What did “overwhelming emotion” mean?

It wasn’t until the sedan chair stopped before the hanging flower gate of Elm Money Alley, and Chun Wan helped her step out of the sedan, that Zhou Shaojin saw the desolate appearance of the courtyard. Only then did she manage to push this thought to the back of her mind with great difficulty. She and Li Shi entered the main courtyard one after the other.

Li Shi was quite surprised. Looking around, she said in a low voice to Zhou Shaojin, “Why does it look like the walls have been freshly plastered and the paint freshly applied…” Yet inside the residence there was no furniture.

She feared that when in-law Grand Madam Liao came to visit, it would be a loss of face.

Zhou Shaojin’s expression was still somewhat dazed. For a moment, she didn’t quite understand what Li Shi was saying. However, Nanny Shang, who had followed behind Zhou Shaojin upon entering, smiled upon hearing this and said, “For Madam’s information, this was originally a dowry gift from Old Madam Guo to Second Young Miss. It had always been empty. Fourth Master had some business, so he temporarily stayed here. When Madam was to move over, he requested craftsmen to help with repairs. They only finished a couple of days ago.”

Both Li Shi and Zhou Shaojin were startled.

Hadn’t Uncle Chi said this residence was his? How had it now become a gift to her in Old Madam Guo’s name?

Was this… because he was afraid others would know about their relationship?

Zhou Shaojin’s face turned bright red.

Then why did he give her such a precious gift? When Father and Sister found out, how could she possibly explain it?

She grumbled in her heart, completely failing to realize that if it weren’t for this relationship between her and Cheng Chi, just based on the fact that she had been raised in Old Madam Guo’s quarters before marriage and had won Old Madam Guo’s favor, it would be perfectly normal for the main branch to generously add to her trousseau.

Zhou Shaojin had a guilty conscience herself, so she thought deeply about everything.

Li Shi, however, was more envious than curious. Seeing Zhou Shaojin’s appearance, she couldn’t help but smile and ask her, “You didn’t know about this yourself?”

Zhou Shaojin instinctively shook her head, then felt that for such a major matter, she couldn’t not know about it. Answering this way instead had a flavor of trying to cover up. She hurriedly said, “Uncle Chi mentioned it to me before, but I thought he was joking. I didn’t expect that he… well, that Old Madam Guo would really give this residence to me!”

The more dowry a woman had, the better her marriage prospects.

Li Shi had originally thought that since the Zhou family’s circumstances were ordinary, and Zhou Shaojin had been raised by Old Madam Guo, her marriage prospects would certainly not be low. She had been wondering what to include in Zhou Shaojin’s dowry when she married. Now that Old Madam Guo had made this gesture, she had resolved a difficult problem for her… She said happily, “Since this is your dowry, the things in the house will certainly also belong to you. Then I’ll contribute money to help you furnish this residence. We’ll also be more comfortable living here.”

Though this was adding flowers to brocade, it would sound better when spoken of.

How could Zhou Shaojin let Li Shi contribute money? But she had no money herself, so she could only say, “Let’s ask Father about this matter first. Such a large residence—we can’t just accept it like this without discussion, can we?”

Li Shi smiled and nodded. She felt that since Old Madam Guo had already spoken, this matter was certainly set in stone. But it would be good to inform Zhou Zhen—he should at least know where her private savings were going, shouldn’t he?

She didn’t take Zhou Shaojin’s words to heart. While the maids and servants were moving trunks, she took Zhou Shaojin’s hand and toured the residence.

Although it was clean and tidy, it was completely empty. Apart from a few trees as thick as an embrace, even the furnishings Zhou Shaojin had seen on her previous visit were all gone.

The two-year-old Zhou Chujin, however, was very pleased.

She laughed gleefully while running around everywhere in the spacious courtyard, forcing the wet nurse and maids to follow her around.

Nanny Shang came looking for them and said, “Steward Xiang requests an audience!”

“Steward Xiang?” Li Shi and Zhou Shaojin looked at each other in confusion.

Nanny Shang smiled and said, “His single given name is ‘Yi.’ He originally served at Fourth Master’s side. Because he had lived in the capital for many years, Fourth Master made him the steward of Elm Money Alley. He says he’s come on Fourth Master’s orders to pay his respects to you and Madam.”

Zhou Shaojin blinked.

She remembered how last time Cheng Chi had given her a pair of orioles and additionally sent a servant boy named “Little Sparrow” to help her feed the birds… Later she had Little Sparrow help her care for Snowball, which freed up Chun Wan and the others…

Seeing Zhou Shaojin was a bit distracted, Li Shi smiled and said to Nanny Shang, “Since he’s already come, please have him wait in the hall!”

She saw that the hall had a door curtain of Hunan bamboo, which would be just right for greeting someone through the curtain.

Nanny Shang felt this arrangement was quite good. After Li Shi and Zhou Shaojin entered the hall, she led Steward Xiang inside.

Steward Xiang was around forty years old, of medium height, slightly plump, with very ordinary features. However, his manner was composed and his gaze bright. He should be a steady yet shrewd person—he didn’t look like a household steward but rather like a shop manager.

Perhaps he really was a manager?

Zhou Shaojin speculated inwardly.

That Steward Xiang drew several sheets of paper from his sleeve and handed them to Nanny Shang at the side. He said respectfully to Zhou Shaojin, “This is a list of items needed to furnish this residence. Please, Second Cousin Miss, review it to see if there’s anything to add or remove. I can go make the purchases right away.”

Nanny Shang passed the list inside.

Li Shi leaned over to look.

All uniformly black lacquered furniture, with occasional appearances of black lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl tall cabinets and kang tables. Without even looking closely, one could tell how beautiful they would be when arranged.

Looking further, carved red lacquer small boxes, pastel-colored tea cups, cloisonné incense burners, sacrificial red bowls and dishes… even the “all things as wished” ornaments came in pairs.

Even when marrying off a daughter, one wouldn’t be this meticulous.

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes blurred looking at it.

There was only what she hadn’t thought of—there was nothing missing from the list.

For her to identify what to add or remove was purely a polite formality.

Zhou Shaojin handed the list to Nanny Shang and said, “Steward Xiang has thought of everything. You’ve worked hard. Just go ahead and purchase things according to this list.”

Steward Xiang smiled and responded “Yes,” then withdrew.

Li Shi was extremely anxious but didn’t feel it proper to contradict Zhou Shaojin’s words. She could only wait until Steward Xiang left before saying quietly to her, “The items on that list will cost at least three or four thousand taels. Second Young Miss should remove a few items.”

“What?!” Zhou Shaojin was somewhat dazed.

However, Chun Wan and the others all smiled with pursed lips. Xiao Tan even said, “Madam, you don’t know—when our Fourth Master gives things to Second Young Miss, they always come complete with everything.” She mentioned how Cheng Chi had given Zhou Shaojin the birds.

Li Shi’s face turned bright red. She thought that in households like Nine Blessings Alley, giving gifts was simply done according to such rules. So when the items were delivered in the afternoon, she only prepared gratuities, then began tidying up the residence with the maids and servants.

Zhou Shaojin sat in the courtyard of the rear section in a daze.

Nanny Shang brought in apricots and plums, smiling as she said, “Steward Xiang has already left our name at the fresh fruit shop. Tomorrow they’ll send over peaches and cherries. Second Young Miss, please make do for now.”

Zhou Shaojin casually picked up a plum and asked, “Has Uncle Chi not returned yet?”

At noon, a feast had been delivered from a restaurant not far away. After they finished lunch, Nanny Shang took them to rest in the front courtyard.

Zhou Shaojin immediately felt terrible.

People in the capital lived in quadrangle courtyards—houses arranged in a square. Usually, going around the screen wall led to the front courtyard. The row of south-facing rooms opposite the main hall in the front courtyard was called the inverted seat rooms.

The eave walls of the inverted seat rooms all faced the alley and generally didn’t have doors. This meant the doors and windows could only face north. Therefore, the lighting was very poor. They were either used as guest rooms or as servants’ quarters.

The place where Nanny Shang led them to rest was precisely the easternmost of the inverted seat rooms—Cheng Chi’s study for receiving guests.

After moving out of the main hall, he had moved his sleeping quarters into the study.

At the westernmost end, not far from him, were the communal quarters where female servants lived.

How could Uncle Chi live in such a place?

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes immediately moistened at the time, and she wanted to find Cheng Chi.

But Cheng Chi had gone to the Thirteen Hongs and hadn’t returned yet.

She asked Nanny Shang, “How much silver did Uncle Chi invest in the Thirteen Hongs?”

Nanny Shang said, “It should be around two hundred thousand taels…”

Zhou Shaojin was stunned at the time.

When Steward Xiang bought back the items, she really wanted to have him return everything. But she didn’t dare say so, afraid of making Cheng Chi lose face. She could only sit here where out of sight was out of mind, waiting for Cheng Chi.

Nanny Shang smiled and said, “Fan Qi is guarding the gate! As soon as Fourth Master returns, he’ll come report to you…”

The people used in this household were either her people or Cheng Chi’s people, and most were actually her people. Zhou Shaojin felt very secure. Giving them orders also felt particularly smooth.

Zhou Shaojin held the plum in her hand.

A young servant ran in and said, “Second Young Miss, Fourth Master has returned!”

Zhou Shaojin lifted her skirt and ran out.

Li Shi in the main hall saw this and hurriedly sent a maid to follow and see what was happening.

In the outer courtyard stood several men Zhou Shaojin didn’t recognize. Either tall or burly in build, they were speaking in low voices, suddenly making the outer courtyard seem cramped.

She couldn’t care about much else. Lowering her head, she ran into Cheng Chi’s study.

Huai Shan stood to one side with clasped hands. Qingfeng was helping Cheng Chi change clothes.

Seeing Zhou Shaojin burst in, Cheng Chi hurriedly covered his clothing, but just as the garment closed, he seemed to remember something. His hand paused, and he began slowly tying his sash.

Zhou Shaojin didn’t notice any of this at all. Before she could speak, tears fell first.

Before Cheng Chi could signal to Huai Shan with his eyes, Huai Shan had already glared at Qingfeng and walked outside.

Qingfeng hesitated for a moment, looked at Zhou Shaojin with an inscrutable expression, then followed Huai Shan and withdrew.

Cheng Chi thought for a moment, then walked over and placed his hand on Zhou Shaojin’s shoulder, saying softly in a low voice, “What’s the matter?”

Zhou Shaojin was extremely distressed and choked out, “You, you can’t live here! You should move to the main hall. I’ll live here…”

“Nonsense!” Cheng Chi smiled and gently scolded her. “With you and Madam here, how could I move into the inner residence?”

Zhou Shaojin knew this perfectly well, but whenever she thought of Uncle Chi, who used Such-Is-What-I-Heard incense, living adjacent to female servants, she felt as if sitting on pins and needles.

“Then you should move to the rear section,” she said desperately, like a sick person trying any doctor. “Enter and exit through the back gate.”

Having him enter and exit through the back gate—what would that look like?

Cheng Chi’s heart felt soft.

The little girl was truly anxious, unable to bear seeing him suffer even the slightest grievance.

He gently embraced Zhou Shaojin and smiled, saying, “More nonsense. I’m only staying here temporarily for a few days. Once my business is mostly handled, I’ll move to Chaoyang Gate… It’s fine! All right?”

That’s right!

How could she have forgotten this?

Zhou Shaojin wiped her tears with embarrassment, feeling she was utterly foolish.

Cheng Chi embraced her again and said, “Go back now! Come over this evening to play chess with me!”