Cheng Wei was somewhat surprised.

Grandfathers dote on eldest grandsons, while parents love their youngest sons.

He was the middle child with a mild temperament. His son, who had been so difficult to conceive, wasn’t an exceptionally outstanding child either. With Yuan Shi being so competitive and strong-willed, he hadn’t placed too many demands on his child.

But parents who worry for a lifetime only hope their children can live well when they’re no longer around to watch over them.

Being able to receive Mother’s guidance would certainly greatly benefit his son in dealing with people and handling affairs.

Cheng Wei quickly agreed.

Cheng Chi said nothing more.

Cheng Jing had always felt that for a family to prosper, one generation must support the next.

If Cheng Rang had this fortune, with the two brothers working together, outsiders would take another look at the Cheng family.

He very much approved of Cheng Chi’s suggestion.

The three brothers went to the study in the outer courtyard to accompany Cheng Shao and drink tea.

Inside the room, Cheng Zheng asked about the clan division matter.

After all, she was a married daughter—one side was her in-laws, the other her natal family. Both palms and backs of hands were flesh.

Old Madam Guo smiled and said, “Don’t worry about this matter. If the Gu family asks, just say you don’t know.”

Cheng Zheng felt bitter inside.

Regardless of whether this family division succeeded or not, the blame for dividing the clan would probably be borne by her mother, Madam Yuan.

But she also understood that it was too late to say anything now.

Cheng Zheng grasped Old Madam Guo’s hand and began sobbing. “I know Mother’s temperament. Not only would I have difficulty persuading her, even you would rarely be able to move her… But she is still my mother. I can’t just watch and not care. I don’t dare think too much about other things—I only beg that Grandmother, for the sake of Jiashan being your eldest grandson, please advise him!”

Old Madam Guo remained silent for a long while.

Back when Yuan Shi had entered the family and given birth to their eldest daughter Cheng Zheng, there was no movement for several years. She prayed to gods and Buddha. Then she gave birth to another daughter. She was naturally extremely anxious. Besides seeking medical treatment, she frequented various monasteries—where would she have the mood or time to manage two daughters? Seeing this, Old Madam Guo took both Cheng Zheng and Cheng Xiao into her quarters to raise them. By the time Yuan Shi gave birth to Cheng Xu, Cheng Zheng was already a twelve-year-old young lady. Even Cheng Xiao had matured. They were closer to Old Madam Guo than to Yuan Shi. In the first few years, Yuan Shi was busy caring for Cheng Xu, this single precious sprout, and didn’t notice. By the time she did notice, Cheng Zheng had already married, and Cheng Xiao was about to discuss her marriage prospects.

This was also why Cheng Xiao married her own cousin Yuan Ming.

Therefore, when it came to Cheng Xu, she guarded against Old Madam Guo as if against a thief. Not only did she not allow Old Madam Guo to interfere with her son’s food, clothing, and needs, even when he began his studies, she didn’t rely on Old Madam Guo.

Old Madam Guo had spoken up a few times at first, telling her not to just focus on the child’s studies, but also to let the child go out into the world to stand tall and take responsibility.

Yuan Shi agreed verbally, but turned around and continued as before.

Yet Cheng Xu happened to excel at his studies. When others spoke of him, they all gave thumbs up in praise. Even Cheng Jing, caught between the two of them, looked thoroughly troubled.

It was Fourth Branch’s Old Madam Guan who privately advised Old Madam Guo, “Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. Manage and manage until you create enmity.” At that time, Old Madam Guo was overwhelmed with worry about Cheng Chi’s affairs, so she could only wave her hand helplessly. Instead, it was Old Madam Guan who began visiting regularly.

Now that Cheng Zheng was asking her to discipline Cheng Xu, she had probably calculated that with Yuan Shi making such a scene and losing womanly virtue, if she now took over managing Cheng Xu’s education, neither Yuan Shi nor Cheng Jing would dare say “no” at this time.

But Old Madam Guo’s heart had already grown cold, and she didn’t want to take over.

Never mind other things—just speaking of Cheng Zheng and Cheng Xiao, she had raised them with her own hands, and they could certainly be called filial toward her. But if she truly had a conflict with Yuan Shi, they would probably still favor Yuan Shi more. It wasn’t that these children were wrong—this was human nature, and no one could avoid it.

It wasn’t as if she had no sons.

Dalang had her stay here, while Erlang and Silang hadn’t made a sound!

This showed that people were still closer to those who gave birth to them. Otherwise, why had there been debates about “birth grace” and “raising grace” since ancient times?

With Cheng Zheng’s intelligence and understanding of Old Madam Guo, she could naturally guess four or five parts of Old Madam Guo’s thoughts.

Before Old Madam Guo could speak, she said, “Grandmother, I know this matter puts you in a difficult position too. I don’t dare hope that Jiashan can be outstanding in everything like Father, Second Uncle, and Fourth Uncle. I only hope he can be ambitious. If you see he still has some hope of being saved, please help guide him a little.”

Thinking of that face that had once been as brilliant as blooming flowers but was now silent as snow, Old Madam Guo couldn’t help but feel compassion. She couldn’t help but let out a long sigh and said, “We’ll talk about it when Jiashan arrives in the capital!”

Seeing that Old Madam Guo’s tone had softened, Cheng Zheng was overjoyed. She grasped Old Madam Guo’s hand and thanked her repeatedly.

Seeing this, Old Madam Guo also smiled, sighing, “Foolish child, this only makes things difficult for you!”

“As long as the family can live together in peace and harmony, how can there be talk of difficulty?” Cheng Zheng smiled. “Moreover, Grandmother is an extraordinary woman who yields to no man. Getting your guidance is even better than Father’s…”

She coaxed Old Madam Guo until even Second Madam Wei, who had just changed clothes and entered, couldn’t help but laugh.

The three of them chatted about family matters until a little maid came to report that Gu Xu had arrived. Only then did the conversation end, and they had the little maid lead Gu Xu and the two children in to pay respects to Old Madam Guo.

※※※

At Yuqian Alley, Zhou Shaojin was somewhat restless.

Cheng Chi had matters to attend to today and couldn’t accompany her. Li Shi had also set the first of June as the date to depart and return to Baoding, saying they couldn’t miss Zhou Zhen’s birthday.

The Li family’s uncle had finally managed to strike up a conversation with a young eunuch who served Liu Yong, asking him to pass word to Liu Yong, wanting to become an imperial merchant.

The current emperor disliked eunuchs and kept those around him under tight control. Even Liu Yong, the grand eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, didn’t dare act brazenly.

He had previously served in the Wine and Vinegar Bureau, and after over ten years there, everyone there was his person. He asked if the Li family had a wine and vinegar business. If they did, he could help put in a word.

The Li family happened to have a wine brewery, and quite a large-scale one at that. Their wine had some reputation not only in Jiujiang but throughout Jiangxi.

Uncle Li was a businessman. Within a few days after Official Brother’s full month celebration, he had arranged with the people at the Wine and Vinegar Bureau about delivering wine.

Otherwise, Li Shi wouldn’t have delayed until June to depart!

Uncle Li wanted to travel with them, then go together to Baoding Prefecture to visit Zhou Zhen and tell him about Cheng Chi’s kindness—he was clear as a mirror in his heart that without the Zhou family, the Cheng family wouldn’t even glance at him.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t calm down even while doing needlework. She simply tossed aside the women’s classics and leaned against the large welcoming pillow by the window, staring blankly at the newly planted Western Mansion crabapple trees in front of the steps.

She wondered what Uncle Chi had really gone to do.

He used to come and go mysteriously too, going out for a few days and completing a business deal…

She somewhat regretted not questioning the maid who came to deliver the message more thoroughly.

At least she would know when Uncle Chi would return!

Zhou Shaojin then recalled how Cheng Chi had held her from behind to tell her about the mounting matter.

Her face immediately flushed hot. In her heart, she silently spat at Cheng Chi, thinking to herself that the man always liked to put his hands on her—why was she looking forward to his return? If he didn’t come back, she could enjoy a few days of peace and quiet to properly review what he’d taught her.

Understanding in her heart was one thing, but she just couldn’t help thinking about it!

This was probably what it meant to have love deeply rooted!

Thinking this, Zhou Shaojin’s face grew even redder.

A small pebble struck the glazed window lattice with a “pa la” sound.

Zhou Shaojin didn’t notice.

But the small pebble would land on the glazed window lattice every little while, as if some mischievous child found amusement in this.

Zhou Shaojin frowned and ordered Ji Xiang to go out and look.

Ji Xiang made a round but found nothing.

The “pa la” sound also disappeared.

When Ji Xiang came back in, the “pa la” sound started again.

Zhou Shaojin ordered Ji Xiang to summon the guard. Suddenly, a beautiful face appeared outside the window lattice, that beautiful face full of resentment, saying, “Shaojin, how old are you today anyway? You don’t have any trace of a young girl’s manner! I threw so many stones, yet you stubbornly didn’t show even a bit of curiosity. Not coming out to check would be one thing, but you actually had the little maid call the guard…”

“Ji Ying!” Zhou Shaojin was both surprised and delighted. She immediately pushed open the already ajar window lattice and said urgently, “When did you arrive in the capital? Uncle Chi mentioned before that you would come soon, but you never came. Have you gone home now? Are your father and brother and sister-in-law well?”

She fired off questions like a barrage of cannonballs.

Ji Ying pursed her lips in a smile. After she finished, Ji Ying answered irrelevantly, “Do you know about my situation?”

Zhou Shaojin was somewhat confused. “Know about what?”

A rosy cloud rose on Ji Ying’s cheeks. Standing just outside the window lattice, she began talking with Zhou Shaojin. “…My family wants me to become engaged to Qin Ziping. I’m unwilling… But that scoundrel Qin Ziping agreed. He had promised me before to decline this match, but who knew he would turn around and run off? Our two families discussed it and exchanged betrothal gifts, and I was confined to the embroidery tower. I finally managed to escape.

“This time I came to settle accounts with Qin Ziping.

“To see why exactly he went back on his word.

“But your Uncle Chi isn’t home.

“Shaojin, have you heard any news of Qin Ziping?”

Zhou Shaojin shook her head. “I’ll help you ask Uncle Chi!” She then advised her, “I think Qin Ziping is quite nice. Do you really dislike him that much?”

Ji Ying blushed without speaking, only saying, “Then please help me ask about Qin Ziping’s whereabouts.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded, then complained, “Speaking of which, this is all your Uncle Chi’s fault. Why did he have to play matchmaker for me?” She continued, “You probably don’t know this, but the Qin family aren’t Cheng family servants. Their family has free status and only helps the Cheng family with business matters. Now I can’t find not only Qin Ziping and Qin Zi’an, but I haven’t seen anyone else from the Qin family either. Last time I saw Qin Ziping, he said the Qin family might divide. His branch and Second Great-Uncle’s branch might return to their old home in Sichuan to farm, while his Third Great-Uncle’s branch might continue serving the Cheng family. Tell me, he couldn’t have quietly gone to his old home in Sichuan, could he? If they want me to marry that far away, even the Heavenly King wouldn’t agree!”

All self-contradictory words.

It was clear this marriage wasn’t as filled with resentment as Ji Ying claimed.

Zhou Shaojin smiled at Ji Ying. “Standing on either side of the window lattice to talk is so tiring! Why not come in for a cup of tea?”

Ji Ying walked in.

Zhou Shaojin ordered the little maid to serve tea.

The little maid stared dumbfounded at Ji Ying who had suddenly appeared in the room.