On the third day after Old Madam Gu passed away, the Gu family began sending death notices to various households. The old master and masters of the Gu family also recovered their composure and began arranging affairs for each branch. Only then was Cheng Chi able to free himself to speak with Jinling Prefect Wu Xiu in the study: “…Prefect Wu’s three-year term is complete, and your political achievements have been evaluated as ‘excellent’ by the court. I wonder what plans you have for the future?”

Three years as an honest prefect yields a hundred thousand taels of silver. Moreover, Jinling was one of the rare prosperous regions.

Facing this Fourth Master of the Cheng family of Jiuru Lane who could nearly have his prefect’s hat removed and given to someone else with a mere gesture, Wu Xiu really couldn’t put on prefectural airs. He said humbly, “What plans could I have? Won’t I simply follow whatever arrangements the court makes for me?”

“Oh!” Cheng Chi picked up his tea cup and took a light sip, saying, “Actually, Prefect Wu has provided our Cheng family with many conveniences here in Jinling. If we were to get a different magistrate… that would truly be troublesome!”

Wu Xiu’s heart jumped when he heard this. He quickly said, “Actually, I don’t want to leave either! But sometimes imperial commands are difficult to refuse—it’s simply unavoidable!”

Cheng Chi nodded and agreed, “That is indeed beyond one’s control!”

Hearing this, Wu Xiu couldn’t help but curse inwardly.

Thinking: Just say directly what you want—don’t you just want me to comply? Haven’t I done enough things according to your Cheng family’s wishes? Why are you putting on this act in front of me! Even threatening me with the position of Jinling Prefect! I… I…

He stammered “I” for quite a while but truly couldn’t produce a harsh word. Just as he was about to engage Cheng Chi in more verbal sparring to irritate him, a steward from the Gu family came in and said, “Fourth Master, our Grand Old Master requests that you come speak with him. He says the Sixth Master of the Fang family from Shucheng has arrived and asks that Fourth Master come keep him company.”

Wu Xiu silently groaned “disaster” and cursed inwardly again.

Had he known Cheng Chi was this busy, he wouldn’t have been so coy—he should have just told Cheng Chi directly that he still wanted to continue as Jinling Prefect.

Now it was troublesome. With Cheng Chi leaving like this, who knew when there would be another opportunity to speak privately like this?

If Cheng Chi thought he was putting on airs, trying to negotiate conditions with the Cheng family, and simply found a way to install one of the Cheng family’s protégés or old friends as Jinling Prefect instead, he would have nowhere to cry!

He anxiously jumped to his feet, just about to ask who this Sixth Master of the Fang family from Shucheng was, when he heard Cheng Chi say, “The Sixth Master of the Fang family from Shucheng… is that Fang Daxian?”

Fang Cheng, styled Daxian. Top scholar in the Bingxu year of the ninth year of Zhide. Once served as Imperial Censor in the Censorate, but after impeaching the then Chief Eunuch Wan Tong, the Emperor transferred him to the Hanlin Academy as Attendant Scholar. He simply resigned from office and returned to Shucheng to become a recluse. He had an excellent reputation among the scholarly community.

The steward quickly smiled and said, “Fourth Master has a good memory. It is indeed that Fang Daxian, the Master Fang who lost his position for impeaching someone.” His manner was extremely attentive.

It was actually him!

Wu Xiu was so excited his face flushed red.

If he could exchange a few words with Fang Daxian, who would dare look down on him in the future?

How had he not thought of this earlier?

Should he just pretend not to know anything and follow Cheng Chi over there?

Wu Xiu pondered this as he watched Cheng Chi make a surprised sound and stand up. As he walked out, Cheng Chi said, “How did he come here? Shucheng is half a month’s journey from here!”

The steward hurried to catch up but slowed down half a step behind Cheng Chi, maintaining that half-step distance as he said, “Sixth Master Fang is friends with our Ninth Master. His sister’s family was having a wedding, so he came with two nephews to attend the celebration. Who knew that after arriving in Zhenjiang, he heard that our Old Madam had passed away and rushed overnight from Zhenjiang to offer condolences. Our Ninth Master won’t return until the second day of the second month, and there’s no one in the household who can properly converse with Sixth Master Fang…”

Cheng Chi remembered.

Wasn’t Fang Daxian’s sister the clan matron of the Liao family of Zhenjiang, and Zhou Shaojin’s sister’s mother-in-law?

What a small world!

However, families like theirs were usually quite interconnected, constantly running into each other. Pull any one person out and you could trace a connection, turning them into in-laws.

Cheng Chi went with the steward to the adjacent flower hall, leaving Wu Xiu on the side.

Wu Xiu didn’t know whether to follow or stand there. Fortunately, the Gu family’s stewards were all very perceptive and immediately invited him to the small study next door to have tea.

“No need!” His mind was still anxiously focused on quickly clarifying matters with Cheng Chi, otherwise the night would be long and dreams many—he feared he wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight. Wu Xiu instructed the steward, “As soon as Fourth Master Cheng comes out, let me know immediately. I have something to say to Fourth Master Cheng.” Then he even rewarded the young servant with two pieces of silver.

The young servant didn’t dare accept the silver but promised earnestly that as soon as Cheng Chi emerged from the flower hall he would inform Wu Xiu. Moreover, the steward explained that the adjacent small study was his alone, specially arranged by the Grand Old Master specifically for entertaining him. Only then did Wu Xiu’s heart feel somewhat better. But after drinking a bellyful of tea in the small study and waiting until the midday meal time, Cheng Chi still hadn’t appeared. He began to feel somewhat displeased and ordered his attendant, “Go see what Fourth Master Cheng is doing. He couldn’t possibly be talking with Fang Daxian all morning! Did I abandon my official duties just to sit here idly?”

The attendant didn’t dare delay and rushed off to the flower hall like the wind.

Before long, the attendant returned and said quietly, “Fourth Master Cheng came out of the flower hall but was then pulled away by Third Old Master Gu to the study in the front courtyard, saying that Shen Qingyun had arrived. When Fourth Master Cheng came out of that small study, he encountered Teacher Lin on the road, and Fourth Master Cheng and Teacher Lin stood by the roadside talking for quite a while…”

He was still speaking when a young servant from the Gu family ran in and said, “My lord, Teacher Lin requests an audience!”

Wasn’t Teacher Lin talking with Cheng Chi?

Wu Xiu was stunned for a moment before saying, “Invite him in!”

The young servant hurried to invite Teacher Lin inside.

The two men talked in the small study for quite a while. By the time the Gu family’s young servant came to invite them to dine, both men’s expressions were somewhat unpleasant.

The young servant didn’t dare say much and carefully led the two men to the hall.

Wu Xiu immediately spotted Cheng Chi conversing with a gaunt, tall old man with a sallow complexion.

That must be Fang Daxian, right?

Who knew how that Cheng Xiangqing had offended Cheng Chi that he would cut off his own nephew’s official career path, not fearing that the Cheng family would lose both arms because of this. That was… too ruthless!

And Teacher Lin, who usually appeared to be such a refined gentleman—who knew he was actually a sanctimonious fellow, colluding with Cheng Chi and shamelessly saying things like “Lord Zhi perished because talent exceeded virtue,” as if he were so noble. Wasn’t he just trying to curry favor with Jiuru Lane!

Wu Xiu sneered disdainfully inwardly but wore a spring-breeze smile on his face as he walked toward Cheng Chi.

But before he could get close, a young servant ran in and said, “Sixth Master has returned!”

Cheng Chi immediately stood up and apologized to Fang Daxian, saying, “I saw Ninth Brother off outside the city this morning. By evening, Old Madam had passed away. In the moment, we didn’t think to send someone to catch up with Ninth Brother…”

Fang Daxian quickly said, “Go quickly! Go quickly!”

Cheng Chi hurriedly left the hall.

Wu Xiu had no choice but to remain at the Gu family for the midday meal.

But even after the midday meal ended, he still hadn’t seen Cheng Chi.

He asked the young servant attending him where Cheng Chi had gone. The young servant hurried to ask the steward and returned to tell him, “Fourth Master was called away by the Grand Old Master, saying they needed to discuss inviting the great masters from Jiming Temple to perform water and land rituals.”

Did they need to find Cheng Chi for this sort of thing too?

What were the Gu family people doing?

No wonder the Gu family members had no accomplishments!

Wu Xiu grumbled inwardly but had no choice but to personally seek out Cheng Chi.

After all, he was the magistrate. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Grand Old Master Gu, the study was left to him and Cheng Chi alone.

Wu Xiu couldn’t care about face anymore. He said quietly to Cheng Chi, “Teacher Lin and I pondered for quite a while and feel this year won’t work. Next year during the annual examinations, we’ll think of a way to move the date up so he’ll miss the exam!”

Cheng Chi smiled and said, “Is his scholarship very good?”

Wu Xiu looked at Cheng Chi’s gentle face and clear eyes, and the corner of his eye couldn’t help but twitch.

This was the truly ruthless one.

That was how he could move skillfully between Wan Tong and Li Yong, wasn’t it?

He laughed twice and said, “Zichuan is right—I don’t think his scholarship is that impressive either!”

Cheng Chi laughed.

His expression became even more gentle.

He said softly, “Although this matter requires Teacher Lin’s help, ultimately it will still trouble Prefect Wu. Please exert yourself more, Prefect Wu. In three to five years, no matter which province you’re promoted to govern, I can rest assured.”

Wu Xiu’s heart couldn’t help but race, but fortunately his expression remained completely calm as he said with a smile, “Then I’ll accept Zichuan’s auspicious words!”

Cheng Chi’s smile grew even broader.

※※※

Zhou Shaojin, however, was standing outside Old Madam Guo’s inner chamber, peeking in curiously.

Old Madam Guo looked up and saw in the mirror the reflection of that young girl with black hair and rosy complexion.

She couldn’t help but laugh merrily and said, “Come in! What are you doing making faces out there?”

Those serving inside and outside all laughed together.

Zhou Shaojin walked in with a red face and said, “I wanted to see how your mood was! Who knew that as soon as I peeked in, you’d discover me!”

Old Madam Guo looked her up and down with a smile and nodded, “Mm, your complexion is much better than the last time I saw you, which shows you haven’t suffered any grievances at home.”

Zhou Shaojin giggled with laughter.

Having entrusted both difficult matters to Uncle Chi, she ate well and slept well, so naturally her complexion was good too.

She took Old Madam Guo’s arm and said, “You must also restrain your grief and accept the inevitable. Birth, old age, illness, and death are the natural course of life. We’re all very worried about your health.”

Old Madam Guo nodded and sighed, “I know, it’s just that my heart feels uncomfortable. Don’t worry about me—I’ll be better in a few days.”

Without people to comfort her, she could only adjust herself…

Zhou Shaojin felt sad hearing this.

She thought for a moment and said, “Let me play leaf cards with you! I’m much better at it than before. On the boat, I specifically asked Uncle Chi for instruction.”

“Really?” Old Madam Guo’s interest was piqued.

Zhenzhu and the others immediately brought in felt blankets to cover the table.

When Cheng Chi returned, the main room of Hanbi Mountain House was filled with happy laughter.

His footsteps halted.

Nanny Shang immediately said with a smile, “The Second Miss has come to keep Old Madam company playing leaf cards! They said whoever loses has to wear a flower in her hair. Zhenzhu’s head is completely covered with flowers, and Old Madam and Second Miss have flowers in their hair too. Old Madam is skilled and only has two flowers, while Second Miss is beautiful—more lovely than the flowers themselves. Poor Zhenzhu is wearing a robe embroidered with the four seasons and looks like a flower seller…” As she spoke, Nanny Shang also laughed.