Hearing this, Yuan Shi only smiled without speaking, though inwardly she was quite disapproving.

A small child, and for the object selection ceremony they would actually use a real first-rank official seal—wasn’t that far too indulgent?

She had only responded out of fear that the Duchess of Pengcheng would think her petty-minded. She never expected the Duchess of Pengcheng to take it seriously and want her to deliver it herself… Even if she agreed, their master would never agree to it.

Thinking of how Cheng Jing was like a clay figure when not angry, but when he did get angry even she had to retreat three舍, Yuan Shi secretly took some malicious pleasure. After returning, she immediately told Cheng Jing about this matter and urged him, “It’s just for fun. I think tomorrow morning we might as well send the official seal over. After the object selection ceremony is done, we can take it right back.”

As expected, Cheng Jing frowned and barked “Nonsense!”, saying, “An official seal is an official’s dignity—how can it be used as a plaything? Mother couldn’t possibly say such a thing! It must be the Duchess of Pengcheng’s idea. And you too—why didn’t you stop it! Mother is getting on in years and sometimes inevitably becomes confused. Don’t you know what’s important and what isn’t?”

Yuan Shi was so angry she couldn’t speak.

How was it that the old madam was never wrong—either the Duchess of Pengcheng had instigated the old madam to ask for the seal, or she herself had failed to persuade the old madam to be more sensible. Either way, it was all her fault!

She couldn’t help but feel her eyes moisten as she said, “How can you blame me for this! You know mother’s temperament—when has she ever taken my words to heart…”

When Cheng Jing heard Yuan Shi about to complain again about Madam Guo the Elder’s dissatisfaction with her, having listened to her bring this up repeatedly over the past thirty-plus years whether there was reason or not, he didn’t know why, but he no longer had his former patience. Instead, he became irritable and difficult to endure.

“Enough!” Cheng Jing couldn’t help but bark, “Flattery and obsequious compliance that leads one’s parents into wrongdoing is also unfilial. In the future when you encounter such situations, use your head more. Fortunately, only the Duchess of Pengcheng was present then. If there had been wives from other official families present, wouldn’t that have brought shame to the Cheng family?” As he spoke, he irritably changed the subject, “How are things coming along with Jiashan’s preparations? Choose a date in the two days before his departure to hold a banquet at home. The family can gather together. Once Jiashan leaves, we won’t see him for at least a year or two.” As he spoke, he stood up, “I’m going to Chaoyangmen. When Jiashan was small, his object selection ceremony used a fish tally to substitute for the official seal. Though mother dotes on Yun Ge’er, she can’t be so high-profile. When Yun Ge’er grows up and enters official service, just this one point alone could be used by censors to impeach him for being extravagant from childhood, which would be bad for his reputation.”

Having said this, without waiting for Yuan Shi to speak, he called loudly for a servant to come help him change clothes, then turned and left for Chaoyangmen.

Yuan Shi barely managed not to smash the teacup in her hand to the floor, but her voice couldn’t help becoming somewhat gloomy: “Where is the eldest young mistress? I’ve been back this long—how come I haven’t seen her?”

The maid said fearfully, “The eldest young mistress went to Chaoyangmen with Second Madam, saying that since it’s Young Master Yun’s first birthday, she wanted to see if there was anything at Fourth Madam’s side that needed help. She hasn’t returned yet…”

This time Yuan Shi could no longer hold back, and with a “crack” threw the teacup to the floor.

At Chaoyangmen, however, things were lively and bustling.

Madam Guo the Elder had returned. Zhou Shaojin, Zhou Chujin, Li Shi, Min Jia, Qiu Shi, Cheng Zheng, Cheng Sheng, and several children were all in the resting room of the main hall. The children were happily chattering and playing to the side while the adults sat together.

“Every year it’s the same things—how boring.” The speaker was Cheng Sheng. She wanted to have another child and had asked Imperial Physician Cao to help regulate her body. Her skin was crystal clear, so delicate it seemed ready to break at a touch, absolutely wonderful. Even Zhou Shaojin was quite envious looking at her, though she had also gained another circle of weight. “I told aunt that besides those official seals and military tallies, brush ink paper and inkstones and such, we should add a few boxes of rouge and powder, abacuses and scales and the like, to see what our Yun Ge’er will actually grab. Uncle Chi is both civil and military—he can write memorials above and calculate with an abacus below.”

“You wretched girl!” Hearing this, Madam Guo the Elder picked up the jade ruyi beside her as if to strike Cheng Sheng. “Is that any way to talk about your uncle? Who does your uncle do it for? Isn’t it for all of you? Without your uncle calculating with the abacus, could you all have had such generous dowries? Could you all be raised so healthy and glowing?”

“Grandmother is too biased!” Cheng Sheng pretended to dodge Madam Guo the Elder’s strike by hiding behind Zhou Shaojin, letting Zhou Shaojin shield her. “You won’t even let us make a joke.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips, letting Cheng Sheng hide behind her.

Even joking, Madam Guo the Elder couldn’t bear to strike Zhou Shaojin. She put down the ruyi with a smile and pointed at Cheng Sheng, “If you’re capable, then hide behind your aunt for the rest of your life and don’t come out.”

Cheng Sheng coaxed Madam Guo the Elder, “Then I’ll take Fourth Aunt with me wherever I go, and see if you’ll still hit me!”

This made everyone in the room laugh heartily.

A young maid walked in quickly with delight, saying, “The Li family son-in-law from Luoyang has sent someone with congratulatory gifts. The two accompanying nannies wish to come in and kowtow to the old madam, Fourth Madam, and Young Master Yun.”

“Quickly invite them in.” Madam Guo the Elder was very pleased to hear this.

The young maid went to bring them in.

Both nannies were familiar to Madam Guo the Elder and Zhou Shaojin. One was Cui Huan, who had served by Cheng Zheng’s side since childhood. She had married a hereditary servant from Li Jing’s side who had been granted a surname, and was the steward nanny in Cheng Zheng’s household. When she went out, people all respectfully called her Nanny Li. The other was a senior maid from Li Jing’s mother’s side, married to Li Jing’s mother’s dowry servant, surnamed Zhao. Last time when Cheng Zheng was pregnant, this Nanny Zhao had specially rushed from Luoyang to serve Cheng Zheng for some time. Both were very respectable nannies from Li Jing’s household. Sending these two all the way here to deliver Yun Ge’er’s first birthday gifts showed how seriously they took this matter.

However, counting the days, Cheng Zheng’s eldest son Wei Ge’er should also be over a year old now. Cheng Zheng had an active temperament, and Li Jing was a merchant who traveled far and wide. On such a happy occasion as Yun Ge’er’s celebration, why hadn’t the two of them come to join the festivities?

After the two performed their courtesies, Zhou Shaojin asked about Cheng Zheng.

Both had smiles all over their faces. Perhaps out of respect for Li Jing, Cui Huan didn’t speak. That Nanny Zhao’s brows moved as she said, “Our eldest madam is with child. Just like when she was carrying Young Master Wei, she’s lying in bed listlessly without appetite for anything. Our master is extremely worried. A few days ago when the Thirteen Hongs’ ship arrived at the dock for settlement, our master only sent the household’s chief steward and stayed home himself to accompany our madam. The master said that after some time when the madam’s health improves, he’ll bring the young master and madam to the capital to visit the elders and maternal aunt.”

“Oh my, that’s wonderful news!” Everyone in the room was happy for Cheng Zheng. Madam Guo the Elder asked Nanny Zhao with even more concern whether Cheng Zheng was eating well, sleeping well, how far along she was, when she would give birth, who was caring for Wei Ge’er…

Li Jing was the only son in their branch, while his several uncles had flourishing offspring. If Cheng Zheng could have several more children, Wei Ge’er would have helpers in the future.

Countless people wanted to connect with the Thirteen Hongs’ trade. Luoyang was in the interior and had been a prosperous land since ancient times. Being able to trade those Western curiosities from the Thirteen Hongs could not only earn great profits but also make Luoyang’s people look up to the Li family. That Li Jing could sign a five-year supply contract with the Thirteen Hongs was due to Cheng Chi pulling the strings. Li Jing had also deliberately spread this news to help Cheng Zheng establish herself in the Li family. Now not just the Li family, but the entire city of Luoyang knew that Li Jing had married a good wife who brought fortune to her husband.

Therefore, whenever Nanny Zhao saw Madam Guo the Elder, she felt somewhat nervous and cautious, respectfully answering Madam Guo the Elder’s questions.

Knowing that Cheng Zheng’s affairs were all going smoothly, Madam Guo the Elder nodded repeatedly.

Li Shi, however, had a thought and said with a smile, “The eldest granddaughter-in-law has given birth to two sons, the second, third, and fourth granddaughters-in-law have each given birth to one son. Now this one the fourth granddaughter-in-law is carrying also seems to be a boy. The Cheng family’s granddaughters-in-law truly bring prosperity to their husband’s families.”

Hearing Qiu Shi say this, everyone thought carefully and realized it was indeed true, and all laughed.

Madam Guo the Elder then took Zhou Shaojin’s hand and said, “In-law madam is praising her own daughters, isn’t she? Your two granddaughters-in-law have also all given birth to sons after marrying.”

Li Shi was startled, and everyone laughed again.

Zhou Shaojin was embarrassed.

How was it that after elder sister and Cheng Zheng changed their fates they were having children one after another, yet she showed no signs?

Cheng Jing arrived.

Everyone stood up to withdraw.

Madam Guo the Elder found it troublesome and told everyone to sit, while she went to the side hall to see Cheng Jing.

Cheng Jing spoke about using the official seal for the object selection ceremony.

Hearing this, Madam Guo the Elder only said she had already found the fish tally used when Cheng Chi had his object selection ceremony, and they would use the fish tally to substitute for the official seal. She added, “Using your official seal for the object selection ceremony was just a joke by the Duchess of Pengcheng.”

Cheng Jing breathed a sigh of relief, but sensitively detected that his mother’s mood was somewhat low. He tried to joke with his mother, but Madam Guo the Elder had already stood up, saying, “Silang will also be finishing work soon. Let Silang host you for dinner. The Zhou family’s in-law madam is still at my side, so I won’t attend to you.”

She left without looking back.

Cheng Jing smiled bitterly.

It seemed that ever since the family divided, the relationship between him and his mother had grown increasingly distant.

The Dragon Boat Festival was approaching—by then he should invite mother to stay for a few days.

He went to the study in the outer courtyard to wait for Cheng Chi.

Madam Guo the Elder’s heart felt cold.

What kind of person was she, that after thirty or forty years, her son would say such things?

Madam Guo the Elder stood in the corridor for a while, dispelling the melancholy in her heart before entering the room.

Meanwhile, Zhou Shaojin very much suspected that her lack of signs was due to Cheng Chi doing something behind the scenes.

In the middle of the night, she clung to Cheng Chi’s embrace and wouldn’t get up.

Cheng Chi laughed softly and took her once more.

She was exhausted to half-death, but Cheng Chi seemed to have his interest piqued. Holding her, he talked for a long time. She didn’t catch a single sentence. Near dawn, they were intimate once more. As a result, Cheng Chi went to his office refreshed and energized, while she barely managed to crawl out of bed. When paying respects to Madam Guo the Elder, her upper and lower eyelids kept fighting with each other.

Madam Guo the Elder said nothing and with a smile had Chenxiang bring in a bowl of old hen soup.

Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed bright red all at once.

Madam Guo the Elder just smiled and said warmly, “After drinking the soup, go back and take a nap. I’m here for Yun Ge’er’s matters!”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t even know how she managed to drink down that bowl of soup, but when she returned to her room, she slept very well.