Old Madam Guo looked down at Zhou Shaojin, whose eyes were red as she gazed up at her like a delicate flower bud, yet the old madam laughed coldly and said, “So you’ve already made the decision to stay with Fourth Master?”
Zhou Shaojin lowered her head and said, “I beg you, Old Madam, to grant us your blessing!”
Old Madam Guo sneered, “What if I don’t grant it!”
Zhou Shaojin didn’t make a sound.
She still kept her head lowered, motionless like a clay sculpture.
Old Madam Guo smiled and said, “Are you threatening me?”
“No!” Zhou Shaojin said softly, her voice gentle and carrying her characteristic sweet softness. “You were the one who had me copy scriptures at Hanbi Mountain Manor, and you were the one who took me to Mount Putuo to worship Buddha. You also told me about the relationships among prominent families and taught me principles for conducting myself. If you’re unwilling to grant me your blessing, it must be because I’m not good enough yet. But I don’t want Uncle Chi to be hurt even more… Since he’s already come this far for me, even if there are mountains of blades and seas of fire ahead, I cannot leave him to face it alone. You are the person Uncle Chi respects most. If you weren’t in Jinling, Uncle Chi wouldn’t live here permanently at all! When you’re happy, Uncle Chi will be happy. If you’re unhappy, Uncle Chi won’t be happy either.
“Please grant us your blessing!
“I know I have a timid nature and do many things poorly—I probably can’t even manage household affairs properly. But I will study hard to become someone worthy of Uncle Chi.
“Old Madam!” She tugged at the old madam’s skirt and said earnestly, “I will study hard. I definitely won’t disappoint you.”
Old Madam Guo looked at her silently, her gaze somewhat cold.
Zhou Shaojin didn’t avoid it.
She had always been afraid of Old Madam Guo.
But this time, she met Old Madam Guo’s gaze and let Old Madam Guo examine her.
Although she felt that Old Madam Guo’s gaze was like a mirror, revealing every detail of herself before the old madam with nowhere to hide, she still didn’t avoid it.
She even thought that if Old Madam Guo could truly see through her heart, how wonderful that would be. Then Old Madam Guo would know of her deep feelings for Uncle Chi.
Old Madam Guo sighed softly, and her tone suddenly became somewhat gentler as she said, “Shaojin, you’ve been by my side for two or three years after all. Even if I’d raised a kitten or puppy, there would be affection. How much more so for a sweet, gentle, considerate, and compliant young lady like you. It’s just that men and women are different. Most women prefer to revolve around the kitchen, bearing and raising children, supporting their husbands and educating their children—they can go their whole lives without stepping foot outside the inner gate. But men are different. They must support their families, make friends, move about in the world—reputation, power, wealth—none can be lacking. The inner quarters are merely where they go during leisure time. Fourth Master has given up even his reputation for your sake. Naturally things will be good when you’re both deeply in love, but after a long time, what will you do if he regrets it? What will you do if he takes his anger out on you? What will you do if he’s already found a new love? Have you thought about this?”
“I have thought about it!” Zhou Shaojin said in a deep voice.
Not only had she thought about it, she had even suspected that Cheng Chi merely liked her pretty face, which was why she had previously dared not cross that boundary.
But so what?
Zhou Shaojin said, “I know that at this moment, Uncle Chi truly cares for me. Even if he regrets it later, right now it’s real. You don’t know how difficult it is to find someone with a true heart in this world…”
Old Madam Guo listened and narrowed her eyes, saying in a deep voice, “So no matter what I say, you’ve made up your mind to stay with Fourth Master?”
Zhou Shaojin’s face reddened slightly as she said, “As long as Uncle Chi doesn’t let go, I won’t let go.”
Old Madam Guo looked at her silently, her expression somewhat obscure and difficult to read.
Zhou Shaojin’s heart was uneasy, and she prostrated herself deeply again.
Old Madam Guo swept her sleeves and left, her cold voice echoing through the covered corridor shaded by dense foliage: “Shaojin, I only hope you can always remember the words you’ve said today.”
Zhou Shaojin raised her head.
Old Madam Guo had already turned the corridor corner.
The hem of her stone-blue robe was lifted by the wind, and the silver auspicious cloud patterns reflected a brilliant luster.
Old Madam… Did this mean she agreed? Or didn’t she agree?
Zhou Shaojin blinked, unable to come to her senses for a long while.
But Old Madam Guo sighed deeply in her heart.
When young, one always feels there’s nothing in this world to be afraid of. Only with age does one realize that many things in life are beyond one’s control.
To be able to live so freely according to one’s heart once—that too was not in vain for walking through this world!
But willfulness comes at a price!
She was old now and couldn’t manage so many affairs. Let them be, then.
After the evening meal, the guests at home gradually left. Only Cheng Sheng lingered and stayed, linking arms with Old Madam Guo as she laughed coquettishly and said, “I told my mother-in-law and husband early this morning that I wanted to stay with Grandmother for a few days. Grandmother can’t chase me away. Tonight I want to sleep with you.”
Old Madam Guo chuckled and said, “Very well! As long as you’re not afraid your mother-in-law will blame you, I’d be delighted to have someone for company!”
“My mother-in-law is so kind!” Cheng Sheng said coquettishly. “Knowing I came back to see you, she originally wanted to come together, but later she received an invitation from Eldest Sister. Seeing that both Eldest Sister and Second Sister came alone, she didn’t come along. She even said to let us sisters have a heart-to-heart talk and properly attend to you at your knee, and she’ll come to see you in a few days.”
“Since you know your mother-in-law is good, you should be even more filial to her. Don’t always think about running around outside—stay home more and keep your mother-in-law company. Human hearts are all made of flesh. If you treat her well, she’ll treat you well…”
That instructive voice gradually became inaudible. Zhou Shaojin felt somewhat lost.
Old Madam Guo still hadn’t acknowledged her.
Perhaps she had no choice but to turn a blind eye and accept it.
She would simply have to be very filial to the old madam in the future.
Didn’t the old madam also say that human hearts are all made of flesh?
Thinking of this, Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips.
Zhou Chujin, walking beside her, found this strange and said, “Don’t you like being with Old Madam Guo? How is it that you barely spoke today, yet now that we’re leaving, you’re so relieved and happy? Did something happen?”
“What could have happened?” Zhou Shaojin smiled. “I just thought it funny that Cousin Sheng is married yet still acts like a child, making a fuss about sleeping with the old madam…”
They sisters had never had such fortune to act spoiled like that with anyone.
Zhou Chujin gently put her arm around her sister’s shoulders and said with a soft laugh, “We can’t act spoiled like that, but our children can.”
Children?
A little person like Uncle Chi?
Just thinking about it made heat rush to Zhou Shaojin’s face.
Fortunately it was already late evening, and Zhou Chujin didn’t notice.
Even after returning to Yuqian Alley, Zhou Shaojin still felt her face burning.
Meanwhile, after the lamps were lit, Old Madam Guo sent Cheng Sheng off to wash and prepare for bed, while she herself sat under the lamplight examining the jewelry in her makeup case.
The stones were all quite fine, but they were either carved with double happiness symbols or gourds and treasure vases—all things used by elderly people, not even quite suitable for giving as gifts. Better to go to the jewelry shop tomorrow to see if there were any better pieces. However, things weren’t as good as they used to be these days. Even the items at jewelry shops weren’t as fine as before. To find two satisfactory pieces would require luck.
She called loudly for Nanny Lü to come in and said, “First thing tomorrow morning, go to Xingling Alley and bring all the trunks containing valuables over. I’ll see if there are any good pieces of jewelry.”
If not, she’d have them melted down and newly crafted.
Nanny Lü smiled and agreed.
A young maid walked in quietly and softly said, “Old Madam, Chief Steward Qin requests an audience.”
“It’s so late—what’s he coming for?” Old Madam Guo said with surprise, yet she still changed her clothes and redid her hair before going to the warm pavilion.
Chief Steward Qin signaled for Old Madam Guo to dismiss those serving inside, then immediately stepped forward close to Old Madam Guo and said with great interest, “Old Madam, you saw Second Young Miss—how was it?”
Old Madam Guo looked at his eyes bright as a child’s and couldn’t help feeling exasperated. “You came to find me so late just for this matter?”
Chief Steward Qin laughed and said, “This is more important than anything! If you’re dissatisfied with Second Young Miss and scare her away, Fourth Master’s affairs will have to be delayed several more years. I’m already over sixty myself. I don’t know how many more years I have to live. Just thinking about my father’s deathbed instructions makes my heart uncomfortable. I keep thinking that I’ll only be at peace if I can see Fourth Master’s young master born. As long as he doesn’t marry for a day, doesn’t become a father for a day, it’s an illness in my heart—how can I not care? Moreover, I’ll be retiring in some time. If I can help Fourth Master arrange his marriage before I retire, my life will be complete and fulfilled. How could I not keep it in mind!”
The first branch and second branch were going to divide the clan. After Chi Si decided on the division, he would gradually legitimize the Seven Stars Hall, turning it into an escort agency or remittance house. The Qin family had helped the Cheng family for so many years—they too should restore their own ancestral temple, establish family rules, and set up sacrificial lands.
The Qin family still had relatives in their hometown who had been found after the war. Chief Steward Qin also hoped to return and see them while he was still alive. After discussing with several nephews, aside from his own branch, the younger generation of the other two branches didn’t want to leave the Cheng family and preferred to continue living in dependence on the Chengs.
Chief Steward Qin had been worried that with the Qin family people leaving, there would be no one to help guard the Cheng family. After brief consideration, he agreed.
This was also why Chief Steward Qin’s nephews and grand-nephews had begun to emerge in the Cheng family and started taking on steward positions.
Old Madam Guo said irritably, “You don’t need to provoke me with words. I tested that young girl today. At least she has a conscience and knows what Fourth Master has done for her.” She told Chief Steward Qin everything that had been said between them. As she spoke, her voice gradually softened, and she sighed, “I saw that she usually has such a gentle appearance, and thought a few words would make her cry. I never expected she could say that as long as Fourth Master doesn’t let go, she won’t let go… It quite surprised me. If I didn’t agree, I could only agree.”
Chief Steward Qin just smiled and said, “I think you were both afraid Second Young Miss wouldn’t let go and would drag Fourth Master down, yet also afraid Second Young Miss would be so frightened by your words that she’d sever ties with Fourth Master and wrong him…”
How could Old Madam Guo not know this?
But her heart was truly conflicted, not knowing what to do for the best.
Chief Steward Qin naturally wouldn’t press her to express her position immediately. He reminded her, “When the Old Master was alive, he once said that in matters under heaven, success depends on human effort. You’re only worried that Fourth Master bearing this reputation will ruin his prospects. But have you considered that with parental command and matchmaker’s word, if Second Young Miss is someone you yourself have chosen, what else would others have to say!”