Min Jia decided to stay out of it.
However, a young maid came rushing over in a panic, saying: “The Old Madam and Fourth Madam have arrived.”
Now she couldn’t avoid it even if she wanted to!
Min Jia steeled herself and went to greet Old Madam Guo and Zhou Shaojin at the second gate.
“What exactly is going on here?” Old Madam Guo’s sharp gaze swept over Min Jia as she asked, “Where is Dalang? Where is Jiashan?”
Who would have known that Madam Yuan, who treasured her son like the apple of her eye, would actually strike him when he defied her!
Min Jia couldn’t help but complain inwardly, but before Old Madam Guo she dared not show the slightest trace of unusual emotion. She lowered her head and said respectfully: “Someone has already been sent to inform Father-in-law, but hasn’t returned yet. My husband and mother-in-law are in the study… We didn’t dare say anything…”
Old Madam Guo nodded, her heart turning slightly cold.
Because the mother-in-law had lost her temper and quarreled with her husband, and to avoid offending anyone—since the matter was so serious it couldn’t be allowed to continue—standing outside like someone afraid of inviting trouble… Though this was the most prudent approach, Old Madam Guo thought of how Zhou Shaojin would act rashly whenever anything happened to Cheng Chi, and suddenly felt annoyed by such prudence.
Thinking of the conversation between mother and son earlier, Min Jia quickly called through the curtain “Grandmother has arrived” and lifted it.
Zhou Shaojin hesitated for a moment but didn’t enter.
Yuan Shi was already too angry to know what to say. The ruler lay discarded on the floor, and she sat alone with reddened eyes in the armchair nearby.
Cheng Xu knelt before Yuan Shi, his hair somewhat disheveled, his expression cold. Dressed in a blue-green Hangzhou silk robe, no external injuries were visible.
Old Madam Guo quickly went to help Cheng Xu up with concern, turning her head to say to Yuan Shi: “He’s already married with an official position. Even if you want to discipline him, you can’t beat him with a board like he’s an ignorant child! Get up quickly. You’re an educated, literate person. Heaven, Earth, sovereign, parents, and teachers—how could you anger your mother like this? What can’t be discussed properly? Self-cultivation, family management, state governance, world peace—if a true man cannot even handle domestic affairs well, how can he handle court matters? You’re not a child anymore. What words should be said, what words shouldn’t be said, what words should be said now, what words should be said later—you should distinguish clearly…”
Standing outside, Min Jia looked at Zhou Shaojin with some surprise and couldn’t help but reassess her.
She wore a lake-blue plain jacket, with only precious flower borders along the collar, cuffs, and hem. Her face was fair and pink, her bright eyes like autumn water, even more radiant than the spring sunlight.
If she knew that Cheng Xu was giving up the Hanlin Academy examination because of her, what expression would she show?
Min Jia wondered.
But Zhou Shaojin stepped back a few paces and explained to her in a low voice: “The master’s dignity matters most. I won’t go in.”
Properly speaking, Zhou Shaojin was her aunt by marriage. If Zhou Shaojin didn’t go in, someone needed to keep her company. Min Jia also didn’t want to go in—she didn’t want to hear the troubling matters between Cheng Xu and Yuan Shi, mother and son. Hearing this, she lowered her voice and said: “Auntie speaks wisely. Shall I accompany you to the tea room for some tea?”
Zhou Shaojin nodded.
Whether Cheng Xu was determined not to take the Hanlin examination or speaking rashly in anger, such a major matter would draw Cheng Jing, Cheng Chi, and even Cheng Shao to come persuade him. She had no intention of getting involved.
The two went to the tea room. Min Jia had a maid bring out tea utensils and personally prepared kungfu tea for Zhou Shaojin: “…The tea from our Fujian region is all large-leaf tea. The leaf tea also grows on trees, unlike Jiangnan tea leaves that grow on short, low bushes. So the tea from our area can withstand many infusions—seven or eight steepings are common, and each steeping tastes different. Since Auntie rarely visits Xinlin Alley, why not try the tea I brew?”
“Thank you!” Zhou Shaojin smiled and exchanged pleasantries with her.
Soon the courtyard filled with chaotic footsteps and servants’ loud announcements: “The Master has returned!”
“The Second Elder Master has arrived!”
“The Fourth Master has arrived!”
Min Jia smiled bitterly and said apologetically to Zhou Shaojin: “Because of my husband’s matter, everyone has been troubled!”
Zhou Shaojin smiled without speaking.
Between her and Min Jia, they could at most discuss food, clothing, and such topics. It was best not to raise such subjects.
The commotion continued until lamplight time. Cheng Jing, Cheng Chi, Cheng Shao, and Old Madam Guo took turns reasoning with him, saying everything possible, but Cheng Xu only had two words: “external posting.”
Everyone couldn’t hide their disappointment.
Finally, Cheng Chi said: “In any case, there are still a few days before the Hanlin examination. First, help him register his name.”
If he truly didn’t want to take it, they could find an excuse later.
But if they didn’t register his name now and he regretted it later, it would be too late.
Fortunately, all the Cheng family uncles, nephews, and brothers had achieved jinshi degrees through both examinations. In court, they were either examination classmates, schoolmates, or classmates of classmates, schoolmates of schoolmates—one way or another, they could find connections to register his name without Cheng Xu having to appear himself.
Who knew that Cheng Xu, who had been silent all along, would suddenly have veins bulging on his forehead, his eyes red as he said: “I don’t want to stay in the capital, don’t want to stay in this family. Why don’t you understand? I don’t want you to register my name for me, don’t want you to find connections and use backdoor methods for me!”
The room suddenly fell silent.
Cheng Chi’s expression turned stern as he said coldly: “Are you trying to tell us that you don’t want to rely on the family’s power and have decided to forge your own path with your bare hands?”
What difference was that from leaving the clan?
“No, no.” Tears glimmered in Cheng Xu’s eyes as he said, “How can I not repay my parents’ kindness in raising me? How can I forget the family’s grace in cultivating me? But I really don’t want to stay in the capital anymore, don’t want to make Mother sad—Mother always wants me to achieve triple first place honors, wants me to become a Grand Secretary, wants me to leave my name in history… If I can’t do it, she becomes grief-stricken and despairing, crying and making me do this and that, as if I’m alive only to achieve triple first place, only to become Grand Secretary and leave my name in history… Anything unrelated to these things, she’ll prevent, she’ll make me abandon… I don’t want to continue like this.” As he spoke, he looked at Cheng Chi with pleading eyes. “Uncle Chi, you said that if I achieved fame, I could do many things! I don’t ask for anything else, I only ask for an external posting! To leave here, so Mother won’t show such grief every time she sees me. Rather than staying in the capital like this, I’d rather be far away. When she’s old, I’ll return to the capital to fulfill my filial duties or bring her to my post…”
“What did you say?” Yuan Shi clutched her chest, eyes wide, looking at her son with complete disbelief. “Are you saying I forced you to become accomplished? Is this what a son says to his mother? How can you say such things? I urged you to improve yourself, and you actually think I’m coercing you?” Her voice grew louder, her emotions more agitated. “I’ll go with you to your uncle’s to judge this matter! I painstakingly taught you to grow up, and you actually think I’m harming you… Are you even human…” She stepped forward and raised her hand to slap Cheng Xu.
Cheng Chi quickly blocked her, saying: “Sister-in-law, is he still at an age where one beating will make him obedient?”
Yuan Shi froze, then tears streamed down as she cried: “What sins have I committed? Who have I worked so hard for?”
Cheng Shao, Cheng Jing, and Old Madam Guo had already understood Cheng Xu’s meaning.
Cheng Jing’s face turned ashen.
Cheng Shao asked Cheng Xu: “Do you know what you’re doing?”
Cheng Xu’s expression was calm and peaceful as he said: “I know. If I don’t participate in the Hanlin Academy selection, I can’t enter the Hanlin Academy and will have no chance at joining the Grand Secretariat. Even so, I still want an external posting. From childhood, Mother told me to study—study and there would be good food, study to be a good child, study to be filial. I just want to know if I truly enjoy studying.”
Cheng Jing glanced at Yuan Shi.
Yuan Shi became hysterical as if burned by Cheng Jing’s gaze: “Why are you looking at me? Did I make a mistake in having him study…”
“Enough!” Cheng Jing shouted, interrupting Yuan Shi’s words. Suppressing his anger, he glanced at Cheng Xu, then said to Cheng Chi: “Tomorrow, still help him register for the Hanlin selection. Let him think it over for a few days. If he truly decides not to take the Hanlin examination, then let him be. I’ll just consider that I never had this son. You don’t need to talk about fulfilling filial duties in my old age. Just go live your own little life. The Cheng family still has Cheng Rang without you, still has Yun Ge’er, still has Abao… It won’t fall into ruin just because you’re gone!”
In the end, it was still pressuring Cheng Xu to take the Hanlin examination.
Old Madam Guo sighed, feeling dizzy and unsteady on her feet.
Cheng Chi quickly stepped forward to support Old Madam Guo, saying in a low voice: “Where are Shaojin’s people? I’ll have someone fetch her immediately.”
“Don’t bother.” Old Madam Guo said wearily, “She’s trying to preserve some dignity for Jiashan! Why would you disappoint her kind intention?”
Cheng Chi naturally understood, but at this moment Old Madam Guo was unwell yet Zhou Shaojin wasn’t by her side. He worried his mother might have thoughts about it, which was why he asked first.
“Second Uncle.” Old Madam Guo didn’t look at Cheng Chi but said to Cheng Shao: “Let’s go! Jiashan is no longer a child. Let him decide his own matters!”
Cheng Shao sighed helplessly, bowed to Old Madam Guo, indicating he would follow her wishes completely.
Old Madam Guo walked out without a word.
Cheng Xu called out “Grandmother.”
Old Madam Guo said coolly: “When you’ve made your decision, tell Grandmother.” Then she walked out without looking back.
The maid waiting at the door had already gone to inform Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin and Min Jia hurried out of the tea room.
Seeing Cheng Chi supporting Old Madam Guo with Cheng Shao following behind them as they left the hall.
Zhou Shaojin quickly went forward to support Old Madam Guo.
Min Jia saw them off.
From inside the house came Yuan Shi’s crying: “How can you say such things? Are you saying this is all my fault? You must speak with conscience…”
Min Jia acted as if she hadn’t heard and quietly quickened her pace.
Finally seeing off Cheng Shao and the others, she breathed a sigh of relief and was about to turn back when a servant from the gate ran over, saying: “First Young Madam, First Young Madam, someone has delivered a calling card for you.”
Since Cheng Xu had achieved the jinshi degree, more people had been specially sending her calling cards.
She thought nothing of it and had a young maid receive it. That evening when she returned to her room, she remembered the card and, worried it might be something important, hurried to open it.
The signature read “Cheng Xiangqing”—Cheng Lu.