Zhou Shaojin and the others couldn’t help but show expressions of surprise.

However, Qin Ziping could barely contain his joy. With animated gestures, he declared loudly, “Old Madam, Fourth Master, congratulations, great congratulations! The First Master has been promoted to Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall!”

“Really!” Even though Old Madam Guo had experienced countless events in her lifetime, hearing this news still gave her quite a shock. She couldn’t help but repeatedly ask, “Is it true? Who told you this?”

Qin Ziping raised the letter in his hand and said, “Old Madam, it came from Jinling—all of Jinling City knows about it. The old patriarch of the Second Branch has already opened the ancestral hall and made offerings to the ancestors!”

Old Madam Guo laughed coldly and said, “He certainly knows how to put on a show. My son is still here with me in Hangzhou Prefecture, yet he takes it upon himself to act! What gives him the right!”

Qin Ziping dared not respond to these words.

Cheng Chi smiled and said, “Why bother getting angry over him? In outsiders’ eyes, we are one family. Now that Elder Brother has been appointed to the cabinet as a minister, it’s only proper for him to lead the family in making offerings to the ancestors. No matter what, it’s our First Branch that’s rising to prominence. No matter how many underhanded tricks he plays, they’re useless. The Second Branch will have their comeuppance in the future!”

Only then did Old Madam Guo’s expression soften slightly.

Cheng Chi glanced at Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin felt both surprised and delighted.

Cheng Jing had entered the cabinet ahead of schedule—could this mean the Cheng family’s fate had changed slightly?

Now she only needed to gain Uncle Chi’s trust, either allowing her to speak with Cheng Jing directly or having him relay her words to Cheng Jing. Then the Cheng family could avoid the fate of having their home raided and family exterminated, and she could save the Fourth Branch from dire straits. Her rebirth would not have been in vain!

Zhou Shaojin clasped her hands together and chanted “Amitabha” toward the west.

The corners of Cheng Chi’s mouth lifted in a slight smile.

Clearly, this outcome made the young lady very happy as well.

Elder Brother’s successful entry into the cabinet this time was due in no small part to this young lady’s contribution.

Although they had worried that Shen Minzhi would speak on behalf of Huang Li, the Yuan family and Cheng family had always advanced and retreated together. This opportunity was too rare, and moreover, Cheng Jing’s entry into the cabinet would only benefit Yuan Weichang with no drawbacks. They had assumed that even if the Yuan family didn’t help the Cheng family, they would at least remain silent at this critical moment. Unexpectedly, Yuan Weichang was single-mindedly determined to repay Shen Minzhi’s favor, preferring to let Huang Li rise to the position instead.

He just didn’t know where she had heard this information from.

If it was Zhou Zhen, the First Branch would owe this favor. If it was someone else… then they could let the young lady repay that person herself!

Because of suddenly receiving such good news, Old Madam Guo was extremely happy. Everyone serving by her side received rewards. Even Madam Wang was awarded two “rising step by step” gold ingots.

Madam Wang was overjoyed and said to Zhou Shaojin, “I’m going to keep these two gold ingots. When my grandson takes the examination, I’ll put them in his exam basket for good luck.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips and took out the two gold ingots she had received from Old Madam Guo, saying, “If you think they’re acceptable, please consider this my borrowed flowers offered to Buddha—a gift for your grandson.”

Madam Wang was pleasantly surprised. She thanked Zhou Shaojin repeatedly and took the opportunity to probe, “…Second Young Miss’s family must also be officials, right? Otherwise, how could they have such generosity?”

Perhaps because she had lived in the Cheng household for so long, Zhou Shaojin had never felt her own family was anything remarkable.

However, Chun Wan, who came in carrying tea and snacks, said with evident pride, “Of course. Our Master is a jinshi graduate who passed both examinations, a fourth-rank prefect. According to the Old Madam, our Master will sooner or later be summoned to serve as an official in the capital. Have you heard of the Liao family of Zhenjiang? Our eldest young master is the eldest grandson of the First Branch of the Liao family of Zhenjiang—they’re also an official family with a legacy of scholarship…”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t much like Chun Wan discussing family matters with someone who wasn’t particularly familiar. She smiled and called out, “Chun Wan,” saying, “You talk too much! Hurry up and bring the tea over. We’ve been talking for so long our mouths are dry!”

Chun Wan smiled sheepishly and hastily served tea to both of them.

Zhou Shaojin then asked about Madam Wang’s purpose in coming.

Madam Wang had simply seen Zhou Shaojin was alone and wanted to become acquainted—what business could she possibly have? But since Zhou Shaojin asked, she couldn’t very well say so directly. After thinking it over, she smiled and said, “Will Second Young Miss definitely be returning to Jinling City in a few days? Our head manager specially went to Mount Tianmu to find a pot of ink chrysanthemums, a pot of Grand First Rank orchids, and a pot of Hexagonal Scarlet camellias for Second Young Miss. Though they can’t compare to the Ten Scholars, they’re still quite rare. However, these pots have been kept in Master Miao Wu’s greenhouse all along. The head manager feared that suddenly moving them would make them unable to adapt and difficult to care for, so he specifically had Master Miao Wu move them out of the greenhouse. He’s waiting for those plants to grow hardy before sending them over… He’s just not sure if there will be enough time?”

Grand First Rank is a type of orchid, ranking first among the eight famous orchid varieties, while Hexagonal Scarlet is a type of camellia, also a notable treasure.

Zhou Shaojin was secretly impressed by this head manager’s capabilities. However, she had also tended to flowers and plants while at the Da Xing estate. Though these pots were precious, she had seen them all before. Grand First Rank was a famous variety that any orchid lover would try to cultivate. If she started raising flowers again, she might not be unable to grow them herself.

“Once the date is set, it’s not good to change it,” Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “I can only ask you to thank the head manager on my behalf. If there’s an opportunity to come to Hangzhou again in the future, I’ll trouble him to help me find some fine flowers and plants.”

Madam Wang was just saying this casually anyway.

Since they had already obtained the flowers, they would simply present them. As for whether the flowers lived or died, their goodwill had been shown, so it would have nothing more to do with them.

Madam Wang smiled and chatted with Zhou Shaojin about what she had seen and heard these past few days.

***

In Old Madam Guo’s inner chamber, Cheng Chi was speaking quietly with his mother: “…No matter what the Yuan family thinks, Elder Brother’s disappointment must be considerable. I think this might not necessarily be a bad thing. Back then, Cheng Xu constantly suppressed Elder Brother. It was only when Elder Brother had nowhere else to turn that he joined forces with the Yuan family.

“But humble families have their advantages—at least the household is simple, and it’s easy to change course when needed. Great families have their own troubles—when decisions need to be made, everyone with any standing wants to voice their opinion, and by the time a conclusion is reached, it’s too late. I think Elder Brother should take this opportunity to gradually distance himself from the Yuan family and establish connections with Song Jingran’s side instead.

“If we’re talking about marriage alliances, I think the Song family’s daughter would be better than the Min family’s—Song Jingran only has this one daughter, but the Min family is using Jiashan’s future prospects as a bargaining chip, which seems too calculating. Even if they’re willing to help Jiashan in his official career in the future, the price will likely be quite steep.”

“Your thoughts align with mine,” Old Madam Guo said solemnly. “However, you know what your eldest sister-in-law is like. She always feels that the Min family’s children are all very intelligent, and that several of the Min family’s young ladies are famously able to read and write classical essays like men. Your eldest sister-in-law feels that marrying a Min family daughter would at least ensure Jiashan’s children won’t be stupid. After all, I’m just the grandmother—it’s not appropriate for me to override the couple and make this decision for Jiashan.”

Cheng Chi smiled and said, “Then just let them be. At Elder Brother’s age, if the son doesn’t work out, he can still count on his grandson.”

“Nonsense,” Old Madam Guo said with a reproachful smile. “Your elder brother isn’t young anymore. Yet both Jiashan and Rang Ge’er are nothing but worries. I feel that our First Branch has reached such heights today that we’ve used up all the good fortune meant for the next several generations.”

Cheng Chi didn’t respond.

Mother had two hopes: first, that he would marry soon and give her a grandson. Failing that, she hoped he would keep Cheng Rang by his side to tutor him, so the First Branch could have another scholarly heir.

He said, “Who knows what the future holds! What good did it do the two old patriarchs of the Second Branch to scheme and calculate? They still had to watch their descendants decline due to having few heirs. Mother, you should worry less in the future! It’s just a pity Father passed away early. Otherwise, you could have had both a husband who was a Grand Secretary and a son who was a Grand Secretary!”

Old Madam Guo knew where her son’s heartache lay. She didn’t want to force him, nor did she want to ruin the harmonious atmosphere between mother and son these past days. She simply followed his lead to change the subject, saying, “Do you want to make a trip to the capital? Your elder brother has just become the Minister of Rites. I’m afraid there will be many places where silver is needed…”

Cheng Chi interrupted his mother’s words, smiling, “That’s just a matter of needing silver! As long as the silver arrives, it should be fine whether I go or not, shouldn’t it?”

“You child!” Old Madam Guo couldn’t bear to hear Cheng Chi’s nonchalant tone. She said, “Don’t you want to go see your elder brother?”

“No,” Cheng Chi answered extremely straightforwardly. “If I were Elder Brother, I would join forces with Song Jingran. But I know that for the sake of Eldest Sister-in-law, Elder Brother will definitely still carry on with the Yuan family. Watching it irritates me, so I’d rather not see it.”

Hearing this, Old Madam Guo sighed deeply.

Cheng Chi stood up and said, “You should rest early too! Tomorrow we still need to go watch the tidal bore!”

“You should sleep early as well.” The conflict between her eldest son and youngest son always troubled Old Madam Guo. She said somewhat listlessly, “Your elder brother entering the cabinet is still a good thing. At least it will make your business dealings more convenient.”

“That’s true,” Cheng Chi casually reassured his mother and left the main hall.

The western wing room still had its lamp lit.

Cheng Chi asked Lang Yue, “Has Second Young Miss not retired yet?”

Lang Yue smiled and said, “Madam Wang has been talking in Second Young Miss’s room all this time. She just left.”

Cheng Chi thought for a moment and said, “Go tell Pozi Shang and see if Second Young Miss has retired yet. If she hasn’t, I have a few questions for Second Young Miss.”

Lang Yue ran off in a flash to fetch Pozi Shang.

Zhou Shaojin had just finished washing up. Chun Wan and Bitao were using towels to wring out her hair. Hearing that Cheng Chi wanted to see her, she hastily put her hair up in a simple bun and left her room.

Cheng Chi was standing by the willow tree in the courtyard corridor.

Seeing that Zhou Shaojin’s hair was still wet, he said, “The evening wind is cool—why did you come out without wringing your hair dry?”

Zhou Shaojin could hardly say she didn’t dare make him wait, so she could only smile sheepishly.

Cheng Chi looked around and said, “Then let’s talk in your room!”

Zhou Shaojin knew this was because Cheng Chi was afraid she would catch a chill from the wind with wet hair. Thinking that her room was tidy and there was nothing improper about it, she smiled in agreement and went with Cheng Chi to the wing room where she was staying.

Chun Wan served tea and refreshments, then quietly withdrew, standing guard at the door with Lang Yue.

Inside the room, only Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Chi remained, now quiet.

Only then did Cheng Chi say, “If the person who gave you this information has any requests, you must remember to tell me. No matter what, it’s our First Branch that benefits. Don’t foolishly think this is just a small matter and go ask your father, making things difficult for him!”