The letter from the dowry maid Cheng Zheng had sent back to Jinling to gather information told her that Mrs. Yuan had quarreled with the people of the second and third branches. Not only had she postponed the marriage with the Min family, originally scheduled for September, to February of next year, but she was also clamoring to separate the clan branches from Jiuru Lane.
The entire Cheng family was in an uproar.
Both the old ancestor of the second branch and Old Madam Guo maintained their silence.
Yet privately, word spread throughout Jiuru Lane saying that since the Elder Master of the main branch had entered the cabinet, he had become arrogant—daring to say anything, daring to do anything. Hadn’t the old ancestor of the second branch also entered the cabinet? Did he say anything about it? Not only did he say nothing, but he also quietly took care of the clan members. Back then, hadn’t the main branch also received considerable favors from the old ancestor of the second branch? Now that the old ancestor of the second branch was advanced in years, and the eldest young master of the second branch had passed the provincial examination at such a young age and was poised to advance even further, just when he needed the main branch’s support, the main branch was clamoring to separate… This Mrs. Yuan was merely a woman of the inner chambers—without Elder Master Jing’s approval, how would she dare say such things? It was clear that separating the branches was the minor issue; the real fear was that the eldest young master of the second branch would become successful and overshadow the eldest talent of the main branch…
Cheng Zheng couldn’t catch her breath. Her vision went dark, and she fainted.
The wet nurse was so frightened her face turned white. On one hand, she crumpled the letter into a ball and stuffed it into her close-fitting undergarment. On the other hand, she called loudly for people, pinching and pressing. After quite a while, Cheng Zheng finally came to.
Fortunately, Gu Xu had gone to the office, the two children were having lessons with their teacher in the outer courtyard study, and the other Gu family relatives all lived in the western compound. No one else was alarmed.
Cheng Zheng dismissed the attendants around her and asked the wet nurse where the letter had gone.
The wet nurse pulled the letter out from her bosom.
Cheng Zheng carefully read the letter again from beginning to end.
The more she read, the more alarmed she became; the more she read, the more confused she grew. She instructed the wet nurse to burn the letter.
The wet nurse didn’t delay. She lit a candle and burned the letter right in front of Cheng Zheng.
Only then did Cheng Zheng breathe a sigh of relief. Leaning against the headboard, she thought for a long while before saying: “Go instruct the steward in the outer courtyard to prepare a carriage for me. I need to make a trip to Apricot Grove Lane. If this matter truly causes a commotion, I’m afraid someone will seize the opportunity to impeach Father. We must quickly devise a countermeasure.”
Unfortunately, they were too far away to understand the situation in Jinling and couldn’t respond in a timely manner.
This matter would ultimately require Father to step forward.
The wet nurse had experienced much with Cheng Zheng and was sharp-minded. Hearing this, she immediately nodded, called a maid in to attend to Cheng Zheng’s grooming, and quickly went to the outer courtyard herself.
Cheng Zheng absentmindedly allowed the maid to attend to her, but her mind kept pondering this matter.
If the news the dowry maid had heard was true, first of all, the silence of the old ancestor of the second branch and Grandmother was intriguing.
Secondly, Mother was not someone without discernment. Separating the clan branches—to put it mildly, was selfish; to put it seriously, was betraying ancestral traditions. So whoever proposed separating the branches would have to bear this black mark. This was also why in so many prominent households, no matter how unhappy they were, they could only endure. Mother’s natal Yuan family and her maternal Fang family were both such prominent households. Moreover, Father had just entered the cabinet and hadn’t yet established a firm foothold. He simply couldn’t withstand any disturbances. If he were to gain a reputation for ingratitude, his position as cabinet minister would be finished. Mother should clearly understand this. Why would Mother clamor for separation at such a time?
Then there were those rumors in Jiuru Lane. They seemed to speak up for the second branch, yet were like needles hidden in silk—everywhere targeting the main branch, every sentence accusing the main branch. She didn’t believe this was coincidence!
The wet nurse handled matters very properly. Before Cheng Zheng had finished dressing and grooming, she had already come in to report: “The carriage is ready. I also had the steward send someone ahead to Apricot Grove Lane to deliver word.”
This way, if Cheng Jing wasn’t at home, the people at Apricot Grove Lane could go find Cheng Jing and bring him back.
Cheng Zheng’s face was grave as water as she nodded. She called the senior maid over and gave her instructions to “take good care of the eldest and second young masters, and when Master returns, serve him dinner first—no need to wait for me to return” and such, before taking the wet nurse to Apricot Grove Lane.
Cheng Jing indeed wasn’t there.
A servant went to the office to deliver word.
In less than the time it takes to burn two incense sticks, Cheng Jing had returned home.
Cheng Zheng stepped forward to pay respects to her father, and couldn’t help but examine him carefully.
Cheng Jing was fifty-three this year, with a tall and upright build, handsome and refined features, a modest and elegant temperament. Because he maintained himself well, he looked only about forty, with an excellent bearing.
Facing such a father, Cheng Zheng was at a loss for words.
How could Father possibly tacitly permit Mother to clamor for separation?
But without Father’s tacit permission, how would Mother dare to clamor for separation?
Seeing that his daughter had urgently summoned him back, yet when he stood before her she had a grave expression and didn’t speak, Cheng Jing couldn’t help but smile and say: “What’s wrong? Did you quarrel with Dalun? Don’t worry, I’ll go help you deal with Dalun right now. He’s eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard—even my daughter he dares to bully. I’ll make him apologize to you…”
When she was young, if she had gotten into trouble, Father would also unconditionally take her side like this.
The distance of more than ten years since marrying and leaving home was bridged in this instant.
Cheng Zheng unhesitatingly spoke what was in her heart: “Father, I sent someone back to Jinling on business, and the steward told me that Mother quarreled with the second and third branches…”
She told her father everything she knew.
Cheng Jing listened quietly, the smile on his face slowly fading.
Cheng Zheng’s heart grew ice cold. She called out “Father” in alarm.
Cheng Jing pressed his lips together. All the refined elegance on his face disappeared, replaced by cold severity.
“Regarding Jiashan’s matter, I didn’t tell you much before,” he slowly began, saying, “because that matter wasn’t anything good. Jiashan made a mistake. So we didn’t pursue the matter with your fourth uncle’s maid either. We just considered it a lesson for your brother. But what your mother and I never expected was that this matter was actually a trap set by the second and third branches working together to frame your brother…” He told Cheng Zheng everything—how Cheng Zheng had tipped off Cheng Shi, leading Zhou Shaojin to the garden; how Cheng Shi had drugged Cheng Xu’s wine; and how afterward Cheng Yi had attacked Cheng Xu.
Cheng Zheng listened in stunned amazement, unable to speak for a long while.
“Zheng’er,” Cheng Jing’s face was full of weariness, his expression complex, his voice becoming low and hoarse. “We grew from the same root—why torment each other so urgently? I’m not afraid to compete outside for positions that my nephews can inherit. Our main branch has what it has today partly due to the support of the old ancestor of the second branch. In this world, things originally go to those with virtue. But I cannot tolerate them calculating against your brother like this. Even if he’s made a thousand mistakes, he only wronged the second miss of the Zhou family—he never wronged these cousins of his. Their intentions are too vicious. Think about it—if it weren’t for the fortunate coincidence that when the second miss of the Zhou family went to the garden, your fourth uncle’s maid also went along, what would have happened? How would we explain things to the Min family and the Zhou family? Would your brother’s lifetime of reputation still exist? Could he still enter official service? Could he still be the clan heir? Your mother complained to me tearfully, and I had no way to refute her…”
Cheng Zheng only felt bitterness filling her mouth.
She said in a low voice: “What does Grandmother say?”
“Your grandmother feels your mother is too hasty,” Cheng Jing rubbed his brow and said. “But with the facts and evidence laid out there, your grandmother has nothing to say either.”
“Facts and evidence?” Hearing this, Cheng Zheng felt vaguely uneasy. She said, “Did Mother catch them in the act? Previously when Fourth Uncle was home, didn’t he smooth things over?”
Whether in vision, methods, or strategic insight, Fourth Uncle was far ahead of her mother. Since Fourth Uncle had smoothed things over, how had Mother brought up old accounts again and even found evidence?
Would doing this be disadvantageous to the main branch?
Cheng Zheng asked: “Where is Fourth Uncle? Is he still in Jinling? What does he say?”
“He’s still in Jinling,” Cheng Jing said. “You know what he’s like. He never takes these family trifles to heart. It’s precisely because of this that the second and third branches dared to talk nonsense in front of him. He hasn’t said anything about separating the branches. However, I think he should agree with it; otherwise, he definitely would have stopped your mother.” Speaking of the evidence, “Your mother inadvertently discovered a servant woman stealing things from the house, which led to uncovering the matter of drugging the wine… Over this matter, your mother even wrote me a letter complaining bitterly about your fourth uncle.” He smiled bitterly and said, “I scolded your mother about it, but I don’t know how much she listened. When you see your mother, you must advise her—in the future, whatever happens, she should speak less about your fourth uncle. He’s contributed so much to this family over the years. Your second uncle, second grand-uncle, and I can serve as officials with peace of mind all thanks to the family’s financial resources. If she acts like this, not only will it ruin the brotherly bond between us, but it will also displease your grandmother. Why must she be the villain!”
Cheng Zheng also felt somewhat helpless.
She always felt that Mother’s grievance toward Fourth Uncle stemmed from jealousy and envy.
Jealous that Fourth Uncle passed the imperial examination effortlessly, envious that Fourth Uncle managed the family’s affairs and all the branches of Jiuru Lane had to defer to him.
However, how could Fourth Uncle possibly agree?
Cheng Zheng couldn’t figure it out.
She always felt something wasn’t right about this matter!
Mother’s behavior was too extreme.
She hastily replied “All right” and brought up the matter of separating the branches: “…Have you made up your mind? What about the censors? Where will the second and third branches move to?”
Cheng Jing didn’t answer the second question, but somewhat evaded the main point, saying: “Your mother and I have made up our minds. Even if we can’t separate this time, we must ensure that the second and third branches can never again interfere with our main branch’s affairs. Otherwise, since they didn’t succeed this time, there will surely be a next time. You can catch thieves for a thousand days, but you can’t guard against thieves for a thousand days. We can’t always live on guard against the second and third branches like this. As for moving, your mother’s and my intention is that we move out—we’ll move to the capital and leave Jiuru Lane to the second branch. As for what the third, fourth, and fifth branches do, that’s none of our concern.”
Cheng Zheng’s expression changed dramatically. She said: “But we’re the main branch! When separating branches, how can there be any logic in the main branch moving out? Won’t the people of Jinling city think even more that we’re in the wrong?”
Cheng Jing sneered and said: “The clan genealogy of Jiuru Lane is still in the second branch’s hands! Hasn’t he always been unwilling to let go? Then let’s just give it to them. We’ll find a way to register in the capital’s household registry, buy sacrificial fields in Daxing, Wanping, and other places, and rebuild the ancestral hall. We’ll move the graves of your great-grandfather, grandfather, and others here.”