasn’t like her sister at all!
What exactly had the First Aunt from the Mian family said to her?
Regrettably, in her previous life she had only known to timidly hide behind her sister. After her sister’s wedding date was set, she had been grief-stricken the entire time. Her sister’s wedding had been entirely arranged by Ma Fushan and his wife—she had no idea what had happened at the time.
However, her sister didn’t look sad or distressed, which made Zhou Shaojin’s heart settle somewhat.
“I’ll just wash up here!” She squeezed past Zhou Chujin and sat on her sister’s bed while saying, “I’ll have Chun Wan bring my things over!”
“All right!” Zhou Chujin said, her manner somewhat awkward.
Zhou Shaojin found this very strange. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a thick album pressed under her sister’s pillow.
“What’s this?” She pulled it out to look.
Zhou Chujin cried out and lunged forward: “Shaojin, this is what Elder Aunt gave me…”
Zhou Shaojin had already dropped the album with a deeply flushed face.
The sisters were both momentarily stunned.
What had fallen to the floor was a spring palace album.