The Second Old Master of the Liao family naturally didn’t believe it, but Cheng Chi pleaded ignorance to everything, so he could only give up awkwardly.

However, if even families like the Liao family knew about it, there was no reason for the Fang family, Yuan family, Min family, and Cheng Zheng’s in-laws the Gu family not to know.

Yuan Weichang didn’t say much, but the Min family was happy to see this happen.

Once the clan was divided, without Cheng Shi and Cheng Zheng who were older than Cheng Xu, Cheng Xu would be the indisputable eldest young master—the legitimate eldest son and grandson of the primary branch. The Cheng family’s affairs would naturally and indisputably be under his management.

However, the Fang and Gu families felt this was inappropriate. Especially the Gu family—the Fourth Old Master in the capital personally summoned Cheng Zheng to question her.

Cheng Zheng could only say helplessly, “I’ve already sent people to investigate. There should be news any day now. I’ll come report to you then, Old Master.”

The Fourth Old Master of the Gu family was rather rigid. Upon hearing this, he stroked his beard and nodded, saying, “Fighting tigers requires blood brothers; going to battle needs father and son soldiers. You all understand these principles better than I do, so I won’t elaborate. Some things, once done, are like water that’s been spilled—difficult to recover. One must be extremely cautious.”

In front of her elder, Cheng Zheng obediently accepted the instruction. But when she returned to her eastern courtyard residence, her heart felt like it was burning with fire. After pacing back and forth in the room twice without being able to calm down, she simply went to the residence at Chaoyangmen.

Who would have known that from Cheng Chi down to Head Steward Qin Ziji, and even the inner household manager Biyu, none were home.

The little maid on duty at home said tremulously, “Head Steward Qin accompanied the Old Madam to the capital. They arrived in Tongzhou the night before last. Early this morning, Fourth Master received word, and Second Old Master, First Master, Second Master, Second Madam, and Second Young Master Rang all rushed to Xizhimen…”

Cheng Zheng was both surprised and delighted. She was delighted that after all these years, her grandmother had come to the capital and they could see each other, allowing her to fulfill her filial duties. She was surprised because she didn’t know if her grandmother’s visit to the capital was related to the clan division. The Gu family clearly felt the primary branch shouldn’t have proposed dividing the clan… They might have opinions about her as a granddaughter-in-law.

She sent someone to Xinglin Alley while rushing to Xizhimen herself.

Cheng Zheng didn’t encounter anyone at Xizhimen, but the person sent to Xinglin Alley brought back Nanny Lu from Old Madam Guo’s side.

“First Young Madam!” Nanny Lu didn’t dare put on airs before Cheng Zheng. She dropped to her knees with a thud in front of Cheng Zheng, tears streaming down continuously. “Our Old Madam has missed you terribly! Please come with me quickly to pay respects to Old Madam!”

Thinking of her grandmother’s teachings, Cheng Zheng’s tears also fell. She hurriedly helped up Nanny Lu and rushed to Xinglin Alley.

Xinglin Alley was a five-courtyard residence where Cheng Jing and Cheng Wei’s families lived. Outside were study rooms, one for each, with a shared hall. Cheng Jing lived in the main house, while Cheng Wei stayed in the courtyard behind. When Old Madam Guo arrived, the Cheng family opened the main gate. Old Madam Guo was welcomed into the main hall and seated on the arhat bed. After Cheng Jing, Cheng Wei, Cheng Chi, Second Madam Wei, and Cheng Wei’s son Cheng Rang had kowtowed to Old Madam Guo, they all sat around her.

Seeing that the gentle and modest Cheng Rang was still as shy as before, Old Madam Guo couldn’t help but sigh. She took Cheng Rang’s hand and asked about his studies.

Learning that Cheng Rang had already read through the “Annotations on the Four Books” once, Old Madam Guo was very pleased and said, “When your grandfather was your age, he had only just started reading the ‘Annotations on the Four Books.’ Everything values thoroughness, not speed. You must carefully study the meaning of the ‘Four Books.’ If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask your Uncle Chi. Your Uncle Chi’s studies were also very good—he even received praise from your grandfather back then.”

Cheng Rang’s face reddened as he answered, “Yes.” A little maid had already announced through the curtain, “First Young Madam has arrived.”

Old Madam Guo’s eyes reddened. Not bothering to greet her second daughter-in-law, she quickly said, “Please invite her in, quickly!”

When Cheng Zheng entered, she knelt before Old Madam Guo. With a single cry of “Grandmother,” tears fell like rain.

Old Madam Guo also began to cry.

Cheng Jing and the others all turned their faces aside.

Second Madam Wei stepped forward with reddened eyes to help up Cheng Zheng, saying gently, “First Young Madam, please don’t cry! If you continue like this, Old Madam will be even more heartbroken.”

Cheng Zheng knew this too, but the tears just wouldn’t stop falling.

She wiped the corners of her eyes twice before finally stopping the tears and called out “Grandmother” with a smile.

Over there, Old Madam Guo had also stopped crying under Cheng Chi’s consolation. Hearing this, she smiled and took Cheng Zheng’s hand, saying with a face full of joy, “How did you know I’d come to the capital? I was afraid of delaying your affairs, so I didn’t tell anyone!”

Naturally, Cheng Zheng couldn’t say it was because the Gu family elders knew about the Cheng family’s clan division and she wanted to inquire about the situation. She smiled and said, “I had nothing to do and was planning to visit Fourth Uncle’s place. That’s when I learned you’d come to the capital!”

“This shows how much fate First Young Madam and Mother share!” Second Madam Wei joined in cheerfully. “Coming out on a whim for a stroll, and just happening to meet Mother arriving in the capital… Is First Young Madam returning today? Why not stay for dinner?”

Cheng Zheng nodded repeatedly and sent her attendants to fetch her sons Gu Ning and Gu Zhong, then sent word to her husband Gu Xu who was on duty at the government office: “Tell him Grandmother has arrived!”

The servants repeatedly acknowledged and left the main house.

Cheng Jing busied himself making room for his mother.

“You don’t need to go to such trouble,” Old Madam Guo said with a smile. “I just came to the capital to clear my mind. I’ll stay in the guest room tonight. Tomorrow I’ll go see Fourth Son’s residence at Chaoyangmen and stay there for a few days.”

Cheng Wei and his wife exchanged glances.

Cheng Jing said hesitantly, “Mother has been traveling by carriage and horse all this way. Why not rest here for a few days before going?”

With Old Madam Guo in the capital, she would inevitably need to visit with relatives in the city. As the eldest son, he should properly attend to his mother. If Old Madam Guo moved to Chaoyangmen, relatives coming to visit would have to go there, and with Yuan Shi back home making trouble about dividing the clan, suspicious people might think Old Madam Guo and Yuan Shi had mother-in-law and daughter-in-law discord.

As he spoke, he glanced at Cheng Wei.

Signaling Cheng Wei to persuade their mother.

Cheng Wei didn’t dare speak.

Mother had come to the capital suddenly without telling them, and had brought Head Steward Qin—nine times out of ten it was about the clan division. He still hadn’t had a chance to speak privately with Mother about whether she agreed or opposed it, so he didn’t dare speak carelessly at this time.

He looked toward Cheng Chi.

Zichuan had been taking care of Mother in Jinling City all these years, and as the youngest son, he should know best what Mother was thinking. Even if he wasn’t the most certain, at least if he said something wrong, Mother absolutely wouldn’t be angry.

Cheng Chi was full of confusion.

Why did Mother suddenly want to stay at Chaoyangmen?

Could it be that she had something to say to him about Zhou Shaojin?

Cheng Chi stood there observing his nose and his nose observing his heart, completely ignoring Cheng Wei.

Before leaving home, he’d had someone take word to Zhou Shaojin that he had matters to attend to and wouldn’t be home today, to save her from coming and finding no one there.

The little girl had been playing in his study these past few days.

Suddenly telling her not to come—he wondered if she would feel bored!

Cheng Wei silently groaned, but could only pretend not to see Cheng Jing’s meaningful look. He instructed his wife, “Mother has arrived. You need to send someone to inform Xiao and Sheng. Also check on the kitchen. We’ll serve the meal when Dalun and the others arrive. Mother, what do you think?”

Old Madam Guo nodded and said, “It’s late now. Send word to Xiao and Sheng tomorrow instead. Just have the steward pass along the message. This task will go to Rang. Rang, can you handle this?”

Cheng Rang quickly stepped forward to accept, his face flushing so red it could drip blood.

Old Madam Guo chuckled and said, “Rang is not young anymore. He’s reached the age where he should be experiencing responsibilities.”

Cheng Wei and the others quickly bowed in acknowledgment.

Old Madam Guo then said, “As for the kitchen matters, just have the household servants check on it. Second daughter-in-law’s health isn’t good—quickly go back to your room and change into something looser and more comfortable, then come keep me company and chat. All of you with other business, go attend to your own affairs. When Dalun and the others arrive, we’ll serve the meal in the hall.”

Second Madam Wei’s eyes filled with tears upon hearing this.

She had been married into the family for over twenty years. Childbearing had been difficult for her—her first few pregnancies hadn’t held, and she’d finally managed to give birth to Cheng Sheng and Cheng Rang with great difficulty. Perhaps because of this, Cheng Rang had been weak and sickly since childhood. He wasn’t as clever at his studies as Cheng Xu either. But her mother-in-law had always been generous with her—not only never complaining, but even comforting her when she blamed herself. After Cheng Wei took office in the capital, she’d even sent her and their son to the capital to reunite with Cheng Wei, keeping the lively and active Cheng Sheng by her side to care for…

“Mother!” Second Madam Wei clutched Old Madam Guo’s sleeve and began choking up.

Old Madam Guo smiled and said, “Here I am perfectly fine, so please don’t cry…”

Second Madam Wei was startled and forcibly stopped her tears, calling out “Mother” uneasily.

Old Madam Guo patted her hand with a smile and said, “All right, all right, I understand your feelings. All of you go now! Let me talk with my Zheng for a while.”

The sons and grandsons filed out of the main room’s reception area.

As soon as they left the hall, Cheng Jing complained, “Mother wants to stay at Chaoyangmen, and you didn’t even help persuade her otherwise. That place is so empty, and all the servants are newly hired—how can they properly attend to Mother?”

Cheng Wei only smiled.

Cheng Chi said lazily, “Isn’t eldest sister-in-law clamoring to divide the clan? I’m also doing this for the good of our primary branch—Mother was forced into a corner by the old ancestors of the second branch and had no choice but to flee to the capital. Both anxious and angry, she felt too ashamed to face those relatives, so she quietly stayed at her youngest son’s home. When we pay the silver to the second branch, it will perfectly establish the second branch’s reputation for being heartless and unjust. Isn’t that quite good?”

The residence in Xinglin Alley was indeed too small.

They also needed to make room for Cheng Jiashan’s new bridal chamber.

And Mother was a widow. On the day of Cheng Jiashan’s wedding, she definitely couldn’t stay in the main house.

Were they supposed to have her move to the back storage rooms?

Mother had never suffered such indignity in her life.

There was no reason that now with all her sons grown, she should still endure such frustrations.

Cheng Chi said, “Mother is also thinking of eldest brother and sister-in-law. Zheng’s in-laws place the most importance on such matters.”

Cheng Jing’s old face reddened as he said quietly, “The clan division is also the general trend.”

“Exactly!” Cheng Chi said. “Even empires must unite after long division and divide after long unity, let alone individual families! I don’t know what eldest brother is worrying about.”

Cheng Jing smiled awkwardly.

Cheng Wei quickly stepped in to smooth things over, saying to Cheng Chi, “Since you also think it’s good, then have your second sister-in-law go along to attend to Mother.”

Second sister-in-law was also someone with a gentle temperament. Letting her interact with the little girl in advance would give them someone to keep each other company after the girl married in.

Cheng Chi smiled and said, “Whether second sister-in-law goes or not doesn’t really matter. Having Rang go to attend to her is what’s proper. Didn’t Mother also say that Rang has reached the age to handle responsibilities? That place has fewer servants anyway—perfect for Rang to run errands for Mother.”