Hearing Zhou Shaojin’s words, Cheng Chi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He affectionately pinched her cheek and smiled, “Why do I get the feeling you can’t wait for the court to send me back home?”

“Not at all!” Since Cheng Chi enjoyed water conservancy work, she naturally wanted to support him. Even if Zhou Shaojin thought this way in her heart, she didn’t dare say so. “I’m afraid of ‘suddenly seeing willow catkins on the roadside and regretting sending my husband to seek noble rank.'”

“In the end, you just miss me!” Cheng Chi teased Zhou Shaojin playfully, whispering in her ear, “Don’t worry. When I return, I’ll properly deal with you and won’t let you develop any ‘boudoir resentment.'”

That suggestive tone, that implied teasing, made Zhou Shaojin’s ears turn red.

She had no idea what to say and fled in panic. “I, I’m going to see if the dry rations prepared for you are ready!”

Cheng Chi laughed heartily.

When Zhou Shaojin appeared before him again, he couldn’t help but embrace her once more, saying gently, “I’m sorry to make you return alone. I’ve already written to Mother. If you’re afraid, I’ll have Mother keep you company. If you want to be alone, have Nanny Shang accompany you to stay at Yuqian Alley for a while. When you have nothing to do, visit Elder Sister’s place. I’ll explain things to Mother—say it was my arrangement. I won’t let Mother develop any dissatisfaction with you. Just rest assured!”

Was this warm embrace about to disappear?

Would she be alone again?

Only now did Zhou Shaojin feel the sensation of parting.

She felt her tears were about to fall.

“I want to return to the Chaoyang Gate residence.” That was where they had their room, where she became his wife. She wanted to stay there, to wait there. “Mother and Madam Yuan don’t get along. It’s better to let her stay at our home…”

As Zhou Shaojin spoke, she even felt some sympathy for Old Madam Guo.

Such a strong, formidable, yet compassionate old madam—now that she was older, she had no place of her own. Not wanting to follow her eldest son, she could only make do with her youngest son.

She couldn’t help asking, “Can’t Mother live with us? Must she return to Xinglin Alley?”

Cheng Jing was the eldest son, the one who inherited the family business and maintained the household. If they divided the household and Old Madam Guo lived with the youngest son, rumors would spread that she was dissatisfied with the eldest son and daughter-in-law, which would be very detrimental to Cheng Jing’s official career. When it truly came time to divide the household, just based on this point alone, Cheng Jing and Madam Yuan would never agree to the division.

Cheng Chi liked that she called the Chaoyang Gate residence “home.” He also liked that she called his mother “Mother.”

“So are you willing to divide the household?” Cheng Chi asked her.

Zhou Shaojin hesitated without speaking.

Of course she was willing to divide the household.

Dividing the household would mean she wouldn’t have to deal with Cheng Xu anymore.

But she also knew the principle of “while parents live, don’t divide the household.” Moreover, the current First Branch was different from other families. They had just separated the clan branches. She couldn’t influence such a major matter just because of her own preferences. Yet she didn’t realize that subconsciously she felt Cheng Chi would do things that others considered unconventional for her sake.

Cheng Chi smiled and shook his head. “Shaojin, I clearly know what you’re thinking. Do you know why I still ask you?”

Zhou Shaojin shook her head.

Cheng Chi sighed. “I hope you’ll know that no matter how unconventional something is, as long as you want it, you can tell me…”

Just like how when she said she was reborn, Fourth Brother immediately believed her?

Zhou Shaojin buried her head in his chest.

Cheng Chi smiled helplessly yet indulgently.

There was still time ahead!

He had the patience to watch over this flower until she quietly bloomed.

Cheng Chi didn’t press her further but said with a somewhat teasing tone and a smile, “Let me give you another idea. If Big Brother and Sister-in-law are unwilling to divide the household because of Mother, you can privately tell Second Sister-in-law that with me not at home, you’re afraid being alone. If Mother lives with Big Brother and Sister-in-law, can you have Mother come stay at Chaoyang Gate? Then during Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and other occasions requiring ancestral worship, Mother can return to Xinglin Alley…”

Hearing this, Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but lightly punch Cheng Chi, saying coquettishly, “You’re so bad! Making me use Second Sister-in-law as a pawn.”

“What do you mean I’m bad?” Cheng Chi said shamelessly. “Even if you wanted to use Second Sister-in-law as a pawn, it would only work if she herself was hoping for an early household division!”

Zhou Shaojin said, “Rang Ge’er is getting bigger and bigger. The residence at Xinglin Alley was already small to begin with. After Big Brother entered the cabinet as an assistant minister, his social obligations increased. I heard that just the outer study has been expanded twice. At this rate, when it comes time for Rang Ge’er to marry, they probably won’t even know where to arrange the bridal chamber. How could Second Sister-in-law not want to divide the household? Even if she herself doesn’t move out, being able to establish some property for Rang Ge’er so that when he marries he won’t have to live awkwardly at Xinglin Alley, and knowing she can move out at any time—this would put her mind at ease. At least any conflicts wouldn’t reach the point of creating rifts between them. How could Second Sister-in-law not be willing?”

Hearing this, Cheng Chi was somewhat surprised and smiled. “So you understand everything!”

Zhou Shaojin glared at him. “I’m not a fool—how could I not know!”

It was just that normally she didn’t need to worry about these things, so she didn’t concern herself with them.

Cheng Chi smiled and hugged her. “It’s good that you know. Knowing this, I can go to Jining with peace of mind.”

Zhou Shaojin reluctantly hugged him back. She wanted to ask “when can you return?” The words came to her lips, but fearing she would delay Cheng Chi, she quickly swallowed them. She just clung longingly to Cheng Chi’s chest, listening to the powerful “thump-thump-thump” of his heartbeat, gently closing her eyes.

Cheng Chi was also reluctant to part.

He had left his mother and home at a young age. In his view, as long as his heart was at peace, anywhere could be home. He hadn’t expected that in just a few short days, he would become so attached to this little person in his arms, like a kite whose string had been grasped—though the kite flew freely outside, the end of the string was always the direction of his return.

Perhaps he really should think about how to transfer back to the capital!

The two murmured many nonsensical words, from needing to take a walk in the garden after dinner each evening to the garden being too large and needing to assign another servant to care for Snowball, and so on. It wasn’t until Huai Shan came to urge them, saying the horses were ready and if they didn’t set out now they would miss the lodging place, that Zhou Shaojin reluctantly saw Cheng Chi off.

That night, sleeping alone on the bed with its heated floor channels, she felt so cold she shivered.

Where had Fourth Brother traveled to?

Had he missed the lodging place?

The evening wind was so cold—would Huai Shan warm a bed warmer for him?

He was always used to ordering others around. When he went to Jining, would he become impatient when those censors questioned him?

If he was dismissed from office because of this, would he feel he had lost face?

Would it ruin his great ambition of water conservancy work?

Zhou Shaojin tossed and turned. Only when there was movement in the courtyard did she realize with a start that the sky had already brightened.

She sighed and got up, hastily had breakfast, and bid farewell to Father and Lady Li.

Seeing her poor complexion, Zhou Zhen and Lady Li consoled her one after another: “Zichuan isn’t some greenhorn just starting out. He knows when to advance and retreat. Even in the worst case, he has his elder brother to back him up. He reported to the Ministry of Works when he took leave to come back for the wedding. The censor won’t make things difficult for him.”

She knew this.

She just missed him!

Zhou Shaojin forced a smile, gathered her spirits to bid farewell to Father and Lady Li, and returned to the capital under Qin Yang’s protection.

On the road, she no longer had any interest in admiring the scenery along the way. She only wanted to quickly return to the capital, to return to her and Cheng Chi’s home. Several times, because she insisted on continuing the journey, they missed post stations and had to camp outdoors. Fortunately, the official road from Baoding to the capital saw many high-ranking officials and nobles traveling, so there were no bandits or mounted brigands. Qin Yang had traveled the jianghu with Cheng Chi and had extensive experience camping outdoors. Understanding Zhou Shaojin’s eagerness to return home, he arranged everything properly along the way. What was originally a seven-day journey took only four days to reach the capital.

Who would have known that Old Madam Guo not only brought Madam Yuan to meet her, but Qiu Shi and Cheng Wei had also come.

Madam Yuan and Qiu Shi were one thing, but even Cheng Wei had come—truly giving Zhou Shaojin tremendous face.

She quickly stepped forward to pay her respects.

Madam Yuan and Qiu Shi returned the courtesy, while Cheng Wei stepped aside.

Old Madam Guo then took her hand and said, “What happened? Fourth Brother’s letter wasn’t clear. How could they call him back, and in such a hurry…”

Zhou Shaojin quickly consoled her mother-in-law. “I heard the court is sending a censor to inspect the progress of the river works. That’s something my husband handled, so he understands it best. That’s why Minister Yang sent someone to Baoding Prefecture… This is official business for my husband. You see, even my father couldn’t leave when marrying off his daughter. That Fourth Master could take leave to return for the wedding was already a grace from Minister Yang, Grand Secretary Song, and the court. Now that something has happened in Jining, how could he stand by idly? Please don’t be angry. Water conservancy work benefits the people and brings merit for a thousand autumns. Don’t you also hope Fourth Brother’s name will be recorded in history?”

Old Madam Guo laughed. “You child—I say one sentence and you have ten waiting for me. Go ahead and indulge his reckless behavior, just don’t come crying to me later!”

If this were before, Zhou Shaojin would have definitely said decisively that she wouldn’t, that she would support Cheng Chi in doing anything he liked. But these past few days of separation had gnawed at her heart and lungs. She didn’t dare guarantee she wouldn’t secretly cry—how could she dare say things like “I won’t”?

She smiled sheepishly.

Which mother-in-law wouldn’t be pleased that her daughter-in-law was willing to indulge her son?

Though Old Madam Guo complained about her son verbally, hearing Zhou Shaojin answer this way made her very happy inside. She took Zhou Shaojin’s hand and said, “Good child, the journey must have been exhausting. Let’s hurry back so you can rest comfortably.”

Zhou Shaojin obediently responded and helped Old Madam Guo into her carriage.

Madam Yuan glanced at Zhou Shaojin’s carriage and said dismissively to Qiu Shi, “Which of us didn’t have our husbands away from home just days after marrying…”

Qiu Shi quickly smiled. “Fourth Sister-in-law is young!”

“Were we really that much older than her back then?” Madam Yuan said indifferently.

Revealing a trace of dissatisfaction.

Qiu Shi fell silent.

Madam Yuan sneered inwardly.

She and Qiu Shi had been sisters-in-law for so many years, yet she had never heard her say anything bad about anyone.

One could see how guarded she was against her!

Such a sister-in-law—it was better to have less contact!

Thinking this, Madam Yuan turned and boarded her own carriage.

Qiu Shi breathed a sigh of relief.

She decided it was better to move out sooner rather than later.

Fourth Sister-in-law had only just married in—there would surely be more commotion in the future.

She already felt very strained now. Later on, she would surely be caught in the middle, wrong no matter which side she took.