In her previous life, the Third Prince had been demoted to Prince of Second Rank for getting involved in the matter of establishing the heir. In this life, for some reason, he had remained silent on the Emperor’s establishment of the Crown Prince and thus kept his title, becoming the Emperor’s eldest surviving son.

At some point, he and his literary retainers had compiled a book called “Ten Records of Agriculture and Sericulture,” which primarily discussed agricultural matters. It recorded the evolution of various farming tools from ancient times to the present and explained how to farm, raise silkworms, extract oil, and process ramie.

On the twenty-fourth day of the eighth month, the Empress Dowager’s birthday, the Third Prince presented this book to the Emperor.

This was the dynasty’s first book on agriculture.

The Emperor was greatly pleased. He rewarded the Third Prince with five hundred gold taels, allowed him to walk in the Qianqing Palace, and promoted the book throughout the nation.

For a time, the Third Prince was in the limelight, with countless princes and nobles coming to congratulate him.

Yet he kept his gates tightly closed, saying that seeing the Emperor troubled last year by drought in the north and floods in the south, he had merely wanted to share His Majesty’s burdens—an thoughtless act unworthy of such praise from everyone.

Talk of the Third Prince’s filial piety spread through both court and countryside.

Even someone like Zhou Shaojin, who never stepped beyond her gates, heard about it.

She asked Old Madam Guo with confusion: “Isn’t this excessive? Even if it was an unintentional act born from heartache over the Emperor’s administrative burdens, he could simply have stayed behind closed doors. Yet he says things like ‘unworthy of such praise from everyone’—how strange!”

Old Madam Guo laughed heartily: “Shaojin, only now are you beginning to resemble the mistress of an official household. In official circles, there’s no such thing as baseless rumors. When something becomes known to women and children, it’s often not simple. Just watch—there will be more drama to come.”

Zhou Shaojin’s face grew hot.

Within a few days, word spread through the capital that the Eighth Prince had smallpox, and the Third Prince was bathing and fasting to make offerings to the Goddess of Smallpox on his behalf.

In her previous life, Zhou Shaojin hadn’t known much about this prince.

By the time she had moved to the farm in Daxing and caught her breath enough to start listening to the maids and servants gossip, the Third Prince had already been demoted to Prince of Second Rank. Afterward, he had remained law-abiding in the capital, and she had heard nothing more about him.

Zhou Shaojin had assumed the Third Prince had merely been encouraged by several brothers to participate in the succession matter, which was why the Emperor had shown him mercy in her previous life, allowing him to peacefully maintain his princedom in this life. She hadn’t expected that when circumstances changed, he would make this move.

“Could I have misjudged him in my previous life?” That evening, nestled under the covers whispering with Cheng Chi, she leaned against his chest and murmured: “He wouldn’t jump out to compete with the Crown Prince for the throne, would he? Will the Emperor think he’s being too aggressive?”

Cheng Chi gently stroked her glossy, smooth black hair and said with a low laugh: “Otherwise, why would the Emperor only reward him five hundred gold and transfer him to walk in the Qianqing Palace? He probably wants to see what he’s really up to.”

Zhou Shaojin was somewhat surprised: “You mean the Emperor is testing him? But making offerings to the Goddess of Smallpox—isn’t that going too far?”

Cheng Chi smiled: “Let’s not worry about this matter. Isn’t there still a Crown Prince? If he’s indifferent to his own interests, others can’t get worked up on his behalf. However, how could he have died young? It’s rather a pity. This child has a very agile mind and can think outside conventions. He’s quite the material for scholarship.”

Zhou Shaojin found this amusing: “Then is he the material for being an emperor?”

“Hard to say yet,” Cheng Chi smiled. “Everyone likes clever children. The Emperor should be no exception.”

Zhou Shaojin sighed.

Knowing the outcome but being unable to change it, especially when it involved human life, left her feeling melancholic.

But she wouldn’t say anything to Cheng Chi about this.

They were both ordinary, common people. Cheng Chi already found it difficult enough trying to preserve the Cheng family. How much more so a Crown Prince!

She wasn’t that lacking in judgment.

As Cheng Chi said, some matters could only be handled by oneself.

If the Crown Prince wanted to keep his position and avoid that life-or-death catastrophe, he could only rely on himself.

Zhou Shaojin quickly put this matter out of her mind and wholeheartedly urged Cheng Chi to begin establishing the Cheng clan school.

Those around them were very supportive when they learned of it.

Gu Jiunie donated two hundred books to the clan school. Yuan Bieyun, who had returned to the capital early from his travels upon hearing Gu Jiunie had arrived, donated five hundred writing brushes and three cartloads of Xuan paper to the clan school.

Cheng Chi laughed heartily and said to Yuan Bieyun: “If you’re truly sincere, occasionally come be a teacher for me and tell the children about your travel experiences.”

Though called the Cheng clan school, there were only Cheng Shao’s two adoptive great-grandsons Abao and Aren, Cheng Xiao’s son Rui Ge’er, plus the three great-grandsons from the Earl of Pengcheng’s household. Even Guan Ge’er from Zhou Chujin’s family was still too young to begin his studies.

To build up the clan school to match the reputation of the Jinling Cheng clan school would be a long and arduous journey.

Yuan Bieyun maintained his carefree manner, reclining half-dressed on the arhat bed in the study, leaning against a large pillow with his legs crossed, eating grapes from a crystal dish: “If I lecture at your place, what about our family’s clan school?”

Cheng Chi replied: “I didn’t know you were planning to move back to Tongxiang to live!”

“You little rascal!” Yuan Bieyun laughed and plucked a grape to throw at Cheng Chi. “You’re a father now, but still making jokes with that same serious face as before. Speaking of which, I haven’t seen your Yun Ge’er. Now that I’m here, why haven’t you had someone bring him for me to see? I’m not like Jiunie, all stingy and cheap—I have a meeting gift prepared.”

Cheng Chi ignored this and asked: “Will you be leaving again after this visit?”

“Naturally I’ll leave,” a trace of bitterness flashed in Yuan Bieyun’s eyes. “Otherwise, what about my elder brother? I don’t want to cause some incident that would make people laugh at us!”

Yuan Bieyun was the third son in his family but happened to be the cleverest among Yuan Weichang’s sons. Yuan Weichang’s eldest son was his full brother. Though not as scholarly as him, he excelled in being honest and sincere, practical and diligent, and willing to humble himself in dealing with others, making him very well-connected. Like Yuan Bieyun, he had passed the imperial examination early and was now a Supervising Secretary in the Ministry of Rites. Yuan Weichang found him too honest and had several times wanted Yuan Bieyun to replace him as the steward of this branch of the Yuan family. But Yuan Bieyun didn’t want to put his elder brother in a difficult position, so he neglected his duties, traveled constantly, and even created scandals involving mistresses.

Every family had its own difficulties to bear.

Cheng Chi said: “Very well! If there’s anything you need my help with, just tell me directly.”

“Of course,” Yuan Bieyun said with a grin. “I won’t stand on ceremony with you.”

Cheng Chi led him toward the inner courtyard: “You should also meet my wife… the one who burst into the Three Branches Pavilion during Second Branch’s Old Ancestress’s eightieth birthday…”

“No way!” Yuan Bieyun’s eyes widened. “If I remember correctly, that young lady is much younger than us…”

Cheng Chi frowned: “What are you saying? She’s much younger than you, not much younger than me… Don’t forget how many years older you are than me…”

The two continued arguing as they passed through the decorated gate and met Zhou Shaojin and Yun Ge’er, which need not be elaborated upon.

※※※

On his end, Qin Zi’an received word from Qin Ziping and was extremely dejected.

Qin Ziping advised him: “Since sister-in-law isn’t refusing to remarry out of mere propriety, from now on you should sever your emotional attachment and treat her as our sister-in-law. Don’t mention the marriage matter again.”

Qin Zi’an nodded dejectedly.

Ji Ying lifted the curtain and entered, followed by two maids carrying wine and tea.

Qin Ziping said: “Let’s drink and not discuss this anymore.”

Qin Zi’an grunted and lowered his eyelids.

After he left, Ji Ying couldn’t help but complain: “What kind of situation is this? It’s not like we refused to let Nan Ping enter the family. Why is he keeping a straight face from start to finish? Who’s he showing this to?”

“Let it go, let it go,” Qin Ziping smiled. “Just say less. He’s unhappy right now, isn’t he?”

Ji Ying had always felt Qin Zi’an looked down on everyone, so she found him somewhat disagreeable. Seeing him suffer a setback now, she was actually quite pleased. After saying a few more words, she put the matter out of her mind and brought up the ninth day of the ninth month: “Old Madam’s birthday—from what Shaojin says, she wants to make it lively for the old lady. Should we go to the streets one day and pick out a birthday gift for Old Madam?”

Qin Zi’an happily agreed. On his day off, he accompanied Ji Ying to the streets and selected a string of purple sandalwood prayer beads and a Hetian jade pendant carved with the pattern of “everything as you wish” for Old Madam. On the ninth day, they happily went to Chaoyang Gate.

Since it wasn’t a milestone birthday, and Old Madam Guo wasn’t someone who enjoyed socializing, on her birthday she only invited family members.

When Ji Ying went to pay her respects to Old Madam Guo, the old lady was sitting with Chang Shi having a conversation. Hearing her come to pay respects, she happily took her hand and chatted for a while, then introduced her to Chang Shi and called Zhenzhu in to lead her to Zhou Shaojin.

Chang Shi watched Ji Ying enter with a smile, then said with a laugh: “The ‘auntie’ that Yun Ge’er keeps mentioning must be this madam? She’s truly beautiful. From her manner, she seems very capable too.”

Old Madam Guo hadn’t been familiar with Ji Ying when she served at Cheng Chi’s side, but later, after she married into the Qin family as the Grand Steward’s grandson’s wife and became close friends with Zhou Shaojin, teaching Yun Ge’er to swim, they had grown acquainted.

“Indeed,” Old Madam Guo smiled. “With her visits, the household has become much livelier, and Shaojin has a companion to talk with.”

Chang Shi smiled faintly, feeling that the Cheng family members were all broad-minded and never judged people by their origins. Cheng Shao was like this, and so was Cheng Shao’s elder sister-in-law.

No wonder Cheng Shao deeply respected this elder sister-in-law.

He had told her to consult with Old Madam Guo about any matters.

Chang Shi then spoke with Old Madam Guo about Abao and Aren: “…Originally there was no one at home to care for them. Now that I’ve begun managing the household and Xie Shi is pregnant, it’s not good to always have the two children staying at Second Master’s home. My husband and I discussed it and want to bring the two children back.”

After all, they were Second Master’s adoptive grandsons. Now that Qiu Shi also had to care for Xie Shi, Old Madam Guo smiled: “That’s good! The kindness of birth is less than the kindness of raising. With the two children following you, you’ll also have something to do.”

“That’s what I think too,” Chang Shi smiled.

At first, Cheng Shao hadn’t agreed, saying they were old and might not care for small children well, but how would they know without trying?

Old Madam Guo had someone summon Qiu Shi.

But a young maid ran in to report: “A nanny from the Fourth Prince’s Consort’s household has arrived, saying she was ordered by the Fourth Prince’s Consort to pay birthday respects to you on her behalf.”