Old Madam Tang’s nephew was furious at the time. What he relied on was nothing more than the fact that Cheng Jing now held high rank and great power and couldn’t afford to lose face. But when the Cheng family’s people grabbed him to send him to Shuntian Prefecture, he became frightened and struggled to escape.
Qin Ziji sneered coldly.
To come cause trouble at the main gate of the Cheng family’s third branch—did he not see what kind of place this was?
If the Cheng family swallowed this insult now, wouldn’t everyone be able to follow suit in the future?
However, before Cheng Chi could return, Cheng Shi personally arrived with two stewards carrying several gift boxes. With a face full of remorse, he said to Qin Ziji, “It’s all because my cousin doesn’t understand propriety. I ask that Manager Qin look upon my grandmother’s face and not hold it against him. As for Little Aunt, please help me convey that I apologize on my cousin’s behalf.”
Qin Ziji could have easily found an excuse to dismiss Cheng Shi, but since Cheng Shi mentioned Zhou Shaojin, he couldn’t make the decision on his own. He smiled and invited Cheng Shi to sit in the flower hall of the outer courtyard, then sent someone to ask Zhou Shaojin for instructions.
See no evil, hear no evil.
Since the Cheng family’s servant woman had asked Zhou Shaojin to come out and speak, Cheng Sheng and the others naturally wouldn’t ask what had happened. Zhou Shaojin felt that Old Madam Tang’s distant nephew hadn’t gone to make trouble at Apricot Blossom Lane or with Cheng Wei, but had deliberately come to cause a scene at her doorstep—clearly picking on the soft persimmon. It was too humiliating, and she was too embarrassed to tell Zhou Chujin and the others. Seeing that everyone was considerate of her dignity and asked nothing, she couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief and continued chatting with them about family matters.
Unexpectedly, after she had barely spoken a few sentences, the young maid returned and said, “Madam, Nanny Shang has a matter requiring your instructions.”
Zhou Shaojin felt displeased.
Could it be that Old Madam Tang’s nephew had done something outrageous again?
She apologized to Cheng Sheng and the others and left the reception room.
Nanny Shang told Zhou Shaojin that Cheng Shi had rushed over wanting to apologize to Zhou Shaojin on his cousin’s behalf.
Zhou Shaojin most detested those who clearly knew they were wrong yet slapped you in the face, then felt that by apologizing the matter was settled and cleared.
She said, “Go tell him that men and women should maintain proper distance. Though I am an elder, given my age, it’s really inconvenient for me to receive male guests. Whatever he has to say, he can tell Manager Qin. If Manager Qin can’t make a decision, then he’ll just have to wait until Fourth Master returns.”
Nanny Shang had previously worried that Zhou Shaojin might soften. They had just sent the man to Shuntian Prefecture, and if Cheng Shi came in person to apologize and Zhou Shaojin couldn’t save face, she might immediately release Old Madam Tang’s nephew.
She answered “Yes” with a beaming smile, unable to conceal the schadenfreude flowing across her face.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but smile with pursed lips and said, “If you all still feel unsatisfied, why not let him wait like this? After all, there’s no one home who can make decisions. If he feels wronged, there should be someone to advocate for him, shouldn’t there? If he’s unwilling, then it’s perfect to part ways—he came to ask for help. If he can’t even endure this little grievance, clearly everything he said before was insincere!”
Nanny Shang couldn’t help laughing.
Zhou Shaojin then said, “When did Cheng Shi come to the capital? How is it we don’t know? Do you know where he’s staying? What did he come to the capital for?”
Nanny Shang smiled and said, “We only heard he wanted to participate in next year’s great examination and came to the capital early. Counting the days, he should have arrived this afternoon or tomorrow morning. He’s staying at the Gaosheng Inn next to the examination grounds. We just didn’t expect that as soon as he heard about his cousin causing trouble, he rushed over. According to the agreement between the two branches, he should be visiting the Old Master tomorrow, shouldn’t he?”
When they separated the clan branches, the two branches had an agreement that the senior branch would help Cheng Shi with the imperial examinations.
Of course, everyone knew this was impossible—it was merely settling for second best, hoping the senior branch wouldn’t deliberately obstruct Cheng Shi.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “In that case, we should let him wait even more. We’re not saying we won’t release the man, nor that we won’t see him—it’s just that circumstances have changed and he must wait.”
Making things difficult for people—who couldn’t do that!
Nanny Shang went to the front courtyard with a smile.
Zhou Shaojin returned to the main room displeased.
After all, Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin were sisters. Finding an opportunity, she couldn’t help asking for the reason.
Zhou Shaojin thought that since Cheng Shi had already come to the door, even if she wanted to suppress this matter it would be impossible. She might as well tell Cheng Sheng and the others everything in detail.
Everyone was greatly surprised. Especially Cheng Xiao, who widened her eyes and said, “I remember the second branch wasn’t like this before… How are they now like nouveau riche who can’t keep their composure?”
“That’s why there’s the saying about adversity revealing true character,” Zhou Chujin sighed. “In the past, Jiuru Lane was mighty and prosperous, like flowers adorning brocade—everything went smoothly. Who wouldn’t put on airs and play the magnanimous one? Now that they’re declining, they start calculating over things. Little do they know this makes them look even worse.”
Everyone couldn’t help sighing. Unwilling to continue circling this topic, they changed the subject to discuss Gong Tao, the embroiderer who had become famous throughout the capital in recent days.
In the flower hall, Cheng Shi received Nanny Shang’s message and clenched both hands tightly into fists in anger.
Yet he still had to thank Nanny Shang with a smiling face and wait patiently and quietly for Cheng Chi to return.
Since the separation of Jiuru Lane’s clan branches, he had encountered such situations more than once.
Had he known it would be like this, he should have refused to agree to the clan separation no matter what.
His great-grandfather was getting old and had begun to be overly cautious in his actions, wanting both to borrow the senior branch’s reputation and fearing that the senior branch would, as they had before, choose his second son to manage the Seven Star Hall.
In reality, his great-grandfather was truly mistaken.
The Cheng family already had enough silver to last several generations. They should have taken this opportunity to cast off the Seven Star Hall and completely sever ties with the martial world.
Unfortunately, it was too late to say anything now.
Cheng Chi didn’t play by the rules—striking here and there, and in just two or three short years had risen to a fourth-rank position and earned a reputation for integrity and aloofness.
The senior branch was far more formidable than they had imagined!
Thinking this, Cheng Shi slowly unclenched his hands.
When under someone’s roof, one should also learn to bow one’s head.
He waited all afternoon but never saw Cheng Chi return to the mansion—while paying respects to the Crown Prince, Cheng Shao had suddenly collapsed before the Crown Prince’s spirit tablet. The physician said Cheng Shao had succumbed to excessive grief. The Emperor personally instructed eunuchs to carry Cheng Shao into the warm pavilion beside the side hall to rest for half a day and bestowed half a cartload of medicinal materials in large and small packages. He specially issued an edict for him to return home to recuperate.
As his nephew, Cheng Jing was a Cabinet minister and couldn’t leave, so Cheng Chi escorted Cheng Shao back to Yuqian Lane. Since both Cheng Fen and Cheng Xun were gone, and Ah Bao and Ah Ren were still young and understood nothing, Cheng Chi attended to Cheng Shao at his bedside.
Zhou Shaojin and the others were all greatly alarmed when they heard the news.
Once they recovered their wits, Chaoyang Gate immediately became noisy.
Zhou Shaojin hastily instructed Chun Wan and others to pack Cheng Chi’s change of clothes. Qiu Shi called for a sedan chair and hurried to take Ah Bao and Ah Ren over. Cheng Sheng and Cheng Xiao might not have known otherwise, but knowing, they certainly had to go inquire about Cheng Shao’s condition.
Though the servant women rushed about everywhere, they did so silently.
Cheng Xiao and the others watched and nodded secretly in approval.
Since they were going to visit a sick person, Zhou Shaojin left the children with Zhou Chujin and rushed to Shuangyu Lane with Qiu Shi, Cheng Xiao, and Cheng Sheng, bringing Ah Bao and Ah Ren.
The eunuch who had escorted Cheng Shao back hadn’t yet left. Seeing that the Cheng family’s female relatives who weren’t attending the funeral—even the married-out daughters—had all rushed over, he said with some emotion, “It’s rare that you’re all so close.”
Zhou Shaojin’s heart stirred upon hearing this. Thinking of what the Emperor had experienced these days, she took her handkerchief and wiped the corners of her eyes though there were no tears. She slipped a purse to the eunuch and said in a low voice, “Thank you for your trouble, Gonggong. This is tea money for you—please don’t disdain it. Second Uncle’s household doesn’t have many people either. Where we’ve been remiss in hospitality, please be understanding, Gonggong.”
The gonggong was slightly startled, then his eyes and brows took on some smile. He said, “This servant is merely following orders. Lord Cheng is fine—it’s just momentary excessive grief. Plus, being advanced in years and perhaps not having anyone thoughtful to care for him regularly, he has some heart ailment. The imperial physician has already prescribed a formula. Madam need only follow the prescription to prepare medicine for Lord Cheng. The Emperor has already instructed Imperial Physician Cao from the Imperial Medical Bureau—Imperial Physician Cao will come daily to check Lord Cheng’s pulse.”
Before he finished speaking, another eunuch came riding up on horseback, dragging a carriage behind him. Out of breath, he called out at the gate, “Imperial edict from His Majesty! Quickly receive the decree!”
Except for the ailing Cheng Shao, everyone came out and knelt with Cheng Chi to receive the decree.
Only then did the newly arrived eunuch say, “His Majesty, pitying that Lord Cheng lives alone with no one to care for his daily needs, specially bestows Aunt Chang from the Qianqing Palace to Lord Cheng. I’ve already brought her. Young Lord Cheng, please find a place to settle Aunt Chang! His Majesty is still waiting for this servant to return and report!”
Everyone in the courtyard was stunned.
This was during the national mourning period!
Bestowing a senior palace maid to Cheng Shao—did this count as a concubine? Or as a servant woman?
If a concubine, Cheng Shao respected Daoist health cultivation practices and had given up such thoughts after his wife’s death. If a servant woman, could someone who had served the Emperor be casually ordered about?
Had the Emperor, overcome with grief, become confused?
Not only the Cheng family members, but even the two eunuchs thought so.
Cheng Chi was the first to react. He rose, thanked the edict-bearing eunuch, quietly slipped him a red envelope, and gave Zhou Shaojin a meaningful look.
Since Qiu Shi was here, she naturally couldn’t steal the limelight at this moment.
She hurriedly took Qiu Shi’s arm and softly called “Second Sister-in-law.”
Qiu Shi said “Oh” and went in a fluster to welcome Aunt Chang down from the carriage.
Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief.
This Aunt Chang was of medium build with fair, delicate skin, an oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, and gentle, kind eyes. Her expression was reserved and composed, with excellent bearing.
None of this was the important part.
The important part was that Aunt Chang appeared at first glance to be only twenty-five or twenty-six years old, but upon closer inspection, both the corners of her eyes and her neck showed traces of weathering—she was at least in her forties.
Whether Cheng Shao treated her as a concubine or servant woman, having her at Cheng Shao’s side wouldn’t be too inappropriate.
But this demonstrated the Emperor’s favor toward Cheng Shao—even selecting someone suitable to attend him.
Zhou Shaojin then looked toward Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi happened to look over as well.
The couple exchanged glances.
Zhou Shaojin respectfully performed a courtesy to Aunt Chang. Only then did Qiu Shi collect herself and introduce Cheng Zheng and the others to Aunt Chang.