Upon hearing this, Zhou Shaojin laughed directly and said: “If Uncle Cheng Chi blames you, just come with me to Baoding Prefecture!”
Ji Ying was surprised and asked: “You’re going back to Baoding Prefecture?”
Zhou Shaojin nodded, saying: “Things being as they are, even if Cheng Xu unintentionally offended me, if word gets out it won’t necessarily be a good thing.”
Hearing her call Cheng Xu directly by name, Ji Ying knew she no longer had the slightest favorable feelings toward Cheng Xu. She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly and comforted her: “Fourth Master is here, he definitely won’t let this matter spread everywhere.”
Zhou Shaojin believed this, but said: “But so what? Will Madam Yuan give me a pleasant look? With me on one side and Cheng Xu on the other, won’t Old Madam Guo be in a difficult position? And Uncle Cheng Chi—how can I let him offend Uncle Cheng Jing on my account!”
That was also true.
Ji Ying said: “I have no way to go with you to Baoding Prefecture, unless Fourth Master permits it…”
Zhou Shaojin playfully winked at her and said: “I’m saying that if you have nowhere to go, come to my place. No matter what, my father is also a court official. If you stay indoors, who would dare come to the government office to capture you!”
Ji Ying laughed and said: “If my eldest senior brother heard you say this, he’d definitely be overjoyed.”
“You have an eldest senior brother? ” Zhou Shaojin said cheerfully, “What does he look like? How old is he? What does he do? Is he married…” Her tone was like a matchmaker’s.
Ji Ying said curiously: “What are you trying to do?”
“Nothing, nothing!” Zhou Shaojin giggled, thinking that things with Ji Ying and that Jiao Ziyang hadn’t worked out, but her age was advancing year by year—she needed to find a husband’s family quickly.
The two chatted about this and that in the tea room.
In Old Madam Guo’s alcove bed chamber, after taking Doctor Zhou’s medicine, Cheng Xu had fallen into a deep sleep.
Madam Yuan sat at the bedside, eyes red, holding Cheng Xu’s hand. Looking at Cheng Xu’s face where the features could no longer be distinguished, she sobbed: “If Jiashan’s face is ruined, what will we do in the future? Even if I have to give up this life of mine, I won’t let the other party have it easy…”
Her words hadn’t yet finished when Old Madam Guo gave her a crisp slap.
The clear sound echoed in the quiet alcove bed chamber. Not only was Madam Yuan stunned, but even those serving in the room were stunned.
After a good while, Madam Yuan came to her senses. Covering her face, she looked at Old Madam Guo in disbelief, murmuring “Mother” and saying aggrievedly: “What did your daughter-in-law do wrong? How can you treat me this way? How can you let me face people in the future…”
Nanny Lü and the others also reacted. Without anyone giving instructions, they scrambled out of the alcove bed chamber one after another.
Old Madam Guo sneered disdainfully: “You think your current appearance is very good? That going out you could suppress everyone! I originally thought that you were also someone who had become an external grandmother, and wholeheartedly served Da Lang and his son. Minor flaws don’t obscure the jade—teaching and guiding children is the responsibility of you parents. I wouldn’t interfere, thinking this household would be handed over to you one day. But I never imagined that you would be not only selfish and self-serving with no one in your eyes, but also narrow-minded and short-sighted! No wonder your father was a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, yet in your family it was Fifth Branch’s Yuan Weichang who ultimately became Prime Minister and entered the Cabinet, while your several brothers, whether in studies or official career, all had mediocre experiences and were unsuitable for great use…”
Madam Yuan was struck in a painful spot.
Her face paled, her lips trembling. For a long time she couldn’t say a word.
Old Madam Guo disdainfully glanced at Madam Yuan.
Originally she had favored Yuan Weichang’s younger sister. But Cheng Jing had taken a fancy to Madam Yuan. Since she herself had a harmonious marriage, she also hoped her children could have harmonious marriages. Seeing that Madam Yuan’s conduct was fairly gracious and generous, she thought that with her own slow guidance and teaching, she wouldn’t be too bad. Things were fine at the beginning, but after Madam Yuan learned that she had first favored Yuan Weichang’s younger sister, she gradually became obsessed with the position of Grand Secretary, not only hoping her husband could enter the Cabinet but also determined to cultivate a son who would become a Grand Secretary.
Who didn’t have some aspirations?
If such aspirations could spur one to improve, what was wrong with that?
Old Madam Guo could understand her daughter-in-law’s thoughts, so she turned a blind eye to her actions.
But unexpectedly, she had gone further and further down this path!
This was also her own fault.
If she hadn’t put all her attention on her younger son, she should have discovered long ago that Madam Yuan had become very different from before!
Thinking of this, Old Madam Guo couldn’t help but close her eyes, unable to tell whether there was more pain or more regret in her heart.
She said coldly: “The First Branch has altogether just these few people, and altogether just these matters. Da Lang serves as an official in the capital—why did I call you back, don’t you understand?”
Madam Yuan looked at Old Madam Guo in shock.
“Secretary Yuan’s brother-in-law is now Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Ye Yi, isn’t he?” Old Madam Guo said lightly. “Back when Da Lang served as Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he was only a scholar at the Hanlin Academy, wasn’t he? When Secretary Yuan’s sister brought her children to the capital to serve her husband, you brought Jiashan to visit the Ye family. Madam Ye saw that Jiashan had white teeth and red lips, and at such a young age could compose verses extemporaneously. She wanted to betroth her eldest daughter to Jiashan, to strengthen family ties with you. How did you refuse Madam Ye—do you still remember?”
Madam Yuan lowered her head.
Old Madam Guo said lightly: “I see that although Shaojin is young and has a soft temperament, the few words she spoke made a lot of sense—with you as a mother, either he would be influenced by you and lack responsibility, or he would be implicated by you and offend his colleagues…”
“Mother!” Madam Yuan raised her head, looking at Old Madam Guo as if she might collapse at any moment, her face whiter than plain white silk.
Old Madam Guo did not intend to let her off, continuing: “I won’t talk about past matters. Let’s talk about this garden rockery affair now. What were you thinking?”
Madam Yuan hurriedly said: “You also heard just now that Jiashan was drugged. His mind was unclear. Even if he was improper toward Zhou Shaojin before, that’s understandable. Yet Zhou Shaojin beat Jiashan into this state…” Getting to this point, she realized Zhou Shaojin couldn’t possibly have personally beaten Cheng Xu into this state, and added: “Even if she didn’t do it herself, it must have been because of her. I think only if Zhou Shaojin hands over the assailant to us for punishment, as for Zhou Shaojin’s matter, for Zhou Da Cheng’s sake we can turn a blind eye and let it go like that…”
Old Madam Guo was so angry her vision darkened. She said sharply: “This is what you think?”
Madam Yuan didn’t understand. Thinking of how Old Madam Guo had protected Zhou Shaojin earlier, her heart felt sour as she said: “Mother, you’re also a mother. Jiashan was beaten into this state—I’ve already shown leniency toward Zhou Shaojin. You can’t make me yield further. Jiashan is also your grandson…”
“Fool!” Old Madam Guo could no longer restrain herself. She grabbed the teacup at hand and threw it at Madam Yuan.
A cup of tea splashed all over Madam Yuan.
Tea water dripped down her hair strands. Her head and face were covered with tea leaves.
Madam Yuan’s expression changed drastically.
Mother-in-law had gone too far!
First giving her a slap in front of the servants, now splashing her with tea… No matter what, she was the principal wife of Jiuru Lane. She must tell Cheng Jing about this matter. Even if Cheng Jing wanted to quarrel with her, she wouldn’t back down.
Seeing her eyes wide open without the slightest sign of repentance, Old Madam Guo was so angry her fingertips trembled. She wished she could step forward and give her another slap: “Truly rotten wood cannot be carved! Jiashan is usually modest and tolerant, and even more friendly with his brothers and sisters in the household. Everyone praises him as gentle as jade, with a gentleman’s bearing. At such a young age he already passed the provincial exam as Jieyuan. Haven’t you wondered where that drug came from? Who gave it to Jiashan? How did Jiashan end up sitting alone in the cave? Shaojin is a child of our Hanbi Mountain Lodge, raised by my side. Why didn’t she take that path earlier or later, but at that exact time? Who was she going to meet? How did she think to take that path… Without asking a single question, you only know how to absolve Jiashan. Is that brain of yours just for decoration?”
Madam Yuan was shocked, her mind in chaos.
According to Mother-in-law’s meaning, someone had framed Jiashan!
That’s right, that’s right!
If it weren’t like this, how could Jiashan have been beaten? Otherwise, Zhou Shaojin who could be blown away by a strong wind, with only powerless young maids serving beside her, how could she possibly beat Jiashan into this state? One must know that Jiashan was a nineteen-year-old Jieyuan—who knew how many people secretly envied and were jealous of him?
She steadied her mind, setting aside her dissatisfaction with Zhou Shaojin for now, and her brain finally began to think normally.
“Mother! Could it be the Second Branch or Third Branch?” Madam Yuan said hesitantly. “Thinking it over, only these two families have this possibility…”
“You really can think!” Old Madam Guo said sarcastically. “First, you don’t know where the drug came from; second, you have no evidence; third, you don’t know what actually happened, yet you dare say Jiashan was framed, dare say the Second and Third Branches orchestrated it! I see not only is your brain useless, but your heart has been eaten by dogs!”
Madam Yuan’s face flushed red then white. She didn’t dare make a sound.
Old Madam Guo then said: “Starting today, Jiashan will stay here with me. You don’t need to manage his affairs anymore…”
Madam Yuan was shocked and alarmed, hurriedly saying: “Mother, how can that work! The Cheng and Min families have already exchanged birth dates, and probably have already sent betrothal gifts by now…”
Old Madam Guo’s eyes widened: “Such a major matter—how do I not know about it?”
Although she knew Madam Yuan had such plans long ago, when it came to formally sending betrothal gifts, neither Madam Yuan nor Cheng Jing had told her.
Madam Yuan didn’t dare look at Old Madam Guo’s eyes, saying in a low voice: “This marriage was discussed several years ago. It’s just being formalized with betrothal gifts now, so we didn’t make a big fuss…”
Old Madam Guo’s eyes widened even more. She suddenly thought of a possibility and immediately gasped, saying: “Did you deceive Jiashan?”
Madam Yuan protested: “How can Mother say that? I told him long ago that his father and I both favor the eldest Miss Min. I just didn’t want him distracted, so I wanted to wait until after the imperial examinations to make it official. When we were in the capital, several of the Min family’s young masters came and went with him, and he didn’t say anything…”
With one listen, Old Madam Guo knew what had happened!
Her grandson—she had never believed he would block a young girl for no reason, and while unconscious still call out her personal name!
So that was it!
She asked Madam Yuan: “Did you know that Jiashan likes Shaojin?”
Madam Yuan instinctively wanted to answer “I didn’t know,” but seeing Old Madam Guo’s ice-cold clear eyes, the words reached her lips but she quickly swallowed them back, lowering her eyelids and responding in a low voice: “I knew.”
“When did you find out?” Old Madam Guo asked.
Madam Yuan hesitated for a moment before saying: “I found out at the end of last year…” After speaking, fearing Old Madam Guo’s blame, she hurried to add: “At that time I told Jiashan that this marriage was impossible…”