Zhou Shaojin’s face burned with heat. After a brief silence, she jumped up and headed outside: “Elder Sister, I, I’ll come see you again later!”
“Oh, oh, oh!” Zhou Chujin, usually composed and gracious, watched helplessly as her younger sister fled from her inner chamber as if escaping from disaster, her own face even redder than Zhou Shaojin’s.
Zhou Shaojin didn’t stop until she reached her own inner chamber, throwing herself onto the bright red silk quilt covering her lacquered bed, the heat in her face still unabated.
How had she not thought of it?
On the night before a bride’s wedding, the female elders of the household would explain to her about the wedding night.
In her previous life, her situation had been special. When she married, only a few of her brother-in-law’s friends came to offer congratulations, and that was only out of respect for him—they had set up only four or five tables of banquet fare in total.
During the wedding night, she had slept on the bed while Lin Shisheng slept on the floor. Everyone around was Lin Shisheng’s people, so no one gossiped. Later, when she went to the estate in Daxing, it became even simpler. When some people at the estate slighted her and Elder Sister discovered it, Lin Shisheng began visiting her once a month, with a screen between them—one sleeping in the inner room, one in the outer room.
Thinking of these things, her heart ached slightly.
If only she could have married amid such joy and celebration like Elder Sister!
Those painful memories from her previous life surfaced again in her mind.
Tears fell silently.
Zhou Shaojin curled up in the quilt and fell into a deep sleep.
When she woke the next day, her eyes were swollen.
Fearing people would notice, Zhou Shaojin instructed Chun Wan to find a way to boil some eggs to help reduce the swelling around her eyes. But when Mian Grand Madam saw her, she put an arm around her shoulders and laughed: “Silly child, Zhenjiang is so close to Jinling. If you miss Chujin, just go visit her in Zhenjiang. Look at yourself, crying like this—it breaks one’s heart to see.”
She smiled sheepishly.
Everyone smiled kindly.
Even Zhou Chujin thought Zhou Shaojin was reluctant to see her leave home, and somewhat regretted not having kept her sister overnight. She took Zhou Shaojin’s hand and said: “You must remember to come see me! Didn’t you say you wanted to take Elder Sister to Mount Putuo?”
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly.
But Zhou Chujin began to cry.
Zhou Shaojin softly comforted her sister.
She herself didn’t feel reluctant at all.
Perhaps it was because she knew Elder Sister would marry well—not only would she meet the love of her life, but she would also have her own little household, happier than when she was with the Cheng family.
Madam Gu, who was serving as the married woman of complete fortune for Zhou Chujin, couldn’t help but laugh at the sight: “The eldest young miss is respectful and modest, the second young miss delicate and gentle. I originally thought the second young miss would be more fragile in temperament, but unexpectedly when the moment arrived, it’s the eldest young miss who cannot help but cry.”
Only then did everyone notice Zhou Shaojin’s unusual composure.
When an elder sister married, what younger sister didn’t cry?
But Zhou Shaojin truly couldn’t cry.
The two wishes she had made after her rebirth had both been fulfilled, and she would soon be free of the quagmire that was Cheng Xu—she was too happy to cry!
Zhou Shaojin had to cover by saying: “Didn’t Grand Maternal Aunt and Elder Sister both tell me not to be sad, and that if I missed Elder Sister, I could just go to Zhenjiang to see her?”
After marrying, with parents-in-law above, sisters-in-law beside, and aunts-in-law around, how could it be that simple?
But everyone was still amused by her naive words, which not only diluted the sadness of parting but also added some festive cheer—an unexpected benefit.
Nanny Li came smiling to report that the kitchen had sent hot water.
Everyone went to sit in the side chamber.
Zhou Shaojin accompanied them.
Neither the Old Madam nor the Old Madam from Jiuru Lane had come, but Jiang Shi and Hong Shi had both essentially watched Zhou Shaojin grow up, so the atmosphere was harmonious. Only Cheng Jia kept a stern face from beginning to end.
Zhou Shaojin could only sigh.
Jiang Shi was managing Cheng Jia more and more strictly. Last time, when she borrowed the excuse that sisters wanted to spend time together since Elder Sister was getting married and tried to have Cheng Jia stay overnight at Pingqiao Street, she hadn’t succeeded.
There weren’t many guests at the Zhou household. But Jiuru Lane was renowned throughout Jinling, and many who came to the Zhou family with gifts did so out of respect for Jiuru Lane—they were all familiar faces. The Zhou family’s celebration felt almost like the Cheng family was hosting it.
Seeing everyone conversing happily, Zhou Shaojin gave Cheng Jia a meaningful look and left the side chamber.
Cheng Jia immediately followed.
The two stopped before the pomegranate tree in the courtyard, which was just beginning to sprout new buds.
Zhou Shaojin asked quietly: “What did you want to see me about that day?”
A flash of conflicted struggle appeared in Cheng Jia’s eyes. After a long while, she said in a low voice: “That day I accompanied Mother to Ganquan Temple to offer incense and saw Cousin Jing… He’s lost a lot of weight… and asked if I was willing, willing to marry him… If I agreed, I shouldn’t worry about anything—he would find a way to handle everything else… If I wasn’t willing… he wanted to give me a silver necklace, saying it wasn’t right to take something from me for nothing, and this was something his grandmother gave him when he was little. He was passing it to me as a token for my children…” At this point, Cheng Jia’s face turned red as blood. “He said if I had a daughter, I could choose any of his sons. If I had a son, he would become his son-in-law… I, I, I…”
What audacity!
Zhou Shaojin’s eyes sparkled brightly as she listened.
In her previous life, though she had always followed at Cheng Jia’s heels and they got along well, Cheng Jia would never have told her such things.
She didn’t know if this had happened in her previous life.
She asked urgently: “So, so what did you say?”
“What could I say!” Cheng Jia shot Zhou Shaojin a look. “Is this something you or I can decide?”
But Zhou Shaojin heard the implication in these words. She smiled: “What do you mean ‘you or I’? It’s you, not me! Don’t drag me into this. Besides, you could have refused outright. You didn’t refuse, which means you agreed!”
Cheng Jia grew anxious: “Who says I agreed! I didn’t take his necklace at all. And what does he mean his sons are mine to choose—if all his sons turn out to be wastrels, what would I choose from!”
Zhou Shaojin looked at her with a half-smile: “But it seems you didn’t say it was impossible either!”
“I, I, I…” The usually sharp-tongued Cheng Jia stammered, unable to form a complete sentence for a long while.
Zhou Shaojin laughed merrily.
For some reason, seeing Cheng Jia at a loss made her very happy.
Cheng Jia nudged Zhou Shaojin: “I came to discuss this with you. If you keep acting like this, don’t expect me to talk to you again.”
“That’s fine with me!” Zhou Shaojin wasn’t afraid at all. “Let’s see who you’ll talk to then!”
Cheng Jia said: “Don’t worry! If you’re too busy, Miss Wu will have time. I’ll tell her instead!”
Zhou Shaojin was stunned. “Miss Wu? The eldest daughter of Magistrate Wu, the one whose given name is Baozhang?”
“That’s her!” Cheng Jia said nonchalantly. “Ever since she made a few garments for Second Branch’s nephew Yun that won praise from Sister-in-law Shi, she’s been frequently visiting the Cheng family. Every time she sees me, she greets me with a smile and apologizes. If it weren’t for you, I would have become friends with her long ago.”
Zhou Shaojin frowned.
It seemed her decision to go to Baoding Prefecture was the right one.
She wanted to warn Cheng Jia, but before she could speak, a young maid came running over, laughing: “Second Young Miss, Fourth Cousin Miss, the eldest young miss is about to have her hair done.”
Cheng Jia pulled Zhou Shaojin along as she ran. “Let’s go watch.” Then she added: “Before, people always called you ‘Cousin Miss’ and me ‘Young Miss.’ Now people call you ‘Young Miss’ and me ‘Cousin Miss’—it’s really interesting!”
Zhou Shaojin was speechless.
By the time they entered the room, Madam Gu and Mian Grand Madam had already begun styling Zhou Chujin’s hair.
Cheng Jia gazed at Zhou Chujin in her bright red wedding dress, her face bashful and expectant, and said enviously: “Sister Chujin looks so beautiful!”
Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips.
Nanny Li brought in lotus seed and lily soup.
Madam Gu served it to Zhou Chujin to eat.
The Liao family’s wedding party arrived.
The deafening sound of gongs, drums, and firecrackers, the clamorous and complex sounds of joyous laughter—the Zhou household immediately became lively.
Zhou Chujin gripped Zhou Shaojin’s hand tightly.
Zhou Shaojin thought for a moment, then whispered to her sister: “Elder Sister, don’t worry. Uncle Chi said he’s met brother-in-law. Not only is brother-in-law handsome and dignified, he’s also learned and scholarly, a true gentleman. When he met Uncle Chi, he was very respectful, which shows he’s very satisfied with this marriage.”
Zhou Chujin paused slightly, and her grip on Zhou Shaojin’s hand gradually loosened.
Zhou Shaojin smiled gently.
Soon, the clamor reached the doorway, and the Liao family sent in the bridal veil.
Mian Grand Madam politely invited those who had come to watch the excitement to sit in the side chamber—the Liao family was coming to receive the bride.
Zhou Shaojin was kept in the room.
Madam Gu smiled at Zhou Chujin: “Don’t be afraid. I’ll accompany you there. If you need anything, just have your personal maids come find me.”
Zhou Chujin softly answered: “Mm.”
Madam Gu helped Zhou Chujin to the main hall.
After bowing before the ancestral tablets and the memorial tablets of her birth mother Cheng He and stepmother Zhuang Liangyu, she also kowtowed to the empty chair representing Zhou Zhen and to Li Shi. Madam Gu covered Zhou Chujin with the bridal veil, then positioned Zhou Shaojin beside Zhou Chujin. Cheng Gao, dressed in a brand-new green robe, walked in, followed by the Liao family’s married woman of complete fortune, who gave both Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Gao large red envelopes with smiling eyes.
“The auspicious hour has arrived!” At the master of ceremonies’ announcement, Cheng Gao carried Zhou Chujin on his back out of the main hall.
Outside, the sound of firecrackers exploded thunderously.
Everyone who had been watching the excitement in the hall surged outside.
Zhou Shaojin clutched the bright red envelope, standing quietly under the covered walkway, watching her sister’s figure slowly disappear into the smoke of the firecrackers until she could see her no more.
The surroundings grew quiet.
“Looks like your sister married well!” someone suddenly said beside her.
She turned around, and her eyes immediately brightened: “Uncle Chi, how are you here? I mean, how are you in the inner courtyard? Shouldn’t you be drinking at the wedding banquet in the outer courtyard?”
Cheng Chi smiled: “I followed along to take a look.”
He had indeed just come to look.
But with one glance, he saw Zhou Shaojin standing under the covered walkway, on the verge of tears yet with the corners of her mouth slightly upturned.
So he had walked over.
Zhou Shaojin nodded with curved eyes and brows: “Elder Sister married very well! Brother-in-law treats her very well!”
Cheng Chi raised an eyebrow: “But bearing children will be difficult!”
Zhou Shaojin pouted with displeasure: “I’ve already obtained a brick from Leifeng Pagoda for Elder Sister. In this life, she’ll definitely have a house full of children and grandchildren!”
Cheng Chi raised an eyebrow.
Zhou Shaojin grew extremely annoyed: “Uncle Chi, how can you be like this? Today is Elder Sister’s wedding day!”
Cheng Chi glanced at her: “What did I say?”
It was precisely because he hadn’t said anything, yet she knew exactly what he was thinking, that made it even more infuriating!
Zhou Shaojin stamped her foot.