Because of Zhou Shaojin’s pregnancy, the day Cheng Gao arrived also happened to be the day Cheng Chi went to the Eastern Palace to lecture. Cheng Chi couldn’t even request leave. After learning of this, Zhou Chujin said she would handle the matter and had Liao Shaotang go meet Cheng Gao.
Xie Shi quietly encouraged Cheng Rang to go with Liao Shaotang to meet him. “…No matter what, you’re brothers. He’s in Jinling, you’re in the capital. He’s traveled far and is a guest—you should fulfill your duty as host. Great Uncle is an elder, so it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to go. Elder Uncle Xu is at his post, and Yun Ge’er is still young. In the first branch, you’re the only one who can help run errands. If you’re afraid you won’t do well, isn’t there Uncle Liao? He’s now a Hanlin compiler—a man with an official title. With him leading you, what’s there to fear? Moreover, you can learn about human relations and worldly affairs from him. In the future when the family has such matters, you can handle them yourself too.”
Cheng Rang had always been treated as a child—he never had a turn at handling family matters.
Hearing this, he hesitated. “Mother and Uncle Chi haven’t said anything. Would, would this really work?”
Xie Shi smiled. “Then shall we go ask Mother?”
She knew her husband was somewhat weak among the Cheng brothers, but everyone had their own position and strengths. Cheng Rang might never become a presented scholar, but he could be a kind and upright person who could help the family manage some mundane affairs—that was better than being idle with high ambitions but low abilities.
Cheng Rang felt his wife’s words made great sense and went to see Qiu Shi.
Qiu Shi was extremely pleased to hear this. Not only did she encourage him to go with Liao Shaotang to meet the guest, she also gave Cheng Rang fifty taels in banknotes and had spring clothes rushed for him to wear on the day he went.
His mother approved his idea, making Cheng Rang very happy. He returned and showed the fifty taels in banknotes and spring clothes to Xie Shi.
Xie Shi personally poured Cheng Rang a cup of tea, saying she wanted to reward his hard work.
Cheng Rang lowered his head embarrassedly. “This was all your idea. What does it have to do with me?”
It was her idea, but Cheng Rang still had to listen and act on it.
Xie Shi smiled. “If husband didn’t agree with this concubine’s words, how would you have agreed to ask Mother? Clearly husband himself thought the same way.”
Hearing this, Cheng Rang was very pleased and couldn’t help but smile.
When the day came to meet Cheng Gao, he rose early, carefully washed up, went to Chaoyang Gate, then went with Qin Ziji to Yushu Alley to meet up with Liao Shaotang before heading to Chaoyang Gate to receive Cheng Gao.
Cheng Gao was very surprised to see Cheng Rang.
In his impression, Cheng Rang always hid behind others, his features blurred.
He couldn’t help but thank Cheng Rang profusely.
Cheng Rang was very embarrassed and blushed, but at least managed to say what needed to be said. Everyone went to Chaoyang Gate together.
Zhou Shaojin waited for Cheng Gao at the second gate.
Seeing Cheng Gao’s still handsome, vibrant face, tears swirled in her eyes.
In the previous life when she saw Cheng Gao in the capital, though he was already a Hanlin compiler, his demeanor had been heavy and oppressed.
Supported by Ji Xiang, she stepped forward and exchanged greetings with Cheng Gao.
Cheng Gao had already learned on the road about Zhou Shaojin’s pregnancy. Now seeing her rosy complexion and brilliant eyes, not at all showing the listlessness of a pregnant woman, he knew Cheng Chi was taking good care of her. After smiling and congratulating Zhou Shaojin, he couldn’t help but tease her, “It seems the first branch’s environment truly nurtures people. Before when you were at Wanxiang Courtyard, you were like a wilted eggplant. Later when you went to Hanbi Mountain Lodge, you suddenly came alive—when your sister-in-law was pregnant with Yuanyuan, she was listless every day. Looking at you now, you’re like an unkillable tiger.”
Zhou Shaojin’s face reddened. Thinking that in the previous life, Cheng Gao and He Fengping had married for seven or eight years before giving birth to Yuanyuan, but now not only had they given birth to a daughter early, they still called her Yuanyuan, she asked with some curiosity, “Why did Cousin Gao give the child the nickname Yuanyuan?”
Cheng Gao smiled. “Your eldest sister-in-law loved eating when she was little and grew plump and round, with a nickname ‘Ah Yuan.’ We joked at the time that if we had a daughter, we’d call her that name. We never expected to actually have a daughter.”
So some things, no matter how they changed, still returned to their original track.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and thanked Liao Shaotang, then accompanied Cheng Gao to pay respects to Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo asked about Old Madam Guan.
Learning that everything was well with the fourth branch and that Gu Shiqi’s wife was pregnant again, Old Madam Guo laughed heartily. After instructing Cheng Gao with a few words like “treat this as your own home” and “if you lack anything, have Shaojin arrange it,” she called Yun Ge’er in to meet Cheng Gao.
This was Cheng Gao’s first time seeing Yun Ge’er. He was extremely fond of him and pointed at Yun Ge’er’s eyes, saying to Zhou Shaojin, “He really looks exactly like you when you were little.”
“Really?” Many people said Yun Ge’er’s eyes were beautiful.
Cheng Gao nodded and sighed. “Our Yuanyuan is a little chubby girl, heavy to hold. Fangfang is so mischievous she could tear the roof off. Your Yun Ge’er is better—gentle, quiet, well-behaved and sensible.”
Zhou Shaojin and Old Madam Guo kept smiling. Zhou Shaojin especially wanted to see what Gu Shiqi’s wife’s Fangfang was like.
Seeing the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law’s expressions were somewhat off, Cheng Gao asked curiously, “What? Is Yun Ge’er also very naughty?”
Zhou Shaojin never felt Yun Ge’er was naughty. She smiled. “He’s a boy, so relatively active. But not very naughty.”
Everyone chatted about children for a while before Cheng Gao rose to take his leave.
Zhou Shaojin saw him to the door.
Liao Shaotang and Cheng Rang escorted Cheng Gao to the guest quarters.
After Cheng Gao washed and changed clothes, Liao Shaotang and Cheng Rang kept him company chatting. When Cheng Chi returned, a banquet was arranged to welcome him. The next day, Cheng Chi personally took him to see Cheng Shao, who tested his studies.
Cheng Shao was very satisfied with Cheng Gao’s work and agreed to recommend him to study at the Imperial Academy. He also told Cheng Gao that if he had any difficulties with his studies, he could come ask him.
Cheng Gao was naturally extremely grateful. His daily routine became going from Chaoyang Gate to home, home to Chaoyang Gate, occasionally visiting Cheng Shao, dropping by Liao Shaotang’s place, chatting with Cheng Chi, and spending all other time reading single-mindedly.
Watching this, Zhou Shaojin’s anxious heart finally settled.
The calendar also reached the third day of the third month, the Shangsi Festival, also known as Daughters’ Festival.
Jiangnan had the custom of picking shepherd’s purse flowers on this day to boil eggs to detoxify and stop dysentery.
Zhou Shaojin hadn’t previously known the capital also had shepherd’s purse flowers, but later discovered when servants boiled eggs and sent them to her. So this year, she instructed the household servants early to pick shepherd’s purse flowers to send to relatives and friends, also had Cheng Gao bring some to his fellow students, and on this day herself boiled some eggs and brewed rice wine to celebrate with Old Madam Guo.
As they were eating eggs, the Countess of Pengcheng rushed over.
She absent-mindedly greeted Zhou Shaojin, then pulled Old Madam Guo aside to the warm pavilion to speak privately. “Have you heard about the Third Prince and Fourth Prince fighting? What do you think should be done about this matter? The Fourth Prince sends things to our household every year. You also know about our family—by rights, the Fourth Prince is also our nephew. Him sending us gifts is perfectly natural. I didn’t take it to heart. But now with this incident, everyone suspects the Fourth Prince covets the throne and framed his brothers. His original position at the Ministry of Finance is also gone… Given the Emperor’s temperament, if the Third Prince’s matter was truly the Fourth Prince’s doing, the Emperor definitely won’t spare him. If the Fourth Prince becomes unlucky, we won’t be able to clear ourselves even if we jumped into the Yellow River.”
Even if the Emperor discovered it was the Fourth Prince’s doing, the law doesn’t punish the masses, especially now when imperial scandals were arising one after another. He would be even less likely to move against these meritorious families.
As long as the Crown Prince’s heir held no grudge.
But Old Madam Guo couldn’t say this in front of the Countess of Pengcheng. She could only say tactfully, “The other princes should have sent you gifts before too, right? Since you’re afraid the Emperor might misunderstand, why not invite the Crown Prince’s heir to sound out the Emperor’s attitude?”
The Countess of Pengcheng’s eyes lit up upon hearing this.
They knew the Emperor’s character—even if they offended him temporarily, it didn’t matter. After all, the Emperor was advanced in years. At most they’d just need to endure these few years. But the Crown Prince’s heir was the future heir apparent. Under normal circumstances, he had several more decades to live—they couldn’t afford to wait that long!
The Countess of Pengcheng thanked her repeatedly, hurriedly took leave of Old Madam Guo, and rushed back to Earl Pengcheng’s mansion.
Zhou Shaojin smiled. “This Countess of Pengcheng is quite interesting.”
By rights, such a person would find it difficult to navigate palace waters smoothly, yet the Countess of Pengcheng was very favored by both the Empress Dowager and the Empress.
Old Madam Guo smiled. “Frankness has its advantages too. You’ll gradually understand in the future.”
Zhou Shaojin didn’t take this matter to heart. What had passed had passed.
Early the next morning, the Countess of Pengcheng came again.
She held Zhou Shaojin’s hand embarrassedly. “Look at me. Last time I came, I didn’t even ask how you were doing. I heard you’re pregnant? Is there anything you want to eat or drink? I’ll get it for you. I dare not claim anything else, but when it comes to rare and unusual things, I’ve seen plenty.”
Clearly yesterday she’d truly been anxious.
Zhou Shaojin laughed inwardly but still respectfully thanked the Countess of Pengcheng and invited her into the inner chamber for tea.
The Countess of Pengcheng wasn’t polite. She sat there chatting idly with Old Madam Guo, but her expression no longer showed yesterday’s restless agitation. Clearly the advice Old Madam Guo had given her had been useful.
Old Madam Guo didn’t ask how yesterday’s matter went.
In the capital’s current turbulent climate, for some matters it was better to play deaf and dumb.
When the Buddha Bathing Festival arrived, the palace suddenly issued an edict saying the Fourth Prince had been associating with court officials and placed him under house arrest.
Many meritorious families in the capital who had originally planned to visit temples to burn incense temporarily canceled their trips. The pedestrians on the usually bustling Vermillion Bird Avenue were at least half fewer than in previous years.
Zhou Shaojin also decided not to go burn incense. “…I don’t know why, but this child isn’t like Yun Ge’er—when I was pregnant with Yun Ge’er, I was fine and felt like I gave birth in a flash. This child is very troublesome. Forget the smell of incense candles—even the smell of lamp oil makes me uncomfortable. It’s been three months and I still can’t eat meat. Going to the temple to burn incense would simply be torture.”
“Could this pregnancy be a daughter?” Young Xie Shi was due to give birth next month. She sat on the arhat bed with her large belly, smiling as she ate pears.
“Your uncle and grandmother both hope it’s a daughter.” Zhou Shaojin touched her belly, which still showed no sign, and said with some worry, “I originally wanted to have a daughter, but I also don’t want to disappoint your uncle… I’m truly in a dilemma.”
“What’s there to be in a dilemma about?” Xie Shi comforted Zhou Shaojin. “Aunt is still young. You’ll have more children in the future. If this one is a son, next time have a daughter. If this one is a daughter, next time have a son.”
“It’s not as easy as you make it sound.” Zhou Shaojin laughed, then asked how preparations for Xie Shi’s childbirth were going and if there was anywhere she could help.
A young maid hurried in. “Madam, Young Masters Cheng Shi, Cheng Zheng, and Pan Zhuo and several others have come to visit Young Master Gao. They’ve now gone to the guest quarters.”