After hearing this, Zhou Shaojin felt somewhat hesitant and said, “I want to go with you…”
Cheng Chi knew she wanted to help him. Smiling, he kissed her forehead and said gently, “No need. Look at Grand Secretary Song—Lady Song doesn’t go out to socialize much either. Every couple is different. There are those like my mother, and those like Lady Song. You just need to do what you like. A wife’s status rises with her husband’s. Without my father, even someone like my mother would have no place to use her talents. But someone like Lady Song still commands respect when she goes out.”
“But if I could be like Mother, wouldn’t some things be easier?” Zhou Shaojin said hesitantly. “I want to be with you and not hold you back.”
“That’s not the same either,” Cheng Chi smiled. “Sometimes the more you say, the more mistakes you make; if you say nothing, you make no mistakes. If you can help me be filial to Mother at home and bear me a few more babies, that’s just as good.”
Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed red again.
Thinking of how Lady Song had always been fond of Zhou Shaojin, Cheng Chi smiled and said, “If you want to come with me, let’s go to the Song residence together. After we visit Old Master Song, I’ll go talk with Grand Secretary Song while you visit Lady Song. We’ll make it a social call.”
“Let’s not do that!” Zhou Shaojin said embarrassedly. “You’re going to the Song residence on official business!”
“It won’t delay anything,” Cheng Chi said with a smile as he put his arm around her. “Go quickly and change your clothes. We’ll go to the Song residence together.”
“Is it really all right?” Zhou Shaojin still worried about becoming a burden to Cheng Chi.
“It really is all right!” Cheng Chi smiled. “If it weren’t, I definitely wouldn’t take you.”
Then she would just get along well with Lady Song.
The two went to inform Old Madam Guo, fed Yun Ge’er, set a time for their return, and went to the Song residence together.
The Song residence had already received word. Lord Song and Lady Song personally welcomed them at the main gate.
The two went to see Old Master Song.
Old Master Song coughed severely, but his spirits were quite high. He spoke of dredging the Yellow River with great familiarity. But when he spoke of Kaifeng’s government affairs, he could only recall the general outline, showing that back then Old Master Song had devoted all his attention to the river works.
After everyone had talked for a while, Old Master Song showed signs of fatigue, so Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Chi rose to take their leave.
Grand Secretary Song’s face immediately fell. He said to Cheng Chi, “The memorial requesting merit recognition has already been submitted. You must be prepared for tomorrow morning’s court audience as well. As for the old master here, come visit whenever you’re free. The imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau say that the old master lived too hard in his youth. When dredging the Yellow River, he was reckless and heedless, and has already accumulated illness from overwork. Now he’s just living on borrowed time in his final radiance!”
Zhou Shaojin had already sensed this vaguely when she saw Old Master Song’s condition.
Cheng Chi had taken Old Master Song’s pulse before and reached the same conclusion as the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau. He had been mentally prepared. Even so, hearing this made his expression darken. He said in a low voice, “When I have time, I’ll come often to see the old master.”
Grand Secretary Song nodded, moisture glinting at the corners of his eyes.
Both Zhou Shaojin and Lady Song felt quite upset watching this. None of them felt like talking, and they returned to the flower hall in silence.
Grand Secretary Song and Cheng Chi went to the study to talk. Lady Song and Zhou Shaojin went to the main house’s sitting room. On Grand Secretary Song’s side, he asked about Cheng Chi’s plans, while Lady Song chatted with Zhou Shaojin about household matters: “…Dalang has set the date for the first day of the ninth month. You must come early for the wedding. Dalang is the eldest son, and the Song family hasn’t held a happy occasion in over ten years. All the relatives from Madam’s side will be coming. I’m afraid I’ll be too busy to manage everything, so you must come help me.”
The “Madam” Lady Song referred to was Grand Secretary Song’s first wife—meaning the relatives from Song Mu’s birth mother’s side.
Zhou Shaojin readily agreed and asked about the two young ladies from that side.
Lady Song pursed her lips and said, “They’ve both married—one married a petty official, the other married a merchant. The master has kept a cold face about it, so they come to our home less often now…”
Before she finished speaking, a commotion came from outside.
Lady Song frowned and was just about to ask who it was when the beaded curtain rustled loudly, and thirteen-year-old Song Sen burst in: “Sister Shaojin, Sister Shaojin, when did you arrive? Why didn’t you say so earlier? Did Yun Ge’er come with you?”
“You scoundrel!” Lady Song’s face darkened. “How dare you speak like that?”
Song Sen pouted, his handsome face full of grievance.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but smile, remembering how when things didn’t work out between her and Song Mu, he had run to tell her, “If my brother won’t marry you, wait until I grow up a bit and I’ll marry you.” She said with a laugh, “Asen, now I’m your ‘aunt,’ you can’t call me by name anymore!”
Song Sen raised his eyebrows and reluctantly called out “Aunt.”
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but laugh.
Lady Song also patted Song Sen’s head: “Hurry and bow to your aunt! You’re all dirty—where have you been running wild again?”
“I haven’t been wild!” Song Sen indignantly brushed away his mother’s hand and said, “I helped Madam with some tasks today.”
He now studied at Twin Crane Academy and had grown taller than Zhou Shaojin, though he was terribly thin, like a willow branch, making people worry he was too frail and might collapse at any moment.
Lady Song said, “All right, all right, go rest now! You’ll have dinner with your aunt later.”
Song Sen happily left.
Lady Song said embarrassedly to Zhou Shaojin, “This child is a bit stubborn. I’ve scolded him several times, but he won’t listen…”
“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Zhou Shaojin said with a smile. “Though he’s grown tall, he’s still a boy who hasn’t had his capping ceremony yet. What boy isn’t mischievous at times?”
The two chatted and laughed. When Song Mu returned, the men sat at one table and the women at another for dinner. Afterward, Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Chi hurried back.
Yun Ge’er was crying at the top of his lungs, with Old Madam Guo, the wet nurse, maids, and servants all surrounding him trying to cheer him up.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin return, everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief. Old Madam Guo even wiped sweat from her forehead and said, “Shaojin, this can’t continue. We must let him get used to being with the wet nurse.”
Her son’s appearance broke Zhou Shaojin’s heart. She didn’t know how much she regretted staying for dinner at the Song residence. She quickly took Yun Ge’er, coaxing him while saying, “I saw that he usually nurses at this time before, so I came back at this time…”
“It’s all right, it’s all right,” Old Madam Guo said with a smile. “Boys need to cry—it gives them loud voices and great strength. Look at his energy—he was just fussing and demanding you.” As she spoke, she also somewhat proudly touched Yun Ge’er, who was now lying obediently in Zhou Shaojin’s arms. “But this child is truly clever. He knows we’re not you, and no matter how we coax him it doesn’t work. Ordinary children don’t recognize people until they’re four or five months old!”
“Really?” Zhou Shaojin’s eyes lit up as she listened.
But Cheng Chi smiled and said, “I think he’s just being naughty.”
Old Madam Guo was displeased and said, “I raised you three brothers. I raised Zheng Jie’er and Xiao Jie’er. Even Sheng Jie’er came to my rooms after she turned one. Don’t I know what children are like?”
“Exactly!” Zhou Shaojin immediately said. “Mother has experience, so she must be right.”
Old Madam Guo’s expression brightened considerably.
When they returned to their room, Cheng Chi pinched Zhou Shaojin’s nose and said with a laugh, “You really hide your talents well. So you’re a little flatterer! No wonder my mother likes you so much!”
Zhou Shaojin, holding the child, couldn’t dodge. She said reproachfully, “What flatterer? Didn’t you say I should be filial to Mother? This isn’t some major matter—what’s wrong with going along with Mother’s words? Why would I contradict her and make the old lady unhappy?”
Cheng Chi laughed out loud and said, “Shaojin, you’re a person blessed with good fortune! Ten years ago, if someone had answered my mother like that, she would have glanced over with one eye, immediately lumped you in with the group of sycophants, and never associated with you again. Now she’s really getting on in years, acting like an old child—even someone like you can humor the old lady.”
Zhou Shaojin said shamelessly and brazenly, “Otherwise, how did I end up marrying Fourth Master?”
Cheng Chi laughed heartily, leaning close to her ear and saying suggestively, “It’s better when you call me Uncle Chi!”
Zhou Shaojin glared at him, then carried the child back to the inner chamber and sat down to nurse Yun Ge’er.
A figure appeared in the mirror, eyes and brows full of rippling romantic charm, making her blush again, not daring to look more than once.
After Yun Ge’er had eaten his fill, they coaxed him to sleep, and the wet nurse came in to carry the child to the adjacent room.
Cheng Chi held Zhou Shaojin under the mandarin duck quilt, turning red waves until he was satisfied. Only after the third watch drum sounded did they wash up again and lie down to sleep.
As a result, the next morning Zhou Shaojin slept heavily until the sun was high in the sky before getting up, only to be greeted by Fan Liushi’s delighted smile.
Probably everyone knew what she had been doing yesterday?
Zhou Shaojin hid behind the bed curtains, deceiving herself for quite a while before sheepishly getting up. After nursing Yun Ge’er, she went to Old Madam Guo’s quarters.
Seeing the daughter-in-law and son so loving toward each other, Old Madam Guo was pleased and had Zhenzhu bring up a bowl of skimmed black chicken soup with a smile: “Drink this quickly—it’s very nourishing.” Then she took Yun Ge’er into her arms.
Zhou Shaojin drank the chicken soup with a red face.
Old Madam Guo said to Yun Ge’er, “Your father has returned, and you’ll soon have a little brother or sister. Are you happy or not? Does our Yun Ge’er want a brother or a sister? According to your grandmother, having a sister would be good. One son and one daughter—good things come in pairs…”
Nanny Lu and the others laughed heartily.
Zhou Shaojin’s face grew even redder.
Old Madam Guo said to her with a smile, “Now that Fourth Master is back, I’m thinking of inviting your second uncle, eldest brother’s family, and second brother’s family over for a meal—it would also count as a welcoming feast for Fourth Master.”
Zhou Shaojin also felt they should gather together. She smiled in agreement and discussed with Old Madam Guo about setting the date for tomorrow. She sent people to invite both families with invitation cards while calling Biyu in to discuss the menu for the banquet. In the blink of an eye, it was afternoon. Those who had gone to deliver the invitations returned saying everyone would come. Zhou Shaojin then instructed Chun Wan to get the storeroom keys for Biyu, opened them to take out pastry molds and dishes for entertaining guests. Then Huai Shan returned with good news: “The Emperor has ordered the Court of State Ceremonial to draft an edict. Fourth Master has merit in dredging the Yellow River, and the Cabinet has proposed promoting him to Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate at the fourth rank, senior grade. The Directorate of Ceremonial has already affixed the seal. Once the Personnel Ministry issues the documents tomorrow, Fourth Master can go to the Personnel Ministry to receive his official rank of fourth grade, senior grade. Several lords from the Censorate and several lords from the Ministry of Works are all clamoring for Fourth Master to host a banquet. Fourth Master won’t be coming home for dinner tonight and specifically sent me back to inform you.”
“How wonderful! How wonderful!” Although they had been aiming for this position, when the matter was settled, both Old Madam Guo and Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but feel genuinely happy for Cheng Chi. Old Madam Guo even instructed Zhou Shaojin, “Quickly write a letter to your father-in-law and let him share in the joy too.”